Anyone watch the first episode of Big Love that follows right after the Soprano's on HBO last night?
It's about a Mormon family, husband, 3 wives and several kids. They own three houses together with a common backyard. The family is well-to-do with the husband owning a successful home improvement retail business.
The first 10-15 minutes weren't that promising, just showing them juggling careers, affections, kids, etc., but when they introduced family back at the "compound" and the "prophet" it suddenly got very interesting. See, this isn't your normal Mormon family. They are part of one of the off-shoot sects of Mormonism that still practices polygamy. Most of the members live in backwood compounds in poverty.
It is also revealed that the church, or the prophet, owns an interest in the succesful man's business. Harry Dean Stanton plays the prophet and he is creepy.
Bill's family(brother, mother, father) back at the compound are obviously under cult control. While Bill and his family have broken free of the day to day influence of the cult and they try to be forward thinking free minded individuals, it is apparent that the cult and the prophet still have some hold on them.
I especially enjoyed the scene where Bill's daughter said that her parents are sorta too busy for all the church functions and activities. Her friend just looks at her and says, "Oh, you mean they're inactive".
This is going to be an interesting show to watch. This could be a good show to provoke discussion or debate between JW and ex/non-JW mates.
I'm looking forward to next week's episode of this show as much as I am the Soprano's.