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!