The pilot launched on Channel 4 last night (October 8), featuring Sheen as real-life gynaecologist William H Masters and Caplan as his researcher sexologist Virginia E Johnson.
The show has gathered a mixed response, as shown below in our round-up of opinions from across the web.
The Critics
Metro: "Lizzy Caplan was charming and witty as Virginia but it was a little hard to believe her to be a woman of the 1950s, just one example of a slightly Hollywoodised approach that occasionally undermined the intent behind Masters of Sex. But Sheen's intense and believably inhibited William held it together, while the odd shaft of humour - Beau Bridges, holding a large electric dildo and saying: 'I don't like where this is going' - provided light relief."
The Daily Telegraph: "The soapy, chalk and cheese depiction of Masters's and Johnson's relationship so far - him the repressed, dedicated man of science, her the shackle-breaking uninhibited earth mother - had just a little too much convenience and cliché about it. But Sheen and Caplan were good despite this, and for all its occasional sludginess the script had moments of sparkle too. Can I see myself staying the course? Not really, but I might catch one more episode, just to make sure."
The Huffington Post: "With high production values, a slick cast and a strong script, this show sits higher up the timeline that leads to Don Draper and his Mad Men, with a powerful enough narrative to make you lie back, enjoy the story and, almost, forget about the sex."
What to Read Next
The Independent: "Matthew Weiner's drama inspires viewer nostalgia for smart dress codes and socially acceptable daytime drinking, the contemporary parallels in Masters of Sex are much more immediately obvious."
Is my love of Lizzy Caplan enough to get me past my revulsion at Michael Sheen? #mastersofsex
— Jacqueline Chell (@blowupchurch) October 8, 2013
Channel 4 have gone all naughty lately. What's on tomorrow night? Just an hour long montage of genitals? #MastersOfSex #sexbox
— Alexandra Gaunt (@pallydandra01) October 8, 2013
Masters Of Sex was really good
— Daisy Duke (@charmeleonxo) October 9, 2013
Masters of Sex, masterfully done.
— Niki Jon Tolentino (@njytolentino) October 9, 2013
The Forums
Mumof3: "I thought it lacked any substance, and the writing was pretty lazy for an opening episode. Can't imagine I'll stick around for another 11 of them."
xander63: "Absolutely love this drama, recommend everyone watch this as it's so engrossing!"
Sad_BB_Addict: "I've seen the first 3 eps, and I think it really gets into its stride by ep.3, so don't give up before then!"
LostFool: "I found the first episode to be err... interesting. Martin Sheen is a fantastic actor but I found that it dragged a little too much in parts. It could have done with pruning down to a shorter episode length."
Jonwo: "I liked it although it'll be interesting should it get further seasons how they develop the story since the study was over a long period."
What did you think of Masters of Sex? Let us know in the comments below!
