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. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Verne Gay
    Jul 10, 2015
    100
    Masters of Sex just gets better and better.
  2. Uncle Barky
    Reviewed by: Ed Bark
    Jul 9, 2015
    91
    Season 3, which again will have 12 episodes, shows strong signs of fully regaining its bite, passion and fury.
  3. The Wrap
    Reviewed by: Diane Gordon
    Jul 13, 2015
    90
    In season three, it’s clear the complex web of relationships will deepen and tangle even further. The show’s writers continue to craft the story with expert care, giving each character moments to shine. Masters of Sex continues to be a Sunday TV must.
  5. Hitfix
    Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    Jul 9, 2015
    83
    Its deviations from the record have to be compelling or illuminating enough to be worth it. Last year, they rarely were; so far this year, they are.
  6. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Tirdad Derakhshani
    Jul 21, 2015
    80
    The season's most exciting new development is Bill and Virginia's realization they are a viable romantic couple.
  7. Sioux City Journal
    Reviewed by: Bruce Miller
    Jul 14, 2015
    80
    Masters of Sex is highly watchable, not fact. If you understand that, you’re going to enjoy it much more.
  8. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Jul 9, 2015
    80
    Despite creative speed bumps, Masters of Sex remains a slick vehicle, one that thoughtfully examines the relationship between sex and romance that Masters and Johnson sought to uncoil.
  9. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Robert Rorke
    Jul 8, 2015
    75
    When Masters stops himself from punching Johnny, Sheen--who has the least showy role here--has his finest moment. The exquisite Caplan, on the other hand, is given many chances to shine, and doesn’t let any of these moments slip away.... Season 3 promises to be the show’s wildest year yet.
  10. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Melissa Maerz
    Jul 2, 2015
    75
    The steamy morality drama has become a thoughtful rumination on the sacrifices that parents (especially mothers) make for their families. It’s too bad, then, that so many plot twists are played for cheap thrills.
  11. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Robert Bianco
    Jul 9, 2015
    63
    While the time jump may be troubling, the real issues tarnishing the luster of this once-sterling series are a loss of focus and an increasingly heavy hand when it comes to illustrating the complexities of Master's and Johnson's odd relationship.

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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