HBO series, "Big Love" What do you think about Polygamy?
By cwilson26
@cwilson26 (2735)
United States
December 28, 2008 6:58pm CST
Does anyone watch the show "Big Love" on HBO? If you haven't, it is about Polygamists. I do not agree with Polygamy but I am totally hooked on this show. I just find it very interesting how these women can share one man and live happily. Although, Barb, the first wife doesn't seem to be happy very often and who can blame her? I started watching this show a couple of years ago and then we lost our Satellite so I missed a good bit but the last few weeks I got caught up on it. January 18th is the new season premier and I cannot wait to see what else is going to happen. I have my Dish DVR set to record it so I can watch it when I want to.
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone likes this show? Do you believe in Polygamy or are you totally against it? Here is how I stand with it: The way the so-called Prophet acts on the compound on "Big Love" makes me against it but the way Bill, Barb, Nikki, and Margene seem to deal with it makes me think that if they can live like that without hurting anyone, then let them but the ones who mess with young girls are just wrong.
I would never live like this but if they can do it without hurting anyone then I won't judge anyone who does practice Polygamy.
What are your thoughts on the show? What are your thoughts on those who do practice Polygamy in real life? Do you know anyone who does and if so, how do they deal with living this life?
Anyone's opinions on the matter are great and this discussion is not open for arguments. I am just curious about the whole thing and want to know what everyone else thinks about it. :)
3 people like this
6 responses
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
29 Dec 08
am so totally against it. I dont have HBO so cant watch it.
But I would think that some of the woman cant be to happy with this type of life.
also think they are so brain washed that they just go with it.
I have worked with some girls that lived inthe compound in Az. and one was deformed and I think it was from incest as they do marry into like uncles cousins and all that.
Not any seem to go outside the group to marry what I would call new blood.
Its like I am my own grandpa!
2 people like this
@cwilson26 (2735)
• United States
30 Dec 08
I agree! On the show, you can tell that they seem to be brainwashed. The first wife of the family who live away from the compound does not seem happy at all. The third wife is the youngest, 21 years old, and she wants a fourth wife but the first wife said there will be no more wives.
It is a good show and very interesting but I could never live like that. They have to be brainwashed or else they wouldn't want to live like that either.
1 person likes this
@cwilson26 (2735)
• United States
31 Dec 08
Yeah, it is the men who got it started and I also think it is so they will have so many women to take care of them and all of the kids. I like the show but I would never, ever live like that.
That real life Polygamist leader in Utah, I think, got arrested for it not too long ago. He was messing with those young girls on there and I guess the women got fed up.
1 person likes this
@cwilson26 (2735)
• United States
1 Jan 09
I am the only one who watched it. My husband watched it with me before but since I have it set to record and I watch it at night when I am done with online work and housework, he is sleeping. He doesn't get into the same shows I watch though, although he did say it is kind of interesting.
Yeah, I couldn't live like that either. I think I would want to kill the other wives, lol. :)
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
30 Dec 08
I consider shows like Big Love the same way I consider the Harry Potter shows and before that Vegas, Will and Grace, The Monsters, Bewitched, etc. They make what is considered immorally wrong as all right. I do not like the idea of pologamy and making it attractive will not change my mind. I feel sorry for the wife that does not get the attention and the attitude of the men towards the women. It seems that they want more to do the housework. I would not be able to share my husband with anyone.
1 person likes this
@cwilson26 (2735)
• United States
1 Jan 09
Oh believe me, I don't agree with Polygamy either, I just enjoy the show. I don't feel that the show is making it seem right. I feel it just shows the bad side and the somewhat "good" side, if there is one. I find it interesting that people actually live like this and seem to be happy when I don't believe they really are. I know the men are happy because they have all of the power and they have all of those women bringing more kids into the world for them to hold power over them and not to mention doing all of the cooking and cleaning. I do believe the women are totally brainwashed and if they weren't brought up to believe the life of polygamy was right then they wouldn't be living like that in the first place.
Thank you for your opinion. I was curious to see how many people watch and enjoy the show like I do and if anyone knew someone who was living in this situation. I do feel sorry for most of the women, especially the young girls who don't really know any better. However, for the older women who have been in the life of polygamy much longer, brainwashed or not, you would think that they would realize after a while that living this way really isn't right and they would try to get out of it. I do know some of the young girls do try to get out and some have succeeded.
I just think that polygamy gives men too much power over women and it isn't right at all but I do find the show interesting. :)
1 person likes this
@cwilson26 (2735)
• United States
2 Jan 09
Yep sounds like Polygamists! I feel sorry for the women because they are completely brainwashed and don't realize that there is a better life. That totally sounds like most men when it comes to having all of the power and everything their way. :)
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
1 Jan 09
It is amazing to me how that they put on a show where people are doing the wrong things and these people seem so happy. Like you, I think it gives the men way too much power. I mean, my husband was raised Mennonite and there the men control most everything, and I would hate to see women willingly marry a guy who decides who does the dishes, who cleans the house, who does this and that. I watched a documentary show once about Mormons in this sect, where the husband had all his wives categorized to what talent they had, so if one was good at sewing, she made clothes so he could have extra money, if one wife was a bookkeeper, she was an accountant, and if one of the wives did not have any gift, he paid for her to go to college to help maintain the household, but it was all for him.
I do not know if he worked or not, I did not think so, just lorded it over everyone else.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
30 Dec 08
Until I started watching Big Love I had a pretty narrow view of polygamy, I got my ideas and attitudes about polygamists from the news about old men marrying minor children and women who looked like they were out of the last century. I've never known a polygamist in person, at least as far as I know, but I think HBO and the producers and writers of Big Love deserve credit for showing this lifestyle from all sides. On one hand you have the evil Roman, a typical "dirty old man" looking to marry young Rhonda but on the other hand you have the Hendricksens, a family who looks much like many of our own other than the minor detail that Daddy has three wives and all the kids have three mommies. I like how, although the Henricksens are portrayed as a happy family for the most part, the writers don't sugar-coat their lives. I think the excellent cast is what makes it possible for this show to succeed. Each of Bill's three wives has her own unique personality and issues and while they all are generally accepting of their lifestyle, in fact they embrace it except for Barb at times, mainly due to the fact she was the only wife for many years, they all have their occasional issues with jealousy and self-doubt. I also think they've handled the older kids' story-lines well. I especially like how the character of Sarah had evolved and I can't wait to see what happens next with her.
Annie
1 person likes this
@cwilson26 (2735)
• United States
30 Dec 08
I didn't know anything about Polygamy until I seen it on a talk show where they were talking about it. Then I started watching Big Love and I found it interesting and got hooked on the show. I could never live like that personally but I agree with how good the writers show the bad side and the somewhat good side of it. I feel bad for Barb sometimes because she does not seem happy at all. And now Margine wants a fourth wife but Barb doesn't and I don't blame her.
Yeah, Old Roman is a sick pervert and Frank, Bill and Joey's dad isn't any better. I thought Joey was going to stick with the one wife but now he wants to take on Kathy as his second wife. I can tell Wanda doesn't like her much. Kathy does seem kind of creepy. You can tell the women on the compound are brainwashed. They would have to be to want to live that life. I could never imagine sharing my husband with other women.
I also like Sarah and I like how she wants to take a different direction with her life instead of taking on Polygamy. Ben seems to want the Polygamy lifestyle and is already dating Kathy's sisters, the twins. I was hoping he would have wanted the same thing Sarah wants.
Nikki kind of gets on my nerves with her holier than though attitude. And now that she doesn't live on the compound why doesn't she dress in pants and a blouse instead of long dresses? She always has her hair in braids too and the few times her hair is down, I think it is so pretty and wish she would leave it
1 person likes this
@cwilson26 (2735)
• United States
30 Dec 08
I hit the post comment button before I was done with my post. Sorry about that. Anyway, I think Nikki should leave her hair down more often. I really like Margines personality but lately her jealousy has been getting on my nerves. She seems to be jealous of Barb because she is the first wife and has more power. I feel sorry for Barb.
Anyway, the new season starts January 18th and I can't wait. I have my Dish DVR set to record all episodes. :)
1 person likes this
@mslovely101 (177)
• United States
10 Mar 09
Yes I am a Big Love fan and I love the show. I think it is very educational to those of us who are not experienced with Polygamy. I am not against Polygamy based on the Big Love show. I am against the abuse of young girls which happens all over the world and not just within one religion,belief, or group of people.
I love the characters on the Big Love show and think that their family is very cool regardless of the hard times they experience. I think Bill is a good man and find it amazing that he holds his family with such high regards. I do believe that it is possible for one man to satisfy more than one woman. I am not a polygamist but, the unity that is represented on Big Love definitely makes me think.
I love Barb's character the most because she is the strongest of the women and I have the highest respect for her character. I am sure that many women can relate to Barb's character in having to be there for everyone in the family. I appreciate Barb's strength and wisdom. I think Nikki has "issues" and needs a good kick. I think Margene is caring, considerate, & a wonderful mother.
@cwilson26 (2735)
• United States
11 Mar 09
It is a very educational show. I just love the way the Hendrickson's take care of their family. Now the Grants, especially Roman and Adeline are evil and I cannot stand them. Also Alby and that one wife of his that is always hanging all over him, all you have to do is look at them and you can tell they are so messed up and evil. I can't stand them.
What I don't like about the compound besides the young girls being married off and used the way they are, is how the woman are only their to cook and clean. It just makes me sick how they are all treated like slaves and it is easy to see they are all brainwashed.
Now for Bill and his wive's. I love Barb too and feel bad for her that she has all of the burden on her. Nikki, I do not like because of how she lies and betrays them for her evil father. Margene is my favorite because she is so funny and always happy. I think she is awesome!
The show is great and I never miss an episode because I have it set to record on DVR. But I could never share my husband with more women. So I am totally not for polygamy. Thanks so much for sharing your opinion. :)
@Paula1966 (1102)
• United States
29 Dec 08
I enjoy "Big Love" as well - HBO was taking so long getting out new episodes, I was beginning to wonder if it was being cancelled.
I watch the show purely for the entertainment value. And sometimes I will watch documentaries about polygamy. In general, it convinces me polygamy isn't that great of an idea in modern society.
@cwilson26 (2735)
• United States
29 Dec 08
Yes it is a great show! I find it fascinating that some people live this way but I would never agree with it or want to live like it. I just find the show very entertaining and very addicting! :)
1 person likes this
