Masters of Sex - 2x05 "Giants" - Episode Discussion

[u/NicholasCajun]

Season 2 Episode 5: Giants

Aired: August 10th, 2014

Directed by: Michael Engler

Written by: Bathsheba Doran

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Masters breaks new ground by continuing his study as the only white physician in a black hospital but at the cost of his gynecology practice. Meanwhile, Libby is confronted by Robert over her poor treatment of his sister Libby; Betty reunites with her former lover; and Johnson struggles to right her relationship with DePaul, who is now aware of her ongoing affair with Masters.

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[u/d0ndada]

The speech by Bill's new boss was one of the best scenes in the series so far.

[u/HowToKillAGod → u/d0ndada]

The end scene where he (Charles) pulled down the sexual response study flier was interesting. When speaking to Bill, he made it clear he was interested in promoting civil rights and integration and that's why Bill, his sex study, and Virginia were there but wasn't exactly straightforward with his opinion of the study itself.

I think the end scene demonstrated Charles's resolve for moving history forward, as he put it, even if it means working with things he personally finds distasteful.

[u/ViralInfection → u/HowToKillAGod]

I'm divided between Charles pulling it down for because he's against the study on a moral level, or that he wants to make it difficult for masters to get new patient forcing his current ones to go to the new hospital, or that he doesn't trust want masters using the black man or woman, so he should be stuck with white patients.

Overall, I didn't expect the series to go to the race issues, but I'm digging the new angle. I still want to see more of the Scully issue though.

[u/[deleted] → u/HowToKillAGod]

I think he pulled it down because he understands the study/having white doctors at the hospital is beneficial for him/his hospital/his community, but he doesn't want Bill and Virginia to succeed from exploiting the fact that the African American hospital was their last resort. Think about it, if Bill and Virginia had a choice, they never would've set up shop there at all. They didn't even realise until they started working there that they never thought to study any non-white couples. Add in Bill's condescending racism that he doesn't even realise he has and it makes sense that the doctor is essentially just going to use Bill/the study to further promote the end of segregation.

[u/dechez → u/d0ndada]

I agree! I thought he was just some annoyed bureaucrat looking for more money at the beginning of the episode...Almost at the end a progressive mastermind...At the end an asshole who believes the ends justify the means.

[u/fralamp88]

The masturbation scene was so powerful it hurt. I think it was almost like Virginia was getting back at Bill for when he had her standing naked in front of him. It was a power play and it still is.

[u/ezekielziggy → u/fralamp88]

What's the quote, everything in life is about sex except sex, sex is about power.

[u/[deleted] → u/fralamp88]

[u/milo-and-vegemite]

I'm loving the relationship between Virginia and Lillian. It's great to see the two women who have the same kind of goals in life but from such different backgrounds. I loved the fight between Virginia and Lillian. So powerful.

[u/whammyguru]

I absolutely loved how Coral described how Robert is intimate with her to Libby. That certainly hit the spot!

Really enjoyed the episode. I am rather intrigued by Bill's new boss Hendricks. The speech he gave was a wonderful scene (as noted by others). i wasn't expecting him to pull down the flier at all after that big moment. It really brings to light the issues going on outside of the sex study that I sometimes notice less in other episodes. It also makes me wonder if Bill and Virginia will find out he's the one taking down the fliers at some point down the road.

Virginia's reaction to the compliment Bill gives (when saying she should deal with getting the patients to come there) was awesome as well. Great to see the ways their relationship moves.

[u/purplechimpanzee → u/whammyguru]

That was an absolute roasting when Coral asked Libby if she would like her to tidy up Bill's bed after hers.

[u/theveryfirsttime → u/whammyguru]

I forgot about the scene with Coral and Libby! I couldn't help but laugh, Libby looked so pitiful listening to that while sitting on her single twin size bed.

[u/[deleted] → u/whammyguru]

I loved the acting in the scene between Libby and Coral, but it seemed very unrealistic. A young girl telling her older employer about her sex life? I just don't see that happening in the place that she's in. It took a lot away for me.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

It's unlikely yes but the episode theme was about people in controlled positions taking their own form of control wherever they can. Virginia made Bill submit to her sexually, Helen forced her way back into Betty's life, Coral gloated, Robert threatened, Hendricks began to deliberately sabotage Bill's study. There's a distinct theme of people beginning to fight back against the norm.

[u/supersmileys]

My heart totally stopped when I thought Bill and Virginia were about to kiss in that scene in the hotel. But I should know better by now...

[u/theveryfirsttime]

What a fantastic episode, this season is great so far! "The hotel scene" between Virginia and Bill was so perfect; she needed a way to regain power and control over that situation, and boy did she. And I am really starting to dislike Libby so much, obviously that is the way it's being written. But I do get so much of a betty draper vibe from her now.

Also, how crazy was it to see the comparison between Bill and Virginia in the hotel room vs the scene with Libby and Bill on her bed...

[u/[deleted]]

The show is dealing with default racism really well via the Libby story. I've seen a few other reviews saying her racism is unexpected and shoehorned but that's misunderstanding how racism appears in different types of people.

Some people (even today) don't exhibit any racist tendencies until they interact with people of colour, then suddenly they're walking on egg shells, constantly pointing out race and doing all sorts of weird shit. Libby is one of those people. It was one thing for her to feel inadequate within her marriage, it's a whole other thing to feel inadequate in comparison to a young black girl. She does what she can to assert the superiority she believes she's entitled to and it backfires spectacularly because it's so obvious that even Bill can't excuse it.

It's also really important that this show gave the black characters a chance to "win". Many shows wouldn't do this at all, and would make it all about the white person's sudden realisation followed by forgiveness for the silly mistake they happened to make. This show had Coral beautifully undermine Libby's hollow marriage, had Robert take it upon himself to protect his girlfriend, and finally had Robert voice what default racism is TO a white person's face. Her stubborn refusal to not own up to her own racism is beautifully portrayed in her using someone else's newspaper to throw at the car as it drives off.

Now this is far from the only type of default racism. Did anyone catch the doctors faces as Bill figuratively fell flat on his face explaining how he was going to bring their hospital up to scratch? They also deliberately segregate the hospital to show that, hey, there was peace here...until you brought white people into the mix. Add in all the racist white patients of theirs ditching any loyalty if it means interacting with black people and it shows Bill and Virginia that the problem lies solely with white people and their default ignorance. I really hope Bill and Virginia get to self reflect because there's room here for some truly amazing dialogue and realisations.

[u/muddisoap]

I can't believe how few comments this show has on its episode discussions. A tragedy. It's a great show and deserves so much more attention.

Also, what ever happened to Provost Scully. When will we ever see that story come back. Why would you remove two of the actors in the midst of the best story in the show? Alison Janney and Beau Bridges were doing a great job and every episode without them feels hollow in a way. As if they're having a little trouble with just Bill and Virginia's story filling the entire hour. It's been ok, but a little more boring without Ethan, Provost and Wife, Vivian, Austin, Jane, Lester.

Just makes me sad they spent so much time last season developing so many fun characters and then just dispensed with them all post haste. Really frustrating to me. I know some of the characters in that list have appeared in Season 2, but not a lot and not in any fun ways. I dunno. Season 2 is just a bit disappointing right now to me. But, I just started watching the show, so I went straight through Season 1 all the way to episode 5 of Season 2 in the past week. The change in Season 2 is very stark and noticeable and its frankly quite disappointing.

Give me Provost! Jane! Lester! I mean, Jane and Lester, they just moved to LA together, after like...kissing once or something? It's just annoying. They had so much good stuff to go on and now nothing. Just Virgina and Bill, Lillian and Virginia and then Libby and Kora. Repeat. Boo.

[u/The_Milk_man]

Man watching the Masters have sex is uncomfortable.

[u/theveryfirsttime → u/The_Milk_man]

Yeah, that couldn't be over soon enough for Libby. Or me.

[u/y3llow5ub]

Love the Betty scenes. And her ex lover is played by Sarah Silverman - Sheen's IRL girlfriend!

[u/[deleted] → u/y3llow5ub]

I just verified with google. I am now heart broken. I hope all my late night fantasies of Sheen will not subside as well!

[u/OcraftyOne → u/[deleted]]

mind. blown. i had to google to see which character was michael sheen. i guess dr. masters is just so engrained in my mind I couldn't imagine him as a real person. ESPECIALLY one dating sarah silverman!

[u/prettylushh → u/y3llow5ub]

I just cannot picture them together IRL. He must be so different than his character.

[u/Xx255q]

Boy it sure is impressive how bill treats her more as an equal, you could drag a scale slowly to the center as you watch the season or even series unfold