'Big Love' make big premier
By: Matt Jamieson
Issue date: 1/21/10 Section: Lifestyle
HBO's "Big Love" has returned for a fourth season that is turning the series and its plot on its head. From a new title sequence to a drastic change in plot and characters, the balance has shifted in favor of the story. It's helped the series transform with a new vision while keeping true to the ideas that started this gem.
The series continues to chronicle the lives of the Henrickson family, a group of polygamists led by patriarch Bill (Bill Paxton), a local businessman, who wants to keep his families safe from public scrutiny. Bill's life is also complicated with the threats from his father-in-law Roman Grant, the self-proclaimed 'prophet' and leader of the Mormon Church at the fictitious Juniper Creek compound.
However after three years of blackmail from Roman, Bill is branching out by forming his own church and launching a casino. He also plans to run for the Utah state senate to help positively 'out' his polygamist family into mainstream society.
Meanwhile, his second wife, Nicki (Chloë Sevigny), who is Roman's daughter, tries to bring herself back into the family's good graces. Nicki also introduces her previously unseen teenage daughter, Cara Lynn, into the Henricksons' lives, protecting the girl from her father.
Bill's other wives, Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin) try to support Bill and continue to state their own independence.
Also complicating matters in the new season are the murder of Roman and an FBI raid on Juniper Creek. Roman's death leads to the question of who will be the successor benefitting from his vast wealth.
After just one episode, the series has completely changed. It's a lot to take in after three seasons of the same type of storytelling of blackmail, hiding the family, varied moments of family life and more.
While darkly comedic at times, the season premiere has set a new tone - much more dark and serious, showing a shift in the story and the values of the Henrickson family. Paxton continues to impress as his character Bill is as confident and strong as ever.
The series continues to chronicle the lives of the Henrickson family, a group of polygamists led by patriarch Bill (Bill Paxton), a local businessman, who wants to keep his families safe from public scrutiny. Bill's life is also complicated with the threats from his father-in-law Roman Grant, the self-proclaimed 'prophet' and leader of the Mormon Church at the fictitious Juniper Creek compound.
However after three years of blackmail from Roman, Bill is branching out by forming his own church and launching a casino. He also plans to run for the Utah state senate to help positively 'out' his polygamist family into mainstream society.
Meanwhile, his second wife, Nicki (Chloë Sevigny), who is Roman's daughter, tries to bring herself back into the family's good graces. Nicki also introduces her previously unseen teenage daughter, Cara Lynn, into the Henricksons' lives, protecting the girl from her father.
Bill's other wives, Barb (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin) try to support Bill and continue to state their own independence.
Also complicating matters in the new season are the murder of Roman and an FBI raid on Juniper Creek. Roman's death leads to the question of who will be the successor benefitting from his vast wealth.
After just one episode, the series has completely changed. It's a lot to take in after three seasons of the same type of storytelling of blackmail, hiding the family, varied moments of family life and more.
While darkly comedic at times, the season premiere has set a new tone - much more dark and serious, showing a shift in the story and the values of the Henrickson family. Paxton continues to impress as his character Bill is as confident and strong as ever.
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