Masters of Sex

:

Season 3
  • Network: SHOWTIME
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 29, 2013
Season #: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
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Critic Reviews

  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    Jul 13, 2015
    60
    The series feels reinvigorated [with the time jump to 1966]. What remains problematic--and there’s no real fix for it--is that viewers have had 24 episodes of Masters and Johnson’s evolving relationship and the latter part of that was a lot of bickering and problems that only highlighted the fact that Masters has never been very likable.
  2. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Neil Genzlinger
    Jul 10, 2015
    60
    Entire scenes from the premiere look like an ABC Family series.... From the first two episodes of the new season, it seems as if finding a balance between career and family, especially for the women in this show, might emerge as a thread. That would put this season in some oft-mined territory. And, of course, just by moving into the ’60s it’s already eligible for a fatigue warning.
  3. Yahoo TV
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    Jul 13, 2015
    50
    The effect of the repetitive, lurchingly-paced first couple of episodes is to frequently reduce the previously excellent performances of Sheen and Caplan to a collection of tics.
  5. Salon
    Reviewed by: Sonia Saraiya
    Jul 13, 2015
    50
    Season 3 is pushing harder to pop--with both color and threesomes--the show still doesn’t quite cohere into a compulsively watchable story.
  6. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Chris Cabin
    Jul 13, 2015
    50
    Though the series continues to be handsomely lensed and sports perceptive, complex performances from Sheen and Caplan, the writers hesitate to take chances outside of this established dichotomy between the reserved visual style and the frank, open discussions about sex.

Awards & Rankings

80
#80 Best TV Season of 2015
12
#12 Most Shared TV Season of 2015

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 50 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 50
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 50
  3. Negative: 12 out of 50
  1. Noiseblock
    Jul 19, 2015
    6
    I have to admit, I have not been what one could call a "fan" of MOS, but I´ve always liked it for its enthralling performances, good writingI have to admit, I have not been what one could call a "fan" of MOS, but I´ve always liked it for its enthralling performances, good writing and confidence in bordering the thin line between fiction and the realism of a period drama. The first two seasons pulled all that off without many things to criticise and Sheen & Caplan succeeded in carrying the show. So what is different now? Well, the biggest problem for me was that MOS wants you to believe that such an enormous time-jump is possible without the characters changing their persona very much, what is simply not believable in a dialogue-heavy show that tries to draw exact portrayals of them in the most nuanced ways possible. After countless times bordering divorce and psychological showdowns between Caplan and Sheen, this just doesn´t feel realistic to me, a feature that MOS always boasted, even in its weaker moments. The second big problem , and it sadly coheres with the time-jump again, is that the period drama and thus the over-arching narrative seems to be pushed in the background for the sake of finally showing the audience the research. But that´s just not right, how shall I believe and witness the heavy impact of the research when most of the other peoples´ perspectives and thus the whole platform for the controversial narrative gets ignored and pushed out of focus. The one thing that made me like MOS in the first place was that Sheen & Caplan were misfits in their society for breaking new ground in a conservative time while still the perspectives of the conservative persons were explained and depicted as reasonable. It was not just black and white, not just S&C versus the world. And now that the third season is around, I should believe exactly that, that four years and presumably countless conversations with conservatives and cultural changes later, S&C are exactly the same as when Season 2 ended? Sorry, but this time-jump just seems too hastily executed for me to play it down as just an initial hump...… Full Review »
  2. Knighthawk81
    Jul 13, 2015
    6
    I have been a fan of "Masters of Sex" since it debuted. I love the nuanced performances from Lizzy Caplan and Michael Sheen. But the secondI have been a fan of "Masters of Sex" since it debuted. I love the nuanced performances from Lizzy Caplan and Michael Sheen. But the second season felt a bit uneven, and the first episode of this third season -- which makes a large time jump -- continued that disconnect. The acting is still great, and I still care about these characters, but it feels like the overall narrative has slipped a bit.… Full Review »
  3. CobaltBlue
    Oct 1, 2015
    4
    This marks the season that Masters of Sex completed its transition into a full-blown soap opera. It's all about who's in love with who, who'sThis marks the season that Masters of Sex completed its transition into a full-blown soap opera. It's all about who's in love with who, who's cheating on who, who's jealous of who. The plot turns became more melodramatic and contrived than ever. The production values and strong cast are still there, and there's still a great scene every once in a while, but this series desperately needs a stronger narrative direction.… Full Review »
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