"Outer Darkness" is the ninth episode of the third season of the American drama television series Big Love.
Barbara is visited by Bishop Devery (Garrett M. Brown) and representative Laurel Davis (Ben Lemon), who inform her they are considered severe repercussions due to her act of polygamy, which she confirms.
At the endowment ceremony, Barbara discovers that Cindy was responsible for informing the church about her acts, and decides to cut all ties to her.
Bill asks Nicki for the divorce, shocking her and causing her to return home to talk with Barbara and Margie.
Club gave the episode an "A" grade and wrote, "Joey, still raw with grief and teeming with anger naturally doesn't take the news of Bill's alliance with Roman very well.
"[3] Emily St. James of Slant Magazine wrote, "“What is it in us, Alby, that makes us the way we are?” Nicki asks early in “Outer Darkness,” Big Love Season Three's penultimate episode.
The whole episode hinges on that question and returns to one of Big Love's favorite themes — the uneasy mix between the purity of religious creed and the imperfection of human beings.
"[4] James Poniewozik of TIME wrote, "Besides the letter itself, the way its discovery has played out (Barb being excommunicated apparently as punishment for it, and the statement “Some things that are true are not very useful”) has not exactly been flattering to the church.