Big Love: Season 2

That's two seasons of Big Love down. Unless I'm being loose and liberal with the word, I can't honestly say that I "love" this show. Through twenty-four episodes it hasn't been exciting enough to grab hold of me, nor has it been thematically deep enough to merit any kind of deeper attachment than simply watching it; I'm moving through the episodes more out of habit than out of a true fascination with what happens next, and I'm not spending any time looking for Internet discussions about them. None of this is to say, however, that I dislike the show. It may not be thrilling or multi-layered, but isn't boring and it isn't meaningless, either. Thus far it's been an entertaining enough look at a fictional family of polygamists and their anecdotes, struggles, and conflicts.

I'm happy to say that the second season was probably better, overall, than the first one. To contrast the two, the first season was a lot simpler and more introductory. It was also much more timid. I'll give credit to the creators of Big Love for treating their protagonists as multi-dimensional human beings in spite of their lifestyle, avoiding easy jokes ridiculing the practice, but the second season began to explore some of the deeper issues that would come with being a "plural family," and it was better off for doing so. The oldest daughter, for instance, vigorously opposes the lifestyle and joins a Mormon support group for children of polygamy. When the oldest son begins to date twins, his mother - the first wife, a polygamist herself - disapproves, suggesting that she isn't proud enough of her decisions in life not to wish for her son to choose a different path. Plenty else goes on. The family feuds with the more extreme core of their extended, well, cult, to call it what it is. They harbor a 15-year-old girl who has run away after being engaged to marry the cult's 80-year-old leader. As individuals, the adults all consider doing various things frowned upon by one another: being a surrogate mother, buying stock in video gambling machines, courting a potential fourth wife, letting the family's somewhat-kept secret out to various neighbors and friends.

It doesn't rank among HBO's legendarily great 21st century dramas, but it's easy to watch and it leaves an impression, sure enough. Here's looking forward to three more seasons.