"
a necessary evil."
Masters doesn't come off well at all in this episode of "Masters of Sex" as his study at the brothel is not going according to plan. The prostitutes aren't exactly the kind of prototypes he had in mind regarding a sincere study of females providing authentic analysis. Homosexual men show up and because they are considered "deviant", Masters considers his study unable to use them because the medical community would frown upon the type of test subjects used. Masters makes this known to one of his gay male subjects, in the cold way he typically does. His treatment of Virginia, particularly at the end prior to his meeting with the provost (Beau Bridges), leaves much to be desired (he pretty much downgrades her, as he drops off laundry, has her guide around his new gynecologist (a female played by the icy Julianne Nicholson), and rarely addresses her with much respect). But what he does to the provost, a long time friend who is responsible for how successful and recognized Masters is (this partnership has brought both of them success at Washington U), significantly places the doc in a negative light
willing to blackmail him for his closet homosexuality just so that he could use the hospital to conduct his study again. The film takes us back to when Masters was a kid studying sexual activity of animals and his passion for learning about human sexuality, with the provost quite a supporter and voice of reason. That the end of the episode shows that Masters would be willing to destroy his rep just to continue his work in a "proper environment" casts quite a pall for this viewer, I tell you. The research, though, would continue, so such a necessary evil seemed important enough for Masters to go that route. Betty gets her surgery but it doesn't go well for her as her career has caused some damage to her insides. She does size up people as a specialty and informs Virginia that Masters is in love with her. And then there's the big secret of how Masters is the reason for why his wife can't be pregnant, and Virginia, in her humanity, could not allow Libby to continue to suffer in her torment. However, Ethan does contribute to her pregnancy as Libby was ripe with anger towards her husband for allowing her to think she was to blame for the lack of a child. Ethan goes to the provost over receiving a chance to deliver a woman's four babies with Masters only finding out through the questions of reporter wanting the story. Masters' delivering them with Ethan having to look on does further point out the strife (and competition) developing between them. If anything will fracture the smug entitlement of the almighty Bill Masters, it is encouraging to see Ethan willing to throw down such a gauntlet. How Masters hypes up his accomplishments and sizes down Virginia who hasn't been so fortunate paints him as an asshole. That she tolerates this shows that Virginia has quite a bit of resolve and strength...he doesn't deserve her.
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