First, though, I should mention that I'm really enjoying the fast pace of Big Love this year. Like Lost, 24, Heroes, and Damages, Big Love has learned to wrap up story lines, before they even edge slightly towards tiring us. Roman's out of prison and court, Bill and Ana got married and split, and lots of other crises have been well introduced and better resolved.
Which left last night's story wide open to really delve into other, long brewing family matters.
One of the most compelling aspects of Big Love has always been how Bill's family, despite it being so different from most families in America, grapples with the same problems. That was never shown better than last night.
Sarah (wonderfully played by Amanda Seyfried) is pregnant. This would be very difficult for a teenager about to go off to college in any family. But in the Henricksons, that pain is magnified more than three-fold, like most of the other crises they struggle with.
Barb discovers Nicki's birth control pills, assumes they are Sarah's, and starts going ballistic. This puts Nicki in a tough position - she knows Bill and her sister wives will be angry, to say the least, if they find out Nicki's been sabotaging her wifely responsibilities. In one of the best sequences in the entire series, Nicki comes through for Sarah, and tells Barb and Margene she's been taking the pills. As bad as Nicki has been at times, this shows what she's made of at the core, and how much she loves her family. She also comes through for Sarah and the family after Sarah loses her baby, supporting Sarah, and encouraging her to tell Bill and Barb.
Barb's and Bill's reactions were also a high point of this show, and the series. They love their daughter, and support her. I don't see how there could be could anyone without tears in their eyes after watching that heart-rending scene. Barb and Bill put love for their daughter above any religious teachings, and that's a redeeming message indeed.
On just a slightly lighter side, Margene and Ben run into each naked in a room (nice derriere Ginnifer Goodwin, or who's ever that was in that scene). Ben writes a Margene a love note, which Teenie sees ... Teenie talks to Margene, who talks to Ben. This, of course, is a problem that could only arise in a polygamous family, and it was rendered very well last night, too.
And on the subject of polygamy - we see Bill, struggling with his faith, not wanting to lose it, when he gets a few seconds alone with the sky.
An unforgettable episode of Big Love, reminiscent of the best of The Sopranos. I expect it will be seen for years to come, and will make an indelible contribution to the evolution of television narrative.
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3 comments:
This was an excellent episode, I found myself wanting to see it again because so much was covered. I was surprised that Nikki came forward, they make her so dislikable but this showed how dearly she loves her family and between last week and this week also how much the other wives love Barb. I find myself facinated with this series aand its content. I also love crazy Wanda and Bills mother
I loved the episode too. I watched over and over as I have dvr. However, I disagree that the scene and "love admittance between Margie and Ben could only happen in a polygamous family. It could happen in any family where there is a second marriage.
I've often thought that subject of sexual confusion (is it really confusion?) has never been (to my knowledge) fully explored on television. In my family, as my parents dated people of their own age with children of my own age there came a level of sexual tension. I personally had crushes twice on boys who may or may not have become "brothers" to me. And I could see a family with a younger wife and a growing son having that same problem.
Hi Dawn - just saw your comment - it was a really superb episode, wasn't it...
Welcome to Infinite Regress, manicgirl. I see your point that Margene and Ben could have happened in any family with second etc serial marriages. But I think it's still a little more likely when all of the people are living under the same or adjoining roofs, or right next door, would you agree?
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