We’ve been watching the show ‘Big Love’ the last few seasons. It’s an interesting look at a polygamist family in Utah that is trying to live a “normal” life. The patriarch, Bill, grew up on a compound called Juniper Creek and was the heir to the prophetic throne. His grandfather, the original prophet, was killed by a grasping plotter named Roman Grant who claimed he was the true prophet. Bill was thrown off the compound at the tender age of 15 and forced to live on the streets. He’s pulled himself up by his bootstraps (good ’ol Bootstrap Bill) and built a life for himself and his three (yes, count them three) wives and eight (and counting) children. He now owns Home Plus, a Mormon-friendly version of Home Depot, but Bill doesn’t stop there. Now he has opened a Mormon-friendly casino on a nearby Indian reservation (they’re all about the Mormon-friendly business model) and he’s running for Congress. Boy, does he have his fingers in a lot of pies! Mormon-friendly = synergy…apparently.
Meanwhile, his family is falling apart. The sister-wives are bickering, his children are eloping, running off to Mexico, becoming biggots, and his runaway fourth wife (who is now engaged to a beefy Serbian) is pregnant with his ninth child. He’s also dealing with his rogue mother and father (who have recently gotten in trouble in the underground rare-bird trade south of the border including a run-in with the “filthy Greens” a family of thuggish polygamists who don’t mess around – they WILL shoot you or force you to be sealed to their husband and prophet Hollis Green), his angry ex-pro footballing brother who is trying to take out every false prophet this side of Salt Lake City, bomb threats at the casino, and a double-dealing lobbyist who is threatening to expose him. Not to mention the season finale the week before last, he decides to come out as a polygamist after he is elected to Congress in order to redeem himself and the principle of polygamy in the eyes of the Mormon church, the nation, and the world. Whew!
Think you have got problems? Try tripling that. The reason I like watching this show (besides the fact that the writing is stellar) is that this life and culture is so far removed from anything I’ve ever known. It’s in a completely different sphere of life that I will never know (thankfully), and I like learning about cultures and subcultures. I am fascinated by Bill and how he’s constantly trying to redeem himself and failing miserably, weaving a web of confusion, chaos, and mistrust in the family that he’s constantly trying to “hold tight” to but is forever breaking down. I’m always trying to redeem myself too so I can relate to Bill in that way. What will happen to the Henrickson families, the rogue parents, the filthy Greens? I can only guess…stay tuned but it might be awhile. HBO is being secretive about whether or not they’re planning a season 5.
This is the best description of Big Love I have read! I laughed out loud several times, specifically at “good ol bootstrap Bill” and calling Roman a “grasping plotter”
You are amazing Laura
DOn’t lie….you just watch Big Love because you want to be sealed to our husband and prophet Horace Green.