Big Love - Margene's Secret

Ew.

[@talkaboutwacky]

Chris Hansen walks in “Merry Christmas. Why don’t you have a seat?”

[@charlotted1321]

Ginnifer Goodwin is such an amazing actress omg

[@nathanjones8263]

She's will be in Metroid Prime 4, oh yes

[@otisroseboro5613]

Yes she is

[@FlowerChild65]

I love this scene because it's so tragicomedy. You've got Marg revealing this secret all while Bing Crosby plays in the background and then Nikki with her dry one liner. Just perfect.

[@jokerswild4577]

"Congratulations Margene...you just ruined Christmas." LOL Leave it to Nikki to rub it in.

[@angels.1778]

That's my favorite line! And did!

[@msswagg555]

Lol

[@annemarquess8386]

I agree with you. I never remembered her age but remembered her saying she was 25 years younger than him. I have met women who sought marriage for the same reason, not in polygamy or with older men but women who married to escape bad situations. Regardless of polygamy, I think it still happens alot, older men with women old enough to be their fathers. When she came out with her age her naiveness made more sense. The Ben part made more sense.

[@LissaLori]

I actually did the math though, and Ginnifer Goodwin is actually 23 years younger than Bill Paxton. Him and Chloe (she plays Nikki) are 19 years apart, and his only 8 years older than Jeanne Tripplehorn.

[@StillJustDreaming]

I would have thought at least Nikki would stand by Margene. This couldn't have been that unusual an occurrence where Nikki was from.

[@annemarquess8386]

I kinda figured it would be something along those lines, it makes a good twist because I always thought she looked too young to begin with. I think they were probably trying to highlight the fact that underage marriage is something that happens often. Or the marriage of wives at the age of 18. Margene was always my favorite tho

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

The actress was like 24 or something.

[@sshaw32096]

I think the whole issue is that if she was under the age of consent when they "married" or whatever the term is in this case, she couldn't legally consent to any sexual relationship making it essentially rape even if she said it was okay.

[@geoffingoff]

Exactly. It would have been okay if they were legally married, but they couldn't get legally married because you're only allowed one legal marriage (Bill to Barb). So even though they were spiritually married, to the state their sex was statutory rape.

[@ronniebishop2496]

sshaw32096 No her mother agreed to the marriage making it legal or in normal cases. They're all not legal anyway.

[@dania2369]

sshaw32096 that is a stupid Law , 16 or 18 what's the diffrent .

[@ronniebishop2496]

lockstam Did you know a girl can get married at 16 with a consent of one parent. That’s why I was confused, Margie was 16? So it’s crazy. But because polygamy is illegal anyway I guess.

[@ronniebishop2496]

lockstam Ok but if it’s illegal anyway why was Bill so upset about it, that’s another confusing thing.

[@hannahferolie-ragin8347]

Ugh this was such a good show! One of my favorites!

[@WondrousEarth]

Was wondering about this and did a Google search, if Margene had parental consent, she could have married at 16. 'You must be at least 16 years old to be married in Utah. If you are 18 or older, you do not need consent of a parent or guardian to get married. If you are 16 or 17, you need signed consent from a parent or guardian, which must be given in-person to the county clerk before a marriage license will be issued.Jun 2, 2022'

[@nicolina1026]

Exactly which is why Rhonda calls her position with Roman a "pre marital placement so we can get around the law until I'm 16". Which implied parental consent which ofc would be given on the compound. It honestly sounds like Margenes mom would have given her consent (since she was willing to lie) but I don't think Bill would have gone for it and DEFINITELY not the wives.

[@Justice-ef9sk]

I've never seen this before so I've actually been binge watching it the past few days. And honestly, in my opinion Bill is BO different than any of those men on the compound! Think about it, OK Bill was ready to throw Nikki out when he found out about her spying for Roman at the Da's office, yet when HE needed her to do the VERY SAME THING, then it was okay for her to spy? (Lol, can we say HYPOCRISY, Bill?) Oh, And how about when he was putting the Weber gaming deal together? He wanted MARGENE to be his "sidekick wife" for that, and even wanted her to wear that "short little skirt.." to appeal to his business counterparts. And let's not forget everybody....Ole Bill had sexual relations with both Marge AND Ana before he married them. BEFORE. So I'm sorry but Bill Hendrickson is not such a good guy. He's a hypocrite. He uses his wives whenever it benefits him. So as I said, in my opinion he is no different than those Juniper Creek men.

[@elisyaomorose957]

He should've considered her too young when he thought she was 18, this wouldn't have happened then.

[@hannahlang6316]

For real, an 18 year old married to a 40 something year old man, and a step mom to 16/17 year old children? He was still wrong for that.

[@tam9856]

Exactly! I love it when Bill’s friend finally called him out about his relationship with Margie. He married her out of lust.. he was in his forties and she was a teenager when they met. She was young, attractive and that’s what drove him to “marry” her. She didn’t even belong to the same faith, as Bill’s friend said… he was just horny for a young woman.

[@secretunknown253]

@@hannahlang6316 she was the one that agreed to it. She wanted to marry a 40 year old..

[@nicolina1026]

@@hannahlang6316 Ben and Sarah were 12 and 13 at the time but I get what you're saying. Still too close.

[@whatever96]

​@secretunknown253 She's a teenager. At 18 or 16 still a teen who is still learning about the world around them. Teenagers don't know any better. 40 years old men have been through life long enough to know what's right and what's wrong.

[@robrick9361]

I'm Chris Hansen, why don't you have a seat over here.

[@GoddessAntares]

I've just started season 4, I have GOT to stop watching these little snippets.

[@godonlyknowssarah]

To clear up some ages. In season 1, Sarah was 16, Ben was 15 and Aaron (Margene's older son - the blond one) was 18 months old. In 1x10 The Baptism, Margene told Sarah she was 23 (which meant she was probably 21 and still 5 years older than Sarah). In 3x10 Sacrament, Sarah said that Margene was 25 years older than Bill.

[@Mike25z]

i love how it’s a big deal that they care about her age but not about the polygamous situation they are in

[@brigittemr3005]

This show tried to glorify polygamy and I think the show runners at that time had no idea that they were basically glorifying the entire situation but yeah at the end of the day interesting show but what garbage

[@brigittemr3005]

@@KirstenFaithy I have lol

[@patrick4662]

@@brigittemr3005 most people who have watched and wrote about it say the exact opposite, including the show runners themselves.

[@pietroserra4106]

@@brigittemr3005 i am not poligamous and not planning to, but what Is the issue with adult CONSENTING people wanting to live in a poligamous relationship?

[@AlyssaJaydeR]

They thought they were doing it right, they were set apart from the compounds, no child brides, no abuse, no welfare fraud. This scene was meant to show the devastation upon realizing they unknowingly had a child bride.

[@FlowerChild65]

I think also to show that sometimes it's more complicated than a predatory man preying on a young girl. In Margene's case, she actively sought marriage as a way to escape her life. I'm sure that happens to a lot of people. It also throws her liaison with Ben into a more complicated light. Is it less taboo when she is closer to his age (and mentally more like him)?

[@FlowerChild65]

I remember watching a clip of the two men who created the show on one of those HBO inside the episode clips, and they said that someone literally just said it one day in the writer's room and they ran with it. No planning or thought at all.

[@janesmith5912]

Bit distorting. In practice men in that culture force girls to marry young so it's pretty misleading in the series to portray it as female choice.

[@danielanon6265]

And let's ignore the fact that plenty of women lie about their age to be with older men.

[@notthefather3919]

Jane Smith bit distorting? Did you ever watch the show? Bill Hendrickson was different. He intially didn't want to practice polygamy, as he saw the horrors of it and was forced off the compound as a teenager. Only when his first wife got sick and couldn't have anymlre children did he decide to take on a new wife. Just because what you see in the media is Sex slavery, doesn't mean that everyone who practices polygamy does it the same way. And its a fictional show, of course it's not going to be based on your reality

[@MaAniFantasy]

Ginnifer Goodwin!!! Heartbreaking to see her cry ;(

[@patrick4662]

then this must have been a hard show for you to watch lol bc it happened a lot. She is a good actress.

[@otisroseboro5613]

Yes it is

[@dontsleepread]

I knew something was up with her age! I knew it!

[@karmagrl76]

In some states, it's legal to get married before the age of consent if a parent or judge signs off on it. Hell, in some states, 16 is the legal age of consent.

[@ronniebishop2496]

karmagrl76 But not to three wives! So what's the beef?

[@geoffingoff]

The issue is the sex they were having because their marriage wasn't a legal one (Bill can only be legally married to one wife, Barb).

[@taxedpayer354]

So much for heaven for You two.....but hey, it was fun here on earth....

[@godonlyknowssarah]

Time is odd though. Season 1 was set in 2005 and this season is set in 2011 though the adults, Sarah, Ben have only aged a couple of years. Nell & Joey Jr just don't age & Wayne and Teenie have aged at least 5. In season 1, Barb had a list of all the family's birthdays and social security numbers but they just used the actors' birthdays and called Sarah "Amanda" so I wouldn't pay any attention to that.

[@ronniebishop2496]

But they're all illegal anyway! What's the difference? Hahahaha

[@maddyk94]

because one was a child

[@ronniebishop2496]

n nn Not in Utah!

[@maddyk94]

​@@ronniebishop2496 might want to check your facts on that one, age of consent in utah is 18. and to be honest i don't care what any backwards state in america says, 16 is a child.

[@ronniebishop2496]

n nn But they were married technically but illegally married lol 😂 unbelievable

[@secretunknown253]

@@maddyk94 your mom would disagree

[@shipmate3577]

My wife and I loved this show. So many ups and downs. I was always hoping Bill would take over the polygamous sect, but I knew that would never happen.

[@am-p2359]

the side eye from Nikki is awesome lol

[@annemarquess8386]

I always thought there was something with her age but why didn't they run social security numbers ect. if he worked for him? It was a good twist but never made sense

[@nathanjones8263]

Yes, Ginnifer Goodwin in Metroid Prime 4, I guess it

[@godonlyknowssarah]

Big Love time line: Season 1 - Sarah's junior year of high school Season 2 - Summer vacation (Sarah and Ben turn 17 & 16 respectively) Season 3 - Sarah's senior year of high school (Sarah turns 18 near start of season) Season 4 - Fall of what would have been Sarah's freshman year at college Season 5 - Winter of the same year

[@PrincessKLS]

I'm still on season 2, is this what I'm really looking forward to?

[@jkvelasquez84]

What difference does it make now?

[@Justice-ef9sk]

It doesn't. And it wouldn't. The last couple of seasons of Big Love were poorly written, in my opinion.

[@Mike25z]

Lol they are practicing polygamy yet her being 16 causes a stir? Priorities.

[@dania2369]

Mike25z what's your problème with pollygamy if they are all ok with it .

[@humournoir7316]

The problem was that if he married her and he had sex with her before 18 (and he did, they had a child), he would go to jail and it would break the so called ‘happy family’ bc the wifes were not allowed to work, and he was some sort of well known business mogul in town.

[@denisenoe3702]

This fictional scene points up a reality that is very troubling. Even if a person who is underaged LIES about that age, the adult who engages in sex can be prosecuted for statutory rape. Thus, Margene put Bill in danger of going to prison. In real life, polygenist Tom Green "married" Linda when she was only 13 years old. A prosecutor figured out from the birthdate of her first child that she was not of the age of consent when conception occurred. Now, it must be said that, unlike this fictional case, Tom Green knew her true age when he impregnated her. However, there are cases when the adult did not know -- and was prosecuted.

[@otisroseboro5613]

Love this beautiful gorgeous woman

[@damonroberts7372]

Gotta love religious doublethink... they're all joined in a _polygamous_ union, but they're freaked out by a couple of years' difference.

[@Justice-ef9sk]

The entire Mormon religion is a contradiction in itself. They bend their own laws and rules when it suits them.

[@KiwiCatherineJemma]

Polygamous unions are perfectly acceptable across many countries of the world. It is the USA which has a real Bee-in-their-bonnet, about such things. Almost all the Islamic countries allow one man to have 4 wives. The Yemeni branch of Judaism allows unlimited wives (includingthose now living in the USA, so long as the marriages were performed earlier in Yemen). The problem in Utah, as I think is depicted in the TV show, is that the age of consent for sexual relations is 18 years old. Now in Utah it is possible to get legally married at 16 or 17 with permission from a parent, or certain state officials such as a judge etc. When 2 people are legally married they have an inherent right to engage in sexual relations, even if they are below the otherwise, age of sexual consent. In the TV show, "Bill" is legally married only to "Barb", So any marriage ceremony he went through with "Margene" was only a religious or cultural ceremony. (Not valid as a "marriage" under Utah State law). This puts Bill in jeopardy of being arrested and charged at any time with (whatever the state of Utah calls) "Carnal Knowledge" or "Statutory Rape" or "Child Molestation". So risking huge long prison sentence for Bill. Many jurisdictions used to have a 7 year "statue of limitations" so if Bill stays unprosecuted by authorities until Margene reaches the genuine age of 25, he would be exempt from future prosecution for those past offences. However in many jurisdictions, Statute of Limitations laws have been changed recently to allow government prosecutors to prosecute cases from even 50 or 100 years ago. (I guess they thought there were votes to be won in such law changes ?)

[@ELIZABETHhunter-v3w]

I'm only recently watching this series. I tried when it came out, but I couldn't get into it. Now that Sister Wives has explain so much of polygamy and their relationships, I can watch it now and understand what is going on. RIP Bill Paxton.

[@Justice-ef9sk]

The entire Mormon religion is a contradiction in itself. You have the LDS and the FLDS. They split into 2 sects back in 1890 when finally polygamy was outlawed. Now here’s the kicker: both groups agree that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and founded the religion. Yet according to Smith, polygamy was the only way to enter the… As I roll my eyes… “Celestial kingdom.” Lol…… and there it is. Basically, it’s the weirdos in the prairie garb marrying men old enough to be their grandfathers that are actually following Joseph Smith’s edict.

[@bohemianjenn84]

What season and episode?

[@rodolfomonroy2746]

en la actualidad sera que son polígamos todavía o ya no

[@francescabohn4485]

Technically she could legally marry him if she had parental consent so....

[@geoffingoff]

Except they were never legally married because Bill is only legally married to Barbara. So even though he would have been legally having sex with his wife if he had been allowed to legally marry her, they were not married and therefore to the state Bill is guilty of statutory rape.

[@ronniebishop2496]

Geoff S Then why the huff?

[@geoffingoff]

@@ronniebishop2496 I'm not sure what you're asking me.

[@ronniebishop2496]

Geoff S Why are they so upset with her ? Her mother signed for her and they're all I Illegal anyway.

[@geoffingoff]

@@ronniebishop2496 The problem is that, *because* the marriage is illegal, Bill is now guilty of statutory rape because he slept with a minor he wasn't legally married to. He could go to prison for a long time if people find out Margene was 16 at the time of their non-legal "marriage" due to them having sex back then. This is also during a time when Bill becomes a publically polygamist Senator. Polygamy was only a misdemeanor meaning he could continue being a Senator after coming out as a polygamist. But now that people could find out he is guilty of statutory rape, which is a felony, it could end his political career vying for the rights of polygamists. It also just makes polygamists look really bad in general if people find out the first publicly polygamist Senator of Utah had an underage wife.

[@Vallee92982]

Season 5, but what episode is this from please?

[@Vallee92982]

Just wait until the very last episode of the series...jeez

[@74HiD]

What season was this?

[@herbertdrinkdas]

from what episode come this scene..???

[@onlyyenna]

@dontsleepread Why? What gave it away? :)

[@redragonfly3040]

Years ago there was a real life investigative show,along the lines of do you know who your relatives are?.She was in one episode and started crying because she found out her real life great grandmother was an opium addict 20's or 30's and went to prison for it,In those days there was no relief from pain like surgery.So to be fair who knows what she endured.As I remember the whole family was deeply ashamed and pretty much pretended she never existed

[@DarrellSmith-l3c]

Margen is cool just have to grow into the family rule set ❤

[@ShaneBales]

Oh no!! His third slave wife was only 16? This is unacceptable.

[@thegreatonecometh200]

in what way is she a slave ???

[@gabrielacanette5485]

@@thegreatonecometh200 literally a baby factory

[@miabowitz804]

Why da heck would u get married at age 16?

[@mareekettle2548]

mia bowitz because I loved my husband and now almost 48 years later I love him even more would do it again in a heartbeat

[@reb9995]

@@mareekettle2548 eww

[@stepcollazo8134]

I love maragine she’s my favorite actress

[@dontsleepread]

@Chey456 Her thing with Ben, the fact that in the earlier seasons she was kind of immature, stuff like that.

[@DSkehan2004]

wow that was horrible what nikki said

[@angels.1778]

But true.

[@crackedbuddha]

hahaha. Thank you for the video response!

[@satinboutique5776]

This is Robin brown from sisterwives the fake crying.

[@WondrousEarth]

The way Bill and his other two wives reacted, you would have thought Margene committed a felony (see my last comment), she was just wanting to be accepted and loved by the others in her family ... ironic that this show, brilliantly done, is a show about polygamous marriage so the age thing, not that big a deal

[@HALOHectics]

What are you talking about? Her being 16 would make this statutory rape, which is a far cry from just a "poly relationship."

[@Nirrini]

It’s deceitful, no matter how you look at it.

[@KiwiCatherineJemma]

Polygamous unions are perfectly acceptable across many countries of the world. It is the USA which has a real Bee-in-their-bonnet, about such things. Almost all the Islamic countries allow one man to have 4 wives. The Yemeni branch of Judaism allows unlimited wives (includingthose now living in the USA, so long as the marriages were performed earlier in Yemen). The problem in Utah, as I think is depicted in the TV show, is that the age of consent for sexual relations is 18 years old. Now in Utah it is possible to get legally married at 16 or 17 with permission from a parent, or certain state officials such as a judge etc. When 2 people are legally married they have an inherent right to engage in sexual relations, even if they are below the otherwise, age of sexual consent. In the TV show, "Bill" is legally married only to "Barb", So any marriage ceremony he went through with "Margene" was only a religious or cultural ceremony. (Not valid as a "marriage" under Utah State law). This puts Bill in jeopardy of being arrested and charged at any time with (whatever the state of Utah calls) "Carnal Knowledge" or "Statutory Rape" or "Child Molestation". So risking huge long prison sentence for Bill. Many jurisdictions used to have a 7 year "statue of limitations" so if Bill stays unprosecuted by authorities until Margene reaches the genuine age of 25, he would be exempt from future prosecution for those past offences. However in many jurisdictions, Statute of Limitations laws have been changed recently to allow government prosecutors to prosecute cases from even 50 or 100 years ago. (I guess they thought there were votes to be won in such law changes ?)

[@WondrousEarth]

@@KiwiCatherineJemma Thank you for your insightful comment and how Utah laws could have put Bill into real jeopardy. The idea of extending these laws out to 50 or even 100 years is insane. Bill Paxton in an interview was asked how felt to have three wives, he said he felt like 'a fireman', having to go to dealing with one drama or crisis after another.

[@KiwiCatherineJemma]

@@WondrousEarth Years ago I was living in the State of Western Australia, when I remember seeing the TV news how in the State of South Australia, the statute of limitations had just been done away with, by a change to state laws. The State Premier (US equivalent to state Governor) was crowing like a proud rooster about how he was proud they could now take cases to trial "even if they're from 50 years ago". While there might be rare cases where, decades later, a murdered body can be found, with bloodstained knife and DNA etc, more often that not, the cases going to trial after decades, have no actual hard evidence, they are just "he said, she said" type cases. Previously in cases related to under age children, there was 7 years, from the date they turned 18, to file charges. I know they've closed down some local police stations lately, but it seems to me, that 7 years is plenty of time to find a police station and complain !

[@godonlyknowssarah]

@74HiD Season 5.

[@chasegordon7429]

16 is age of consent in WV lol

[@andreadetata4801]

Oh yikes.....oh Margie......

[@xxo8888]

Nikki is such an unlikable character.

[@queenbee9874]

The whole Cara Lynn story line was stupid as shit. She was like 16 and they’re worried about adopting her? That was just written to free barb from that crazy situation and give it to crazy as a loon Nikki her and bill deserved each other

[@meryseconde283]

OK. Gross. Looks like she actually is his daughter and the blond is the sister. Didn't watch the show yet. Looks creepy as fuck. Hard to watch? Since it is co-prod by Hanks, I'm curious.

[@bshaun2]

Gotta laugh at the "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" song playing in the background

[@Justice-ef9sk]

Gawwwwd... I really cannot stand Marge!

[@thesoundofthesuburbs]

My grandmother was married at 16, and it is legal with a parent's permission.

[@geoffingoff]

Unfortunately in the show, due to polygamy laws Bill and Margene were never legally married. So their relationship was illegal due to the issue of the age of consent.

[@sidneyklosteren6581]

GULTY!!!

[@derickjohnson4208]

Pretty weird

[@herrgolf]

Oh for the love of God, Not On Christmas!!!

[@JB0523]

She was a ticking time bomb for all these years

[@ShanteeHaynes]

Margene got on my nerves, I always liked Nikki

[@LibertarianUSA1982]

Polygamy makes sense in some ways others not. If the people participating vin it go in it willingly and as adults who am I to say no. Also they shouldn't be allowed to live off government assistance is welfare etc. Raising lots of kids would be expensive. No welfare for you.

[@AnahataMaryjane]

can't her mom sign something saying it was okay? like courtney stodden?

[@geoffingoff]

No, because the marriage was never a legal one in the first place, only spiritual (due to laws outlawing polygamy). So there was no legal way for Margene to have been able to consent to the sex they were having, even if it would have been okay if they got legally married.

[@StillJustDreaming]

@@geoffingoff Weren't they married in a religious ceremony though? Would that count at all in terms of any legal repercussions?

[@geoffingoff]

@@StillJustDreaming As I understand it, no, even if there's a religious ceremony involved, that doesn't make it an actual legal marriage. It's also an unregistered marriage of course, after all.

[@errolpletcher9186]

​@StillJustDreaming State/Federal marriage laws trump religious ones. Otherwise, we'd be living in a theocracy.