The Unfiltered Ramblings of a DVR Addict

Big Love-Episode 39:  Sins of the Father

Let’s see where should I begin?  Bill and the campaign team are working hard to secure the nomination, but the Margene/Benny incident is still looming over all of them (except Nicki-since she hasn’t a clue). 

Barb seriously needs a medal for all that she has done for Bill-extra wives, crazy in-laws, criminal mischief, casino and now this campaign business.  Bill has her going door to door meeting delegates to gain their support.  He even has her meeting with Church Elders for home teaching-what a farce!

Aside from this nomination-Bill, Barb and Margene are consumed with worry over Benny’s absence.  It was a matter of time before the writers had another Lost Boys storyline.  After Margene confessed last week that she meant to kiss Benny-Bill has struggled with forgiving her.  Barb was perplexed that Bill hadn’t forgiven Marg, but when Bill tells her the truth Barb grows angry.   What is interesting to me is that these families are so close and in each other’s business, but sometimes they are three separate families living together.  Marg is trying really hard to gain Bill’s trust, but now she has to contend with Barb. 

Where’s Benny?  Benny is staying with Sarah and is having a hard time.  He feels abandoned by his father, especially after Margene came clean.  Marg tries to convince Ben to come home, but agrees to come to the campaign event.  At the event, Benny tells Barb that Bill banished him.  Apparently Bill’s intentions were for Ben to chill out for a few days, but that’s not how Ben feels.  He wants an apology, but his Mom wants him home.  Barb blames Margene for this and calls her out as a “flirt.”  Margene is refusing to be shunned and exhibits her jewelry at the campaign event when Barb accuses her of pushing Ben out.  Here’s where the fireworks go off-Barb, with Nicki behind her, gang up on Marg.

The Lost Boys storyline continues when Colburn highlights a young man that was recently gunned down robbing a convenience store-he uses it as ammunition for his efforts to abolish polygamous compounds.  Colburn challenges Bill to express his thoughts on these violent Lost Boys.  This has Bill coming to terms with his past as well as his recent behavior with Ben.

Nicki is sort of catching on how she is perceived.  Not only does she do the majority of the big household projects, including building log cabins, she is Bill’s go to person for sinister activity.  She is still spying for him at the Colburn campaign.  Poor Nicki even asked why Bill always has her do the “morally ambiguous” things-why?  Because you are good at it Nicki!

Guess who is back?  Marilyn Densham is in Utah trying to gain Bill’s business with the casino.  Bill tries to give her the ole heave ho, but she is relentless.  She shows up at the convention and spots Nicki aka Daphne-where is Bill?  When she meets him face to face, he agrees to introduce her to the Flutes after she threatens to sway Paley over to Colburn.  Why the hesitation Bill?  He is worried about doing business with Marilyn, who is insistent on meeting immediately with them at the casino.  Bill is shocked when Daphne rolls up in Marilyn’s rented Hummer, along with Joey, Congressman Paley and Margene (who meets Paley after her run in with Barb).  Barb is shocked too when they all show up at the casino including Bill’s parents.

Lois, Frank and Jodean are featured in this week’s episode.  Benny calls his grandmother inquiring about how he can make some quick cash.  Lois doesn’t have work for him at the moment, but presses on why he needs money.  When she learns that Bill threw him out, she is furious.  She is stunned that Bill would do that, even after he went through the same thing.  Frank has been annoyed since the campaign announcement when Bill did not acknowledge him.  They come across the casino after a “bird run” and decide to pop in. 

Now that everyone is at the casino-Bill is scrambling to make things go smooth.  He tries to get his parents to leave.  Frank provokes Bill and Lois accuses Bill of banishing Benny, she also tells him that Bill can’t blame her this time.  Joey is in the background and confronts Bill-wrong path.  Joey ponders how could Bill do that?  Joey’s character has really grown-I have a feeling we are going to see more from Joey. 

Later, Bill introduces Marilyn to Tommy Flute, but he isn’t interested in meeting with her.  Marilyn is surprised her pitch didn’t work.  What’s up?

Tommy and Barb share a tender moment when Tommy invites her to his sweat lodge.  Tommy tells her about his late wife and kids that were killed in car accident.  Barb is just about to share her troubles, but bursts into tears and leaves.

The next day, Bill and his crew show up for the run-off debate, but the school is plastered with Bill’s teenage mug shot.  Barb’s sister and brother in-law are convinced that the election is over.  What did Bill do?  Teenie and Sarah can’t believe their father’s past-why weren’t they told?  Bill wants to patch things up with Benny and asks that he come to the debate.  Barb goes to her son, but can’t convince him to come.    Side note:  The night before Bill visited the body of the Lost Boy and agrees to pay for the burial expenses-he would have wanted someone to do it for him.  Instead of running from his past, Bill uses it in the debate.  He wants to be the crusader for these young men, their mothers and families.  Bill cinches the nomination.  He also apologizes to Margene.

Marilyn congratulates Bill, but tells him that she knows he tried to bamboozle her with the Flutes (grounds for slander)-looks like Marilyn has a hold over Bill now.

The episode wraps up with us learning that Benny has gone off with Lois (it’s a matter of episodes before Benny and/or Lois gets pinched).  Barb consumed with worry cries in her bathroom set up as a steam room.

Interesting thoughts:

• Teenie dancing at the Totally 80s party.  Yes, there was a cast change.
• Nachos-big in the 80s!
• Barb knocking over Margene’s display-FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT-I loved it when Nicki tried to get Barb to slap Marg.
• Will Congressman Paley and Margene cross paths again?
• Bill not aware of why he should apologize to Ben-so sad.  Power is consuming Bill-losing focus on his values.
• Bill’s new church is on hold.
• Marg demanding extra nights with Bill-she is willing to pay for it!
• Jodean telling Joey that she feels at peace with the Prophet’s death.  It was like she was thanking him.
• Cara Lynn telling Ben she misses him at school.  Crush?
• Build with Bill!

Let me start off by saying that as of this far in the season, I found all the designers to be rather talented, while the judges were way too nice, especially in comparison to last season. Even if I may not be ohsomadlyinlove with that many looks, I can appreciate the design elements and personal style. That being said, last week we saw a ridiculous amount of black on the runway, but this episode it will be red making its strut. Alright Tim, let’s see what you have in store for us this week.

Challenge: Create an evening gown for a real woman (aka not your pin thin model) who has been impacted by heart disease for a gala during NY Fashion Week.  Since the challenge is being sponsored by Campbell’s, they are to find a way to represent the brand in their predominantly red design.  I can see the soup cans coming down the aisle now. Red satin soup cans. Yikes… Despite the soupy challenge, the lucky winner gets a limited production of their dress sold online and gets to accompany their “model” to the event during Fashion Week. Maybe not as valuable as immunity, but equally as motivating.

During the workroom, I have to say I am pretty impressed. However, the camera is giving the same designers all the attention. Oh well.  Let’s see what’s going on.  The heart shaped draping of  Maya’s dress looks beautiful.  I’m loving her sketches.  Anna is tracing the Campbell’s logo onto fabric. In pen. Curious to see where this ends up. Shoot over to Seth Aaron who is getting lots of camera time because his model wants Grecian draping, while that is SO not Seth Aaron.  I’m not a huge fan of his, particularly because he reminds of Rudy Cooper, the serial killer on Season One of Dexter.  Don’t you agree?  Can’t shake that image out of my head.  I’m noticing the abundance of designers wearing their measuring tape around their necks. Definitely not looking good for the designs if THAT is what I’m noticing. Uh oh.

Our guest judge this week is Georgina Chapman, ala Marchesa. Good choice.

As Heidi says, let’s start the show…

Jonathan: LOVE. Literally the first word that comes to mind. The ruffles and waist accentuation are perfect and I like that his dress isn’t fire engine red. I also love his hipster glasses. Adorable.

Emilio: Simple, unflattering, forgettable. Christopher Straub syndrome? Aka win-the-first-challenge-and-despite-producing -decent-looks-can’t-seem-to-get-back-on-top? (On a side note, I’m a hugeee Christopher fan, so I’ll give Emilio another shot.)

Maya: The pretty heart kind of now looks like a toga-curtainy thing.  While it’s pretty, it’s a little disappointing from the awesome sweetheart dress she was sketching. I like her Campbell’s purse though!

Anthony: This vest looks like armor. Red fabric armor. Ew.

Amy: Super pretty. She continues to do well and has some personality to back it up.

Jesus: RHINESTONES? Really? On Project Runway? On second thought, when are rhinestones ever a good thing?

Anna: SOOO disappointed in this one.  I usually love her looks but this one is so ridiculously unflattering to her model. And where is the highly anticipated tracing?!? (Note: I later discovered the tracing is subtly on the belt.)

Jay: The dress is okay, but the woman can’t walk in it. That says it all.

Jesse: My soft spot for Jesse is coming through. It must be the comb-over.  I like the dress, and the IDEA of the jacket, even if it’s boxy.

Ben: JLo! Blake Lively! Right up their alley with the sky-high slit.  The belt is Wonder Woman; the open back is gorgeous.

Mila: She wanted the Campbell’s stars on the dress but all I can think of is Macy’s.  Unless her model is in some U.S.A. pageant, that is the only time I can ever see this (possibly) being worn.

Janeane: Pretty ruffle trim. Campbell flower detailing is cute. Slightly forgettable.

Seth Aaron: So far from Grecian and way more him. Glad he stuck to his guts on this one.

Overall, I was not as impressed as I thought I’d be. Onto the results…

My faves? Jonathan, Amy, Ben

Least faves? Jesus, Anna, Mila

Did the judges agree? Sort of…

Top 3: Maya, Amy, Mila (Really? Mila? Good thing this was NOT the winning design.)

Amy rightfully deserved to win.  I think she’s going to Fashion Week, regardless of this week’s prize.

Bottom 3: Anna, Jesus, Jesse

Jesus, the rhinestones did you in.  Sorry buddy. Hope you have fun bedazzling in your future.

Until next week…

“We live not according to reason, but according to fashion.”

Finally, Lost is back.  We’ve been waiting for this moments for months, and it is finally here.  Let’s jump right in.

The season premiere begins with the new white screen as it fades into Jack and the gang on Oceanic 815.  Ironically, the first people Jack speaks to are Rose and Bernard, perhaps the people most negatively affected by his decision to detonate Jughead (assuming that he actually was able to change the future).  They went from a happy couple dealing with breast cancer to a happy couple living a simple life on a tropical island, and Jack ruined it all.  I was definitely confused by the diving scene that took us from the plane to an underwater statue foot.  Are we to believe that the island is now gone the way of Atlantis in this new arc?  Interestingly, the first scene closes with the traditional black screen and white logo, leading me to believe that maybe things haven’t changed after all.

That thought seems likely to be a theme for this season.  We’ve had flashbacks and flashforwards and time traveling.  This season appears to be going the way of parallel universes.  I think we will be following the cast in two separate story arcs simultaneously, but not separated by time.  I couldn’t help but think that the title LAX referred not only to the airport, but was also referring to the term “parallax.”  Check out the Wikipedia discussion of that term here.  I think this is exactly where this season is headed. 

Back on the island, everyone has advanced to the present, and Juliet and Sayid are both in bad shape.  [...]

This episode of Damages reminded me of a ball of tangled yarn. Just when you think you are going to find an end that you can loosen up, it stops. Nothing in Episode 2, helped to unravel the story but it provided a lot of details.

We saw Patty (Glen Close) and Phil Grey (Michael Nouri) trying to come to a settlement in their divorce. Of course, things got nasty, but later in the episode Phil threw out an interesting offer to Patty. Her answer was just Patty Hewes at her best.

Patty continues to try to find Tobin’s money.

Tom (Tate Donovan) makes a  very troubling discovery. He needs to enlists help from Ellen (Rose Byrne) and decides to keep a secret from Patty.

All this just makes his death six months later more mysterious.

The main focus of this episode was on Joe Tobin (Campbell Scott). We see him interact with his father, Louis (Lee Cariou), his attorney, Leonard Winstone ( Martin Short), Patty, his wife, his AA sponsor, and Danielle, who seems to be tied to the Tobins in more than one way. Is Joe as weak as he seems or is it just when he is “on the wagon”.

The homeless man, (Michael Laurence), gives us more information this week.
He calls Ellen, “Tommy’s girl”. I think we can assume Ellen helps Tom more in the coming episodes, but to what extent their relationship grows, we can only wait and see.
We also learn how Tom died. Of course, it wasn’t from the stab wounds- that was way to obvious!

Another interesting thing about this series is that episodes are written and directed by different people. How do they keep it all together?
Aaron Zelman was the co-executive producer/writer of this episode with Matt Penn directing.

Some questions that come to mind:

Can Tom or anyone else keep a secret from Patty?

Who will help Patty this season since Uncle Pete is gone?

How will Danielle’s relationship with father and son play out?

What does Phil know about Patty? Why did he bring up Ray Fisk?

What does Leonard Winstone know? He just seems too easy going.

What does the foreshadowing of Ellen looking out over the water mean?

What will happen to Ellen at the DA’s office if she is involved with Tom?

What thoughts do you have about this episode?