Big Love and bluegrass

[rm]

One of the things I'd really like to do, at some other point in my life where there's sense to taking the time to do it, is learn how to sing bluegrass/old-time music properly. I love the music and the sound of the voice, and it's closer to what my voice wants to do naturally than most anything else.

This thought brought to you by finally seeing the Big Love episodes that I missed, and the song Roman's little wife sings at the funeral (and that I've been singing ever since I saw the episode -- which I should really write about, as I've always had thoughts on that "secret name" business). In fact, I really love how the show uses music, particularly old-time music in the way that it does.

I really hope that character gets an arc of her own. As there's so much sense of dread around her, in so many different ways, I'm just waiting for it. I do love this show. When Bill goes to Roman's house and all the wives confront him in the hall -- all in their white nightgowns like ghosts, translucent, invisible in the real world and as blood-thirsty as anything in Shakespeare. It makes up for the moments where the show loses its balance by trying to be wacky -- no wackiness needed, just tell the story, which seems to be such an odd struggle with this subject matter.

Comments

[lolliejean.livejournal.com]

I watched the latest episode last night too. The scene with all of Roman's wives was priceless. It sort of hovered on the edge of being funny for a moment and then it was almost frightening. I loved that Roman's guitar became the thing that Bill could use as a bargaining tool. To me it said that Roman may have started out from a place of true spiritual belief and seeking (with the guitar being a symbol of that) but what may have begun as good has become corrupted and changed as he gained power.

[kill.livejournal.com]

I love love LOVE seeing the background of the older generation. Like Bill's mom and her short hair, and sometimes how her attitude and relationship with her sister wives as a second wife kind of echoes Nicolette's relationship to the whole family.

It really is a good show in a quiet, subtle way, so different from stuff like The Sopranos or Six Feet Under. While they're both great shows, they hit you over the head with stuff (the Mob or Death) whereas this, yeah, it could be the Polygamy as bludgeon, but more it's so quietly normal in an abnormal way.

R., I hope Rhonda gets her own stuff too -- I see little glimpses of it, like when she stole the iPod from Bill's daughter and sang "You're So Vain" at Albie. She's got the childish arrogance of a favorite child, but it's weird and twisted because it's just that she's new and the favorite. It was interesting this week to see another young-ish wife in bed with Roman.

[rm.livejournal.com]

I loved when we found out about the short hair. I thought that discussion the "marked" thing was so powerful and intense. I don't think there's a woman with short hair who couldn't relate to it -- the anger from other people and not being a comfortable sex object.

Ah, Rhonda! I can never keep track of all the names. There's Lady Macbeth in her. She'll aspire to have the most powerful man, sure, but what she really wants to status for herself.