7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Drama about the pioneers of the science of human sexuality whose research touched off the sexual revolution.
Biography | 100% |
History | 60% |
Period | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
See individual releases
None
Blu-ray Disc
Eight-disc set (8 BDs)
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 2.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
It has been said that money makes the world go 'round. It's also been said that love makes the world go 'round. The Stylistics once said people make the world go 'round. But ignoring any laws of physics, celestial alignments, and the like, it's probably "love" that, of those three, most likely actually makes the world go (proverbially) 'round. Why? Love invariably leads to sex (though of course love sometimes has nothing to do with it) and sex invariably leads to new generations of human beings who continue to propagate the species. But sex isn't always as simple as it seems to be by the textbook definition of how the act is performed. The human condition is often the biggest obstacle to it, physically and mentally alike, and for as simple as it should be, it sometimes requires some outside help to not just perform the act, but too understand the act, how it affects the brain and the body alike. Masters of Sex, based on the biographical books of the same name by Thomas Maier and developed by Michelle Ashford for television, was a Showtime exclusive that ran for four seasons from 2013-2016 and starred Michael Sheen and Caitlin FitzGerald as Dr. William and Libby Masters, respectively, and Lizzy Caplan as Virginia Johnson, the threesome who comprised the "Masters and Johnson" sexual research team that redefined both biological and psychological truths behind sex through the 1960s and beyond.
He's watching...studying...learning...
Masters of Sex: The Complete Series isn't a master of Blu-ray. The 1080p video presentation, as the show begins, is riddled by severe compression artifacts that results in significant macroblocking, poor noise management, and unconvincing and shaky structural integrity. Backgrounds are devoured by instability and banding, low light results in severe macroblocking, and the image just looks sloppy and unkempt throughout. Detailing fares well enough at-a-glance and sometimes for extended stretches, with basic skin, clothes, and environmental textures fairly well defined, but the image is hindered by the incessant artifact barrage. At its best, the core detailing can overcome the faults, in those not uncommon, but not frequent, moments when the stars align, image crispness and clarity elevate, and artifacts subside from their heights. By the end episode, the compression issues remain but don't appear quite so intense as the beginning. Colors fare better overall, with relatively healthy flesh tones, nicely saturated clothes and furnishings, vibrant red lipstick, and stable backgrounds in offices, homes, and other locales. At its best, the image rises to respectability, which makes it watchable, particularly if one isn't viewing it for scrutiny but rather as background television or on a smaller monitor. Videophiles will certainly scoff regardless, but viewers less sensitive to video shortcomings should find it a passable watch.
Masters of Sex: The Complete Series features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack for the entire four season run. The show's sonic needs are generally minimal, as one might expect. The occasional prominent effect is handled well, from crashes to heavier din. The track will never extend the subwoofer or the surround channels to maximum, but both do engage from time to time, the latter in particular in order to carry environmental support, the occasional heavier din, or reverberation such as when characters address a gathering right at the show's outset, which also features gently wrapping applause. Music remains largely the property of the front channels. Clarity and width are both fine. Dialogue drives the majority of screen time, and the spoken word rarely stumbles away from the high points of clarity, positioning, and prioritization.
Masters of Sex: The Complete Series does contain special features throughout the set. Deleted scenes, found on discs one-four, can only be
found after clicking on an
individual episode. Additional supplements on discs seven and eight are listed under a "bonus" tab. The supplements are simply ports of everything
Sony included in the season one and two releases, just spread out little differently throughout this eight-disc set. This set ships with each two-disc
season
housed in a standard sized Blu-ray case, all four of which are tucked into a slip box that is of typical quality for a Mill Creek television release, read
fairly flimsy and easily damaged in shipping or in slightly rough handling.
Season One, Disc One:
Masters of Sex starts strong but begins to fade through season three. Maybe Sony was wise to cut the Blu-ray releases short, but kudos to Mill Creek for picking it up, anyway, even if it doesn't climax as well as it began. The studio's full-series Blu-ray box set presents a conundrum of sorts for would-be buyers. Sony's previous seasons one and two discs are superior, often vastly so, in terms of video reproduction. Mill Creek's set just cannot match the Sony for compression and total quality of presentation. On the other hand, it's the only way to own seasons three and four on the high definition format. Even owning both sets will result in many aghast fans making the switchover to Mill Creek for the final two seasons. The show will look fine on a smaller television and/or at a greater viewing distance. Perhaps watching on a secondary home theater in a bedroom would be the ideal way to enjoy the show. Anyone watching on a very large screen and at a relatively close distance will find it borderline unwatchable. The 5.1 lossless audio fares well enough and Mill Creek has included all of the Sony supplements, just spread out over the entire series run rather than thrown on the seasons one and two discs. Recommended only for fans who can enjoy the show while looking beyond the flawed video presentation.
2013
With Bonus Disc
2013
2014
2015
2016
2014
2016
2017
2017
2018
2011
2015
2017
2013
2021
2018
2014
2008
Director's Cut
2017
2010
2011
2018
Collector's Edition
2010
2019
2013