Does anyone here watch this show? Does Susan find herself slumming in Sandy, Utah now that the Sopranos are ex post facto?

I watched the premiere wondering how they were going to develop the storylines with the exposure the Henrickson family faced in the finale of the first season...Jeanne Tripplehorn was really good in this episode...as was Bill Paxton especially when he confronted Sandy and told her what he would do to protect the image of Home Plus and by extension his family...Jeanne working through the toll the plural marriage had wrecked on her independence was good and I thought they were going to extend this onward but resolved it by the end of the premiere...the second episode  it was interesting seeing Margene's first visit to The Compound and its cliffhanger was a real shocker...not really though...it made me proud of Bill's brother to step up to bat to protect his wife and to negate betraying Bill to Roman earlier in the episode...I can't say enough how much I love Harry Dean Stanton in this show (and Grace too) it's hard not to like the guy but I couldn't imagine anyone else playing Roman Grant...      

Dunno...I don't think Joey stepping up and taking the blame for Alby's poisoning negates his betrayal of Bill in any way. Bill put his ass on the line for Joey and Wanda and Joey's repayment for that is to betray his own brother? Fffft. Joey deserves a few sound asskickings before he even begins to negate that.

So far the only issue I have with season 2 is the burgeoning relationship between Margene and Ben. I think it's kind of a silly subplot to explore and I can only imagine the bizarre dealings they could be angling for with that in future episodes/seasons, none of which I would care to see.

Other than that, season 2 is good. Nothing I'm going to turn cartwheels over yet. All of the actors are amazing as always. And I'm right curious about what in the hell Rhonda is up to...

Haha, not slumming any longer, Smokey.  When this show first started filming, I was very excited about it. Lots of good talent attached and it was HBO.  When I heard it would follow The Sopranos, I was even happier, mostly for Grace Zabriskie who was also pleased to with the time slot.  But when it came time to watch Big Love's premiere, I realized I needed at least 20 minutes to ease my way out of the Sopranos frame of mind.  I forced myself the first few weeks anyway, but right off the bat, that insipid opening song with the ice-skating irked me.  I just couldn't go from New Jersey to Utah so quickly.  After the first season, I gave up.  Entourage I COULD do maybe because it's only a half hour.  Big Love is probably pretty good too.  I'm not denying it.  But truthfully, it's going to be really hard to revert to pretty good after pure unadultrated brilliance.  I'm feeling a deep sense of loss right now.  Sigh.  Don't tell me to go buy another puppy when I've just lost my beloved.  Boo hoo. I'm not so fickle.  Sniff.  I'm going to need at least a decade before I can get my feet wet again.  In the meantime, it's DVDs, DVR and OnDemand from the final season of The Sopranos.  Ever.

Susan 

 I forced myself the first few weeks anyway, but right off the bat, that insipid opening song with the ice-skating irked me.

Did you just diss the Beach Boys?

Is that sacrilege, Booth?  I have never been a fan of the lads, I confess.  Back in my college days I'd cause some minor havoc whenever I'd switch the stack on the turntable from the surf music to Dylan or the Rolling Stones.  I am only serious. Those fraternity parties were all about madras, Villager dresses and Beach Boys/Jan & Dean muzak. So yeah, a diss, I suppose.  "Help Me, Rhonda" was kind of fun and jaunty though.  And they harmonized well.  Yawn. God only knows what I'd be without you....

Susan 

Is that sacrilege, Booth?

No, of course not. I would say their bad music outweighs their good, but they made some songs that usually put a smile on my face.

Yeah, but... would you want to hear them directly following The Sopranos -- a show where you might be listening to Dylan singing "Return to me, oh my dear I'm so lonely" or Van Morrison belting out "Glad tidings from New York; open up your heart so you can see..." or Keith Richards strumming along to "I'm your lover baby 'tru' and 'tru'" with the closing credits? Too much dissonance for me. I know it's not fair but that is truly how the song and the ice skating of Big Love struck me each time I tried it. Completely not fair. It's hard to imagine I was alone with this perception...

GoOD goOD goOD good vibraaaaaations, 

Susan

I guess it could gain a dimension now that The Sopranos has been iced.

Don't really have anything against the Beach Boys and I kinda like the opening credits. Apparently (according to bonus features on the first season) they went through a lot 60's and 70's songs until they thought they found what they thought was the right one. It is in a featurette about the filming of the opening sequence...      

If you like I can change the thread title to Beach Love... 

I usually fwd through the opening credits. It's rare that I can tolerate sitting through any credits these days, and why not use my TiVos for what they're intended? :) But really, I never had a problem with the song or the opening credits. Though they were a bit of a shock to the system when the show first came out. As a funny (?) aside, the Beach Boys were a favorite of mine to sing for school talent shows when I was little (along with a few choice Barry Manilow tracks. SHUT UP)...nothing weirder than an 8yr old belting out "Sloop John B", right? I recall putting on Pet Sounds for the first time at around the age of 6 and being gravely disappointed that it did not contain any pet sounds whatsoever. Just a bunch of songs. Yuck.  Oh well. BB songs are loved because they're accessible. They appeal to the people who enjoy Jimmy Buffet.

Anyway, why the hell are we carrying on about credits and music? Let's talk about the show itself! Polygamy! Woo! 

Oh well. BB songs are loved because they're accessible. They appeal to the people who enjoy Jimmy Buffet.

I'll go watch some Michael Bay movies to cheer myself up.

Oh well. BB songs are loved because they're accessible. They appeal to the people who enjoy Jimmy Buffet.

I'll go watch some Michael Bay movies to cheer myself up.

Did you hear about Michael Bay's plans to terrorize Westwood with the premiere of Transformers next week? That's what I heard. Ohboyohboy, I can hardly wait until that one comes out on DVD!

But for now, I'm going to go listen to my box set of John Williams movie scores. (they always make me weepy)

Polygamy is cool, I guess.  For the kids. If you're not farmed out as an adolescent bride to some decrepit Mormon codger.

I think Big Love should cast Roseanne Barr in a recurring role since she grew up as a Jewess among Joseph Smith's clan in Salt Lake City. Could be interesting, huh?

Susan

Thinking about this for a new signature line...

Bay continued, "I like to do ideas that are big ideas that really travel around the world."  

And now (for real) I'm going to stop and desist from hijacking this thread.  Big Love is a fine HBO (not television) show.  I'm certain it is.  In spite of its obvious shortcomings. 

But for now, I'm going to go listen to my box set of John Williams movie scores. (they always make me weepy)

I always KNEW you were a closet Williams fan.