William Masters and Virginia Johnson are real-life pioneers of the science of human sexuality. Their research touched off the sexual revolution and took them from a midwestern teaching hospital to the cover of Time magazine and multiple appearances on Johnny Carson's couch. He is a brilliant scientist out of touch with his own feelings, and she is a single working mother ahead of her time. The series chronicles their unusual lives, romance, and unlikely pop culture trajectory.
William Masters and Virginia Johnson are real-life pioneers of the science of human sexuality. Their research touched off the sexual revolution and took them from a midwestern teaching hospital to the cover of Time magazine and multiple appearances on Johnny Carson's couch. He is a brilliant scientist out of touch with his own feelings, and she is a single working mother ahead of her time. The series chronicles their unusual lives, romance, and unlikely pop culture trajectory.
Season 2 episodes
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Masters deals with the ramifications of his disastrous presentation and being fired from the hospital. Meanwhile, Libby urges Masters to get another job; and Virginia fights off advances and innuendos stemming from the belief that she was the woman in Master's explicit film.
Episode credits
Directed by Michael AptedWritten by Michelle AshfordGuest stars Nicholas D'Agosto, Chris Conner, Jed Rees, Lauren Pritchard, Mark Pestana, Kyla Deaver, Will Jennings, Michael D. Rice
Masters begins a new job at Memorial Hospital under Betty's extortion terms only to discover that his boss insists he leave Virginia behind in favor of a handpicked secretary. Meanwhile, Johnson is torn between pressing Masters to rehire her and staying by DePaul's side as her condition worsens.
Episode credits
Directed by Michael AptedWritten by David FlebotteGuest stars Rose McIver, Evan Arnold, Melinda Page Hamilton, Ana Walczak, Larry Poindexter, Gareth Williams, Lucas Dixon, Will Doughty
Masters delivers a baby with ambiguous genitalia and urges the parents not to surgically assign the child a sex out of fear or convenience. Meeting Virginia at a hotel for a secret rendezvous, the two of them divide their attention between sexual role-play and a championship boxing match, prompting Virginia to unearth the truth of Masters'' troubled childhood.
Episode credits
Directed by Michael AptedWritten by Amy LippmanGuest stars Josh Randall, Sarah Sido, Jonathan T. Floyd, Alexa Alemanni, Susie Schelling, George Mackey, Jora Senane, Amber Marie Hunt
Langham observes Masters and Johnson exiting a hotel room and shares his suspicions with DePaul, who is forced to make plans for her work without Virginia's involvement. Meanwhile, Betty attempts to conceal her infertility from Gene; and Masters tries to bring Johnson aboard as his assistant only to be thwarted by the head of the hospital, who takes a prurient interest in Masters' study.
Episode credits
Directed by Michael EnglerWritten by Steven LevensonGuest stars Mariel Neto, René Auberjonois, Rya Kihlstedt, Danny Huston, Kerry O'Malley, Rebekah Ward, Brianne Davis, Michael Bunin
Masters continues to break new ground by continuing his study as the only white physician in a Negro hospital but at the cost of his gynecology practice. Libby is confronted by Coral's boyfriend, Robert, over her poor treatment of Coral, Betty reunites with her former lover, and Johnson struggles to right her relationship with DePaul - who is newly aware of Johnson's ongoing affair with Masters.
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Directed by Jeremy WebbWritten by Bathsheba DoranGuest stars Melanie Paxson, Brandon Scott, Drew Rausch, Jay Ellis, Jillian Reeves, Vivian Kerr, Cutter Garcia, Jules L. Ford
After Hendricks bans Masters from using black participants in his study, Masters contacts a journalist to promote his efforts, using the debunking of sexual stereotypes as the lure. Johnson is forced to accept DePaul's choice to end her chemotherapy treatments. Gene uncovers the truth about Betty and Helen's relationship. Libby fires Coral after discovering she lied about Robert.
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Directed by Keith GordonWritten by Eileen MyersGuest stars Julianne Nicholson, Greg Grunberg, Keke Palmer, Johnny Sneed, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jeremiah Birkett, Courtney B. Vance, Doug Tompos
In the wake of Masters' discovery that Johnson has continued to have romantic relationships with other men, he becomes impotent without her knowledge and cuts off their sexual work together. He tries to keep his new clinic solvent over the course of three years by borrowing against his house, offering medical services to the hotel - and finally accepting money from his mother.
Episode credits
Directed by Michael DinnerWritten by Michelle Ashford, David FlebotteGuest stars Kevin Christy, Elizabeth Bogush, Barry Watson, Nicole Steinwedell, Kevin Shinick, Yvans Jourdain, Jeff Schine, Nick Smoke
Masters privately treats a couple for infertility, without revealing his relationship to them. Johnson realizes her work with Masters can be used to help people suffering from sexual dysfunction - but quickly gets in over her head when she attempts to treat Barbara Sanderson on her own. Libby is unnerved after witnessing a hate crime that is then whitewashed by the police.
Episode credits
Directed by Michael AptedWritten by Steven LevensonGuest stars Kevin Christy, Peri Gilpin, Alex Wyse, David Starzyk, Kate Romond, Mike Mahaffey, Ross Kettle, Roy Hurst
Virginia continues to impersonate a patient's case history in order to glean advice from a psychiatrist. Betty and Masters' attempt to remedy Lester's impotence by hiring a prostitute rattles him even further. Libby gets the third degree when she offers her eyewitness testimony regarding the beaten man. And Barbara Sanders wrestles with an unsettling diagnosis that exposes a chain of secrets and causes Masters and Johnson to clash over their treatment strategy.
Episode credits
Directed by Jeremy WebbWritten by Amy LippmanGuest stars Kevin Christy, Sterling K. Brown, Erin Cummings, Larry Joshua, Leonard Earl Howze, Michael Carnegie, Cary Huff, Alex Urbom
Masters learns of a rival study and calls in a public relations expert to help brand his work with Johnson. Virginia, having finally learned of Masters' sexual difficulties, is invigorated by the prospect of finding a cure. Determined to prove her worth to Robert, Libby canvases a tenement for a rent strike. Plus, Langham is stunned when Flo informs him that he has to have sex with her in order to keep his job. And Barbara and Lester connect over their shared sexual dysfunctions.
Episode credits
Directed by Adam ArkinWritten by Bathsheba Doran, Eileen MyersGuest stars Kevin Christy, Ann Dowd, Marin Ireland, Christian Borle, Karimah Westbrook, Karissa Lee Staples, Baadja-Lyne Odums, Mataeo Mingo
A television crew arrives at the clinic to document Masters and Johnson's work treating sexual dysfunction. Masters considers the publicity premature, and himself unsuitable as a television presence. Virginia deals with the fallout of having prioritized her work over her parenting when George argues to take their children on a trip with his new wife. Plus, Libby finds in Robert an appreciation for what she has to offer. And Langham realizes there's no way out of his sexual contract with Flo.
Episode credits
Directed by Adam BernsteinWritten by Amy LippmanGuest stars Kevin Christy, Marc Evan Jackson, Scott Michael Campbell, Andy Milder, Lance Barber, Derk Cheetwood, Kandis Fay, Charles Christopher
After watching an early cut of the documentary, Masters is disturbed by the portrayal of his work. Johnson's move to solidify her custody arrangement with George backfires. Finding justification in Masters' distraction, Libby continues her relationship with Robert. Langham discovers Flo's family's wealth and connections, causing him to re-evaluate his relationship with her. And after repeated testing of their protocol to cure impotence, Masters and Johnson feel they are ready to cure sexual dysfunction.
Episode credits
Directed by Adam ArkinWritten by Michelle AshfordGuest stars Nicholas D'Agosto, Kevin Christy, Betsy Brandt, Cole Sand, Kayla Madison, Artemis Pebdani, Jocko Sims, Adam Arkin
