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Episode Recap: Dating Game
Just when I thought that there couldn’t possibly be anyone creepier and more deluded than Roman Grant, we meet Hollis Greene, leader of a debauched, undercover polygamist group that makes the folks at Juniper Creek look like the Waltons. Apparently when Bill poached Weber Gaming from Roman, he was unaware that he was dealing in pre-stolen property. Frankly, these are not the kind of people you want to steal from. They are the kind who brand you with a hot poker when they think you are standing in the way of something they want. Ouch.
For me, this show just seems to get better week after week. I really feel like the investment I made in the first season is paying off in dividends as the story continues to unfold. Last season really laid the groundwork for all of the drama and intrigue that is coming to the fore now, and each week I find myself increasingly anxious to see what happens next.
I know it seems odd to mention this at this stage of the game, but tonight, for the first time, Bill’s polygamy really made me uncomfortable. Bill’s ongoing flirtation with the waitress Ana got me thinking about the actual repercussions of these families' lifestyle. (Nobody does a unique family living a life that is based on a morally dubious foundation better than HBO.) What bothers me the most from an outsider's perspective is that polygamy seems to leave a lot of room for interpretation... on the man's side. By living “the Principle,” Bill is not expected to fight the urges that all other married men are faced with at some point. Instead, he needs to sift through these potential spouses and attempt to sort out those pesky “Holy Spirit sucker punches.” Sounds like a pretty sweet deal if you have the stomach for it.
Poor Ana. She seemed like a really nice, lonely woman who was looking for a little companionship. While Bill tried to fight his carnal urges and listen for a “celestial calling,” it seemed that Margene heard hers loud and clear. Funny that in the end it was harder for her to “break up” with Ana than for Bill. I thought it was a great touch that she was the one who caught on to Bill’s secret since her connection to the faith is really more tenuous than those of Nicki or Barb. I also loved her exchange with Bill when he realized what she had been doing: “She loves you, she loves me, she’ll love Barb.... She’ll grow to love Nicki.” Amen to that.
Speaking of that prickly sister-wife, every time I begin to empathize with Nicki and think that she is working in the best interests of the family, she seems to do something stupid and reactionary. Tonight she stepped over the line and created a dangerous situation by confronting a very untrustworthy Rhonda at her foster home. It was bad enough that Nicki all but outed herself to ex-polygamist activist April Blessing. But my heart sank as Sarah stood in front of Heather’s state-trooper father and learned that Rhonda had spilled the beans. Amanda Seyfried is turning in stellar work this season as the conflicted Sarah, and her performance in this episode was heartbreaking. (Who would have thought that this former Mean Girl had real acting chops?) Having to deal with the burden of her family’s secret life is definitely taking its toll. Daveigh Chase is equally good as the manipulative, destructive Rhonda. Is there anyone out there tonight who didn’t want to reach into the television and slap her face when she showed her true colors to Barb?
Each episode is just packed with so much juicy stuff it is hard to capture it all every week. If I missed anything, please be sure to comment!
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Jul 16, 2007 10:50 PM
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I'm finding it hard to believe that a family would adopt a person that they don't know at all; especially one that carries so much baggage.
It's wrong of me but I'm kind of glad Rhonda is making things difficult for the family because Barb and Sarah should have never lifted a finger for Rhonda and now they're going to regret it.
Margene was so sweet last night, like a teenager falling in love. I thought the conversations between Bill and Margene were very insightful, especially when Margene admits she believes Bill married her because of their physical attraction to each other.
This show has already established Bill's unique relationships with both Barb and Nicky but I hope at some point they do the same for Bill and Margene.
This Hollis Greene character makes Roman look like a tiny kitten.
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Jul 17, 2007 4:34 AM
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I love this show as well. Last night's episode was fabulous.
It was nice to see Margene's character get some more screen time just so we know more about who she is. I thought it was so sweet how she embraced Ana and even more endearing to see how sad she was when Bill called it off. Also very interesting that Margene thought that Bill married her for their physical attraction alone - I would still like to see more about how that relationship happened. Last season Nikki once asked Margene if she slept with Bill before they were married and that question was never answered.
The lines are so blurred in this lifestyle. The writers are doing an awesome job exploring it this year. Can't wait for next week!
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Jul 17, 2007 10:59 AM
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Did anyone else noticed the person who was about to brand Bill was a woman? I didn't catch that until Hollis called her Sylvia...what kind of off-shoot sect are they in? I love this show and look forward to it each week. Margene was perfect last night and they look on her face when Bill drove her away almost broke my heart.
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Jul 17, 2007 1:30 PM
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I was so happy when Barb stood up for herself and the family to Mr. Tuttle! And she didn't give in to Rhonda when she tried to manipulate her with "I love you Babrb!"
Also, the woman who played Selma Green, also played the grandmother in Napoleon Dynamite! Did anyone else catch that?
Will there be repercussions for Nicki for trying to kidnap Rhonda?
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Jul 17, 2007 1:51 PM
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Why so few comments on this blog? This show is so good that I can't believe more people aren't watching it!
I, too felt uncomfortable watching Bill try to woo Ana. It just looked like any man taking off his wedding ring and trying to score. Margene was so sweet in her genuine acceptence of bringing in another sister wife, but I don't think Barb or Nicky are really ready for a new one with all that's going on in their lives now, and it also should be the last thing on Bill's mind now. He could send Ana over to his brother, since HIS wife seems to want to start adding new blood into the fold.
Some scary plots starting to unfold and in the previews it looks like Bruce Dern is back! He always played great villans.
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Jul 17, 2007 2:04 PM
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This show is great!
This particular episode made me dislike Bill's character for the first time. I know he already has 3 wives, but this time it really felt as he was cheating on them.
He is right-Nikki will accept a 4th wife, but there is no way Margine and Barb should act like it does not bother them a bit-they lived out of "principle" for majority of thier lives.
And even though we all know that Bill took Nikki when Barb was sick, i am interested to see barb's reaction when Bill married Margine.
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Jul 17, 2007 3:04 PM
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Margene is so cute- just love her. Rhonda should have her arse kicked.
I hate seeing Ben and his GF have sex- grosses me out to watch "teens" having sex.
And poor Sara. She tried to do the right thing.
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Jul 17, 2007 4:10 PM
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A great episode...
I can't believe a show that I thought exhausted all its possible story lines last season is so deep and muli-faceted.
Its really hard to leave any comments because all of the episodes fit so well together that it feels like reading a novel!
You want to discuss it in full after you've gotten time to digest.
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Jul 17, 2007 4:36 PM
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I think many of the bloggers on here don't get HBO or if they do, they know they don't have to watch HBO stuff live even in an age of TIVO and DVR.. DVR and On Demand programs have made when you watch something unimportant. I like watching somethings live because of the community.. For instance, I enjoy The Closer and Big Love. I watch one at 9 and Big Love at 11. I could watch The Closer at midnight but that's getting late...
That's why ratings especially for the pay channels such as HBO or Showtime are meaningless.. Other than people like me who have to watch from hotels when on the road, people who spring for the extra dough for HBO or Showtime (in my case both) will have the other features as well..
So tonight, since I was flying on Sunday night, I'll catch Entourage... I've avoided reading the Blog on it as a result..
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Jul 17, 2007 5:53 PM
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Wow. I have to admit, I wasn't completely taken with this show last season, but kept with it because it was different, quirky even. But, wow, this season has been great. I do agree that alot of what happened last season was foundation work for a great Season Two. This show is growing on me.
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Jul 17, 2007 9:00 PM
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Last year I "quit" BL when I just found it impossible to accept how a woman married in a conventional marriage for such a long time, would accept not only a 2nd but a 3rd wife. I gave the show another try this year when good reviews piled up. I now understand the sequence of events leading to Nikki, a little more --- but Margene? And how did the kids accept this bizarre switch from convention to outlaw? I do love the show, but Margene's immediate infatuation with the waitress left me cold. Why is jealousy never uttered in this show? A new wife? A girlfriend? A new sister? No, there's something unnatural about Margene's reaction. Bill, to his credit, would only accept his relationship with another woman if he felt in his soul it was destined to be. The writer's need to start addressing the reality of women living together sharing a man, and not continue to paint the world of polygamy as if it's just one bit sorority party.
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Jul 18, 2007 8:30 AM
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vivienbrenda - I think Margene's reaction is that way b/c she really just wants to be accepted by someone and loved by someone. That's why it seems she readily accepted living the "principle," but doesn't seem to really want to be in the religion. From last episode, I gathered that she's held on to the Catholic faith and was baptized (Mormon?) just to be able to get married to Bill. IMO, as long as she's not alone, she has no problem with 15 sister wives. I think Barb is the one that would have the problem if Bill married again.
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Jul 18, 2007 10:18 AM
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I'm not sure if Margene is the jealous type. She is whimsical and full of love for her husband and non-traditional family. We know that she is passionate beyond religion b/c of her admittance to fake praying. She's not in this for the Principle, like Nikki, or because of her history with Bill, like Barb. She is in this because she is utterly in love with Bill. Interesting how it looked as if Bill finally started to see her in a new light -- as a genuinely loving, fun wife vs. just the "hot young wife".
I find it intriguing how complex and interesting each of the relationships are. While I don't ever see myself in a plural type of situation, its interesting to find out more about the characters (esp. the wives) and why they have chosen to live this way.
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Jul 18, 2007 10:42 AM
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tv_is_hot- Margene chose to baptized last season in the family's swimming pool, something that Nicki reminded her of in the last episode when they were out looking for Wayne. Margie didn't have to be baptized to marry Bill and when she opted to be baptized Bill told her she didn't have to unless she really meant it/got some sign "from God" to do so.
viviene- Jealousy is constantly a factor in the marriages of this show. Last season there was the cattiness of Don's wives when there was a possible additional wife (the sister-wives voted her down). There was also the huge "Lois" chapter last year when she was trying to become "first wife" to Frank among the other sister-wives (I don't remember clearly, but I think she lost). There was the mention just a couple of episodes back about if Adaleen had been nicer to Rhonda she wouldn't have run away. Plus, Nicki shows her jealousy in practically every episode. Jealousy is a huge part of this show as it is obviously such a huge concern in a plural marriage. It's not even that subtle, unless you think getting hit by a train is subtle.  LOL.
Anyway. My thoughts on the episode: Poor Ana! Poor Margene! When Bill was coddling Margie in the car and she was bawling her little eyes out, "But I LOVE her!" I felt so bad for her. But when Bill admitted it wasn't lust that attracted him to her but love, I felt a little bit better for her. I'm just loving Margie more and more every episode. It seems that this year she gets to be a grown-up, rather than just play at one (like last year). Good for her, and good for the writers of "Big Love" for using this season to really delve into the nuances of the characters who were just glossed over last year.
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Jul 18, 2007 6:02 PM
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