Any love for BIG LOVE here? by reginaroadie

TALK STORY

Any love for BIG LOVE here?

POSTED BY: REGINAROADIE
UPDATED: Tuesday, March 3, 2009 18:35
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Sunday, March 1, 2009 5:36 AM

Hey All

I know that the new show that everyone here is talking about is DOLLHOUSE, but I was just wondering if there are a few people here who are currently into season 3 of BIG LOVE on HBO.

I'm a big HBO junkie, so for the most part I'm into anything they do. And I had seen the two previous seasons and enjoyed them.

But this year, my enjoyment turned into an all out love for this show. I know it's not been getting as much press as DOLLHOUSE, the new seasons of LOST, HEROES and 24 and the final eps of GALACTICA, but I find myself more and more excited for the new eps of BIG LOVE.

I’ve been drawn to this show since its beginning for various reasons. For one, its given Bill Paxton great material that shows just how great an actor he is, as well as kinda reminding me of my Dad, but without the whole polygamist background. I like the Lynchian vibe of the scenes in Juniper Creek with the fundamentalist Mormons and how it’s a constant battle over who is creepier. Bruce Dern's Frank or Harry Dean Stanton as Roman Grant? Even though Roman is a charlatan prophet who was on trial for trafficking women, he at least has a sense of dignity to him, unlike Frank who pees in the Henrickson’s sink and is just the vilest person imaginable. He just has that permanent sneer on him and nothing but condescension and belittlement comes out of his mouth.

I especially like how in some cases, the deep religious nature of some of the characters are positives, as opposed to being nutjobs, which there are in the show, but wouldn’t notice due to the deft balance it strikes between those who pervert the word of God or live by it. And this season’s storylines have jacked up the drama so much that every plotline in the mix (the family dating Ana, a Serbian waitress as a potential fourth wife, Weber Gaming, Roman’s trial, Barb’s cancer scare, Sarah’s pregnancy and my favorite of the bunch, Niki slowly coming apart at the seams and on her way to a breakdown) is as riveting as the next. Like last weeks road trip episode really pushed them to the brink and really tested Bill's faith. And poor Sarah. No wonder she miscarried.

And a while ago, I came across an article talking about BIG LOVE and it’s what’s said in this article that really nails exactly why I love the show so much.

“…even when the plot veers in unexpected directions, it always winds its way back to the Henricksons and their efforts to build on earth a family that will be together in eternity…in the end what binds them is genuine affection and concern. Exasperated as they may be with one another, they really like each other and they are really likable. And that is why “Big Love” is one of the few TV programs I look forward to watching. There are people to like. Likability is not highly prized on the small (or not so small) screen these days. If you watch programs like “Mad Men,” “Damages” and “The Shield” (which has now concluded its run), you would think that the point is to keep introducing characters who are even more repellent than the characters you already shrink from. Any hint of a redemptive quality is quickly overwhelmed by deeds so heinous that you literally cringe. No doubt this is “realistic” (a sure-fire honorific) and an antidote to the sentimentality everyone likes to put down. But sentimentality is good for you, especially if it comes wrapped in first-rate acting, crisp dialogue and a directing style (imitative of “The Sopranos,” “Deadwood” and “The Wire”) that ferries you from dramatic moment to dramatic moment without asking you to think too much about what is going on. (The thinking comes later.)…The heterogeneity of the sprawling cast is reined in and given shape by the core commitment everyone has to the family’s survival and flourishing. External forces are always threatening to break it apart, but they are always repelled and the goodness of life… is always reaffirmed. Each story comes accompanied by a moral lesson, but its didacticism is tempered by a clear-eyed awareness of the travails one cannot avoid in this vale of tears.”

http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/01/looking-for-someone-to-like/

It’s insanely rare to find a really good family show. I could never get behind stuff like 7TH HEAVEN or GILMORE GIRLS where it’s sweet to the point of diabetic. I’ve always been drawn to stuff like SIX FEET UNDER, where as it’s mentioned above, the inevitable closeness of the family is “tempered by a clear-eyed awareness of the travails one cannot avoid in this vale of tears.” It’s far more interesting to me to see a family that may fight like cats and dogs, but have a close bond that can’t be broken no matter what, since that is most likely what families are in real life. And the above mentioned article really nails specifically the appeal of a show like BIG LOVE and makes me wonder why specifically it hasn’t taken off. Have we been so jaded and disillusioned and cynical as a society that optimism and innocence and joie de vivre are almost the new taboos? I like to think that in the Age of Obama that the tide will shift and that while we don’t return to an idealized “Leave it to Beaver” Disney cartoon Republican world, that we can truly create a better world that considers optimism and faith virtues rather than character deficiencies.

Sorry for the rant. I kinda borrowed this from a new blog I'm writing.

So any love for BIG LOVE here?

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"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."

Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack

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Sunday, March 1, 2009 11:08 AM

CHARLIEBZ

Oh, I have all kinds of love for Big Love. I'm particularly excited to see the return of the rival Poly gang - can't remember their names but the one with the woman/brother?

And then there is Harry Dean Stanton who I believe is awesome in every single thing he is in.

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Sunday, March 1, 2009 11:46 AM

REGINAROADIE

Yeah, I remember seeing them in the preview for tonight's ep. They would definitely make Juniper Creek even weirder. Like I said, the compound has that really strange Lynchian feel to it. HDS, Grace Zabriskie, Bruce Dern, Mary Kay Place have ties with David Lynch, so that's why I'm describing it as Lynchian. And just the visuals of the compound of all those women in petticoats and the place being patrolled by humvees and men with AK-47's

But who do you think is ultimately creepier? Roman Grant or Frank? I think the latter and I already stated my case above as to why. I was so hoping that Lois would really kill him and that KFC would really be his last meal.

One thing I forgot to mention that I'm really hoping to see is Nikki snap. She's always been so tightly wound that I'm waiting for her to just snap at any moment. And we've seen a few moments so far this season. Like her rooftop confession, her reaction to Barb's cancer scare, and my fave, the reveal of her former marriage and her sneaking into the D.A.'s office to take her picture out of the Joy book, not to mention her tripping her father down the stairs in the courthouse.

And also, the guest stars this year have been great. I'm psyched to see Robert Beltran (aka. Chakotay from VOYAGER) as the business partner for Weber Gaming. It's one thing to see actors from genre shows on like regular dramas. It's another to see them do really good roles in great shows. And also Charles Esten (aka. Josh Porter from THE OFFICE, aka. Chip from WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAYS) as the D.A. smitten with Nikki.

**************************************************
"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."

Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack

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Sunday, March 1, 2009 12:22 PM

PHYRELIGHT

[DELETED]

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Sunday, March 1, 2009 1:13 PM

BYTEMITE

EDIT: This was a rant about the unfair Utah stereotypes that I feel like the show promotes.

It was not in keeping with the spirit of this thread, so I removed it. Sorry! Didn't mean to be a kill joy.

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Sunday, March 1, 2009 6:38 PM

CHARLIEBZ

Frank is far creepier. I, too, was half hoping Grace Zabrieske would have gone through with suffocating the bastard.

Nicki's going to blow and she's going to blow big. During her rooftop confession, I was afraid she was going to jump. So glad she didn't as she's such a fascinating character. Actually, they all are.

HDS and MKP are my favorites. Whenever they are on I pay extra attention.

Best line of the season so far: Barb saying "But Bill's the hot dog man." That line won't leave my mind.

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Sunday, March 1, 2009 7:14 PM

REGINAROADIE

Personally I loved in the last ep when Margene came into Bill and Niki's motel room in a bikini and coyly said "I'm sorry. Am I being a pill?" as she put her hand on his leg. No need for Viagra then. And then later Niki's slow realization as to what E.D. is was just so funny.

Yeah, BIG LOVE really digs character actors. Like Grace is my favorite of the Juniper Creek women. I just love the bulbous head, bug eyes and pursed lips. I have never seen a woman like that in my life, and I love her for that. And HDS looks so old he looks like he would have known Joseph Smith personally.

Does Alby remind you of Wash? The actors that plays Alby was also in THE AVITAOR and Odie, the airplane tech guy that was the closest thing to a friend Howard had. And Odie and Wash look and act so similar that I like to think that in some parallel universe Alan Tudyk was in a Martin Scorsese movie. And that Alan almost played a closeted fundamentalist Mormon trying to take control of Juniper Creek and almost getting killed in a public bathroom by an anonymous john. Yet another reason to avoid them.

**************************************************
"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."

Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack

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Tuesday, March 3, 2009 4:46 PM

REGINAROADIE

Hey

Just wanted to see if you saw Sundays ep and your thoughts on it.

Fave moment- Lois reciting "The Cremation of Sam McGee" to the boys. This realy made me smile and geek out, since that poem has some personal significance for me. That is my dad's all time favorite poem. So for a favorite show of mine to reference something that has personal significance for me just makes me love it more.

And it wasn't the only time that night. On HEROES (which is really kicking ass), there was a memory sequence that used Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" that made me smile ear to ear. It's one of my favorite songs.

As for BIG LOVE, I also dug Niki's plotline with her date and Margene exposing her identity theft and just why she's there. I also liked Barb and Sarah's heart to heart. And with Sarah's friend (I forget the character's name, but she's played by Tina Majorino), I keep waiting for her to admit her feelings for Sarah. I thought this time she actually would.

And as for the death, I was really hoping it would be Wanda. Wanda's such a loose cannon and it would be so much better if she was bumped off instead. And I'm wondering how may people with ponytails saw that death and then took a pair of scissors and cut them off.

Apparently, someone else is supposed to die in the finale. And it sucks that there's only three eps left.

**************************************************
"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."

Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack

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Tuesday, March 3, 2009 5:27 PM

PHYRELIGHT

(In response to reginaroadie's query on if I watch Big Love in a private message.)

I've never seen Big Love because I don't have HBO. At first, I was really disgusted by the show’s premise because I was really afraid that it would put a bad spin on my church, the “mainstream” LDS church, which hasn’t permitted polygamy since 1890. However, some who wanted to continue the practice at the time broke off into several other churches with varying degrees of strictness, the most extreme being like the FLDS church which was in the news recently over forcing underage girls into arranged marriages. To be honest, polygamy is as foreign a concept to me as the next person because I grew up outside of “Mormon country” and most of my recent ancestors and extended family are Baptists. (I also enjoy the freedom to date and marry whomever I will.)

But shortly after Big Love premiered, I read an article where several sister-wives were interviewed about the accuracy of the show, and I was shocked to find out that it was a truthful portrayal of that lifestyle. The article also fully stated the difference between my church and other Mormon churches, and I couldn’t have been more relieved and comforted by it.

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Tuesday, March 3, 2009 5:49 PM

REGINAROADIE

I'm sorry. I meant this for CHARLIEBZ. Both you and him have the same icon pic, so I clicked on the wrong thing.

So that's why I sent it to you. No offense.

**************************************************
"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."

Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack

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Tuesday, March 3, 2009 5:58 PM

PHYRELIGHT

Nah, you sent it to me. You also mentioned some other stuff that we discussed a couple days ago. It took me a while to respond because I've been sick the past few days, and I really wanted to mull over this particular response before I posted it. No worries.

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Tuesday, March 3, 2009 6:17 PM

CHARLIEBZ

Thoughts about the last ep? Sad we only have, what?, two/three to go. Another awesome ep.

Selma's Roman's sister! And the pig. Yikes, I had visions of Hannibal with that. I just love her and Hollis.

The death... I didn't want it to be that character at all. So sweet and kindhearted. She didn't deserve that. Do you think this will be some kind of turning point for Roman? He looked pretty upset. Maybe despite all his machinations, he really does love his flock? I don't know...it's such a complicated love I have for HDS's character. The Joy Book (the book with all girls) still gives me the willies in the worst way. Plus the fact that he married off his own daughter, and probably others, when she was 14 is awful.

The heart to heart between Barb and Sarah was so touching. I'm a little put out with Sarah over abandoning her friend after Heather changed her college plans to accomodate her.

Also, to address something you brought up in a previous post. I think Frank is "worse" than Roman. He's just wrong in every way. A disgusting person that you know incites dread in everyone around him.

Lastly, Alby and Wash similar? I'm not seeing it! Alby's wife needs to be married off to Frank. Even though I'm more likely to forgive deceitful behavior in the women who are brought up in that horrible world, she is bad news. So cold.

I wonder if Nicki will pursue anything with the DA. That poor woman deserves a little happiness. You can see she's starved for it. It broke my heart how happy she was to get that water bottle from him.

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Tuesday, March 3, 2009 6:35 PM

REGINAROADIE

No, she did not deserve it at all. That's the thing about TV or even movie deaths lately. You never see the people that truly deserve it get killed off. Like with Joss. He bumps off almost every character we like, and yet f**king Harmony lives another day and is into the comics now. There's no such thing as taking an annoying character that no one likes and just giving them a truly awesome, spectacular death that says that there's no way of coming back at all.

But I digress.

Yeah, that pig definitely put me on edge.

I think it'll be more a turning point for Bill and Co than for Roman. The battles between Roman and Bill have always been over power and finances. Up until this point, no one had actually died. But with an actual death, the stakes have risen to a whole new level.

Heather. Thanks for reminding me of her name. For all of Sarah's spiraling, I loved it when Heather just let Sarah have her wrath. Like I said, I was just waiting for her to admit that she has feelings for her like Ben has for Margene.

I only bring up the Wash/Alby comparisons because the two actors that played them look similar. And the guy that plays Alby played a very Wash-like character in THE AVIATOR. I don't think Wash would make a power play for control while soliciting anonymous gay public bathroom sex.

Not unless there's a fanfic out there I don't know about, nor want to.

I don't think Niki would intentionally cheat on Bill and the family with the D.A. In the scene, she said that he was uncomplicated and that she needs uncomplication in her life. As unhinged as she's becoming, I don't think she'd defy her beliefs. Taking birth control is one thing, but adultery is a line she'll never cross. Plus, with the preview for next weeks ep, I think the D.A. is at least going to have his heart broken, if not re-open the case due to perjury.

Do you think Ana is gone for good, or do you think she'll be back? I know some fans didn't like her, but I dug her and think that she should give them another chance.

**************************************************
"And it starts with a sentence that might last a lifetime, or it all might just go down in flames. If I let you know me, then why would you want me? Each day I don't is a shame. Each day I don't is a great shame."

Loudon Wainwright III - "Strange Weirdos" off the "Knocked Up" soundtrack

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