It’s a wonderful thing to watch actors, writers, and directors hit their stride and right now, Big Love is hitting an all-time high. It has never been more interesting, more controversial, more entertaining than it is in its third season. One reason why it keeps getting better is because they are expanding on the show’s more interesting females – they aren’t just multiple wives anymore; they are rivers of complications with their own secret wants and desires. It is the height of drama, though one wonders if anyone is noticing.
According to Multi-Channel News, Big Love continues to rise in the ratings, up significantly from its season debut. It now has five million viewers per week, especially in repeat showings that HBO does the entire week after the episode debuts. That makes it easy to catch Big Love when there is nothing else on. It is fast becoming HBO’s best offering and if it continues to grow, it will be a force to be reckoned with. It will never be The Sopranos, but it isn’t going to fade into obscurity either.
This season is dealing with the trial of the polygamous leader Roman Grant (Harry Dean Stanton) and Bill’s (Bill Paxton) fight to put him away for good, even though he’s married to his daughter Nicki (the great Chloe Sevigny). Nicki has a job with the main prosecutor on the case whom she developed a crush on. He has no idea she’s “one of them.”
A fourth wife is hovering on the horizon, Ana (Branka Katic), a Serbian waitress who is really not much of a Mormon, nor a polygamist. But, she is in love with Bill and likes Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin) and the other wives enough to consider it. The jury is still out on what will happen there.
There is a closet homosexual storyline continuing with Alby Grant, Roman’s son and former right hand man. Now, feeling betrayed, Ably is reconsidering his role in the family but he’s also stepping out in men’s restrooms and getting caught. He tries to live “The Principle” but is conflicted by his attraction. This subject comes full circle now that Bill’s oldest daughter Sarah (Amanda Seyfried) is pregnant and considering adoption. She visited a gay man who has married and is trying, with prayer, to un-gay himself.
Of course Sarah’s best friend Heather (Tina Majorino) is probably also gay and in love with Sarah, but this flickers at the edges and is never directly discussed. It was outed last season when the teen Rhonda (Daveigh Chase) began making accusations that embarrassed Heather. Rhonda is the underage victim and latest “wife” of Roman Grant, now on the run, destination unknown.
It may sound confusing every which way. There is conflict everywhere. It just gets better and better, weirder and weirder, hotter and hotter. If you start watching it you will be unable to turn away.
Big Love plays on HBO Sundays. Season 1 and 2 are available on iTunes. You can find out much about the story and the characters (including Margene’s blog!) on HBO’s site, hbo.com/biglove.
