Big Love is back with a bang. The story arcs are getting set up to run season long, and if nothing else it will be an hour filled drama every week to say the least. I do believe that this season is going to be fairly action packed, as we already have an abundance of storylines to keep track of, the most significant of all would be the plight of keeping the family together, when it looks uncertain as to whether it can be achieved.
The main story coming out of episode two of the HBO heavyweight, was Bill’s plans to run for office. Just the thought, of course, runs contrary to what we have seen in previous episodes, where we’ve constantly seen the family having to hide who they really are. The thing about political campaigns are, your dirty laundry is normally aired. So to run that risk, and expose everybody, seems to not really parallel the values and motives behind previous story lines.
But this has certainly set up some conflict between all three wives and Bill. It’s quite obvious Margene in particular, does not want Bill to run. And within reason. Her business has just started taking off, she has made $9000 in the last month alone, which is no mean feat for the wife that everyone considered to be a little .. ditzy. For the first time, we see Margene as the most level headed wife, even if her reasons are to protect herself, they are still no less valid. But the past few seasons have seen Margene mature, and I think this trend is going to continue, as she’s really found her calling. Although bringing up the matter in the middle of having sex with her husband, may not have been the best idea.
Margene’s business is beginning to create conflict between the three wives, and between herself and Bill. Nikki finds evidence of how much money Margene has actually been making through her jewellery venture, and is outraged that the family has been left in the dark about it, as is Barb when she finds out about it. Bill later asks her how much money it is that she’s making, and when she tells him he chides her for not putting it in the communal pot – a comment which she side steps and it is not mentioned again on this episode, but it is sure to be the centre of further unrest in the future.
Bill’s motives behind running, are of course noble. He wants to save Juniper Creek in a certain aspect. After all, it’s where he grew up, what he knows. And his belief is he has to defend the principle, and its way of life. The entire notion of Bill conceiving to run comes from a meeting where he is present, where the current administration is calling for the court appointed trustee, Ray, to bulldoze the compound and prosecute people involved in the illegal act of polygamy.
Nikki doesn’t have as many qualms about it as both Margene, and to a lesser extent, Barb do. However, she believes with her father no longer residing on the compound as prophet, that the position he held rightfully belongs to Bill. That being a prophet is his calling. Bill is adamant that he doesn’t believe this to be the case, and goes so far as to say that he believes he can do a better job running for office and being able to help the people of Juniper Creek by having influence and say in the persecution of the group, rather than residing over them as prophet. He wants Juniper Creek to become a community, and is going to do everything in his power to make it happen.
The other major storyline of the episode revolved around Sarah and Scott’s relationship. We heard last week, that they were looking for a church that felt right for them to get married in. Barb tentatively suggested their own church, with Bill conducting the ceremony. But how things change in a week. Scott seems fed up of waiting, and hasn’t seen a church he feels in anyway affiliated with, and suggests they get married straight away at the Justice of the Peace. Sarah agrees to this, and the next scene brings back a welcome face. Her former best friend, Heather, who Sarah messed around with choosing colleges etc. It would seem that Heather has not forgiven her for this, and even when Sarah informs her she’s marrying Scott in a couple of days, Heather remains stoic. Sarah will not take no for an answer, as she wants Heather to be a witness. After finally saying yes, the two hug, and we hope the reunited friendship lasts longer than an episode.
She also requests her brother Ben’s presence as a witness, and although he is originally reluctant, he seems to come around after Scott asks him to be there for his sister. However, he does seem to take issue with the fact that Sarah is doing this behind their parents backs.
Nikki’s story arc, following on from the previous season, shows the outfall of her dalliance with her former boss, Ray. It was clear at the time she liked him, as she took his phone calls even when she was standing near members of her family, and even tried to dress Bill up to look at him at one stage. He again makes an appearance in the second episode, when Nikki goes to see him, and we realise just how much he did, and still does, mean to her. To the point where she is questioning her beliefs, and is entirely unsure of her relationship with Bill. This is an interesting angle, as Nikki always seemed to be the most certain of the principle, and what it was exactly, that she believed in. And although Ray was clearing out of town, I don’t think somehow, that we have seen the last of him. Nikki brings up later on in the episode, that she now knows what love is. This doesn’t bode well for the mending of her relationship with Bill, as she is obviously stating that her feelings for Ray are stronger than any feelings she’s ever had with Bill. She goes so far as to admit she doesn’t know what she feels for Bill anymore, to Margene, of all people. But she also admits to Bill she is unsure of where this marriage is going if he does not become prophet, which unsettles him considerably.
Although not overly explored this episode, the conflict between Bill and his partners in his casino is still present. A throw away comment was made about having to do a perimeter search to check for dead bodies was made toward Barb, as she seemed to be in charge of the business side of things for this episode at least. There is a very interesting dynamic between barb and Tommy, one which I hope will get explored further on. I like watching them on the screen together.
The audience is also exposed to Jay Jay for longest amount of time we’ve seen him yet. And it doesn’t make him any less creepy. Besides the fact that he has no fingernails, the whole family is subjected to awkwardness throughout the dinner, before they each make their excuses and leave him alone with Nikki and one of his wives, where a short and sharp exchange takes place, where Nikki makes the aforementioned love statement, although doesn’t allude to whom she is referring to.
Another welcome return stems from Wanda and Joey. I have always really enjoyed these characters, and something else has been added to the element as we know that it was in fact Joey, that killed Roman Grant. Wanda, is paid a visit from her brother Jay Jay, which seems to frighten her greatly. He tells her he knows Joey’s great secret, that he is the murderer. And he also alludes to something he has of Wanda’s, which scares her more and she requests his immediate departure. Meanwhile, Bill’s brother Joey, is expressing similar sentiments to Bill as Nikki has been. That he believes that he is Juniper Creek’s next prophet, even though Bill does not agree and tells him of his plans to run for office.
In a call back to last weeks ‘hike’, involving Alby and the court appointed trustee that’s overseeing the financial management of Juniper Creek, Dale – they share a scene this week. Alby has followed him to a meeting which Dale is running, which involves talking to other members on how to suppress their homosexual urges. We find out Dale is a religious man, and is also married. He confronts Alby after the meeting, asking if he followed him there. Alby tries to kiss him, before Dale walks away. Again, this storyline obviously has to be going somewhere – but in which direction? And what is Alby trying to achieve?
The final couple of points I’ll make on the seasons second episode, is Nikki’s attendance at her fathers funeral, even though she was adamant she would not go. She admitted to her mother she believed Roman Grant to be a false prophet, and Adaleen tells her not to go to the funeral to say goodbye to the prophet, but to say goodbye to her family. Even though, in many ways Roman Grant was a conniving human being, we have seen evidence of Nikki’s affection for him, and perhaps it is for this reason she wishes to say goodbye to him.
Another major story arc that is setting up the entire season, is Bill’s decision to definitely run. More interestingly though, he states that after he is elected (assuming that he is), he plans to come clean about his polygamous lifestyle. This is obviously going to cause a world of problems for the wives, in particular Margene’s business. And what about the poor kids, that are trying to maintain a normal life, without everyone having to know their parents business? It seems in a large part, a massive turnaround from previous seasons. It seems as though, that Bill was influenced by something his daughter said about not wanting to hide who she is anymore, that he realised that he should do the same, in order to most help his plight.
The show finishes up with Sarah and Scott getting married, surrounded by her family. And although it didn’t have quite the emotional impact it could have, seeing Nikki crying at the end, was quite touching as we now know her inner turmoil – she has loved and lost.
FURTHER THOUGHTS
- What exactly is it that Jay Jay has on Wanda? And what exactly does he plan to do with the very valuable info of how Roman actually died?
- Does Scott have no family that would have liked to have been present at his wedding...
- Get ready for some massive conflict. Margene fighting for her business, Nikki perhaps having conflict within herself and what she thinks her marriage means – and a lot of conflict at Bill for exposing the entire family.
- I’m not from America, so am not entirely familiar with the political system, so I may be wrong about this – but could this possibly be grounds for impeachment? Being elected under false pretenses? It is mentioned that they’ll probably convict them, but that polygamy is merely a ‘misdemeanor.’ At any length, he’s not exactly endearing the public toward them.
- Will they be found out? It would seem likely that they would, even going back to the season where Barb was going to be award mother of the year, it was found out then – so I don’t see why it would be so different now.
- Why would Bill want to expose them at all? The kids especially, who don’t have a choice, and try their best to maintain normal lives amongst school friends etc. It seems harsh to put them in the limelight like that.
- Is Alby trying to buy Dale's affections in order to be able to run Juniper Creek to how he sees fit?
QUOTABLE QUOTES
“Someone has to defend the principle, someone has to fight back.” Bill
“We have to defend our most monumental beliefs Marge, whatever the consequences, whatever the sacrifice” Bill
“This is just all there is” Barb
“I just don’t want to have to hide who I am anymore” Sarah
“Don’t you have any pills to take? You just seem so cheerful today.” Tommy
“It so happens I do have feelings, I am a warm.” Nikki
“He didn’t love me, i was just daughter number eight, a commodity to be traded” Nikki
“Its really brought me back to life, you know?” Margene
“My daughter, I don’t know what she believes in. Certainly not me” Bill
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