 by the linsterColumns
Video
Currently Recapping
Popular People
|
"Big Love" Season 4 marries politics and religionMy love for Big Love was destiny.
Perhaps because of my fundie background, I am fascinated with the various brands of religion, especially those on the “fringe” — which is where the folks in Big Love live. Of course, that’s why many people, especially women, object to the series, saying that it glamorizes plural marriage and the subjugation of women. But I don’t see anything glamorous about that part of the series setting. If anything, Big Love shows just how twisted an absolute patriarchy can be.
Big Love’s last season was, IMO, the best yet. We’re seeing Karma (a decidedly non-Mormon concept) in full force, with Bill’s tendency to justify every careless action as “God’s will” coming back to bite him in his too-often-bare butt. And this season promises more conflict as Bill decides to run for state senator, intending to out his family and live publicly as a polygamist if elected. (Polygamy is a misdemeanor in Utah, so not impeachable.)
The Hendrickson wives, however, are not exactly lining up to support the campaign. And their responses are a big part of the storyline for Season 4.
Perhaps that ambiguity is behind this, well, ambiguous promo from HBO. Great song by Interpol notwithstanding, WTF? We do, however, have some spoilers. (Is a SPOILER ALERT redundant?)
After flirting with Ben (her stepson) for three years, Margene is going to do something that, according to Ginnifer Goodwin, “is so horrible that I had trouble even performing it.”
Since Ben kissed stepmommy last season, my guess is that Ben will be going boldly where many men have been before. (Hey, Margene never claimed to be a virgin when she met Bill.) Scott and Sarah (Amanda Seyfried) also are taking the next step: a big, fat, FLDS wedding. Given the fact that Scott is from a very conservative, traditional Mormon family, we can expect lots of self-righteous posturing from all sides as the big day approaches.
We’ll also hear the love that dare not speak its name loudly and clearly as Nicki’s brother Alby meets the man who will coax him out of the closet: Dale. I’m not too anxious to see Alby in a sex scene, but maybe getting laid will improve his temperament.
In the best casting news yet, Sissy Spacek has a recurring role as a “powerful Washington D.C. lobbyist.” No word on the Oscar-winner’s storyline yet, but I suspect that Spacek’s character won’t be impressed by the Church of Bill.
For now, we don’t know what’s coming for Barb (Jeanette Tripplehorn) and Nicki (Chloe Sevigny).
However, Nicki’s newly acknowledged daughter Cara Lynne doubtless will be a major part of her story. And Barb’s ambivalence about polygamy should be a nice thorn in Bill’s side as he runs for office and forms his own church. Big Love Season 4 premieres Jan. 10. Will you be watching? Submitted by on November 30, 2009 - 4:00pm. |
Recent blog posts
New forum topicsActive TopicsNew Comments
|
Welcome to AfterEllen.com!
- Login
- Join Now!
News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
Yes!
Absolutely
Hell to the yes, I can't wait for the new season to start.
I've actually sent much of the hiatus reading books about the FLDS, Under the Banner of Heaven, Escape, Stolen Innocence, etc. I highly recommend those if anyone is interested.
Most definitely
I LOVE BIG LOVE. Can't wait for the new season.
Looking forward to it!
i really need to start
i really need to start watching this show lol
i duno if they play it in australia?
but if its really good i might buy it, coz im a big fan of Chloe. and ginnifer was cute in hes not that into you lol
and Daveigh Chase is gorgeous. i hav the song she sang in this and love it
Hmm...
Well I'm super stoked about the Season 4 premiere, but I'm also wondering what's going to happen with Heather and Sarah. I know I can't be the only one who was hoping that the two of them would have a "thing." Haha
Seather? (Bahaha!) fanvid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ClmHVhTEDo
Hell's Yes!
And I wanted Heather and Sarah to hook up as well.
And no to Margene and Ben!!!
About the Gender Politics
"...I don’t see anything glamorous about that part of the series setting. If anything, Big Love shows just how twisted an absolute patriarchy can be."
I'm in total agreement on that point. The show has never glamorized the gender dynamic in plural marriages. Whether its the marriages on the Juniper Creek compound or even Bill's own marriage, we've seen clearly, from the very beginning of the series, that the men lead and the women follow. And that dynamic has often been portrayed as brutal, both emotionally and physically.
Of course, we've also seen how the women carve out little nooks of empowerment for themselves, despite existing within a very patriarchal system. That, too, is true to life.
Season 3 was the best yet! I can't wait until January 10th!
One of my favorite
shows ever. I love how every character is so well developed and well written.
Friendship follows Fearlessly. Never Blindly. Never Lightly.
Friendship follows
Friendship follows Fearlessly. Never Blindly. Never Lightly.
I haven't seen the first
...
What happened to Sarah turning lesbian, and getting it on with Alice in Wonderland??? Or did I just make that up in my head?
Her boyfriend creeps me out... but I'm stoked it's coming back on.
I Hate Scott
That relationship has nowhere to go but south.
I'll tolerate it just to watch it crash and burn.
i love this show,
i love this show, particularly margene's character and i'm looking forward to the next season.
just a quick question
Do a lot of Mormons in the US still live in polygamous relationships?? Does that mean one man and many women or can there be other constellations as well? I met Mormons from England and China and they said their community does not support polygamous marriages. And I guess homosexuality is not really an option for them ...
Never stop exploring.
Well, I am (still) a Mormon
Well, I am (still) a Mormon and I can say that it's right that you are only allowed to marry one man or one woman. The others who practice Polygamie are the fundamental ones and I don't think there a too many doing that, and only in the US. I've never heard of FLDS anywhere else. So if you are a "normal" Mormon theres only one man and woman in a marriage. And only man are allowed to have more wives. Not the women to have more men.
Yeah.. and homosexuality and Mormons...that is a different discussion!
Love this show! Can't wait
Love this show! Can't wait for season 4 to start :)
"There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart. Pursue these." ~Michael Nolan <3
Actually, there's probably nothing illegal to worry about
I haven't seen the show, but generally, polygamist FLDS men are only legally married to their first wife. The subsequent marriages are "celestial" marriages. It's just as legal as having kids with multiple women and supporting them all. Or in our community, it's like getting a Unitarian minister to perform a "marriage" ceremony that is religious but not civil. You can't get thrown in jail for having a same-sex union ceremony in a church.
I'm not saying there's not a lot wrong with these things (although the show does at least seem to have consenting, adult, unrelated women), but it's not illegal.
Love this show
Its weird that I love this show as much as I do. I'm torn sometimes between wanting the wives to break free of the oppression, but at the same time I don't want them to lose their family. I guess if they just kicked Bill to the curb that would be the ideal solution.
Not a fan of Sarah and Scott getting married. Sarah used to actually be the one to point to Barb about how much it sucks to be stuck where they are. Then here she goes and is about to make the same mistake. Barb of all people should see where Sarah is heading and try to talk some sense into her.
My one and only wrecking ball. And you're crashing through my walls. -Brandi Carlile
sister wives
I want me some!
Actually I wish the wives would get together!! -
why haven't they explored that yet?
Wouldn't that make another great arc in the story HBO?
Mormonism and Lesbianism...
They kinda touched on that
They kinda touched on that already. Two of Don's wives were involved with each other then they ran off and took their kids with them.
My one and only wrecking ball. And you're crashing through my walls. -Brandi Carlile
sissy spacek? hmm...
"they're all going to laugh at you!"
and, "i can see your dirty pillows"
---------------------------------------------
~I am bisexual. You are confused.~
Is it my bad memory?
"Since Ben kissed stepmommy last season"
Am I just completely forgetting Ben and Margene kissing? I have no recollection of this moment at all! Really??
I just rewatched the whole
Hmm
My memory must've failed me again. I'm a little scared that I have such a clear image in my head of them kissing. Ick!
Thanks for the correction.