(S01E06) Fathers and sons often have awkward conversations, especially during the
teenage years. Any of us who have had them with our Dads can relate. However, in all the conversations that I have
either read about, heard, seen, or experienced myself, none ever gave me the chills more than when Ben Henrickson asked
his father Bill if he was worthy of "living the principle" i.e. having the ability to have more than one wife,
just like dear old Dad.
And dear old Dad Bill is having a rough go of it lately. Nicki last week said she wanted to bring "another soul" into the family, so Bill does his best to make that happen. However, Nicki is seen taking birth control pills, so what exactly is Nicki up to? If you remember a couple of weeks ago, Bill found Nicki in a somewhat compromising position with her father, his nemesis, Roman Grant, so could Nicki be doing her father's bidding in her own wacky way?
Getting back to the multiple wives situation, Frank Henrickson (Bill's dad) is about to bury his "first wife" Roberta, who from what we heard, was a very loving and giving person. However, Bill's mother Lois, Frank's "second wife," is flabbergasted to learn that she will not be made first wife now, which means she is entitled to none of Frank's assets. Bill does his best to reason with his father, who is not exactly the warmest of men. Frank finally relents, but only after accepting money and home repair work from his son. (How insane was the scene where Bill, Frank, and Joe went to a deparment store to purchase a casket for Roberta? Does this really exist in Utah?)
If Ben does decide to take on more than one wife, he's getting an education of how this type of family struggles to maintain appearances, especially when Nicki is making trouble at one of Bill's stores trying to get a part for Margene's garbage disposal at a family discount, only to learn that in the eyes of Home Plus, she's not family. Barb, as usual, saves the day in her calm and collected manner.
Margene also seems to be getting a little too close to their neighbor for comfort, and Ben confronts her about it. Both Margene and Nicki are bristling from the idea that in order to keep the family from being discovered of being polygamists by the authorities, they have to keep an extremely low profile and lie as a matter of convenience.
Bill and Roman's dispute is going to come to a head sooner or later. Bill threatens Roman with exposure of his shady real estate dealings to the authorities, and Roman makes veiled references to Bill's safety. Again, Nicki may play a role here, either in keeping the peace or sifting information to her father secretly.
The next few weeks should see some situations hitting a critical mass. It doesn't look like Margene and Nicki can keep things quiet for too much longer, and Bill and Roman are heading toward some sort of violent clash. If "another soul" were to be brought into this family, that kid may want to run away screaming as soon as it is able to.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-17-2006 @ 2:45PM
Laurel said...
Each week I become more and more intrigued. I re-watched last week's episode yesterday afternoon and there was some foreshadowing early in the episode that I found particularly interesting.
Nicki called Wanda early in the "Affair" episode and was absolutely giddy about the prospect of a new wife, which actually seems a little out of character for what we know of her so far. Later in the episode, she discovers that Bill's "affair" is with Barb and at the end of the episode announces abiguously, "I wanna bring another soul into the family." There are all around pleasantries and the last four words of the episode are as follows -- someone (maybe Margene) says "A baby" and then Teenie says "A sister" -- very interesting considering the terminology "sister-wife".
Then this week we understand that Nicki is manipulating the Schedule because of the baby as means to get back at Barb for the "affair". But with the birth control, I am wondering whether she's not trying to manipulate a fourth wife into the picture. If none of the current wives can't (in the case of Barb and Nicki on the pill) or won't (perhaps the case with Margene already having two small children?) get pregnant, will Bill, who is obviously excited about the prospect of another child, look elsewhere?
I'm loving Nicki more and more. Her position in the family (both Bill's and Roman's) and capabilities to deceive make her by far the most interesting wife to watch.
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4-17-2006 @ 2:53PM
mamaloo said...
And what of Ben's burgeoning sexuality, and the intense and forbidden feelings growing for Margene? Oh, it is a tangled web they've woven!
I am falling more deeply in love with this show every week. It's complex and bizarre and funny. And how hot is Jeanne Tripplehorn?
Perhaps it is my complete lack of understanding about the way polygamists truly feel about plural marriage, but I keep feeling like Barb and Bill are the real marriage while Nikki and Margene are more like girlfriends. Bill doesn't seem to have a deep connection with them and his sneaking around with Barb, their easy conversations and problem solving seem to point to Bill and Barb feeling the same way: that theirs is the foundational relationship to which Nikki and Margene are just adjuncts or add-ons that achieve a specific ends.
The writing and acting is great on this show, becasue I totally buy Bill and Barb as married couple who have been together through thick and thin and come through with a rock solid marriage.
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4-17-2006 @ 3:20PM
Blooper said...
I was thinking that Nicki was taking the contaceptives so that she could simply keep having as much sex with Bill as possible. She was jealous of Margene's loud lovemaking, then angry when she figured out the Bill/Barb "affair." So, while trying to have another baby, she gets to bed Bill when she likes. It's a power thing -- whomever controls Bill's penis, controls the man, and therefore the whole clan.
But the fourth wife theory is interesting . . . The more wives there are, the more senior Nicki becomes. And perhaps she will "groom" a new wife, one who will give Nicki the respect that she seems to crave.
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4-17-2006 @ 4:45PM
Gozadam said...
(How insane was the scene where Bill, Frank, and Joe went to a department store to purchase a casket for Roberta? Does this really exist in Utah?)
I have seen caskets being sold at Costco's in many states including Utah. Although it was weird in the episode. You just go to remember this is a fictional show, and the writers take creative licences.
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4-17-2006 @ 5:26PM
floretbroccoli said...
I don't know what Frank's last name is, but it isn't Henrickson. In the second episode, when Bill takes Frank home from the hospital, he berates Frank for never giving his sons his name. Henrickson is Lois's family name.
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4-17-2006 @ 11:30PM
Brian said...
Apparently Frank's last name is Harlow.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0524034/
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4-18-2006 @ 9:52AM
xcultbelonger said...
I find it interesting that Nicki is delireously happy at the prospect of another "sister-wife" and pissed at the realization that the affair Bill is having is with Bill's first wife...I think Nicki is torn...she wants the attention of Bill, but not the scrutiny of Barb. If another wife is brought in, or Nicki keeps "trying" to bring down another soul...no one is going to find out about her money issues...I love this show...Of course, I loved Carnivale, too. Look what happened to it!
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4-18-2006 @ 2:48PM
LizAndrsn said...
I have to agree that Nikki is manipulating everything to her benefit. I would call to your attention that what she suffers from most is wanting to be First Wife, like her mother is to Roman. It appears that the First Wife gets everything and pushes off everything to everyone below her, while garnering the love, affection and appreciation of the whole clan. What an ego rush! No wonder the fragile Nikki wants what she can't have. How ironic was the comment in this episode about all that Nikki did while Barb was near death with cancer. Since Barb didn't die, does that mean Nikki has a "heart-of-gold" after all?
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4-18-2006 @ 5:40PM
lauren said...
I can't wait for next week when Barb finds the bills. Nicki is such a good character. I love to hate her. According to HBO, her mother is the 4th of her father's 14 wives. I think she is used to getting what she wants b/c of being Roman's daughter and never had to answer to anyone. Roman obviously has not only all the control of the people, but also control of all the financial income. He's living in a big nice house where as the rest of the compound is living in trailers and makeshift houses. And the reason why Bill's dad didn't give them his name was apparently b/c Bill's mother's father was the "prophet" before Roman and since her family was in such high standing, the kids were given the Henrickson name - according to HBO.com.
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4-21-2006 @ 6:57AM
O'Neil said...
I'm loving BIG LOVE! To me, the wives are driving the show. Ginnifer Goodwin is so awesome...also I'm intrigued about where the friendship with her neighbor Pam is going...that actress is Audrey Wasilewski. She is so adorable. I've seen her in many TV/film projects.
I kinda wish she could be the 4th wife!
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4-21-2006 @ 12:00PM
Malia said...
Remember one of Nikki's dad's men told Nikki that she only became
Bill's wife because Bill needed the loan from her Dad. I think poor
Nikki just has a bad self image (never being enough). The
significance of being wife # 2, and is only trying to please
everyone, including herself. She certainly doesn't want another
child, hence the birth control.
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5-08-2006 @ 11:21AM
Catherine said...
Poor Niki?! She is an expert manipulator. She wormed her way into the family during an extremely desperate time (Barb's cancer). I agree with 'lauren'...she is fun to hate. Roman is as well. I don't know how Bill didn't see her manipulation in the first place.
Bill's father is a terrible person, he is also possible a threat. I love Bill's brother. He is trying so hard to be as helpful as possible. His wife is adorable, as well!
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