Thursday, June 28, 2012

Review: Sister Wives Tell All


The interview with Natalie Morales was TOUGH...
— Robyn Sullivan Brown (@LuvgvsUwngs) June 25, 2012

For once, I have to agree with Robyn. Natalie Morales was tough... that's her job. This is the difference between being interviewed by a Rosie O'donnell or Ellen Degeneres. Kody Brown and his Sister Wives got schooled by a seasoned network news anchor and correspondent, not an entertainment interviewer. Yes, Robyn, she was tough...and very very effective in weeding out the truth from all the hype in the Sister Wife saga.

This wasn't the Brown's first time at the Natalie Morales rodeo. Last year's hour interview was like all the other interviews the Browns have. The host patiently listens to the girlish giggling while asking softball interview questions. Kody holds court, while his sister wives (either Janelle or Robyn) interrupt and answer the question for him when he gets stuck.

This year, Morales went back to her news correspondent roots. This was clearly a book tour interview, so she was prepared with a copy of the Brown's book, along with her notes. She put her guests at ease, laughing with them, and then she honed in on her target. With each question, she skillfully probed the Browns towards the truth, then BOOM! She asked a question that left Christine audibly gasping, and Kody visibly shaken. Yep, the Browns got schooled all right.

One of my favorite segments of the interview was at the beginning, when the nice Natalie Morales, morphs into the news journalist Natalie Morales. And the Browns are left stunned.

 Holding the Brown's book in her hands, she started talking about one of the book's revelations that Kody chased girls. "in high school?" he asked, obviously enjoying the moment. Morales continued her questioning with "I guess you had a lot of girlfriends..." The wives were smiling and laughing and Kody tried to act all innocent asking "In high school?" and while his wives continue to laugh and giggle, he jokingly asked "Do I have to be accountable for that now?

And then Morales started reeling him in..."did you choose the faith based on the lifestyle that it would allow you then?" Kody, still not realizing what's happening, continued speaking jovially while Janelle turned her head towards him with a worried look on her face, "...no, in my head it was more of a calling. I was 14, I had a foot in trying to be a wild boy and a spiritual boy so I was trying to figure out my own life, but I believed it."

Without warning, Morales asked her shock and awe question: "So it wasn't that you chose religion to be a womanizer..." There was an audible gasp of indignation from Christine. You could almost see the hairs bristling up on Kody's neck as he defensively asked " is that what you think, I am is a womanizer? " The smile was gone off Kody's face; Janelle was now looking down towards the floor.

 "Well an outsider may say you're fulfilling a need by taking on a new wife each time" Morales said, while staring right at Kody."Well, I will strongly disagree with that outsider's point of view and I'll explain to you why!" Kody yelled defensively. Now Christine tried to enter the fray by interrupting that she disagreed too, but Morales continued staring straight at Kody, ignoring her. Kody was clearly upset as he sputtered out "because I have done the emotional work in these relationships...I've been trying very hard to be a good husband. all of this happened very serendipitously...I was never dating... all of my wives I chose as a mate because of the depth of their character and my belief they would be a fine individual to share life with...I was never womanizing...this is not an open marriage."

Morales got him. Shock and awe. The Browns are stunned and on their guard. Meri puts on her dour face. Janelle looks down. And Robyn finally shuts her mouth.

The next interview question probed the relationship between Kody, Meri, and the 18 year old girl they chose to be Kody's 2nd wife.

When Morales asked "...Kody and Meri you guys were both courting, or fell in love with an eighteen year old. Is that right to say you both fell in love with..." Kody abruptly interrupts Morales to say "I was 22, 23...I mean it wasn't ...I don't want to get salacious here..." Then Robyn inexplicably interrupts saying " she was close to their age".

It makes you wonder, if the girl was 18, why all the sputtering from Kody saying how he didn't want to get salacious. Well, I read the book. And I can tell you that they started dating this girl when she was underaged. It was, in fact, Christine that drove the girl to a youth camp where she first met Kody and Meri. (page 54) And according to Christine, Meri and Kody's courtship with this girl had been prolonged because "...Kody and Meri wanted to wait for the girl they were courting to turn eighteen before making their engagement official...I heard when they got engaged and I knew when they set the date for the wedding." (page 56).

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize Kody and Meri were "courting" an underaged girl that was 17 if not younger -- if they had to wait until she was 18 to announce their engagement. And that explains Robyn's need to clarify the issue that Kody and Meri were close in age to the girl, when Kody started stumbling over his words. As Meri goes on to answer Morales' questions about her relationship with this girl, you can see Christine reliving the episode, but not saying one word about it.

When Morales questioned Meri and Janelle about their somewhat rocky sister wife relationship, it was Kody who defended Meri. In fact, Kody defended Meri a lot, and spoke for her so much that after Kody gave a long explanation of why there was a conflict between Janelle and Meri, Morales effectively shut him up by putting out her left arm, touching the chair next to Meri and while looking at her said "Let me hear what Meri has to say..." Kody was silenced and Meri was finally free to answer the question on her own.

It was the Christine segment that Kody effectively put his foot in his mouth and showed his most cruel, heartless, unsympathetic, and yes, stupid side to his questionable personality.

Morales brought up the chile nacho cheese incident. Now, it appeared that Christine, bless her heart, took it in stride and even joked about it. But Kody took the incident to a new level of cruelty against Christine. When Morales asked Kody if size mattered so much to him that he was grossed out by a chubby girl eating chile cheese nachos, Kody replied "I will be honest I was not attracted to Christine in...any kind of physical sense. I mean I look back and in retrospect and wonder was that fair. But I can't even look there because we have children together...we have a relationship and we found our sweet spot..."

You would hope that he would stop there. Not Kody Brown. When Morales asked "So you were not physically attracted to Christine..." Kody barged forward and answered quickly and completely devoid of any sensitivity "That's an understatement." You could see the color drain from Christine's face. Her fake smile gone, her eyes narrowed almost to slits. "You were grossed out by her?" Morales asked. "I won't say that...but the nachos grossed me out enough to make me go OK, I'm waiting to marry her..."

Without missing a beat, Morales turns to Christine and asked her "How does it feel to hear him..." and Christine interrupted her, obviously upset, shrugged her shoulders and said "It hurts, it's horrible...I didn't know that until recently." Kody then tried to justify his cruelty by saying "I'm just being honest" but not even Meri could defend her 'lover'. "I think sometimes in a relationships you have to be careful when to be honest and how honest to be." When Morales asked her if Kody just blew it by being too honest, all Meri said was "I'm just saying...I think we all say things sometimes. Trying to be honest and trying to be open and sometimes I think we go a little bit too far." Robyn looked like she was about to throw up. Kody looked like he had no clue what he had just done.

And to prove how absolutely stupid Kody was, in his one on one interview, Morales gave him a chance to apologize for the insensitive things he had said about Christine. "Do you regret saying what you said earlier to us today?...Did she call you out on it after that interview?" she asked. "...that whole nacho cheese thing ...that was years before Christine and I got married." he said. "But it still hurt her, hearing you say that...she seemed to shut down right when you said that... in fact all the other women were like oh no!" Kody, apparently realizing Natalie Morales was not taken in by his boyish charms, laughed, then dropped the smile and said " Well...I'm not sitting here rehearsing a line...er...stating a line that I've rehearsed. You asked me a question, I stated kind of where I was at the time."

Sorry Christine. No apology for you. And when Christine later admits that when they were married, she was more in love with Kody than Kody was with her, and that she has problems with trust, well, you have to feel for her. She has hitched her cart for all time and eternity to a man who refused to apologize for hurting her feelings. And she doesn't trust her sister wives Something just isn't right about that.

Thankfully, the interview segues to the eldest teenagers. Sitting on the floor, Morales holds an open discussion, talking about sex, Logan's girlfriends, and dating. What the kids hate about the lifestyle is that everything is times 5. If one parent is mad, there are 4 other parents mad at them. Of course, Mariah sees the positives in her parent's relationships, while the others see how the wives can be passive-aggressive in their relationships. And when asked about how strong his faith is, Logan admits it's not as strong as it used to be. "When you don't have a community, then only your parents are doing it...They want us to have some sort of faith, some sort of connection. But most of us are kinda probably gonna find...go our own way." Only Mariah has made up her mind to have a plural marriage. Maddie just wants to get out of high school, and feels her husband will have a lot with just her so no plural marriage for her. Final talley: 1 for polygamy, 2 against polygamy, 2 undecided or no comment.

Looks like that move to Las Vegas was a mistake. And Kody, your weekly church services aren't doing much to help your children find their faith. No wonder Janelle wanted Logan to connect with the LDS church!

The interview moved on to Robyn, who looked like she was about to be eaten alive by sharks. She discussed her She-Ra alter personality, and her reluctance to join the family until she saw Kody cleaning one of his child's feet. As expected, she turns on the tears. I suspect She-Ra didn't make the interview, so Robyn had to revert to crying to make that mean old interviewer take pity on her and not ask any really mean questions.

And last but not least, my final favorite point of the interview. It occured when Morales was discussing Kody and Meri seeing a marriage counselor. As to be expected, Kody showed that he had a screw loose when he says " Here's the interesting thing. The time gets fuzzy, but Meri and I were literally at a point of a all time high right before we met Robyn..."

The look on Meri's face was priceless. "When you say we were at an all time high, we weren't...I mean we were low...we were having struggles in our relationship." corrects Meri. And then he says he and all the sister wives have been in counselling together. This time it was Christine who corrects him - "No we haven't all gone together." Then Kody tries to say that the couch interviews they do for the show is their counseling sessions. Looks like that gray stuff inside of Kody's skull is also a bit fuzzy.

And once again, Meri throws sister wives Janelle and Christine under the bus when she says the reason she is so close to Robyn is because she and Robyn want to have that "depth of a relationship" with each other. And as for a 5th sister wife, Robyn conceded that when she married Kody it was with the understanding that a 5th wife was a possibility, and Kody, showing more tact with Robyn than he did with Christine, said he's just trying to focus on his relationship with his 4 wives right now.

Thus ended the Browns' second turn at the rodeo with Natalie Morales. Something tells me there will not be a third time.











199 comments:

  1. CJ, awesome review! You're so incredibly insightful to be able to see through them and read between the lines well enough to outline it and put it into words for us SWB loyal fans and readers! Where can I watch this interview?!

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    1. Hi FeministBarbie!

      Thank you for enjoying the review. I normally use either itunes or amazon.com and for some reason this episode still has not shown up.

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    2. still not on Xfinity/Comcast OnDemand as of last night, either.

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    3. I have a problem with you Cynical Jinx...you are way too insightful and entertaining. You and many of your fellow commentators are addictive and I spend way too much time reading this blog. When this inane show is cancelled please find another show to blog about!
      Thanks

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  2. Awesome!!! I love all of your reviews! I've never posted before, so I hope I did it right :-)

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  3. And to think I used to kind of like this group of phonies! Somehow the kids tuned out normal thanks to jenelle. Kody reminds me of a long haired weasel or some kind of chubby troll doll...who is he to talk about gross??? No wonder Robyn has the hots for poor Logan, Chode boy kody is nasty!!!!!

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  4. Kody is such a jerk and the women hate each other. Bah.
    I would like to see the interview and don't have cable/satellite. Where can I find this online?

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  5. Excellent review!
    First thing, you could cut the tension with a knife in that roof!
    Ok, let me get this straight...Meri and Kodouche were a courtin' an underage child and were IN LOOOOVE? But things fell through? okay. Now, why was LOOOOVE not a requirement for Janelle to become Meri's sista-wife? If anything, they hated each other's guts! And come on! Janelle 'can't recall' what that last fight was about? The "final" straw?? I say Bull*hit!

    There is a hierarchy in the polygamist family, Man is head of the house, master of his wives and children(also his future planet out in koo-koo land) nobody comes before him. The FIRST wife is second in command, the alfa female, then the others follow down the line. Meri throws her weight around (pun intended) because it's her "god" given right to do so, her religion commands her!
    And why oh WHY would you not read the book before the interview?

    The comment at the end, about them being just as dysfuntional as monogamous families was a real slap in the face! Emotional and financial abuse is wrong PERIOD. He is a narcissitic abuser who has no filter, no empathy, cannot find fault in himself, has to be the centre of the universe in every setting and doesn't care who he hurst along the way! He was just being "honest"? Would love to see if one of them had been "honest" about him on national tv? The women seem to slip up a bit from time to time, but immediately go on damage control, or in other words, take the blame for his behaviour. Classic narcissist/enabler relationship.

    LOVE THE COMMENTS HERE! You guys manage to take my thoughts and put them to clear and concise words!

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    1. Kody has the nerve to say Christine is unattractive. Methinks he should take a look at that "butt sweat" episode of his. Now that's what I call unattractive!!!

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    2. I don't think love was as big of a priority with Janelle because Meri and Kody needed her paycheck. They brought her on to support them. Meri's treatment of Janelle makes me angry. When Janelle moved in, Meri acted like she and Kody were still monogamous, but let Janelle take care of the bills.

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    3. Remember the comment from Janelle where she said, " when Kody and I married Meri was around a lot, like I mean all the time". Not exact but close enough.
      Great review !!
      I thought Kody had a " special relationship " with each wife. How does that happen when Meri was along for the ride. I agree they Married Janelle so Kody could have children and a wife that actually WORKED. I think that escape of Janelle's years ago is starting to look good again.
      Christine get out PLEASE. If your family is " blue blood " have them kick Kody's sweaty sorry ass. Robyn u have jumped from the frying pan into the fire.

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    4. A few posts back, someone mentioned they thought maybe the underage girl was one of Meri's sisters. I wonder about that, too, as Meri looked so forlorn and so sad when she and Kody were talking about her with Natalie. I wonder if it was the sister who later died and that also helps explain why Meri was still deeply sad about the whole thing. I mean, seriously, this courtship that fell apart happened more than 20 years ago and the passion and emotion coming from Meri in that interview felt very fresh. Like her life would have been totally different and so much better if the second sister wife was her actual sister and the motley crew the family turned out to be. Regardless of whomever this mystery woman was, I think she naturally hated Janelle from the get-go because Janelle was not this woman. (too many pronouns to keep track of, sorry!!!)

      I can totally see why they didn't offer much explanation about it in the book because that would have been too "gross/salacious" for the general public (Kody marrying 2 sisters) and it's also very convenient for them to talk about it in the book because if the girl in question truly was Meri's sister that passed away there will be no stories/truth coming from her side. Makes ya wonder...then again, very little about this family surprises you anymore, eh?!

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    5. Now that is salacious! Seriously! Wonder if that is the case...in the book they didn't really say much about 'the girl' to reveal her indentity in any way. And they are all very guarded about this 'girl that got away' (hogwash that they ended it). You know the Dargers have two real sisters in their family so it's not unusual in the polygamist world at all. But that would be 'too creepy' for the average American viewer so maybe this is their big secret? Meri does seem a little too weepy about it all these years later. This theory makes sense to me.

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    6. wow 2cents. that could be a very valid theory! can someone dig up how old meri's sister was to see if the ages match up?

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    7. I have been trying but can't find anything. We need the general age difference between Meri and her deceased sister! I think we might be on to something?

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    8. Well now, this is something to seriously investigate! The family may not be the best of communicators, but if they had courted Meri's sister, I am certain that they were all told that the must not ever speak of that for fear that it would completely turn people off and think they were like Warren Jeffs, since he is one of those sister-marriers. (Either by TLC/Production Company or Dictator Kody himself) The timeline fits, the age difference fits and this would be why Meri is still crying over the loss of her potential best sister wife ever. Everyone keeps interpreting her 'love' as like a crush but maybe she is saying it as in 'my real sister' type of love. I need to go back and re-read the book (sheesh this will be my third time!) and see if I can find more of Meri's wording on it. And they were very closed lipped about it in the Morales interview just kept saying they decided it wouldn't work.

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    9. Sorry, it had wrong link!!!
      Meri was 2 1/2 years old than her sister Teresa that has passed. FOR SURE.
      Plausible, but we can't prove it, unless any exAUB speaks up! (hint)

      Here's the correct link: Teresa Barber, Meri's sister, picture, and her death:

      http://sisterwivesblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/sister-wives-meri-barber-sad-loss-of.html

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    10. "Everyone keeps interpreting her 'love' as like a crush but maybe she is saying it as in 'my real sister' type of love. "

      CPACarol, this! Thank you for wording this so eloquently! Meri's going after Robyn wasn't a crush thing, it was the search for(hope, longing, sisterly love, etc.) her dead sister's replacement to fulfill Meri's ultimate persona of what she wanted in a sisterwife.

      Hope you'll let us know if you stumble across something in the book...or if you catch something between the lines. wink

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  6. CJ, thank you for the review. I have not been able to watch the episode yet and have been dying to know what everyone was talking about in relation to Kody and Christine. I cannot believe any husband would be so crass and say something like that. It is one thing to do it in private, which would be one of the worst things I could ever think of that my husband would say to me, but it makes it a thousand times worse that he 1) Said it in front of his other wives, women that Christine has to compete against to get any time with Kody, and 2) On national television!!! I cannot imagine how Christine feels right now, knowing that thousands of people (or more, I'm not sure how many people watch the show :)) know that her husband finds her unattractive and repulsive. Then Kody said that he thought it might not be fair to her that he felt that way, but then of course, he came to the realization that he was only in this for himself and who cares how she feels or if it is fair to her, it's all about me, me, me, me, me. Christine deserves so much better. I think all the other wives should leave and leave Kody and Meri to themselves, they deserve one another.
    One thing more, I don't know the nachos story!!! Could someone summarize it, please?!!

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    1. Thank you Perturbed!

      You'll find a brief description either under Christine or Kody:

      http://sisterwivesblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/becoming-sister-wives-prologue-and-part.html

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  7. Great review CJ and great site. Thanks for putting so much time and effort into it for the rest of us. It is greatly appreciated.

    Out of the entire Natalie Morales interview, the thing that struck me the most was Christine. She acknowledged that she expected there to be some kind of issues among the wives as she was raised in plural marriage herself. But when she talked about not trusting her sister wives or trusting easily at all, and how she always holds a part of herself back, my heart broke for her. I wanted to reach into the screen and say to her, don't you see this is a result of being raised in this "culture"? How can you trust your husband when you know he'll be sharing the most intimate things he shares with you with other women? How can you trust those other women to treat your feelings with respect when they probably hurt as much as you? It's just unnatural, IMHO. I think Christine is in many ways, still a girl. She seems to have an idealized vision of what marriage should be like, not what it really is. I was humiliated for her when Kody said those things.

    Thankfully, the teenagers seem to be more well rounded and insightful than the parents, except for Mariah. I thought Maddie was a hoot when she said her husband will have his hands full with her. How intelligent of her to know that she is too strong willed to survive in a plural marriage. It seems the kids have learned alot more about polygamy than their parents wanted them too.

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    1. You know, honestly, when I read the book, the chili cheese nachos story came across as cute/funny/anecdotal to me. Yes, Kody was a *blank blank* to Christine in the interview, no doubt about that. However, the story itself is, in my opinion, not the problem.

      Christine has a very buoyant personality, but I don't think she's the brightest bulb in the box. However, she didn't deserve the mean things Kody said to her. No woman does.

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    2. I agree Jules. Christine never matured emotionally past the age of 14. She is not very bright (dumb as mud), which is probably due to no formal schooling. Church school doesn't count, as the people who teach do not want the students to know much. They want the students to learn the doctrine that they teach, but not to have a mind of their own. It is so sad to see how these women have wasted their lives with a controlling, condescending, cruel prick like Grody. If they just get out, they still have time to find some love and self-esteem. My prayers are that they will 'see the light'.

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  8. Getting ready for work but I have 4 words for your brilliant synopsis CJ:

    So. Worth. The. Wait.

    - DJ

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  9. Thanks everyone! Glad you enjoyed it!

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  10. Christine should shove a bag of nachos and a tube of processed cheese up kody's sweated butt one by one until he apologies for his Stupidity...he is a beedy eyed weasel!!!!!!

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    1. Yes...Extra-Spicy-Whole-Jalapeños-Nachos especially for his Majesty!!!

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  11. Great review! You really hit the nail!

    In reading your review, it was actually painful for me to relive those moments where Kody was so mean to Christine. I am a chubby woman and have self esteem issues because of it. I feel so badly for Christine. I really want her to leave Kody and start a fresh new life. How can she love and trust a man like that who would go on national television and speak that way to her... the mother of 6 of his children!

    The same for Janelle. I mean, how must she feel? She has historically always been larger than Christine. I feel so bad for these women. But then again, it was their choice as they always say.

    And what's with Kody's famous line: "I fell in love, and then I fell in love again and then I fell in love again." Lies!

    If anything, this show and this family have shown me that polygamy is emotionally damaging to the women.

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  12. When Kody sputters around by saying he married his wives based on the depth of their character, I have to think that Christine must be wondering about the depth of his character. To say on television (and in the book) that he was so turned off by his chubby fiancé eating nachos that he knew he would have to ‘wait’ to marry her? Did her eating nachos somehow change the depth of her character? Natalie gave him many outs to ‘rephrase’, apologize or say something kind to Christine – he had so many opportunities to back track a bit and say something different and instead blames Natalie for asking the question. Even Mean Meri thought he shouldn’t have been so ‘honest’. You know when Meri thinks Kody has crossed the line, that it was BAD. What we saw on Christine’s face (the hurt, the betrayal, the hollowing out of her soul) has to be something that has happened many times to her courtesy of Kody - can you imagine what he says to her off-camera? He loves to say that Christine saved their bacon...would it have repulsed him if she had eaten the bacon?

    It actually made me really sad to think she has put all her faith in this horrible man to get her into heaven. What a total disappointment that must be to realize, 6 children later and no education, that she has been duped for all eternity.
    I thought early into the season that Kody was baiting Christine to leave him. He doesn’t care if she leaves – he already has the keys to heaven and he got the ‘royalty’ he wanted.
    I worry about Christine and her ability to handle this continued emotional abuse. I seriously do.

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    1. You read my mind CPA Carol...totally agree that if Meri's is defending Christine he has really crossed the line. Even mean hateful Meri tried to give him outs. He is a dense as he thinks his hair is, he has collected these woman and childten as a ticket to glory. He has no compassion or care for anyone and demands they worship him. He exploits every opportunity for his own pleasure.

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    2. "can you imagine what he says to her off-camera?" That was exactly my thought. If he had no problems saying those things in front of the whole world, what must he say to her in private. If I was Christine, I wouldn't complain about him not spending time with me.
      I was also wondering what he thinks about his daughters? Most of them are bigger. How do you think his daughter's felt when they heard him say those things about Christine, one of their mothers. I think that if his daughter's weren't struggling with self-esteem issues before, they are probably thinking about it now. I think Kody needs to be reminded of his long list of attributes that he listed for a future son-in-law and start applying some of those to his own life.

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    3. Christines Mock NachosJune 28, 2012 at 11:06 AM

      sadly, i believe it's also true that Grody couldn't care less if Christine packed up and left for good. He's not bonded to her nor the kids. Her own daughter wanted to go to the dance w/Logan instead of Grody. Truely acts like she doesn't know nor care who he is.

      He only needed Christine at one time to soothe the troubled waters at home between Janelle and Meri. He wasn't attracted to her but the second bonus was he was getting some plyg blueblood in his line which brought some recognition and credibility to his status w/his religious peers and elders. Kody has no real use for Christine any more. She wants him to work too hard at their relationship and he has no incentive to do that.

      If Christine decides to stay and endure to the end, she will need to stay on meds and "how to completely check out emotionally" lessons from Janelle.

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  13. Thanks for the review. I am yet to find this online and curious to watch.

    So what do you guys think; is Meri bi? We're they both in love with the "18 year old"?

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    1. I have often wondered if Meri is bi. She always talks about her "connection with Robyn" when she first met her. Apparently, according to the book, she met Robyn, talked to her for a moment and wanted Kody to marry her. I think the "connection" is salacious.

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    2. Hiding in My Sister Wifes ClosetJune 28, 2012 at 10:53 AM

      there's been several of us who repeatedly voice we think Meri is bi and if Kody's not full-on closeted gay, he's bi as well. Thus, the comments you'll see re:how they're each other's beards. ;')

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  14. Right on the money CJ!
    I missed this on Sunday, the stupid DVR didn't tape it probably because it wasn't called sisterwives...Caught it last night and wow...the body language in that interview. I extricated myself over 20 years ago from a someone like kody, it was not easy, took me a while to wise up and realize that I deserved better and then it was scary to think of his reaction...but I did it and it was best for me and my 3 kids!

    Kodturd is an idiot, a narcissistic, misogynist, control freak idiot, who's got a whole other dark side there.
    RUN Christine RUN, it's only going to get worse. Instead of "deserving the house" How about YOU AND JANELLE DESERVE BETTER treatment!

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    1. Wow. Looks like I missed a lot.

      I only just watched the show last night, but like schnauzermom above, my DVR didn’t record the interview. Does TLC realize that most cable consumers use DVR now and that they need to name their shows consistently? Oh, I guess I already know that answer, don’t I.

      Thank you, CJ for the review; I’m glad I had something to reference.

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  15. I'd just like to say thanks for providing a platform for intelligent, insightful and very witty comments on the counties most ridiculous polygamist.
    CJ your reviews are excellent and we wait with great expectation. You handle this sad and painful exposure of what these women live with a quiet respect. With a support that only one woman can give another. I love to analyze and snark but I don't hate these woman. I hate this misogynistic religion and The jackass they hitched their wagon to for eternity.
    Thank you C. J . , Mister Sister, and the other admins and contributors that bring entertainment to me daily.

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  16. yeah, i LOL'd when Kody screwed up both times in so wrongly recalling their state of wedded bliss when he was a'courtin' Sobbin'Robyn and their family therapy sessions. DUH!! Meri's like, "HELLO!! i went and found Robyn for you and me cause our marriage was in the ditch, ya big weenie head!" and he couldn't stand being wrong again a minute later about the "no, we don't do family therapy sessions, you idiot!" so, he quickly improvised with, "well, all our televised fake couch sessions are our family therapy!"

    Reminded me of a couple of episodes ago when they did a couch session Q&A and he was asked if there was always at least one of the wives mad at him at any given time. He proudly proclaimed, "oh no, there's lots of times when no one's mad. in fact, everyone's even happy right now!" and Christine quickly piped up, "I'M NOT!! I'm still mad at you!!" and he looks obviously clueless and does his goofy laugh and I don't give a rat's ass look at Christine and says, "oh, you are?"

    Such a little boy. Peter Pan. ManCub. DickHead.

    ReplyDelete
  17. What amazed me the most about the tell-all interview was how quiet Robyn was throughout the whole time. Usually she is throwing her opinion all over the place. It was as if her inner She-Ra was terrified to show herself. I think she saw what was happening with the other wives and tried to just sink into her chair and be as unnoticable as possible.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good try, but those purple socks sure screamed look at me.

      Delete
  18. Nachos in my Sister Wife's ClosetJune 28, 2012 at 10:10 AM

    Robyn knows there's not going to be a 5th wife. Meri already regrets bringing her in. Wait tho... who DOESN'T Meri regret letting into her marriage? oh well....

    Robyn's sounds so clueless when she says, "there are jealousies but we're learning to work them out." Yeah, right. Let's ignore the fact this group had 17 years before you arrived to do that and haven't been able to. Get ready to "learn to work those out the rest of your married life!!"

    ReplyDelete
  19. He had the opportunity not once but twice to apologize or at least try and placate the situation. His "that's an understatement" comment was like another knife in Christine's back, after the first one. Then Natalie gives him another opportunity to make things right, and he again sticks another knife in her back! He is justified in ALL and EVERYTHING. Delusions of grandeur! And yes, that LOOK he gets? Seen that in my own life.

    This backlash with Natalie is ridiculous! The Browns GAVE HER THE AMMUNITION, she just went ahead and used it.

    Did the great Kodouche have a divine message telling him Janelle would bear him great sons? (another trait of narcissists is that they believe they have a direct connection to God or have "special" powers) Wonder why Janelle nor Christine ever offered to be
    "sirguts"?

    ReplyDelete
  20. I saw the show Sunday night, and just reading it made me cringe again. The one thing that really stood out for me, was when Christine talked about their wedding day. She said something along the lines of how Kody seemed panicked or something and she realized how he felt when she saw him? Can't remember verbatim, but it was so sad. He was downright cruel in the interview. Him pounding home "that's an understatement" was so hurtful that I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I think he was so puffed up and angry (like a rooster) that he didn't care what he was saying.

    Something is so seriously wrong here. Meri knew Janelle well when she was brought into the fold. For them to still not have a relationship 20 years later contradicts everything they say in the opening of the show.

    I think one of the most telling moments for me was at the end when Janelle testified that she would DEFINITELY choose this life again. DEFINITELY. It was like a stepford wife's response. After the nation just sees that you have no relationship with your sister wife, that your husband was not romantically in love with you in any fashion when you married, you left the marriage because of the abuse of the first wife, you see your husband maybe 1 day a week...if you are lucky. But this lifestyle is DEFINITELY worth it. SMH hard!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ITA, BakergirOK,
      That they couldn’t find a way to get along after so many years directly contradicts everything they’ve said about sisterwives. They say that the sisterwife relationship “can be the most fulfilling relationship a woman can have”. Sure, it “could be” but it’s not for them.

      In a religion that encourages men to escape accountability, it’s unlikely to find functional, emotionally fulfilling and stable relationships. The women will always be fighting over resources and support and their idea of love.

      Janelle can say that she’d do it again, because that’s not really an option; it’s cheap talk. What matters is whether she could stay with Kody if all the wives had to share one un-partitioned home.

      Delete
    2. Yeah, I think Christine said the Kodester looked "morose" on the big day. So, given he didn't really care for her too much and it was the first time they even kissed, I can only imagine how anti-climatic the wedding night must have been. Eesh.

      Delete
    3. Maybe Janelle was saying she would do it all over again because of her kids....if she wasn't in that relationship she wouldn't have had her kids....

      Delete
    4. i think it's definitely all about the kids w/Janelle. and she used to have a buddy/pal w/benefits relationship w/Kody. those are her good memories. Now that she's done having kids w/him, she's probably good for not even having a sexual relationship with him. Especially w/the cold sore ick factor in the equation now. She probably just likes talking business with him now - as much as she can with that dough-brain anyway.

      i predict she's going to spend the rest of her life tuned into her adult kids/grandkids lives and eat herself to death for comfort and stress relief.

      Delete
    5. I felt so sorry for Janelle. "We talk about finances." How are her emotional needs being met? Also when Janelle was being asked about when she first married Kody[stupid name on a grown man] Meri glared at her. Kody spoke over Meri time and time again to smooth things over. Meri looked like such a BITCH in this interview. When Logan visited UNLV with his parents, Kody led Janelle around like an old woman. I want her to leave. I like her children and I like her. I think Mariah is mentally ill. She is so angry like her mother. Who could blame her this is a crazy way to grow up. On the house crap, why should they sacrifice to pay for Robin's children from a previous relationship? Where is her ex-husband?

      Delete
    6. Janelle has amazing children. They are so smart, and seem to know that this isn't the best choice to live this life. I also like that Janelle peppers were words every now and then with a curse word. Not that I condone cursing on a regular basis, it just shows me that she is human and real in some situations.

      I go back to Janelle's face when Meri got the trip for her birthday. Did you see Janelle's look on her face. Their mouths might say one thing, but they aren't always the best at hiding their emotions, and I think TLC purposely looks for those moments to show us what is really happening behind closed doors.

      Don't even get me started on Meri. I think the reason Mariah has the attitude that she has, is because Meri is treated like a Queen. I truly came to realize this morning that it's Meri who wears the pants. When this is the example that Meriah has, sisterwives look great to her. The sad thing is that she might not be first wife, and she might end up like Christine.

      Delete
    7. Peanut Butter FritosJune 28, 2012 at 3:58 PM

      His "that's an understatement" comment was so painful it made me cringe remembering it. I can't imagine anyone saying that to my daughter. If he's willing to say that on TV, I can't even imagine what it's like in private. My heart hurts for poor Christine.

      Might want to think about that son in law list, Kody. You're teaching your kids how to treat their wives.

      Delete
    8. I think Janelle is biding her time. She's letting Robin have her big wedding and Meri her Mexican vacation because she's going to use her chits to get her kids to college. ( Also I don't think she gives 2 farts about 'alone time' with Kodouche. )

      That must make Meri's "expensive taste" and super-huge house all the more galling to her. That's like several college educations right there. Janelle is of course the only one who understands the TLC money won't be there forever but the mortgage will. It must be maddening to be saddled to that fiscal retard, Kody. Can you imagine if you bore the responsibility of keeping 17 children and 4 near-children clothed, housed and fed and the only person you could share the burden with ... was Kody??

      I think Janelle will quit someday. She already moved out before -- when she had enough of Queen Bitch Meri. I think a large part of why she hangs on is Christine. Christine is the one who helped Janelle raise her kids, not Meri, and without Janelle, Christine is stuck because let's face it... she's not the sharpest tool in the shed.

      Delete
  21. A little off topic but I was reading some of their tweets and came about Maddy's link to instagram, as far as I can see, Aspyn and Mariah are also on there.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I am new to this site and love your reviews!! I was wondering if anyone else noticed the look on Janelle's face when Robyn was stating that her relationship is so great with Meri because both of them want a deep sisterwife relationship. I bet both Janelle and Christine would love to be closer to their sisterwives but Meri is just too mean to them. I bet Robyn and Meri will have a falling out someday just like Christine and Meri.

    ReplyDelete
  23. It saddnes me that Christine seems to have her spirit "emotionally beaten" out of her. This season she finally spoke up for herself and was basically shunned for that. She was being observant and called Kody out on his poor behaviour. It appears Kody never even attempted to put any value in her feelings. Coupled with the advice of Meri to sweep her issues under the rug and accept how things are and the way that they have all lead Christine to believe that her feelings towards Robyn were wrong (ummm you try to me a woman in labor and your "husband" is hanging out with his new woman)and she was mean and a bad person for feeling this way. I look at Christine now, she is continiously apologizing for EVERYTHING, she walks on egg shells and she is trying so hard to be a Kody/Robyn pleaser. Where has the real Christine gone?? Please come back!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Robyn looks exhausted. I think the honeymoon period is ending and robyn is looking around and actually starting to see how he treats the other wives. Shes still chubby from the birth os sol so i wonder what remarks ole sweaty pants has made to her in private. For christine i feel so sorry for u u dezerve so much better. Stand up and be a role model for your daughtets. Do you want them to face the same treatment as you have?? But my pity is stretching thin. How many times do you have to be kicked before u get up and leave????

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As far as tired Robyn goes, she does have a small baby to take care of, so that's the explanation right there.

      And I hope that she does receive child support for the 3 kids. Not that I'm a Robyn fan, or the fact that she deserves "handouts". No, not at all, but the children deserve that their bio dad is responsible for them!

      Delete
  25. It just kept coming back to me how he kept saying "i've never felt this way before!" with all his giddy giggles getting ready for his marriage to Robyn. It seemed like it really was the first time out of 4, that he knew he was actually excited to be getting married and he couldn't contain all his gigglyness about it. That had to be a light bulb moment for him in reflecting how he'd felt about marrying the others - including his beard Meri.

    I do think he and Robyn are a perfect match - all things considered.

    ReplyDelete
  26. How about when Kody tried to deflect Meri's historic meanness by saying it was Janelle's fault for not speaking up for herself??!!! He is a complete idiot, and an ass.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. anytime Janelle has spoken up for herself, she also concedes that it doesn't matter anyway cause she's outnumbered. Her main mantra has become, "I don't care. It doesn't matter to me." That's her survival tactic she repeats daily to herself and out loud to others.

      Delete
    2. Kody should have spoke up for Janelle if she didnt feel comfortable confronting Meri during the early years. He sure didn't have a problem speaking for Meri during the interview.

      Delete
  27. My heart breaks for Christine. What a sad life, to think that your only way into the heaven you dream of is to stay married to a narcissist in a religion that rewards narcissism in men, but condemns self-preservation in women. Kody will never grow up, he will never become responsible, he will never place his wives needs above his own whims, he will never connect with his children.

    I am not a huge promoter for monogamy, but his form of non-monogamy allows and encourages him to be an abusive ass. He’s not required to grow and mature, consider other’s feelings and needs when making decisions. And pulling away from his church as he did has only allowed him to spin off further than he may have been allowed to if there were a deacon or pastor or prophet or whatever-they-call-them-in-their-cult-spiritual-leader-type-person who could pull him aside and guide/school him on how to treat his wives. There’s not a lot of accountability for men in their freaky religion, but now there’s even less of a chance that he’ll be called out by an interested party.

    I dislike the tenets of their cult, but Christine finds so much comfort in her faith that I think she’d be lost without it. So while she deserves so much better, I wonder if she could ever become somebody else’s third wife - someone who’d appreciate her and consider her feelings. And while that may be possible to find someone somewhere in their faith, I think she should set her sights on Kody’s older brother. Then she’d have the benefit of a responsible man with the added bonus of a big F.U. to Kody at every family gathering.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It sounds good on paper but I think Kody's older brother's smarter than to take on Christine and all the baggage she would bring into his life. He doesn't strike me as into unnecessary drama that would invite.

      as far as a proponent of Monogamy... I'm personally a huge fan! i've got a wonderful husband of 38 years. We not only still love each other but we actually still LIKE each other. We laugh and have fun every day together. Monogamy can be GREAT!!

      Delete
    2. Anon 11:49:
      I was being facetious about the older brother thing. And your take is right, as I see it.

      My husband and I have been monogamous for the duration of our relationship, but I know that that’s not for everyone. Some people need/want open marriages and make them work w/o cheating or breaking rules or hearts.

      Kody’s talked about “open marriage” scornfully, but one thing he seems to be unaware of is that for a 'monogamish' relationship to work, one must put the emotional and physical needs and desires of the primary partner first at every moment.

      And Kody can’t put any of his wives needs first when he’s alone with her and she’s literally telling him the words she needs to hear. He fails at his version of non-monogamy.

      Delete
  28. Excellent review as per usual! And also as per usual I echo the sentiments expressed above!

    I would love to see them in even more interviews like these, it truly exposes the holes in their stories of the perfect polygamous bliss.

    What became even more clear to me is that Meri runs the show in this marriage. She is the ONLY wife who seems to have any say in who Kody is going to take on. Think about it, Kody NEVER discusses future wives with Janelle or Christine, it is always Meri who is in the know, Meri who is in on the next move. Additionally, he was defending her left right and centre in this interview! She was the only wife whom he seemed anxious about offending in some way...

    Janelle and Christine don't stand a chance... but they don't seem like they are going to do anything about it either.

    PS - how would you guys feel if the main reason your husband cited for marrying you was that you appeared you could produce "good, strong, sons!" ??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. well, that's what this hokey pokey plyghood's all about! that's why Meri's so depressed. only one baby - and it's not even a son! and here comes Robyn and her first baby w/Grody is a SON!! it's so not fair. SOMEONE PLEASE give Meri a 7 bedroom house to make it all fair!!

      Delete
    2. Anon @1144

      LOL-- yes, and a wet bar!

      Delete
    3. and a deck! lol

      Delete
    4. Anonymous 11:44, TOO funny!

      Excellent synopsis, CJ, although it made me feel for Christine even more than during the actual interview. So sad.

      Delete
  29. When Natalie made the womanizer statement, Christine jumped to Kody's defense. A few minutes later Kody goes and attacks Christine. He could have used the interview as a format to apologize to Christine for what he wrote in the book, but instead he digs himself in further. He is scum. I wish Natalie would have asked Janelle, when she stated she choose this lifestyle all over again, if she would choose to do so with Kody. Would they all choose Kody again, because he is a bastard.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christine thinks she's stuck w/Kody, so she just would have answered , "Why yes, of course! Why wouldn't I? He's a great husband and father. What's not to love?" blech

      Delete
  30. A lot of you here feel sympathy for Christine because of what Kody said about her (the nacho thing) and I agree 100% but from the start I have felt much worse for Janelle. From the start of season 1 she's had to hear over and over how there was no romance from the start between her and Kody, how he sees her as a "friend" and even Meri chimes in a lot by saying she didn't feel jealousy over Janelle because there was no "love" shown or felt between Kody and Janelle. Do they ever think that maybe there was love there in Janelle's heart for Kody and that's why she wanted to "marry" him and begin this life with him and Meri? Sometimes the way Janelle looks I just feel like she's cringing inside every time they talk about her like that. I agree too that Janelle really does remember what that last straw was that broke her back and made her move out to her mother's with her little kids. She's playing nice and not wanting to stir things up but she knows. My take on the whole "courting" the 18 year old is that they wanted to do/go "weird" with her and knowing that after a while even lust will fall away and wouldn't keep a family together they said goodbye to her. It's much easier convincing/manipulating a young 18 year old girl the benefits of going "weird" as a sister wife then an older woman. That's my take on what I saw and heard from the interview. Maybe that's one of the reasons Meri and Janelle never got along. Janelle wouldn't go weird with them. Hopefully you all can understand what I was trying to say. I have so many thoughts but it's hard to write it all down.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dating someone young, Is it a thing in their religion that perhaps is not a big deal? if they were 20-23 and this girl also believed in polygamy perhaps the parents were waiting for her to be 18 to allow her to be engage. I'm sure the parents consented to the courting.
      Also that happened almost 20 years ago. Maybe things have change into their religious group and that is why is seen as weird now even by their members. I don't think they would allow their 17 year old girls to court anyone, specially someone 6 years older and already with one wife.
      Perhaps Ex member can tell us better how things were before and now.

      Delete
    2. it's my understanding that when this girl was 18 and being courted, Meri was only 20. is that what you're referring to as "older woman?" i do agree that Meri probably had the hots for her and was suffocating in her love/lust pursuit of her. The girl just probably got "weirded out" and moved on.

      Delete
    3. Meri would only allow someone to court her 17 year old Mariah IF she was being courted to be FIRST wife and certainly not second fiddle. She's raised Mariah better than that!

      Delete
    4. I meant that in my opinion it's easier to manipulate a younger person than an older woman and that's why they were courting the teen. I wouldn't be surprised by parents being okay with 20 something year old guys dating/courting their 17 year old daughters. Kody living in Las Vegas can actually marry a 16 year old (well, if he wasn't already legally married to Meri that is) and it would be fine by law even at his age. I really hope Mariah changes her mind about being a sister wife.

      Delete
    5. Christine's Grandpa "married" two fifteen year old girls when he was in his thirties. AUB has had plenty of underage stuff going on. Today they say they don't allow "marriages" to any girl under 18 because they are afraid of the law prosecuting them. Plenty of men "court" very young women decades younger than them and "courting" an underage girl would be OK as long as they didn't do the deed until she was 18.

      Delete
    6. Not drinking the green kool-aidJune 28, 2012 at 4:31 PM

      Hello all, first time poster, but I have become seriously addicted to this blog. This week I have laughed out loud at the snark, clapped in agreement with many of your assessments of the family's financial straights and I watched the shows thinking that Kody is delusional about so many things. For starters, he thinks he is in tune with his wives...WRONG! He thinks he is a shrewd businessman...WRONG! He thinks he is the kewlest of dads....WRONG WRONG WRONG! I have to say that I was looking at the family tree and I wondered if you all thought the "strong sons" comment was not just insensitive to Janelle- after all, she is a person, not a brood mare, but maybe yet another slam at Christine. She only has one son and five girls. Maybe she should be happy she is not married to Henry VIII, poor thing might have lost her head literally and not figuratively. Christine also told Robyn that she is done having kids. I bet Kodouche is royally peeved that he won't get any more strong sons from her. That and all the salt he hurled at her open wounds on Sunday was downright medieval. Someone should tell her to watch out for the thumbscrews, or maybe he'll put her in some sort of AUB convent for wives put to pasture like Henry VIII did with his first wife Catherine of Aragon. I think he is a megalomaniac like Henry and has mean piggy eyes like him, too!

      Delete
  31. Couldn't get LookingforLaughter to show up...but it is me! Apparently one of these nutcases again showed their selective memory in the book. If he was so hot in Highschool and dated all these girls, why when they went back for his reunion did so many of his classmates think he was gay????

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right ON. They were pretty " shocked " he had 1 wife let alone 4 !!

      Delete
    2. I did not go to high school with him and i think he is gay.

      Delete
    3. it was no shocker at all when we learned everyone thought he was gay in high school. All his pics alone from back then scream GAY!!! let alone his behavior that convinced everyone in high school he must be. His religion doesn't allow for it (neither did his mainstream) so, he's done the best he can to squelch it and that's through his chaotic plyg life.

      I actually feel bad for him and all these wives married to him that he hasn't been allowed to accept who he is and be in a monog gay union. Likewise, i think Meri's in the same cursed dilemma.

      Delete
  32. So all their comments about love, we did this for love, were lies. This shows their true dysfunction. Kody as a serial abuser/predator, and Meri as his sidekick who recruits his victims so that she can curry favor with Kody and reign over these women. Looking at the recruitment, whenever there is dysfunction between Meri and Kody, Meri decides it's time for another wife to please her husband. It happened because she couldn't get pregnant and they didn't have a good income so she brought in Janelle. When Kody was stressed over the way Janelle and Meri were behaving, she brings in Christine. When Meri and Kody were at the all time low, she brings in Robyn. I feel sorry for Janelle and Christine.
    They clearly thought this was about religion, especially Christine who was brought up that way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually, Meri had nothing to do with bringing in Janelle. She was blindsided when she found out Kody was going to court her. I have a feeling the same thing happened with Christine. With Robyn, I think Meri recognized Kody's roving eye so she decided to make sure her 2 sisterwives knew that a 4th was coming into the family. I will bet money she also took this action to take away from Christine being the favorite and last wife, and it worked (just like when Christine told Meri she hoped Meri wasn't pregnant because that would take away from her pregnancy).

      Delete
    2. Meri's always credited herself for talking Kody into considering Robyn for a 4th wife. She had to talk him into getting over his "ick" factor that she was married before and had done the nasty at least 3 times producing kids w/another man.

      Delete
  33. I just knew that things were not as harmonious as they would like us to believe!! The tension between Meri and Janelle has always been icy and cold, so now we know what the history behind it was!! I bet, Mer and Kody are kahooting between themselves only, about the next wives and everyone else has to like it or lump it! Also, I think that Janelle was chosen just for the stable financial mind she has. Too bad she was dragged into the bankruptcy mess. had it not been for Kody, I am quite sure that she would have such a stable family life! I hope Mariah sees, that her parents did not have an easy time at this and they put on a show of harmony for them, but things are never as it seems. I cannot see the fam jam forcing the kids into polygamy...The 'rents all have some sibs that are in normal relationships. I hope Mariah can see past the smoke show their parents have made!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kody's tweet praising Mariah for her intelligent response!
      Praise your father and I'll acknowledge you, otherwise I'll ignore you.

      Delete
  34. And imagine Janelle's feeling over "Christine" being too fat?
    Sorry Kody, but when you treat women like crap, and their only outlet is food, you creat you own nightmare. Other men would be thrilled to have such nice, hard working ladies and Janelle and Christine. aahhh... Meri is not skinny by no means.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kody is no thin man himself. He looks as though he is pregnant, he has no right to say anything about any of the wives weight. What a jerk!!!

      Delete
  35. I have to say, this was "Nacho-Gate" - Natalie was brilliant, sadly we see truths, and Kody was exposed for the buffoon he was. And answering for Meri - was he scared she was going to tell something?
    According to Kody in one interview:
    Meri is critical and hard to get along with
    Janelle is just a friend.
    Christine, we all know.
    Robyn, at least he didn't gush on her all night, but please! the tears! Come on, you weren't on there 6 minutes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Look at the video Meri is wider than Christine. Meri has packed on the lbs.

      Delete
  36. I'm sure Janelle was scared thinking: oh now here he goes, I'm going to be next! He'll say how I'm also fat and I gross him out with my peanut butter fritos.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Cynical Jinx,

    Once again you have expertly set the stage, coherently and factually, for discussions about this fraudulent group of Brown adults to proceed.

    MANY THANKS and much respect for your skills and dedication !!!!

    ReplyDelete
  38. You know, last night my husband and I curled up on the couch together to watch some TV eating guess what? Some NACHOS he had prepared, taking turns feeding each other the best cheesy parts. I was a slender size 4 when I met my husband, but 6 years and 2 kids later I have gained about 50lbs. Although my husband prefers me more slender (though he's never said), he enjoys these moments of indulgences together more. I know he loves me unconditionally and always wishes to please me, as I with him. That is what a loving relationship
    is.
    I feel bad for Christine that Kody is all she knows. PLYG is all she knows. Humiliation, torment and jealousy are her closest friends. I hope she finds herself, God willing.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Why was Janelle SMILinG big while listening and after hearing how Kody said he was disgusted by chubby, not attractive Christine... Robyn and Meri looked like they wanted to disappear while Christine was about to cry and raised her eyebrows worried to hear what would come out next out of that slimy man's mouth. She was going to CRY and they all just let him talk and not interrupt and call him a slime ball that he is! And Jannelle SMILiNg like she just heard a great joke!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Janelle was smiling at how clueless Kody was in showing full-blown what an ass he can be and not knowing when to stop digging his hole.

      How can these women have any respect for themselves to be married to such an idiotic and arrogant ass? Polygamy be damned! His brothers don't come across that way. (at least the older plyg one and the younger non-plyg one. that youngest jokester brother displayed some kody arrogance tho.)

      Delete
  40. Thank you Cynical Jinx for the great review. And thanks to all the commentors who have so much insight to the Brown's dysfunction. I enjoy reading it all--it's so nice to see there are intelligent people that see past the Brown's facade.

    It has been my view that while a harmonious polygamous life may be possible in concept, in reality it basically does not exist. Dysfunction, coercion, and abuse seem to be the norm--even in the Brown's example.

    One aspect that I haven't seen brought up by commentors here is Mariah's wish to be a polygamous wife. I wonder if she's being "courted" already? I wonder how many polygamous families, or single young men that want to eventually be polygamous are hanging out like vultures hoping to be the one to get her in their clutches? Makes me sad and sick to think about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Did Mariah say which wife she would prefer to be #1 like her mother? She doesn't seem strong or mean enough for that.

      Delete
    2. Mariah's definitely up for Wife #1's Bitch Power from what i've observed. She's been groomed by the best!

      Delete
    3. I don't know if she has a preference for which number she'd like to be, Anonymous. I don't watch the show on a regular basis. I've seen a few shows but the more I learned about the Browns, the more angry I became over their lies. It wasn't good for my health to watch them anymore. Anyone else know more about Mariah's polygamy plans?

      I do know that it's common in the mormon faith--both mainstream and fundamentalist--to marry young so I wouldn't be surprised to see her married soon after reaching majority. Any idea how old she is now?

      Delete
    4. I think Mariah is around 17 by now. How could she be courted in LV if their aren't any other Plural Mormons in that area? Unless it's a long distance relationship to somone up in Utah...

      I don't think she's ever said what # wife she'd like to be.

      Delete
    5. PlygSchmyg, inasmuch as Mariah is practically a clone of her mother in every respect, I can't imagine that many young men are eager to sign up. I can't figure out why, but I could totally see her with someone closer to the asshat's age.

      Delete
  41. I thought it was very painful to watch. I am still shaken up. The abuse that Janelle and Christine put up with from Kody & Meri is heartbreaking. First off, I think Kody & Meri don't want to answer to anyone and that is why they won't join any group. Their ultimate goal is to start their own group with Kody & Meri as King & Queen. Their hopes are that all the children will pick their lifestyle and stay within their newly formed cult. I felt Meri picked Robyn to get back at Christine - to take the limelight off Christine and Truly. I can't for the life of me figure out why Janelle and Christine stay.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Kody's comments proved just how out-of-touch he is with his wives and he lacks that emotional connection he claims to have with them. As for Janelle and Meri, I think that something happened when Janelle was married to Meri's brother. They were sisters then and I wonder if they got along then...but when Janelle and Adam divorced, maybe that is where the bitter and resentment started between Meri and Janelle..and then when Janelle gave birth to the first Brown son, that further drove the wedge and salted the wound...and with Meri being so nasty to Janelle it's no wonder that Janelle holds back and doesn't want a relationship with Meri. I really don't think Meri has as much contempt for Christine as she does Janelle but hates her because she was able to produce Kody more children than she could.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I keep forgetting that Meri and Janelle knew each other before as sister in laws! I would have liked for Natalie to have mentioned that topic and maybe gotten closer to figuring out what happened between them which had to have been something a lot more major then just little spats here and there.

      Delete
    2. Yes, InTheShadows, and did you also forget, (bc I just remembered) that Kody and Janelle are step-siblings? Janelle's mom is Kody's dad's 2nd wife.

      They sure know how to keep in the family!

      Delete
    3. I bet Janelle remembers the big fight that led to her moving out. Something as big as that stays with you. I just think she's smart enough to keep her yap shut and not throw more fuel to the fire.

      Janelle rocks!! I think she is the type of person I would be friends with.

      Delete
  43. What they showed to me is that Kody couldn't even remember to say it's their faith, and a way to heavenly planets, or at least Faith.
    I guess they have forgotten that.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I don't think I've ever heard Kody say anything about anyone's weight but Christine's however I may be mistaken. How can he talk about anyone's weight when the majority family is heavy. Even Kody has a spare tire so how dare he! Does he think wearing those button up shirts hanging outside his pants makes him look slim? We saw the gut when he was sporting his bathing suit in Mexico!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think Meri is heavier than Christine. When they showed her on their Mexico trip coming out of the well or whatever that was - I was embarrassed for her. Her rolls were showing big time.

      Delete
    2. Christine wasn't keeping sweet so he had to put her down any way he could. If she were skinny, he'd have criticized that or her roscea or whatever he thought would make her insecure.

      Delete
  45. I dont know why KODI went after CHRISTINE so unmercifully....his behavior and comments were terrible. He wasnt physically attracted to Janelle but didnt attack her that way. AND honestly J and C were almost same size and really J was bigger AND C lost weight durjng the marriage. For some reason he wanted to demean her.

    SOME insights: MERI has personal issues with only having one child its not fair for her total have a large house. She decided to be in a plural marriage,she should be willing to sacrifice that.
    Also she takes a dig at her SWs for missing one of MARIAHS events. MERI move on thats so petty and to think you put it in a book.

    I think this plural family should reevaluate the direction of their lives. Since the move tbey reallying live separate lives, I think their losing the pluralness of the family. ALL that tbey share is kids playing together,KODI, and dinner 2 times a week.

    IMO to keep the family cohesive, since they have all agreed to be a plural family: buy a larger lot put a custom 4 apartment type housing on it. OTHERWISE your just like exes with a good relationship with the babydaddy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree. It was soooo painful to watch - so degrading. And yet, Christine stays. Can someone tell me why? Is this the way all plural marriages are? I did not see any pros to this lifestyle at all where the Browns are concerned.

      Delete
    2. fyi - people keep coming up w/the "simple solution" of them just buying a lot and putting a 4-plex on it. the land first of all has to be zoned for multi-housing units PLUS a 4-plex requires a commercial loan and can be even more stringent in its qualifying requirements.

      Delete
    3. And Christine is quite smart...she is the reason they were contacted for the show AND she was a sort of "spokperson" for the lifestyle. She likes to joke around and has been put into a clown type mold but shes smart.

      Delete
    4. AnonymousJune 28, 2012 12:57 PM: "And yet, Christine stays. Can someone tell me why?"

      --Because Kody is her ticket to the best heaven ever.
      --Because she was raised that way.
      --Because she doesn't want to "fail."
      --Because she's tied to him due to their children.
      --Because she's afraid there's nothing better for her.

      Delete
    5. @ U dont think this route is cheaper. There way is running them over 1 million dollars.

      Delete
    6. It's been said before, drive a mile out and be in the country, no rules, build what you want.

      Delete
    7. i would still think there are county rules for the country new construction. There always are. As well as lender's rules. ;')

      Delete
  46. @Chub they were still close after divorce. It was the living together that brought on the fights. M & J have different opinions on keeping house. Plus she felt like a 3rd wheel because K & M still acted like newlyweds in front of her.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you're right about the M&J situation. Meri is a really neat organized person and Christine mentioned that Janelle's new furniture is broken already. Living in a double-wide with a messy person who is also sleeping with your husband of just a few years must have caused more than a few temper/jealousy fits. LOL I'm a compulsive neat freak married for 47 years to a person who doesn't recognize mess or dirt. And I must admit that after almost half a century neither of us have changed the other's habits one iota. If he wasn't my best friend and a fun companion, he, too, could have his own apartment in another town!

      Meri, Janelle and Kody were too young to figure out that separate establishments were necessary for harmony. By the time that dawned on them there was way too much damage done between Meri and Janelle to ever fix it completely. One would think some of the old ladies in AUB would counsel the young ones about the pitfalls of plg.

      Delete
    2. Could they afford two living spaces?

      Delete
  47. Sick of SociopathsJune 28, 2012 at 12:53 PM

    My wife got me interested in this show and this blog. I really enjoy the comments made by most of the viewers and I believe this blog is more entertaining than the actual show. I just wondered if any of you thought when they were coming up with names for SW, such as sister wife or strong women, the first thing I thought of was slave wife. I mean really, Kody and Meri are the dominant relationship and the others are only there to serve them. Also in my life I have learned that a master manipulator will always play the victim and can cry on demand. This puts Meri and Robyn about on the same level, and the rest of them to feel guilty when they dare question them. Just my opinion and thanks for the entertainement!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, we need more men comments. You seem to hit it right on.

      Delete
    2. LookingforLaughterJune 28, 2012 at 1:30 PM

      Sick..at least you admit watching LOL. My husband knows a lot about this ti "refuse to watch it" as he claims. His idea for SW was stupid women!

      Delete
    3. Sick of SociopathsJune 28, 2012 at 1:52 PM

      Thank you Anon that was very nice of you to say. And Looking you caught me. My wife got me watching this and the more I watched the angrier it made me at King Kody.

      Delete
    4. LOVE having another man on here. Actually, my husband gives me the best one liners to put on here, and welcome!

      Delete
    5. I LOVE watching SW's w/my DH of 38 years. His snarks are the best ever! It wouldn't be the same watching without him and then i'd only have this blog to come to. I'm spoiled getting DOUBLE FUN!!

      Delete
  48. Just an update on inquiries to house and lots. We are well into the work day on the west coast and no personal reply to my email inquies to Tmi realty or Pinnacle Homes the developer and owner of "lots". Maybe there is some flag on this listing because in my experience real estate people usually answer any traffic immediately. Oh sorry, traffic meaning lead on interest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I bet the developer was told not to respond to queries on the lots until after the show airs when the Browns earnest money bargain lapses. or maybe they got an extension. Let's face it, the real estate market in Vegas isn't exactly hopping. I doubt that people are champing at the bit to buy some unbuilt houses for 4x more than the median housing price in LV. Yup.

      Delete
    2. Well since there are three empty new houses on the same street I doubt anyone is the least bit interested in the undeveloped lots. Easy for Mona to hold off interest with a few notes on multiply listing. Maybe I am over thinking this but I have always maintained that this cul-de-sac is just a filming location and TLC F8F have secured it for a few months use.

      Delete
  49. I was shocked when Christine said that she didn't know about a lot of this stuff till the book was PUBLISHED. I am a book author myself and in my career, I have always been required to proofread every page of the galleys (the typeset but not yet bound pages of the book) before the book is actually published, and the same holds true of my co-author when I have one. I am thinking that perhaps the publisher got sneaky and gave each wife (and Grody) only his or her own sections to proof, perhaps fearing that otherwise the whole group would have a huge fight and then heavily edit the book into a far tamer tome.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CHRISTINE & MERI said they didnt want to read the others part ahead of time.

      Delete
    2. I POSTED this to Sisterwives FB PAGE:
      TO CHRISTINE......you are smart,you are kind, you are important!!!

      Delete
    3. I'm sure it was Master Manipulator Meri's suggestion that they not read the each other's part ahead of time. Poor #2, #3 &#4 wife they don't stand a chance with Meri.

      Delete
    4. Hello everybody. I have been lurking silently enjoying this fine blog for a while now. But now that it has sustained me through recovery from surgery and kept a smile on my face, I'd like to join the community. I have watched every episode of Sleazy Wolf and his Sad Sack Pack from the beginning' though I haven't read the book; will do soon. I started watching because I had been a huge fan of Big Love which in IMO offered real insights into how and why thinking people might choose polygamy. And until Robyn gave birth to Sol I was prepared to suspend disbelief most of the time. Well so much for my misplaced professional optimism.

      What I have loved about the blog is the way you unerringly put your fingers on all the weak spits, bad moments, dubious claims etc in this weird and increasingly sad saga. I loved somebody's comment that the Kodpiece looks like one of those trolls. YES he does! I had an orange one when I was a kid in the 60s. It was the spitting image of ConTrolling Kody. The whole food stamps thing I found very helpful too. I grew up in Ireland and all you shared about this scam answered a lit of my questions. Thank you.

      Where everything has really fallen apart for me, as many of you have noted, is in the current season. I don't want to repeat what has already been said, so I'm going to throw out two thoughts for ye to munch on. First, I'm curious about why the descent into the slime pit has been so fast and furious this season. Is it because the family, especially the ConTroller, became so cocky and comfortable in front of the cameras that they let down their guard? Or did the wise ones at TLC realize the full potential of this sewage farm and hone in on all that was worst, now that they really have a feel for the lie of the land? Or did the move to Sin City, complete with separate residences, give the ConTroller far more rope with which to hang himself? All of the above I'd say.

      Second, what I really struggle over is the story of the teens. I am mom to a teenage boy and academic adviser to a whole bunch more in their late teens and early twenties, and boy do I worry about the Brown kiss. Janelle really does her best I think; kudos to her. Logan is so weighed down by it all though; what choices does he really think he has. Maddy I think will be just fine; she's a survivor and strikes me as the toughest of the bunch in a good way. But does anybody ever go to watch Hunter play football? And what about the second group of teens? Will there be any money at all for their educations? The only person who gives a damn about these kids' educations is Janelle. College needs real planning on everybody's part, as most of us know. If kids need to put themselves through, and it is possible, though very tough, everybody needs to be on board as a support system. And the KonTroller's promises to Logan about an office etc are not support. I just can't understand why, as many of you suggested, the family would not choose in good faith to buy 4 condos or apartments together or a couple of houses. Then they could really invest in their kid's futures and put the money they are earning from the series into a college fund. I was so damned happy when the teens were in Boston chuntering about going to college there and now look at where Logan's at. Just another cruel Brown teaser. Logan, Maddy, Aspyn and all, if you are reading this, do your first two years locally, work on getting great grades, and then see if you can transfer a long way away. Or apply for financial need scholarships at good schools if your GPAs are high enough. Hunter, do you play well enough for an athletic scholarship. Go for it!

      Thanks for letting me get all of this off my chest. I'll be much briefer from now on.

      Delete
    5. We Welcome you Wicklow Girl!
      Great comments.
      1. Good question. I'm holding my thoughts to see how they behave next season. Either they are falling apart, or they did it to sell the book. Either way, not good.
      2. Couldn't agree more! To me it's about the children. They don't save a dime for it, I assume they think or already have someone paying for it.
      But, you might answer this, as a mother, when you saw the the religion wasn't right or working, wouldn't you tell your kids to RUN even if you were staying in?

      Delete
    6. Very good points! This blog is the best way to pass time...and finally someone sees the troll doll resemblance!!!!

      Delete
    7. Hello Wicklow Girl,
      Welcome aboard.
      Sorry but I have just one answer to your highly intelligent rational thinking...

      It's a cult. !

      No matter how much these folks claim to be just a plain old middle American family somewhere in the middle if the country...they are indeed very different. Their tough candy shell cracked under the bright lights quickly and the misogynistic mind control abuse ran all over. Not only in what they say but in their physical appearance. The blank hallow stares, their lowered heads and fake smiles cannot hide their eyes. Their eyes bare "testimony " to their real state of dysfunction.

      Delete
    8. Yes Lisasumms I think that is exactly it. And while I find cults fascinating I can't understand their allure. Maybe that's why we are all so mesmerized. This blog is really helpful though. It has cleared up a great deal for me. Thanks for the community. I am still learning to navigate properly so I started a new thread a few minutes ago instead if replying to Mister Sister within the thread already existing. But I'll get there! This is actually the first time I have ever felt moved to join an online community, and it isn't just the surgery. You are a great bunch! Tomorrow at 11.00 the Klan are going to be on Anderson Cooper with some ex-plygs! Check your tv schedules for local listings.

      Delete
    9. Wicklow Girl - fyi - that's an old rerun from last September that's on Cooper tomorrow. It's been replayed several times since then.

      Delete
  50. Right now, we all hate Kody and feel for the girls. Then next season they will all be lovey dovey. All the while, laughing with with book money.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KodyNeededViagraToMakeStrongSonsJune 28, 2012 at 2:05 PM

      I expect lots of lovey-dovey comments on Twitter and Facebook over the summer to combat that awful tell-all. This blog will not hurt for material in the off season.

      Delete
  51. Cynical Jinx, I am so proud that you read between the lines. Don't take this the wrong way, i mean it sincerely, Good Girl!
    Get the real story out.

    And a thanks to all who work the blog.

    ReplyDelete
  52. Did everyone notice what Meri & Robin were wearing for jewelry?

    ReplyDelete
  53. Some of us have asked about Janelle and why Kody doesn’t seem to be quite as mean and bullying with her – he is obviously still disrespectful by constantly telling anyone who listens that he and Janelle did not share a romantic marriage, it’s more of an intellectual relationship (which must be very one sided – lol). I think the reason he is not quite as nasty to Janelle is because of several things. She is the most employable of the group. In fact, for many years (as revealed in the book), she did the majority of the income-producing while Meri made about $600 a year and Kody’s ‘sales’ job has always been unclear or undocumented. Janelle mentions in the book that she and Meri fought about how Meri was in control of the budget while Janelle didn’t think this was fair since she was working to make the money. Word! And Meri and Kody would travel while Janelle stayed behind and worked. And she doesn’t ‘remember’ what the straw was that broke the camels back that made her leave? As Robyn would say “Bullcr*p!” Also, per the papers in the new posting on SWB, Janelle is also part owner of the house. Janelle, Meri and Kody’s names are on the deed. No mention of Christine. Janelle also birthed 5 sons for Kody, and most importantly the first son. And last but certainly not least, Janelle (for reasons that no one is quite sure) doesn’t seem to give Kody a run for his money. She plasters on an “I am so happy, I am gritting my teeth, but I am so happy” smile most of the time. She is simply keeping sweet. Christine has a little more spunk in her (or she used to, it’s been slipping away) and that makes him mad. And thus the verbal, mental and emotional abuse of Christine that we have seen this season. And who knows, there could be some physical violence going on – maybe Kody is the one who mangled up the front door on Christine’s house? I could see him becoming enraged and doing something like that.

    ReplyDelete
  54. I have to say I really think this is abuse, and it would not shock me to see that creap hit those women,
    sad very sad

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't u think those 3 big women could kick the shit out of him. Maybe thats what happen to his pants in Mexico.

      Delete
  55. I got to thinking this morning after reading this post again (thanks CJ for a great synopsis) about what transpired during the interview. I am convinced more than ever now that Meri wears the pants in the family. I think her comment to Natalie about being "too honest" sometimes was not because she cares for Christine. I think Meri is the driving force behind how they control their image. When Kody said those comments, it made Meri livid. I think that's why she called him on the carpet when she contradicted him for,where they were in their relationship (all time high/all time low). She was letting him know "You are cruisin for a bruisin when we get in the car." I bet she was so TICKED at Kody for showing a not so "keep sweet" moment to the public. So she punished him by not going along with his "we were in such a great place" b.s.. She let him know "I can take you down at any minute mister...you are walking on this ice." Of course, I could be reading way more into this, than is actually happening, but something strikes me that this is the way the deck is stacked.

    ReplyDelete
  56. What gets me is the complete lack of self awareness that these people have, and how contradictory they can be.

    Kody thinks he's too cool for school, and he really seems to think all of us at home watching think so too.

    They keep saying they are uncomfortable with tangible reminders of Kody's intimate relationship with other wives. So I wonder how the traveling cold sore rubs them.

    In Robin's wedding/honeymoon episode...they kept saying "No, I'm not jealous, absolutely not. I just can't understand why I am SO ANGRY!!!" I saw in that episode that these women's realities are built on a foundation of lies they tell themselves every day.

    I also get the feeling that Janelle has some secrets of her own. She seems to have checked out on them, and just smiles to herself a lot of the time like she's in her happy place. I wonder if she's playing nice until her master plan is ready to put into action.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would hope that when it's Kody's night at Janelle's, she takes the night off and goes out and does whatever she feels like doing and leaves him home to interact with the kids. I imagine she enjoys her dildo far more than she does him and there's no sex life anymore. Hopefully, she just retires early to her own bed and leaves him sleeping out on the couch. Or better yet, gives him permission that once she gets back home that night, he's free to go ahead and go back to Robyn's for the night. Meh... who cares. I'm sure Honey Bader Janelle doesn't give a shit.

      Delete
  57. I finally saw the Natalie Morales interview (re-runs on TLC)this morning and was horrified at how Kody and Meri treat everyone...the only good thing was how the older kids came across except for Mariah who is a clone of Meri. She's a meanie too. Sad....

    Interesting how the kids pick up on all the passive-aggressiveness going on. HUMMMM...

    ReplyDelete
  58. Wow, seems like Kody viscerally hates Christine. I'm starting to think that he wants her to leave him. How perfect would that drama be for season 3 AND then he could look around for a new wife # 4. I'll tell you if my husband went on national TV and stated how repulsed he was by me there would be a Jerry Springer moment happening!!!Poor/rich Christine has zero self respect,.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I agree. And he's no prize himself.

      Delete
  59. LookingforLaughterJune 28, 2012 at 3:17 PM

    To Ghostwriter above....remember Christine felt reading the other "wives" sections was too personal. She didn't want to "get in their head". So, let's recap. You share a man, you are supposedly just one big family, your kids are also their kids, you share money (that is still unclear), BUT you don't want in their heads??? They have either had way too much therapy or just enough to be dangerous. Also would like to add their grammar drives me up a wall. Sometimes it is "so and so and ME not so and so and I". I'll lose it if they start trying to use whom.

    ReplyDelete
  60. We DontUseChineseKidsBuyOur JunkJune 28, 2012 at 3:46 PM

    So glad I found this blog!
    Cynical Jinx wonderful post! I was tad disapointed to not see a picture of Nachos thrown in Kody's face and more snark, (not griping!)but your sympathy for the women, like them or not, is sensitive and gracious during this post, and turned my head around and made me see a different prospective. Wonder what they said afterward? I bet he sayed with Robyn that night, and she hasn't shown all her true colors yet. She appeases Meri to shut her up for Kody.

    Looking forward to more funny/snark onward bound! If they only realized that this blog, snark, takes them to the bank!

    ReplyDelete
  61. Serendipidydodala and a plate of nachosJune 28, 2012 at 3:52 PM

    Won't have time to read all the new comments til later tonight but just have to give a shout out to this blog! It's incredible, hilarious and on fire!!! Excellent job!!! Hey TLC, want a real audience pull?...follow up every episode of Sister Wives with a 30 minute commentary with the people from this blog.

    And whoever suggested a page where tshirt suggestions ideas could be posted....please please can we do that?? I've got a few ideas and I've seen several on here that are great...DakataJustice (I think that's the name) said in response to them "deserving" these houses , God isn't running the powerball lotto. I loved it!! I'd buy a shirt with that on it right now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A t-shirt that says "Hey Kody, I'm nacho wife!!!"

      Delete
  62. @ Wicklow GirlJune 28, 2012 2:52 PM
    Hi Wicklow Girl,

    Great thoughts. You wonder why it's falling apart all of a sudden. I don't have the answer to that but I suspected that things would fall apart eventually. I wasn't sure whether it would be during the taping of the show or after the whole circus show was over and the cameras move on. "Reality" show subjects have a habit of self-destruction and given the underlying dysfunction of polygamy, destruction seemed eminent nearly from the beginning. I hope 20 years down the road, we get an in-depth story of what happens to these people when the show is over--I don't think it'll be pretty.

    As far as the kids' education--yes, it would be great if they continued onto college. I hope they do. I think due to their limited financial and emotional resources, along with limitations placed on them from their culture, further education could suffer. Again, would be good to see 20 years from now.

    ReplyDelete
  63. So I have come up with an idea for their housing issue...
    Since Kody seems to be the only one that wants everyone together they should buy one large house with 7-10 bedrooms, in that house Kody can live with all of the kids.
    Then they can get 4 one bedroom apartments, one for each wife. Then which ever wife's night it is she stays in the big house with Kody and the kids. And also this way the wives can be separate from each other since they seems to prefer their own space.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lol. Oh now, the sheets, change the sheets!!!

      Delete
    2. He better have 4 mattresses to switch. I know they wouldn't want to sleep in same bed.

      Delete
    3. ick... sleeping in the same bed is only part of the problem. who wants to be one of 4 women sleeping in your own bed but with the same man as the other 3?? ick

      Kody has no problem w/these women all doing with him what he in no hell's way would likewise do with one of them!! That's too big of a "vulgarity" for him to imagine him being monogamous with only one woman and at the same time sharing her with 3 other men. OH PLEASE!! It should be equally vulgar to these women to do that with him as it is for him to ONLY IMAGINE doing that with one of them.

      Delete
  64. BewareOfThePlanetYouChooseJune 28, 2012 at 4:18 PM

    Finally figured out you can just put any name in NaMe! Long time anonymous poster.
    It will be interesting, will it not, how it's played out.
    It makes me mad in a way, to think they told her to ask hard questions, soas to sell the books.
    They certainly aren't selling the religion, which they seem to have forgotten. Loved it when someone posted on another post, the song, "Losing my Religion" That's me in the corner... spotlight.....
    That is sad to me, in one way. Christine pushed her contacts to get them on a show, as an example, and her "nothusband" is making a mockery of it. On the other hand, if one of the women would get brave, and have some support, they would get out NOW, I mean now, and marry a proper AUB church goer. I wish there was an AUB insider or ex one on here. Did I miss one?

    ReplyDelete
  65. Kody Brown is the walking definition of a DOUCHEBAG!

    A douchebag:

    1. is TOXIC

    2. is UNNECESSARY

    and, most importantly,

    3. should NEVER, EVER BE ALLOWED NEAR ANYONE'S GENITALS!

    ReplyDelete
  66. Sick of SociopathsJune 28, 2012 at 4:37 PM

    Has anyone else noticed that this season Kody seems to be turning into Jethro Bodine? ( from the Beverly Hillbillies) He keeps talking about dirt farms and those hicks from Utah. He even attacked his own brother for ordering ranch dressing. So this is the cultured Kody? I think I would prefer to be a hick than to emulate you. Also I think TLC should pay the creators of this blog, CynicalJynx, Mister Sister and the others 75k a show because without it I probably wouldn't watch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LookingforLaughterJune 28, 2012 at 5:13 PM

      They did sort of load up the truck and move to Beverly, Hills that is...

      Delete
  67. This interview did not surprise me. I have read a lot of books on polygamy and this family seems to follow the same patterns of jealousy, power struggles, vindictiveness and abuse as all the others. I knew they would eventually show their true colors. It's not an easy lifestyle for these sisterwives and for them to portray it as a sweet fuzzy little life of love and unity is either total denial or flat out fraud. Great blog, by the way. I'm having fun reading the comments.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Thanks for the welcome Mister Sister! Delighted to be on board. And sorry for my typos. My surgery was on my right arm and hand so typing is a 2-fingered exercise.

    Re your question, yes absolutely, I'd love to see the moms spare the children the "religion"/lifestyle. What I saw going on in Ireland growing up was enough to have me and my husband make the choice to raise our son without any organized religion. He felt a little bit left out when his friends were making their Holy Communions and Bar Mitzvahs, but now he more than gets it, and we continue to hold regular dinner-table conversations about how one can live a morally centered, principled, examined life without belonging to a church. Had he decided to join a church once he was old enough to make the choice, we would not have stood in his way. We are really lucky to live in New England I think. It's a pretty tolerant place and he's an "academic brat." I teach at a big college and he is exposed to all sorts of povs
    But back to Janelle. To be fair, I think she has already made some real efforts to loosen the chains that bind her kids, and it shows. Unless I missed something, she did not work on Logan to stay. And she is the most gung-ho on education. But I am guessing that even she has strayed as far as she dares. I am still upset that The KonTroller's shut down her gym plans. She is the only one who does understand finance, as even he admits????? But FF might have given her too much power?

    ReplyDelete
  69. Does anyone ever think maybe janelle is happy because for the first time she has her own home and not stuck up meris but?? Plus with no romantic telationship shes doesnt care if she sees kody one day a week or not She really has the best situation of the four. I just wish she could focus on hetself some. She seems like a nice person.

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  70. i think we all saw the reason either last night or last sunday night why the browns do NOT do interviews that are not "rehearsed." i imagine it is not airing on tlc or on their website bc the browns need some damage control badly if they want us to continue to believe this is a happy, healthy relationship. i don't even want to make fun of christine anymore. i think it's obvious that she stays because she truly believes her soul will be in trouble. religion is a powerful pull, how many monogomous christian marriages only stay together because divorce is a sin? or they don't want to split up a family? christine is not dumb, she is a true sacrificer for her family and her children. i see janelle the same way. i just wish they would realize that the situation they are in now could be so much better, and the will still go to heaven!! i'm also not sure about aub, but flds rules are the wife is free to leave, but the children stay. kody acts like meri is his mom, robyn is his interest, and christine and janelle are just there to make money and provide childcare. i also really resent meri constantly using her infertility as an excuse. yes i do sympathize, bc i can't imagine how i would feel if i were unable to conceive on my own, but stop making others feel guilty because they can! no more live or hard news interviews for us, i think now they will really start cutting back on any public promotion. they are too vulnerable when it comes to answering the "real" questions. that's why they wrote the book, so they could give their story without having to explain or justify any actions. only no one bought the book, so they had to promote the book, with questions that could be found answered in the book...anyway, that is just my personal opinion. we will not be hearing or seeing the kody brown krew until time for a new season. great review it was well worth the wait!!!

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  71. Thank you for this amazing review!

    Haven't been able to see the interview yet (hope to be able to find it somewhere soon).

    From what I'm gathering, it seems like Kody wants Christine to leave him.

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  72. LookingforLaughterJune 28, 2012 at 5:12 PM

    I love this blog, and I will keep watching that train wreck...but am I the only one that has considered that possibly there is no abuse, manipulation, no deep reasons why these unhappy women stay with this idiot EXCEPT for the fact they have all fallen into (in their minds) the greatest money making scheme of their lives?? Maybe all the painful looks, the remarks about lack of food, the drama is just all part of it. Purposely or not they have made us all want to know what is in the book. We buy, they make money! They certainly know enough about the polyg lifestyle to play the part. We all can agree the religious part is out the window. They don't even pretend that part anymore. Now they are all but posting an address to send money to. You don't have to be educated or even really smart to be a crook. Just a thought. I'd like to really get some feedback on this, unlike Baldy who wants NO feedback unless it is praise. LOL

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    1. I've thought about that too, but i cant see a major network like fox exploiting children for drama...oh wait, except for Jon and kate :)

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    2. I think some of the Browns take the "religion" more seriously than others.

      Whether they're serious about the religion or not, it's acually part of the fundamentalist mormon culture to creatively acquire money. That includes welfare, bankruptcies, multi-level marketing schemes, creative ways to avoid paying taxes, creative ways to avoid collection of debt they owe, child labor, stealing, etc., etc., etc. I'm not saying the Browns have particpated in all of that but just that the culture promotes it. It's par for the course. Just part of who they were trained to be.

      Wish I could help give you some laughter. I find myself too serious about this subject to be funny. Maybe someday when the abuses are in check I'll lighten up.

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    3. p.s. I highly doubt I would ever buy anything they're marketing...to include their book. Perhaps if one of those poor ladies leaves and ends up doing a behind-the-scenes tell-all book, I would consider buying that. But while they're promoting their "lifestyle" I take their words with a boulder of salt.

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    4. Glad I found this blog, watching Sister Wives is like watching a train wreck in slow motion. I don't even want to admit to people that I watch it. As I watched the show I almost thought they might really be happy in this lifestyle but after watching the interview they all seemed so sad but I think they are all just "stuck" now. For 3 women who claim to want to start a gym why have they not lost any weight? I think they are all turning to food for comfort because they all realize they have hitched themselves to a man who does not really love them he loves himself. I think Janelle is the smartest one of the bunch, Meri is secretly manipulative, Christine is the only one who has a clue that Kody is not all that he is cracked up to be and Robyn is just plain weird, maybe all her crying is because she realizes she has married into a strange, dysfunctional family

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  73. This is what he wants. Be in front of the TV displaying his charismatic personality. Too bad he can't read well.

    I'm sure he wouldn't mind paparazzi following and taking pictures of him like they did with Kate Gosslin.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlnxhXTbWQU&feature=relmfu

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  74. I would love to see the interview footage that didn't make the final cut. I wish they would've discussed more of Robyns history instead of that stupid She-Ra thing. I thought Janelle really held her own this time. She looked annoyed with Kody and Meri the whole time and stuck up for herself while trying to be diplomatic. I think Janelle is the only one who understands that their kids are gonna see this stuff and read the book, which really makes me sad for Christine's daughters. And could Kody have defended Meri anymore?! I'm over hearing about how sad it is for her that she can't have anymore children. Yes, it's horrible and as a woman I feel for her, but she's let this define her whole life it seems like. Makes me wonder how she effectively works with at risk youth. How can you teach people to overcome hardships in their life when you can't deal with your own issues and project those problems on your family? The Browns might be different from other polygamists in the sense of the way they dress and they seem to have normal kids, but they're beyond delusional if they think they don't have the same disfunctional traits. The women are uncontrollably jealous, vindictive, catty, and the only way they "hide" it by pretending to "keep sweet". There are SO MANY similarities between what I've seen and read from this family and what Carolyn Jessop describes in her book about living in the FLDS. It amazes me.

    Also, for as many pregnancies and children as Kody's been witness to, I'm appalled at how horrible he is at dealing with a wife who has post partum depression. In the book Janelle never made mention, that I remember, of why she moved out of the shared home, but in the interview she revealed that after her 5th child she suffered from PPD and had come to the end of her rope. Bravo Janelle for realizing you needed to take the kids and go get mentally healthy. Too bad you can't realize that strength again and leave. It's obvious that Meri bullies the wives when they come home with a new baby and need help. She's punishing them for what she can't do; Janelle even more because she's the smartest of them all and she has birthed twice as many boys as the other wives combined. I also think that's why Kody is so mean towards Christine because she only has one son to give him, and who cares about daughters right? Robyn needs to stop being so desperate and kissing Meri's ass. It's time to realize that she's not going to accept your surrogacy offer and instead punish you when you have more children.

    And is it just me, or does anyone else think that Marriah came from "Christine's pile", as the sister wives like to say? She seems so content to pretend like she doesn't notice the passive agressiveness between the adults, whereas all the other teenagers notice? And to her polygamy is all ponies and rainbows? Poor girl.

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  75. Who thinks next season will have a date with Christine and Kody eating nachos?

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  76. Going back to the topic at the top of this thread about the "18 yo courted girl" - another reason it may have been Meri's sister is her reaction about the kids going to the 2nd wife. Perhaps her tears were because Meri believes that SHE should have gotten those kids as a "real" relative but their twisted lifestyle didn't allow for that.

    My heart hurts so much for Christine & Janelle. I am stunned by Kody's maliciousness. As someone said just above, it's the total lack of self awareness that is mind boggling. I wonder if they keep projecting how this lifestyle helps them to be better women is ego driven. They truly fell victim to the "celebrity status" they have now. Unfortunately there will always be a select group of people that will support them, same as Kate Gosselin. Their "religion" has been cast aside except to justify Kody sleeping around. I would LOVE to see more of the real interviews asking the real questions.

    Hurray for the kids that are seeing the light about polygamy! If the move to Vegas accomplished one good thing, it's to open their eyes to "normal" living and deserving the complete love & devotion of a spouse, not being "shared". I'm most surprised at Janelle who actually CHOSE this. I'd love to know exactly what it was about allowing your husband to sleep with multiple women, become a baby machine, and suppress the heartfelt feelings every women has, that "spoke" to her? Seriously? If she were going to investigate another religion she should have kept right on going and chosen one where SHE is the sole object of someone else's devotion. I would tell her and Christine that my definition of love is putting your spouse's feelings of love and happiness ABOVE your own and that it should be reciprocal. I have been happily married to the same wonderful man for 34 years so I believe I can speak from experience. Ladies, think about what you are missing here....please. And not to mention the effects on your children who ALSO should be placed ABOVE the feelings of the father.

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    1. thank god, meri didn't get her sister's kids, i think. they were able to stay with their dad and i'm sure in a much less chaotic household than what they probably have been raised in. I 'd like to hope so anyway. Besides, Meri doesn't mention having a close relationship ever with them anyway. She doesn't even have a close one with her own bonus kids!

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  77. Serendipidydodala and a plate of nachosJune 28, 2012 at 7:43 PM

    People are attracted to others for lots of reasons. Usually initially it's often physical but not always. If Kody had said he was initially attracted to Christine for her personality, her humor, her kindness and the physical attraction grew from that he could have added some depth to his character. I don't expect that from him, of course, but yeesh someone could have fed him that line before the one on one so he could save his sweaty arse. Hey Kody, you need a better handler...I'm looking for a job.

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  78. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  79. Love the Review and all the comments. do you think this was a ploy for book sales and pity from their loved ones, or the REAL DEAL.
    So many, like Real Housewives, are so scripted, and Kody even slipped and said this wasn't rehearsed.
    Did we actaully see a real side of Kody.
    I DON'T believe for one minute that ROBYN is MERI'S sister wife soulmate. She has proven to be a good liar, and always cries when Meri cries, it's all too fake. Meri's been duped.

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  80. I REALLY love this blog and spend hours on it. You guys have done a wonderful job. this blog has made me start to research this 'Lifechoice' and what I've found scares the crap out of me. When the show came out I watched a few episodes and tried to be open minded and not hypocritical b/c of the way my mom raised me. ( She raised me alone without child support and welfare.) Which I' m sure. Has a lot to do with the way I think about most of the religions that are oppressive to women. Anyway, I am glad that I found this blog b/c the few episodes I watched I was actually starting to think that polygamy might not be as bad as I was led to believe. after your reviews and comments and from the research I've done I have certainly came back to my first impression. this religion is of no benefit to anyone but the man. And it makes me sick!!!!! as soon as I get the money I am going to buy some of the books I Have been seeing people talk about on here. I think the one I will get first is by Carolyn Jessop. I think it's called Escape. Do any of you have more suggestions? Sorry about my composition but I suck at typing, wording and punctuation.

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    1. Shattered Dreams by Irene Spencer

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    2. Also, the library is a great source. If they don't have it, they can often borrow it for you.

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  81. Dit it ever occur to any of you that tv shows like this were not made for people like us. That do not like to take things at face value? And like to do their own research. Lol.

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  82. I keep catching myself thinking that in the interview, Meri's face looked different somehow. I was trying to figure out a way to put my finger on it and all that came to mind was that she reminded me of the Whoville characters in the Grinch movie with Jim Carrey. I'm honestly not trying to be mean by saying that, I think it's that they made the actors up with puffy faces and maybe her face is puffier than normal? Maybe she's just gaining weight and it's showing up there.

    Wonder if Meri or Robyn did Christine's makeup - because whoever did that to her had it out for her.

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  83. Great re-cap!

    I LOVED this interview and all the squirming that the Natalie was able to evoke by her questions!

    I would just like to point out the absolutely terrible make up job that both Christine and Janelle had for the interview! They are the two most attractive of the 4 wives, but the amount of make up they wore during the interview made them look like clowns! I just kept thinking that Christine looked like Robin Williams dressed up as Mrs. Doubtfire!

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  84. I think the tough interview was for book sales. The book is pretty mild. Even when KODY mentioned the nachos in the book, he was in noway as hurtful as in the book. He was already nauseous when she bought them. I guess he was so brutal for sales. These women arent going anywhere, K & C have already made up. And having separate homes makes iteasier for these women to continue.
    Even in the beginning J moved out but she really didnt leave. Kody came to her new place,she dropped the kids off everyday with M&C, plus spent weekends together. So she didnt leave the family just got her own place.

    These women have spent all there lives with this their not leaving.

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  85. I try to keep up reading most of the comments on here, but this week, I have fallen behind, so please forgive me if what I say has already been said...couple things: seems to me it's in Kody's best interest to placate and stand up for Meri as he has the most to lose if she jumps this mess of a ship....also, he is pushing for Meri to have another baby (by any means) because with Mariah leaving Meri's nest soon, does he feel another baby will tie Meri down to him?? Otherwise, when Mariah leaves for college, Meri will be much more free than the other wives...Also, as far as why Janelle and Christine didn't offer to be Meri's surrogate (as far as we know), why would they offer that sacrifice to someone who was nothing but mean and cruel to them?? Robyn probably doesn't the same Meri as Janelle and Christine do, and/or Robyn was trying to please Kody with the surrogate offer to Meri...there is so much dysfunction going here, it's hard to unravel most of it....I've said it before, I feel badly for the kids, but Janelle's kids seem to be very aware of the mess that polygamy makes of a family, emotions, lives and hearts....

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  86. Kody lie #999:

    TV TELL ALL- to say he was "not physically attracted to Christine" was an understatement.
    BOOK- 1st meeting Christine he thought she was "very cute with a bubbly personality".

    Kody lie #1000:

    TV TELL ALL- not romantically attracted to Janelle
    BOOK- "I couldn’t help notice that in addition to her first-rate mind, I found her extremely attractive".

    Make up your mind Kodouche! I think he got the buzz with these 2 but clearly Meri didn't.

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