With last night’s shocking series finale, Big Love left some of its fans praising the heavens and others cursing the writers for ending the Henricksons’ saga on a note of tragedy. If you haven’t seen the finale yet, stop reading now. Otherwise, join me after the jump for the debate…
As I said yesterday, the one thing I really wanted out of the Big Love finale was for Barb, Nicki, and Margene to break free of Bill and discover who they are without him. I thought it would happen with Bill going to jail for statutory rape, but instead it came with the poor guy being shot to death by his neighbor Carl, a desperate and broken man who blamed Bill for everything that had gone wrong in his life. But rather than falling apart, the family — as we learned from the brief, and in my opinion, moving and uplifting epilogue — not only stayed together, but flourished. So who are Barb, Nicki, and Margene without Bill? They are themselves — only better. Barb, who was revealed to Bill in his dying moments as a priesthood holder (or perhaps even the next Prophet?), has joined Bill’s church and recently gave a blessing to Bill’s first grandchild. Margene is living her dream to serve others on another international volunteer mission, while Nicki remains the family’s snippy but loving superego. (And clearly she’s patched things up with her daughter Cara Lynn, who appears briefly in the final scene, with her luxurious blonde locks at long last freed from their oppressive braid.)
That said, was it too much for the writers to kill Bill? Star Bill Paxton, the man behind Big Love‘s polygamist protagonist, says in the making-of featurette below that at first he “had a hard time reconciling myself with” the shooting, especially in light of all that Bill and his family have gone through over the past five seasons. But as a fan of the show since day one, I think the writers pulled off an incredible feat by staging a finale that at once shocked viewers while also acknowledging what we’ve known all along: This show wasn’t about Bill Henrickson, it was about his wives. And in the end, those three women found themselves and the meaning of family all on their own — no husband needed.
Am I alone in loving it?
Read more:
Goodbye, ‘Big Love.’ You almost made the idea of polygamy attractive.
‘Big Love’: An appreciation from a ‘Big’ fan
I thought it was the PERFECT ending. It wrapped up every storyline perfectly. I am impressed that they had the cohones to end it this way. Perfection.
Other than being a little World According to Garp-ish, I totally agree. And it gave our imaginations a lot of room to determine what’s going to happen from here out. As I watched, I was shocked and didn’t want him to be dead, but at the same time thought, “whoa…this is brilliant.” One of my all time favorite series endings.
You win for the day with your “World According to Garp-ish” comment. It’s my favorite book of all time (my youngest son is even named after Garp’s youngest son), and anytime I hear anything compared to it, I have to check it out. I stopped watching Big Love last season, but it looks like I’ll have to watch the finale episode.
Ditto on ‘Garp’. All time fav and son ‘s initials are T.S.! The ending finally defined the women: Barb achieving her calling, Margene maturing and finding her calling in missionary work and Nicki finally realizing she has been loved in spite of her pettiness, jealousies and nastiness. The women conquered life without Bill. The show definitely pushed the envelope with euthansia, murder by insanity, addressing the possiblity of the re-legalization of polygamy in Utah. I felt very satisfied with the ending, although I will miss their travails.
Mary–Don’t blame you for giving up after last season, but this season was far better overall in every way–writing, acting, sticking to theme. I would recommend that you try to catch up on all of this year’s episodes.
I would rather watch the show in the set up they would have going forward, than what they’ve done the last two years.
How much fun would it be to see the wives deal with dating, a female polygamist priestholder, etc.?
Agree about the Garp comment being the best. Also, I would like to pose a slightly less radically feminist interpretation. Isn’t the family, including the wives, stronger because of Bill’s strength and Principal?
I didn’t think Garp, I thought Cold Mountain, including the jump forward by 11 months to show how everyone was doing. That said, I found the wrap-up satisfying in many ways. I’m glad it went out on a high note after a rocky Season 4.
the wives reaction was flat when bill lied dying.
I agree!
“Lay” dying, sorry grammar police…lol
didn’t like how tidy it all worked out with Bill dying. It didn’t feel right to me.
I liked most of the episode but that and the ‘update’ – though I did tear up when Margene turned and sobbed with her sister wives. It seemed like a ‘real’ moment they were able to capture on film.
Gotta agree there…big strong dude that I am (kidding!), the ending got to me, esp. when Margene said she wished Bill was there to see it, and the camera moved to show him sitting there. LOVED that he was out-of-focus, in fact, it may’ve been that detail that made me well up a bit…all right, I blubbered like a baby!
I couldn’t help but cry at that same point. I didn’t think that I would miss these characters as much as I already do. It was great to see that the wives stayed together and were thriving without Bill. It was a wonderful ending.
I thought it was really great as well. I love the show SO much, and I’m going to miss it! I definitely cried at that beautiful ending, with the passing on of the head-of-household torch to Barb (and Nicki and Margene in a different way).
Bill was afraid of not having complete control of any wife outof fear of losing them.It was a character flaw that \I could only overlook in an actor of Paxtons caliber.He had many but was a GOOD man.I kind of wanted Bill to asume the role of Prophet of Juniper Creek .and bring it out of the dark ages.
The ending “Rocked” me emotionally I was impresed with it ,all story lines having full closure with class
It is too bad that Bill had to die for the wives to truly bloom
I hope for his sake that he gets his family in eternity
Paxton should get an emmy for sure !
I did love it. I didn’t see it coming and it was kinda shocking and maybe a death is an “easy” out. But after digesting it I felt like there is no other way it could have ended. It tied up all of the loose ends that Bill still had to face and allowed for us to see the wives, the individuals who I found the most fascinating to stand alone. I can’t stop thinking about it so that alone means it was strong. And it also reflects life, that you plan and you plan but you never know when your plans are futile and it’s all over.
I am still upset the series if over. I LOVED Big Love. I am upset over some unanswered questions though…What happened to the casino? What happened to Bill’s brother, his wife and his 2nd wife to be’s twin sister? What about Barb’s sister’s daughter who was kidnapped last season by that other sect leader?
I thought the season would end with Barb, Margene and Nikki having a car accident in that convertible. I’ll miss you Big Love
Wasn’t the twin sister one of the people thanking Bill on the way into the church at the end of the show?
But I also thought it was weird that Joey wasn’t mentioned at all in the episode (season?). Only Bill was the light of Lois’ life?
I expected a car accident also (and all 3 wives dying)
At least this series got a chance to wrap up – unlike Deadwood.
What a cheap trick. Writers got lazy. Surprised Bill didn’t jump a shark first. What a sin.
What’s not to like? Bill is dead and the sister-wives are happier and more well-adjusted than ever.
Killing him was the only way to end the show. I’ve been expecting it for several weeks now. The only surprise was who shot him. I think it was absolutely the right move.
BTW, was Heather wearing an engagement or wedding ring? I thought I caught a glimpse of bling there.
She was wearing an engagement ring but ben had on a wedding ring so I assume they are married now and the “bling” hid the actual wedding band.
I didn’t notice, thanks – I’ll have to check it out again
Heather was wearing both a wedding and an engagement ring. Benny was also wearing a wedding ring on his left hand. My big question is whether they will be polygamists in the future.
I felt like they’d been building Carl up to be a disgruntled murderer. I was not shocked by this ending at all.
Finally, someone who agrees! I also feel like they have been setting Carl up all season long to play a big role in the end. Why else would he keep appearing? Still not sure of my feelings on Carl as a murderer, but saw it coming.
Loved the ending! Not only does it show us who these women are without Bill, but it also speaks to the core belief of the Hendrickson clan: They are a family, for better or for worse, sealed for eternity.
I thought the ending tied up all of the plot points of the past season nicely and I was glad to see Sarah back at home!
Two things:
1. Where the hell is Teeny?!
2. Of all of the people that were gunning for Bill, did it have to be the neighbor that ultimately did the dead? I thought that was unrealistic. It could have been any number of folks from the compound, the Senate, the LDS church…just me?
PS–Did every catch that Bill died a martyr on Easter Sunday?
Teeny was mentioned briefly in the epilogue as being in the bathroom, and someone (Ben?) said, “Teeny doesn’t know if she’s coming or going.” I think the writers didn’t know what to do with Teeny (although the same could be said for all the younger kids!) and her constant absence just became an in-joke. On your point #2, I think the idea was that it’s not always the person most likely to do the deed; sometimes the villain is the one you least expect. The show laid the groundwork for weeks that the neighbor had flipped; remember his wife talking about him crashing two cars for the heck of it last week? It would have been far too predictable if Alby had been the one to shoot Bill. But the neighbor blamed Bill (and his family) for ruining his life in a much more personal way than Alby.
Also, Carl was physically close in his living arrangements and was familiar to security, so him being the one to shoot Bill made sense.
carl killing bill reminded me of the little kid who killed big bad omar in the wrap-up of the wire
If I had known Bill was gonna die, I never would have suspected Carl. I found it anti-climactic that after all the Hendriksons had been through (financially, politally, and religiously), it was a neighbour to kill Bill.
They said Teeny was in the bathroom
Margene was mentioned that Teeny was in the bathroom applying mascara on Wayne (ha!),prompting Nicki’s response, “that girl doesn’t know if she’s coming or going”
I totally missed the Easter signficance. duh. (blushing)
You’re not alone – I totally missed it also. Really great ending.
For more symbolism, note he died with three shots to the chest and the patern of the shots.
the word your looking to spell is “deed”. nice post tho i agree with you.
the word YOU are looking to spell is “you’re”
and what the hell ever happened to Bill’s brother Joey and Wanda?
No one will ever know…
Joey’s in prison for killing his father.
I was disappointed they didn’t bring back Joey and Wanda for the finale. I missed them this season. Also, in the last scenes, where was Cara Lynn? Do you think she went off with the teacher?
I think Joey and Wanda are supposed to be on the run in Mexico because Joey killed that other polygamist (somebody Green). I thought it strange that they never once referred to Joey and Wanda all season.
Yes, Joey and Wanda fled to Mexico. Also, Cara Lynn didn’t flee with the teacher, she was in the final scene. You likely missed her as her hair was down and not in a braid and she looked content.
I don’t recall them ever saying Joey was in jail. I believe he and Wanda “fled” to Mexico- the place all compoundees escape to.
I love that it was the neighbour that did the deed and not something polictically or religiously motivated. They’d been fore shadowing something ominous with this guy all season. and Cudos to the actor who played Carl.
He was on an episode of Buffy. The third season opener, when Buffy is in LA. He is the person supposedly helping the homeless kids. Turns out he is a demon using them as slave labor underground (or some underground dimension – whatever). Also in an Ep of Angel. he was engaged to Doyle’s ex wife and was to sacrifice Doyle before the wedding.
There really was no other way to end this show. They needed to give each wife her own identity without Bill to be their safety net. Bill had taken them all for granted for too long, but his death allowed them to not only find themselves, but each other. (Wow – I have thought about this way too much!) Does anyone know what Bill was writing on the tablet when Ben and Don were outside with him?
It seemed to me that he was writing his plans for the church as he thought he’d be in jail soon. After he had his vision, & as he realized that Family was the core of his beliefs, he was coming around to Barb being a priest in his church and making plans to go that way. In the post finale videos at HBO and an article at tvline.com, it seemed the writers had Bill move away from a patriarchal belief system at his end.
After the disaster that was season four, I can’t seem to muster up enough enthusiasm for this show to care either way.
Yeah, but you’re here anyway? What’s up with that?
Nah, Bill was doomed. I’m okay with that.
The “11 months later” moment was what messed things up for me. It was unnecessary. We already knew where the women were going, they had each determined that well before his death.
It should have ended with Bill going blurry as Barb gave him the blessing, that would have been perfect.
Oh! And I LOVED that they brought back “God Only Knows” to wrap up the show.
I agree. And instead of having a man sing it (as with the Beach Boys original in earlier seasons), they have a woman sing it to signify the bond that the sister-wives have with each other.
YES! So glad they brought God Only Knows back too. It was the perfect music to end on.
@Moe – Great point. And in case you were wondering, the woman who sang it was Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks.
I love Natalie Maines’ voice. I definitely need to watch it again. I loved that song for the end, it was perfect and so touching.
BTW, sorry if it’s already been mentioned, but what was the theme song for the last seasons? Kinda sounds like some chill-out group.
octoberman – the seasons’ 4 & 5 theme is Home by The Engineers
@Flyer Thanks I was wondering who sang that version. Loved it
I thought the ending sanitized the darker undercurrents of the show too much. Bill’s last-episode revelations that Margene should leave the family for missions and Barb should be a priesthood holder were a little too convenient, and out of place for this character. But, it did wrap everything up nicely. I’d give it a B/B+.
I LOVED the ending. Lots of tears, lots of closure. It made perfect sense to the story and the characters. LOVED seeing Amanda back again (Teeny???) and was touched by Barb’s christening. Speaking of which, I was so mad when Barb didn’t get baptized at her new church, only to do a 180 when she became the leader of her family’s church. That’s great drama.
Forgive me, but I was utterly blown away by the finale. And surfing the various reviews on other sites today, I can’t believe what I’m reading. I watched all five seasons, and I can say that of all the TV I’ve ever really loved, no dramatic finale was quite as awesome as this one was. Not even M*A*S*H*. This finale was absolutely, completely brilliant.
No finale will ever top Six Feet Under’s.
agree, loved 6 feet under
Yup…NO ONE can top the Six Feet Under finale…epic
Six Feet Under is absolutely the best . . . with the Bob Newhart show (second one) not far behind.
Totally agree Six under is the best series finale ever!
Ditto – Six Feet Under = Best finale ever
The Six Feet Under Finale stayed with me for days. I loved it, clearly the best finale ever.
True.
Totally agree. SFU was the best show after The Sopranos.
I loved this ending too! Right up there with Six Feet Under. Loved the closure on that one!
Loved Six Feet Under’s finale. Even bought the song as she’s driving down the highway.
Six Feet is the only finale that makes me cry no matter how many times I watch it. Truly superb. Big Love was very good, but felt just a little too tidy.
Great comments. While I agree with you that the show was about his wives, and I enjoyed the ending after watching it. In reflection I have trouble with the fact that it took bill’s death for his wives to become the family the show wanted them to be. Either way it was a fitting ending. The episode as a whole though, I thought was a bit weak. Esp. The throw away moment they gave to the “alby grant” story line. It was only those final 20 mins where I thought it lived up to the series.
Loved the episode but you have a point re: Alby. One very short scene could have done it. Even just a cutaway.
But that was the main point. With Bill in the picture there was always fighting and back stabbing among the wives. Who did Bill love most? Who understood Bill the best?
All that crazy stuff because of Bill. With him gone those women realized that they were a family, they loved each other for each other independent of their shared husband. That each of them brought something to the marriage (to each other because they are sister wives). That each of them was worthy and decent and loving and Bill might have been necessary to get them to a certain point in their life but they went the rest of the journey without him.
Even tho they were polygamists who fully understood they had to “share” Bill, they are also human, and I’m sure jealousy was something they battled every day of their lives. With Bill out of the picture, jealousy no longer an issue, so they are free to be more like sisters- no more competing for Bill’s attention or affection. So it makes perfect sense that they would be closer and getting along better. Also, many times a death does bring family closer- makes you realize how short and precious life is.
Aye, there’s the rub…All this talk about the fact it required “Daddy’s Death” to bring the “sisters” together… The undercurrent of pedophilia runs rampant throughout this storyline, just as it does in real life FLDS polygamist sects/cults.
Too bad all those so enamored of this show never once identify that these women were kept in a state of perpetual adolescence, always vying with one another for ‘Daddy’s attention’… It’s a sick show depicting a sick premise. How much more valuable would it have been if one of Bill’s wives had finally ‘had enough’, and, in a fit of pique, declared her WOMANhood as she let loose with a shotgun on ‘Daddy Bill’? Now THAT would have been worth celebrating!
Hahaha, please. Get behind me, troll. What an excellent show this was. It depicted something truly alien and foreign to most of us, and was fascinating. A sick show with a sick premise, huh? I wonder if you are a fan of The Wire (greatest show ever imho). It’s weird that multiple gun shots to the head, drug use, and various forms of abuse could be included in such a great show. What…oh…it was depicting real life as accurately as possible. So Big Love/HBO tried to shine some light on actual events that take place in certain areas in the United States. And did it with great acting and writing. Shame on them!
Be smarter.
I thought it was the end when Bill had his epiphany in the church, with all those people there. I loved them all lined up, saying “Thank you.”
But, I loved it more when out of the blue, the nutso neighbor shot him. I loved it that there was no “Law and Order” drama about the shooting, instead a spiritual time for the four of them. Barb giving the blessing. Wow.
I loved “months later”
I loved it that Sarah came home, and that all the family was there for the Christening. I loved the peacefulness of the three together, the hug, and Nikki nagging Margene, still with love.
It was great. Mostly, I loved the scene on the bunkbed when Nikki kept telling Barb she was mean and spiteful, Barb saying “I know.” and then just insisting that she hold Nikki in her loving arms.
Beautiful moment in television. Total redemption for a show that sort of got lost on the way to the end.
I agree! That scene of Barb holding Nicki is where my waterworks started!
Yes, that was such a beautifully written and played scene.
I also agree. One of the best scenes in the finale.
Perfectly said! Any series finale that makes me cry, think about it all day and not leave me frustrated is a winner in my book!
Brilliant!!! My wife cried, sobbed really, for 30 minutes. We were both affected by the emotional power of Bill’s death scene. Bravo HBO!!!
I’m still crying !! It couldn’t have ended any other way. The best episode of television I have ever seen. The writers are genius.
Amazing. Contrived death scene passes for genius? What a time we chose to be born.
It wasn’t that they killed him that upset me, but the fact that it was very minor and barely remembered Carl who did it. To me, it would have made more sense for Bill to be assasinated by a unknown nutjob for his beliefs. It wouldn’t be the first time something like that happened. Heck, Alby breaking out of jail and killing Bill would have been better.
Absolutely not! It was perfect to have Carl do it – so many people had tried for so long and here, his ordinary next door neighbor was the one who finally did it. Very fitting.
I agree. It would have been too easy for it to have been Alby or some random protester. That it turned out to be a sort of random act of violence from a “trusted” neighbor, it became a “could have happened to anyone” moment. I don’t know, for me maybe it cemented the idea that they’re just like anyone else. A family (nontraditional, sure, but what’s normal anymore?) rocked by a tragedy that had nothing to do with the controversy in their lives.
No, it had to be someone he trusted….he walked, with faith and trust, into those bullets. That made his death all the more tragic and shocking
It must have really bothered Carl to live across the street from a man with three wives and, here he is, a man who can’t even keep one wife. Plus Carl blamed Margene, and therefore Bill, for his marriage falling apart due to the investment in Goji. It seems like a perfect catalystic for murder – but only in hind sight – I truly didn’t see it coming until it happened. Brilliant.
I think it was brilliant. Through the years Bill spent so much time protecting his family and fighting all the naysayers/threats. Then the one and only person he basically ignored did him in. You can’t plan for everything.
Exactly.
If you barely rememebered Carl, that is your own fault.
I was waiting for Carl to shoot Bill all season long. For all the Carl-Unhinged moments this season, I really thought (though am grateful they didn’t) they were going to kill Bill with a few episodes remaining Six Feet Under style and leave the last episodes to focus on how the family dealt with his death and their healing. I now realize how heavy handed that would have been, and that the simple epilogue was all that was needed.
I disagreee. Carl felt threatened by Bilk and the family from the very beginning. Also, he was jealous of his wife’s friendship with Margene and when he lost his job and the wife was selling the GOJO product. I thought it was very appropo because he always felt less of a man because Bill could juggle 3 homes, 3 wives and a business and he couldn’t handle 1.
Also, Carl’s wife couldn’t conceive. Margene had originally agreed to be their surrogate, but Barb told them that Margene was married and couldn’t carry a child for them. Bill had a bunch of kids, which spoke to his virility. And Carl and his wife had none. To Carl, Bill had everything, even though Bill was doing the wrong thing spiritually. And yet, Carl was doing all the right things spiritually, yet he was broke, losing his home and possibly his marriage, because his wife disrespected him. Bill took the last thing Carl could do for himself. Sod his yard. How dare he? It’s not the big things that set someone off. It’s usually the smallest thing, i.e. the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
Benoreno, great insight. I had forgotten about the fertility issue. I was mainly thinking that it was mainly about Carl just loathing polygamy and the Goji thing, but it really did snowball from a bunch of issues with Bill that Carl felt inferior to, in comparison. Like you said, Carl lost his job, and Bill had at least four jobs over the past seasons (HomePlus, the casino, the church, and the Senate).
Bill could never wriggle past the fact he “sinned” when he slept with a 16 year old. He rationalized it, but it went against his and everyone’s, beliefs. It struck me that in the end, his relationship with Margene is what got him more closely involved with Pam and Carl (we didn’t know any other neighbors except Margene’s pal) and that is what got him killed. I wonder if the writer’s were not letting him off the hook for that sin either.