Sweet fancy Moses, this show!

Discuss.

I thought this episode was pretty uninteresting. Ok, Nicky's a huge liar -- stop the presses! (Although I'm glad for her children's and Margie's sake that she's not adding another one to the group.) Roman is evil. Bill's dad is.. not a pleasant human being. We knew all this.

Best part: Nicky's announcement didn't stop Bill and Barb from their affair. Next week looks better.

Ironically, Nicki gets in trouble for trying to save money.

Sheesh, poor Nita -- sold out for $5000 and a new roof.

Okay, so WHAT is up with Nicki taking birth control? Is this some weird power play then, where she gets more Bill time until she manages to get pregnant (which isn't going to happen anytime soon with her being on the pill)?

The situation with Bill's mom really highlighted what came up last week about the women being oppressed - someone had made a point about how difficult it can be even for women in mainstream marriages to up and leave a husband. The woman owns nothing and her entire situation, until she managed to get a legal marriage, was so tenuous.

The interaction between Ben and Margene is so odd; somehow he almost seemed older, when talking to her about how to have a social life...and yet she's one of his moms.

WRT Rhonda's recitation - she pronounced it "Mount Nee-boo," which strikes me as odd, because there is a Mount Nebo in Utah, and I've always heard it pronounced "NE-boh," not the way she said it. I'd have thought she'd use the common Utah pronunciation.

Couldn't help but notice the interesting parallel drawn between Lois and Nicki--both second wives, daughters of the prophet, and so desparate to be legitimate.

Interesting too how Bill felt more nurtured by Roberta, that's probably true with Barb and Nicki/Margene's boys?

Laugh out loud moment: Nicki's temper tantrum in the car followed by a literal "do you want fries with that?"

The cashier at HHP was hilarious! Of course the 'manager' would be nosy Wendy. Nicki just did more damage than loopy Margene/neighbor across the street.

Whoa to Ben manning up (it was to Margene...., but still).

Loved the moment between Barb/Nicki in the car.

The coffin that Frank wanted to buy Roberta was made out of felt? BWAH!

I now know that the "L" rating at the beginning of the show means "Margie's gonna' swear."

During the coffin scene all I could think was "Somewhere Nate Fisher is rolling in his environmentally sound grave."

I don't think Frank is going to get a Father's Day present this year. Insulting Joey at the funeral, haggling over Lois, etc. Does he treat his other wives and children this badly?

Man, Nicki is something else. I knew she was trying to one-up Barb. I actually thought Barb had the upper hand, though small, with the disposal and Nicki looking like such a child at Home Plus between the cops. But, somehow Nicki manages to make herself look good again.

Also, now we know more about why Barb agreed to this thing. I am smelling a setup between Nicki and Roman. Barb said Nicki took care of her, but Nicki can barely take care of her own children, let alone a human who is sick with cancer.

I don't want to think Nicki could be this much of a devil, but she just lies in people's face like its nothing.

I do like the Nicki/Barb relationship though. It isn't really mother and daughter, but is interesting. I can't put my finger on what it is right now.

Decent epi, I did like Rhonda singing again; when are Marge and Ben just going to get it over with?; Lois is a kick butt character, but why did Bill's dad marry her in the first place? So many questions.

Sure, Nicki acted stupidly in the store, but if she's supposed to be the families' Ms. Fixit, why on earth doesn't she have her own discount card? That whole story line didn't make any sense to me, other than serving as one more example of what horrible positions 2nd Wives are in.

Wow, so Nicky isn't "really" trying to get pregnant. What a sneaky bitch....I love her.

I like the interaction between Ben and Margene. I hope they don't go there and make it a romantic thing. I think that they see each other as friends and equals, since they are close in age. The scenes with Ben spying on her were hilarious.

I felt bad for Bill's mom. She really can't start over because, as tristyn mentioned, legally she owns nothing.

Bill's dad is the assiest ass in Assville. No wonder his brother is so messed up. Am I right in thinking that his brother wasn't kicked off the compound like Bill? Who would've thought that being abandoned by your dad would be a help in life?

Nothing much happened this episode. Looking forward to next week.

I loved Margie's mocking of Nicki's scolding her when Nicki was trying to fix the garbarge disposal. Making a little song with her kids, about how Nicki was saying she was bad!

Yikes, I was worried Ben would take out all of his secular frustrations on Margie. Glad that didn't happen.

The ketchup line was great fun, and I was surprised to find out what Nicki did for Barb. It made me feel for her a little bit. A tiny little bit.

Joey is growing on me quickly, and Frank, well... he's definitely different from who I thought he'd be after the premiere.

Bill's expression after Ma said Frank isn't long for this world? Priceless.

She is feisty, and her father was the previous prophet.


Was I the only person surprised that Ben didn't have a boner after his hug with Margene?

I would feel sorry for Niki if she didn't bring a lot of it on herself. The fight with Barb about the schedule when she really isn't interested in getting pregant. Going to buy the disposal using Barb's card knowing that people at the store will know she isn't Barb or has the card. I didn't even feel bad for her pity party in the car with Barb about nursing her back in the day. "I want to have a girl for you Barb." Nice words for someone who is making sure not to forget her birth control pills.

Let me just say "Thank you God for not making me watch too much of Bill and Barb have phone sex!"
Bill's dad is a total Ass, when he made fun of Bill's brother, I just wanted either Bill or Joey to punch him in his big Assy face.
I felt really sorry for Lois when he made his declaration at his wife's funeral Gah!
I also really cracked up at the picture of Roberta behind him.

Oh, completely. I think suddenly he believes his mom might actually have poisoned Frank. Not that they showed Bill frantically calling his dad and telling him to call it off, you'll notice. :P



I don't know if I've ever been happier to have a scene fade to black...

Oh gods, Nicki, just die. Argh. The only way they could make her less likeable is if she killed a small animal. And even then, it might not be that much of a difference. Gods, that woman infuriates me.

I love Roman and Bill's scenes together. HDS does such a great job of showing absolute menace yet calm, and the tension between the two is riveting.

Also, word to the no phone sex scene, if only because I know that we'd see Barb fully clothed and Bill's ass again.

I've said it once, I'll say it again...Nikki is freaking evil. E.V.I.L. Using the whole preganacy issue to get extra lovin' from Bill, and then taking the pill? What a nut! Frankly, it sounds like something an immature adolescent would do, you know...playing the pregnancy card to get attention and knowing the entire time there's no baby (or even possibility of a baby)? Weird and freaky and...EVIL.

It came to my attention during this episode that Nikki actually took care of Barbara when she was sick, and not just the children. Interesting piece of information. It answers lots of questions about why Barbara would put up with Nikki's transparent BS; Barbara persistantly loves her and is patient with her, and Nikki does nothing but antagonize Barb. Their bond must be very strong (and weird) because Nikki was Barb's caretaker during her illness.

Let me ask a question about the scene when Margie and the neighbor lady were watching "Love, Actually". I've seen that movie about a dozen times, and I never once saw the scene that was shown tonight with Laura Linney and the mentally ill person. I mean, I know there IS a scene that includes LL and her crazy significant other, but the one I'm thinking of is completely different. Am I crazy? Did I completely miss an important part of a great romantic comedy each of the dozen times I watched it? Help!

I've always liked Bill Paxton, Chloe Sevigny is an Oscar nominee, and Mary Kay Place and Jeanne Tripplehorn are from my hometown, but the best things about this show are Harry Dean Stanton and Grace Zabriske. The Lynch Mob.

My word. Bruce Dern sure is a dick. I missed one episode, but does part of Joey's football pass include dropping a big pass? Because to mock a guy for not completing a reception in the NFL, coming from a guy who probably never left Juniper Creek, is more than a littly cunty.

Yup, it's in there, but it's not a significant other, it's her brother. That scene is when she goes to visit him on Christmas.

MacInTexas, I'm pretty sure that scene is in Love, Actually. It's Laura Linney going to see her brother at the mental institution. I think it comes fairly late in the movie and you finally realize what her damage is with relationships and how heartbreaking her situation sort of is. But I've only seen the flick once.

I wondered why Nicki was so adamant to have a boy in the beginning, then when she said the bit about wanting a girl like Barb I thought maybe the writers were just trying to show what a liar she is.

Lois freaks me out because she looks like my ex-boss, but they certainly were amping up the similarities to Nicki eh? I wonder if part of Bill's attraction to Nicki is about her reminding him of his mom. (Which, well, ew. But this is Big Love.)

Wendy is so going to be trouble for this family. (Whereas I think Pam is just too cheerful and dumb to be a threat at all).

Ben and Margie...oh boy. No good can come of that. And how creepy with Bill saying they'll keep an eye on if Ben's a prospect for multiple marriages. Blegh. For some reason, even though Bill's in it himself, I kind of felt he'd be more ambivalent about it for Ben.

Really after getting excited over a drill bit I thought for sure he was going to have to excuse himself.


Nikki, if you don't want to be treated like a child grow up.

And please why wouldn't they all have their stories so down pat by now. Nikki rents from the Hendrickson so that is why she is getting the disposal, not real difficult.

"I want to have a girl for you Barb." Nice words for someone who is making sure not to forget her birth control pills."

My husband and I were watching tonight together, and after I saw the birth control pills, I shouted, "Wow! She's pure evil!" What struck me however, was that Nicki is truly playing this up to everyone. She told Bill (rather graphically) that she wanted a son for him. Wow. I think the CIA should be using Nicki as a double agent.

I don't think Pam is dumb. I just think she doesn't give a crap. I mean Margie is nice and a new friend in a new hood. As Bill said they aren't bothering anyone and Margie is certainly not trying to convert anyone. So why should Pam care? I don't think her husband gives a dang either. I think he simply wants to be a nosy body.

Wendy on the other hand is very devoted to the LDS and seems to have a weak and rather judgement character all togeather so she will be our threat. But due to her personaility weakness she won't bring them down.

Nikki is just so sad and pathetic I don't think I can really hate her. I wonder if she really does care about this family. I'm hopping she will eventually have the revelation that the Hendricksons care about her and are her family and her Juniper Creek family is full of crap.

I think Barb and Bill make up these stories and the two other wives just can't keep their (Barb/Bill) stories straight.

Why did Bill have to pay for that tacky ass casket?

Who knew they sold caskets at the Dollar Saver?

Nicki's still evil. She is so unlikable. She better have one huge redemption arc coming. I feel no pity for her at all.

Margie is darn cute. She just wants a friend! The family should just get off her back. I totally thought Ben would have a boner after the full-force Margie hug.

Frank and Lois: still crazy. I loved Lois saying Frank isn't going to be around much longer. You think she'd be more careful since the whole compond thinks she tried too kill her husband. I'm thinking Lois was "re-assigned" after Roman took ove the compound.

I love hearing Rhonda sing. Her voice is so beautiful.

Heh, even with the baby-making going down, Bill still wants Barb. So there, Nicki.

Seriously. Dern is totally acting the crap out of this role though.
I know! Nicki is such a good liar, so I don't really understand why it would be so hard for her to remember this important one.

Nicki is pure evil, that is all there is to it. She brings up the whole wanting to bring a new soul to the family to end Bill and Barb's "affair" but it turns out she's taking birth control pills so she doesn't have to actually bring a new soul to the family. She tells Bill she wants a boy for him, then tells Barb she wants a girl for her, it's evil, but I have to admit, the eviler Nicki gets the more I like her. I enjoyed the scene between Nicki and Barb after Barb picks her up from the store and get her a strawberry shake. We get confirmation that Nicki took care of Barb when she was sick and that they probably grew close then, it's the bond that keeps Barb from killing Nicki. I'm finding Nicki and Barb's relationship to be the most interesting one on the show. Despite all the lies and backbiting, I think there is true love between the two of them.

It seems like Margene and Ben are closer emotionally than Bill and Margene. Ben actually talks to Margene and listens to her. Bill sexes her up then treats her like a child and patronizes her. I could see somewhere down the road, where Ben and Margene get close to or actually having an affair. Bill only seems to fulfill her sexual needs, and we don't know how long he'll be able to do that, while there's a young buck just a house down who could pick up the slack. If it wasn't for those babies, I could see Margene leaving eventually to have her own life.

The Barb/Nicki relationship is quite interesting. Perhaps Nicki developed a codependent relationship with Barb while nursing her. And then Barb recovered and the relatioship shifted/changed. Also, of the 3 wives, Nicki is the only one that grew up in a polygamist family and society. I think that really stunted her emotional growth and that's one reason why she acts the way she does (trying to compete for attention by lying and kicking Barb's glove compartment, "fries"). She really does that a lot. Stomping and rolling eyes, etc. She almost acts more childlike than Margene at times. Hmmm, here's a thought. Maybe Nicki married Bill because of Barb. More because of Barb than Bill anyway. BTW, I'm not suggesting any hoyay, lesborific angle here. I reserve that for Sarah and Heather ;)

Poor Barb. You know how they say getting married means gaining your husband as a child, well I guess Barb also gets her 2 sister-wives as children too :P

And BTW, they both drank strawberry shakes. I'm really starting to wonder about that. Maybe it's just the creators' favorite drinks.

And I was beginning to think that Sarah had runaway with Heather to Canada to get married or something because she was on the ep for like 2 seconds. Please, tptb, take away the gratuitus and needlessly loud sex scenes and use the extra time for Sarah scenes.

Lastly, why do you all think that they chose to show that particular scene from Love, Actually? I don't think it was random at all. How do you think Laura Linney's character's relationship with her mentally ill brother relate to Big Love? And what about Margie's comment about what she thought Love, Actually was about?

I totally thought that Ben would have a boner. Honestly, I think he did, but Marg just didn't notice. The UST between the two is going to lead to...bad things, I suspect.

Still hugely hate Nicki. Gods. Argh.

First, I had to jump in and say that I can't believe they did the whole veil and secret name thing! The second wildest bit of Mormon dogma, spilled all over HBO!

I live in Utah, so frankly, this whole show has a wild, second life for me.

Anyway, I like Nikki. I find her sympathetic. Not that I'd like to actually know someone like that, but I find her very compelling. She's the one I think struggles with the lifestyle the most, because the family isn't polygamist enough. I get the impression she's used to this kind of backroom, catty politicking, having grown up watching Roman's wives do the same thing to get in his good graces. Her compulsive buying I think is clearly borne out of growing up with nothing.

And the way she talked to Albie and ep ago was awesome. He told her she was collateral, and she didn't even blanch, she didn't even pause! Hard. Core.

As another poster said, that scene shows how Laura Linney's character has had to sacrifice personal relationships for family obligations. I'm too tired to examine the specifics in Big Love, but I'd say that's a pretty strong theme in Big Love.

Either that, or somebody behind the scenes just really likes the movie, because the song from the opening credits ("God Only Knows") plays at the end of Love, Actually. Around the holidays last year, it was on pretty much 24-7 in my dorm's common room, so I've seen it at least a dozen times and have developed a Pavlovian response to that Beach Boys song--the first time I watched the show it took me a few moments to realize why I nearly teared up at the opening credits, and it's definitely because of that damn movie.

Oh, God. Ben. Anybody else think the reason he thinks he'd "be really good at" polygyny is just because he gets boners for blondes and brunettes? Heh.

The idea of having to "sacrifice personal relationships for family obligations" fits in with what I've read about the Mormon focus on obedience and community over the individual.

I don't see Nikki as evil...just self-absorbed and immature. She's really not a whole person so she feels the need to use subterfuge and create drama around herself to enhance her self-importance. Pathetic, even if it's due to her upbringing.

What concerns me more is that hours after the western showtime there are barely 3 pages of posts. This show isn't going to make it given such a lack of interest.

It's not that there is a lack of interest; it's because there are only so many things revealed to us per episode and so many things that we notice and can mention. I rarely make a post about Big Love (though I love it so) because all that needed to be said has been said (sometimes longwindedly), and it's no fun to post "I agree, lolbbq."

The line about ketchup is one of the all time greats. Watching the two women share fastfood strawberry shakes after the entire ordeal at the store was priceless.

Not only can you buy caskets at the Dollar store, they were giving a huge amount of retail space over to them. Bill can explain what that means in dollars per square foot.

I thought Ben was walking funny out of Margene's house; did no one else?

See, I was suprised as well. This is why I think the writers may not be going the Ben/Margie sex/love route. That boy is obsessed with sex. Anyone who gets a boner from seeing a drill go up and down would most likely get one from hugging an attractive young woman. And I think Margie would have noticed and reacted to that.

Also, the way Ben watched his family at the end of the episode. I didn't see any lust or jealousy from Ben when Bill hugged Margie. I think (or maybe just hope) his family is the most important thing to him. Maybe seeing the love and attention Bill got when he returned made him want that same situation for himself.

Or maybe I'm delusional and we'll be seeing Ben work out some sexual frustration with Margie in a few episodes. In which case.....Ewwwwww.

Nicki is deliciously evil. And she and barb haaaaate each other, that making-the-bed scene was hilarious with the false cheer and 'oh, I just thought it'd be easier!'

I thought Margie should have smacked ben back. He's her kid, according to their rules and I think it showed both the lack of respect everyone has for Margene and her own lack of maturity.

The thing that made me lol in the episode was Paxon's delivery of - 'it's made of particleboard! And FELT!'

bruce Dern rocks, I've always liked him, even in pseudo horror crap, and he's just kicking ass in every scene.

And drills.

I love the potential for Ben's character. Not so much for Ben himself, who seems bland as tofu. But hey, tofu takes on the flavor of whatever else it's with, adn with this cast they could make his story a heck of a compelling one. I really hope this becomes more than a will-they or won't-they dance of Ben and Margene and instead forces Bill to confront the very reasons he was thrown out of Juniper Creek, i.e. younger boners with Bens attached are huge threats to the older poly men.

Because Bill and Joe's "deceased" sister is really in a mental institution. I'm not familiar with this movie, Love, Actually, that they showed, but I would assume that's the connection with Big Love, and why they showed it. Anywone else feeling that?

Couple of things that I noticed -- Nicki's "Give me a boy, Bill" coitus-calling then became "I wanted to have a girl for you, Barb." Sure seems like this non-baby is a way to win points with everyone. And how sad that she thinks Bill only wants boys. Though I'm sure Sarah and Teenie would agree.

And what the heck is a junior bookkeeper doing serving as a floor manager?

When Lois finds out that Bill bought off Frank, I'm sure she'll be just so grateful and pleased. LOL!

And what was going on with Adaleen? I thought she was going to slam the window down on Bill's hand when he touched her. Either she's still nauseated by all the commercialism in Bill/Nicki's house, or something else causing Bill-directed venom?

I was starting to like Nicki a little during her strawberry shake scene. When she was talking about taking care of Barb, I felt like just maybe she actually did love Barb (while simultaneously envying her and wanting to wrest every possoble ouce of control from her). Then she said that about having a girl, and I realized, that while she certainly must have cared for Barb while Barb was sick, I wouldn't be surprised if she was praying for Barb to die the whole time. If when she said "How can you say something like that to me?" when Barb apologized for not dying, what she really meant was "I acted like I loved you even when I hoping with my entire being that you would die, but as far as you know I was nice, so how can you question my loyalty."

This comparison is sort of random, but it struck me as a BSG / Baltar moment.

Ok, an interesting episode, that kind of filled out the characters and their motivations. A few observations:
1. This episode highlighted how "different" Bill is from Barb, Margene, perhaps even Nicki. It isolated him the entire time at Juniper Creek, and one could sense that despite him getting kicked out of the compound, he was very used to the in's and outs of that lifestyle, and not totally grossed out the way Barb was when she visited.
2. Barb and Nicki. Oh, dear Barb. "I'm sorry I didn't die" -- has to be the saddest thing I've ever heard Barb say, and Barb's said some very sad things. I do think Nicki immediately turned it around to guilt trip Barb. But we get a sense of why Barb puts up with Nicki's hatefulness. I loved Barb's "Nicki, get in the car." And how she treated Nick to a strawberry shake. That was stuff my mom used to do if I was in a bad mood.
3. Ben/Margene. That storyline is trouble. I feel bad for both of them -- clearly attracted to each other.
4. Barb's friend about the "affair": "He's not going to leave his wives for you." And the look on Barb's face was heartbreaking.
5. Why does Barb drive and old beat-up station wagon when Nicki and Margene both have much nicer, newer cars? Again, I think it symbolizes Barb's self-effacing, self-sacrificing personality.

Nikki...what a control freak. She knows that Bill and Barb are running around behind everyone's backs and having sex and yadda, yadda, yadda. So, in her passive-aggressive way, to get that to stop, she tells them she wants to have a baby and won't commit to a schedule. This way, she can have access to Bill anytime she wants and it puts a big kink in the 'affair' he and Barb are having. And then? She keeps taking the pill so she won't get knocked up. Hmmm. Seems to me, it would be easier to say to Bill and Barb, 'Um, I know you two have been meeting at a motel for sex. How fair is that?'. Nikki is just too sneaky for her own damn good.

The scene between with Barb and Nikki in the car was awesome. Loved Nikki kicking the glove box. She's such a petulant child but also such a master manipulator. Such a dichotomy.

The whole compound depresses me. All I could think about when Bill was driving up to his mom's house was, "look at those dumb women hanging clean laundry up along a dry dusty road."

I think the lack of posts here reflects that it was a slow episode plotwise. However, I do think it was a good character episode. I love, for instance, how Roman appears to be grooming Rhonda. The amateurish recitation of Dickinson was entertaining while simultaneously being creepy. Loved Bill's look of disgust as Roman chastely (or maybe not so much) kissed Rhonda on the cheek before she left the room.

I don't think Nicki is lying about wanting to have another baby. I think Nicki is taking the pills to have it take much longer to get pregnant - in other words, if she arranges to not conceive while the family thinks she still is trying to conceive, she'll get maximum attention from everybody (esp. Bill) for the maximum amount of time. Eventually, of course, she'll have to get off the pills. Speaking of which, isn't there a period of time you need to be off the pills before you can conceive anyway? Pills work over the long run, with your hormonal cycle, not as instant deterrents to pregnancy (like a condom is). I'm pretty sure the effects leave your system over time, rather than the day you stop taking your pills. In which case, Bill rushing home to have sex with he is kind of silly, unless we assume some time has passed between the last episode and this one.



Tartarwarrior, what we've seen is how Nicki is permissive with her children; not that she's incompetent. Far from it. Who was the one in the house who actually knew how to fix the disposal, after all? I imagine she took very, very good care of Barb, which only serves to make this all much more interesting. Nick is obviously not unrelentingly bad; she clearly has some redeeming qualities, albeit well hidden. And, now we know there's a bond between Barb and Nicki that Barb will never have with Margene. Or even with Bill. Someone taking that kind of care of you when you're gravely ill is much more like a maternal relationship, so while Barb mothers the children, and she mothers Margene, she clearly doesn't have to mother Nicki (much), while in fact Nicki has mothered her.

As for why Nicki went to the store knowing full well that she didn't have a discount card of her own, I don't think that was absolutely, definitively deliberate. I saw it more as the kind of passive-aggressive stumble you make when you're frustrated, and you just want to DO something even if you know if won't work. Like when you've been patiently working on trying to fix something mechanical for like two hours, and then at the end of that time it still doesn't work...so you scream "Gah!" and just kick it or bang on it with your fist or something. You know that's not going to do any good, but you just do it, anyway.

In many ways, Nicki is at the end of her rope. Bill and Barb's affair, plus what she learned from Alby last week, has clearly affected her more than she consciously realizes, and it's making her act out. The only way she can feel in control is to shop, and to control Bill through her own fertility. Hence, her wanting to take a long, looong time to conceive.

I agree with KBear that there is actual love between Nicki and Barb, from both sides. The complicated kind of love that you sometimes see between mothers and daughters when both have very strong personalities. Not every mother-daughter relationship is hearts and flowers. Sometimes, that maternal bond isn't enough to stop the conflict and the rancor.



snarktargett, I think that Wendy is just one of those super-ambitious types, and she just happened to be on the sales floor and nearby that cashier when she heard the announcement, so she decided to go and take care of it herself. That woman loves getting up in everybody's bidness, whether it concerns her or not!

Was I the only one who thought he did? I figured that's why Margene pulled away from the hug so quickly. I didn't look, but I just kind of figured.

Well, I got pregnant immediately after going off the pill, so who knows?

Also, do you think they are actually setting Ben up to be gay (with Sarah as a red herring) by showing that he doesn't get aroused from being with Margene who he is supposed to have the hots for?

And what announcement did Frank make at the funeral? I missed that part.

Yes Barb treats Nicki like a rebellious daughter too. She obviously gets very frustrated with Nicki, but at the end of the day you can see that Barb is there for Nicki, 100%. And from the looks of the preview we'll see more of that.
Loved them each sipping the strawberry milkshakes. To me that scene shows the unspoken intimacy between the two women. They know each others' food preferences.
Plus, there's the expression that sometimes, to get away with saying something nasty or hostile, you either have to be the best of friends or the worst of enemies. I've certainly found that to be true. My friends can call me on my bullshit, and I can call them on their bullshit, and it'll be fine. My dad's family was like that -- they were always screaming and yelling at each other, but they are also extremely loyal and caring. I sense that with Nicki and Barb -- they can fight a lot but they'll be fine.

This little scene clinched it for me. I have always suspected that this whole plural marriage thing is just a way for certain men to get to have sex with a bunch of different women while still pretending to be virtuous (I mean, Joseph Smith himself insisted on "sealing himself" to other men's wives) and I think young Ben finally figured that out last night. "Dad gets to have sex with hot Margene, and if I "married" a bunch of different women, I could have unlimited sex, myself."

By the way, Nicki is my favorite. Evil? yes. Smart? oh, yes. Her antics tickle me no end. She does need to go out and get a real job, though, like Barb. A fourth wife would provide that opportunity. And maybe she needs a boyfriend, too. (Just saying.) The shopping is just her way of filling the void of being a second wife with no public life with her husband. She's sad, but I love the way she is coping with it. Hee.