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« Big Love
Episode Recap: "Oh, Pioneers"
The riveting and endlessly entertaining second season came to a surprisingly subdued close tonight. With Roman in custody, Bill conflicted over the future of his family, and the Greenes still lurking in the shadows, the security and anonymity of the Henricksons' suburban enclave was once again called into question. But the real threat came less from external forces than from the doubt, regret and uncertainty eating away at the family’s very core.
What’s that old saying? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer? Last week’s literal snakes were replaced with a figurative one this week as Adaleen played savior and showed up on Nicki’s doorstep with a catatonic Roman in tow. Unfortunately for Bill, his plot to keep Roman isolated backfired as Alby managed to wrench control of the UEB. For me, the most powerful scene tonight was the one that offered up some more of the history between Roman and Bill. When Bill asked why he was run off the compound as a boy, Roman’s response — “Look at you now” — was very telling. In the world of polygamy, boys on the cusp of manhood are often viewed as competition for the older men. It is clear that Roman saw Bill’s potential even then. Ironically, by removing him from the compound Roman only sowed the seeds of Bill’s future success, born of a vengeance to gain back what he lost as a child: wealth, security and respect.
Despite Bill’s interesting and disturbing past, it is the psychology of the wives and children that kept me coming back this season. Since her outing at the end of Season 1, Barb has struggled to come to terms with the life she has made for herself. Tonight, influenced by a most unexpected source, she solidified her status as first wife. Nicki, still torn between her family and the compound life she left behind, made peace with her mother but still succumbed to her impulses, unknowingly handing her father over to Alby with one indignant phone call. Margene's attempts to assert herself left the family vulnerable to the dangerous scrutiny of the outside world. And Ben and Sarah both faced their futures, with Ben inching closer to embracing the Principle and Sarah taking drastic, life-altering steps to dissociate herself from her family. As Ben asked Sarah, “Will you follow me?” it became clear that they are heading in opposite directions.
There are certainly some open questions as this season draws to a close, but this show did not require any dramatic cliff-hanger to keep us wondering. Fascinating characters and stories were what kept us hooked this summer, and that is what will bring me back for Season 3. Thanks for coming along on this wild ride.
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Aug 26, 2007 11:49 PM
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Yay! We haven't lost Anna. I liked her and I feel Margene needs an friend cause despite Barbs confession of love for her, you know its gonna get shut aside some time in the future. And why can't Nikki shut up? Why can't she just stop acting selfish and start acting like her children mean something to her. Her brother is a PSYCHO! egging him on provides no security for any of them. I thought Romans statement of, "If only you'd been a boy" was very telling. I was glad Adalene showed herself to be caring and not just this cold Stepford wife. And Albies wife. Ive never seen someone that passionate on the compound. She was all creepy with her clear knowledge of how to shoot someone with so much tranquilizer they die. Clearly she and Rhonda could have been great friends.
I have to admit I liked that Sarah and Scott finally got together. DEspite Scotts threatening abandonment and all that goes with that, and Sarahs statement of wanting to get rid of it all, I think he does care about her, and he seems to be the only one actually acting like he cares what she thinks. Her parents stopped acting in her best interest a long time ago. The minute they invited the Grants to be apart of thier family, they gave up real security. THe thing this season has brought me...that last season didn't, was that I thought Bill came back to the principal cause he made a deal with the Devil for the love of his wife. Now I realize he truely believes it. Which is why i find all the insecurities his family has sad. They are not as sure as he is. Except Ben. And quite possibly that is the saddest one of all.
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Aug 27, 2007 1:48 AM
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Each week I get this show less and less. What principle? What testimony? What religion. Bill lies, cheats, schemes, and manipulates everyone in his life. He has taken a harem, and calls it testimony. But he seems willing to do anything to get his own way, even if it means flaunting his wives when he thinks it will impress others.
I'm still not getting Barb who can't even articulate to her own mother why she chose to stay with Bill when he chose to take a second and then a third wife.
Nikki is at least driven by tradition, albiet one in which girls and women are traded like baseball cards. Still, she is obviously unhappy. Sharing Bill is a duty, that's all. Margene parades around like a teenage hooker in tight mini skirts and low cuts tops. I thought modesty was a key tenet of the Mormon religion. If she doesn't follow this religion, (and we've already seen her toy with Christianity) than how can Bill be married to her?
There are so many inconsistancies, that I spend more time now yelling at the tv set than watching the show. I will continue to watch BL when it returns, but only because the acting is that good. Between now and then, I can only hope the writers decide what kind of show they're writing: a soap opera or an indepth study of an alternative lifestyle. I always thought I was watching the latter...lately, I'm not so sure how Big Love is any different from As The World Turns.
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Aug 27, 2007 9:29 AM
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Pardon my denseness, I thought the whole point of the three separate houses et al was to prevent the outside world from knowing they were illegal polygamists. Now that Pam, the whole block and whomever someone on the block tells, what's to prevent the Hendricksons from being arrested? Certainly someone would call the cops on them, what am I missing here?
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Aug 27, 2007 10:45 AM
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well my friend that lives in UTAH told me that on the whole, as long as Polygamists dont have child brides or commit welfare fraud, than the police tend to leave them alone.
Remember the lawyer Bill saw after Barb was outed? He said, "Don't commit welfare fraud, and don't take a child bride and we will leave you alone" The fact is Roman is a polygamist who gets interviewed on TV and they know where he lives and they do nothing. Its kinda like CAPONE. They never got him for killing, they got him for Tax Evasion. Thats kinda the same principal. If they are gonna take bill away, they have to proove he's defrauding the government. THey have to proove he's committing Statuatory Rape. They can proove neither so they probably want to go after bigger fish.
Even that ATF agent...remember what she said..?"Never leave Utah?" She was acknowledging that even in Utah where polygamy is illegal it is somewhat tolerated.
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Aug 27, 2007 11:18 AM
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I can only hope the writers decide what kind of show they're writing: a soap opera or an indepth study of an alternative lifestyle
Ummm...in case you haven't noticed this show airs on HBO.
It seems that each member of the family is being pulled in a different and opposite direction and I'm not sure that they will be able to survive it. I think the main cause of their problems is that each member has a different level of belief in the principle, and that fact will prevent this family from ever moving forward together.
Margene has always been a bit childish but last night she was so irrational, I didn't see any logic in bringing Anna to the house.
Sarah is such a hypocrite, she looks down on her brother because he may want to commit to more than one woman, yet she dates and sleeps with a man who is with multiple partners.
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Aug 27, 2007 11:41 AM
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Hello All,
I've pretty much taken the summer off from blogging but have not missed a single episode of this fascinating series. In fact I have seen most episodes several times, I just can't seem to get enough of these people.
To add my two cents, JFame I don't think Sarah is a hyprocrite. She doesn't so much look down on Benny as she wants to save him from what she considers is a BS lifestyle. Sarah is one of the more fascinating characters to me because she's the oldest child and carries the most of the past with her. Nobody consulted the children when Bill made his pact with the devil (you're right about that Jessicafreels) to save Barb's life. That was apparent to me last season. If Barb wouldn't have had cancer, the Hendricksons would be your everyday run of the mill LDS family. With the hospital bills piling up, he went the only place he knew he could get the money - Roman Grant. It certainly was no coincidence that Roman made Bill take Nicky. He could finally have eyes and ears on Bill anytime he wanted.
But back to Sarah. I've applauded her all season for telling her parents exactly what she thought to their faces. Part of the reason why Barb has been struggling this season is because Sarah has called her on her choices. It's very difficult to lose the respect of your children.
I felt so bad for her after Ben drove off in the float and she realized that he was lost in the Principle world. Her heart broke.
And as for her having sex with Scott - someone who she is willing to share, it's not that she wants to. She's not unlike alot of young women (and older ones for that matter) who just don't want to be without the man they love. It's even easier for Sarah because of the examples set for her by the 3 women in her life.
Nicky got the "dumbest chick of the season" award last night when she called to nah nah nah nah nah Alby. Just dumb!
I'm usually on Margene's side because they do treat her as if she's a child (I know she does act like a child most of the time but bear in mind she's only 21) but it was so completely inappropriate to bring Anna to their houses. In fact, Margene was completely out of control last nite. Telling Pam yes to the surrogacy was assinine.
The question for me was what exactly happened with Barb last nite? She saw Bill and Anna conversing with Margene, after Margene suggested that something might be going on with the two of them, and then she decides to tell Pam they're polygamist? So is this her attempting to embrace her lifestyle or was it some kind of attempt to gain some sort of control from her out of control life? Will she regret it next season?
And old Roman got rescued last nite. I was wondering how long it would take for Adaleen to get close to him. He should've listend to Bill when he tried to convince him he was better off at his house.
Alby and that wife of his make a great couple - I wonder if she knows of his sexual preferences. Probably not.
And what about Wanda! I wondered if Kathy wouldn't have laid out the fresh underwear for her, would she have worn any? It was really funny when she told her to stop smothering her.
Bill was plain naive to think the UEB Board wouldn't have voted him as the chairman. He's the only man alive bold enough to stand up to Roman and Alby. Duh.
Pound for pound, this season was about 5 times more exciting than last season and I LOVED last season!
I can't wait until Big Love Season 3.
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Aug 27, 2007 2:44 PM
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I didn't see season one, so I was wondering about Alby's sexual preferences that the previous blogger mentioned. Is he gay? They didn't mention that this season. Let me know.
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Aug 27, 2007 4:06 PM
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tv_is_hot:
they portrayed Alby as being conflicted about his sexual prefrences a bit last season, don't know why they didn't really take that up too much this season. Would've made for an interesting s/l... As far as this season's finale... WOW... I'm surprised no one has mentioned that kiss between Bill and Anna! I definately think she may play a big role and next season. I definately don't think they would've had Barb stress the fact so much that she didn't want a fourth wife to just leave it at that...
As far as Nicky, glad they let her and her mother reach some sort of resolution. I really wish she didn't call Alby and tip him off on Roman's return though! Not her smartest move. I actually felt bad for old Roman last nite, being betrayed by his son like that. But karma is a wench!
Benny and Sarah always have my full attention, lol. My heart broke for Sarah when she realized that Ben was def on the path to Polygamy. Ben's "will you follow me?" was so poignant. I definately think it hurts him somewhat that Sarah is so disapproving of their lifestyle. But I also think his decision to follow that path is one-sided. All he really gets to see is the plural wives aspect, and Bill hasn't really exposed him to the hardships that come with Polygamy.
Can't wait until next season. So many stories... will Barb's mom be back next season? Is Wanda done poisoning ppl? What lies are Rhonda cooking up for the future? When is Alby going to come outta the closet? lol, also the more real story lines that are pressing... So excited!
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Aug 27, 2007 7:21 PM
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I just LOVE this show, Big Love.  I can't wait for the next season!
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Aug 27, 2007 9:31 PM
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RJ87
I completely forgot to mention the kiss! I couldn't believe the two of them slobbing away when there was a house/yard full of fundamentalists!
I was glad that Nicky and Adaleen made up too. It was so sad when she was like an eager puppy around Margene's mother.
tv_is_hot
Nicky also had a little shout out to Alby during the family reunion episode this season.
Alby told her she would never be daddy's princess (or something like that) and she said no Alby, I'll just leave that to you.
I encourage you to buy the dvd for season 1. It lays the foundation for this season and gives you some insight into what brought them all to this point.
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Aug 28, 2007 8:12 AM
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Thanks RJ87 and KAD - I will definitely check out season one on DVD b/c it seemed pretty good. Didn't really start watching until this season but the storyline was pretty easy to follow. But some things I see I was still in the dark about.
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Aug 28, 2007 9:46 AM
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Kudos to Bill Paxton for allowing his character to be less than spectacular. Of course he's not writing the scripts. I understand his character's thinking but I don't really like him right now. Last season I was bored with the Roman Grant storyline but I like Roman this season. He may not be a great guy but I understand him. He has his own set of values that he stands by. His he much different than Bill? Is power seducing Bill? It's a hard sell accepting Bill's lifestyle and not thinking it's all excuse to be many women. Of course I don't want to start argument. I really enjoy the show and look forward to what develops. It's amazing how "The Closer" and "Big Love" are so much better this season.
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Aug 28, 2007 8:39 PM
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??????OLLL
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Aug 28, 2007 9:48 PM
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I just love this show..
All should remember this is a tv show..Not what a friend in Utah says.
I this Margene is just a young rebelious one..And wants to make up her own mind..Ginnifer is a great actress..I applaude her & character..
Benny perhaps may swing the other way down the road..Sarah...I'm glad she will be odd one out...There has to be a mix-up somewhere..
Can't wait till next season!!!!
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Aug 28, 2007 9:52 PM
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