Big Love
Polygamy Loves Company
Created by Mark V. Olsen, Will Scheffer
On HBO
A serialized domestic drama that treats polygamy as a pressure cooker for examining faith, desire, obligation, and the fractures within intimate relationships.
The story of Bill Henrickson and his life in suburban Salt Lake City, balancing the needs of his three wives -- Barb, Nicki and Margene-- their seven kids, three new houses and the opening of his newest hardware store. When disturbing news arrives about Bill's father, he is forced to reconnect with his polygamist parents who live on a fundamentalist compound in rural Utah.
Where to watch
Questions people ask
Is Big Love one of a kind? Yes. More singular than 86% of series.
Is Big Love scary? Yes. More frightening than 79% of series.
Does Big Love leave you hopeful? Not especially. Less hopeful than 73% of series.
Is Big Love sad? Somewhat. More sad than 72% of series.
Is Big Love easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 70% of series.
Is Big Love violent? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
These describe how the series comes across across its whole run, compared with other well-known series. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked episode by episode, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Written about
- The Opposite of HBOFinding
Cinnamon Score
How much this series gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
Familiar shape, done well.
How unlike any other series this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Everything like Big Love, and what each one shares →
Like Big Love
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as Big Love
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like Big Love, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like Big Love, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like Big Love, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
