Review: Big Love - Strange Bedfellows

(S04E03) "Dear Heavenly Father, I tested your calling and now you're testing me, but if this is what your plan is for me, you've got to help me out." - Bill

Last week, The Onion's AV Club did a supportive review of the episode but a scathing review of the characters. In fact, the reviewer flat out called Bill Henrickson "dumb."

It sounds like a gross simplification of a very complex man. After all, here's a guy who is not only guided by his faith and the directions that it points him in, but also in his undying devotion to his family, the influences of his business and even his politics.

But to be honest, dumb isn't far off. In fact, it doesn't go far enough. The whole Henrickson clan is dumber than a pile of unpolished doorknobs in a sack marked "hammers."


Bill embarks on his quest for political glory by picking up some endorsements in the democratic muck that is D.C. He also brings Nicki along to patch things up between them when he's not out pressing palms for political pickups. This fails miserably when she brings her daughter along without knowing that JJ doesn't know where they are. JJ has always carried the air of a psychopath who is just one wrong button push away from dropping to Defcon 1, but he goes full boar when Nicki takes off with without knowing he wasn't informed. Despite this, she tries to make the best of her trip with her daughter and scared that JJ might track them down carries a handgun with her around and into government buildings. Dumb move number one.

Back at home, Barb is trying to make things better for the employees of her casino by holding a sensitivity training seminar that becomes so awkward that it would make Michael Scott uncomfortable. She finally starts picking up on the vibe she has made herself immune to since she started spending so much time in the casino, a moment that doesn't begin to register until after she accidentally runs over someone on the Indian reservation. It gets worse. At the behest of her daughter, she tries to get the woman she ran over a job at the casino without even bothering to check her background, which includes a couple of hits for possession and intent to distribute. Dumb move number two.

Then Margie's move into primetime at the shopping network goes horribly awry when she kisses Ben at the studio and her co-host mistakes her for her boyfriend and sticks his cute, stupified mug on the air. Dumb move number three.

Of course, the show wouldn't be as entertaining as it is if everyone in the Henrickson household could sit down and think before they act and realize that not every good intention results in happy consequences. After all, these are people guided by a faith that runs deeper than bone marrow. It is ingrained in almost every aspect of their lives from their decision to embark on a Senate seat to their utterance of "What the H?" in tense situations. Most importantly, it guides their decisions in ways that some people might consider extremely dumb. One man's "dumbass" is another man's "do-gooder."

It's an entertaining way of creating complex problems and conflicts for the Henrickson clan, problems that seem small at first but flower into full blown catastrophes. It ties together nicely and keeps things moving along without destroying the very nature or core of the characters that the audience has come to know for so long. They may be dumber, but I wouldn't want them any other way.

Other observations:
- The first thing I noticed is that Lawrence O'Donnell, the talking head from MSNBC and occasional guest host of Countdown with Keith Olbermann, has a bit role as Bill's attorney. I'm still new to the show and some regular viewers may have identified him faster than I did, but does anybody find it weird that a "news guy" is acting as someone else on a TV show? It just makes my soul giggle, for some reason.
- I loved the cameo scene that Alby had with the reincarnated conscience of Roman Grant in the hotel room after he has his fling with Dale. I really didn't want to see Roman disappear from the series, but turning him into a twisted "Harry Morgan-esque" guide for Alby makes him twice as sinister.
- Sissy Spacek's lobbyist character really had it in for Bill, but turned things around thanks to Nicki's smart meddling. Does this mean she isn't going to become a permanent craw in Bill's beak for the rest of the season?
- Maybe I missed it, but are we ever going to learn why JJ doesn't have any fingernails? It's got me biting mine down to the bone.