As I watched the fourth season of Big Love unfold, I thought it began with some potentially interesting stories: What would happen if Bill actually ran for state senate? How would he handle his wives’ reactions to the campaign? When would their polygamybecome public and how would people respond to it? How would the Henricksons’ new casino factor into this?
Then, along the way, those weighty and complex topics got company. Lots of company. And everything felt watered down because nothing received sufficient time.
Margene kissed Ben. Ben was (temporarily) exiled by Bill, at the same time Bill’s criminal background as a “lost boy” from the compound came to light. Sarah got married, then started taking care of the baby of a teen mom hooked on meth who’d been hit by a car Barb was driving on the reservation. That single mom wound up dealing on the casino floor and was related to the Flutes. Tommy Flute started flirting with Barb and then Bill managed to have the Flutes booted, after Barb had gone around Bill’s back to hire a Washington, D.C. lobbyist to represent the casino.
Oh, and we can’t forget that Ana was not just pregnant will Bill’s child, but that the baby was conceived BEFORE they got married. And Ana was dating a guy whose Visa was about to run out so Margene married him to keep him in Utah.
That doesn’t even begin to touch the compound stuff: J.J. and his incestuous fertility practices, Adaleen marrying J.J. and then getting pregnant, the whole Alby story, the compound trustee, the Mexico debacle with the Greenes . . .
Too. Much.
And now a cast member has come out publicly saying she thinks so too. Chloe Sevigny, who plays Nicki Grant, told the AV Club that: “It was awful this season, as far as I’m concerned. I’m not allowed to say that! … I felt like it kind of got away from itself. The whole political campaign seemed to me very far-fetched … And with nine episodes, I think they were squishing too much in.”
According to Sevigny, her cast mates concur. “Me and the girls [Jeanne Tripplehorn and Ginner Goodwin] definitely were not very happy with where it was going,” she told the AV Club.
Do you agree with Sevigny?
Clacked by Meredith O'Brien 
on Mar 26, 2010 @ 15:30 EST5EDT
“Big Love” stunk on ice! I was happy when it ended! If next season continues this trend, you can count me ( a long time viewer) OUT!
I totally agree with her. And I would applaud her honesty… but she took everything back and apologized, saying it was taken “out of context”. Weak. Why not admit last season was utter BS? It already aired, so it is not like she is hurting the show…
*POST AUTHOR*
You’re right Christian. Sevigny is now doing a complete 180 and has told Entertainment Weekly (https://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/03/26/big-love-chloe-sevigny-apology-awful/) that her statements were taken out of context. She proceeded to give a very long mea culpa saying she was tired when she was interviewed and added that she’s apologized to the showrunners/writers.
However the reporter who did the interview at the AV Club (https://www.avclub.com/articles/chloe-sevigny-apologizes-for-av-club-interview,39609/) stands by the interview.
I think the show needs new writers! And what is up with the 9 episode season?? Might be there last!