T O P I C R E V I E W
Ecofem
Member # 13388
posted 01-15-2010 07:22 PM
Have any of you seen the HBO series Big Love? It's a fictional show featuring the trials and tribulations of a modern-day polygamist family in Utah. I've wanted to see it for a long time so I'm so glad that I finally can. However, after finishing the first season, I'm finding the drama and suspense a bit too painful to keep watching! It really deals with SO many issues and raises a lot of interesting questions. I'd love to hear your opinion of the show if you'd like to share! [ 01-15-2010, 07:23 PM: Message edited by: Ecofem ]
Ecofem
Member # 13388
posted 02-15-2010 07:09 PM
Forty episodes later and I'll all caught up. I'm back to really enjoying the show and have reflected a lot upon the various themes the show addresses. For all the bad TV out there, I think American television is good at addressing social issues in an informal environment. One of the big things that stands out is the importance of women being able to work and create an identity outside the home. Of course, it's totally cool for people to choose these identities (like being a mother and/or wife/spouse) but I think the key word is choice. Same for the importance of birth control or being able to choose if and when you want to have children. These things are such the norm in the US these days so it's good to remember how far we've come, even if there's still a lot farther to go. Has any one else seen the show lately?
robot_on_fire
Member # 45735
posted 02-17-2010 06:46 AM
i occasionally watch an episode or two here and there. yes many interesting issues! have not seen it lately but it definitely was always very interesting, in a way polygamy is still a kind of taboo. SO its interesting to see it from a non-jugemental way.
Ecofem
Member # 13388
posted 02-17-2010 08:31 PM
Yea! Thanks for posting, robot_on_fire. I agree that it's interesting how it approaches from a non-judgemental way and how it shows the different versions of it (Bill and his family versus the Juniper Creek compound), and how you can see how hard it can be to have to keep it secret as well as the huge discrimination from outside. Sometimes it can be almost too suspenseful (or just complicated) for me but I've really liked where it's gone lately. One theme that explored more is Albie's sexuality: namely, he has a relationship with a man (of course there are other complications there) that is so happy but also heartbreaking.
Trilly
Member # 46900
posted 05-05-2010 09:02 AM
Hmm. I have forced myself to watch an episode of Big Love here and there. However, the family dynamic just can't grab my attention. I can't really blame that on poor writing either; this show is very solid and, probably very funny to people who share priorities with the characters.