Masters of Sex

Masters of Sex (2013) 

“My clitoris beats my vagina? That’s crazy!” Masters of Sex is a more edifying battle of the sexes than those offered by most of the screwball and re-marriage comedies that I can recall, but the men in it are less frustrated and the women are less repressed. The tension between people of different genders (and, in the second season, of different races) is the driving force of this predominantly conversational series, which gets its dynamics primarily from the relationship hierarchy at home and in the workplace (or, as the case may be, between these two sub-worlds), or rather from the characters’ efforts to defy social norms and rules (how a wife, mother, husband and lover should behave). The women have to humiliate themselves in front of men, the men in front of more powerful men, and the doctors are also patients and they treat themselves by treating others. The important thing is that, with respect to the period setting, the rules for men are radically different from those for women. Inequalities of a more general nature are demonstrated in the discordant relationship between Masters and Johnson, who can never really get along, as their heated arguments make the series engaging and keep the narrative moving. If they agreed on their work processes and the sexual technique that they want to use to make the evening more enjoyable, the series would have nothing to hold us in anticipation. It’s thus reminiscent of coitus interruptus – it’s enjoyable, but there’s still something missing. ___ With the exception of a few novel episodes (one takes place almost entirely over the course of a single night in a hotel room), the series adheres to a very standard dramaturgical structure with sexuality as the unifying theme (Freud would have been pleased). Episodes are built from larger plot blocks and there is generally no parallel cutting between the various events, which would liven up the pacing. Only after one situation has played out and been brought at least to a partial conclusion do we move on to the next. With the exception of occasional work with the depth of space and the placement of the characters within it, the basic stylistic device is the shot/counter-shot technique. This structure, which places emphasis on the comprehensibility and clarity of the message, causes Masters of Sex to seem somewhat sedate in comparison with more aggressive and narratively and stylistically more distinct series, but thanks to its excellent actors and dialogue, it can get away with such classicism. 80% (06/24/2015)