From Zap2It:

Awww, poor Rhonda. That was my first thought when Alby was talking about turning them all in: "At least Rhonda was saved from marrying the old pervert."

I liked this one; I think this season is gaining momentum. I liked most of the storylines, although what's really sticking with me is that last scene.

Free Rhonda!

ETA: Everything Adaleen said was sheer genius, especially rattling off the convoluted Juniper Creek genealogy.

Adaleen is so the General of Jupiter Creek. Not only does she command both the air (“Get the plane on the runway!”) and ground (“We need to keep the emergency lane clear.) forces, she can carry her body weight in potatoes and bitch-slap Alby without mussing her braid. Covering “The Caissons Go Rolling Along” for her album was such a good call

I’m not a fan of NakedBill, but his love scene with Nicki amid the billowing white sheets was beautiful.

Brynny sex is still scary.

I wonder if anyone’s ever going to tell that Embry kid how convincing his unintended impersonation of a gay street hustler is. He better not cross paths with Allby or “daddy’s little girl” will start banging his head into the nearest wall inside of a minute.

Gennifer Goodwin’s acting choices have been taking my breath away this season.

The make-up team deserves a gold star this week because that was the exact shade of lipstick someone like Rhonda would pick.

Nice to see some love between Bill and Nicki. They do have a unique bond; they "get" each other in a way nobody else can.

What was the bit about three days on a Mexican bus -- had Rhonda actually run away? "You better be intact!"

Judging from the age of his youngest, I was probably wrong about Roman planning to keep Rhonda as a pet.

Loved Adaleen with the bone saw. There's someone who could cover up a crime!

Oooh - so whaddya think: was Rhonda just trying to escape from marriage to old prune face, or did Roman plant her as a spy in the Henrickson camp? I'm leaning towards the latter simply because it would have been hard for her to cram herself into the back of that escaping vehicle without a certain amount of compound-based collusion.
And speaking of the compound, when did they start casting such attractive women to stand around peeling potatoes? And putting them in so much makeup, too? They looked like they were about to shoot a Ralph Lauren ad. There must have been some network executive memo: "The Juniper Creek women are too dowdy! And while we're at it, let's have some gratuitous breasts..."

Def my favorite of the three episodes

Best lines of the night:
Nicki: "You didnt die. Get over it already" and Adaleen: "This could be our last family portrait. Jesus could be here by Labor Day"
LOVED both of these lines. Laughed so hard

I was happy Margene stood up for herself to Barb too. Margene grows on me every episode

I laughed so hard at the picnic, where every few minutes you heard "and that's how i became my own son's stepmom." "and that's how I am also his aunt and his daughter." My favorite: "and that's how I became my my own grandma."

So Nikki is aware of Alby's homosexuality? "go play make believe with your wives" and "no -you'll be daddy's little girl"

I think Rhonda has designs on being Bill's fourth wife. I don't think Roman sent her - she escaped.

Loved Adaleen in this episode, as always. A bit confused on a few things, though: Eddie is Lois Henrickson's brother? He looks about Bill's age. Also, how and why did Benny get beat up?

loved it! Adaleen owned tonight.



yah she seemed to be acknowledging it without actually saying it

CS is such a great actress. Her fear was palpable as she was packing to leave JC. And the look on her face when she was talking to Roman. Wow!!

Loved Adaleen this week (really, when don't I love her?!)! Her going through the genealogy was priceless.

Rhonda is up to no good, defintely. Whether or not it is Roman's no-good, I have no idea.

I loved Margene, yet again, this week. She's trying so hard to be grown up and no one takes her seriously. Did Barb really think that there was something going on between her son and her sister-wife?

I was in hysterics during Margene and Nicky's phone conversation about the Barb shopping. That was hilarious!

edited to fix formatting errors...and to add...



Wordy McWord! I'm so with you on this!!

Wow - there was so much in that 50 or so minutes, it's hard to know what to comment on and where to start. First off, though, I do think Alby told Nicki the truth about Roman turning the family in on the Mother of the Year award, although the real info came from Rhonda.

I am wavering a bit in my support for Barb. :( Deep down she is, I think, unhappy with the polygamy and it's causing her to do things that she wouldn't normally do, such as steam open Ben's birthday card from her sister! I don't think she read what her sister wrote, though, since she asked Ben about it; I think she opened it, but then couldn't read what it said. And how can she be so naive about Ben and Brynn! It's so obvious that they are all grounded in the LDS faith, even Sarah, yet they seem shocked that Ben might actually give in to "temptation." Maybe that's not naivity, but in my book it's not being realistic. And she misses her family; it's hard to understand sometimes how and why some people can be so rigid that they would just completely cut off relations with family members. I've been there myself, though, at times (very long story!)--it works better trying to have a relationship than being completely cut off, at least for me.

Poor Margene! First she gets blamed for something that she didn't do (LOL OMG! If Barb knew the real deal there!!), then she admits that she perhaps was a bit inappropriate with Benny. I'm confused as to Margene's age, though--she says she's 5 years older than Ben, who just turned 16, according to that birthday card, which would make her 21! So was Bill after her when she was 18?! She has two kids that are .. what, 1 and 2? And another on the way? GAH!!! Oh yeah, -poor- Margene for real! GG is wonderful though.

And Nicki and Bill at the Compound - I don't normally like visits to Juniper Creek; it's depressing to me to see all the wives and kids, but this visit was really an eye opener. And poor Nicki, know she knows -exactly- where she stands with Roman Grant. And oh yeah, Alby is toast I think.

More later ...

I know, she rattled that off so well - and I was thinking gee, inbreed much?

Alby looks so creepy, serial murder creepy. I mean Roman Grant reminds me of a big perv but Alby shows up in my nightmares.

All in all though, PLEASE HBO move this back to Sunday nights. I keep forgetting it's on.

Adaleen just keeps getting better and better. I lover her!

Margene standing up to Barb was fantastic. It's about time she stoop up and defended herself. Ginnifer Goodwin was so good in that scene. Honestly, there needs to be less Bill scenes and more wives scenes on this show. Bill has become the weakest part of the show.

I never, ever want to see Brynn and Ben having sex. Ever. I just don't like Ben that much. He always seems to have "poor me" expression on his face and it annoys. It's like he's always on the verge of tears or something. Though I will say that "straight edge" story was pretty interesting. I hope they show more of that.

Niki was so in her element at the compound. She was actually having fun, until she found out her father totally exposed them. Oh and Rhonda? Wow. This is going to be good, especially when she moves in with Heather.

I thought Margene said she was 23 last season in "The Baptism" when she and Sarah were ordering new white pants and shirts for Bill.

I think Nikki knows everything. She def knows about Alby's homsexuality. Oddly enough they kinda seem close. Despite there snarling. I mean Alby wouldn't even think about hitting her back in season one and he warned her about the cops. Which was more to rub her face in it but it would have been worse to just let them deal with the cops.

It seems Nikki and Alby thought of themselves as the prince and princess of the compound as Adaleen is the queen. But they are fast seeing they are worth no more to there mother or their father then tools. It seems to have hit them rather hard. With Alby choosing to give it all up and Nikki choosing her own family (who she believes really need and love her).

If they could stop snarling at each other long enough to work together it would be quite a force.

I loved how upset Margie was about Barb saying she could possibly sleep with Ben.

Jason is odd really odd. But right it's there familys (Jason's and Ben's) that have screwed them up. One must wonder why he needed those shoes so late at night in the first ep.

Lastly the whole ep was just too good. I loved it.

So Eddie is Lois' brother and likes to find himself bimbo wives huh? Interesting. "Your wet dear" indeed.

I wonder if Alby will band with his exiled brothers?
Yay Rhonda. But she is soo gonna be more trouble then she is worth.

Hand to god, I was thisclose to giving up this show. But tonight's ep totally pulled me back in. Yay, plygies! :P

A LOT going on this episode. First of all, HBO must have sent a memo to the Play-Tone folks telling them that with the Sopranos over, and John From Cincinnati stranger than shit, that it's time for some nudity. Hence "Eddie's" new wife. Welcome, Brian Kerwin! I've always liked you.

What exactly is Jason about? Is he in some kind of Moral Rearmament Group (a cult-like organization in the late 1940's - early 1950's that emphasized chastity, abstinence, etc.)?

So...Margene's covering up for Ben and Brynn, and now Sarah is too. And I can't help but notice that Ben is much more ... skilled than he was last year. Practice makes perfect, I suppose - and that means this cover-up has been going on for some time.

I enjoyed the interaction between Nicki and Bill. It was the first time, I believe, that we've seen their bond. In a way, they're more like brother and sister. Wait a minute - based on what Adaleen explained to us tonight, they may well be!

I did not enjoy Barb this episode. But I HATE Barb's sister Cindy.

And Rhonda - no, I don't believe she's a spy for Roman. Tonight we saw she's got another reason to get away from JC, and that's her awful mother.

In her book about Princess Di, Tina Brown says that one of Diana's weaknesses was that she was a superb tactitian, but a poor strategist. The same thing could be said about Bill - and about Alby, too. I'm not so sure it's true about Roman. And I'm not so sure Nicki knows about Alby's sexuality as much as she just wanted to insult him. As weird as Alby is, you wouldn't have to know his inner life to accuse him of it.

Does Don have four wives now? Who is this new girl who talked so much during Book Club?

So now Bill's gonna get into video poker. Poor Don. And poor Joey remains in jail.

I was really confused by that, too. I always thought from the blogs on HBO.com that she was like 23-25. I know it's not that much of a difference, but it makes the whole thing a little less squicky to me.



I started laughing so hard when I saw that tattoo. I knew A TON of sXe kids growing up, even dated one for 2 years and without fail EVERY SINGLE one that got a sXe tattoo drinks and smokes pot now. All it took was a little college. I think Ben's boner buddy has just doomed himself to a life of sin.

I also liked the touch of Ben getting the shit beaten out of him at the show, because that is so true. Those kids really go to town on each other. Without fucking, drinking, and smoking all they have left is to kick the crap out of each other while listeing to metal (or christian metal). I've been to shows back in the day where if you smoked or drank at the show, people would seriously just GO AFTER you. Not that I think Ben or Jason (is that his name?) did anything bad. It just made me think that whoever wrote this episode knows something about going to see Straight Edge bands.

Oh, oh, and I just had to throw some praise for Mary Kay Place, too. Adaleen was easily the best thing about the show tonight. Loved her carving up that side of beef.



yeah, I was confused about the "video poker" thing because the machine they showed only has little games on it. There's no way you can win money. Not sure how this is considered gambling, but then again, I'm not exactly a theologist.

Where's our girl, Teeny? Has she gotten too big over the hiatus and now it wouldn't make sense if this is just supposed to be a few weeks after the family was outted?

I've floved Mary Kay Place ever since "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman." She just seems to know how to deliver the goods.

dannyedge, I sure wish I'd waited to post until after you. Thanks for explaining Straight Edge, and especially the detail about the concerts.

Same! When she was rude to Margene I wanted to reach through the TV and slap the bitch.

EWWW did anyone else see in the previews for next week Sarah is kissing Mr. Pedophile? That guy is trouble.

Also I think Benny is in for some trouble of his own. This new group he is hanging with is going to cause some serious problems.

ETA: Was I the only one who was pumped that Barb didnt quit school? yay!

Okay, so who was Barb’s Polygamist Wife Friend #4? Is there another plural marriage family they know (given the size of Don’s prayer group)?

This episode was fairly awesome, and it was nice to see some payoff with the weirdness of Margene and Ben’s relationship. It was also pretty cool how the poisoning and the Mother of the Year thing are kind of congealing together into one big pot of how evil Roman is. Adaleen was, as always, fun to watch, especially hacking at the… whatever that beast was.

Albie? So exiled. I guess Roman is going to get some new wives to replace the young one he just lost. Also: did Rhonda look kind of devious when she hugged Barb? I can never tell whether or not what she’s doing is in hopes of escaping Roman or part of his grand master plan.

More Neko Case! Now that I think of it, her music’s probably perfect for this show.

Oh, and: do you think the Big Love staff have some sort of Juniper Creek family tree (/orchard)? It would be awesome to see that, especially Adaleen's bizarre placement, laid out.

Forgot about Cindy..hate hate hate.

And that big note poor Ben. I think it's also really funny if Sarah did get a 100 dollars. At least Cindy knows how to be a bitch. Sarah is most likely to be bought Ben guilted. Teeny neither.

Thanks for this """. I was wondering if Ben got beat up in some kind of wierd initiation ceremony. I didn't get the connection between the christian metal Ben was listening to in his room and the concert he went to. Duh!

Did anyone else spend much of the show praying that we wouldn't have to witness Rhonda and Roman "get sealed". Rhonda is creepy as hell but I couldn't have handled watching that.

Albie is screwed, right?

And one last night, both Nikki and Margene were far more sympathetic tonight that Barb, which is a nice change of pace from the last two episodes that were so Barb-centric.

FWIW, This is a website devoted to sXe
http://sxe.com/

ETA: Looking at this site, it just clicked with me about the "X" Ben was drawing on his hand while he was listening to the speed metal.

Could the card have been the writer's way of telegraphing the level of disconnect between Barb's family of origin and her family with Bill? Could the same relatives who are so determined to make sure Ben chooses "the right" have their heads so far up their asses that they've lost track of how old the kid is? Before the sister’s visit last season, the kids hadn’t seen their maternal family in something like six years, right? I don’t know, maybe it's just my CindyHate talking…

I didn't mind Cindy in this episode. She said and did exactly what I would have...what happens between me and my sister stays between us. And no Margene you are not her sister in law. I understand that Margene sees it differently but Cindy doesn't and the law agrees with her.

I usually like Margene but I didn't this episode. I was on Barb's side of the Ben issue and didn't feel Barb had anything to apologize for or feel bad about. Margene may think of herself as Ben's mom but I think the conversation between Ben and his friend illustrated that he doesn't always think of her that way. Besides I think she acts more like a friend to him than a mom.

Everything on the compound was wonderful. Especially Adaleen. Last season I didn't like Nikki but I felt for her as they drove away in the last scene. She's realized she can't have both that life and her life with Bill. She's my favorite wife now.

Since some people seemed curious and I'm bored as hell, I'll tell y'all what I know about straight edge.

From what I know, sXe kids don't smoke, do drugs, drink, eat meat or consume caffiene. It is closely associated with a "hardcore punk" sub-culture. I have alway referred to hardcore as "metal for kids who think they are too good for metal". By no means are all hardcore bands also sXe bands, but more often than not, very vocally sXe bands play hardcore music. It isn't neccessarily Christian. Actually, all of the sXers I knew were very atheist. I personally think this came about because of all the drugs in the punk scene, as a bit of reverse rebellion. From what I know some of the first sXe hardcore bands evolved in the 1980's. Stuff like The Gorilla Biscuits and Minor Threat. Ian McKaye is (was? I don't know) sXe. So these kids have hardcore shows and beat the shit out of each other. Drawing blood is the status quo. Some of them are relaxed, others quite militant, to the point where they won't hang with non sXe kids and would even go as far as to get violent with people simply because they are smoking a cigarette at a show. But yeah, it's a punk sub-culture, and I think the movement is gaining popularity among the young Christian set, just as you see way more x-tian punk and metal. Which, I'm sorry, is always going to be a little hilarious. I'm by no means an expert on sXe, but if anyone has questions, I might have some answers.

Also, the sXe imagery concerns that when you go to shows underage, they put an X on your hand so the bartender knows not to serve you. sXers adopted this to indicate that they choose not to drink. I think, at least, feel free to correct me.

Oh, and one more thing, many abstain from sex entirely but most just don't approve of promiscuous sex. I think the abstinence thing is probably followed more by religious sXers, as the no doin' it till your married thing has more of a Christian context.

I'm really beginning to think this season is better than the first. After wondering what they'd do after Barb got "outed", we have a whole season of fallout, rivalries, and intrigue. Big Love really walks a funny line between "ick--these sister-wive-lesbians all have to sleep with Bill" and "man, there's some incredible writing and acting going on here".

Harry Dean Stanton and Mary Kay Place and Gennifer Godwin and Chloe Sveginy (or however it's spelled) are really bringing it this season. The writers too.

Season 2 is really moving along! Alby is a volcano ready to erupt, and Nicki gets that he's gay. Barb showed her not-nice Boss Lady side. And Margene really hit her stride in this episode. I'm watching this as it repeats later this week, to catch everything again.

I'm *hoping* that Rhonda's escape is her idea and not Roman's. But the fact that we can't tell is a mark of how good the show's writers are. Rhonda, cat's paw or victim? I'm leaning towards victim, due to her youth.

And the whole Straight Edge thing is a whole new thing to me, a real revelation.

Shout out to Elliemama-I think the JC crowd looked good for the enormous family photo shoot. It was actually a relief not to see those heavy canvas dresses that are usually seen on the JC women.

Exactly! Margene's intentions aren't the issue, but she's the adult and she needs to recognize that while she wants Ben to see her as a mother figure, she's acting like his playmate.

I'll agree with the earlier poster who said Bill is almost the weakest link of this show. I love Bill Paxton, but the heart and soul of Big Love are the sister-wives.

Big ups to the secondary characters who are so sympathetic (Sarah), delightfully twisted (Rhonda) or laugh-out-loud funny (Adaleen, Heather). I'm also loving Alby and want to see more of him and Nikki together.

With Margene and Ben, the issue isn't how Margene sees Ben, but the other way around. Granted, Barb didn't phrase it all too well, but, I mean, hello, Margene! (Although I did love her, I'm attractive, I can't help it, I just am line) And letting Ben use your couch for sex isn't exactly motherly.

Loved the JC plots! Now, is that confirmation that Roman WAS the outer, or just Alby speculation? From the first scene of this ep with Nicki and Roman, it's perfectly clear that Nicki is the perfect henchman for the future for Roman, but he can't, never has, and never will, see it, because of her gender.

I could have sworn that Ben was 17 going on 18. Didn't he say as much last season? That would coincide with Margene's age at around 23 (which I also remember her saying in the past). I thought that perhaps Barb's sister got his age wrong, but nobody commented on that. Why is it the fans keep better track of this stuff than the writers?

I hope I'm not the only moron who had no clue what the whole sXe thing was. Until tonight, I had never heard of "straight edge". That whole subplot was very confusing for me until a paused Tivo and a quick Wikipedia search cleared things up.

I love how Bill had no idea what Barb's shopping trips are really about. It's like the three wives are in a whole other marriage he knows nothing about. "Have her take you to lunch." Great advice, WannaBe Prophet.


I'm sure the casting of Lois's brother was not intentionally meta, but I love that the actor who played the gambling addict who moved west to be a cowboy after he lost his sporting goods store to Tony Soprano ended up playing a character involved in gaming on a show set out west.

HBO site says that Ben is 15.

http://www.hbo.com/biglove/cast/character/...henrickson.html

HBO site also states that Margene is 21.

http://www.hbo.com/biglove/cast/character/...ne_heffman.html

Sarah is 16.

http://www.hbo.com/biglove/cast/character/...henrickson.html

I believe that the bios are the same as last year's, but since there was only a 2-week gap between Ep 12 and Ep 13, I would say the character's ages are still pretty accurate.

Sarah's older than sixteen. She told the counselor that she was 18, and even if she was fibbing a bit, she is a senior, so she shouldn't be any younger than 17.

What was the occasion of Ben getting the gun last season? Was that a birthday? Either way, 15 or 16 is about right if he wants to get into the Academy, you gotta start that stuff EARLY.

2 compound things I noticed.

In the picnic scene there was a woman sitting behind Nikki who had on some OBVIOUS false eyelashes, which doesn't seem very fitting.

As Bill and Nikki pulled into the compound, there were some women with fairly nice Graco style strollers, which again seem a little ritzy for the calico set.

Ben is driving ~ so he either just turned 16 and in last episode he was driving with a learners permit. Or he just turned 17. Hmmm

Also in the last episode he was driving with Bill, and it appeared Bill was giving him driving pointers, indicating that he may have just turned 16.

I'm really enjoying this season. I love that Margene, Ben, and Sarah all have bigger roles.

I'm usually a fan of anything that subverts their home (not because I don't like them, but more for the same old "Run Margie Run", "Run Barb Run" reasons), so I actually have enjoyed the Ben/Margene overtones. Margene may picture herself as a mom, but Ben most certainly does not. That kid is a big messed up, though, since he clearly seems to be struggling with what he wants for himself. Not just StraightEdge vs. not StraightEdge, but probably the principle vs. normal living.

I love that Sarah is becoming more openly glib about her disapproval of the Principle. The previous episode's "Have fun tracking down your AWOL sister-wife" was great, and she continues to get more awesome in this episode. She's a good big sister and a good daughter.

Watching the reunion at the compound was great. Honestly, Bill and Nikki are probably better suited to each other than any of his other wives. I actually thought Roman was a reasonable man in this episode. He buys into his own hype, for sure. Anyone else notice that he always goes for the Stetson (I think it is) when exerting his 'religious authority'? Also, how much of a spell can he cast, that he has Adaleen's loyalty? That woman is pure thunder, she's Nikki without Nikki's overwhelming compassion and generousity, y'know?

I don't think Rhonda is a mole, I think she just wants to have a normal life.

I don't think Margie "let" Ben use her couch to have sex.

I was so squicked out thinking about Rhonda and Roman getting sealed. I'm soooo glad she left. I'm sure she has an ulterior motive, but I don't care- as long as she's not Roman's umpteenth wife.

Who was that other woman at Barb's book club? I know that Don was hunting for a fourth last season, but that didn't work out. Did he already find a replacement?

Barb quoted what her sister wrote when she was bitching to her book club. Asking Ben what it said was her just covering her ass and playing innocent.

One thing I don't quite understand: I know that for the characters, it's an open question who ratted them out last season but I thought it was pretty clear to the viewers that it was Roman. IIRC, we saw him pick up a phone just before the scene where Barb was pulled aside by the first lady. Or did I imagine that and I just assumed evil-ass Roman was behind it because Harry Dean Stanton does creepy so damn well?

Count me among the clueless on "straight edge," so thanks for the explanation.

This show just keeps getting better and better, and isn't that gratifying? The acting is superb, the writing excellent, and the plot fascinating. To take a lifestyle that most people find odd, if not repulsive, and to create such sympathetic, complex characters, is what great tv is all about. (I just realized that sentence could be describing The Sopranos or Deadwood as well.)

I've liked Mary Kay Place since the Mary Hartman days, and it is a sheer delight to see her in this role.

ETA: I think Barb asked Ben what her sister wrote on the card because she wanted to see what Ben would say, whether he would be honest about it or not, as an indication of whether he took it seriously.

And it was absolutely Roman who blew the whistle on Barb. No doubt about it.

But why hasn't Roman played his blackmail card yet? He's got that tape of Bill admitting being an accessory to the crime, the cover up, etc.

The problem is definitely the other way around, though Margene needs a lesson in proper boundaries. Ben does not think of Margene as his mother. His conversation with Jason proves that. Jason says "every time I come over Margene's in a short skirt or a little robe" and Ben laughs saying, "that's a bad thing?" A teenaged boy does not react like that when his friend talks about what a hot body his "mother" has.

As to whether she allowed him to use her couch for sex, I don't know, but she obviously wasn't surprised Ben was there that first morning when Barb caught him there. Also, I found the silence between her and Ben when he came back into her house after having been beat up very telling. There was a very strained vibe between Ben and Margene at that moment. Did he try to kiss her on the way home? Did he tell her he was attracted to her? Something happened.

On other notes, Mary Kay Place rocks, and does anyone else pity Alby like I do? How is someone supposed to turn out as an adult when your own father doesn't give a damn that you've been poisoned and wants you to confess to it yourself so he can make a deal? That's sad. Factor in that Alby's a repressed homosexual who would surely be rejected were he found out and the man has a sad life. :(

I post about once every three years, and this episode was so awesome I just have to, specifically in regard to Alby.

I know that we're supposed to be rooting for the family because they're the protagonists and all, but I was totally waiting for Alby to defy his father and fuck everyone else over. He was poisoned, and I feel sort of happy for him, breaking from his father like this. He's basically a dick but everyone on the show is a dick in some way.

Well, not Margene, but she's just infuriating sometimes. I know, she just wants autonomy, but her approach is ridiculous. There are a million ways she could subvert Barb and get what she wants without throwing paint around.

~

Wait, sorry, I reread this and it's totally inarticulate. Basically, good on Alby for looking out for himself. He's right about deserving some dignity and so on. He's more than a creepy goon, and I like seeing his independent streak. I hope he gets the resolution he seeks.

I feel like I missed something. Was Ben's friend on the show before (Jason?)? Or was he a new character? Because I was soo confused during the tattoo parlour scene. I was like, should I know what's going on here? What I DO know however, is that his friend is the same guy who played Cassidy on VMars, and that means he is up to no good. That actor has never played a good character. There's always trouble when he's about. I love that three VMars actors are on this show now... it just ratchets up my Big Love positive attitude, as did this episode. Gennifer Goodwin was amazing in it, as was Chloe Sevigny. Bill Paxton was sort of a prop.

Yes, Kyle Gallner was on last season. It was pretty much more of the same - Ben conflicted between his faith and giving in to temptation with Brynn, and Beaver telling him to resist temptation. Yeah, if I were Ben, I wouldn't have listened to Beaver either.

Margene is attractive. She just is.

She read it. She told the Book Club about it. As another poster said, she asked about it to see what he would say.

I think the unknown woman at the Book Club is a polygamist. They were speaking freely about being closested. Remember Don and Peg et al belong to a non-compound group of polygamists that pray together etc. Maybe she is from there?

I would bet anything Margene doesn't know that Ben is using her couch for sex, especially with a college-age girl. I don't think she would/could keep that from Barb. She told Barb about the concert, picking him up etc.

We know Ben just had his 16th birthday this week. Not sure about Utah but here in Washington you can drive with a parent at 15. We know Sarah gave her age as 18, meaning she is probably 17, but closer to 18. We know she is starting her senior year, so that's about right. The ages on the website were put there at the start of season one and now it's a year later, so that works out too.

Margene's age is a little tougher. We just heard her say she is only five years older than Ben, which makes her 21. Eighteen when she married Bill sounds right to me. She had little life experience, worked at the store and then as the babysitter. I do think she was older last year, but really what's the difference? I wish these HBO shows would just leave ages out of it, because mistakes are always made (see Sopranos, Six Feet Under).

Great episode. I love how the religious Prophet has no problem getting into the gaming business.

I have to disagree with this. First, there doesn't seem to be any evidence that Margene knows about Ben/Brynn sex. Margene seemed pretty genuinely shocked when Barb said she was up at midnight. It seems that Ben is using the Teeney kicking issue to get onto Margene's couch, and when Margene's asleep, he sleeps with Brynn. Second, Barb has only herself to blame when she allows her husband to marry an attractive woman five years older than her son, and doesn't think through the implications of what her son will think of her. (Of course, this is why young men like Bill were left at gas stations.) Now if the Margene/Ben feelings were reciprocal, then Barb would have an issue with Margene.