The theme this week in Masters of Sex is moving on. Although last week’s episode could also be a build up to “Outliers” with Bill recognizing his infatuation with Virginia. All evidence points to the two business partners also being the perfect match for one another in terms of relationships.
Virginia learned this last week with her bedroom tête-à-tête with Art at the swingers party. Bill is clued in by Libby, after a night of what he believes to be reconciliation. It is, after a fashion, but Libby wants a fresh start and to clear any bad emotions between them.
She does not want to stay with Bill. Libby tells him that Virginia is his perfect match. It is, she says, perfectly obvious that they make each other happy.
The court case continues and Perlman pushes for Bill to fight the charge of sexual deviancy. Meanwhile Virginia, after her revelation that Bill is really the perfect match for her, makes her move on him.
She schedules a trip to New York to meet with Bob Drag as he dropped their second book option. All big eyes and smiles, Virginia pours on the charm to convince Bill to attend the meeting.
He declines to go and focusses on his lawyer’s opening statement. He also, after Virginia leaves, zeroes on on Libby and sorting things out between them.
In the office, Nancy asks Art about how Virginia was in bed and he waffles. Virginia then storms into Art’s office and tells him to reveal nothing happened. Art still hesitates to tell Nancy the truth and instead implies that the offices are bugged.
Later, the couple find the recording equipment and Nancy is furious. She wants to leave immediately and Art talks her into staying. In New York, Virginia corners Drag in his office and after a little pressure he takes her to the publisher’s mixer party.
He reveals that the new head of the company is demoting him. It turns out that the big boss feels Bob is “a little light in the loafers.” Virginia sorts Bob’s problem out by saying he is far from “light.”
She leaves New York with the book deal re-instated. Virginia also told the company head that the court case will yield enormous amounts of free publicity for the upcoming book.
Betty and Helen continue to have issues with Helen’s parents. The couple have been staying with their daughter and helping her out during the last bit of her pregnancy.
Helen has been refusing to tell her parents about Betty. After a long talk, she does reveal the truth about her partner. Her folks silently pack their bags and leave. Helen is heartbroken, they will not answer her calls, and Betty explains that she is now Helen’s new family.
Bill decides to settle the court case rather than continue to fight it. The prosecution have found a bell hop who can testify to he and Virginia committing adultery. Rather than tarnish Virginia’s reputation, Bill agrees to the sexual deviancy charge and pays the $500 fine.
Virginia is touched and tells Bill that they are back where they belong; together.
Things are not quite that simple, however, as Bill returns to the AA meeting and asks for help for his addition; Virginia.
This was a brilliant followup to last week’s episode. It shows everyone, moving on from the dilemmas faced by the main characters. (One nice touch was Bill firing and then rehiring Guy aka, Ghee.)
The episode highlight had to be Libby’s recitation of Missouri legal codes and their meaning while puffing on pot. An excellent chance to show just how intelligent the character is.
Masters of Sex also set up what will obviously be a minefield later on. The discovery of the recording equipment will cause huge eructions with the staff and the clients. Apparently no one thought to make either faction away that they are being taped.
Nancy’s doing the intake of Virginia’s well known clients also looks like it will cause problems later on.
Masters of Sex airs Sundays on Showtime. Tune in and see where the sexy bio-drama goes next.
CAST:
- Michael Sheen – Dr. William Masters
- Lizzy Caplan – Virginia Johnson
- Caitlin FitzGerald – Libby Masters
- Annaleigh Ashford – Betty DiMello
- Jeremy Strong – Art Dreesen
- Betty Gilpin – Nancy
- Kevin Christy – Lester Linden
- Nick Clifford – Guy
- Danny Jacobs – Bob Drag
- Sarah Silverman – Helen
- David Walton – Abe Perlman
Mikes Film Talk 