Anyway, that's how I read it.
It wasn't bad, but Nicky kind of looked dead a few times.

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LOLABINGO |
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Yeah, they are falling apart, and that excommunication talk, and Bill's faith doubts last season also kind of set this up. Without the "time and
eternity" and the sealing, you just drift in nothingness, no longer connected to your family or generations. All that reaching out and not being able to
touch each other or anyone as they drifted in black space.
Anyway, that's how I read it. It wasn't bad, but Nicky kind of looked dead a few times. |
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OzzyBrett222 |
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0:50-0:58 represents the "falling apart" aspect. That's what I like about the old credits. They encapsulate the entire show.
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Carboys Desire |
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So y'all think the change in the opening is due to changes in the family dynamic??? I thought maybe their rights to use the song had expired.
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willsucks402 |
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Who the fuck watches a show for the opening credits? I dont even watch the damn opening
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Carboys Desire |
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Some shows I do, some I don't. Big Love, I always did. I probably won't anymore unless I'm watching live.
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SardonicallyIrrelevant |
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Big Love HAD the best opening title sequence on television. It's a valid gripe.
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StarrEise |
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I will agree with the gripes about the opening credits. That threw me...gonna take a long time to get used to it, and I probably won't.
As for those who think the casino stuff is trivial or uninteresting, I disagree completely - especially that last scene at the casino. For three seasons, we've seen Bill preaching the 'word' about his religion, how they're so spiritually guided and destined for a truer calling...and yet, Bill schemes and connives with the best of them at Juniper Creek to get what he wants. He's set to become the head of his own church which is supposed to find spiritual truth, and yet the very last scene was the family gazing with awe and adoration of a giant box of MONEY. Then they all hold hands and give thanks. Thanks for what? For their spiritual growth? For the fact that they just dumped a body in a freezer? For the fact that they outwitted (or at least thought they had outwitted) the law? Or for the giant box of money they'd just raked in? None of that thanks was for a deeper connection with the Spirit. The casino stuff may not be as emotionally dynamic as the wives stuff, but I think this show has a lot of layers and at the base of it rests the idea that religions are corrupting and even those who are the most 'devout' can be easily corrupted too. |
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PAPAYOKE |
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The ice breaking in the past to me was symbolic of the little temporary rifts that would take place between Bill and his wives (notice that Bill and Barb are
still on the same piece of ice), but at the end of the credits, they still end up at the same table (all's right with the world). I think what's going
on with the family right now is deeper than Margene, Nikki and Barb arguing over who gets to sleep with Bill. Given the caliber of show, I don't think it
so strange that they changed the opening to parallel what's actually going on with the characters. WEEDS did a similar thing with its opening credits:
GOD ONLY KNOWS is a classic show opening, but it's appropriate that they changed it up. Definitely going to take some getting used to, but it works. |
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finger poppin fun |
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Youtube has a 3-part segment of filming/explaining the old opening. I couldn't find the new one, though.
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Mistopheles |
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They did seem to cram a lot of stuff in the hour but it was the opening so I figure it was because they were excited. Watching Barb not have it together and
confident was painful. I just don't see that in her personality. She may have doubts inside but to express them in that hand-wringing way, odd. Old Barb
showed through though by taking charge at the end and how she tried to force Bill to go to Nikki. It is clear the wives forgive Nikki. However, they must be
setting up some storyline for her that involves her getting her act together so I will be patient.
Margene was very together this episode and I am glad she is coming into her own but I do miss the ditziness. When Barb told her she was blossoming, I thought it was sweet. The lip service she was playing to everyone was great. I did notice at the end, though, she did turn to Barb to solve the casino's issues. Nikki was great. She had a lot of great scenes and you could feel the sense of her losing some of her Juniper Creek creepiness. Hair down and flowing, a little bit of make-up. I wonder where the daughter will choose to go at the end of the season. My favorite scene is where she tells Alby, "Papa is dead, you be sad!" I had the sense that all these women have agendas that don't necessarily coincide with Bill's. With the exception of when he took charge of the body and when he talked to Cara Lynn's daddy and sent her back in the house, he has not been able to get his family, especially the women, to obey and confide in him. His new church with his son sitting up there, that was great. Frank and Lois look like they are setting up to fall in love again. We start with the hate, then get the respect then fall in love. Finally, Alby....all his scenes were great. I almost want him to get the best of Bill. Loved the monologue to his frozen father. "He gave me a dirty look because I am going to be the new prophet." |
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LOLABINGO |
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Carboys Desire wrote:I really do think it's that, but, perhaps because I was raised there and still have many devout Mormon (not polygamist though) friends...I think there is much more to it. Also, my family history on both sides goes back to pre-Navoo LDS church, so I understood Barb's shock and pain. Hell, I am not even Mormon any more, but being excommunicated is something I have avoided, mostly to avoid causing pain to my family. It really is a big fucking deal--as their core beliefs are about "time and all eternity" for all of the generations. Bill on the Hill Cumorah last season, that trip looking for his faith and not finding it anywhere, and then Kneeling and praying about it, as Joseph Smith was said to have done? The (pageant) angel rising in the background that Bill didn't see, representing the one Joseph supposedly saw? Barb's excommunication, being told she was severed from all generations of her family forever (including her present family?) That Baptist preacher screaming at Bill about following a charismatic charlatan rather than Jesus alone, and the Bible? Powerful stuff. I don't know if it came across to non-Mormon background peeps. Did it? Then, the new opening with them all reaching out to hold hands, but never reaching each other as they float in blackness, unconnected to anything? The opening made perfect sense to me, because of the Hill Cumorah trip, and Barb's excommunication. I agree, though, I missed the "God Only Knows" skating and the smoldering looks. Maybe this one will grow on me.
Last Edited By: LOLABINGO
01/14/10 03:28 PM.
Edited 1 times.
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Axle the Bulldog |
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Nicki was the only one who didn't look distressed in the opening credits. And I believe she was the only one who wasn't reaching out. That's some
powerful foreshadowing there.
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Wilkin |
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Not a Mormon, but with Barb's devotion to family it's easy to get how serious being severed from them for now and all eternity would be to her.
Bill doesn't see The Angel rising behind him because he's clearly looking in the wrong direction, indicative that he's turned his back on "the true religion". What is the church's official stance on gambling anyhow? There have been a couple of references to it being considered immoral but that seems to have recently been glossed over. |
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LOLABINGO |
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Wilkin wrote:Apparently they are opposed to gambling. I googled because I wasn't sure if things had changed, they have. Now there is an official stance. When I lived there, non of the devout gambled, but lots of other Mormons did, the "church on Sunday" and keep the Word of Wisdom and do Family Home Evening types did, even though they would never dream of drinking a Coke or a Beer, minor gambling was no big deal. Devout Mormons (that I know) would not gamble. There used to be office pools on games, and Mormons would bop off to Wendover or take advantage of the really cheap deals constantly offered by Vegas. Gambling wasn't the main focus though, the cheap food, sun, and all the stuff to see and do was, playing a few nickle slots, etc. Some really gambled, of course. In SLC there are many "jack" Mormons who do drink and gamble, but still might occasionally go to church functions. Even Mormons get the whole "word of wisdom" stuff wrong (about healthy eating, no caffeine, moderate meat, no alcohol, etc.) It's not really a sin, but non compliance keeps you out of certain church functions, until you get back on track. They all pretty much ignore the meat thing all the time though. Word of Wisdom The further you get from SLC though, the less liberal the population. But even in SLC there is still a (popular!) place to dine where women MUST cover their shoulders or are not admitted, no booze, coffee, tea, etc is served, it's very popular for wedding or rehearsal dinners. I was shocked to find out that place still existed, and still had that rule. Interesting observation about Nicky not seeming distressed! I commented earlier that she looked dead, but maybe "peaceful" was a better take on what they were doing with her floating body in that opening sequence. |
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LOLABINGO |
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It's still a bit odd this week, but all in all, a MUCH better episode (for me.)
Aw, Albie's in love. |
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Bjorkrazy |
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Good job Chloe on the Golden Globe award. I was having doubts she'd even be nominated, but I guess once they saw the tapes they knew snubbing her would be
a crime.
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LOLABINGO |
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Good for her! I loved that they focused so much more on the people this time. This one I will definitely watch again.
Woo! Sissy Spacek joining. |
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endlessmike |
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Definitely better tonight than last week
I hope Wayne becomes Prophet |
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Misterpuff |
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PAPAYOKE wrote:In the original opening, the table represented the Mormon afterlife, the Eternal Marriage (as delineated by The Principle) as gods (Heavenly Father and Wives) of their own planet. What I took from the opening, was the belief that no matter what happened in this life, they would be together in the next. After seeing this week's episode, Bill is exceedingly stubborn. Tut, tut, tut. |
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AngelAstarte |
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I see Margene maturing so much that I have a feeling she is going to mature herself right out of this marriage. I love how she just blew off Bill when he told
her to put her earnings in the community pot. I also thought that it was hilarious that she was only giving the other wives a hundred bucks when she was raking
in thousands! Too funny.
Bill gets on my last nerve. I seriously can't stand his self rightiousnes (sp) all the time. |
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