The increasing maturity of modern television has led to a notable rise in increasingly brave shows. Few series have ever epitomized that idea more than Masters of Sex, which clearly advertised its provocative nature directly in its title. Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and network executives have to know when to pull the plug. With that in mind we have officially learned that after four seasons on Showtime Masters of Sex has officially been cancelled.
A brand new report from Deadline confirms that Showtime has decided not to pursue another season of Masters of Sex. The 10-episode fourth season of the period drama saw its season finale earlier this month on November 10, and it seems that season finale will now serve as Masters of Sex's de facto series finale. Over the course of the show's four seasons it garnered numerous nominations for several prestigious accolades, and it even helped Allison Janney take home an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series in 2014.
Masters of Sex will undoubtedly be remembered for its stylish and edgy content. Loosely biographical in nature, the series followed Dr. William Masters (Michael Sheen) and Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan) as they conducted research in the field of human sexuality in the 1950s and 1960s -- hence the title of the series. Much of the series' drama hinged on the relationship between Masters and Johnson, and it's rumored that the Showtime executives felt that the Season 4 finale -- which saw the two characters finally marry one another -- served as a perfect send-off for the highly regarded series.
Although Masters of Sex fans will likely be saddened to learn of the show's cancellation, it's not necessarily the most surprising development for the series. Masters of Sex consistently performed well with critics, and it's become widely recognized as a central player in the Golden Age of Television. However, when compared with other series on the Showtime lineup (specifically, Shameless and Ray Donovan) its overall ratings left quite a bit to be desired; it simply didn't perform up to the standards of Showtime's other series.
What are your thoughts on the cancellation of Masters of Sex? Do you think the Season 4 finale served as a perfect way to cap off the series, or do you think the show deserved a proper series finale? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below!
CinemaBlend will bring you any and all relevant details related to the cancellation of Masters of Sex as new information becomes available to us. For now, make sure to check out our comprehensive midseason premiere guide to get more information regarding all of this spring's most highly anticipated television debuts!
