Big Love: Part of a Great 'Anti-Setting'

By Laurie Sanchez

We know all about the anti-hero. And, as fellow diva Angela Guillaume brilliantly pointed out, he has an incredible lure about him. He’s not the normal hero, thundering through our books and movies with honor and good intentions. He’s split; he’s bent; he’s the rogue with a heart. I love these stories -- I see it as an incredible talent that the writer can make us love the thief, murderer, criminal, or heartbreaker.

But there’s another scenario that I find similarly full of talent. I don’t know what to call it, exactly, but perhaps the “anti-setting”? It’s when the author brings us into a world that’s split, bent and full of broken laws. And we think we cannot accept it, or cannot be glad to be there. And yet there we are, rooting along for the law-breakers.

One recent example is the television show Big Love, which started its fourth season last night.

I couldn’t wait to tune in. I looked forward to seeing how Bill Henrickson (played by Bill Paxton) and wife Barb (played by Jeanne Tripplehorn) would handle the new challenges of their family, which – in this story of modern polygamy – also includes “second wife” Nicki (played by Chloe Savigny) and “third wife” Margene (played by Ginnifer Goodwin).

Much to my joy, this season doesn’t look like it’s going to disappoint. It brings us into this “anti-setting” of modern polygamists – where we know we’re not supposed to approve – and manages to make us approve. We really feel for Bill and his family, and really cheer them on. We know polygamy is against the law. And we can scowl when we hear that an entire television show is based on it. But it’s a wonderful show, filled with true love between these couples, and interesting people who make this decision. It’s filled with all the regular trials of love – jealousy, and tiredness, and watching the kids, and getting along with in-laws – and we find ourselves drawn into this setting that we’re supposed to disdain. It’s an incredible talent of the show's creators, producers and writers – they truly bring us to see another side of life.

I asked my family about other movies and television shows that did this same thing with the “anti-setting.” My son suggested Shawshank Redemption. We root for convicted murderer Andy Dufresne and felon “Red” Redding, although we know we’re not supposed to side with prisoners. The talent of the writers (the original story was written by Stephen King as a novella) draws us into this setting that sounds impossible but shows us another, very human side of life.

My husband then brought up Ocean’s Eleven. Again, we're brought into the world of con-men, and made to root for people who are breaking the law. Like Shawshank, the “bad guys” are made to be worse than the con-men, so it comes together in perfect conflict. This impossible-sounding setting was also originally a novel, written by George Clayton Johnson.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest might have been one of my first introductions to this concept. Again, the original storyline was brought to us by a novelist. And, like the others, it's exceptionally well-done. We’re not used to thinking of nurses being the “bad guys” and the wanna-be-escapees being the “good guys,” but there it is. Ken Kesey wrote the original storyline. And there we are – cheering for the patients to overthrow the nurse.

Can you think of other “anti-settings” you’ve enjoyed? Groups that you’re cheering for who are breaking the law? And what do you think of Big Love?

Laurie Sanchez lives in Southern California with her hubby and three kids and is putting the polishing touches on her first romance novel manuscript. She also blogs as Mizwrite and blogs over at Health Bistro on Fridays. She promises she's a law-abiding citizen.