Marcia (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
aphrodite_mine) wrote2011-03-21 09:05 am
aphrodite_mine) wrote2011-03-21 09:05 am
Entry tags:
oh god.
The Big Love series finale aired yesterday.
*note:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
damariscain wrote a brilliant meta here on Deus Ex Machina.
How do I feel about it? Hmm. Let's see. By... half-way through I was SHAKING with tears of rage at JUST how far the show was willing to go to desecrate anything resembling a critique of polygamy. (And it should be noted that I don't have a problem with polygamy itself, but the brand the show represented as "positive" was just as backwards and oppressive as the "evil" brand of the compounds.) Instead of rejecting what is wrong with the institution, the show ended by shitting on everything, taking the final steps to make Bill = God (yes, I know the s4 and 5 opening strongly *suggested* this, but is it a crime to hope that the show might actually back up their narrative suggestions that Bill is a COMPLETE DOUCHE?!).
Rage blackout-inducing moments, just for the hell of it:
- Frank and Lois. Sure, she's far gone into dementia, and maybe a mercy killing was a great idea. But I can't think of ANYONE worse and more disrespectful to be the one to do it than Frank. Their relationship was abusive to the MAX, and Lois's last scene, DYING in his arms, while Frank reminisced about their life together... absolutely sickening.
- Bill opens up the formal debate on the legality of polygamy in the Senate (what he's intended to do all along) and loses the stores (Oh nooo! X_X) and gains 400+ followers in his church. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME. Oh, yay. The compound kids want to subscribe to Bill's version of polygamy, to come into the light. And I can't even FATHOM how there's even a difference.
- The last we see of Adaleen? She's protesting her son's arrest. Such a powerhouse of a character has been slowly reduced to a bumbling follower, hypnotized by her husband and son. Disgusting.
- Instead of paying for his offenses, Bill is shot by angry neighbor Carl. This pissed me the FUCK off for many reasons. 1) It demonizes Mormons. Those who don't subscribe to or don't understand Bill's religion/way of life/whatthefuckever have been consistently portrayed as ridiculous, and this just ices the cake. 2) Bill is shot THREE TIMES. Once for each wife. And of course, the holy trinity, sealing Bill's place in canon as a MARTYR. Are. You. Fucking. Kidding. Me. 3) On the edge of death, Bill validates Barb's belief that women share the priesthood by asking for a blessing. RAGE BLACKOUT. RAGE. BLACK OUT. Really, Bill? You couldn't show an OUNCE of respect for Barb ALL SEASON LONG and then have a special revelation right as you DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT ANY MORE?
- The epilogue. ONE THOUSAND LEVELS OF WHAT THE FUCK. Let me lay this out for you. Because the amounts of fuckery in five minutes was BEYOND DAZZLING.
-- Barb is now the prophet of Bill's church. She's rocking a pants suit and bestowing blessings LEFT AND RIGHT. She has MEANINGFUL words of wisdom to offer to new mother Sarah.
-- Heather is, apparently, seeing Ben again. So, all that talk about him being a polygamist, and her not having the time of day for that shit... out the window?
-- Nicki has ~softened~ and can now express her feelings. [Actually, I'm not sure if this makes me blindingly angry or sort of happy. I always thought she would be different without Bill in the way, but it's shown as her... I don't know, spiritual growth. After all "Bill made this possible," sez enlightened!Barb.]
-- Spirit!Bill is LURKING IN THE KITCHEN, CREEPING ON THEIR FEMALE BONDING. Now, I'm all about substitution, but staying in polygamy out of their love and faith in Bill is JUST SICK.
Don't get me wrong, I'll be writing post-finale fic, I'm sure. But I honestly want my five years back. (Or maybe just the last two. Then I can believe that the show could have been a delightful critique, if problematic.)
*note:
damariscain wrote a brilliant meta here on Deus Ex Machina.How do I feel about it? Hmm. Let's see. By... half-way through I was SHAKING with tears of rage at JUST how far the show was willing to go to desecrate anything resembling a critique of polygamy. (And it should be noted that I don't have a problem with polygamy itself, but the brand the show represented as "positive" was just as backwards and oppressive as the "evil" brand of the compounds.) Instead of rejecting what is wrong with the institution, the show ended by shitting on everything, taking the final steps to make Bill = God (yes, I know the s4 and 5 opening strongly *suggested* this, but is it a crime to hope that the show might actually back up their narrative suggestions that Bill is a COMPLETE DOUCHE?!).
Rage blackout-inducing moments, just for the hell of it:
- Frank and Lois. Sure, she's far gone into dementia, and maybe a mercy killing was a great idea. But I can't think of ANYONE worse and more disrespectful to be the one to do it than Frank. Their relationship was abusive to the MAX, and Lois's last scene, DYING in his arms, while Frank reminisced about their life together... absolutely sickening.
- Bill opens up the formal debate on the legality of polygamy in the Senate (what he's intended to do all along) and loses the stores (Oh nooo! X_X) and gains 400+ followers in his church. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME. Oh, yay. The compound kids want to subscribe to Bill's version of polygamy, to come into the light. And I can't even FATHOM how there's even a difference.
- The last we see of Adaleen? She's protesting her son's arrest. Such a powerhouse of a character has been slowly reduced to a bumbling follower, hypnotized by her husband and son. Disgusting.
- Instead of paying for his offenses, Bill is shot by angry neighbor Carl. This pissed me the FUCK off for many reasons. 1) It demonizes Mormons. Those who don't subscribe to or don't understand Bill's religion/way of life/whatthefuckever have been consistently portrayed as ridiculous, and this just ices the cake. 2) Bill is shot THREE TIMES. Once for each wife. And of course, the holy trinity, sealing Bill's place in canon as a MARTYR. Are. You. Fucking. Kidding. Me. 3) On the edge of death, Bill validates Barb's belief that women share the priesthood by asking for a blessing. RAGE BLACKOUT. RAGE. BLACK OUT. Really, Bill? You couldn't show an OUNCE of respect for Barb ALL SEASON LONG and then have a special revelation right as you DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT ANY MORE?
- The epilogue. ONE THOUSAND LEVELS OF WHAT THE FUCK. Let me lay this out for you. Because the amounts of fuckery in five minutes was BEYOND DAZZLING.
-- Barb is now the prophet of Bill's church. She's rocking a pants suit and bestowing blessings LEFT AND RIGHT. She has MEANINGFUL words of wisdom to offer to new mother Sarah.
-- Heather is, apparently, seeing Ben again. So, all that talk about him being a polygamist, and her not having the time of day for that shit... out the window?
-- Nicki has ~softened~ and can now express her feelings. [Actually, I'm not sure if this makes me blindingly angry or sort of happy. I always thought she would be different without Bill in the way, but it's shown as her... I don't know, spiritual growth. After all "Bill made this possible," sez enlightened!Barb.]
-- Spirit!Bill is LURKING IN THE KITCHEN, CREEPING ON THEIR FEMALE BONDING. Now, I'm all about substitution, but staying in polygamy out of their love and faith in Bill is JUST SICK.
Don't get me wrong, I'll be writing post-finale fic, I'm sure. But I honestly want my five years back. (Or maybe just the last two. Then I can believe that the show could have been a delightful critique, if problematic.)