Michael Sheen’s acclaimed 2013 drama Masters of Sex has found a new wave of popularity among British audiences, currently ranking as one of the most-watched series on Prime Video UK. The show, originally broadcast from 2013 to 2016, is based on Thomas Maier’s biography Masters of Sex: The Life and Times of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, and centres on the real-life research duo whose groundbreaking work in human sexuality marked a turning point in 20th-century science and culture.
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Set in the 1950s and 60s, the period drama follows Dr William Masters (played by Sheen) and Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan) as they navigate the professional and social complexities of researching human sexual behaviour at a time of cultural conservatism. All four seasons are now available to stream, and its inclusion in Prime Video UK’s ‘Popular TV Shows’ category signals renewed viewer interest in this thought-provoking series.
Critics at the time of its release praised the show for its intelligent writing and nuanced performances. Masters of Sex currently holds a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 59 reviews. The Observer’s Andrew Anthony remarked: “It’s a terrible title, but the story is a cracker.” Meanwhile, Us Weekly called it “evocative and provocative,” noting its insightful depiction of how the research contributed to the women’s liberation movement. Entertainment Weekly described it as “that rare show that’s clever enough to have it both ways.”
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Other reviews were similarly enthusiastic. The Guardian highlighted its role in chronicling a pivotal era in the sexual revolution, praising the strength of its dialogue. The Los Angeles Times called it “easy to watch and to recommend,” noting the depth of its performances. Slant Magazine reflected that the series excelled “when it abandons its vaguely intimate depiction of sex and allows its subjects to become fully enveloped in the importance and strange beauty of the undiscovered frontier they’re exploring.”
