HBO's Big Love Season 3 - Episode 2: "Empire"
Bill Paxton, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloe Sevigny, and Ginnifer Goodwin
So far in the season, Bill (Bill Paxton) is trying to sell the idea of a Mormon-friendly casino to an Indian Tribe, the family is dating a potential fourth wife, and Roman Grant (Harry Dean Stanton) is still in jail. The secrets are getting juicier and the drama is revving up. There are definitely some shockers in this episode.
The Possible Fourth Wife – Ana (Branka Katic)
In the last episode Ana decided that she would give formally dating the family a try. The first date seemed awkward for Ana and she commented later to Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin), who was absent on this date, that it was boring. Because of this Margene tried to make the second date more romantic for her. They had dinner in the backyard of their homes, during which Nicki (Chloe Sevigny) started a discussion about family issues. Ana tried to back out of the third date, saying that she didn’t feel like she was needed and that there seemed to be no room for her. Bill tried to quiet her fears by telling her that she just had to make room for herself and that should they decide to marry they would work out the space issue. The third date was an indoor picnic at Ana’s.
Sarah Henrickson (Amanda Seyfried)
Sarah decided that she wanted to go to school out of state in the season opener, but didn't tell her parents. When she finally does tell her mom, Barb says they can’t afford to send her to an out of state school. When questioned about why she wants to go out of state, she lets her mom know she is not happy about the possibility of a fourth wife or about the fact that Barb is acting like she is ok with it.
Later Sarah’s boyfriend offers to move to Arizona with her while she goes to school so that they can begin to build a life together. She breaks up with him saying that she is not in love and she doesn’t think that he’s the one. The episode ends with her crying in her room holding his sweater with a book about pregnancy for young moms in her lap.
Barb Henrickson
She goes to the hospital to have four lymph nodes removed and biopsied. Before leaving she has to call Bill and tell him what is going on because hospital policy states she must have a ride home. While in the car with Bill she tells him how happy she is about their family and how much it comforts her to know what their family will look like in eternity.
During the last date at Ana’s house she gets a call from the doctor and finds out the cells were non cancerous. She then looks at her family, including Ana, and there is a change in her expression. Maybe she’s rethinking the whole fourth wife thing with the news that the cancer hasn’t returned.
Nicki Grant
Margene tells Bill that she’s not ready to get pregnant again so soon. She inquires as to why Nicki hasn’t gotten pregnant in four years. Later Nicki reveals the biggest secret yet! It seems that she is taking birth control pills. The whole family becomes concerned with her ability to conceive. She lies to Bill and tells him that they need a blessing from her father in order to get pregnant again. Barb makes an appointment for her at a fertility clinic. At the appointment Nicki talks to the doctor and gets another prescription for birth control pills.
Other Big Love Characters
Bill and Nicki go see Roman in jail for the blessing. While there Roman orders Bill to find Rhonda Volmer (Daveigh Chase) – a witness in the DA’s case against him. Bill refuses at first but then Roman threatens to put his whole family on the stand to testify should the case make it to trial. This makes Bill more eager to close the deal with the Indian tribe, who do not care that he is a polygamist and by the end of the episode he does.
Don Embry (Joel McKinnon Miller), Bill’s right hand man at Home Plus and his partner in Weber Gaming, was distraught because his last two wives ran away with their children. This however did have a bit of a bright side because he was able to apply for the loan they need to go into business with the Indian tribe.
Joey Henrickson's (Shawn Doyle) trial second wife is a witness in the case against Roman. Wanda (Melora Walters) , Joey’s first wife, goes to see Alby Grant (Matt Ross) and demands that he assign her to someone else. He refuses and she comments that she is not sure what will happen if he doesn’t. Later Alby visits their home and tells Joey about Wanda’s visit and threatens to send Wanda away if Joey can’t keep her under control.
Lois (Grace Zabriskie), Bill’s mother, and Frank (Bruce Dern), Bill’s father, have a confrontation. He strangles her and almost kills her until he is hit over the head with a shovel by Frankie’s mother. Lois has him tied up and gagged in her home.
Big Love Commentary
This is definitely turning out to be a season full of secrets. It was so shocking that Nicki was taking birth control because she always seemed so eager to live “the principle” and do it right. It will be interesting to see this play out.
Barb seems to be having second thoughts about a fourth wife now that she is back to being cancer free. It was like she felt bad for Bill when she thought something may be wrong and wanted him to have what he wanted – more wives. Is she going to start trying to sabotage their relationship with Ana?
Sarah’s pregnancy is definitely going to rock the boat around the Henrickson household. What will she do?
Big love airs Sunday 9pm eastern on HBO.
Need a recap of what's happened so far?: Episode 1: Season Opener
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