3-30-10 - TV TUESDAY

Big Love is basically about a Mormon man and his 3 wives, and their struggle to hide their lifestyle, in the heartland of Mormonism, Utah. Of course there are other conflicts involving the fictional Mormon compound, Juniper Creek. This show has basically put a face on polygamy, even though it's entirely fictional. Big Love is just incredibly excellent to me.

Bill Henrickson

Bill is the husband to his three wives Barb, Nicki, and Margene. He is astute in his beliefs of the Mormon religion. He grew up on the Mormon compound, Juniper Creek. In Juniper Creek they have a leadership system, which is very autocratic. The one and only leader that has a say for everything and anything is the Prophet, which just like the whole Mormon religion is false. Bill's grandfather was a profit, and because the current profit, Roman Grant, feared that he would take over his position he forced Bill's family to kick him out when he was just 16 or so. Bill had his struggles, committed a view misdemeanors, and eventually found his way back to the Mormon religion. From there he built a Home Depot-esque business for himself, amongst other things. He tries his best to please everybody, but at the end of the day he's really looking out for #1.

Roman Grant

Roman Grant is pretty much the villain of the whole entire show. He is Juniper Creek's resident false prophet and he's known to always undermine Bill Henrickson's success. He has countless wives and sets up all the marriages. Because of him, some girls on the compound get married off as early as 13. Some of the most essential characters, such as Nicolette (Nicky) and Alby Grant, come from his loins (haha I wanted to say that). For the most part, he's a monster.

Barb Henrickson

Barb is Bill's first wife. She was born to a traditional Mormon family that doesn't believe in polygamy, and for that her relationship with her family is strained. She has had three children with Bill, and they are Sarah, Ben and Teeny. She takes things to heart in a negative way and is easily hurt. She, at times undermines the wives that have followed her. Barb accepts the polygamist lifestyle with open arms, but has problems dealing with jealousy. Oh and did I mention she's a cancer survivor?

Nicolette "Nicky" Grant

Nicky is Bill's second wife and is pretty much seen as the "bitch wife" of the three. She is Roman Grant's daughter, and at times the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. She is made to do things that are seen as morally ambiguous by both Bill and her father. She was married off to a man twice her age, who goes by the name of JJ, when she was around 13-16. She had a kid, but it was only revealed around the third or fourth season. A little part of her is still on the compound and she desperately tries to assimilate into "modern" culture.

Margene Heffman

Margene is the naive wife of the three. She originally had nothing to do with religion whatsoever and was their baby sitter. She just wants to belong because she had a father that wasn't in the picture and a dick-chasing alcoholic of a mother. She's a sweet girl and her hearts in the right place. She just wants a life of her own some times because she's young.

Alby Grant

Alby is the son of Roman Grant and the brother of Nicolette Grant. He's pure evil just like Roman Grant and wants to become the next prophet, even if it means killing or over-throwing his father. He's been involved in gay relationships and incest, but only sees them as "fooling around".