After watching an episode like "Blood Atonement," it's easy to see why some critics are accusing Big Love of shark-jumping lately.
Of course, that article mentions things that have already happened this season -- new actors replacing old characters, a surprise wedding, a previously unheard of child -- and is fairly complimentary of the show.
And with a cast this strong, and writers this good, it's easy to forgive things like that.
It's harder, however, to forgive how busy the show has become, and even more difficult to overlook an episode like the one that aired last night.
Gun play, arms getting hacked off and Jack Bauer-style rescues are all things that have no place on this show. And they were all elements of this episode's main storyline, which therefore felt cartoonish and distracting.
Which is too bad, because that portion of the episode contained some nice moments between Bill's parents, two characters I've found boring or irritating since the second season, and between Bill and his brother.
And I've always thought the Greenes were among the show's better villains (not that they hold a candle to my new favorite, J.J.) But seeing Bill wandering around their compound with a handgun, Joey hunting down Hollis with a shotgun, and Lois chopping off Hollis' arm with a machete...it was all stuff that seemed like it belonged on another show.
At least it got Ben back home, where things were also pretty crazy: Nicki learns she's infertile while her mother announces she's pregnant, Barb finds out she and Bill are being duped by Marilyn, and Margene, apparently having seen the movie Green Card, marries Ana's fiancee to keep him -- and thus Ana -- in the country. Again, craziness, but the type of craziness we're used to.
Other thoughts:
- Like I said earlier, Frank and Lois have been pretty irritating for a while now, but I had to laugh at Frank's line about "Robert's rules of order."
- Really thought Barb would've hooked up with the casino guy by now.
- Why is Wanda so horrified by Adaleen's pregnancy? Is it something to do with whatever weird disease J.J. has? Or is she just a fan of this Patton Oswalt routine?
- Two episodes left. There's no way this all gets wrapped up.
Tom Coombe
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