Episode Overview: Bill begins dating Serbian waitress Ana, to the elation of Margene. Rhonda is up to her old schemes to gain control of everyone she meets, and the deal with the video gaming business goes south fast.
On tonight's episode of
Big Love, Margene is 17 kinds of stupid, Rhonda is 17 kinds of awesome, and Bill's new foe is 17 kinds of scary. Also, there's no action going down at Juniper Creek, meaning it's a completely Lois-free episode. This is bad news, because Bill's wacky mom is the only consistently great part of this show.
Bill (Bill Paxton) is on a date with Ana, the Serbian waitress from last week he's had his eye on. After a snow cone mishap, they start to kiss, and I'm instantly dismayed. Just what this show needs, even more people in this over-extended family. How else do I know this is a bad idea? Because Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin) thinks it's a great idea.
At the top of her "bad idea" list is befriending Ana at the diner. They talk about Ana's latest date and the way Margene smiles the whole time is nothing short of creepy. I realize they're polygamists, but how needy are you when you try to hook up your husband with a hot foreigner just to have a friend? Margene spends the episode talking to Ana and hanging out with her, talking up the idea of romance. When Ana is stumped by Bill's religion, Margene hauls off and says she's a polygamist, and that it's totally awesome. Ana seems to bite, making Margene salivate even more.
The obvious problem, however, is that Margene doesn't let on that she knows Ana's boyfriend is the same Bill. Apparently Margene lacks long-term plans, because eventually, if Ana does become the fourth wife, there will come a time when the jig is up, and that's going to be one angry Serbian when she finds out her "best friend in Utah" has been lying to her all this time.
It never gets that far, however, because Bill has doubts. Seeing a potential problem, as when Margene brought Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and Nicki (Chloe Sevigny) to the diner, Bill dumps the Serb. In the end, this makes Margene sad, because she's a needy puppy who pouts when she doesn't get her way.
In way more awesome news, Rhonda is camped out at Sarah's friend Heather's house. Heather's parents, in addition to considering legally adopting Rhonda, have called some reporters to let Rhonda tell the horror story of being a child bride at a polygamist compound. Of course Rhonda is all about self-promotion, so she gives the sob story. How else is Rhonda awesome in this episode? Well, she screams to pretend that Nicki is trying to kidnap her, she tells her new family that Bill molests his daughter, and when Barb shows up, Rhonda gives her a cheery fake hug and professes her love for her, then gives a stage whisper about leaving her alone.
Basically, it's classic Rhonda: using manipulation to get whatever she wants and not giving a damn about who she hurts in the process. It's a bit like shooting fish in a barrel since these Henrickson fuddy-duddies are all about being nice. Except, of course, for Benny, who gets his driver's license and uses it to head cross town to their old church to confess to his old bishop the carnal pleasures he's been enjoying with his non-believing girlfriend. The bishop suggests bringing her to the church, and if Benny thinks that will work on his hedonistic lady love, he's even dumber than he looks (no easy task).
In our final story, the Henrickson's have a new boat, as part of the deal involving the purchase of the video gaming business. The boat doesn't last long, as some mean girls light a match in the middle of the night and turn it into kindling. Later, after Bill dumps Ana, he heads to the parking lot to see his tire slashed, then a white van shows up behind him. They order him to get in to visit a mysterious "Hollis."
Hollis is, it would seem, another prophet, like Roman Grant only 17 times scarier. It turns out he wanted to buy the gaming operation, and demands Bill step aside. When our hero refuses, Hollis orders his pants removed and the branding iron heated up. Something tells me this nutcase ain't messing around.
Bill, however, is smarter than he looks, or dumber, depending on the outcome. He tells Hollis he purchased the outfit on behalf of Roman Grant as part of the UEB. Hollis seems to buy it, but for how long? Looks like Bill is going to have to team up with his enemy to fight this new threat. Wait a second, that almost sounds interesting. Did I accidentally turn the channel, or did this show finally come up with a good plot? The previews for next week indicate the likely possibility, as Bill's dad finally returns! Bring on Bruce Dern.
-John Kubicek, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image courtesy of HBO)