Written by:
Rachel Shatto
Photographer:
Lacey Terrell/HBO
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this Issue of Curve:
Vol. 17#9
The L-Word is on hiatus, and there is nary a lesbian character to be found on network TV, but don’t flush your remote in frustration quite yet. HBO has announced that Big Love — the gripping series about a polygamist family living in Utah — will be returning for its third season in January 2009. Now is the perfect time to rescue the Big Love DVDs you’ve been meaning to watch for, well, forever, from languishing at the bottom of your Netflix queue and get caught up in time to watch all the ‘Big’ drama unfold.
So whether you’ve missed it on accident, or are boycotting it on principle because polygamy is “icky,” here are 10 reasons why it’s a sin not to be watching Big Love.
10. Compelling Female Characters: When you see the DVD on shelves, you’ll probably notice Bill Paxton’s mug dominating the box, but don’t be put off. Much like the landscape of a polygamist sect, the number of women greatly outnumbers the men on the show, and all sorts are represented: the good, the bad, and the very ugly. Best of all, these women are not just caricatures; they are fully fleshed out, and really the heart of the show. You could even argue more so than any of the male characters. Plus, it’s not often you get the opportunity to hear a woman explaining — over the course of several minutes – how she’s technically her own grandmother.
9. It’s so gay!: Sure, there’s a dude the mix, but the sister wives Barb, Nicky and Margene don’t just consider themselves to be married to Bill, they’re married to one another, too. That’s at least 75% gay, right? Co-creators and romantic partners Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer have made a show that is just chock-a-block with gay and lesbian subtext.
8. Processing Times Three: Who doesn’t love good old fashioned processing? I do it, chances are you do it, and, in the Hendrickson household you get to enjoy processing … times three. While the main storyline follows husband Bill and his spat with the “prophet” Roman Grant, some of the series’ best scenes arise from the struggles between the sister wives, who, despite truly loving each other, are constantly battling for dominance and independence.
7. Move over Aileen Wournos: There’s a new villain in town: Selma Green. Selma is the sister of Hollis Green, prophet of a rival polygamist sect. This murderous butch rocks a three-piece suit, a pompadour and her weapon of choice is a blowtorch and a branding iron. Creepy, compelling and mysterious, Selma is one to definitely watch out for!
6. Boss Lady: First wife Barb is played by the divine Jeanne Tripplehorn. Sure, she has the dubious honor of starring in Waterworld and playing a deranged bisexual psychiatrist/stalker in Basic Instinct, but with her turn as Barb, the tough but kind pouty-lipped matriarch of the family, all is forgiven.
5. Closet Case: The whole premise of the show is based on a lifestyle that the government at best doesn’t recognize and at worst deems illegal. Sound familiar? Now, we’re not saying that polygamy is any way the same as being gay, but there are obvious parallels between two groups who are ostracized by society based on the way they love.
4. Ode to Margene: Third wife Margene, played by Ginnifer Goodwin, is every girl you ever crushed on in junior high, all sweet smiles, shiny hair and a tendency to disappear behind the school to sneak a smoke. Season two sees Margie falling passionately in love with another woman, and while the chances of them getting to know each other in the – er – biblical sense are slim, a grrl can still dream, can’t she?
3. Unrequited lesbo love: During the course of season two, a Sapphically inclined character — we’re not saying who — has to deal not only with the fact that the object of her passion is straight and unavailable, but also being blackmailed by one of the show’s nastiest characters, who’s threatening to expose her grrl love.
2. Prairie clothes never looked so good: Lesbian favorite Chloe Sevigny (from Boys Don’t Cry) brings her special brand of magic to the small screen as second wife Nicky. Sure, Nicky is always up to no good, scheming and manipulating, but Sevigny still manages to make her endearing, charming and arguably most complex character in the series. Long story short, you cant take your eyes off her, and why would you want to?
1. It’s a great show: With great writing, greater acting, twisty turn-y plots, creepy polygamist compounds and not to mention hot, hot women … who could ask for anything more? So stop wasting your TV time with the likes of A Shot at Love reruns — Big Love is a pleasure you don’t have to feel guilty about!
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