The Ceremony (f.k.a. A Family Outing)

Season 1, Episode 12, Aired

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9.2
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Superb
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To Roman's surprise, Bill and Joey attend the UEB priesthood council meeting. Alby's visit to Wanda brings out her old habits, which could potentially land Bill in a big trouble. Rhonda uses the acting competition as an excuse to leave the compound but she discovers that her family isn't willing to let her go. Finally, Barb attends the Mother of the Year awards ceremony but not all goes as expected.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (5)

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  • Season Finale.

    7.8
    "Good"
    By thefanof, May 07, 2011
    This was the episode we had all been waiting months for, the explosive conclusion of the first 11 episodes and the buildup toward next year's dozen's worth of TV; and it delivered, with possibly the best hour of Big Love yet. The event saw Barb's polygamy be exposed in front of the state, with one of the most jaw-dropping scenes yet. Hopefully there are plenty more to come.

    More importantly the show built up on the action of the first 12 episodes and made you want to start counting the days toward next season with cliffhangers such as the fate of Alby Grant.moreless

  • the saddest episode ever... is the family destroyed ?

    9.8
    "Superb"
    By anjul79, Mar 18, 2011
    So much happened in this episode !

    Albie's being poisonned ? and by the serial poisonist Wanda ! Did not see that coming !

    Rhonda ? I surely did not like her before but now ? she really is pure evil and a match made in heaven or in hell for Roman...

    Is the family wrecked ? I was so sad for the sister wifes. Barb in tears, Nikki terrified and in the middle Margie maybe not really understanding (even if i want to give her more credit). Sarah and Ben realising that a change is gonna come...

    really good season finale anyway, the actors magnifying the writing !moreless

  • Best episode EVER!! (spoilers)

    10
    "Perfect"
    By jendudley, Mar 18, 2011
    Where do I start? This was an excellent episode.

    The look on Nicki's face when Rhonda asked why Barb was getting the Mother of the Year award..."Why did they pick Barb...Is she more important than you two?" Awwgh! I love it. Nicki already has a complex about being second wife, and now this. If I see Nicki roll her eyes once more....!

    Roman accusing Bill of being relentless? Huh? Pot calling the kettle much?

    Bill cooking breakfast for Margie! That was so cute. Bill has become thoughtful with all that is going on around him! It is a wonder he had time to cook breakfast.

    The scene with Albie in Wanda's kitchen. That was super! Who would have thought she had it in her! Best quote: "Why is Albie sleeping on our couch?" That was hilarious.

    I actually felt bad for Nicki when she walked in on Barb and Margie talking about her dowdy look. I don't like Nicki, but this episode changed my opinion of her a little. She looked great after Margie was done with her, and the little freak out that she had at the end? That was a fantastic portrayal of how kooky the people at the commune are.

    I felt so bad for the Henrickson's at the end of this episode. I thought that the ending was great and the cliffhanger well thought out. Great great episode!!moreless

  • Season 1 Finale

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Canogaparkcindy, Nov 11, 2010
    An explosive finale from Big Love tonight and we got some of the best acting I've ever seen. From Chloe Sevigny freaking out to Barb being completely humiliated in front of the whole state. In the words of Sarah: "We are goners" and yes, yes they are.

    Wendy exposing the family out of all people? That was just perfect buildup for the finale, there really isn't any unnecessary scenes on Big Love or filler episodes or anything. Every episode matters. Did anyone else think Teeny voting Barb as Mother of the Year would amount to anything? Now here we are, episodes later, and that's how the whole family gets exposed. It only makes sense with Barb being pushed in the spotlight. Nikki's transformation was great and it brought us some good development with her character. Just great acting, great writing, and just a great first season to this show.

    I can't wait for season 2, and this was literally a perfect finale, very suitable for this show.moreless

  • I suppose this isn't a review for this episode, as much as for the whole first season.

    8.0
    "Great"
    By colinmoon, Sep 29, 2009
    First off, I have to say: I grew up in a heavily Mormon-powered town; the conversations between Sarah and her friend Heather ("what ward are you in? Are you in young women's?") are familiar enough to me to make me uncomfortable while watching them occur-being a non-churchgoer in a region over-saturated with churches was long a thorn in my side during my youth-as were moments such as Ben and Brynn's uncomfortable struggle towards sexual activity. Likewise, I'm more than familiar with the area the show is set in-after years of roving around, doing construction work in the smallest, creepiest of Western towns, a good majority of Utah is under my belt-at times, I'm sure I've been in exact locations shown in the show. That being said, I never knowingly have known a polygamist. That lifestyle is almost completely foreign to me (oh, I remember compounds being raided-or, at least, people discussing it), which, I suppose, is the main draw of this show-it's a foreign concept to most of the American viewing public. What surprises me, though, is how incredibly in-tune with it the series writers are; like their understanding of the region (subtle mentions of different areas of the Salt Lake Valley, for instance) or of the social constructs found in said region (Pam saying things like "It's against the Church"), they seem to have a pretty good handle on the sub-sub-culture of polygamist sects of the Mormon religion, including the compound lifestyle, and that's what draws me most to the show: these writers have gotten inside a frame of mind and made us view it as insiders, something that is both horribly difficult and incredibly amazing for writers in any medium.

    As for the rest of the cast and crew, I'm not sure I've ever been let down by Chlo Sevigny or Harry Dean Stanton, but I'm not so sold on Bill Paxton yet (I've always had a hard time swallowing him, since Aliens and/or Twister), and most of the rest of the cast (not counting the lovely Jeanne Tripplehorn and Ginnifer Goodwin) is so buried by the vast reaches that you don't really have the ability to ascertain their weight-outside of the Henrickson core children, none of the others really have traits we pick up, and the supporting cast is spotty-again, if they're not Henrickson, they don't seem to carry much dramatic impact. Likewise, while some episodes are directed with sparse beauty, others seem sort of run-on. All of this, of course, comes down to a show making its journey through its first season, and so I look forward to continuing on. All in all, its a success-demanding content, alluring characters, and a season cliff-hanger built to hurt you.moreless
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  • TRIVIA (3)

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    • Nitpick: (highlight for a spoiler) It's been questioned why Bill's secretary Wendy was able to attend the Beehive Mother of the Year ceremony when Nicki and Margene weren't able to get tickets. When Barb realized that there weren't enough tickets for six, it was already too late to get some more, but it's possible that Wendy bought her ticket in advance. However, it seemed as if Wendy did not decide to go until that very day -- at least that's what the episode seemed to suggest as in the scene in the lunchroom with her co-worker.

    • Highlight for a spoiler: When Wanda tries to poison Alby by lacing his drink with anti-freeze, we find out that this isn't the first time she's done such a thing. She was also the one who tried to poison Frank with arsenic at the very beginning of the series.

    • Highlight for a spoiler: The note attached to Alby's foot at the hospital reads: Delbert McCoy Drank Anti-freeze

  • QUOTES (3)

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    • Adaleen: (to Rhonda) The competition is over. Of course I found out. What kind of sister-wife do you take me for? Get in. Your little Roman holiday is over.

    • (Nicki sneaks in on Barb and Margene talking; they don't hear her.) Barb: Has she said anything to you about what she's wearing? Margene: Nuh-uh. Barb: Just try to get her to wear something a little more... I mean, she sticks out like a sore thumb. Margene: Oh... Barb: I don't want to hurt her feelings, but it's like walking into the Governor's mansion with a sign that says "Practicing Polygamist". She'll never listen to it coming from me, she'll think I'm attacking her. I mean, even just offer to do her hair.

    • (Talking about the Mother of the Year event.) Rhonda: Why did they pick Barb? Is she more important than you two? Margene: Uh, no. Rhonda: Well was there something lacking in you two? Nicki: Only one person can be mother of the year. Teenie nominated Barb, so that's how it happened. Here. (She hands Rhonda a sandwich.) Rhonda: What is it? Nicki: Breakfast. To go. (Rhonda turns to walk away, then turns back to Nicki.) Rhonda: You're irritable, Nicki. Try to find time for a nap this afternoon.

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  • ALLUSIONS (1)

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