Showtime Renews ‘Masters of Sex’ and ‘Ray Donovan’ for Season 3 in 2015

Showtime's critically-acclaimed period piece 'Masters of Sex' and fixer drama 'Ray Donovan' have always run on parallel tracks, both emerging in 2013 and getting paired together for summer season 2 Sundays in 2014. Now, both series are set to continue their relationship another year, as showtime has officially renewed both 'Masters of Sex' and 'Ray Donovan' to return for third seasons in 2015.

Granted 'Masters of Sex' hasn't quite achieved the buzzing high of its inaugural season, its five Emmy nominations, among them a first for series star Lizzy Caplan, surely cemented its value to the network. Likewise, 'Ray Donovan' pulls in a surprising 5 million viewers per week, and netted its own Emmy nomination for supporting star Jon Voight.

Says Showtime president David Nevins of the 12-episode renewals:

Both Ray Donovan and Masters of Sex are quintessentially Showtime: bold, provocative, premium television with production values at the top of the food chain. These acclaimed shows are filled with complex and interesting characters and settings that will no doubt give audiences compelling television to invest in for seasons to come.

This season alone, 'Masters of Sex' season 2 added 'Smash' Star Christian Borle, Rene Auberjoinois, Courtney B. Vance, comedian Sarah Silverman, ‘Akeelah and the Bee’ star Keke Palmer and ‘American Horror Story: Coven‘ star Danny Huston. 'Donovan' meanwhile,' brought in for season 2 former 'The Michael J. Fox Show' star Wendell Pierce, ‘Simpsons‘ vet Hank Azaria, 'Star Trek' star Brent Spiner, and 'The Hills Have Eyes' star Vinessa Shaw.

We're admittedly more excited by a third season for 'Masters of Sex' than 'Ray Donovan,' but what say you? Are you relieved to see both series will return for season 3 in 2015?