"Good Guys and Bad Guys"

• Jul 24, 2007 02:48 AM ET
• by Trish Wethman

Tonight's main theme was the interconnectedness of family in all its twisted forms, a theme that was played out on several fronts. At the Henrickson homestead, Margene's mother Ginger ( Bonnie Bedelia) showed up to bestow a little motherly wisdom on her daughter while seeking out temporary housing. Suddenly it's clear why Margene is so desperate for love and acceptance. Her trashy mother was so consumed with jealousy over the life that her daughter has built for herself that she actually tried (unsuccessfully) to seduce her son-in-law! This, after she had earlier condemned Margene for her choices. I thought it was funny how Nicki seemed to relish the motherly attention she was receiving from the decidedly unmaternal Ginger and how Margene and Nicki nearly came to blows over the situation. For a moment, it was like Bill was dealing with two teenagers. (Of course, in Margene's case he practically is.)

Barb's attempts to help Wanda and Joey get back on their feet brought her face-to-face with two of the men she despises and fears, Frank and Roman. Frank slithered back to the compound seeking out answers about Lois' recent windfall and looking to collect his share. Barb's "heart-to-heart" talk with Frank certainly showed that he knows how to push her buttons. His summation of Barb and Bill's situation was probably uncomfortably close to reality. She had come so close to freeing Bill from his twisted legacy until she was felled by her health crisis, which brought Nicki, and polygamy, into their lives again. I hate to admit it, but from a purely pragmatic point of view, there is something oddly appealing about the idea of sharing the load (especially in times of crisis) and having those extra hands to rely on. (Barb herself noted this in an earlier episode when she was chatting with Sarah's friend Heather.) In today's world of working families, obligations and overwhelming demands, polygamy seems almost practical. At the very least, you can understand how a man who grew up in that tradition would fall back on those values during a time of crisis.

As luck would have it, Frank's homecoming coincided with Wanda's, and Frank was still harboring some ill will over his near-death experience at the hands of his daughter-in-law. I was genuinely afraid when Wanda, Barb and the overzealous Kathy were confronted with the sudden blackout. Thankfully, it was Joey who emerged from the darkness, but Barb's reaction reflected the fact that she is terrified of what is lurking at Juniper Creek. But that did not deter her from confronting Roman. I'm glad she got a chance to speak her mind about what he did to her and the family.

As menacing as Roman can be, he still pales in comparison to the recently resurrected Greenes. It looks like Bill is getting ready to enter into a dangerous game pitting these families against each other. Tonight he proclaimed, "I'm the good guy." However, with each passing week, the lines are blurring.

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