"Paul Levinson's It's Real Life is a page-turning exploration into that multiverse known as rock and roll. But it is much more than a marvelous adventure narrated by a master storyteller...it is also an exquisite meditation on the very nature of alternate history." -- Jack Dann, The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Big Love 2 Episode 4: Help Me Rhonda

A tight, really powerful episode of HBO's Big Love last night, centering on Rhonda, and her escape from Roman's compound to the Hendrickson homes.

That one action galvanizes just about every major character on the show, and brings out their truest colors. Barb wants to help Rhonda, and give her the safety and love of the Henrickson family. Bill doesn't disagree, but is also not above using Rhonda as a bargaining chip in his dangerous dealings with Roman. Marge supports Barb. Nicolette does not - she sees Rhonda more clearly for what she is....

Which is hard to say - but she's certainly plenty conniving. Roman, of course, is livid at the thought that the Henricksons had anything to do with Rhonda's escape - and cannot abide their giving her shelter - and sends the police to Bill's homes. This provides one of the best scenes in the entire series, as the family pulls together with lightning speed and savvy and - with the help of reliable Don Embry - manages to get Rhonda off the premises right under the officers' noses...

The other part of this episode tells the equally powerful and related story of Bill's brother Joey, in custody for the poisoning of Alby - which of course was actually the work of Joey's quietly psycho wife Wanda. Bill almost gets pulled into this on charges of conspiring - but Adaleen (Roman's wife, Nicolette's mother) surprisingly destroys the tape implicating Bill (after telling Nicolette she was banished from the family - more on that, next week), and he escapes...

As does Rhonda, in the very last scene, to who knows where...

But I know just where I'll be next week - watching the next episode of Big Love, in what is developing into a really fine season....

See also reviews of other episodes: 1. Big Love Resumes ... 2. Oh Happy Days ... 3. Sons and Mothers ... 5. The Waitress and More ... 6. Just Lust ... 7. Margene's Mama ... 8. Polygamy and Misgivings ... 9. Swing Vote Margene ... 10. Polygamy as the Ultimate Cool/Bad ... 11. Family in Crisis ... 12. Polygamy and Great Performances Confirmed



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