Amid the flashy dramas and much-hyped comedies that premiered this fall, a quieter, more adult show also debuted on the small screen - and though it hasn't received the same attention as other notable series like Scandal" (2012-present) have, it is still very much worth watching.
Showtime's "Masters of Sex" is based on the true story of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, who conducted pioneering - and ultimately revolutionary - research on human sexuality starting in the 1950s. The show picks up at the beginning of this relationship when Dr. Masters (Michael Sheen), a highly respected physician at Washington University in St. Louis, hires single mother Johnson (Lizzy Caplan) as his assistant. The two begin work on a secretive and controversial study monitoring the effects of sex on the human body.
"Masters" works well for many reasons, one of which is its two lead actors. Although hearing Sheen (who is British) speak in a clipped American accent is initially disconcerting, it is refreshing to see him helm a project of his own. He has spent much of his career delighting in supporting roles - think "Midnight in Paris" (2011) or his head scratching turns in the "Twilight" films - and his fleshed out take on Dr. Masters is a welcome change of pace. With the newfound opportunity to truly inhabit this role, Sheen brings intricate complexities and contradictions to his character. Dr. Masters is at once prudish and passionate, aggravating and sympathetic
