In my eyes, Bill Hendrickson is not a hero. He's not an anti-hero like Vic Mackey, but he certainly wasn't a hero like Jack Bauer (although Jack being a hero is debatable). Bill wasn't necessary malicious, he very rarely hurt people physically, but he was always very narrow-minded.
Through the seasons, we've seen him manipulate, be selfish, be stupid, and give outlandish speeches in support for himself, as well as more circumstantial wrongdoing like his marriage to a teenager and dalliance with Ana. The only reason why the fifth season had so much angst is because Bill decided to drag the family through the limelight. And even in the series finale, we see the pathetic duality of Bill, yelling at the senate about how the polygamist women were given the right to vote before they were "stripped of their rights" when polygamy was outlawed, while simultaneously refusing to entertain Barb's notions of female priesthood holders. He's perfectly fine invoking women when attacking the senate, but doesn't budge in private, and that's douchey if you ask me.
But the writers apparently don't see it this way. "When Men And Mountains Meet" completely absolves Bill of any past wrongdoings, ending on a surprisingly upbeat tone. Bill is killed randomly by Carl and in his last breaths, tells Barb to perform a blessing--another case of using a outside influence to dramatically affect the family--and in the coda, we see everything perfectly fine: Margene off to save people, Barb with the priesthood, Sarah and Scott still together, and a big hug from the three wives. Yes, Bill is dead, but he's probably going to heaven, and, most importantly, he didn't have to own up to his actions. So, after five seasons, the writers are telling us that Bill was not only a good person, but a truly wonderful person whose presence and actions helped the family.
?? ............................
That's kind of my reaction after finishing the episode--confusion, a tiny bit miffed, and overall very disappointed. I'm taking huge pauses while writing this just so I can wrap my head around what happened.
I think the writers were trying to go for a distinction between 'good family,' the Hendricksons, and 'bad family,' the Grants. Every family has its flaws and weaknesses, but how they deal with them divides the good from the bad, and the writers were supposed to see that.
However, the patriarchal nature of the show meant that Bill dictated what happened and it never quite meshed. Despite the feminist overtones, Bill was the one who dictated the action. He was the breadwinner, he made the big choices, and he was the one with the ideal to change Utah, linking back to the Mormons of old in his vision. With his single-minded drive, Bill hardly cared about what was best for the family until after something bad had happened. Yes, he was better than Alby and Roman, but was he respectable enough for a somewhat happy ending (as opposed to Barb leaving the family, etc)? I don't think so.
I came into tonight's series finale expecting Bill to get his just deserts, what he had coming to him as a consequence of his long string of selfish actions. Instead, I saw that the writers intended him to be a hero. For all his flaws and actions dragging his wives through hell, Bill was intended to be a grand idealist, striving as a reformer to make polygamy legal, and that somehow enabled him to come out looking spotless in the end. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that Big Love is not an HBO drama, but a Lifetime drama.
Score: 7.0/10
I had this idea for a silly series finale a few weeks ago when Bill was going to go on trial. I'm not sure if I wrote this somewhere else yet, but now that I think of it, it may actually have been preferable to "When Men And Mountains Meet" so I'll bring it up again. The episode consists of Bill's trial, where everyone gets to testify. That way we could actually see tangible reasons why Bill should be absolved. The wives, Ben, Sarah, and Bill's friends deliver stirring testimonies while Alby fails miserably on the stand, actually implicating himself in several felonies. Bill gives his own closing arguments, the jury and courtroom is brought to tears, and Bill is let free. Happy ever after. It's incredibly cheesy, but anymore than the actual series finale?
Showing posts with label Big Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Big Love. Show all posts
Monday, March 21, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Preview of Week 3/20/11 - 3/26/11
Big Love - HBO, Sunday, March 20, 9:00pm ET
HBO's next big drama--if you consider it to be the spiritual successor to The Sopranos, The Wire, etc--comes to an end. Through the ups and downs of emotion and quality, Big Love has had five seasons worth of story, and it all comes down to a final episode. As an added bonus, Amanda Seyfried is returning.
The Office - NBC, Thursday, March 24, 9:00pm ET
The Office has been gone for a month, and this week's episode is the first of Steve Carell's final four episodes.
Parks and Recreation - NBC, Thursday, March 24, 9:30pm ET
Like the pit, the Harvest Festival appeared to be the next big project. However, last week's already quickly pushed that idea out of the way, as the festival was up and running. So what's problem with plague the team now?
HBO's next big drama--if you consider it to be the spiritual successor to The Sopranos, The Wire, etc--comes to an end. Through the ups and downs of emotion and quality, Big Love has had five seasons worth of story, and it all comes down to a final episode. As an added bonus, Amanda Seyfried is returning.
The Office - NBC, Thursday, March 24, 9:00pm ET
The Office has been gone for a month, and this week's episode is the first of Steve Carell's final four episodes.
Parks and Recreation - NBC, Thursday, March 24, 9:30pm ET
Like the pit, the Harvest Festival appeared to be the next big project. However, last week's already quickly pushed that idea out of the way, as the festival was up and running. So what's problem with plague the team now?
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Review - Big Love Season 5 Episode 9 Exorcism
I've been wondering exactly how Big Love would get through the remaining time with such little time left, especially when there seemed so much unresolved at the end of the last week's episode. "Exorcism" is the answer to that question, burning through several plots while keeping the family conflict at the center of the episode. Although there is still plenty that needs explaining and probably won't be explained, it's clear that plot isn't a priority, and to me that's a positive.
First things first, the plot--Alby finally going down. The episode begins with Alby on the run and the authorities completely behind Bill, so there is no questioning of him. As much as everyone hates Bill, Alby is certainly worse and no one backs Alby to get back at Bill. Alby goes into crazy mode and decides to march up to the capital and kill Bill, but Alby is no Uma Thurman, not even hitting Margene before Bill shoots him. I assume this is the end of Alby, including his ownership of the Home Plus buildings, which makes sense because Alby isn't a character to have a meaningful resolution. The plot is fairly tense and provides a loose structure for the rest of the episode. The only thing left unresolved is Adaleen, who was willing to follow her son off a cliff and now has criminal charges against her.
Like Alby, Greg Ivey is quickly taken care of, with Nicki telling Cara Lynn that she and Bill confronted him and told the authorities. Nicki adds that he was a predator, not a love-sick fool. Just like that he's gone--if we are to believe Nicki. She says this during a mean-spirited, hurtful speech in the middle of night, telling Cara Lynn directly how terrible she is, which is why I have a feeling she may be lying. It's possibly that Nicki was lying just to make Cara Lynn feel worse. We know that Nicki is saying this because she sees so much of herself in Cara Lynn--being a manipulator and liar, etc--but it's horrible nonetheless and eventually Cara Lynn breaks down and burns her books.
The strength in the episode lies in the ongoing family conflict which I was afraid would dissipate because the wives would band behind Bill. Instead, with the pressing concern that Bill may be in prison for decades, issues such a Barb holding the priesthood comes to a head. Every wife has at least one wonderful scene with Bill. Barb is holding firm to her beliefs and to the family, two incompatible traits according to Bill. Margene, cheerful as always, wants the family to go to Honduras but that's not an option. Nicki really comes off as a bad person in the episode, trying to ship off Cara Lynn and openly stating how she doesn't want another statutory rape in the family. But I still felt bad for her when she burst into tears after Cara Lynn burned her books. Maybe it's Chloë Sevigny's acting, but damn did Nicki look beaten down. In the end, though, the three wives and mostly behind Bill and visit him at the office.
Ben just can't seem to get anything right. He turns down Rhonda's marriage offer and is ready to commit to Heather, but Rhonda, in her sociopathic ways, has to say that she had relations with Ben. At this point, Heather is outrage, but the situation is still salvageable, until Ben says he'll be with both of them. Heather tosses her milkshake on him and stalks off like any reasonable person would. Good try, Ben.
Frank and Lois are off somewhere again while Bill is looking for them. Yeah, it's pointless to talk about them anymore.
It doesn't really feel the final episode of Big Love is here, but there is undoubtedly only one episode left. Even though lots of plot was resolved this week, there are still the ongoing charges against Bill and the question about the family sticking together. After "Exorcism" I am back on board and feeling upbeat about how the series will end, and hopefully we won't be disappointed.
Score: 9.0/10
First things first, the plot--Alby finally going down. The episode begins with Alby on the run and the authorities completely behind Bill, so there is no questioning of him. As much as everyone hates Bill, Alby is certainly worse and no one backs Alby to get back at Bill. Alby goes into crazy mode and decides to march up to the capital and kill Bill, but Alby is no Uma Thurman, not even hitting Margene before Bill shoots him. I assume this is the end of Alby, including his ownership of the Home Plus buildings, which makes sense because Alby isn't a character to have a meaningful resolution. The plot is fairly tense and provides a loose structure for the rest of the episode. The only thing left unresolved is Adaleen, who was willing to follow her son off a cliff and now has criminal charges against her.
Like Alby, Greg Ivey is quickly taken care of, with Nicki telling Cara Lynn that she and Bill confronted him and told the authorities. Nicki adds that he was a predator, not a love-sick fool. Just like that he's gone--if we are to believe Nicki. She says this during a mean-spirited, hurtful speech in the middle of night, telling Cara Lynn directly how terrible she is, which is why I have a feeling she may be lying. It's possibly that Nicki was lying just to make Cara Lynn feel worse. We know that Nicki is saying this because she sees so much of herself in Cara Lynn--being a manipulator and liar, etc--but it's horrible nonetheless and eventually Cara Lynn breaks down and burns her books.
The strength in the episode lies in the ongoing family conflict which I was afraid would dissipate because the wives would band behind Bill. Instead, with the pressing concern that Bill may be in prison for decades, issues such a Barb holding the priesthood comes to a head. Every wife has at least one wonderful scene with Bill. Barb is holding firm to her beliefs and to the family, two incompatible traits according to Bill. Margene, cheerful as always, wants the family to go to Honduras but that's not an option. Nicki really comes off as a bad person in the episode, trying to ship off Cara Lynn and openly stating how she doesn't want another statutory rape in the family. But I still felt bad for her when she burst into tears after Cara Lynn burned her books. Maybe it's Chloë Sevigny's acting, but damn did Nicki look beaten down. In the end, though, the three wives and mostly behind Bill and visit him at the office.
Ben just can't seem to get anything right. He turns down Rhonda's marriage offer and is ready to commit to Heather, but Rhonda, in her sociopathic ways, has to say that she had relations with Ben. At this point, Heather is outrage, but the situation is still salvageable, until Ben says he'll be with both of them. Heather tosses her milkshake on him and stalks off like any reasonable person would. Good try, Ben.
Frank and Lois are off somewhere again while Bill is looking for them. Yeah, it's pointless to talk about them anymore.
It doesn't really feel the final episode of Big Love is here, but there is undoubtedly only one episode left. Even though lots of plot was resolved this week, there are still the ongoing charges against Bill and the question about the family sticking together. After "Exorcism" I am back on board and feeling upbeat about how the series will end, and hopefully we won't be disappointed.
Score: 9.0/10
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Review - Big Love Season 5 Episode 8 The Noose Tightens
So... two episodes left, huh? I want to think that a serialized show like Big Love has a solid plan, but the longer the final season goes on the more doubts I have. When Bill tells his wife that he has to prepare for the upcoming trial, we know that it's not going to be shown on screen. In two episodes, there is simply not enough time for a trial unless the writers want to jump ahead in time, which would also force other plots to resolved early. There is still plenty going on with Barb, Cara Lynn, Greg, Rhonda, Ben, Heather, and Sarah is also returning.
My biggest problem is that, for all the plot machinations, it's not that interesting. The writers, once again, are trying to make the show exciting in a 24 sort of way, but the subject area doesn't lend itself to that. Alby, with the poof, tying Nikki up and almost shooting her is actually kind of funny (to me at least), and I watched passively, knowing that Nikki would survive.
Margene's protectiveness of Cara Lynn seems to stem from her own distress over the fact that she too was involved with an older man at a similar man. If we compare to Bill to Greg, it actually looks better for Greg, who is younger and inexperienced himself, whereas Bill was already married to two women and had kids. But Margene does show how tough and perceptive she can be. At long last, after another bout of extended idiocy, Margene decides to cut ties with Goji Blast. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaking of tough, Nikki comes down hard on Greg in the best scene of the episode, standing her ground and even hitting Greg. Cara Lynn, however, remains adamant that she loves Greg and Greg looks like a real scumbag. That's the Big Love I like, where the drama stems from personal problems and not a crazy person waving a gun around.
Alby has become a great example of Big Love's propensity to have too much plot. He's more of a plot tool, doing evil acts and being outlandish, than a believable character we can care about. At the end of the episode, he's slightly redeemed, choosing not to shoot Nikki. However, he still shoots Verlan and he has a hold over Home Plus.
Now that Bill is under direct fire from the government, all the problems before are minuscule in comparison. I definitely don't want to see the marital issues pushed under to rug for the wives to band behind Bill, but with Margene disavowing Goji, it seems we're headed that way. But even if the long term prospects aren't looking great, "The Noose Tightens" has enough emotion to carry it through.
Score: 8.7/10
My biggest problem is that, for all the plot machinations, it's not that interesting. The writers, once again, are trying to make the show exciting in a 24 sort of way, but the subject area doesn't lend itself to that. Alby, with the poof, tying Nikki up and almost shooting her is actually kind of funny (to me at least), and I watched passively, knowing that Nikki would survive.
Margene's protectiveness of Cara Lynn seems to stem from her own distress over the fact that she too was involved with an older man at a similar man. If we compare to Bill to Greg, it actually looks better for Greg, who is younger and inexperienced himself, whereas Bill was already married to two women and had kids. But Margene does show how tough and perceptive she can be. At long last, after another bout of extended idiocy, Margene decides to cut ties with Goji Blast. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaking of tough, Nikki comes down hard on Greg in the best scene of the episode, standing her ground and even hitting Greg. Cara Lynn, however, remains adamant that she loves Greg and Greg looks like a real scumbag. That's the Big Love I like, where the drama stems from personal problems and not a crazy person waving a gun around.
Alby has become a great example of Big Love's propensity to have too much plot. He's more of a plot tool, doing evil acts and being outlandish, than a believable character we can care about. At the end of the episode, he's slightly redeemed, choosing not to shoot Nikki. However, he still shoots Verlan and he has a hold over Home Plus.
Now that Bill is under direct fire from the government, all the problems before are minuscule in comparison. I definitely don't want to see the marital issues pushed under to rug for the wives to band behind Bill, but with Margene disavowing Goji, it seems we're headed that way. But even if the long term prospects aren't looking great, "The Noose Tightens" has enough emotion to carry it through.
Score: 8.7/10
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Review - Big Love Season 5 Episode 7 Til Death Do Us Part
Before "Til Death Do Us Part," did Big Love really need another layer of trouble? There was plenty of turmoil and plot going on already, which seemed sufficient to fill the final four episodes. Then "Til Death Do Us Part" comes around and plots a giant new thing on our lap: Alby bought both Home Plus buildings. Where, when, how? When it comes to artificially generating plots, Big Love does not disappoint. To top things off, Bill is being investigated for statutory rape while Heather inadvertently allows this to happen (though she should know by now from every movie/TV show out there that every religious figure is bad news).
Barb is hauled off for questioning, and that should prove to be interesting, but I'm still not sure how necessary this all is. In a position to save or damn Bill, Barb will have a lot of think about, especially after getting legally divorced and seeing the other wives get resealed, and it'll definitely test her commitment to Bill. But it'll happen only after another external element is introduced to an already overburdened show. How many plots will be pushed aside for the "Bill fights rape charges" arc, and why can't there be conflict between Barb and the rest of the family without outsiders getting involved?
It goes back to one of my biggest problems with the show, that the family, which in my eyes is the most entertaining and gratifying, is often relegated to external forces which skew the show entirely. Instead of seeing the family operate and fight as is, these other elements act as lenses. We still see the family, but it's not an exact image.
Margene is an idiot. Bill tells her Goji Blast is a pyramid, and Margene is too ignorant to know what that is. To find the "truth," she goes to Golgi guy and asks him. What does she expect, an admission that he's a con artist? How stupid can she be? But since she's so dumb, I guess we can excuse her for telling Pam to waste what little money she and Carl have.
Lois acts crazy again... The writers top it off with some sympathy, but 95% of pure insanity, which isn't even amusing, is just hard to watch.
With three episodes left, I'm getting really worried where all this is headed. I hope the writers can pull it off, but the signs of disaster are definitely present.
Score: 8.6/10
Barb is hauled off for questioning, and that should prove to be interesting, but I'm still not sure how necessary this all is. In a position to save or damn Bill, Barb will have a lot of think about, especially after getting legally divorced and seeing the other wives get resealed, and it'll definitely test her commitment to Bill. But it'll happen only after another external element is introduced to an already overburdened show. How many plots will be pushed aside for the "Bill fights rape charges" arc, and why can't there be conflict between Barb and the rest of the family without outsiders getting involved?
It goes back to one of my biggest problems with the show, that the family, which in my eyes is the most entertaining and gratifying, is often relegated to external forces which skew the show entirely. Instead of seeing the family operate and fight as is, these other elements act as lenses. We still see the family, but it's not an exact image.
Margene is an idiot. Bill tells her Goji Blast is a pyramid, and Margene is too ignorant to know what that is. To find the "truth," she goes to Golgi guy and asks him. What does she expect, an admission that he's a con artist? How stupid can she be? But since she's so dumb, I guess we can excuse her for telling Pam to waste what little money she and Carl have.
Lois acts crazy again... The writers top it off with some sympathy, but 95% of pure insanity, which isn't even amusing, is just hard to watch.
With three episodes left, I'm getting really worried where all this is headed. I hope the writers can pull it off, but the signs of disaster are definitely present.
Score: 8.6/10
Monday, February 21, 2011
Review - Big Love Season 5 Episode 6 D.I.V.O.R.C.E.
When I go into an episode of Big Love, the first thought in my mind is that the episode hopefully won't go off the rails like several season four episodes. Maybe this is a pessimistic way of thinking, but I still have a hard time believing the writers set up so much stuff early in the season just to have them pay off in the most awful ways.
"D.I.V.O.R.C.E." has lots of warning signs--Cara Lynn and her teacher, Ben and Rhonda, Marg and Golgi guy, Alby and Verlan--but it remains true to the Big Love of the first three seasons and the fifth season, in that Bill and Barb, family in general, are the heart of the episode. There isn't an external force driving the drama, only the growing division between Bill and Barb.
To me, the discussion of the priesthood with the addition of Renee Clayton felt like a lot of justification for the viewers alone since Bill doesn't even entertain the notion. (Although Renee could play an important role later on, in which case I'm very mistaken.) It's a pretty obscure subject for most people, but it does seem like a legitimate topic after a bit of Googling. The writers prop up Renee as an expert, using Barb to flaunt her credentials and papers, thus justifying Barb's position in viewers' eyes so she doesn't seem crazy.
But Big Love has never been a show primarily about theology, and what Barb wants seems to have less to do with religion than simple equality. After all, if religion were completely absent, Barb would still have grounds to be mad at Bill and the marriage. Barb's problem are general, about women's rights and her own, but they manifest themselves in religion, which is a major force in their lives. It makes sense that she would conflate these issues together.
A major instigator is Nicki, who is pretty bitchy in the episode. In private, Barb tells Bill that it would be best if she were still in charge of finances after the divorce, given Nicki's spotty record. That makes sense and the divorce was supposed to be solely for Cara Lynn's adoption. When they bring it up with Nicki, however, she balks, making a big deal about how Barb is trying to usurp power. Although she's right, and it does rattle Bill to his senses, Nicki also is trying to take a bit more than she had, not unlike Barb trying to have the priesthood.
While Bill and Barb's marriage crumble, the marriage of Lois and Frank, which has consistently been destructive and often times silly, actually grows stronger once Frank realizes what he'd done. In a sad sort of way, it's emotional and sweet, and for the present, allowing us to forget the craziness of their past.
In exactly a month from now, March 20, Big Love comes to an end. I'm very curious to see what finally happens to the characters and whether the writers will split apart the family.
Score: 8.8/10
"D.I.V.O.R.C.E." has lots of warning signs--Cara Lynn and her teacher, Ben and Rhonda, Marg and Golgi guy, Alby and Verlan--but it remains true to the Big Love of the first three seasons and the fifth season, in that Bill and Barb, family in general, are the heart of the episode. There isn't an external force driving the drama, only the growing division between Bill and Barb.
To me, the discussion of the priesthood with the addition of Renee Clayton felt like a lot of justification for the viewers alone since Bill doesn't even entertain the notion. (Although Renee could play an important role later on, in which case I'm very mistaken.) It's a pretty obscure subject for most people, but it does seem like a legitimate topic after a bit of Googling. The writers prop up Renee as an expert, using Barb to flaunt her credentials and papers, thus justifying Barb's position in viewers' eyes so she doesn't seem crazy.
But Big Love has never been a show primarily about theology, and what Barb wants seems to have less to do with religion than simple equality. After all, if religion were completely absent, Barb would still have grounds to be mad at Bill and the marriage. Barb's problem are general, about women's rights and her own, but they manifest themselves in religion, which is a major force in their lives. It makes sense that she would conflate these issues together.
A major instigator is Nicki, who is pretty bitchy in the episode. In private, Barb tells Bill that it would be best if she were still in charge of finances after the divorce, given Nicki's spotty record. That makes sense and the divorce was supposed to be solely for Cara Lynn's adoption. When they bring it up with Nicki, however, she balks, making a big deal about how Barb is trying to usurp power. Although she's right, and it does rattle Bill to his senses, Nicki also is trying to take a bit more than she had, not unlike Barb trying to have the priesthood.
While Bill and Barb's marriage crumble, the marriage of Lois and Frank, which has consistently been destructive and often times silly, actually grows stronger once Frank realizes what he'd done. In a sad sort of way, it's emotional and sweet, and for the present, allowing us to forget the craziness of their past.
In exactly a month from now, March 20, Big Love comes to an end. I'm very curious to see what finally happens to the characters and whether the writers will split apart the family.
Score: 8.8/10
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Review - Big Love Season 5 Episode 5 The Special Relationship
Since the beginning of Big Love, Barb hasn't been entirely happy about her situation, sharing her husband with two other women and various other events that occurred which have shaken her beliefs, although it's never been too explicit. However, she has stuck through it all, and reinforced her belief in plural marriage. But this season, with the political turmoil, there is sea change based on her interpretation of the scripture. Without reading the Book of Mormon, all this talk about the priesthood holder goes over my head and I don't care much about it frankly, except that it puts Barb directly at odds with Bill and the rest of the family. Fundamentally, it is about freedom for women--not needing a man to be priesthood holder.
Complicating matters, Bill asks her for a divorce so he can marry Nicki and adopt Cara Lynn. Barb, thinking that legal marriage is important, initially refuses and Bill realizes he shouldn't be asking her this. But as the episode progresses and Barb remembers her college days, the moment comes and Barb states that they need to get divorced. So is this a legal divorce only or a spiritually one as well? Certainly, I can imagine an ending of Big Love where Bill and Barb are separated, but I can also imagine one where the family sticks together.
Alby once again shows how twisted he is, sending out Verlan to hurt Don. By now, halfway through the final season, Alby hasn't shown any signs that he could come around, not even signs of humanity, so there will probably be a showdown in the near future.
I hoped the reveal of Lois with dementia would get rid of her character permanently, but she's sticking around a while longer. The main problem with the story is that it's unrelated to everything else, and it's just a pain to watch Lois yell about something or another.
What's going on with Margene? From what I can tell, this Golgi thing is a pyramid scheme, but everyone, including business-savvy Bill, seems fine with it.
There's also politics in the episode in which Bill has to be stubborn and unrelenting. Both Barnes and leaders from the LDS church ask him to stop being so brazen about his beliefs, in somewhat insulting fashion, but in the case of Barnes, Bill will actually get quite a bit in return, support for Safety Net. Unfortunately, Bill would rather fight than take a deal, so he'll have to try another way.
Score: 8.7/10
Complicating matters, Bill asks her for a divorce so he can marry Nicki and adopt Cara Lynn. Barb, thinking that legal marriage is important, initially refuses and Bill realizes he shouldn't be asking her this. But as the episode progresses and Barb remembers her college days, the moment comes and Barb states that they need to get divorced. So is this a legal divorce only or a spiritually one as well? Certainly, I can imagine an ending of Big Love where Bill and Barb are separated, but I can also imagine one where the family sticks together.
Alby once again shows how twisted he is, sending out Verlan to hurt Don. By now, halfway through the final season, Alby hasn't shown any signs that he could come around, not even signs of humanity, so there will probably be a showdown in the near future.
I hoped the reveal of Lois with dementia would get rid of her character permanently, but she's sticking around a while longer. The main problem with the story is that it's unrelated to everything else, and it's just a pain to watch Lois yell about something or another.
What's going on with Margene? From what I can tell, this Golgi thing is a pyramid scheme, but everyone, including business-savvy Bill, seems fine with it.
There's also politics in the episode in which Bill has to be stubborn and unrelenting. Both Barnes and leaders from the LDS church ask him to stop being so brazen about his beliefs, in somewhat insulting fashion, but in the case of Barnes, Bill will actually get quite a bit in return, support for Safety Net. Unfortunately, Bill would rather fight than take a deal, so he'll have to try another way.
Score: 8.7/10
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Review - Big Love Season 5 Episode 4 The Oath
When so many questions and accusations are thrown out in episodes of television like "The Oath," I try to work things out in my mind as to who is in the right and who is in the wrong. Frankly, it's hard to root for anyone. Bill calls the state senate hypocrites for turning their backs on the entire scripture, and it's a fine point expressed with rousing vigor. But Bill is also a hypocrite, telling Margie to cover herself up when his goal is to have everyone be open towards polygamy, and Barb, and Margene, and Nicki.
To me the most troubling part of the episode is Margene, who was revealed last week to be 16 when she married Bill. The creep factor only increases when Margene expresses how she wanted a father figure. Of course that person was Bill, but he became her husband, not her father. We do get the impression, heavily suggested by Barb and Nicki, that Bill was really, really into Margene, and if take that combination of factors in simple terms, basically Margene was looking for a father and Bill was looking for sex.
Despite the continuing turmoil in the episode, the family comes together in the end as the entire family, minus Sarah and Teeny, goes to watch Bill's triumphant swearing in. Now that that has happened, though, Bill faces an uphill battle against people who are ready for impeachment.
Score: 9.0/10
To me the most troubling part of the episode is Margene, who was revealed last week to be 16 when she married Bill. The creep factor only increases when Margene expresses how she wanted a father figure. Of course that person was Bill, but he became her husband, not her father. We do get the impression, heavily suggested by Barb and Nicki, that Bill was really, really into Margene, and if take that combination of factors in simple terms, basically Margene was looking for a father and Bill was looking for sex.
Despite the continuing turmoil in the episode, the family comes together in the end as the entire family, minus Sarah and Teeny, goes to watch Bill's triumphant swearing in. Now that that has happened, though, Bill faces an uphill battle against people who are ready for impeachment.
Score: 9.0/10
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Revew - Big Love Season 5 Episode 3 Certain Poor Shepherds
As everyone probably knows, this is Big Love's final season. There's a time when things are going to start turning towards a resolution, but for now, it's all bad news piled on more bad news. With Alby, Margene, the casino, senate, Barb, Cara Lynn, Adaleen, Lois each spawning more problems, half of which I don't mind for, Big Love is heading in dangerous territory. Let's hope this doesn't turn in the wrong direction.
Because "Certain Poor Shepherds" features plenty of legitimate grief, the women shine again as they manage to stomach what's going on without going off the walls (although the breaking point is near). Bill isn't too awful in the episode, praying to God for lenience for his family and reaching out to people. But we also have to wonder how much is a political act and how much isn't, and the writers giving him the "separate but equal" line puts him out to be a bad guy regarding gender relations.
Margene's underage bombshell is no doubt shocking and adds another layer onto the existing problems, but there's also a ridiculous feeling about it that hearkens back to the fourth season. First of all, 16? Wow, it sure makes Bill look scummier than he already is. Maybe Bill didn't know her real age back then, but how about how she looked? Considering last week's episode where Margene is crying over what she gave up for the family, this situation just gets stickier and creepier, approaching Roman Grant level. Also, I'm surprised no one has dug up the proper dirt on Margene since all the politicians are gunning for Bill. I don't like this extra wrinkle coming out of nowhere, but the writers may have a plan.
Lois's aha moment comes when the doctor tells Bill she has dementia--so THAT explains why she always been crazy and unlikable. She's always been a problematic character and this provides an easy and logical way out.
It wasn't all bad news, however. Heather and Ben get plenty of screen time, and Sarah and Teeny are briefly on the phone! It's not much, but I'll take it.
Score: 8.8/10
Because "Certain Poor Shepherds" features plenty of legitimate grief, the women shine again as they manage to stomach what's going on without going off the walls (although the breaking point is near). Bill isn't too awful in the episode, praying to God for lenience for his family and reaching out to people. But we also have to wonder how much is a political act and how much isn't, and the writers giving him the "separate but equal" line puts him out to be a bad guy regarding gender relations.
Margene's underage bombshell is no doubt shocking and adds another layer onto the existing problems, but there's also a ridiculous feeling about it that hearkens back to the fourth season. First of all, 16? Wow, it sure makes Bill look scummier than he already is. Maybe Bill didn't know her real age back then, but how about how she looked? Considering last week's episode where Margene is crying over what she gave up for the family, this situation just gets stickier and creepier, approaching Roman Grant level. Also, I'm surprised no one has dug up the proper dirt on Margene since all the politicians are gunning for Bill. I don't like this extra wrinkle coming out of nowhere, but the writers may have a plan.
Lois's aha moment comes when the doctor tells Bill she has dementia--so THAT explains why she always been crazy and unlikable. She's always been a problematic character and this provides an easy and logical way out.
It wasn't all bad news, however. Heather and Ben get plenty of screen time, and Sarah and Teeny are briefly on the phone! It's not much, but I'll take it.
Score: 8.8/10
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Review - Big Love Season 5 Episode 2 A Seat at the Table
Big Love is one of the most thought-provoking shows on television and can generate endless ideas. I didn't intend on spending much time reviewing the season premiere last week--a few paragraphs at most--but I found myself unable to stop. The fourth season, while terrible, was not devoid of interesting plots, but was weighed down by the awful plots which would not stop.
Early into the final season of Big Love, the resumed focus on the Hendricksons is working well. "A Seat at the Table" is marvelously complex with each wife thoroughly explored alongside Bill's continued quest for respect. With great acting all around, especially Ginnifer Goodwin who absolutely kills the scene in which she visits her old house and talks with Cara Lynn and Barb, this episode alone really pulled me back on board after the disappointment of the fourth season.
Due to time constraints (I'd really would love to writer a lot more if I had time), I'm not going to say too much, but I wanted to touch on each wife.
Barb somewhat reconnects with her mother, but they have a huge argument at the Sunstone conference. They're both strong women who fight and struggle for causes, and we see their conflicting ideology. Barb springs another surprise, that women should also be priesthood holders due to some textual evidence, which again puts her mother on edge. Now we see why Barb has been deviating off the path, and it makes certain sense. If Bill wants polygamists to be equal in others' eyes, then women should also be equal inside the religion.
Margie, after losing everything she has, realizes how much she's given up to have this family. With no job, little friends, and three kids to take care of, there's a lot to be desired. She doesn't want to leave with Ana and Goran to Serbia, but leave Bill? That looks like a definite possibility.
As Cara Lynn's biological mother, Nicki spends lots of time trying to reign in Cara Lynn, making sure she avoids boys and sticks to studying. It's clear she's overcompensating for her own childhood, but it's not necessarily the wrong idea either since education opens many more avenues than Nicki ever had. Still, with Margie, Barb, and Barb all trying to influence her in the episode, Cara Lynn isn't on a clear path yet.
OK, I've done it again and spent more time than intended. I'll try extra hard to cut down next week.
Score: 9.4/10
Early into the final season of Big Love, the resumed focus on the Hendricksons is working well. "A Seat at the Table" is marvelously complex with each wife thoroughly explored alongside Bill's continued quest for respect. With great acting all around, especially Ginnifer Goodwin who absolutely kills the scene in which she visits her old house and talks with Cara Lynn and Barb, this episode alone really pulled me back on board after the disappointment of the fourth season.
Due to time constraints (I'd really would love to writer a lot more if I had time), I'm not going to say too much, but I wanted to touch on each wife.
Barb somewhat reconnects with her mother, but they have a huge argument at the Sunstone conference. They're both strong women who fight and struggle for causes, and we see their conflicting ideology. Barb springs another surprise, that women should also be priesthood holders due to some textual evidence, which again puts her mother on edge. Now we see why Barb has been deviating off the path, and it makes certain sense. If Bill wants polygamists to be equal in others' eyes, then women should also be equal inside the religion.
Margie, after losing everything she has, realizes how much she's given up to have this family. With no job, little friends, and three kids to take care of, there's a lot to be desired. She doesn't want to leave with Ana and Goran to Serbia, but leave Bill? That looks like a definite possibility.
As Cara Lynn's biological mother, Nicki spends lots of time trying to reign in Cara Lynn, making sure she avoids boys and sticks to studying. It's clear she's overcompensating for her own childhood, but it's not necessarily the wrong idea either since education opens many more avenues than Nicki ever had. Still, with Margie, Barb, and Barb all trying to influence her in the episode, Cara Lynn isn't on a clear path yet.
OK, I've done it again and spent more time than intended. I'll try extra hard to cut down next week.
Score: 9.4/10
Monday, January 17, 2011
Review - Big Love Season 5 Episode 1 Winter
When I think of Big Love's fourth season, I imagine a train on a mountain pass. The conductor, for unknown reasons, decides to increase speed even though there is a decline soon. Once the train reaches the decline, it's already picked up plenty of speed and begins to barrel downwards. At this point, there's nothing the conductor can do but try and keep control. There's no use, however, as the train goes off the tracks and later flies off a cliff. Somehow, all the passengers are still alive, groggy but otherwise in good condition.
Here we are at the beginning of the fifth and final season, with the Hendricksons fully revealed to the public. Every member of the family, from Bill in the State Senate to the kids in school, is ostracized and/or terrorized. The poisonous climate drives the family further and further apart, as Barb turns to alcohol, Nicki dives into her self-righteous hypocrisy, and Margene flounders without her job. What I like most about Big Love is when the wives are together and talk about things, and "Winter" certainly delivers in that regard.
On the other hand, it wouldn't be a Big Love review without some Bill bashing. Right at the beginning of the episode, Bill manages to pull this gem from his ass. Talking about Margene, he says, "We need to give her a little love and care, just didn't think she'd have so much trouble with the publicity, I mean of all people." You mean you didn't think she'd mind being called names? After Bill fires a disrespectful employee, Don tries to reason with Bill, saying that they are already low on man power and that he is popular. Bill goes in to jackass mode and blows him off.
Later, Don confronts Bill and Bill finally breaks down, admitting that he's caused grief to so many people over his dreams. The problem with Bill's big speech to Don, despite his own admission of guilt, is that he'll probably be back in the public spotlight again trying to get others to respect him. Actions speak louder than words and Bill hasn't shown any sort of decency yet.
You know, Bill, if you were truly sorry for all the shit you've put everyone through, you'd resign your senate seat, move away, and hide with your family in a remote location where no one can bother you. But no, you're a self-absorbed ass who wants everyone to accept your beliefs and you're willing to drag your family through the mud to get there.
There was very little of the ridiculous Juniper Creep stuff, but we see Alby stewing in his hatred and Adaleen released from lockup, still with J.J.'s baby, so the writers haven't forgotten about them completely.
Several polygamists show up at the end of the episode to express their support for Bill. It's not much, but considering all bad things that have happened, it's better than nothing. If this snowballs the way the fourth season plots did, this can end very, very badly. Imagine: Bill gathers enough support from polygamist families who come out of the woodwork, starts his own polygamist compound, and essentially becomes Roman Grant.
As an individual episode, "Winter" was a tad above average, without too many highs or lows. There are plots and conflicts set up for the rest of the season, and they all seem fine so far. It's up to the writers to develop them and avoid what happened last season.
Score: 8.7/10
Here we are at the beginning of the fifth and final season, with the Hendricksons fully revealed to the public. Every member of the family, from Bill in the State Senate to the kids in school, is ostracized and/or terrorized. The poisonous climate drives the family further and further apart, as Barb turns to alcohol, Nicki dives into her self-righteous hypocrisy, and Margene flounders without her job. What I like most about Big Love is when the wives are together and talk about things, and "Winter" certainly delivers in that regard.
On the other hand, it wouldn't be a Big Love review without some Bill bashing. Right at the beginning of the episode, Bill manages to pull this gem from his ass. Talking about Margene, he says, "We need to give her a little love and care, just didn't think she'd have so much trouble with the publicity, I mean of all people." You mean you didn't think she'd mind being called names? After Bill fires a disrespectful employee, Don tries to reason with Bill, saying that they are already low on man power and that he is popular. Bill goes in to jackass mode and blows him off.
Later, Don confronts Bill and Bill finally breaks down, admitting that he's caused grief to so many people over his dreams. The problem with Bill's big speech to Don, despite his own admission of guilt, is that he'll probably be back in the public spotlight again trying to get others to respect him. Actions speak louder than words and Bill hasn't shown any sort of decency yet.
You know, Bill, if you were truly sorry for all the shit you've put everyone through, you'd resign your senate seat, move away, and hide with your family in a remote location where no one can bother you. But no, you're a self-absorbed ass who wants everyone to accept your beliefs and you're willing to drag your family through the mud to get there.
There was very little of the ridiculous Juniper Creep stuff, but we see Alby stewing in his hatred and Adaleen released from lockup, still with J.J.'s baby, so the writers haven't forgotten about them completely.
Several polygamists show up at the end of the episode to express their support for Bill. It's not much, but considering all bad things that have happened, it's better than nothing. If this snowballs the way the fourth season plots did, this can end very, very badly. Imagine: Bill gathers enough support from polygamist families who come out of the woodwork, starts his own polygamist compound, and essentially becomes Roman Grant.
As an individual episode, "Winter" was a tad above average, without too many highs or lows. There are plots and conflicts set up for the rest of the season, and they all seem fine so far. It's up to the writers to develop them and avoid what happened last season.
Score: 8.7/10
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Preview of Week 1/16/10 - 1/22/10
Big Love - HBO, Sunday, January 16, 9:00pm ET
After last year's disastrous fourth season, let's hope Big Love can end its run on better terms.
Being Human - SYFY, Monday, January 17, 9:00pm ET
Yet another remake of a British show, this time Being Human, which is about a ghost, werewolf, and vampire living together.
Harry's Law - NBC, Monday, January 17, 10:00pm ET
David E. Kelly has another law drama! We'll see if he can spin the magic again.
White Collar - USA, Tuesday, January 18, 10:00pm ET
White Collar is so forgettable that I barely remember what happened in the last episode, but it's back to finish off the season.
Blue Bloods - CBS, Wednesday, January 19, 10:00pm ET
CBS moved Blue Bloods from Friday nights to Wednesday (in my opinion, they should have done that in the first place).
Royal Pains- USA, Thursday, January 20, 9:00pm ET
I had absolutely no idea what happened last time on Royal Pains (speaks volumes to how interesting it is), so I rewatched the last episode, finding a great twist--Eddie R. is a informant spying on Boris.
Parks and Recreation - NBC, Thursday, January 20, 9:30pm ET
Parks and Recreation returns this Thursday and the Pawnee government is still shut down. How will Leslie cope?
Fairly Legal - USA, Thursday, January 20, 10:00pm ET
USA has a U.S. Marshalls show, a fake psychic show, spy show, medical show, criminal turned FBI consultant show, and another spy show, all with very similar tones. Now, USA has Fairly Legal, a law show along the same lines.
Fringe - FOX, Friday, January 21, 9:00pm ET
Fringe's first episode on Friday will be a huge indicator of renewal or cancellation. If a large majority of the audience continues to watch, Fringe should have a good chance of renewal since Fox has huge Friday problems.
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena - STARZ, Friday, January 21, 10:00pm ET
Ready for more bloody killing?
After last year's disastrous fourth season, let's hope Big Love can end its run on better terms.
Being Human - SYFY, Monday, January 17, 9:00pm ET
Yet another remake of a British show, this time Being Human, which is about a ghost, werewolf, and vampire living together.
Harry's Law - NBC, Monday, January 17, 10:00pm ET
David E. Kelly has another law drama! We'll see if he can spin the magic again.
White Collar - USA, Tuesday, January 18, 10:00pm ET
White Collar is so forgettable that I barely remember what happened in the last episode, but it's back to finish off the season.
Blue Bloods - CBS, Wednesday, January 19, 10:00pm ET
CBS moved Blue Bloods from Friday nights to Wednesday (in my opinion, they should have done that in the first place).
Royal Pains- USA, Thursday, January 20, 9:00pm ET
I had absolutely no idea what happened last time on Royal Pains (speaks volumes to how interesting it is), so I rewatched the last episode, finding a great twist--Eddie R. is a informant spying on Boris.
Parks and Recreation - NBC, Thursday, January 20, 9:30pm ET
Parks and Recreation returns this Thursday and the Pawnee government is still shut down. How will Leslie cope?
Fairly Legal - USA, Thursday, January 20, 10:00pm ET
USA has a U.S. Marshalls show, a fake psychic show, spy show, medical show, criminal turned FBI consultant show, and another spy show, all with very similar tones. Now, USA has Fairly Legal, a law show along the same lines.
Fringe - FOX, Friday, January 21, 9:00pm ET
Fringe's first episode on Friday will be a huge indicator of renewal or cancellation. If a large majority of the audience continues to watch, Fringe should have a good chance of renewal since Fox has huge Friday problems.
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena - STARZ, Friday, January 21, 10:00pm ET
Ready for more bloody killing?
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Chloe Sevigny was right and shouldn't have to apologize
Daniel Fienberg wrote a great piece yesterday detailing the aspects of the situation and where it went wrong.
When actors are candid about their feelings on shows, it should be celebrated. Rarely do you see an actor honestly give an opinion of a show. Big Love is a decent show which has many problems, but also characters and ideas that outstrip almost all dramas. Season 4, without question, was garbage. It's a view held by most fans and Chloe Sevigny articulating the same thoughts shouldn't be a problem. The interviewer goes further with specifics, and she complies, explaining what didn't work for her.
Then she goes to Michael Ausiello, an unscrupulous, egomaniacal, self-promoter, to revise her comments, in the process, blaming the interviewer for her comments. In an unnecessary interview, there are also unnecessary targets, least of which should be the one who asks questions. She also goes on about out of context statements which is pretty stupid since the whole transcript was posted.
It's fine if she wants to apologize to showrunners privately--it's best not to have an awkward relationship with people she works closely with--but to come out an apologize publicly? What does the public gain from hearing her new comments? Does she save face? Do the executive producers save face?
One has to wonder what is going on behind the scenes. Readers have to assume Sevigny's first opinion, her real opinion, is the most genuine and unadorned. After, we don't know who was directing her or pushing her to make another statement. No one (other than Ausiello who can toot his horn) has anything to gain. We all know her general opinion on Season 4. Actors, like everyone else, should be allowed to state their opinions, especially if backed up with evidence.
When actors are candid about their feelings on shows, it should be celebrated. Rarely do you see an actor honestly give an opinion of a show. Big Love is a decent show which has many problems, but also characters and ideas that outstrip almost all dramas. Season 4, without question, was garbage. It's a view held by most fans and Chloe Sevigny articulating the same thoughts shouldn't be a problem. The interviewer goes further with specifics, and she complies, explaining what didn't work for her.
Then she goes to Michael Ausiello, an unscrupulous, egomaniacal, self-promoter, to revise her comments, in the process, blaming the interviewer for her comments. In an unnecessary interview, there are also unnecessary targets, least of which should be the one who asks questions. She also goes on about out of context statements which is pretty stupid since the whole transcript was posted.
It's fine if she wants to apologize to showrunners privately--it's best not to have an awkward relationship with people she works closely with--but to come out an apologize publicly? What does the public gain from hearing her new comments? Does she save face? Do the executive producers save face?
One has to wonder what is going on behind the scenes. Readers have to assume Sevigny's first opinion, her real opinion, is the most genuine and unadorned. After, we don't know who was directing her or pushing her to make another statement. No one (other than Ausiello who can toot his horn) has anything to gain. We all know her general opinion on Season 4. Actors, like everyone else, should be allowed to state their opinions, especially if backed up with evidence.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Review - Big Love Season 4 Episode 9 End of Days
Umm...yeah...that's the season finale. The silly season ends with a silly speech by Bill and a silly shot of Bill and the wives holding hands. Bill's idiotically absurd dream of winning the state senate and coming out finally came into fruition. There were a few missteps here and there--a raid of a compound in Mexico, another baby coming along--but here they are.
Everyone knows their secret, and Bill will have to find a way to live with it. The episode had a combination of everything that has made the season so terrible--an annoyingly unreflective Bill and a ridiculous plot. Several times, Bill offers up stupid platitudes of why he's doing what he's doing. But we already know why. He's taken the same stance from the beginning: he wants to bring polygamy out into the open to shed its taboo image. It's like the writers are still trying to convince us it's a good idea. Well, it's not.
Marilyn puts it nicely, "Your religion is pathetic. It's just another excuse for fucking around." He essentially had affairs with Margene and Ana, and isn't repentant to the least bit. In fact, he took those affairs and transformed them into marriage to advance this idea that his polygamist life was good and wholesome. Newsflash for Bill: You're a moron. Barb tells Bill that she doesn't need him anymore, but nevertheless, she stands up for him in the end. How long she keeps putting up with him is only a matter of time.
The writers have done a terrible job portraying Bill as the man whose aspirations were clouded by his stupidity. He's not even an antihero anymore. He's just a douche. He's not likable, and sounds fake as hell. Chalk it up to the directing, writing, or Bill Paxton; Bill as a character sucks.
Not to ignore the other storylines, but they were useless. JJ implanting eggs of family members to have pseudo-incest was completely unbelievable. The politics made no sense since Bill seemed a lot more liberal than his Democrat opponent.
I don't know how much more I can stand about the show. If the writers continue down the road of stupid stories without focusing on the characters, I might not watch anymore. When the wives interact, it's great television, and no external forces are needed to make it good. All those other things only detract from the main draw of the show which is the family.
Score: 8.2/10
Everyone knows their secret, and Bill will have to find a way to live with it. The episode had a combination of everything that has made the season so terrible--an annoyingly unreflective Bill and a ridiculous plot. Several times, Bill offers up stupid platitudes of why he's doing what he's doing. But we already know why. He's taken the same stance from the beginning: he wants to bring polygamy out into the open to shed its taboo image. It's like the writers are still trying to convince us it's a good idea. Well, it's not.
Marilyn puts it nicely, "Your religion is pathetic. It's just another excuse for fucking around." He essentially had affairs with Margene and Ana, and isn't repentant to the least bit. In fact, he took those affairs and transformed them into marriage to advance this idea that his polygamist life was good and wholesome. Newsflash for Bill: You're a moron. Barb tells Bill that she doesn't need him anymore, but nevertheless, she stands up for him in the end. How long she keeps putting up with him is only a matter of time.
The writers have done a terrible job portraying Bill as the man whose aspirations were clouded by his stupidity. He's not even an antihero anymore. He's just a douche. He's not likable, and sounds fake as hell. Chalk it up to the directing, writing, or Bill Paxton; Bill as a character sucks.
Not to ignore the other storylines, but they were useless. JJ implanting eggs of family members to have pseudo-incest was completely unbelievable. The politics made no sense since Bill seemed a lot more liberal than his Democrat opponent.
I don't know how much more I can stand about the show. If the writers continue down the road of stupid stories without focusing on the characters, I might not watch anymore. When the wives interact, it's great television, and no external forces are needed to make it good. All those other things only detract from the main draw of the show which is the family.
Score: 8.2/10
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Preview of Week 03/07/10 - 03/13/10
Big Love - HBO, Sunday, March 7, 9:00pm ET
The season finale to the wackiest season yet is finally here. In a shortened 9 episode season, the show was beyond crazy. All I'm hoping to see is Bill Hendrickson crash and burn.
Castle - ABC, Monday, March 8, 10:00pm ET
The episode is titled "The Mistress Always Spanks Twice." Use your imagination.
White Collar, USA, Tuesday, March 9, 10:00pm ET
The series has been a lot less interesting than I expected, but the episode focuses on Neal getting the music box. Maybe we'll finally learn the significance of the music box and Kate.
Psych - USA, Wednesday, March 10, 10:00pm ET
Another season finale this week. I watched the episode already, so I'm hoping to have a longer review this week. I appears as though the Yin Yang killer is back, and the ante is upped to new heights. The episode capitalizes on the excellent Season 3 finale to deliver what I consider is the best episode of the series.
The season finale to the wackiest season yet is finally here. In a shortened 9 episode season, the show was beyond crazy. All I'm hoping to see is Bill Hendrickson crash and burn.
Castle - ABC, Monday, March 8, 10:00pm ET
The episode is titled "The Mistress Always Spanks Twice." Use your imagination.
White Collar, USA, Tuesday, March 9, 10:00pm ET
The series has been a lot less interesting than I expected, but the episode focuses on Neal getting the music box. Maybe we'll finally learn the significance of the music box and Kate.
Psych - USA, Wednesday, March 10, 10:00pm ET
Another season finale this week. I watched the episode already, so I'm hoping to have a longer review this week. I appears as though the Yin Yang killer is back, and the ante is upped to new heights. The episode capitalizes on the excellent Season 3 finale to deliver what I consider is the best episode of the series.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Review - Big Love Season 4 Episode 8 Next Ticket Out
I was about to get the "next ticket out," for the show, but then the final five minutes came. The writers brought the show back from the brink, and in one fell swoop, had me loving the show once more. Bill stands behind Barb during the interview, Sarah shows up, and then the family is all together at Teenie's birthday party. Although the rest of the episode didn't advance the story, and just increased the tension for the pending craziness next week, the writing and acting was on point for those brief moments. It didn't made the episode good, but at least my faith is there for next season. The season finale will probably be a mess, so I'm not even banking on that.
The show so complex, there's so much going on, and I don't have much time with all the shows coming back today, so I'll probably have another short review. If I could stand all the ludicrous stories, I would have the desire to write more. There is so much depth to the show, so I'll refer you to Todd VanDerWerff's review. He, thankfully, is a great writer and likes the plot.
Score: 8.7/10
The show so complex, there's so much going on, and I don't have much time with all the shows coming back today, so I'll probably have another short review. If I could stand all the ludicrous stories, I would have the desire to write more. There is so much depth to the show, so I'll refer you to Todd VanDerWerff's review. He, thankfully, is a great writer and likes the plot.
Score: 8.7/10
Monday, February 22, 2010
Review - Big Love Season 4 Episode 7 Blood Atonement
Big Love has always strayed around the edges of bizzaro world, but last night it jumped--feet first, with no trepidation, arms spread wide--into one of the weirdest episodes I've ever seen. I can take Sarah kidnapping a Native American baby, I might be able to understand Bill running for state senate (just barely), and I can also believe the Juniper Creek stories. The line must be drawn somewhere. and my limit was finally reached. There are only two episodes left, so the end is near. We just have to hope the next season is more plausible.
I have no clue where to start, so I'll begin with the Mexican rescue mission which took up the majority of the episode. The Greene's set up a trial, coming to the conclusion that everyone is guilty. Their punishment is execution. Bill, Joey, and Jodean travel to the compound after the Mexicans refuse to create a bloody slaughter over Bill's loud protest. In a ridiculous turn of events, Bill sneaks onto the compound under the cover of night and without alerting any guards, starts getting his family out safely. Joey shows up with a gun exact revenge for Kathy's death. Hollis, Selma, and a bunch of goons show up, guns in hand, to stop them. Bill offers himself instead to save his family, and the deal appears to be good. (Although the episode had lots of faults, I liked how Bill's character was there is save his family. He bucked campaign responsibility to protect his first priority.)
Lois miraculously comes up behind Hollis with a machete and chops his right arm! This isn't anime, is it? If the stupidity wasn't brimming at the top already, Bill and company escape under the most ridiculous of premises. Bill says there are two choices: save Hollis and let them go, or let Hollis die and capture them. Um...not really. A couple guys shoot the Hendricksons and the rest save Hollis. It's not that complicated. Anyways, Selma takes the first choice and lets Bill leave.
Back at home, there is a big mess brewing. Ana, pregnant with Bill's baby, is about to leave the country with Goran who had a problem with his visa. There is, however, a perfectly viable solution presenting itself. Marry him!! And that's exactly what Margene does. There isn't much more to say.
Now the episode wasn't devoid of positive factors--there's always a gem in the rough with this show--so I wanted to point out a few things that I liked. This season, Barb has been handling the casino, and Margene has been handling her own business, but Nicki, still treading on thin ice with the family, really hasn't done anything other than be Bill spy for the campaign. She takes it upon herself to conceive a baby, and it this episode, we see the anguish that she can't do it as if there's something wrong with her. The news that her mother is pregnant--as implausible as it was--came like a kick in the gut and rattles her to no end. The scenes between Margie and Barb were wonderful and touched on the core concept of the show briefly enough for me to be happy for those few minutes.
Score: N/A (was it even the same show?!?!?)
I have no clue where to start, so I'll begin with the Mexican rescue mission which took up the majority of the episode. The Greene's set up a trial, coming to the conclusion that everyone is guilty. Their punishment is execution. Bill, Joey, and Jodean travel to the compound after the Mexicans refuse to create a bloody slaughter over Bill's loud protest. In a ridiculous turn of events, Bill sneaks onto the compound under the cover of night and without alerting any guards, starts getting his family out safely. Joey shows up with a gun exact revenge for Kathy's death. Hollis, Selma, and a bunch of goons show up, guns in hand, to stop them. Bill offers himself instead to save his family, and the deal appears to be good. (Although the episode had lots of faults, I liked how Bill's character was there is save his family. He bucked campaign responsibility to protect his first priority.)
Lois miraculously comes up behind Hollis with a machete and chops his right arm! This isn't anime, is it? If the stupidity wasn't brimming at the top already, Bill and company escape under the most ridiculous of premises. Bill says there are two choices: save Hollis and let them go, or let Hollis die and capture them. Um...not really. A couple guys shoot the Hendricksons and the rest save Hollis. It's not that complicated. Anyways, Selma takes the first choice and lets Bill leave.
Back at home, there is a big mess brewing. Ana, pregnant with Bill's baby, is about to leave the country with Goran who had a problem with his visa. There is, however, a perfectly viable solution presenting itself. Marry him!! And that's exactly what Margene does. There isn't much more to say.
Now the episode wasn't devoid of positive factors--there's always a gem in the rough with this show--so I wanted to point out a few things that I liked. This season, Barb has been handling the casino, and Margene has been handling her own business, but Nicki, still treading on thin ice with the family, really hasn't done anything other than be Bill spy for the campaign. She takes it upon herself to conceive a baby, and it this episode, we see the anguish that she can't do it as if there's something wrong with her. The news that her mother is pregnant--as implausible as it was--came like a kick in the gut and rattles her to no end. The scenes between Margie and Barb were wonderful and touched on the core concept of the show briefly enough for me to be happy for those few minutes.
Score: N/A (was it even the same show?!?!?)
Monday, February 15, 2010
Review - Big Love Season 4 Episode 6 Under One Roof
Just when you thought things couldn't get worse, a couple old faces show up and make a bad situation even worse. That's the way the season is progressing; Bill is campaigning and random things start happening. It's not great, but it lets us see the characters in different ways because they are being pushed by all sorts of forces not under their control.
Ana shows up pregnant with Bill's baby. I wasn't a fan of her story last season, and her return muddles an already messy show, but on it's own, the story has tons of potential. The wives want to help, Bill wants to help, and Ana wants none of them. The idea that she would go back to them is silly to her since the whole polygamy thing was so foreign to her in the first place. The wives and Bill think it is only natural for them to take care of the baby. Ana finally agrees to let Bill have some parental rights, but she also wants a lawyer involved. Barb shows up at Ana's apartment and makes two big discoveries. Ana is engaged and the baby was conceived before she was married to Bill.
All the cards are out on the table, and Barb is figuring out something we knew a long time ago: Bill is a self-serving jackass. The throws around religion, family, and politics to benefit himself. He's a lying loser who thinks he is amazing. In reality, he's just lowlife scum who is worthy of anyone's respect. He's really no different than Alby, Roman Grant, or JJ. Given the right circumstances, he would act just like them.
There was about 50 other stories going on. Ben and his grandparents are down in Mexico to get the birds, and none other than the Greenes show up. Creepy Hollis and Selma are back and have them at gunpoint.
If that wasn't enough, Marilyn, the lobbyist is now a partner in the casino. Dale absolves himself of all obligations by hanging himself. Alby is crying, but he'll probably go back to psycho creep next week instead of conflicted in love creep. Nicki saves Cara Lynn, but her mother still gets sealed. The writers feel this is the right thing to do, we'll have to tolerate all the irrelevant, stupid stories for three more episodes. There is good stuff in between everything that doesn't matter. Once you parse through the minutiae, there are some wonderful scenes that are worth watching.
Score: 9.0/10
Ana shows up pregnant with Bill's baby. I wasn't a fan of her story last season, and her return muddles an already messy show, but on it's own, the story has tons of potential. The wives want to help, Bill wants to help, and Ana wants none of them. The idea that she would go back to them is silly to her since the whole polygamy thing was so foreign to her in the first place. The wives and Bill think it is only natural for them to take care of the baby. Ana finally agrees to let Bill have some parental rights, but she also wants a lawyer involved. Barb shows up at Ana's apartment and makes two big discoveries. Ana is engaged and the baby was conceived before she was married to Bill.
All the cards are out on the table, and Barb is figuring out something we knew a long time ago: Bill is a self-serving jackass. The throws around religion, family, and politics to benefit himself. He's a lying loser who thinks he is amazing. In reality, he's just lowlife scum who is worthy of anyone's respect. He's really no different than Alby, Roman Grant, or JJ. Given the right circumstances, he would act just like them.
There was about 50 other stories going on. Ben and his grandparents are down in Mexico to get the birds, and none other than the Greenes show up. Creepy Hollis and Selma are back and have them at gunpoint.
If that wasn't enough, Marilyn, the lobbyist is now a partner in the casino. Dale absolves himself of all obligations by hanging himself. Alby is crying, but he'll probably go back to psycho creep next week instead of conflicted in love creep. Nicki saves Cara Lynn, but her mother still gets sealed. The writers feel this is the right thing to do, we'll have to tolerate all the irrelevant, stupid stories for three more episodes. There is good stuff in between everything that doesn't matter. Once you parse through the minutiae, there are some wonderful scenes that are worth watching.
Score: 9.0/10
Monday, February 8, 2010
Review - Big Love Season 4 Episode 5 Sins of the Father
No wonder HBO aired the episode with the Super Bowl going on. It might have been that I was tired, but I kept pausing the episode to wonder what the hell happened. At every turn there was something stupid. The episode centered on the breakdown of the Hendrickson family which stems from Bill's campaign. Turning an already stupid plot into the focus of an episode was the worst mistake this season. Worse than the inception of the campaign, and worse than Bill's parents.
Bill comes to terms with his past as a "lost boy," a teenage outcast from Juniper Creek giving a touching speech about his experiences which helps him win the Republican nomination. Great speech Bill, but how are you treating Ben and Margene? That's right, you tossed them out. Dumbass.
There was plenty of other stuff going on that revolved around Bill's campaign. Nicki is happy to be helping Bill in any way she can (spying on Coburn), but she comes into an identity crisis where she doesn't know where she stands. On the outside Barb is supportive of Bill, but is deeply troubled by everyone. She turns to Tommy who takes her to the sweatlodge. They have this sexual tension between them, so I'm guessing sex is coming soon. Sarah has no clue what to do, but she's moving to Idaho with Scott so she'll finally be away from the mess. Ben leaves with Lois to be a full-time bird trader.
We're past halfway into a shortened nine episode season, and the end is in sight. The family is self-destructing without much help from others, and the lobbyist has her sights on Bill, so the only foreseeable result is a full-scale implosion of the Hendricksons. In the end everyone suffers and it all starts with Bill.
Score: 8.3/10
Bill comes to terms with his past as a "lost boy," a teenage outcast from Juniper Creek giving a touching speech about his experiences which helps him win the Republican nomination. Great speech Bill, but how are you treating Ben and Margene? That's right, you tossed them out. Dumbass.
There was plenty of other stuff going on that revolved around Bill's campaign. Nicki is happy to be helping Bill in any way she can (spying on Coburn), but she comes into an identity crisis where she doesn't know where she stands. On the outside Barb is supportive of Bill, but is deeply troubled by everyone. She turns to Tommy who takes her to the sweatlodge. They have this sexual tension between them, so I'm guessing sex is coming soon. Sarah has no clue what to do, but she's moving to Idaho with Scott so she'll finally be away from the mess. Ben leaves with Lois to be a full-time bird trader.
We're past halfway into a shortened nine episode season, and the end is in sight. The family is self-destructing without much help from others, and the lobbyist has her sights on Bill, so the only foreseeable result is a full-scale implosion of the Hendricksons. In the end everyone suffers and it all starts with Bill.
Score: 8.3/10
Monday, February 1, 2010
Review - Big Love Season 4 Episode 4 The Mighty and Strong
Bill is a terrible person, and that's where the writers are taking his character. Increasingly, there is less and less logic to his actions and he's more out of touch than before. Bill's competitor for the state senate, Representative Colburn, starts a full on investigation into Home Plus, and finds some non-employees getting health care. They are Bill's other wives, so Bill asks Don to take the fall for him and admit he's a polygamist. The scene immediately cuts to Don telling the public the lie Bill told him to say. It was a bit shocking to see such a fast transition and it was effective.
There is much more focus on Margene this season and she's all over the place. Her jewelry business is probably dead now that she completely broke down on live television and her marriage to Bill is now in peril since her kiss and feelings for Ben came out in the open.
The long awaited consequences of Sarah's miscarriage from last season finally came out in the form of the Indian baby she kind of took. She wants to have that baby and the baby she has is a surrogate.
Alby's creepiness factor miraculously increases each week. This week, his sneaks into Dale's home and they talk a bit. They're still trying to deal with their attraction to each other and their other obligations, so there wasn't anything new.
As always, the Juniper Creek madness was pretty stupid. J.J. marries Nicki's mom with Alby's consent and Bill's parent's bird smuggling ring may be in jeopardy after Jodeen let them out.
Score: 8.9/10
There is much more focus on Margene this season and she's all over the place. Her jewelry business is probably dead now that she completely broke down on live television and her marriage to Bill is now in peril since her kiss and feelings for Ben came out in the open.
The long awaited consequences of Sarah's miscarriage from last season finally came out in the form of the Indian baby she kind of took. She wants to have that baby and the baby she has is a surrogate.
Alby's creepiness factor miraculously increases each week. This week, his sneaks into Dale's home and they talk a bit. They're still trying to deal with their attraction to each other and their other obligations, so there wasn't anything new.
As always, the Juniper Creek madness was pretty stupid. J.J. marries Nicki's mom with Alby's consent and Bill's parent's bird smuggling ring may be in jeopardy after Jodeen let them out.
Score: 8.9/10
