Thomas Maier's biography 'Masters of Sex' becomes a Showtime series
The book 鈥淢asters of Sex鈥� by Thomas Maier is the basis of a new fall Showtime series of the same name.
The show (and the book) centers on William H. Masters, a gynecologist, and Virginia Johnson, his assistant who becomes his partner in research into human sexuality.
鈥淢asters鈥� stars Michael Sheen of 鈥淔rost/Nixon鈥� and 鈥淭he Queen鈥� as Masters, while 鈥淭rue Blood鈥� actress Lizzy Caplan takes on the role of Johnson.
So far, reviews of the series have been mostly positive, with critic Alessandra Stanley writing that the show is 鈥渆njoyable mainly because the actors are so good鈥� [it] gets better as it goes on. But without an extra dimension, or a broader glimpse of a world beyond St. Louis, the series eventually grows a little claustrophobic and thin.鈥�
writer Hank Stuever said 鈥淢asters鈥� is 鈥渆asily the only show in the fall crop of series that makes me want to watch more鈥� [when] I had seen the first two episodes and gave it a grade of B+, because it seemed like a sturdy launch鈥�. Now that I鈥檝e seen four more episodes, I could easily nudge that grade up to an A. The characters get better and more complex, the story builds, strange things start to happen and now I can鈥檛 wait to see how its interweaving plots unfold鈥�. The lead actors are excellent.鈥�
critic Robert Blanco was also won over, writing of 鈥渢he sheer joy of watching an incredibly well-done, ideally cast TV series, anchored by full-bodied performances from Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan as Masters and Johnson. This is career-defining work鈥� Caplan is a revelation.鈥�
reviewer John Powers wasn鈥檛 impressed with the first episode but felt the show got a little better as it went on.
鈥淭he show begins quite badly 鈥� the pilot, in particular, is shockingly coarse,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淚f you can hold out, 'Masters of Sex' begins to find a stride around Episode 3鈥�. [but] 'Masters of Sex' is missing 'Mad Men' 's ruthless clarity and sense of detail.鈥�
鈥淢asters鈥� premieres Sept. 29.
