BIG LOVE: OH, PIONEERS {SECOND SEASON FINALE} (TV)
Summary
The second season finale in this drama series about polygamist Bill Henrickson, who has three wives, three families, and three houses in a Salt Lake City suburb. In this episode, Bill pleads with the UEB members to oust Alby, citing the many ways in which he has abused his privilege as leader, but Alby himself then barges in and puts a stop to the meeting. Elsewhere, Adaleen catches Lura and Alby secretly dosing Roman with sedatives, and Margene tries to tell Pam that she cannot be her surrogate, but quickly changes her mind when Pam becomes hysterical at the idea of losing Carl. Lois tells the church leaders that Bill has connections and can "build bridges" for them, and Heather tries to invite Ben to her LDS church, with Sarah urging him to break away from their parents' choices, though Ben, working on the Pioneer Week float, declares that he is happy with Mormonism. Margie finally confesses to Ana that "my Phil is your Bill," but Ana is outraged at the deception. Bill tries a different tack and urges the ATF to arrest Alby, offering them phone numbers of other church members who will attest to his illegal actions. Bill assures a worried Barb that he is handling the situation, though Barb is distracted by her ongoing estrangement from Ben.
Scott urges Sarah to simply detach from her family if she disagrees with their choices, but she explains that she still wishes to "save" her brother. Margie explains that she wanted Ana as "a sister and a friend," and Adaleen summons Nicki home from bingo and reveals that she has rescued Roman from Alby and "she-wolf" Lura's clutches, fretting that she herself will be "reassigned" if Roman dies and Alby seizes power. Elsewhere, Alby and Lura discover Roman's absence and agree that they have "come too far" to turn back, and Bill and the other wives soon learn of Adaleen's actions. The doctor urges Bill to check Roman into a hospital, but Bill resolves to hide him in the house for the time being. He tells Joey to use the threat of the FBI's involvement to arrange for a hasty vote for an outside trustee, admitting that he felt tempted to smother Roman himself to ensure the permanent dethroning of the Grants. Nicki is upset when Margie brings "that Bavarian waitress" along when she tells her sister-wives about her plans to carry Pam's child, and she informs Margie that she cannot expect equality in the household as the youngest and newest wife. Margie reveals that Bill has already met and dated Ana, but Nicki dismisses his behavior as "none of their business." Bill is shocked to learn from Joey that he himself has been elected the new chairman of the board, apparently on the direct word of God, but Bill demands a re-vote for a trustee, feeling that he cannot handle the responsibility. Alby hears of the election, and Roman awakens and tries to leave, but Bill explains that Alby has disbanded the Quorum of 12 and is in fact plotting to kill his own father.
Bill upbraids Lois for arranging the vote, but she assures him that it is his "destiny" to lead the UEB. Barb is stunned to hear of Margie's plans to carry Pam's child and of Bill's apparent interest in Ana, and Lois urges a conflicted Wanda to give in to her murderous "impulses" and poison Roman, as she has done several others. Nicki catches Sarah "flirting" with Roman and demands that Bill punish her, but Bill reveals that he intends to remove Roman and Alby from power altogether, inquiring if Nicki truly believes that her father is a prophet. Barb firmly informs Bill that she "doesn't want a fourth," and when Sarah makes another plea to Ben, he makes it clear that he genuinely shares his parents' Mormon beliefs. Adaleen encourages Barb to take ownership of her power as Bill's first wife and not live in shame as a polygamist, and Nicki finally begins to stand up to her father, reminding him that they are "not on the compound." Sarah decides to become intimate with Scott, and Alby smugly reveals that he is now the new chairman. When Nicki demands that Bill "give up something" for once, Bill decides to return Roman to the compound, but only in exchange for his support for his Weber Gaming plans. Nicki coldly tells Alby to run now that their father is returning to power, and Barb finally decides to let go of her fear of being "outed" and marches Margie over to Pam's, where she reveals that they are in fact sister-wives and "all one family" together. Bill gives in to his attraction to Ana after all, and at their poorly attended Pioneer Day party, Barb tells Bill that she has told their neighbors the truth and reminds him that she "has to be number one." In response, Bill asks her to join the board of Weber Gaming. When Roman and Adaleen return to the compound, they find that their son has betrayed them to the cops, and they are arrested under the Mann Act. Back at home, Don praises Bill for "pulling it off," and Bill surveys his happy family with apparent pride.
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: August 26, 2007 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:55:41
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 103550
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Mormons and Mormonism; Marriage; Polygamy
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV series, 2006-2011
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Tom Hanks … Executive Producer
- Gary Goetzman … Executive Producer
- David Knoller … Executive Producer
- Will Scheffer … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Mark V. Olsen … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Mimi Friedman … Supervising Producer
- Jeanette Collins … Supervising Producer
- Bernadette Caulfield … Producer
- Doug Jung … Producer
- Steve Turner … Co-Producer
- Peter Friedlander … Co-Producer
- Julie Antonelli … Associate Producer
- Julian Farino … Director
- Eileen Myers … Writer
- Dustin Lance Black … Writer
- David Byrne … Music by
- Bill Paxton … Cast, Bill Henrickson
- Jeanne Tripplehorn … Cast, Barb Henrickson
- Chloe Sevigny … Cast, Nicki Grant
- Ginnifer Goodwin … Cast, Margene Heffman
- Amanda Seyfried … Cast, Sarah Henrickson
- Douglas Smith … Cast, Ben Henrickson
- Shawn Doyle … Cast, Joey Henrickson
- Melora Walters … Cast, Wanda Henrickson
- Joel McKinnon Miller … Cast, Don Embry
- Daveigh Chase … Cast, Rhonda Volmer
- Jolean Wejbe … Cast, Tancy Henrickson
- Grace Zabriskie … Cast, Lois Henrickson
- Matt Ross … Cast, Alby Grant
- Harry Dean Stanton … Cast, Roman Grant
- Mary Kay Place … Cast, Adaleen Grant
- Branka Katic … Cast, Ana
- Tina Majorino … Cast, Heather Tuttle
- Lawrence O'Donnell Jr. … Cast, Lee Hatcher
- Audrey Wasilewski … Cast, Pam Martin
- Aaron Paul … Cast, Scott Quittman
- Sylva Kelegian … Cast, ATF Agent
- Mireille Enos … Cast, Kathy Marquart
- Anne Dudek … Cast, Lura Grant
- Wendy Phillips … Cast, Peg Embry
- Eric Pierpont … Cast, Larry Schoenfeld
- Renee Albert … Cast, Jo Jo
- Gary Ballard … Cast, UEB Conference Member #2
- Matt Battaglia … Cast, Sheriff Thomas
- Robin Beaman … Cast, Zippy
- Mitch Carter … Cast, UEB Conference Member
- Wesley Harris … Cast, Doctor
- Keegan Holst … Cast, Wayne Henrickson
- Garret Gray … Cast, Raymond Henrickson
- Ryan Christiansen … Cast
- Tom Knickerbocker … Cast
- Melanie MacQueen … Cast
- Darrell Sandeen … Cast
- Joshua Reed … Cast