March is coming to a close, which means it's the perfect time to reflect on everything that went down in entertainment over the past several weeks — and there was plenty! From Big Love's shocking season finale to Michael Scott's proposal, we're reliving the best (and worst!) that March had to offer. Click through to check out our picks, and then share your favorite highlights from the month in the comments.
Last night we bid goodbye to the best-dressed polygamists on television. Big Love did not go gently into the celestial kingdom, making up — somewhat — for a lackluster fifth season. Like Buzz, I agree it ended on a beginning that could have held my interest through the entire last season. But I'll say no more — no spoilers here!
I didn't think polygamy still existed before Big Love. I know when police removed women and children from the Texas compound in 2008, I was shocked to see their resemblance to the residents of fictional Juniper Creek — or, really, vice-versa. Now there's no doubt Big Love has made its mark, influencing pop culture, politics, and countless Halloween costumes. Practicing polygamists have gone on Oprah and landed a reality show, seeking acceptance or at the very least tolerance.
Nobody's questioning underage marriage or forced polygamy, but all these women — it's usually women — are asking for is the alternative-lifestyle label we bestow on all other polyamorous relationships, including polyandry (when women take multiple spouses) or even open relationships.
So while you may have trouble believing enlightened polygamy exists, there's enough unenlightened monogamy to make it hard to pass judgment. Either way, Big Love let us into a secretive world, and see plural marriage at its best and worst. Was it enough to change your mind? Even a little?
Photos courtesy of HBO
Big Love came to a close after five seasons on Sunday night, and boy did the writers leave fans with plenty to think about. With Alby in jail after last week's showdown with Bill, there's no more mortal threat to the Hendrickson family (or so we thought). Most of the episode's focus is on the sister wives — Barb, Nicki, and Margene — as they continue to prepare for the possibility of Bill serving jail time. It's clear just how far the ladies have come since the first season: Barb reshuffles her responsibilities, buys a new car, and moves forward with her new church; Margene considers the possibility of doing long-term community service overseas; and though Nicki feels abandoned by her sister wives, her connection to Cara Lynn and Barb proves how much she's grown.
I've got more to say about the episode, so read the rest of my thoughts (warning: spoilers ahead) and provide your own after the jump.
Ginnifer Goodwin's ultracool glamour has been killing it on the red carpet, which made us wonder: has Ginnifer always been this stylish? We looked back to the beginning of her career and found that Ginnifer has always been gorgeous and sweet, but her glam factor has grown exponentially since she joined the cast of Big Love. It's always fun – and funny – to look back at the way we dressed, so check out this timeline of Ginnifer's growing style.
I've always rooted for the Hendricksons on Big Love as proof that love, however unusual, can prevail. As proof polygamy doesn't have to be oppressive and misogynistic, but a choice no different than any other relationship off the mainstream path. However, after last night's episode, "A Seat at the Table," — where everyone fights to be heard — enlightened polygamy seems more impossible than ever.
Despite all the jealously, drama, and politics, patience and forgiveness — both acts of love — is what has always pulled the Hendricksons together. So like a monogamous relationship, polygamy comes down to the individuals and their respect for each other, their bandwidth for challenges, and willingness to forgive.
Yet a polygamist marriage is like a giant, sprawling relationship: it creates more challenges and requires more selflessness, but still just seems like a big mess most of the time. I don't think anyone short of a saint could make it work. Love can't overcome an institution grounded in patriarchy, and I'm even more confident after last night's episode that the Hendricksons' marriage will at least partially dissolve by the series finale.
What do you predict?
The thread that holds Big Love together is its characters, and their way of life always teeters on falling apart. As the final season opened last night that was more true then ever (spoilers, ahoy!).
The Henricksons are out of the plural marriage closet and are riding out the press storm by camping in the desert. When they finally return to town, Margene loses her QVC-like business (fired for violating the "morality" clause) and is devastated, Barb is experimenting with red wine and telling Bill she doesn't think she needs him anymore, and Nicki wants him all to herself. We've already toyed with the men of Big Love, so now we've predicted what will become of its women below.
We were up to our elbows in Golden Globe goodies last night, but believe it or not, the award show wasn't the only television event happening last night. HBO's Big Love returned with the premiere of its fifth and final season, and I wanted to give you all the opportunity to share your thoughts on the beginning of the end. So sound off: what did you think of the season premiere?
Big Love is back for its fifth and final season Sunday! While it's truly a show about women, the men control everything. None of them make particularly great husbands — how can you with multiple wives? — but let's imagine the polygamy tables were turned, and women took multiple husbands. I ordered Big Love's eight main male characters from the first husband I'd take to the absolute last. Slim pickings!
Photos courtesy of HBO
Ginnifer Goodwin accessorized her bright salmon dress with her new engagement ring last night as she celebrated the debut of Big Love's fifth and final season in LA! She posed alongside fiancé Joey Kern but also made time to smile alongside costars Bill Paxton, the beautiful Jeanne Tripplehorn, and a Rodarte-clad Chloë Sevigny — what do you think of Chloë's cutout dress? Chloë's no stranger to showing some strategic skin after her bikini-filled New Year's vacation in Miami. Ginnifer debuted her diamond earlier this week at Nicole Richie's Lucky party, though she and Joey announced their plans to wed just before Christmas. Her happy marriage news was somewhat eclipsed by uproar over her comments about being in Weight Watchers since age 9, though she later clarified her story and said, "I've never had body issues, I've never had an eating disorder. I've never had to go on a diet and that's because of Weight Watchers." Ginnifer's healthy shape will be front and center Sunday when the first episode of her show airs — get a sneak peek of the drama to come and let Buzz know if you'll miss her series when it wraps up later this year.
