Season of television series
| Masters of Sex | |
|---|---|
| Season 4 | |
 Season 4 promotional poster | |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Release | |
| Original network | Showtime |
| Original release | September 11 (2016-09-11) – November 13, 2016 (2016-11-13) |
| Season chronology | |
| ← Previous Season 3 | |
| List of episodes | |
The fourth and final season of the American television drama series Masters of Sex premiered on September 11, 2016, and concluded on November 13, 2016, consisting of 10 episodes. Showtime broadcast the fourth season on Sundays at 10:00 pm (ET) in the United States. On November 30, 2016, shortly after the season ended, Showtime announced that the series had been cancelled.
The series was developed for television by Michelle Ashford and is based on the biography Masters of Sex: The Life and Times of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, the Couple Who Taught America How to Love by Thomas Maier. Masters of Sex tells the story of Dr. William Masters (Michael Sheen) and Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan), two pioneering researchers of human sexuality at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. The fourth season takes place in 1968 and 1969.
Cast
Main
- Michael Sheen as Dr. William Masters
- Lizzy Caplan as Virginia Johnson
- Caitlin FitzGerald as Libby Masters
- Annaleigh Ashford as Betty Dimello
Recurring
- Beau Bridges as Barton Scully
- Kevin Christy as Lester Linden
- Nick Clifford as Guy
- Frances Fisher as Edna Eshelman
- Isabelle Fuhrman as Tessa Johnson
- Betty Gilpin as Nancy Leveau
- Danny Jacobs as Bob Drag
- Erin Karpluk as Darleen Connolly
- Jack Laufer as Herb Spleeb
- Jaeden Lieberher as Johnny Masters
- Niecy Nash as Louise Bell
- Kelli O'Hara as Dody Oliver
- Michael O'Keefe as Harry Eshelman
- Alysia Reiner as Anita
- Teddy Sears as Dr. Austin Langham
- Sarah Silverman as Helen
- Jeremy Strong as Art Dreesen
- David Walton as Bram Keller
- Ashley Zukerman as Gary Diebold
Guests
- Judy Greer as Alice Logan
- Andre Royo as Sammy Davis Jr.
Production
The series was renewed for a 12-episode fourth season on August 11, 2015, by Showtime; however, the episode count was later reduced to 10. In June 2016, production began in Los Angeles and several recurring roles for the season were announced, including Niecy Nash, Betty Gilpin, Erin Karpluk, Alysia Reiner, Jeremy Strong, Ashley Zukerman, and David Walton. In July 2016, it was announced that Andre Royo would be playing Sammy Davis Jr. and in August 2016, it was announced that Kelli O'Hara had been cast in a recurring role.
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | US viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | 1 | "Freefall" | Colin Bucksey | Michelle Ashford | September 2, 2016 (2016-09-02) (online) September 11, 2016 (2016-09-11) (Showtime) | 0.518 | |
| Betty struggles to keep the clinic afloat as the Masters and Johnson partnership appears to be dead. Masters' legal woes continue to pile up. Johnson attempts to publish a column through Hugh Hefner. Hefner sees this as an opportunity to reunite the sex experts. Libby expresses her rage against Masters. | |||||||
| 38 | 2 | "Inventory" | Jeremy Webb | Steven Levenson | September 18, 2016 (2016-09-18) | 0.420 | |
| Masters and Johnson return to work and fulfill their commitment to hire new partners for both of them: Masters hires Nancy Leveau (Betty Gilpin) as a partner and Johnson goes through several candidates before ultimately hiring Art Dreesen (Jeremy Strong). Libby gets a job. | |||||||
| 39 | 3 | "The Pleasure Protocol" | Adam Arkin | Ellen Fairey | September 25, 2016 (2016-09-25) | 0.422 | |
| Alice Logan (Judy Greer) returns and informs Masters that Johnson never married Dan Logan. Masters assembles his legal team. Johnson continues a self-destructive spiral. Nancy and Art's marriage is exposed. | |||||||
| 40 | 4 | "Coats or Keys" | Colin Bucksey | Amy Lippman | October 2, 2016 (2016-10-02) | 0.525 | |
| Art and Nancy host a swingers party attended by Masters, Johnson, Betty, Libby, and Lester (all of whom unaware of the kind of party they are at). Masters and Libby reexamine their marriage. Johnson confronts her feelings toward Masters. | |||||||
| 41 | 5 | "Outliers" | Eric Galileo Tignini | Esta Spalding | October 9, 2016 (2016-10-09) | 0.341 | |
| Masters and Johnson go to court to settle their outstanding legal case. Masters rekindles his relationship with Libby. Johnson attempts to salvage their book deal. Art and Nancy discover that the clinic is being bugged. Helen must conceal her relationship with Betty from her conservative parents. | |||||||
| 42 | 6 | "Family Only" | Colin Bucksey | Seth Fisher | October 16, 2016 (2016-10-16) | 0.506 | |
| Johnson makes continued attempts to rekindle her romance with Masters. Masters and Johnson suspect that their book agent is a closeted homosexual. Nancy and Johnson's disagreements reach a boiling point. Helen goes into labor. Libby visits a nudist colony. | |||||||
| 43 | 7 | "In To Me You See" | Michael Apted | Matthew-Lee Erlbach | October 23, 2016 (2016-10-23) | 0.486 | |
| Masters gives Art authority to begin studying homosexuals. Johnson and Nancy investigate self-proclaimed sex gurus stealing the clinic's techniques. Masters' AA sponsor (Niecy Nash) requests help reinvigorating her sex life with her paraplegic husband. | |||||||
| 44 | 8 | "Topeka" | Julie Anne Robinson | Esta Spalding | October 30, 2016 (2016-10-30) | 0.393 | |
| Masters and Johnson go undercover to investigate charletons pirating their methods. Masters uses this trip to reconnect with a past lover (Kelli O'Hara). Nancy takes advantage of their absence by developing a plan to start her own clinic with Art. Libby considers going to law school. | |||||||
| 45 | 9 | "Night and Day" | Karyn Kusama | Steven Levenson | November 6, 2016 (2016-11-06) | 0.463 | |
| Masters learns that Louise has fallen off the wagon. Johnson is distraught to hear that her parents' marriage is crumbling. Libby and Bram get caught in traffic. Nancy lies to Art regarding her pregnancy. | |||||||
| 46 | 10 | "The Eyes of God" | Michael Apted | Michelle Ashford | November 13, 2016 (2016-11-13) | 0.457 | |
| Series finale. Masters and Johnson announce their engagement. Nancy's competing business venture is exposed. Masters and Johnson signal to their publisher that they are open to the study of conversion therapy, although their first "success" story appears to be anything but. Libby leaves for California. | |||||||
Reception
The fourth season has received generally positive reviews from critics. It has a Metacritic score of 70 out of 100 based on 5 reviews.
References
- Holloway, Daniel (June 1, 2016). "'Shameless,' 'The Affair,' 'Masters of Sex' Season Premiere Dates Set at Showtime". Variety. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- Gelman, Vlada (November 30, 2016). "Masters of Sex Is Done at Showtime". TVLine. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
- Ausiello, Michael (August 11, 2015). "Ray Donovan, Masters of Sex Renewed for Season 4 at Showtime". TVLine. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
- "Masters of Sex". The Futon Critic. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
- Stanhope, Kate (June 9, 2016). "'Masters of Sex' Adds Niecy Nash, 'Nurse Jackie's' Betty Gilpin for Season 4". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- Gelman, Vlada (June 8, 2016). "Masters of Sex Season 4: Being Erica Star Books Multi-Episode Arc". TVLine. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- Petski, Denise (June 17, 2016). "'Masters Of Sex': Alysia Reiner, Jeremy Strong & Ashley Zukerman Join Season 4 Cast". Deadline. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- Andreeva, Nellie (June 24, 2016). "'Masters of Sex' Adds David Walton For Season 4". Deadline. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
- Cavassuto, Maria (July 6, 2016). "TV News Roundup: Andre Royo Joins 'Masters of Sex' Season 4 & More". Variety. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- Ausiello, Michael (August 4, 2016). "Masters of Sex Recruits Kelli O'Hara as Masters' Long-Lost Love in Season 4". TVLine. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- Metcalf, Mitch (September 13, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 9.11.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
- Metcalf, Mitch (September 20, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 9.18.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
- Metcalf, Mitch (September 27, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 9.25.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on September 28, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
- Metcalf, Mitch (October 4, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.2.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on October 4, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
- Metcalf, Mitch (October 11, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.9.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
- Metcalf, Mitch (October 18, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.16.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
- Metcalf, Mitch (October 25, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.23.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
- Metcalf, Mitch (November 1, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 10.30.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on November 2, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
- Metcalf, Mitch (November 8, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.6.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on November 8, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
- Metcalf, Mitch (November 15, 2016). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.13.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
- "Masters of Sex - Season 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
External links
| Masters of Sex | |
|---|---|
| Episodes |
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| Related | |