“How dare you suggest that I’m being impertinent?”
- Nicolette “Nicki” Grant

With all the recent Golden Globes excitement, we were unfortunately unable to make time for a second Big Love Season 4 recap until now. However, despite the Golden Globes live telecast, we hope you were also able to tune in last Sunday to the second Big Love episode of the season, 4.02 “The Greater Good”, in which Chloë Sevigny as usual appeared as second wife Nicolette “Nicki” Grant. As always, here’s our recap of the episode (under the cut this time, as it’s a bit a lot longer than usual), please mouseover to read:

An anti-polygamy speech during a hearing from a senate candidate has unexpected consequences, when the available seat suddenly begins to appeal to Bill. When he returns home, he finds a mysterious packet has been delivered to him, filled with FBI files on his family, all closed. During the dinner that follows, Bill announces he’s considering running for senator, citing as his reason that, “Someone has to defend the principle, someone has to fight back,” much to the dismay of Barb, and especially Margie, who calls Bill out for not discussing the matter with his wives, who might all be exposed as a result. Only Nicki expresses her support, but more because she expects Bill to take over her late father’s former role as the Juniper Creek Prophet than any real excitement at the idea. The dinner ends in argument. When the wives later assemble for their daily meeting, the hot topic is Bill’s unexpected annoucement. Margie argues that being exposed will end the cash flow coming in from her business, while Nicki is convinced Bill is the next prophet, which Barb wants to hear nothing of.

Meanwhile, a very smitten Scott suddenly proposes to Sarah that they get married as soon as possible rather that wait, to which Sarah, tired of her family and Bill’s “revelations from God”, surprisingly agrees. Sarah then seeks out her estranged best friend Heather at her hamburger bar job, and the two eventually patch things up when Sarah apologizes for having been selfish and asks Heather to be a witness at her upcoming wedding. But when Barb approaches Sarah about being sealed within the church, Sarah expresses her doubts, and when Scott and she decide to marry outside the church, Sarah decides to conceal the wedding from her parents, of which her brother Ben, Sarah’s second witness, particularly opposes.

Inspired by his latest revelation, Bill not only discusses the future of Juniper Creek with the new, state-appointed Juniper Creek funds trustee, convinced the Compound can be transformed into a working community, he also decides to consult his brother-in-law Ted on his chances, who expresses his sincere doubts at his success. When Ted implies that Barb’s excommunication and her and Bill’s rumored polygamy is a likely dealbreaker, Bill and Barb take matters into their own hands and lie their way back into the church by denying their polygamist practices. Meanwhile, Alby unexpectedly attends a “homosexuals anonymoys”-type group meeting, as run unbeknownst to all by the state-appointed funds trustee. Outside, he tells Alby their moment together was a mistake, that he has an obligation to God and his wife and kids, but Alby is unabating, clearly in love with the man.

Out of all characters, however, it is Nicki who suffers the most crushing series of personal setbacks. It begins with Barb telling Nicki that the mysterious packet of FBI files was sent to Bill by Ray Henry, the DA from last season who fell in love with Nicki before discovering her true identity. At the same time, she tells her Henry is leaving town, at which Nicki immediately rushes over to him. The two lash out at each other, but when Nicki confesses she has brand new feelings for him, a crushed Henry simply shuts the door on her. Bill then catches Nicki at home, visibly distracted, and guessing at what’s troubling her, confronts her. But when Bill thinks it’s Nicki’s ex-husband JJ that’s bothering her rather than Ray Henry giving her the cold shoulder, of which he knows nothing about, and tells her he has invited JJ for dinner, Nicki goes berserk. Matters are made worse when JJ shows up for what becomes an awkward and loaded dinner with the Henricksons. When JJ blurts out something about Roman Grant’s impending funeral, Cara Lynn is furious at Nicki for not even mentioning it to her. When Cara Lynn confronts her mother about the funeral, which Nicki was most aware of and has no intention of attending, she confesses to her she’s “struggling with her beliefs.” Bill then finds Nicki cleaning frenetically in the kitchen. The two have a heated argument, Nicki demanding Bill to take her father’s place as the new Prophet of Juniper Creek before her estranged brother, Alby, gets to it, and issues an ultimatum on their marriage, questioning it’s meaningfulness if Bill doesn’t assume the post. Bill announces he has no intention of doing so, and also questions the purpose of their marriage when Nicki tells him about her feelings on it. Bill and Nicki’s marriage crisis begins to border on being beyond repair when Margie later confronts Nicki about whether or not Nicki is still in love with Bill, and she finds herself genuinely unable to answer.

Elsewhere and in the dark of night, Bill’s brother Joey returns to his old home with his wife and child, ignoring Wanda’s warnings about someone knowingly putting out a false story about Roman supposedly dying as a fugitive in Mexico, when in fact it was Joey who strangled him to death in the Big House as retaliation for Kathy Marquart’s death in the Season 3 finale. Joey then makes a surprise visit to Bill, who is clearly pleased to see him. But clouds quickly reappear when they tell one another of their conflicting heavenly revelations. While Bill tells Joey about his political aspirations, Joey pushes Bill to become the new Prophet instead, much to Bill’s dismay. Unwittingly striking at Joey’s dark secret, Bill tells him “Heavenly Father will deal with murderers in his own time”, and the two part in disagreement. At the same time, JJ pays Wanda a visit and in the shape of a veiled threat hints at knowing the truth about Joey’s involvement Roman’s death, and Wanda, clearly startled, explodes at him.

Meanwhile, Nicki’s mother Adaleen makes a surprise visit at Nicki’s, confronting her about not intending to go to her father’s funeral. Nicki then tells her mother she now believes Roman was a false prophet, and expresses her bitterness at the many decisions he made on her behalf, such as putting her in the Joy Book. Adaleen ignores this and compels her to attend the funeral, if not to mourn the Prophet then to mourn her father, and tells her that if she doesn’t show she will no longer be her daughter. Later, Roman is finally laid to rest, and Nicki eventually budges and attends the funeral with Cara Lynn, though at the same time clearly setting herself apart from the Compound women mourning him as the Prophet.

Barb seems to have found her new place running the casino in Bill’s absence, but on returning home one day surprises Sarah and Heather in wedding attire, about to leave for Sarah’s secret wedding, and is devastated at Sarah intending to wed outside the church, feeling Sarah is turning her back on her family. Unrelenting, Sarah tells her mother she will not budge and that this is how she wants to begin her life with Scott. However, while Bill debates his future options in the quiet of the evening, Sarah returns home and tells him of her upcoming wedding, saying she doesn’t want to hide her beliefs anymore. Upon hearing this sentiment from his daughter, Bill seems to find a decision of his own within himself.

With his three wives assembled at home, Bill announces not only his intention to run for office, but also to reveal their polygamy to the public if and when he wins, with the intention of giving polygamy a whole new face. Though the wives look worried, their concerns are at least momentarily dissipated when it is revealed that Bill has reconciled with Sarah and has arranged for Sarah and Scott to be married, by magistrate, in the Henricksons’ backyard. Sarah and Scott are then wedded in the presence of witnesses Ben and Heather, as Bill and his three wives, including a deeply moved Nicki, perhaps struck by her own loss of love, look on.

Whoa! Longest recap yet! I apologize for the unusual length, I simply got carried away by this all around outstanding episode. Probably my favorite yet! Ray Henry! Nicki! Yay!

Personally, I think last Sunday’s episode marked my new all time favorite portrayal of Nicki by Chloë Sevigny. With unparalleled sincerity, Chloë conveyed throughout the episode a broad canvas of emotions, and I, for one, thought she could’ve easily deserved a second Golden Globe for this episode’s performance alone. Simply extraordinary, and in the best possible sense.

Media-wise, as usual, we’ve updated the gallery with 588 medium-res screen captures of Chloë’s performance on the show. We’ll be sure to add video clips from both aired Season 4 episodes once we are able to catch our breaths after what was a pretty exhausting weekend and Monday. Check back for them soon, though! And don’t forget to tune in again next Sunday for episode 4.03 “Strange Bedfellows”.

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• Television Work > ‘Big Love’ Episode 4.02 Screen Captures