Big Love: The Complete Fourth Season

Big Love is about a man juggling three wives, two stores and a casino, and this season - a run for the Utah State Senate with the intention of coming out as a polygamist.

The Complete Fourth Season's nine episodes come on three discs. Special features include: English, Spanish, and French audio and subtitles, Previously On and Next On clips, and Inside the Episodes, comments from the Creators/Executive Producers about pivotal scenes.

Bill Henrickson's missteps with the wives and their frustrations with him, his conflicts with politicians and church leaders, and the shenanigans of the Juniper Creekers, including his hillbilly parents and the son of the now-dead prophet, Alby Grant, who is completely unhinging, were a lot to keep track of this season. Alby's transformation, played to perfection by Matt Ross, from cold and calculating to completely cuckoo was a highlight. This season brought in a new evildoer--J.J., Nicki's first husband, and Sissy Spacek as a lobbyist. It makes sense that the show, like Bill, has too much on its plate. And this was especially palpable during the fourth season.

The characters have always been the best part of this show, and its plots are interesting and entertaining and at times, even disturbing. But this time around, these twists and turns, especially the rigmarole that was Episode 7 "Blood Atonement," were far-fetched and unrealistic, and overshadowed the family's story, especially the wonderful dynamics between the wives Barb, Nicki, and Margene.

This viewer's hope for next season is that Bill reevaluates what's really important and focuses more on staying sane. Barb summarized this season best when she expressed, "I'm afraid we're walking off a cliff."

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Big Love: The Complete Fourth Season
DVD
Price:$59.99
http://www.hbo.com