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Post by duets on Mar 7, 2010 23:35:56 GMT -5
I think Barb is bored w/Bill's everchanging whims. In this epi, she really tried to get what was in Bill's heart . Once again, it went w/o real discussion.
Next season, if Barb stays with Bill they may have a new address, The Big House; but not the one that Bill originally had in mind, LOL.
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Post by miceelf on Mar 8, 2010 0:46:18 GMT -5
I agree with rissmeek and prayforpeace. I don't think Barb is bored or power hungry at all -- I think her eyes are finally opening to how bizarre her life has become, the things she has tolerated and allowed because she loved Bill.
Barb wanted to be a good wife to Bill, to be an active member of her church, to raise a family. Then she got cancer, and her life turned upside down.
Nicki was brought in to take care of the kids and help when Barb was sick, and Barb may have been fine with the thought of Nicki and Bill marrying if she died, then the kids would have a mother. But Barb didn't die, and Bill somehow convinced her to accept Nicki as a second wife. Barb gave up her faith and her church at that point -- she could no longer be LDS.
Then Bill brought home Margene, was having an affair with her, and married her. Then Bill had an affair with Ana and married her, although that didn't last because Ana came to her senses.
Bill put his family in danger time and time again with his stupid power struggles with Roman, and now Alby. Bill insisted on this whole casino thing -- even though casino gambling has a very immoral reputation. Bill insisted on running for office and outing them publicly.
And every time one of his wives tries to voice her opinion or fears or ideas, Bill tells them, "not now, I'll talk to you later".
No wonder Barb is fed up. I hope she dumps his ass and marries Tommy.
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Post by blazdell on Mar 8, 2010 9:19:39 GMT -5
I dont blame Barb. Barb didnt want him to run for office and I agree, he shouldnt have. And then to out them to the world right after the election, what was he thinking. He was thinking only about Bill. Because Bill comes first, and its all about Bill. To be honest does Bill really love Barb anymore? He sure doesnt act like it. I hope Barb leaves and files for divorce, she should.
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Post by prayforpeace on Mar 8, 2010 11:13:13 GMT -5
I dont think Bill loves anyone but himself at this point blazdell
he expects barb to go along with what he wants at all times and refuses to give up what he wants the one time she asks....he expects margen to be up on stage with him even thoigh its gonna cost her the one thing she got in her life all on her own...he got upset that sarah was moveing and wouldnt be around for him to out their family
at this point the only way I can see this family staying togther at the end-is if foster car takes all the kids-loseing her kids specialy the daughter she got back-would snap nikki out of this 'ill do what bill wants cause I love him' kick shes on
have his wives leave him-all 3...get their kids back and ban bill from everyone for a good period of time
because at this point-loseing every single memeber of his family will be the only thing that snaps bill out of his-its all bout me me me kick hes on
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Post by cynicaljinx on Mar 8, 2010 12:12:03 GMT -5
Wouldn't it be something if Bill has to step down from his State Senate seat and Barb takes it over? Especially if evidence of his impropriety leaks out (besides the polygamy, he's got affairs and an illegitimate baby, not to mention that nasty meth problem at the casino). What did Marilyn say - that she loved how Bill was like a pinata cuz every time she hit it, a new goodie dropped out!
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lynng
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by lynng on Mar 8, 2010 12:17:12 GMT -5
Why did she get on the stage anyway? If she is leaving...she shoulda left. She went up there and was unhappy, so she did it to please Bill, once again? I'm trying really hard to understand Barb here but it's just not happening. ITA.
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Post by JJ77 on Mar 8, 2010 13:40:52 GMT -5
Here's my take on it (put simply so the post doesnt get monumental in length lol)
barb loves Bill and her family. She went into the principle / poly b/c of that love not b/c she truly beieved in it - it wasnt a decision based on religous beleif for her.
However, She trusted Bill to be her spiritual guide / leader and she followed him for that reason. Follow as blindly as you may - unless you're completely brainwashed , at some point you have to see the writing on the wall. At this point everything Bill / the family was suppose to stand for (family, faith, etc) has been compromised and is falling apart. I mean their family is falling apart around them. So faulting barb for no longer being on-board with his madness when he's lost sight of what it was all for is rediculous imo. He keeps saying that this is all for the family, so they can move forward, etc. But he has totally neglected his family & asked much more than he has given in the process.
barb called it right when she said "There's no ground beneath us. we're not even poly anymore! Nicki doesnt want to share,and margene has a 1/2 marriage." etc.
I'm not mad at Barb for waking up, I'm mad at Bill for being so blind and not doing so himself. Even if he now switches his focus back to his family - i think it may be too little too late. damage has been done.
As far as why she went up on stage - Barb has been his public wife. It's not exactly as if she had the same option of not "coming out" with them as nicki and margene did. I don't think it means she wont leave / has changed her mind. I think it was just a matter of her feeling like she'd made her bed and now had to lie in it. - meaning there was no point in not joining them onstage. Will she pretend to be happy poly wife #1 - I dount it. In fact i could see barb doing just the opposite.
I honestly thought she was going to stand up and walk out rather than on stage to join them - but then what would that have proved?
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Post by biglovelove on Mar 8, 2010 15:08:05 GMT -5
I agree WAY TO GO BARB! I thought maybe she is the one who did it when Margene and Nicki were going back and forth at each other. Barb seemed to shrink back a bit during that scene and I felt the writers were trying to make us think about it being her, but I thought that would be too far for her to go. Especially after she has been feeling guilty about hiring Marilyn. I was SOOOOOOOOO happy to find out it was her. Bill was not listening to anyone. Barb really didn't have a choice due to the way he was acting and shutting everyone out about decisions. It seems only Bill, Nicki and Ben were the only ones wanting to have the story out there in this family.
I really thought Bill would feel that story breaking was the end and would pull out of the race. Nope.
I don't think that Barb standing up with the family at the end means she won't eventually leave or that Bill won't push her out now that he knows how she feels. I feel it is a huge possibility that he will "freeze her out" as Barb likes to say. You know how he judges people and likes to punish them by not talking to them. He could start making Barb feel really left out now that Nicki looks like she wants to take over the first wife position.
I felt really sorry for Barb last night. The scene where she walks out and sees Margene cutting Nicki's hair. She looked like an even larger gap was just pushed between the them. I feel Barb's first wife status is the only thing that has kept her going along with her husband's decision to bring new wives in. Being first wife allowed her to control a lot of things that go on and I am sure she felt she held the special spot in Bill's heart.
I love that she let Marilyn tell bill off last night. I am glad she did not step in and defend him. It shows she feels the same way as Marilyn.
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Post by albertaleon on Mar 8, 2010 16:39:00 GMT -5
This season started with Barb trying to get Bill to patch things up with Nikki.
This is my first comment about anything to do with the season finale. I had to think about it, and, watch it twice.
I believe that Barb is the most complicated wife. Nikki is complex for being raised at Juniper Creek. I do not believe that the road to coming out as polygamist is hard for Nikki. Some things are difficult for Nikki, such as navigating herself through relationships and finding common ground with people not raised at Juniper Creek. Margene did not seem to have anything until she met Bill. I think that when Margene met Bill Margene was (and still is) very vulnerable. I think that without Bill and the other wives, Margene would not be the person she is now. I think that Margene is a better, more capable, and stronger person due to Bill and the other wives. I do not think that Margene had any religious background such as Nikki or Barb.
Barb's family seems to be at least upper middle class with a strong mormon faith. This makes me believe that Barb was raised with a lot of monetary advantages. I think that Barb relied on her family a great deal. Barb's family more than likely pitied people that were raised at places at Juniper Creek. Barb married Bill obviously because she loved him. She did not marry Bill because she believed that Bill is The Prophet or for any type of security (unless you count emotional security that comes with love).
Barb, it seems, had a rich and fulfilling life as a wife and mother. I do not know why it was decided that Nikki would come to help Barb when Barb became ill. I am guessing that it was Bill's idea to bring Nikki into the home to help when Barb was sick with cancer. I do not think that Barb's family would have approved of this choice. We have seen Barb be true to one thing and that is standing by Bill and Bill's decisions.
In all of this, I think that Barb has lost the most. She has lost her husband. I think that Barb would have to feel some guilt to the impact that her and Bill's decisions have had on their children. Barb was very upset when Sarah was going to get married at City Hall. Sarah was deciding to get married at City Hall because she hates the way her parents live and their religion. We have not seen how exactly Barb and Bill's choices will impact Ben and Teeny.
In my opinion, Barb's life was really lost when Bill became sealed to Nikki. Barb has decided to stay with Bill and has pushed forward telling herself that she trusts him and this her dream too. I think that Barb has resigned to the truth, and, the truth is that this is not what she wants nor has she ever wanted it.
I don't know if Barb will remain with Bill and the other wives. I think that Barb is more upset with Bill and herself. I do not think that Barb is upset with Margene or Nikki.
I think that Barb now realizes how much of herself she has allowed to be squandered away. I don't think that Barb really considered herself a real polygamist. I don't think that Barb let herself believe that Bill was wrapped up in his own lies to himself. In other words, I think that everything in Barb's life had been shaped a certain way to fit into Barb's reality of her life. Now I think that Barb is seeing the reality of her life.
Barb can move on with or without Bill. I think that either way it is going to be very difficult for Barb to do.
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Post by spiritualtramp on Mar 8, 2010 17:03:30 GMT -5
To be truthful, as happy as I am that Barb admitted to herself and to Bill that she doesn't need him, I really don't see her leaving. She loves Bill and as micromanaging as she can be, I think she actually loves her sister wives, too. I think her struggle with her own independence will change a lot of things, but not necessarily by causing her to leave the family. I would like to see THEM ALL opening up more and becoming more communicative and honest and to see Bill allow his wives to have more personal freedoms, jobs, lives, etc.
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Post by albertaleon on Mar 8, 2010 18:57:33 GMT -5
I think that everyone is right about Barb on this board.
I wonder where the writers of Big Love are going to take Barb, Nikki, Margene and Bill.
After Barb confessed to sending over the paternity report to the news station, I wondered what other things Barb has done to sabotage things in the family that she has not confessed to. I also thought that if Barb really wanted to end Bill's chance of being elected she would have sent the paternity report to the woman running against Bill.
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lism
New Member
Posts: 28
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Post by lism on Mar 11, 2010 16:58:05 GMT -5
I don't think Barb will be leaving. That said, she is the only one who isn't wearing rose colored glasses when it comes to Bill. I DO think she is done doing things just because Bill wants her to. She all but called him a selfish pr***
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Post by BigLoveRocks! on Mar 11, 2010 17:08:14 GMT -5
Barb was riding Bill's ass really hard the last couple of episodes lol!
I loved the scene before the finale, when Bill confronted her about her comments to the women in Eagle Forum and she got pissed... She started mopping towards him angrily making him back up real quick lol!
Symbolism/foreshadowing much? Barb mopped the floor with Bill!
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Post by JJ77 on Mar 11, 2010 18:09:24 GMT -5
Just a quick side note - (to my last post) I don't think Barb has stopped loving Bill. I think she has realized that she doesnt need him - 2 very different things, but to BIll... I'm not sure they are.
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Post by charlottelaurie on Mar 11, 2010 18:34:29 GMT -5
I see now that Barb had to get up on that stage with him, no matter what she will ultimately decide to do, just the way wives of politicians have traditionally (though not always in recent years) stood literally and figuratively by their men in the face of corruption, adultery, etc. It just wasn't in her not to do this.
I think albertaleon hit the nail on the head in saying that Barb doesn't consider herself a polygamist -- she is practicing the Principle, yes, but hearing Bill say on stage "I'm a polygamist' must have been so jarring. Human nature prevented her from labeling herself.
Yet not only has she shown love for the sister-wives and all the children, but in her interaction with Anna kept referring to the baby as 'our' baby, particularly when she believed it was conceived during the short marriage. And she was so happy to have Anna on board during that engagement and marriage.
The whole Mormon idea of the man as priesthood holder makes me think Barb doesn't --or at least didn't -- expect the sort of equality that other American women do. The women generally seem deferential to the men. Maybe this is starting to gnaw at her, but it's not just the polygamists who have to deal with that.
And, having covered a hundred million different Barb topics here, I just want to add that Barb might think Bill is a jackass, but he's her jackass. So she follows.
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