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“Big Love” Wife Watch!: Season 4, Ep. 7

February 23rd, 2010 · 18 Comments

Welcome to Wife Watch!, the only blog post that ranks the most powerful wives on this week’s episode of Big Love.

—

I feel Big Love changing, and while I’m not quite ready for a divorce, our marriage is certainly in trouble.

Every week, you see, the series looks more like a grotesque soap opera. Every call from God and bomb in the casino makes it harder to feel like I’m watching the lives of people who might actually exist.

And look… I don’t need a show to be grounded in reality. I dig True Blood precisely because it’s so campy and ridiculous, and if I feel a pang of empathy amid the bloody fun, then I consider it a bonus.

But I fell in love with Big Love because it showed me the human heart beating inside a world that seemed alien to me. Yes, it delivered heightened situations and self-aware irony,  but it mostly delivered a reminder that I could see myself in people that I once considered strange. The marriage-go-rounds and the Juniper Creek fiascoes were all side dishes, but the main courses were Sarah’s disappointment in her father, Margene’s struggle to find her voice, Bill’s desperation to be happy. You know… stuff that anyone could understand.

Now, however, the show has inverted. Now it’s being driven by high-concept stories, and the people… the people are just along for the ride.

I know that I can’t stop the show from changing. I can’t stop Big Love from being the kind of series that devotes almost an entire hour to the lawless Mexican compound of an albino sadist and his brush-cut caricature of a wife.  But oh, how I hate to see these changes taking place.

I really hope this is a bump in the road. That next season, the series will calm down and realize that it doesn’t have to go eXXXtreme in order to stay interesting.

But for now? I’m tired. And this week’s episode, “Blood Atonement,” is especially exhausting.

Consider the fact that Nicki has the most low-key story: She’s trying to comprehend how her mother could suddenly be pregnant while she herself can’t conceive. Her anxiety over her fertility is compelling, but how can we even notice it while we’re wondering how Adaleen could be carrying J.J.’s baby? Based on Wanda’s hysterical accusations, my friend Joe thinks that J.J. has injected Adaleen with something that makes her feel pregnant but is actually going to kill her. He thinks J.J. injected Malinda with the same thing, and that’s why she has cancer. I think Joe’s right, and I’ll bet that whatever potion J.J. is brewing, it’s the reason he lost his fingernails.

But I want us to be wrong. I just don’t see myself giving a damn about some cockamamie”mad Mormon scientist” story.

Meanwhile… Margene.

Really? Really? We’re supposed to believe that she is naive and impulsive enough to marry Ana’s boyfriend? That she doesn’t have an inkling of the problems this might cause? Because come on. I don’t buy it. Margene has become too successful as a buisnesswoman to make this kind of deal.

Even if she really is just marrying this guy to protect herself from a future polygamous fallout, I’m irritated that her fake husband is connected to Ana. Like… the writers just can’t get enough of her? So they contort their show’s reality in a thousand different ways to make sure she sticks around? The show has got plenty to do without her, and the cruel promise that we’re never getting rid of her is only made worse by the fact that she’s now connected to a Days of Our Lives story arc. She’s not just sticking around—she’s sticking around in an obnoxious way.

And then there’s Barb. Good lord. She had a good episode last week, but now she’s in the middle of an attack from the religious right, who are planting fake bombs in the casino. At this rate, I fully expect one of the Native Americans in the blackjack pit to be revealed as Ethan Hunt from Mission:Impossible. He’ll pull off his rubber face, slide a handgun out of his dealer’s vest, and start shooting at the patrons before he leaps out of a window, lands in a getaway truck full of pillows, and screams, “Looks like your chips are down, Henrickson!”

At least Bill enjoys a little redemption as he breaks his family out of Cidade Green. He forgives his father, accepts responsibility for Ben’s recent hardship, executes a heroic rescue, and decides that his possessions and status are not worth more than the love of his family. By not becoming the next generation of Frank, he gets closer to being a decent human being.

But even though I intellectually understand why this shift should be moving, it totally leaves me cold. Perhaps because it happens in the midst of a gangland faceoff. Or perhaps because it’s offset by Joey’s unthinking bloodlust.

Or perhaps… and this is the big one… perhaps it’s because while Bill is becoming a new man, his mother is becoming Clytemnestra. I appreciate that Lois owns up to her selfish relationship with Bill (and the fact that she’s essentially using Ben as a Bill replacement), but that confession drowns in Hollis Green’s blood. When she hacks off his arm, Lois leaves reality. She takes the show to a new place, and I fear it may get stuck there. (I should note, though, that Grace Zabriskie’s acting in these moments is as terrific as always.)

However, Lois’ violent act makes her the most powerful person on screen. Using the tip of her sword, she lifts the first wife crown out of a puddle of gore.

Tags: Television

18 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Carol // Feb 23, 2010 at 5:47 pm

    You must have overheard the conversation between me and my husband after Sunday’s show. We were always fascinated by human aspects of the story…how people who believe and try to live these beliefs that fall outside the mainstream of society attempt to exist within it and to appear “normal” to it. All the characters struggled with themselves and each other in trying to find a way to live both within and without society. There is little of that this season. Only Sarah seems to struggle with her beliefs and her desire to be normal & mainstream. We all knew Bill was delusional, but he has gone far beyond that and has taken the series with him.

  • 2 InfoMofo // Feb 23, 2010 at 5:56 pm

    Ahem… I believe I called the fake cancer wife out weeeks ago.

    Anyway, I now hope that Barb ends up with Tommy, Margene ends up with Russian Beef, and Nicki ends up with Selma.

  • 3 InfoMofo // Feb 23, 2010 at 5:57 pm

    And yeah, if I wanted to watch a crazy pointless soap opera with random gore, I would watch Spartacus: Blood and Sand.

    I mean, with the sound on.

  • 4 Robyn // Feb 23, 2010 at 5:58 pm

    Well, things are getting super wacky and I agree that the first three seasons were awesome because it allowed a look at “the human heart beating inside a world that seemed alien…”

    Barb’s simple, fervent faith; Nikki’s damage; Margene’s struggle to find her voice; Bill’s attempts to be out in front while hiding; all these things were relate-able. The delicious sideshow of Juniper Creek was the cherry on top.

    They started to lose me when no one thought about where Ana would live (including Ana.) I just couldn’t buy it.

    And now, we’ve lost the true human heart to convoluted story lines.

    But meanwhile, I disagree about Margene. I think she was the only one thinking about how to save her marriage and relationships, and maybe her own ass too if they are all exposed. That’s her new thinking-ahead skill set. She believes, but is taking out an insurance policy so that she is OK.

  • 5 Mark Blankenship // Feb 23, 2010 at 6:25 pm

    Hey Robyn… I like your take on Margene, and you may be right.

    And InfoMofo — You did call out the fake cancer wife, but what if she really DOES have cancer, but she he has it because J.J. GAVE it to her. Like a terrible birthday present?

    (Also… the Spartacus joke made me laugh out loud.)

  • 6 UtahTony // Feb 23, 2010 at 6:43 pm

    First time I have read your blog (and now it looks like I will have to keep coming back!) I completely agree. I have watched since Season 1 and have noticed the following elements hurt one of my favorite shows:
    1) The Ridiculous Fantasy Element. With all the Green nonsense, it turns the show into something akin to The Sopranos (which i LOVE, but is completely different). It went from quasi-believeable to sheer fantasy.
    2) The Evil Mormon Trend. In the first season, there were good/bad mormons, good/bad polygamists, etc. Now, all Mormons=bad. Look, I get it we (Mormons) were behind Prop 8 (which I, and many other Mormons were against), but for the sake of the show, painting all Mormons will one brush is getting tired. We arent ALL bad.
    3) OK, this isn’t a “new” trend, but some fact-checking would be nice. Mormons don’t gamble. For such a huge plot point, that baffled me. Also check pronounciation. All kinds of Mormonisms screwed up…Anyway, I loved your blog. And am now a follower :)

  • 7 Sharla // Feb 23, 2010 at 11:33 pm

    Wouldn’t you LUFF LUFF LUFF to see Grace Zabriskie play the role of Violet in AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY?

    And, I agree with Robyn. I think we are seeing Margene behaving like a first wife and willing to take the responsibility of her decisions. Of course, Ginnifer Goodwin could have been reading the phonebook to me in that elephant costume, and I still would love her!

  • 8 BT // Feb 24, 2010 at 12:29 am

    Count me among those dismayed by the show’s recent changes of tone. I think this show has succeeded because the exceptional actors up and down the cast have found ways to make improbable plot twists and occassional ham-handed dialogue emotionally compelling. But, as you suggest, this episode seemed designed to defeat any sense of being grounded in reality. That bit where Bill breaks in to the animal cage to rescue his family reminded me of the parody of Hollywood pandering at the end of “The Player,” where Bruce Willis heroically lifts Julia Roberts from the menacing clutches of the electric chair.

  • 9 Stephie // Feb 24, 2010 at 1:42 am

    I love guessing which wife will come up on top!

    I agree, this season has gotten too far-fetched. I could handle/believe maybe one of these crazy plotlines each season.

    I think you guys nailed it (pun, ew) with the JJ story!

  • 10 emma // Feb 24, 2010 at 6:38 am

    i think that these ‘out there’ events are important to show us something about the character development.
    margie is getting married for her own reasons- if you watch the scene where she suggests it, she slips up and admits it’s for her. when the family comes ‘out’ as polygamists, she won’t. she’ll be married to someone else. she wants her business. she does not want that home office, not at all.
    The JJ storyline might not be so out-there. These stories are often based on real situations. I think a story about incest and medical abuse might come out in this season and the next. I hope to God Nikki is just sussing out what JJ’s son is up to, not actually getting treatment.
    The Nikki-infertility and Ana storylines will bring something out in Barb who is desperate for more babies.
    The Mexico story seemed extreme but there needed to be an extreme event for all the realisations to occur between Bill, Ben and Bill’s family of origin. Now they can move forward in ways that would have made no sense before this happened.
    The Church of Bill might include his parents now…

  • 11 Vicki // Feb 24, 2010 at 5:16 pm

    I am hooked on your blog! I look forward to the commentary and feed back.
    I love every other episode of Big Love. This past weeks “ Atonement” really made me wonder if there are two different writing staff for the program. One week, we are watching the core characters struggle in their relationships. We watch Bill and his wives becomes more and more entangled in their lives. (we love this Big Love) Then the next week, who knows what, Bill goes to Mexico takes on their government, disarms Joey and then saves his son and his mother and father. He becomes the best father, son, and husband all in one swoop. Meanwhile, one wife it dealing with a bomb, the other is getting married to someone else and thinks that is a good ideal, and an impossible conception of a child. I hated this episode.

    Is any one wondering what happen with Don? Bill asked Don to give up his job, his kids that he was fighting custody for, and his life so that Bill family can have what he wanted for them or rather himself. I would have rather the story explore that then an ex four wife and her issues.

  • 12 Mark Blankenship // Feb 24, 2010 at 5:48 pm

    Hi Vicki! Welcome! I feel like it’s possible that Don will be gone for the rest of the season, if not longer. Remember how they just shipped Rhonda off? With so many characters to follow, they’ve got to cut a few here and there.

  • 13 Vicki // Feb 25, 2010 at 2:49 pm

    Oh no, say it not so! I love Don and I thought that he brought a lot to the program.

    It was sad to see Don in the audience while Bill gave his speech on integrity while throwing in his hat for the political race. I was hoping that Don came back but with a vengeance since he had lost everything so that Bill could fulfill his calling. Sorry Don! 

    If the show had to get rid of someone why not Anna? I’m sorry, but I don’t like her story line.

  • 14 Mark // Feb 25, 2010 at 4:45 pm

    I have an alternate J.J. theory. Adaleen really is pregnant, but Nicki is worried because J.J.’s family has some sort of genetic disorder that he might pass on to the baby. Isn’t a lack of fingernails a symptom of inbreeding?

  • 15 Mark // Feb 25, 2010 at 4:47 pm

    Also, am I the only one who saw references to Star Wars in this week’s episode? The three simultaneous rescue attempts in Mexico (Bill, Joey and Jodeen) reminded me of Luke, Leia and Lando converging to rescue Han Solo from Jaba the Hut. And then the whole bit about Lois cutting off the arm.

  • 16 Mark Blankenship // Feb 25, 2010 at 6:10 pm

    Mark… even if that Star Wars reference wasn’t intended, I am choosing to agree that it’s there. If nothing else, then you’re absolutely right that the structure of both seemed to follow the same archetypal hero narratives.

  • 17 Jennifer A-G // Feb 27, 2010 at 1:31 am

    I agree that the out there aspect is unsettling and that Lois’ stone cold descent into mad revenge was over the top, but I believe all will make sense in the end and that we will be satisfied with the story. I think that J.J. has Sister Wanda’s eggs that were forcibly harvested from her in her youth. Remember J.J.’s comment to her: ” Remember I have something you want?” and that J.J. and his brother are implanting them into Adaleen and will insert one (or more) into Nikki. Remember the comment J.J. made to Cancer Wife: “We’ll get you some chemo when we get home,” as if he was in control of her treatment? I believe that meshes with their dad’s affinity for “playing doctor” that Bro introduced last week. And to add extra creepiness, I believe that Wanda may have been raped and those are embryos that Wanda had gotten J.J. to “promise” not to use. And to add to this Flowers in the Attic twist, J.J was the sperm donor and his father was ultimately trying to implant a master race of (what was that?) “albino sadist[s].”

    Oh wait, that tawdry trip isn’t satisfying at all. My bad.

  • 18 Cecelia // Mar 2, 2010 at 12:42 am

    So why exactly did Margene have to be the one to marry Ana’s boyfriend?

    When Bill met Ana, she told him that she had just become a US Citizen….couldn’t Ana marry the boyfriend and keep him in the country?

    Did I miss something?

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