Did anyone watch Big Love, the polygamy drama on HBO...?

[bliss_eternal]

I just watched it. I don't know what to say about it.

It seems to comment(without really trying to do so), on the inherent problems and issues with such an arrangement. There is jealousy, the man doesn't seem to feel like a master of his domain--but overwhelmed and confused, there is anger from the women in addition to a sense of feeling trapped, lost and lacking a sense of self or purpose. This was just in the pilot episode...

Interesting in that it already starkly opposes the portraits painted of such families as loving, joyous and happy to live as one and share one husband. You know the ones with that cult like stare in their eyes...? None of that on this show, thus far.

Not sure if I'll watch again. Not sure if it will last, but it's an interesting choice on the part of HBO as the subject matter of a series.

[MountainLaurel]

1. The storyline about Roman will get quite interesting

The old man married to a 15-year-old girl . . . who is threatening his son-in-law over financial matters . . . who holds total control of his "flock" . . . who has what seems like a bodyguard travelling with him at all times.

Could they have picked anyone more perfect than Harry Dean Stanton for that role?

[bliss_eternal]

6. Is he the father of the second wife?

The blonde, played by Chloe Sevigny? I got a bit lost when they brought in the characters from their former compound...add to it the fact I was distracted doing something else while it was on. (duh--got to stop multi-tasking while I'm watching something)

So was he (Roman), married to that little girl that was questioning the first wife of Bill Paxton? The one ordering that woman to get her hot chocolate?

:hi:

Yes, Harry Dean Stanto is a great choice in that role.

What did you think about the arsenic poisoning? ;)

[MountainLaurel]

13. Yes, the blonde is his daughter

During one scene in the compound where she was visiting with her mother, Roman walked by and she called out to him, calling him Papa. And yes, Roman was married to that little girl. :scared:

I'm not sure about the arsenic yet: Roman was my first choice, but then again there's always the wife.

[bliss_eternal]

18. I watched again last night...

...my husband wanted to see it. He kept yelling at the screen, "...sick bastard," when they showed Roman and that little girl. :puke: So I had to rewind it a few times, but finally got what was going on.

I hadn't noticed the last time I watched, but saw last night that Roman delivered something to the arsenic poisoned victim's wife, for the victim.Very suspicious. So he's my first choice, too. He seems rather devious... probably what the show wants me to think though. lol.

Thank you for filling in the blanks for me. :hi:

I wonder how much of being Roman's daughter is figuring in to how obnoxious and entitled Nicki seems to be.

[bloom]

2. I didn't watch it - but

you might like to read "Twisty's" review ->

http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/03/15/big-bore-part-2/

[femrap]

3. I love Twisty....

I would like to see the fundie evangelicals go after HBO on this one. This is Patriarchy Gone Wild, imho.

[bliss_eternal]

7. Do you think they would dare?

...going after HBO?

[femrap]

9. I don't think fundie women like seeing old men

married to 15 year-olds. I was hoping they would get upset over this. Sometimes the fundie women kick some ass....trafficking in women pisses them off as well. There are actually a few issues that fundies and feminists agree on.

[bliss_eternal]

10. I'm wondering why HBO chose to go with

such a show and story at all... any thoughts?

It is disturbing to see a little girl with an old man. I could do w/out seeing that, too... we'll see if the fundie women get up in arms about it.

[femrap]

11. I don't think most fundie women have HBO since it's considered pretty

'racy' to begin with....so it probably isn't on their radar. But I bet their hubbies sneak and watch, don't you?

HBO is the ultimate in patriarchy IMHO....and this polygamy 'thing' was a big jack-off for them. I don't have HBO...and probably never will. Unless of course there is a show where women have 3 husbands each!!!! That'll be the day, huh? Maybe that will be on the Sci-Fi Channel!!!

[bliss_eternal]

12. LMAO!

Can you imagine THAT show?! The ratings would kill! Think of all the women that would tune in to see that show...:rofl:

[femrap]

15. Maybe we should suggest this to Lifetime or Oxygen! nt

[October]

21. Isn't it produced by Tom Hanks?

That grabbed my attention. I'm guessing he's trying to bring some of these issues to light.

[bliss_eternal]

8. Thanks for the link, bloom--

I've never visited that site before, she's funny! :hi:

[bloom]

16. She had me laughing to today

with the bit about Springsteen. :rofl:


It's funny to think of people taking things like that seriously. It's good to hear someone joking about it.

http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/03/16/twisty-in-tv-land-chapter-two/

[OKNancy]

4. I watched it and I loved it

I thought the acting was good. I liked the second wife ( Chloe Svigney - or however it's spelled)
Since it's a series, I'm not going to pre-judge the message but rather, just go with the flow and enjoy the storyline. I figure it will end poorly for everyone.

[bliss_eternal]

5. They have a great cast--

don't they? I mentioned it to my husband today. For some reason, whenever I say something was odd, and I don't really know what I think about it he responds "I want to see it." :eyes: He's seen some truly crappy movies by doing this (lol) but that's on him. Hahaha.

Is the second wife the daughter of some leader from their former community? I'm sorry to ask. I was doing something else while the show was on, and missed that.

What was your take on the guy's arsenic poisoning?

:hi: OKNancy!

[OKNancy]

14. Yes, the second wife is the daughter

of the cult leader ( Harry Dean Stanton). Notice she wears her hair in a long braid - a sign of the fundy-type. I think she is a very complex character. She is a spendthrift and highly sexual.

I think the mom was doing the poisoning.

--
I now know that it must be a good show because it stayed with me a while. I've thought about it several times. To me that means "thought provoking"...in a creepy kind of way.
I had the same reaction to HBO's "Carnival"

[Finder]

17. Thought provoking for sure...

I thought the acting was good.

I think Roman is involved in the poisoning since he handed the wife a pitcher of something in one scene. Said it was to make the guy feel better and alluded it was "another" batch.

[bliss_eternal]

19. Did you see Nicki's mom?

She also had the long braid. That's an interesting observation. The mother bothered me--sitting there with her china figurines telling her daughter to stop dreaming...

I always wanted to check out Carnival and never did. I heard a lot of good reviews of that show. It's probably available on dvd rental now, I should check it out.

I thought I would be repelled by this show, and wouldn't get through ten minutes. It is a very weird world that they live in, sad, and oddly humorous at times. It's hard to put my feelings about it into words. I fear that means I will probably watch the damned thing again. lol.

[ismnotwasm]

20. It doesn't seem worth it

Once in a while a series will catch my attention for a short period. I quit regularly watching TV series somewhere in "The Waltons" era, when I was a kid. Don't know why. I liked All in the Family though. So recent TV, I dunno. I've never seen Seinfield, Sex in the City, Friends, any of that era, other than bits and pieces. Probably my work schedule. I not that a committed non TV watcher.

Disclaimer over. It sounds ultimetly dull. How many plot lines can you have with polygamy? Being an HBO show, how much you want to bet a couple of the wives start a steamy affair?

[ismnotwasm]

22. Since my editing time is over..

Ok, I watched it, or rather listened to most of it, and checked out the appearance of the characters from time to time, (I'm tiling my kitchen and dining room)
I think it must have been a repeat, or an early episode, because the first thing I was subject to was a women screaming in apparent sexual ecstasy, and the passive-aggressive comments of the other wives. (I think this was mentioned here or on a feminist website-- Wasn't it I blame the Patriarchy?) Evidently, these women couldn't think of direct confrontation---Hey you know, could ya quiet down at bit? Or even a gentle conversation about the topic. The one wife talking about the "robe she wore to breakfast was up the HERE" to a friend, was just stupid. I was prepared to be annoyed, but not THAT prepared. The husbands checking out his viagra supply, as well as his manly comments about "protecting my family" were barf producing.
I did pay attention, and I could complain more, or pick it apart more but..

All in all it lived up to my expectations of not being worth watching

[VelmaD]

23. It is not about polygamy...get your terms right

Polygamy means having more than one spouse...regardless of gender. The show is about polygyny...having more than one wife.

For the record...having more than one husband is polyandry. But to really be polygamy would require that everyone involved be allowed to have more than one spouse. As long as it is only the man who can do so...then it is polygyny.