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Review: 'Big Love' - 'Sins of the Father'
by Allison Waldman, posted Feb 8th 2010 1:08AM
(S04E05) In his campaign to win the State Senate seat, Bill's slogan is Build With Bill, but based on the perfect storm of disaster surrounding his every move, that doesn't seem to be working out too well, does it? It's amazing that Bill's ambition -- this calling he claims he has to get into politics -- has yet to please anybody in his life. More on the big doings on 'Big Love' and the Utah State Republican convention after the jump.
Could there have been a worse calamity than Marilyn forcing Bill to make an introduction to Tommy at the casino and the whole kit and kaboodle coming along ... only to find that Bill's mother and father chose that night to check out the place? The fact that Bill somehow managed to keep Margene and Barb and Daphne/Nicki from being found out as his wives is amazing...
But the bigger problem facing Bill is the Ben issue. Ben feels exiled and he's not ready to forgive his father. Ben's feelings are not unlike Bill's. Bill cannot forgive his father for making him a lost boy, and Ben is perceptive enough to recognize the pattern. Bill's sympathy for the dead lost boy -- wanting to give him a proper burial -- and his moving speech at the run-off election in which he 'owned' his juvenile delinquency past, contrasted sharply to his unforgiving attitude to Ben and Marg.
He did finally make peace with Marg -- sorta -- but until Ben is back into the fold, Barb is not going to be whole. Her tears in the bathroom seemed to be as much for her broken family as her fear that Bill's nomination is going to destroy their lives.
Marg and Nicki also have concerns about Bill's ambitions ripping apart the family. Nicki is right to question how Bill uses her, especially compared to her sister-wives. Marg has needs and Bill isn't fulfilling them. Bill is spread a bit too thin and he's pushing everyone around him to keep up, but how on earth will he keep this all secret while running for public office?
It seems like a mad scheme, made more complicated with enemies lurking. Marilyn will be a formidable opponent, and Joey cannot be trusted. The whole Juniper Creek connection remains a threat. Even his mother is down on Bill now.
When all was said and done, Bill's victory felt hollow. And he still has to beat the Democratic candidate.
Other points of interest
-- Bill told Joey that creating the new church has been put on hold.
-- Nicki's been earning brownie points by doing morally ambiguous deeds for Bill, hence her deception as Daphne.
-- What fun, a Ronald Reagan dance party! Congressman Paley came through with an offer to endorse Bill's nomination, but there were strings attached.
-- The scene with the home teacher was illuminating; Barb represented Margene's point of view only to discover that Ben's feelings were reciprocated.
-- Is the ice melting between Tommy and Barb, and not just because of the sweat lodge? Barb's heart went out to him about his lost family.
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