Big Love Watch: Good Girl, Naughty Girl

I'm also not sure if Roman is dead, but it would take a stretchy imagination for an 80-year old to take three shots to the chest and live.

However, if he does survive, we can be sure he'll spin it as a miracle from above... which will only serve to tighten his grip on the UEB (well, once he returns from the hospital).

And where is that Emmy nomination for Chloe Sevigny?

Very very sorry about hijacking the thread. But here I go anyway.

Would it be at all possible for you to cover something that is NOT on HBO? Yes, yes, I am the uninitiated, the uncultured swine who doesn't have HBO. I know they have the majority of new (and supposedly good) shows on during this "off" season, but throw me a bone here. Rescue Me, the return of My Boys, hell weigh in on terrible reality TV. You don't seem to have trouble talking about Lost even though there's no episodes on now. This site has turned in to little more than HBO/Lost Lovefests. ComicCon happened last weekend with updates/panels/etc. about tons of shows (Heroes, Battlestar, Bionic Woman, etc etc) and barely a mention was made.

Roman's death was foreshadowed last week when Joey was talking to Barb about why he stays on the compound. He said something like, there was a Juniper Creek before Roman, and there will be one after he's gone.

@Jenny: Yeah, you've got a point. I should try to spread it around more. (Though I would be surprised if the makers of Entourage or JFC considered the recent coverage a lovefest.)

That said, feedback and comments are the best way I have of knowing what generates interest here--I thought Damages (FX) would spur more discussion, but that post came and went last week with barely a blip. Mad Men, on the other hand--not an HBO show--seems to have sparked discussion. So, keep the cards and letters coming.

Anyway, look for a post later on the new Bravo real-estate show, because I never miss a new real-estate show.

Big Love is such a fascinating show and so different! I look forward to every week- I think Bill is going to take over Roman's place of power- but we'll see!

I have been caught up in the whole issue of polygamy since watching "Big Love."
I understand the "keeping the house/family/children in line" around it but look at it from Bill's perspective. He is a husband to 3 women, father to about 7-8 children, running a business, and about to embark on another business venture. HBO has kept me in tune more with this than "The Sopranos" because I honestly never knew the fascination around the whole "mob business."

Roman won't be dead because honestly, lets face it, Albie (if that's how you spell it) cannot fill his father's shoes. Would you want him running the UEB? I believe that this shooting will possibly bring Nikki back closer to her father than most will want her to. Her mom for one, cannot keep her away. She may briefly forgive her father for exposing her family but never forget...she holds grudges very well....ask Margene.

Until recently, HBO caught me watching old episodes of "Sex in the City" because I never understood a bunch of old, drinking, boozing, loose women running around New York when they aired on HBO. Now I understand it more...I also watch SOME reality shows. Never one to miss an 80's-90's reunion, I watched "The Two Coreys" on A&E this week and was enthused.

Making a comeback would be hard for anyone who was used to the limelight like those two were. VH1 has become the breeding grounds for reality shows that appeal to the older generation. Scott Baio trying to figure out why he's not married, Bret Michaels of Poison trying to find a woman, and the "ManBand" coming out with members of N'Sync, 98 Degrees, LFO, and (my personal favorite) Bryan Abrams from Color Me Badd. I wonder what made them decide to take that approach? Anyone have any ideas?

On a side note to Jenny's comment above, I do appreciate some HBO coverage. I also do not have HBO, and this blog is my primary source for the shows that I OUGHT to be watching but can't! Thanks for keeping me in the loop, especially about Big Love.

O.K...Was I the only one who thought the first two shots were almost a joke about the Greene women's bad aim? Looked to me like they hit him once in each arm before they got the chest so I think he will make it. I also thought the linking of Roman's literal downfall with Ben's initiation into the "Priesthood" was kind of beautiful and touching; as we witness him being anointed amongst the cans and other basement stuff...very kind of innocent and crude but devout intercut with images of Roman on the ground. To me it was an attempt to bring out the sincere desire to create a better kind of faith. What makes Bill still less likeable is the way he's such an icky liar while he's setting up Roman to the Greenes and then double crossing the Greenes by warning Roman. Yeah we know they are the bad guys but Bill seems to be sinking to their level. I do think the scene in the basement/ Roman falling was setting Bill up as possibly having to assume some kind of successor role. How that will play out I have no idea.

I felt pathos when Roman was shot. Why is that? I wonder if he'll have a Vader-like story arc. By the way, don't count on Roman dying. It wasn't coincidence that he took three non-mortal bullets.

Roman was shot once in each arm, hardly kill shots, and then once in the gut, which to me, makes it quite touch and go as to whether he dies or not. My guess is he's not dead and he'll be in hospital for a good while. What state will the compound be in after his absence? If it's all gone to pot, that'll more likely kill him!

Margie has certainly emerged as the more liberated and sexual of the three wives. I'm always intrigued by this show's frank discussion of sexual relationships considering so much of Big Love revolves around questions of morality. Polygamy, in real life and as depicted in this show, is not supposed to be about sex; but at the same time, of course it is! The writers seem to do a good job of walking the line.

Also, James, I was wondering what you thought of Ben's development in this episode. The influence non-traditional family life has had on his own worldview seems to have been laid bare more than ever...

James - thanks for the response! I certainly wouldn't expect you to STOP covering HBO, and to be honest I rarely read the posts about those shows, so I admit I didn't know if they were glowing or glowering. Checked out the site this morning (8/1) to see three new non-HBO posts!Thanks!

OK, so when are Barb or Margene going to request another HUSBAND to add to the family? Why is it only a one way street for the man?