In the episode, Bill and Nicki travel to Washington D.C., while Barbara conducts a series of seminars on sensitivity training at the casino.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 1.67 million household viewers and gained a 0.8/2 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
Bill hopes to enter Paley's fundraiser, but gets into a conflict with a woman (Sissy Spacek) at the reception, and he made rude remarks to her.
Barbara (Jeanne Tripplehorn) conducts a series of seminars on sensitivity training at the casino, accompanied by Sarah (Amanda Seyfried).
"[4] Alan Sepinwall wrote, "Tonight's Big Love offered up a whole lot of Bill Henrickson at his most smug, stubborn and irritating, and the return of Teeny in the body of a different actress, but it also had some great interaction between Nicki and Cara Lynn, a great turn by Sissy Spacek as an influential Washington type, and some very interesting developments on the Margene front.
"[5] Nick Catucci of Vulture wrote, "Game Change this episode was not, but if Bill's to convincingly make headway in this lopsided match, we suppose the show has to drag us through some of the deadly boring how-your-sausage-gets-made.
"[6] James Poniewozik of TIME wrote, "“Strange Bedfellows,” featuring Bill's trip with Nicki to Washington to seek a Congressman's endorsement, had each of the wives mostly separate, and maybe as a result, it seemed less focused than last season's outstanding road-trip episode “Come Ye Saints.” But it underscored how, for all their conflicts, each member of this plural marriage draws strength from the others.
Characters came together throughout this episode, titled “Strange Bedfellows” — some for the better, and some for the worse, but all of which set forward a nice, exciting momentum for the rest of the season.
"[9] Mark Blankenship of HuffPost wrote, "That balance dovetails with one of Big Love's major themes - trying to see the complexity of a different world.