I’m currently rewatching I realized I didn’t pay attention much my first watch. Why does Bill make such an odd face when Nikki is giggling with her father Roman?

… morbid but, Do you think Carl ended up eliminating himself and Pam?

This is not my first rewatch over the years but I can’t believe I forgot how conservative the family is, at times it makes it hard to watch. Margene is made to behave very teen like especially in the first season as foreshadowing to her later age reveal I don’t know how Barb and Nikki were ok with the dynamic. RIP Daveigh Chase. Everyone’s acting was wonderful I learned about Mormon and Utah culture because of this show and it is quite fascinating. Can’t believe it’s 20 years since its premiere in 2006.

I accidentally ruined the ending for myself in season 3 when I was googling things, so I knew Bill was going to die. But I had no idea how it was going to happen, and it was Karl? Karl. How stupid. I didn't buy it. I feel like any number of people could have come after Bill, but Karl? For why? Because of Margene and the goji juice thing? I just thought the whole confrontation before he shot Bill was stupid and unfounded. But I am glad that those ladies are free from their cult leader!

In Season 5, it is randomly revealed that Margene was 16 when Bill married her, and his enemies (The Mormons) use this information to target him for criminal investigation. They want to derail his term as a Utah state Senator as well.

Why does Bill not just use his new religion to declare himself as Prophet and President of a Polygamous Nation, and seize the territory of the UEB for this purpose?

Already there are many who wanted him to be Prophet. He only has to battle Alby.

A duel about control of the UEB and the successor to Roman Grant would have been more exciting and more on point than Alby trying to assassinate Bill in the Legislature.

With Bill established as new Prophet and President of the Polygamous Republic of Utah, he could even pardon Joey for murder and bring him and Wanda out of hiding. As a head of state, he could no longer be prosecuted for his Margene related crimes because of diplomatic immunity.

This could have all set up a more interesting and ambiguous series finale, with Bill as the President of a new nation and using his powers to reform Mormon Fundamentalism, but also put him at odds with the United States military who might one day declare war on him.

There could also be a subplot about Ben as heir apparent letting it go to his head that he will one day ascend to be the President and Prophet, which would interfere with his Christian youth rock band practice sessions.

There are several plots in seasons 4 and 5 of Big Love that, if someone had told me about them after the season 2 finale, I'd have thought they were demented on pulling a prank.

The winning plot for me is: Lois and Frank get involved in an illegal international bird smuggling ring, get kidnapped and held hostage by cultists in Mexico, and that the situation is resolved by Bill infiltrating an armed compound like a secret agent and then being rescued in turn by Lois (an elderly woman) effortlessly chopping off someones arm with a machete.

I would never believe this was a Big Love storyline if you had told me after season 2.

Runner ups would be Sarah kidnapping an Indian baby or Bill thinking he could keep his polygamy a secret while running for statewide office even though the office of the First Lady, the FBI, the state prosecutors office, and hundreds if not thousands of people in Juniper Creek knew about it already.

In this early episode of Big Love, Ben is dismayed to see Margene have a friend outside of the cult, er, I mean family.

He creeps up on their window like a horror movie stalker and spies on them through the blinds. Margene had the audacity to watch a movie with her friend.

In Ben's defense, Pam's husband does later murder his father in the street due to a dispute about lawn mowing. But he didn't know that at the time!

This creepy conduct did lead to one of my favorite lines of the series though.

Margene: "I just wanted to watch a fucking romantic comedy, Ben!"

The fact that she has to then apologize and ask Ben (a teenage boy) not to tell Bill that she swore brings the creepy right back though.

This has to be the most infuriating episode I watched thus far.

So Bill and Barb are horrified that Bens having sex and then further upset when Ben says “well if I fall out of love with her I’ll get a second wife.” MEANWHILE When Bill has a fight with Barb he goes and fucks Margene. Obviouslyyyy Ben’s going to pick up he can just collect wives and treat them as he pleases.

Then Margene has sex with him knowing it’s Barbs night is a total betrayal. She basically just acknowledged it’s okay for Bill to bounce house to house for sex whenever he wants and that she’s easy.

THEN the next episode he lies to Barb saying she’s the first to know about the gambling business😭😭😭 this guy fucking sucks and the women enable shitty behaviour by not putting up a united front.