The Best Episodes of Masters of Sex

Masters’ work on human sexuality culminates with a hospital-wide presentation of his and Johnson’s research findings. But when Masters attempts to push the envelope with the external footage of the female orgasm, the doctors’ response to the film is not what he had hoped. Meanwhile, Haas entertains a job offer at UCLA Hospital and considers what a move would mean for his relationship with Virginia. Scully pursues electroshock treatment with the hope of curing his homosexuality but Margaret has second thoughts about the risks involved.

Director: Michael Dinner

Writer: Michelle Ashford

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.

Director: Michael Apted

Writer: Amy Lippman

Johnson, Masters, Libby and Keller wind up together at a party thrown by Art and Nancy. Pairings and perspectives shift as the night wears on, until the light of day exposes the consequences of the evening.

Director: Colin Bucksey

Writer: N/A

When Masters and Johnson expand the study to include couples, they discover that the science of sex is easily complicated by the mystery of attraction. Johnson tries to connect with her son who prefers his dad. In anticipation of his baby’s impending arrival, Masters experiences anxiety about becoming a father. And Dr. Ethan Haas learns that dating the provost’s daughter could impact his medical career.

Director: Michael Apted

Writer: Michelle Ashford, Sam Shaw

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.

Director: Adam Bernstein

Writer: Amy Lippman

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.

Director: Adam Arkin

Writer: Michelle Ashford

Agendas collide as Masters, Johnson, Logan and his wife meet for a dinner.

Director: Susanna White

Writer: N/A

Johnson looks to get her relationship with Masters back on track while Masters does his best to find satisfaction elsewhere. Betty and Helen ready themselves for a new addition; Art and Nancy discuss the consequences of their party.

Director: Colin Bucksey

Writer: N/A

In the aftermath of the miscarriage, Libby and Masters travel to Miami for some much needed rest and relaxation, but Masters is drawn back into his work by a sexually adventurous couple next door. Alone in the hospital, Virginia enlists Jane in an effort to debunk Freud’s theory that one kind of female orgasm is better than another. And Langham finds an unlikely cure for his sexual dysfunction in Margaret Scully.

Director: Adam Davidson

Writer: Lynnie Greene, Richard Levine

With Johnson no longer on his team, Masters accepts Libby’s offer to help compile the study work for a hospital-wide presentation. But when Masters sees another doctor’s presentation put his colleagues to sleep, he becomes determined to grab their attention even if it means pushing through provoking, but incomplete, research. Dr. DePaul and Johnson travel to a medical convention and DePaul opens up on why her work on the Pap smear is so important. And Virginia’s ex-husband George returns to find Ethan Haas playing father to his children.

Director: Phil Abraham

Writer: Amy Lippman

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.

Director: Keith Gordon

Writer: Eileen Myers

Johnson's parents arrive unannounced. Masters takes on a promising patient.

Director: Adam Arkin

Writer: N/A

Masters and Johnson find their life's work in jeopardy. Season finale.

Director: Michael Apted

Writer: N/A

Masters and Johnson continue their sexual response study – now as participants – but Johnson fears their work may be interfering with Masters’ home life. Libby pressures Dr. Haas to resume her fertility treatments in secret. Meanwhile, Haas struggles to let go of feelings for Virginia as his relationship with Vivian deepens. And Margaret Scully, caught in her infidelity, confronts her husband on the mounting problems in their marriage.

Director: Tim Fywell

Writer: Tyler Bensinger

When Masters and Johnson decide to film external reactions in the study, they must convince Lester and Jane that their footage won’t cross the line into pornography. Haas and Vivian’s plans for a Presbyterian church wedding are sidetracked when Haas reveals he’s Jewish. Libby keeps her pregnancy a secret from Masters and instead encourages him to mend his relationship with his mother. But during late night visits to the hospital, Estabrooks observes Masters and Johnson’s intimate relationship.

Director: Jennifer Getzinger

Writer: Noelle Valdivia

The hospital takes part in a nationwide civil defense drill, and the heightened atmosphere escalates conflicts among the staff. A former study participant reveals she’s pregnant and wants to know the identity of the father. Masters and Johnson, their relationship strained after ending their study participation, butt heads on whether to maintain study confidentiality or take responsibility. Haas learns he’s been denied a future job at the hospital but wrongly assumes his breakup with Vivian is to blame. Margaret Scully seeks answers about her husband’s sexuality from an unlikely source.

Director: Lesli Linka Glatter

Writer: Sam Shaw

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.

Director: Jeremy Webb

Writer: Bathsheba Doran

Johnson and Masters' troubles come to a head as the trial begins with Keller leading the charge. Virginia does her best to revive their career as Bill faces the reality of what the charges could mean for him, Johnson and the practice.

Director: Eric Tignini

Writer: N/A

Masters and Johnson go on the road and pose as a couple to investigate practices at a competing clinic. While Bill and Virginia are away, Art, Nancy and Langham take advantage of their absence to further their own agendas.

Director: Julie Anne Robinson

Writer: N/A

Dr. William Masters, Washington University’s foremost OB/GYN, runs a successful medical practice by day and conducts a secret study of human sexuality by night. Former nightclub singer Virginia Johnson joins the hospital secretarial staff and proves herself to be an asset to Masters’ work.

Director: John Madden

Writer: Michelle Ashford

With the study back in the hospital, Masters and Johnson recruit new participants on campus. But Johnson is shocked when her ex-husband George, who’s crashing on her couch, wants to sign up. Masters’ mother comes to visit, but her new take on life stirs up painful memories of his childhood. And Libby’s attempt at playing matchmaker with Virginia and Ethan doesn’t go as smoothly as she’d hoped.

Director: Jennifer Getzinger

Writer: Amy Lippman

Masters and Johnson decide that the best way to record their study findings is to film them, but to do so they have to enlist outside help. Johnson redoubles her efforts to get a college degree, only to find that Dr. DePaul’s Basic Anatomy class is a requirement. Meanwhile, Haas and Langham – both unsure in their relationships – convince each other of the merits of being a married man. And after Margaret catches him in a compromising position, Scully takes drastic steps to control his sexual impulses.

Director: Michael Apted

Writer: Tyler Bensinger, Michael Cunningham

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.

Director: Adam Arkin

Writer: Bathsheba Doran, Eileen Myers

Masters and Johnson work to save the practice from disintegrating in the face of insurrection within the clinic. As everyone in their lives either moves on or falls away, Bill and Virginia find solace in one another. Season finale.

Director: Michael Apted

Writer: N/A

Masters and Johnson continue their research in the brothel but skewed data confirms that Masters must get the study back into the hospital. At the hospital, Johnson is surprised to learn that a distinguished new doctor on the OB/GYN floor is a woman who has no interest in female solidarity. Meanwhile, Libby struggles to conceive and Dr. Ethan Haas gets the case of a lifetime – a woman pregnant with quadruplets.

Director: Lawrence Trilling

Writer: Sam Shaw