Big Love

The 2006 American drama television series directed by Rodrigo García and aired on HBO follows the life of a fundamentalist Mormon family living in suburban Salt Lake City, Utah, who secretly practice polygamy. The central character is Bill Henrickson (Bill Paxton), a successful businessman who owns a chain of home improvement stores and juggles his responsibilities as husband to three women: Barbara (Jeanne Tripplehorn), the first wife and a stabilizing influence; Nicki (Chloë Sevigny), the second wife and daughter of a powerful polygamist leader from a fundamentalist compound; and Margene (Ginnifer Goodwin), the youngest and most free-spirited of the three. Together, they raise their children under a complex web of religious devotion and secrecy, concealing their plural marriage from their neighbors, coworkers, and the government. The series explores intricate themes such as faith, autonomy, loyalty, societal judgment, and internal conflict, as the family navigates tensions with the fundamentalist compound known as Juniper Creek, led by Nicki’s father Roman Grant (Harry Dean Stanton), a self-proclaimed prophet. Bill, having grown up in the compound himself and escaped its oppressive control, struggles to balance his desire for spiritual freedom with the legacy of his upbringing. Over time, he attempts to establish his own religious institution to legitimize his beliefs, leading to a series of dramatic and tragic consequences. The show is notable for its nuanced portrayal of an unconventional family, strong performances, and its deep examination of polygamy, personal conviction, and the American religious experience.