I started watching this show around 2009, but I never finished the fifth season because it was just getting too crazy for me. (I do know how it ends.) To me, "Big Love" was at its best when it was focused around the domestic drama of Bill, the three wives, and the kids, and all the stuff with the people on the compound got boring to me after a while (except for Alby and Rhonda). Bill going into politics despite, hello, being a polygamist, was probably my least favorite storyline.

But...now that I'm rewatching the first season, I remember just how good this show was at the beginning, and I'm trying to decide whether I should watch the entire series the whole way through. Is there anyone here who was "done" with the show by fifth season, but powered through the whole thing and is glad they did?

I'm kind of reveling in the 2000s nostalgia this time around. "Put that fish movie in the VCR!" "I think she stole my iPod." 😂

(I can't see how to add a flair, just how to add tags, so sorry about no flair.)

Josh Hawley, the Missouri senator who has been, and is again in the news for his “personal preference” outside of his marriage.

I watched this show for the first time when I was about 20 (2010) and it's one of my favourite shows to come back to.

However, after the season 4 election, I just feel like the show lost its touch.

I know about Margie's age and that Bill dies (seen it on YouTube) but I just like it stopping before this moment.

Anyone else the same? I think it just changed drastically.

Maybe it's time I watched it 🤣

I’m just gonna rant about how much Rhonda has pissed me off throughout this show. What a disgusting weirdo pissy of a girl character. I’m sorry I’m ranting but the lies, manipulation the delusion!!! Whew chile.

As far as Barb. I just don’t believe how she is going along with all this. She seems so pulled back at times like wondering what she is doing then she is talking about how she loves her wives and they’re sisters to her more than her real sister and wanting a 4th wife. This series makes me so disgusted with this lifestyle. Ugh 😑

I just wanted to share an opinion and also hear everyone else’s favorite wife also! I know Nikki was rude but I feel she was there for comedic/grumpy type of relief sometimes (for us).
I honestly rooted for her to cheat. I thought her being so coy and soft was very enduring and refreshing to see.
As much as they did with her character I feel they could’ve showed a little more emotion/character development I feel she only developed towards the end. I personally just kind of relate to her character here and there (bitter and grumpy at times and only being seen as that) so I know I may have a biased.
I also just adore Chloe Sevingy! I just think she’s kind of an imperfect character as they all are and her storyline stays interesting and in my own opinion she’s the wife that goes through the absolute most.

On my first watch of the show and about to finish S2E3.

I’m loving the poison story line. Do Margie and Ben hook up?! How ridiculous is the drama on this show?

I’ve never met any real polygamy couples but this seems so wild with the compound and so on. I’ve read about a few cults and the compound stuff seems accurate. But the mob like status of Grant and so on is interesting.

Also the straight edge teens are sending me. But I knew plenty of S/E types because I was in high school at this time so I know that’s accurate haha

Are the later seasons really that bad? HBO loves going off the rails in their later seasons: true blood, GOT, and Just like that…

Ps nice to see Daveigh Chase since she passed this year. <3

almost a year ago i posted about wanting the Home Plus logo for some custom merch. i prefer my merch to be more iykyk so the Home Plus logo seemed like the perfect option for me. one kind user linked me to a site that does sell Home Plus t-shirts, but i am very picky and prefer sweatshirts and reeeeally wanted it in pink (my favorite color lol). after months of waiting and searching sporadically, i decided to put my graphic design skills to use. i took a screenshot of the t-shirt with the logo and used that to trace the logo in illustrator. i had to find the fonts and only one of them was as-is, the other two needed tweaking on each individual letterform. but in the end, it worked!!! i now have the Home Plus logo as a png and svg on my computer and sent it over to my friend who makes embroidered sweatshirts to create this! the perfect Big Love merch for me!! 🥰 i am not selling these, just wanted to share my excitement!!

Season 5 Episode 4: The Oath

Bills BYU student intern in the senate tells Bill (and Barb without making eye contact…) that the password to his laptop is “Betty Lou.” There’s no other mention of it, but the way he says it seems significant- maybe culturally?

What’s the significance?

I watched Big Love when it first aired and I have rewatched it many times since.

As I wrap up my current rewatch, I started to realize something: Alby Grant is the true tragic hero of Big Love.

I was skeptical at first too when I realized this, but I am more and more convinced. Let me try to present my case. Alby is in almost every episode. 49 of 53 episodes. His story represents a large chunk of the overall Big Love story, and is in fact a better representation of the realities and dangers of Mormon polygamy than the "core" cast represent.

Alby is an intelligent and initially well intentioned young man. But when the story starts, he is subservient to his abusive and controlling Father. When Alby is unjustly almost murdered by the evil and demented wife of Joey, Bill orchestrates an illegal coverup and Roman Grant collaborates with this conspiracy to prevent justice for his own son. This is when Alby begins his righteous and justified rebellion against his Father. After Roman dies, Alby partners with his lover Dale to bring Juniper Creek into the 21st century.

Alby's story is also one of his sexuality. Alby is forced to live in the closet thanks to the hyperconservative extremist views of the fundamentalist religion he was born into, which is extremely psychologically damaging. He briefly nears self acceptance and genuine love with Dale, but thanks to the machinations of Bill, Dale is exposed and commits suicide. This is the final tragedy which breaks Alby and we see his tragic fall in the fifth season.

Yes, Alby does unforgivable deeds in the final season. But this is the story of a man destroyed not only by external forces such as religious extremism, but by the dastardly manipulations of two men: Roman and Bill. Alby is continuously hampered and abused by the schemes of these men. In an alternate reality, Alby may have ascended to his rightful status as Prophet and partnered with Dale to usher in a new age of prosperity in acceptance at Juniper Creek. He could have fulfilled in reality the very thing Bill claimed to support but never bothered to achieve.

So when we see Alby commit heinous deeds in the final season, remember this is a man who was repressed by a cult, a man whose own Mother tried to murder him, a man whose Father covered up another murder attempt on him, a man whose only hope at love was driven to suicide by his political opponents, a man constantly manipulated by a casino owning huckster. He is driven to madness, not unlike Anakin Skywalker.

Big Love is a tragic story of the corruption and downfall of a once noble man. Albert Grant. True and Rightful Prophet of Juniper Creek.

I just hate him so much, literally in every episode. Perhaps it’s “unpolular opinion”, but that’s how I feel.

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?

I watched this as a child with my mom. I was way too young and she didn’t really give a shit what I watched. This, The Sopranos, Shameless, Weeds. Whatever they’re all really good shows and give me nostalgia now lol

ANYWAYS, wow this is a great show! I’m on season 4… I’m absolutely in love with Lois, Wanda, Adaleen, Alby, Rhonda, even Frank. I really enjoy the compound storylines and find myself bored with the wives bullshit drama. I can’t stand Margene… she is a child and is caught up in a world way over her head and I love Nicki even though she’s such a snake lol I also love Barbs mother.

This show is full of wonderful performances. I don’t even know what point I’m trying to make here but just had to get it off my chest!

I didnt realize how great the cast was/is until this rematch. Obviously bill Paxton huge, but Aaron Paul too. Fantastic ​

That's what Devaneig Chase died of!

How incredibly unhinged would I be to press restart on Season 1 after finishing the season an hour ago?

I miss Margene. 🥹

How long did you wait before rewatching the season? Honestly just wanting to rewatch 1-2.

and the passing of Daveigh Chase prompted it. My first thought of her was in Big Love, it did not dawn on me her other rolls.

Does anyone else do this, when someone dies from a show that they LOVED, it prompts a return to that era?!

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!

There are plenty of problematic or unlikeable characters on the show, but to be honest the writing and character development gives most of them some kind of ark or even a few redeeming qualities. That said, I’m curious which character(s) you really don’t like or could do without.

For me, it’s Ben’s friend Jason. I just find his constant lecturing insufferable. I know he’s an example of what that religious upbringing does to young men, but I find most of his scenes cringeworthy.

Daveigh Chase, Star of 'The Ring' and 'Lilo & Stitch,' Dead at 35

I didn't watch Breaking Bad til season 2 or 3 so when everyone was calling him "Jesse" I would say "That's Scott".

Joey is easily one of my favorite characters and the fact that he says here he is a monogamous. They have so much chemistry. I love them

One of my favourite scenes - because of her amazing voice! 💔 I wish things had been different for her.