Big Love Watch: Arc of the Covenant
HBO
Everyone thinks of Big Love as a show about a guy with three wives. They forget that it's also a show about three women who have two wives and a husband. By their belief system--shared more deeply by some of them than others--Barb, Marge and Nicki are as much married to one another as to Bill.
The second-season opening jumped directly off the events of last season's finale, at Juniper Creek (the investigation into Alby's poisoning) and at home (where Barb feels shell-shocked and humiliated after being outed at the Beehive Mother of the Year ceremony). What I liked about this episode was that the fallout from the latter--Barb leaves home temporarily, feeling unsupported and pushed around by Bill--was as much about her relationship with her sister-wives as with her husband.
Both Nicki and Marge processed the events in their own way. Chloe Sevigny had complained in interviews last season that Nicki was too unlikeable, but I think she sold the character short. Nicki's more complicated than she initially let on. She's still the pushy, ambitious Nicki we know, angling to become First Wife; and yet she also wants Barb to stay, because she genuinely believes in the religious marriage commitment, and because she is, maybe, not ready to be First Wife after all. Meanwhile, Ginnifer Goodwin beautifully played the needy-trying-to-be-brave cell phone call with Barb, cheerfully offering up solutions as fast as her panicked brain could come up with them and ending, pathetically, "Barb, I don't know if I can be married to Nicki and Bill if I'm not married to you."
Each of the women needs this marriage for different reasons. Barb, as she reaffirms to Bill, is not truly committed to polygamy, but she's struggling to make her commitment to him substitute for it. Nicki believes in plural marriage out of faith and birthright. Margene just needs to believe in a family, any kind of family, that can work. Whatever their reasons, they're still in this together--for now.
Other highlights:
* Loved the parking-lot scene, with Nicki and Marge talking to Bill in direct eyeline with him, while pretending they didn't know him.
* I always want more Harry Dean Stanton than I get, but he had a few nice scenes last night. Liked the juxtaposition of his condemning the polygamist compound that got busted--"Stupid greedy perverts"--with his attempt to buy off / threaten Joey's vote on the board by promising him a new wife from his bridal registry: "There are rewards for following God's path. Check this out." (Or, should Joey choose what's behind door number 2, Wanda could be awarded to Alby--or Frank.)
* "I'm just trying to keep it together. Asking myself, What would Abraham Lincoln do?" Does Bill remind anyone else of the polygamist Hank Hill?
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1
I like this show a lot, and I'm glad it's back. After making my wife sit through The Sopranos the past few months, I'm more than happy to return the favor and watch her favorite HBO show Big Love.
My thoughts on the season premier:
* They really did just jump immediately back where the finale left off. It was a bit confusing at first as I was trying to remember all the moving parts from the finale that happened almost 10 months ago. I kind of forgot the details of the whole Albie-poison storyline.
* And refresh my memory....I think they re-showed this in the "previously on..." part at the beginning, but it was Roman who outed Marge at the Mother of the year ceremony, correct?
* What was up w/ Roman's random call to Bill to offer his support? That was weird...and obviously Roman is up to something. How good is Harry Dean Stanton?
* I forget the oldest daughter's name, but she is a terrific actress. I'm interested in where her storyline w/ the ex-Mormon support group goes.
* I'm not a religious person at all, but I've always admired people of faith, for well, having faith, even if I don't. And I think this show is one of the most sensitive and thoughtful portrayals of faith, and where it can lead you (good and bad) on all of television. I'm sure the bozos at those conservative media watch groups hate this show, but I actually think it's at times a rather moving portrayal of the power of religion. Ok, I'm rambling, I will stop.
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2
@KATL, I'm a bit fuzzy on the details but I recall it being Roman (abetted by Rhonda) who did the outing. And I'm with you on the show's treatment of faith. You might expect HBO to satirize or otherwise critique the character's beliefs, but it plays them straight. Even Roman, for all his hypocrisy, does seem to be a true believer. I loved his exchange with the LDS lawyer: "As you know, we follow the original teachings handed down by the prophet Joseph Smith. Religion can't just change itself on a whim." [I'm paraphrasing.]
Also, changed "Nicky" to "Nicki" throughout, sorry.
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3
Yes, this show is definitely about 1 man with 3 wives, and women with 2 wives and a husband too. I would add that it is also about children with 3 moms and 1 dad. The kids in this show are AWESOME, well cast and do a great job. I think that the oldest daughter is played by Amanda Seyfried, and I agree with Kevin that she is awesome. Really good in this part, different from other roles she has played (she played the flirty, outgoing, oversexed dead best friend in Veronica Mars, and a flirty, outgoing, oversexed chick in Alpha Dog).
This show almost makes me wish I had HBO
I watched the first season On Demand in 2 days while I was at the beach last year, and now have no way of seeing the new episodes Sad stuff. -
4
Hi.....this picture is looking good ok.......
- poniewozik Loved the season. Mrs Tuned In wd have put u on the main list RT @boredtodeath Thank u for incl us in Time's Top 10. We'll take hon mention. - 7 hours ago
- poniewozik @carr2n Virgin is the best, LAX-JFK - 8 hours ago
- poniewozik Did NPR interview abt multiscreen multitasking. After, automatically reached for iPhone in pocket. Like don draper wd have for cigarettes. - 9 hours ago
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