HBO's Big Love Season 3 - Episode 1
Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn & Chloe Sevigny in the Season Opener
Jan 18, 2009
The Emmy and Golden Globe nominated Big Love follows trials and tribulations of the Henrickson family –Bill and his three wives Barb, Nicki, and Margene. They live in a Utah suburb in three different houses right next to each other and share a backyard. Not only does Bill have to deal with everything that comes with having three wives, but also his two oldest children with their own opposing ideas of polygamy, his businesses, and the compound where he was raised.
Season two left the Henrickson’s acquiring a new business called Weber Gaming, Bill dating a potential fourth wife and Roman Grant (Harry Dean Stanton), the prophet of Juniper Creek compound, in jail while his son Alby (Matt Ross) was trying to take over the reins of leadership.
Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton)
Season 3 starts with Bill trying to sell the idea of Weber gaming machines in an American Indian casino. The Indian that he is trying to win over doesn’t seem too interested, but Bill convinces him to have one more meeting with him.
Bill is also still dating Ana, the waitress. He tries to get her to marry him and at one point even tells her that he is in love with her. She says that she is not interested and Bill tries to tell her to stop fighting what she knows that she wants, but they end up having sex. So, Bill ends it.
Barb Henrickson (Jeanne Tripplehorn)
Barb begins this season with an ominous phone call from her doctor which leads her o decide to take more control over her life. With this new found handle on herself and her situation, she goes over to Ana’s house and gives her the opportunity to date all of them- her, Bill, Nicki, and Margene. Surprised by this offer she declines and informs Barb that she is not interested in dating them because she is not at all interested in marriage. This, of course, upsets Barb and she calls Bill to let him know that he must play by the rules. He has three days to decide if the family will date Ana or he has to dump her. Later she proposes date night to her sister-wives.
Nicolette Grant (Chloe Sevigny)
Nicki begins season 3 like a leper in the community. Everyone in the neighborhood has figured out that she is the daughter of Roman Grant, who is in jail on charges related to polygamy and marrying underage girls. Her house was wiped off the map of the neighborhood made by the local Mormon Church and her house was toilet papered.
She also starts a new job at the District Attorney’s office, under the tutelage of her mother, in order to sabotage their case against her father.
Margene Heffman (Ginnifer Goodwin)
Margie helps Bill to further and possible close the deal with the Indians. She is also still friends with Ana and gives her the Book of Mormon as a gift to try to convince her to join the family.
Other Characters
Alby thought he was about to have a homosexual encounter with a random guy in a restroom, but it turned out the guy knew his name and then tried to kill him. Luckily two guys walked into the restroom before he was drowned in the sink. He thought that maybe Nicki and/or Bill was behind it, but by the end of the episode may have other clues.
Season 3 also brought the introduction of Frankie, Bill’s younger brother by a different mother/sister-wife. He showed up in Bill’s truck one day after work after being thrown off the compound by their father.
Big Love Season 3-Episode 1 Conclusion
The season opener ends with the whole family at the neighborhood block party. They think they are being ostracized because the neighbors that they confided in about their real life let the whole neighborhood the truth. However, it’s more so because of Nicki and the fact that Teeny has started a club where she shows the neighborhood boys pornographic magazines at a rate of fifty cents per minute. Bill almost gets in a fight, when Nicki from the roof of her home gives a speech about how she just wants to be treated with some kindness. While the family pats Nicki on the back for the speech Ana shows up and says she’s ready to date the family on their terms.
What does Big Love Have in Store for Viewers This Season?
Who knows? The first episode wasn’t really juicy, but it set up some juicy tidbits for the rest of the season. Will there really be a fourth wife? What will happen on the compound when Roman gets out of jail? What about all that money Nicki stole? The only thing to do is watch and see!
Big Love airs on Sunday nights at 9pm eastern time.
Check out what happens next: Episode 2: Empire
