Trigger Warning(s): Homophobia
After 12 episodes of us watching people have sex; getting to know the doctors, their significant others, and their children; the season comes to an end. But, as any show on the premium channels, we are left with an idea of the future. However, before talking about that, we must note the recent past.
Topic 1: The Fall of Bill Masters
With everything set in place, Bill's big reveal of his study is minutes away. He has given the audience members cocktails, has this weird, almost out of character, charm as he begins, and then he drops the video of Virginia masturbating and then it seems all he has worked for, and all he has said, gets thrown out the window for he has committed something obscene on hospital grounds. Thus leading to the fall of Bill Masters. A man who brought fame, and money, to the hospital to the point he got a significant cut of each patient he got.
However, his ego seemingly surpassed the openness of his audience. Bill, after seemingly pissing off the school's chancellor, finds himself and his research to be like Darwin noting natural selection, and Lester chimes in that his work will be like Elvis' hips. Censored now, but the norm later. But, due to the fact said future is far off, Bill pays for his presentation.
The sad thing is though, he seemingly wouldn't be going down alone. And no, despite Virginia's help, she isn't the one to go down with him, though Dr. DePaul, during Bill's presentation, seems to try to defend her new friend not being mentioned when it comes to her part in the study. But, considering what happened post-presentation, perhaps this is for the best. Still though, there is the question of who goes down with Bill? Well, it is no other than Barton Scully.
Topic 2: The Complicated Life of Barton Scully
As we already know, Barton is a self-hating homosexual to the point he would get shock therapy to "fix" himself. But, with shock therapy, as Margaret knows, comes memory loss and the chance that more than his sexuality maybe changed, but the man she loved. The one who would let her win at tennis, the one who knew how to make their daughter smile, and though she isn't sure if she can stay married to the man who cannot passionately love her, she doesn't want to lose this mean she spent decades with either. So, she says that he shouldn't get the treatments done, but his mind seems made up. He considers his greatest accomplishments in life to be his family and Bill, and though he knows Bill will be OK no matter what, his family is on the brink of the end.
Leading me to talk about the relationship between Bill and Scully. As we saw probably somewhere near the first half of the season, Barton has been Bill's father figure. The man he could look up to for his own father was a piece of poo. And in this episode, we are reminded, despite the blackmail, that Barton really does mean something to Bill, and vice-versa. Even to the point as when both Bill and Barton were due to be fired, Bill throws himself in front of the bus so Barton may get a little scraped, but it would only be Bill's job that would end that day.
Topic 3: The Men in Virginia's Life
As Virginia tries to be to Dr. DePaul what she was to Bill, she finds herself in a rather awkward position. You see, as Ethan has come back into her life, as if he never hit her, he has now become someone her kids know well, seemingly love, and even miss when he is gone. Making it so when he gets a job at UCLA and proposes to Virginia, this presents a complication. First, and foremost, she has a job currently helping Dr. DePaul, a woman who may have the same coldness Virginia originally found in Bill, but her social awkwardness comes from having one to many fights in which she may have won, but didn't leave without scars and bruising, and not all of them being physical. Then comes the issue of moving her kids so far from their father that there maybe even a less chance of them seeing him. But perhaps the biggest issue, naturally, is Bill Masters. After all the drama, scorn and childish ways, Bill ends up at Virginia's doorstep. He has just been fired, unknowingly just became a father, and goes to the one woman who was his match, the missing puzzle piece, and the one who made him not just a better person, but a better doctor and researcher. Leaving Virginia with a man at her doorstep who just confessed his love and a man in California who just proposed.
Overall
Though while watching the episode it seemed to not be as strong as past episodes, reflecting on it made me realize that this was meant to summarize everything. Be it Virginia's journey; Dr. DePaul's journey; Barton's journey; Bill's journey; or even that of Ethan's. Despite there being no flashbacks, it is hard to not think over all we have seen over the past 12 episodes and not wonder how did they not only keep our attention, but remain deserving of it? So, though the season maybe at its end, we are left knowing there is, thankfully, more to come soon. Here is to next season!
After 12 episodes of us watching people have sex; getting to know the doctors, their significant others, and their children; the season comes to an end. But, as any show on the premium channels, we are left with an idea of the future. However, before talking about that, we must note the recent past.
Topic 1: The Fall of Bill Masters
With everything set in place, Bill's big reveal of his study is minutes away. He has given the audience members cocktails, has this weird, almost out of character, charm as he begins, and then he drops the video of Virginia masturbating and then it seems all he has worked for, and all he has said, gets thrown out the window for he has committed something obscene on hospital grounds. Thus leading to the fall of Bill Masters. A man who brought fame, and money, to the hospital to the point he got a significant cut of each patient he got.
However, his ego seemingly surpassed the openness of his audience. Bill, after seemingly pissing off the school's chancellor, finds himself and his research to be like Darwin noting natural selection, and Lester chimes in that his work will be like Elvis' hips. Censored now, but the norm later. But, due to the fact said future is far off, Bill pays for his presentation.
The sad thing is though, he seemingly wouldn't be going down alone. And no, despite Virginia's help, she isn't the one to go down with him, though Dr. DePaul, during Bill's presentation, seems to try to defend her new friend not being mentioned when it comes to her part in the study. But, considering what happened post-presentation, perhaps this is for the best. Still though, there is the question of who goes down with Bill? Well, it is no other than Barton Scully.
Topic 2: The Complicated Life of Barton Scully
As we already know, Barton is a self-hating homosexual to the point he would get shock therapy to "fix" himself. But, with shock therapy, as Margaret knows, comes memory loss and the chance that more than his sexuality maybe changed, but the man she loved. The one who would let her win at tennis, the one who knew how to make their daughter smile, and though she isn't sure if she can stay married to the man who cannot passionately love her, she doesn't want to lose this mean she spent decades with either. So, she says that he shouldn't get the treatments done, but his mind seems made up. He considers his greatest accomplishments in life to be his family and Bill, and though he knows Bill will be OK no matter what, his family is on the brink of the end.
Leading me to talk about the relationship between Bill and Scully. As we saw probably somewhere near the first half of the season, Barton has been Bill's father figure. The man he could look up to for his own father was a piece of poo. And in this episode, we are reminded, despite the blackmail, that Barton really does mean something to Bill, and vice-versa. Even to the point as when both Bill and Barton were due to be fired, Bill throws himself in front of the bus so Barton may get a little scraped, but it would only be Bill's job that would end that day.
Topic 3: The Men in Virginia's Life
As Virginia tries to be to Dr. DePaul what she was to Bill, she finds herself in a rather awkward position. You see, as Ethan has come back into her life, as if he never hit her, he has now become someone her kids know well, seemingly love, and even miss when he is gone. Making it so when he gets a job at UCLA and proposes to Virginia, this presents a complication. First, and foremost, she has a job currently helping Dr. DePaul, a woman who may have the same coldness Virginia originally found in Bill, but her social awkwardness comes from having one to many fights in which she may have won, but didn't leave without scars and bruising, and not all of them being physical. Then comes the issue of moving her kids so far from their father that there maybe even a less chance of them seeing him. But perhaps the biggest issue, naturally, is Bill Masters. After all the drama, scorn and childish ways, Bill ends up at Virginia's doorstep. He has just been fired, unknowingly just became a father, and goes to the one woman who was his match, the missing puzzle piece, and the one who made him not just a better person, but a better doctor and researcher. Leaving Virginia with a man at her doorstep who just confessed his love and a man in California who just proposed.
Overall
Though while watching the episode it seemed to not be as strong as past episodes, reflecting on it made me realize that this was meant to summarize everything. Be it Virginia's journey; Dr. DePaul's journey; Barton's journey; Bill's journey; or even that of Ethan's. Despite there being no flashbacks, it is hard to not think over all we have seen over the past 12 episodes and not wonder how did they not only keep our attention, but remain deserving of it? So, though the season maybe at its end, we are left knowing there is, thankfully, more to come soon. Here is to next season!
