Flashback three years ago, the Lehi season. Pre-Vegas move. Pre-Robyn marriage. Kody was a shaggy-haired dude who drove a Lexus sportscar, and had a job.
He even wore a business suit with a tie.
Flashforward to 8 months ago. This is the "current" time period for this season of Sister Wives. In Vegas for two years, a shaggy-haired, sandal wearing, disheveled Kody has plunked his four wives and 17 children into four massive McMansions, located in a semi-secluded gated cul-de-sac.
But it wouldn't be a Sister Wives episode without some totally unnecessary suspense, so the story line is...even though their credit is kind of shaky (with Robyn's credit being the shakiest of all according to the credit repair guy featured on the show last season) they mysteriously have all qualified for mortgages - almost $2 million dollars worth surprisingly enough.
But here's the problem. Because Meri and Kody did not submit their paperwork in time, only Janelle, Robyn and Christine will be moving into the cul-de-sac by Christmas.
OOPPSIES!!!!
Anyway, this week's episode chronicles the move of three wives, a late Christmas celebration, two cheating wives, one wife learning that karma can be a bitch and a spoiled child whose meltdown was not only over-dramatic but could burn crepes, too. Oh yeah, and a Christmas Surprise from Robyn.
Let's begin, shall we?
It is moving day for the wives. Surprisingly, every one helps out, including Robyn. Somehow I always thought she would have some excuse not to do manual labor, for instance, moving boxes would ruin her manicure or she needed to be available to feed Sol or something. But no, there she was front and center, helping out with all the rest.
Of course, the Browns just have to mention the FLDS and Warren Jeffs. Really, we already know the Browns are AUB (even though they don't mention it) with no affiliation to FLDS.
Kind of reminds me of the CPAC lady from Polygamy, USA who was so vocal that they were never part of the FLDS. I guess fundamentalist Mormons are a bit touchy about these things.
But when Kody announced in a couch interview that the cul-de-sac, with its gated entry and high block fence looked like a compound, Christine had a fit. "Don't say that!" she yelled at him during the couch interview. Even Janelle agreed, it does look like a polygamist compound.
 |
| The outer wall of the cul-de-sac |
The FLDS compound in Colorado City (where Warren Jeffs lived and housed his many wives) is surrounded by a cement wall, and so is the cul-de-sac. Entry to the FLDS compound is only through a gate, and guess what? The same entry for the cul-de-sac.
 |
| FLDS Compound in Colorado City |
.
Oh, and by the way Christine... from Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Definition of COMPOUND
: a fenced or walled-in area containing a group of buildings and especially residences
For example, the Kennedy Family Compound on Martha's Vineyard, or perhaps the Vanderbilt or Rockefeller Compounds. How about the George HW Bush Compound in Kennebunkport? So I guess being stereotyped as living in a compound can be a positive. You're in good company with people who own real mansions.
I rest my case.
Christine needs to build a bridge and get over it. Sheesh.
Back to Sister Wives.
Mariah's Meltdown or It Smells Like Teen Angst Just Burnt the Crepes!
Come on everyone. You're seventeen years old, you're not an adult but you want to be, while at the same time you're scared to death of leaving the relative security of home, family and high school in a few short months for college.
Add to that mixture your parents are polygamists AND you're living in a monogamist society far away from your Church and other families just like yours. Plus you have a mother who doesn't keep promises, and a father who acts like he's a kewl surfer dude but you know he's just a poseur.
I bet you would have a bit of a meltdown, too.
I'll make this short, yet ever so sweet. Mariah, like many teens her age, feels that it's not right and not fair that her mother, her dad's legal wife, has not been approved for her house yet.
In her own words, she is pissed. Teen angst personified.
Some of her best scenes:
Here's Mariah sitting in her car like a zombie, ignoring her mother except to emphatically scream "I'm Pissed!" at the appropriate time.
In this scene with her Dad, Mariah practices the look Bette used in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, just before she brought her sister Blanche a wholesome lunch of grilled parakeet on tomato slices. Notice the quivering lips.
Last, the piece de resistance. Mariah's crepes she allowed to smolder slowly into a burnt mess. Death by sterno. What a horrible way to go!
It's January 2nd, the day the Browns celebrated Christmas. Lovely Savanah waits patiently for the rest of her extensive family to wake up. Lucky for her, Meri was up, so they ran hand in hand to each wife's house to wake everybody up so they could open their presents.
Sorry Kody. Just because you used a phrase coined by former President Bush (the elder), you will not be invited to stay at his Kennebunkport compound.
And I wonder if Kody was also shocked and awed by that hospital lien put on Robyn's house. Hmmmm...
But that doesn't stop Kody from giving his annual God Wanted Us to Live in McMansions speech. Notice how his family have become mesmerized by the dulcet tones of his voice.
Meri does not look amused. She's thinking "Will I ever get to move into my McMansion?"
The Caramel Caper
About a week earlier, Kody announced to his wives that his mother would not be making her Christmas Day caramels. In typical Kody fashion (no doubt scripted by F8F), Kody grandly announces he will hold a contest. The wife who prepares a batch of caramel that tastes most like his mother's, wins. What the wife wins, I have no clue. The wives didn't either, and did not look very happy.
Janelle lucked out in that her mother Sheryl was staying with her. Since Sheryl is Kody's mother's sister wife, Janelle figured she had the win for sure.Christine, on the other hand, was working alone. As the more accomplished cook in the family, she went through 5 batches before deciding on the perfect one to present to Kody for his consideration.
Robyn and Meri worked as a team. They decided to take the easy way out by going to a shop and buying out their stash of caramels. After smooshing them up to look homemade, they presented their caramels for Kody to taste.Is this sounding a lot like the Goldilocks and the Three Bears?
Kody tasted the first batch. Sorry Janelle, but it didn't taste like his mother's.
Kody tasted the second batch. Sorry Meri and Robyn. Cheaters never win. Kody could taste the amaretto.Kody tasted the third batch...Ahhhh... this was like his mother's.
Congrats Christine! Don't know what you won but I hope you like it!
Meri Finally Gets Her Key In Pictures
Good News for Meri! Mona drops by and leaves her the keys to her McMansion!
A happy Meri and Kody drive to Mariah's job to present her with her own key to the McMansion!
A happy Mariah fondles her key while giggling hysterically. I'm not sure if she was genuinely happy to finally get her key, or she was just embarrassed by that thing she had wrapped around her neck. In any event, her boss worked her shift and Mariah was free to go home and celebrate with her mom and dad in their new McMansion.
That's all for now!
Thank you!!! Why is your review so much funnier and better than the actual show? I had to turn it off the other night, but you gave me a good entertaining laugh!
ReplyDeleteWhat matters is Mariah is 16 or older, a license driver, and should not be behind the wheel, in the middle of the street, in a residential area with kids, pissed off. If she is pissed off she should be standing on the sidewalk facing the house or at least parked.
DeleteI think compound has multiple definitions. I don't blame christine for being upset by the word compound.
Mariah working and then coming is was totally staged. Kody said your mom called your boss today, it was night time when the keys came over and they raced to her work. I'm sure she knew. But it's great she works and it's great she got out of it for the first boxes of moving in. Working and extra seminary class and honor society. All great things.
i agree that the whole mariah being at work when they gave her the key was staged, and staged very badly if you ask me. for someone that was so upset that they weren't in their house that reaction was totally staged. and how everyone was laughing the entire time and how they were acting it wasn't very convincing at all.
DeleteI doubt Mariah was going anywhere with a cameraman in the passenger side window taping her.
DeleteIt was all staged folks. All for the show. And yes, Annabug Wilkins, Mariah is a very bad actress! (even when channeling Bette Davis)
And you are correct, kms. There are several definitions for the word compound, but the one that pertains to how Kody was using it, is the definition I showed.
I have watched the show on and off and tuned in last night to watch Robyn's performance and the interview with the kids. I don't think I can stomach watching this show anymore due to Kody. His posturing, hair flipping, overly dramatic facial expressions when the wives are talking makes me ill. It is so incredibly fake and a way to draw attention to himself. This is clearly an ADHD adult. When he was digging a hole in the backyard and asking Meri to have another baby, he was jumping all over the place like a child. I have been married to a man like this and it comes down to everything being about him. As soon as he gets bored, there will be another wife. I don't see this having anything to do about religion but a narcissistic man.
DeleteAs for the woman, they seem to be genuinely brainwashed by this guy. They aren't stupid but I am guessing have their own childhood issues of possibly abandonment and neglect that justify being a wife with this clown while he sleeps with other women. Let's face it, the sexual aspect is what intrigues people watching the show. They even used it in the latest episode during Robyn's sermon. Regarding that episode, give me a break and Kody's expression while she was speaking was sickening. He is supposed to feel compassionate and sad that she was with another man when he is sleeping with four woman? I would love to see him interviewed by a confident, smart and independent woman.
I will be interested to see if this gets posted or if this site is being screened.
I have a M.S. and work in pediatric therapy. I was also a science teacher. Not bragging but have experience working with children and this juvenile behavior by this man compelled me to write.
Are any of these women college educated? They seem to have a respect for education but are limited themselves as to a realistic view of relationships and men. Having both a wonderful man and an education makes me think they don't know what is missing in this mess.
DeleteIt puzzles me that Mona has the keys without a bank officer present to sign the mortgage documents. When we got our house, we definitely had the loan officer overseeing this process. Our real estate agent was present, but was not the one doing the talking. This must be a very different style of loan indeed.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure this was all staged - they probably received their keys and signed the mortgage documents in an office but there wasn't enough drama for the cameras so someone came up with Mona delivering the keys. Reality TV is not reality!
DeleteIm not sure if it was staged. When we bought our house we signed all our paperwork about two days before we got out keys. We were told the deed needed to record and funds trabsferred our realtor would call us. Once that happened we got a call from the realtor and just went to pick up our keys, everything had been signed before then
DeleteI noticed that when Meri was talking to Kody about Mariah she was carrying Salvation Army boxes (2) into her house. Are they receiving food help? That's just a stunner to me.
DeleteI don't believe so. I think they borrowed the boxes.
DeleteKody knows how to push buttons. With "compound" and "stay sweet" in his general vocabulary, one is aware that these people are not "just like us."
ReplyDeletePerhaps I am not seeing this picture with the correct perspective, but it looks to me as though there could be room for a 5th house on the "Cuddle Sac." There are two houses on the right. There is only one on the left. Meri's house is at the end. Would there not be room for the extra wife on the left. That would certainly keep the series alive for a while. If it happens, I hope it is not anyone anywhere close to his kids' ages.
ReplyDeleteActually there are two houses on the left - Robyn's and another that was the first house built in the cul-de-sac and is of a totally different design. It reminds me of a wedding cake the way the floors are stacked on top of each other. If you look here, you'll see it. It is lot #5 and it faces the gates.
DeleteWhat's Happening with those Houses: Part Deux
Wow, I would hate to own the only house in the Cuddlesac Compound that is not a part of Kody and crew. I wonder if the person who owned it has sold, or if they still are sharing the space.
DeleteThere are a total of 9 lots in that gated community of which the Browns only own 4. So that means 5 houses are could be considered neighbors of the Browns.
DeleteMaybe I'm blind but I can't see a 5th house in this Cul-de-sac. And the lots aren't that deep. Doesn't it seem unlikely they would buy 4 lots that weren't sharing property lines?
DeleteThere are actually 9 homes in this double cul-de-sac.
DeleteI am trying to be sure that I understand this set up. There are 9 houses in the double cul-de-sac. Are there 5 on the Brown's side and 4 on the othe half? Or are there only 4 houses on the Brown's part of the cul-de-sac?
DeleteIt's actually a double cul-de-sac like Mister Sister said. At the Brown's end of the cul-de-sac are their 4 houses. The other end has an additional 4 houses. In the middle is still another house. So there are 9 homes total.
DeleteIf you click on the link I provided above (What's Happening with those Houses), you will see what we're talking about.
Thank you Cynical Jinx! You do a good job guiding a lot of us confused ones.
DeleteLove this review! I'm obsessed with this blog and only watch SW to keep up with all the comments here. The Browns are without a doubt regular readers (contributors?) and would be well served to take some of the lighthearted attitude from here and incorporate it into the show.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait for Robyn's big church confession tonight.
Kristen
Tomorrow night.
DeleteAnyone notice Kody told Mariah to keep sweet? Not verbatim, but close.
ReplyDeleteI kind of cringed when I saw that, knowing FLDS interpretations of that term, although to a point I think kids should learn that just because they are disappointed doesn't mean that they have to ruin things for others and stomp around.
DeleteI cringed too! I agree that kids should be taught to be kind and to think of others, but I don't think they should be taught to suppress their feelings. To me, that seems to be what the whole "keep sweet" thing is about in polygamy - if you're upset (because your husband is sleeping with other women and you have tons of extra work because he's not there to help you with the house), just put a happy face on and pretend that you're okay and everything's okay. Being kind and unselfish is one thing, but with the implications of staying "sweet" in the polygamous culture, I was feeling really icked-out by that conversation.
DeleteCJ, Terrific review, as always !!
ReplyDeleteYou are to reviews as a seamstress is to cloth.
Especially pointed is your opening observation about the suit-wearing, job-holding Kodydude of the Lehi, pre-Sobbin days compared to his current Vegas version.
Hard to miss what fame and fortune brought out in Kody.
A lazy, egocentric form of entitlement.
Its terrible what Vegas will do to a rock star! Just look at Elvis. Thats whats happening to the Kodemeister--he's in his long haired, grow a gut phase. Next season he'll be wearing sequined jumpsuits and growing sideburns. Kody is now Kelvis!!!
DeleteWhat do you say that we extend the name of the Cuddle Sac to the Cuddle Sac Compound. This group isn't FLDS, the Kingstons, or any of the others. They are no longer able to be physiclly close to the
ReplyDeleteAUB. Perhaps they are the CSC.
actually i like CULT-DE-SAC better. yeah, CULT-DE-SAC COMPOUND works for me! :)
DeleteWhen we built our home my husband and I did 90% of the electrical work ourselves, painted all of the walls, and many other tasks. We both were working full-time and our daughters were in elementary school. I worked 16 hr. days for at least 8 months. The biggest bonus was our children knew how hard we were working to give them a nicer home. Now both girls work hard to provide for themselves. I don't think these kids have gotten that message.
ReplyDeleteI disagree. Notice that Mariah was at her job. I found it sad SHE was working. ..yet none of her four parents have bothered to seek employment. :/
DeleteI keep reading about the hospital lien on Robin. When was that and what did she do about it?
ReplyDeleteAwesome read as usual! Love it! I'll comment more but that lien is bugging me. I can't find out when that happened.
I agree! What in the heck is this lein thing...
Deletehttp://sisterwivesblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/discussion-page-for-8913-with-some-more.html?showComment=1376168195194#c1982037294282028623
DeleteNow I am singing in my head that 80's song... Bette Davis Eyes!
ReplyDeleteCan anyone explain the relationship between Janelle's mother and Kody's mother? If they are sister wives than are Janelle and Kody half siblings with the same father?
ReplyDeleteWhen Janelle was in Wyoming trying to find herself on Winn Brown's land (Kody's father), her mother (who was not married then) went to Wyoming to make sure she was OK. While her mother was there, she decided to become polygamist and was spiritually married to Kody's father. She then became a sister wife to Kody's mother.
DeleteJanelle's father was some other man. Janelle is not related to Kody.
I wonder how Janelle felt at that time. Her mother cam to save her from being sucked into a polygamous lifestyle, and ended up joining this cult first. I would have had fits. Just because I want to do something dumb doesn't mean that I would want my mother to do it also.
DeleteAnon 2:07...Read their book Becoming Sister Wives. I wouldn't call it best seller material, however it does answer questions like Janelle's mom becoming a plyg, Janelle's previous marriage to Meri's brother, when Janelle once took the kids and left Kody, when Kody admitted that he wasn't attracted to Christine because of the way she ate nachos, a mystery woman that Meri and Kody were courting after they got married, and nothing interesting about Robyn etc etc. Its entertaining to say the least.
Deletei'm a voracious reader. but i couldn't finish this less than credible snoozefest of a book. it was confusingly disjointed to say the least. and boring. probably only the 2nd or 3rd book i never bothered to finish in 50+years of habitual reading. glad i read what i did tho for free and didn't buy it!
DeleteGlad I didn't buy it; made that mistake with Fifty Shades of Grey which was on the 4th grade level. Are any of these women college educated?
DeleteI love it! Your review is spot on. I am surprised you didn't mention Meri's admition that she acts just like Mariah and she recognises that she does. I thought that was golden. I was shocked and awed by Kody manning up and calling Meri out on her childish over the top behavior. About time!
ReplyDeleteMeri did show a spot of self awareness in that scene. It made me smile. I didn't think she had it in her to own up to her BS.
DeleteThese children are really to be pitied. They are caught up in something they cannot begin to imagine. The teen agers may well be old enough to be a part of this, but the embarrassment they will feel later in life is sad. The producers seem to have thrown one teen-ager under the bus. They should not be allowed to do this. Meri and Kody, you are parents. Do not be so hungry for the money that you allow your daughter to be used.
ReplyDeleteIt puzzles me that Mona has the keys without a bank officer present to sign the mortgage documents. When we got our house, we definitely had the loan officer overseeing this process. Our real estate agent was present, but was not the one doing the talking. This must be a very different style of loan indeed.
ReplyDeleteI bought a house long distance. I was in 1 state and the house I was buying was in another one and I couldn't be present for closing. I appointed my realtor as my authorized representative (done quite often) and he signed all the paperwork for me. It seems kind of silly to me since they're right there in the city, but it sounds like the various Brown wives did something similar - (maybe Mona was their representative?).
Did you need to sign bank documents when you did this. I am aware that the realtor can sign for the house, but for your loan?
DeleteThinking about the delivering of the keys again, it was obviously staged for the camera. They probably signed the documents days before the filming. The chances of the keys really being delivered while the camera crew is there are slim. So it is no wonder that it seemed odd, it was just a mock up for the show.
DeleteDid you need to sign bank documents when you did this. I am aware that the realtor can sign for the house, but for your loan?
DeleteI signed loan documents a few days prior to the actual closing date via fax and monies exchanged hands with a wire transfer. Nobody on the side of the house I was buying ever saw me in person. It still makes no sense to me that since the Browns are right there in the same city, that they didn't do it in person --- unless they did.
Maybe they signed all the documents in advance and it was just a formality that they had to wait for everything to be signed and OK'd and when that happened, Mona simply dropped off their copies of the paperwork and the keys and it was all over.
I'm new here. Thank you for all the great reading! I especially love all the comments from people who are clearly thinking the same things I am! I'm sure this is asked frequently, so I apologize, but is there are glossary/dictionary for definition of all the acronyms? I've figured most of them out, but some like F8F and AUB I'm still not sure about. Thx!!
ReplyDeleteAUB = Apostolic United Brethren. The polygamist group that the Brown clann belong to.
Deleteand F8F stands for Figure Eight Films. That is the company that produces Sister Wives (and several other reality based tv series).
DeleteChristine won the right to "truly deserve to be HIS wife." However, when she won the caramel contest he said, "I told you that you couldn't win!" It seemed all in fun but it's typical Kody to take a dig at Christine reminding her that she isn't his favorite wife.
ReplyDeleteKody does say a lot of things that he thinks may be funny but in reality they sounds terrible! a contest to see who deserved to be his wife? i would have refused to even be a part of that if my husband said that to be. also in the clip that CJ posted yesterday while he was digging the whole she said something like 'none of my kids are out here helping me, i dont have any children, they're all dead to me'. what kind of father would ever say that his children are dead to him even as a joke?!?
DeleteI agree, Kody should have been proud of Christine for trying to perfect the recipe and complimented her in front of everyone! He only had eyes for Meri and Robyn during the entire ordeal. Christine and Janelle deserve better.
DeleteNS
I noticed a bag of Pretzel Chips (blue bag) in the one of kitchen scenes of the caramel tasting. I love them and buy them a lot. I also like caramels. That's as far as sharing the same taste goes. I can't stomach Kody.
ReplyDeleteIf Robyn had taken the caramel cooking contest more like Christine's caramel cooking contest committment, and if she had won, you better believe that the douche would have made a big deal about his favorite wife's cooking ability. His barely acknowledgement of Christine's cooking ability seemed to be another way that he devalues her. But, since he isn't getting any smaller, my bet is he takes his meals with Christine.
ReplyDeleteBTW, loved the review.
It's clear Christine is the family cook. Who is Cody's laundress? He really should assign that out. His clothes needing serious ironing. I vote for Meri.
ReplyDeleteIt is always the wives bending over backwards to please Kody to win attention!!! What in the hell has Kody ever done for them?? It is sad to see these 4 woman gushing over this ass!! I feel sorry for them, except for Robynn- she is the fave- and she knows it!!!! Ps- love this blog!!!!
ReplyDeleteI know the disparity between how much money Meri has to spend on her one child versus how much money Christine and Janelle have to spend on their mulitple children is very obvious. Janelle's and Christine's kids are going to a public university while Meri's is going to a private. Meri's took a trip abroad while the others, not so much. My grip about the disparity is not that the disparity exists but that the other wives are not pulling for fairness for their children. WTF?
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that if we fast forward 10 years from now, Mariah will not have a close relationship with Janelle or Christine's kids. Kody is such a fool and has set up a situation where the disparity between the kids will cause problems later.
DeleteI agree though that the other wives are so deluded by this lifestyle that they aren't sticking up for their own children. My own mother in law allowed this to happen after she got divorced and it has affected my husband for years.
Mariah is going to be a sister wife and live in Utah most likely so I think her choice of life style and distance will affect her closeness to her bonus moms and siblings. Also because she is going to be a sister wife she is probably going to hear the keep sweet line a lot!
DeleteI agree that there is a huge disparity in the lifestyles between Meri and the other sister wives.
DeleteMariah is a member of the National Honor Society and I'm guessing she's gotten some pretty sizable scholarships to help pay for her college plus she worked most of her senior year and I think she probably paid for a good part of her trip abroad.
BUT, from the way their finances have been explained on the show, Mary gets the same amount of money as the other wives but she has only 1 child to care for and they care for 5-6.
It has to be very difficult for the wives to deal with the jealousy, contempt, and resentment that their lifestyle breeds and then add the children who have to live it also -- I just can't imagine... From watching their father spend more time with a sister wife than he spends with your mom, to a 'step-sibling' traveling while you're stuck at home, to a nicer choice of clothes, to having cars when they're older, and now college limitations/choices. SMH
I have often wondered if Logan's car is a source of resentment. Not every older child gets such a nice ride.
DeleteI think there is still time for Mariah to change her mind. For her own sake, I hope she does not become a sister wife. She does not seem to have the emotional stability to deal with the hurts that often come with jealousy.
DeleteI couldn't agree more! Of all the children in this family, Mariah would be the most ill-equipped to handle this "lifestyle". The girl has shown she has never had to share anything. Why in the world does she think she could handle sharing a husband? Just because it worked out the way it has for Mary, I think she would expect the same and unfortunately for her I don't think it happens that way all that often. Kody isn't like other men. Thank God mine is nothing like him.lol
DeleteJust an FYI: Students attending private universities seldom pay the entire published cost and depending on the student, could actually be cheaper than a state university. Private universities tend to have very strong alumni/donors and can provide scholarships both based on financial need and based on academics.
DeleteAgreed, meggiedarlin. Once you work out the FAFSA - expected family contribution form from the government - private schools are often less expensive than in- state tuition. Plus with very large endowments and minimal restrictions, they can offer greater scholarships. That's what worked out for my child.
DeleteI know a family where one sister married, had kids, divorced and the husband married her sister and they had another batch of kids. The sisters got along fine and all three of them hung around together. It worked because the first sister wanted the kids, but not a husband.
DeleteHowever, things didn't work out well for their kids. The parents are long gone but the kids are left with a legacy of hurt, anger, jealousy and bitterness. They are now in their 50s and 60s but the feud goes on.
No wonder Mariah feels she doesn't have any real siblings. On some level, the other kids must resent that she is more equal than the others and that is bound to put some distance between them. Kids are very sensitive to issues of fairness.
DeleteMeri and Christine are from multi-generation polygamist families, so the girls are more open to the idea of having sister wives themselves. However; Janelle's kids will not follow suit in my opinion. They have watched their mother's pain and suffering as well as her carrying the financial load for the entire family for years. I would think that there would be some resentment with the kids, and anger for the unfairness of many many things.
DeleteNK
The review is awesome! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteA thought I had concerning Mariah and our wanting to excuse her behavior:
ReplyDeleteI have only one sibling, a younger brother by nearly 7 years. As my parents were busy with their jobs, I half-raised him. At many points throughout our adolescence, I tried to share with my parents some disturbing characteristics in his behavior and personality. Their response? He's only 3,4,5,7,10,15,17,18... It kept going. My parents were utterly surprised when he became an adult and his actions openly matched what he had been allowed to do during all of those formative years. He has changed dramatically during the last couple of years, but it has been hard for him to change his pattern of behavior. It has been even harder for people to trust who he is today.
The point being this: I do not wish to think ill of Mariah. I want to give her the benefit of all the doubts everyone has raised on this blog. But how long are we going to make excuses for the poor character she has displayed? She's only 17, she's only 18... Someday, if she keeps on this path, she'll end up being very much like her mother. Meri in all of her *itchniness was once a young adult too.
We all have to think hard about the people we are vs. who we want to be. Practice doesn't make perfect... It makes PERMANENT!
Would you listen to strangers telling you how to bring up YOUR children? Would you be happy to read on the internet people telling YOUR teen what poor character she has displayed? Mariah is just a teen on a tv show. It's not excusing her behavior, its realizing she's not OUR problem, she's her PARENT'S problem and there is NOTHING we can do about it.
DeleteThe viewing audience has NO idea what this teen is really like, or has been through in real life!
Yet the Brown's choose to put their family on display. Of course the viewing audience is going to form an opinion.
DeleteAnonymous 4:09, these parents have put their parenting (and their own children's lives) front and center in the spotlight of public scrutiny in return for a TLC paycheck and four overpriced houses. THEY CHOSE THIS LIFE where the things they do and say are up for mass consumption week after week.
DeleteNo, I would not want random strangers on the internet discussing my parenting, the behaviors of my kids, my weight, or my caramel-making abilities. Therefore, I would not turn my life into a television show. As so often happens, they want the perks of the spotlight, but not the downside. Sorry, but they can't have it both ways. If they want to make their lives a commodity, they will have to learn to accept what comes with their "celebrity."
No worries, though: The Brown spotlight will not last long. Their 15 minutes have almost expired.
Putting your children's behavior out there for everyone to judge is exactly what's wrong with the Brown's and all the other reality families. The Brown children will pay s price for the adults greedy ways
DeleteIf nothing else, perhaps any parents who read this blog will see wisdom in avoiding the Brown family's mistakes. I think that is a tactic we can all employ: emulate the positive in what we see around / what we want in our lives and recognize the negative, taking steps to avoid it or root it out.
DeleteI wouldnt listen to how strangers tell me to raise my kids. But if I had a TV show and 90% of the viewers thought my kid was a spolied brat, I would do some thinking. I think Mariah has gotten off easy. Her behavior was horrid! She finally got a taste of what it feel likes to not get her way. When it comes to the kids, she gets the vast majority of the resources/money. She wants to be a sister wive so bad but she wasn't even nice enough to be thrilled for her other bonus siblings. She has a holier than thou attitude which is off outting. I hope Mariah becomes 2nd wife or 3rd and has to play 3rd fiddle for a few years. But whaych ya wanna bet Meri told her to only be a first wife!
DeleteAnonymous August 24, 2013 at 4:09 PM I completely agree with Redwood curtain that the responsibility for public reactions and criticism lies entirely with the adults in this situation. They chose to make money by putting themselves and their children on television as entertainment. It's inevitable that people will have opinions about what they do and how they behave - it's just a part of that kind of notoriety. It's despicable for supposedly mature adults to allow Mariah to be used in this way, even if she is eighteen now. However she behaved, it must be hard for a teenager to know that her meltdown was put on national TV for everyone to see. The adults should have thought of that, but rational thought doesn't seem to be in their makeup. It's even worse that they allow their younger children to be filmed, especially at the times when they are acting up.
Deletei guess i'm in the minority here re:the need to "protect" Mariah from herself. This ain't her first rodeo performance in the tantrum arena. I think she's fine with it and prides herself in being featured having one. AGAIN. No worries for her coming from me.
DeleteNo sympathy for the adults, only the children.
DeleteI would like the wives to turn things around on Kody and challenge him to do something similar to the caramel contest. Perhaps they could challenge him to plan a fun day with the children without their help and see how he does. Or else challenge him to fix a meal and plan a fun activity for each household.
ReplyDeleteThat premise was already done their first year in Vegas. Sort of !!
DeleteThe wives went out on the town to the Vegas Strip. Kodydad was left in charge and he sat in the recliner and ordered the older girls to ride herd on the kids.
And...After trying out the zipline through the mall, the wives all came home utterly traumatized by the disturbing sights of the Strip.
It was yet another totally staged and scripted bit of nothingness aka not-real Reality TV.
Agreed, Amused.
DeleteIt was a really awkward episode. Especially the "ladies' night out on the town" bit. My husband and I have been to Vegas twice and we didn't see anything like that. Of course, we didn't go looking for it, either. We had a LOT of good, clean fun both on the Strip and on Fremont Street. Just avoid any shady establishments and refrain from accepting the plethora of cards (the ones that are practically shoved at you) with a hooker's profile and company phone number. Go see a variety show. See Phantom. Walk through the Venetian... There is a lot more to Vegas if you want it. Even for the pure, polygamous Mormon fundamentalist types!
Ha, I love those cards they hand out. I think the only "salacious" thing up on Fremont is that scantily clad lady on the Pioneer Club sign. You really do have to go out of your way to find seedy little corners in Vegas. I wish those women would do more nights out; zip lining is a great way to bond. But, seeing how Kody acted, I could see why they would not want to leave their kids :/
DeleteI was just watching the first couple of episodes. One thing I noticed was that Kody spent time with the whole family, instead of driving from rental to rental. In the mornings he would be with Janelle "no matter where in the house he slept" or something to that effect. The kids would all congregate in one area of the house together. It seemed to me that they would rotate nights where he would sleep, and not which set of kids he would parent. Just an observation. BTW, CJ, loved the review!
ReplyDeleteYup, those were the days, HappyInCali! *reminiscent sigh* :-)
DeleteHappyincali, I'm sure that's one of the main reasons they didn't like the separate house being so far away from each other.
DeleteNS
I'm new too ! I agree with anonymous @117am from what I can see
ReplyDeleteYou have 4 women all bending over backwards to please this adolessant manchild. Hoping he will give them some shred of attention
Or god forbid affection. Which I'm sure only happens to Robyn and why Because they think that the only way they can get to heaven is if he calls their name. Ladies please read your bible that is not how you get there. You don't need him RUN !!! BTW love the reviews. They are just wonderful.
The picture of Mariah reminded me of a tweet Robyn sent out last week. Always needing to be the center of attention, when a fan said how "awesome" Kody was with Mariah she felt the need to point out SHE gave her the stuffed dog on her lap..she said Mariah was missing Drake so she bought it for her!
ReplyDeleteSo when Mariah has the meltdown she gets a stay sweet talk from her part-time dad and a stuffed animal that looks just like her dead dog from the newest girlfriend? Good move Robyn...maybe a nice trinket from the Closet would have been better.
But hopefully not the "paw print" necklace.
DeleteAmused...that is hilarious! I'm still so shocked over Kody's new secret decoder ring design that I totally forgot about that iconic paw!
DeletePerhaps I'm off topic, but where is the video of Soloman's birth. I must have missed the whole thing! I was sure I had seen every show, but evidently not.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing!
Maybe this review will help you remember...
DeleteSeason Finale: Sister's Special Delivery PART TWO
Knowing that this is ALL staged, this is probably a dumb question..
ReplyDeleteExactly how did Meri get into Janelle's house to get Savannah, and then into Christine's house to get her kids? Do they all have keys to each others houses? Because I wouldn't want Meri or Robin walking into my home just whenever they felt like it.
Any day now, we will see the episode where the wives complain that they never see Kody on their assigned day because he is constantly off fighting fires at one of the other 3 homes.
And wonder of wonders, Meri just happened to have the camera and sound crew with her too as she went from house to house.
DeleteAs some have said, poorly acted out. I believe that I saw Janelle in the background, the kitchen, as Meri grabbed the little girl's hand and danced away, saying...we're the only ones up!
DeleteEven better will be the episode where all four wives realize that he isn't with any of them!
DeleteJanelle was awake in the kitchen. It looked like she was making coffee.
DeleteWhat is the protocol for closing posts? Seems unfair I can't answer a comment on one post, yet another one is open after this post? Confusing and changes all the time.
ReplyDeleteOnce a Post (or article) reaches approximately 200-250 comments, some readers start having problems entering comments. Those problems include not be able to see past 200 comments, pc warnings (most likely memory issues), unable to nest a reply, etc. That Post will be changed to read only status and a new Post opened for comments.
DeleteWe prefer that comments for reviews or special topics (for example Kristyn Decker's book banning) stay within topic. If the Post indicates it is a Free Discussion area, it means exactly that as long as the comment is within SWB guidelines.
We will always try to have at least one free discussion Post open for comments. For example, like this one:
Discussion Page for 8/23/13
Please note once that once the 8/23/13 Post exceeds 200+ comments, a new Post will be opened up.
Thank you for your understanding.
So how many of you are going to be watching Escape from polygamy tonight?
ReplyDeleteWell going to, but Lifetime is BLACK for me! No idea if they are having a problem or what. I'm going to tape it later tonight.
DeleteI lasted 30 minutes and then couldn't take it anymore. Really, you've just met and you're letting a boy in your bedroom and kissing? Not realistic.
DeleteI'm 30 min in and there's something about it I don't like. Not sure what it is though. I hope we can have a discussion page about it.
DeleteWatching it now!
DeleteWatched it, didn't like it. It was almost Romeo and Juliet. Could have been a little more realistic but I did like that it portrayed polygamy in a poor light.
DeleteIts Lifetime. No different from any other lifetime movie, unrealistic and over dramatic.
DeleteSpoiler alert if you haven't yet watched it. On Escape from Polygomy: I watched the whole movie. I actually think it would have been better as a mini-series so there could have been slower plot development. Yes, it seemed unrealistic that the daughter would so quickly become "involved" with the prophet's son. In that culture you would think they would have shown her having much more angst about the pace of their relationship. And, what was up with the cell phones? Do polygamist women in those more extreme groups even have cell phones? I thought the banishing scenes where they get rid of the young men who are competition for the old guys who want the young wives was interesting. I heard they "dumped" them in remote areas in real life. That they wound up in Las Vegas was especially interesting (given SW location). I would have liked to have seen much more about the rescue organization that helps the lost boys. A couple things I thought seemed hard to swallow. The male apostate who wound up in a bad situation on the Las Vegas strip came back to his parents and was seen in the end sitting in church listening to his father the new prophet. He seemed happy/relieved to be there. That did not ring true at all for me. There would have had to have been a lot of steps to reconcile with his family that were not shown. You don't go from being a drug-using male prostitute to returning home to your family's polygamist cult in one fast scene change. The twist at the end where the girl fakes being dead after the near-suicide was unbelievable but satisfying. But, did I miss something or how did the mother and her sister wife, Alice, keep her from being buried alive by the men who were carting her off in the stretcher? The very end was sad to think the mother could still be brainwashed in the face of all that happened to her daughter. Lifetime definitely could make a sequel to this movie to track what happens to the two young lovers after their escape. Overall, I would give this movie a thumbs up. It was a nice "escape" from the materialism of SW. One question about the cult portrayed in the movie? Just HOW do they afford their houses and so many children? I guess the banishment of less powerful men by the more powerful means assets get consolidated over time?
DeleteThis was a typical Lifetime TV movie. It follows the style of taking a few "facts " and making a movie out of them. It is not meant to be realistic - it's suppose to be ENTERTAINMENT.
DeleteBy the way, it has been well documented that FLDS like to drive fancy trucks and EVERYONE in Eldorado/Hildale/Colorado City have cell phones. They may not be allowed to watch TV or have toys but they all have cell phones!
yes, you can always see the FLDS women talking on their cell phones at the walmart in St. George.
Deletedidn't watch it as soon as i knew it was on lifetime. those are always lame.
DeleteWatching this episode, I noticed how many scenes we have of Meri and Robin hanging out together. It got me thinking. Have we ever had a scene where just Meri and Janelle are hanging out? I've seen Meri and Christine, I've seen all four hanging out, I've seen Robin and Christine, and so forth, but have we ever had just Meri and Janelle?
ReplyDeleteI think the closeness between Meri and Robyn comes from the fact that Meri suggested to Kody that he take Robyn for the 4th wife. I don't know how M and R knew each other prior to Kody meeting and courting Robyn. Kody had said that he had not thought about taking a 4th wife before Meri's urging. Someone said that Kody deserved to have a cute wife. I don't remember who said what, but the other wives said, "I think I'm cute."
DeleteI thought I read that Meri was staying at Robyn's house because hers wasn't ready, and she wanted to be in the cul de sac for the "Christmas" filming. That's supposedly why they were together in Robyn's kitchen for the caramel making (that they didn't do).
DeleteNot so sure that there is any credibility to the story that Meri was the deciding catalyst for Sobbin joining the harem, as if *she* and not necessarily Kody, wanted a 4th wife.
DeleteEven though, that IS the initial story they put out there. However, they all have *said* a lot of things that turn out to be not true, or exaggerated.
It is more likely that when Kody was approached (or if he was the one who did the approaching) about doing a show, the TV powers that be said that the only way they would agree to give them a show was if there was the immediate drama of adding a fourth wife.
How they dug Sobbin up has never been made completely clear. It was said that Meri knew her somehow, and that Sobbin was down and out, so it's likely that scenario was ripe enough to guarantee Sobbin's entrance as the brass ring to get the show's contract.
If Meri did okay it, as did the other wives (even Christine who was pregnant with her 6th)....
And if it was all for the expressed purpose of getting the show and all the moola...
Then Greed was possibly the real catalyst for bringing in Sobbin.
Hi all - I'm a new reader here, and I really enjoy the comments and insight! I wouldn't be surprised if Meri's reason for encouraging Kody to take a 4th wife was simply to remove Christine from the "newest wife" position. (I'm pretty sure Christine is wife #3, right?) Meri will forever and always be wife #1, but being the "new wife" can be a temporary thing. And if I remember correctly, Christine did have some struggles accepting Robin.
DeleteI thought in the book they had said that Meri, Kody, & Robyn met at an AUB party that Meri & Kody attended together on a "date night". Robyn, newly divorced was spending time with a sister or cousin who lived in Lehi and was a member of the AUB and told her it would be good for Robyn to go. Meri and Robyn in hit it off, Meri introduced her to Kody with intentions on her joining the family. Later they met again at another shindig at Robyns sisters house where her She-Rah alter ego came out or something. I don't really remember, but I think I remember reading something like that.
DeleteThe problem with their book is the same problem with their statements on the show, how much is actually the truth and how much is a cherry-picked version?
DeleteIt's anyone's guess.
Well Amused - you know my opinion on the whole how the browns got selected. I doubt they were the only family in contention, the producers must've considered others...
DeleteI think that the producer's side of the story (on his website) is true from his POV, he called Principle Voices and the gal in charge recommended the Browns. However I bet that more than one family was recommended, and the producers looked in other places, heck maybe even the Dargers were considered (that said, no matter how much the Dargers are in the media spotlight they pick and choose when they want to be. I don't see any of that family wanting camera crews filming their every move for weeks on end.).
Kody had already been seeing Robyn, but the AUB wouldn't sanction the "marriage" due to Kody already being overextended financially. I do remember reading that somewhere.
And BTW I don't believe the "Meri told Kody to court Robyn" official story one bit. I think he wanted to, and she went along with it to save face and also to hurt the other two particularly Christine.
Anyway - I think the possibility of a plyg marriage on TV was Kody's trump that put the browns in the lead to be the winners of the Official Reality Plyg Family on TLC. That was his winning hand. IMO.
Too bad for the browns that PUSA is far more interesting.
I agree with you Amused that a lot of what they say is cherry-picked. I was just telling it how I remembered it. And I'm also most definitely on the bandwagon that DOESN'T believe that Meri told Kody to court Robyn too. But what can you do. Although, if they were cherry-picking, its a shame Christine's nacho story ended up in the book. I still feel a little humiliated for her.
Delete"I thought in the book they had said that Meri, Kody, & Robyn met at an AUB party that Meri & Kody attended together on a "date night"
DeleteWow... Can you even imagine picking out your husband's next wife on your OWN 'date night?' How messed up is that?!
About as messed up as Christine being in labor and Kody leaning over and asking the doctor what he thinks about in vitro for Meri.
DeleteI thought that was incredibly tacky and if I'd been Christine, I'd have been furious. He's supposed to be there helping get her through the birth of Truely and here he's asking about the possibility of Meri having a child.
and also wasn't it already established here in the past (or was it just conjecture??) that Kody and Robyn had actually gotten married earlier in May of that first season when they were acting like it had just happened in October after Truely was born? man, this show's gone on so long now i'm losing my memory of some earlier facts now.
DeleteI wish Meri would walk out and divorce Kody for everything he DOESN'T have. Then they would all go belly up. I don't think Christine and Robyn would be able to make it alone. I guess the would have to go on life support from public assistance.
ReplyDeleteMeri would actually be ok financially if she left Kody. 1 grown child and some work experience. She is the only legal wife so entitled to some of Kody's money-if there's any money left. Janellle has left before and has several years of working. Her kids are also older (except for savannah) and are used to being on their own. Christine and Robyn are the ones who have the most to lose. No marketable skills and younger kids. Kody can treat Christine horribly because he knows she's going no where.
DeleteSomeone said the family has moved multiple times prior to this "last" move to LV. What was the purpose of multiple moves between UT and WY (was it)? Do other polygamist families (or AUB families) move with that kind of frequency, or is is just Kody's ADHD?
ReplyDelete--K8
So, next week Meri talks with the Kodster about the baby issue. What does everyone think? I think she is closer to being a grandmother than a "new mommy".
ReplyDeleteIt's incredibly personal thing. I wouldn't tell America I was trying IVF or surrogacy with or without IVF before I did it. I might tell them after. My guess is she tried a cycle and it did not take. Perhaps Robyn has had a cycle with Meri's eggs as a gestational carrier and that didn't take? Meri was my favorite in the beginning. I thought janelle was goofy with the whole fear and anxiety over law enforcement that led to the mass exodus. But I love Janelle overall. The more of the picture we see the favorites are changing. Everyone thought Christine was crazy about her toaster fear, but it was a harmless worry. Some are scared of spiders. There is so much more to her that she is also a favorite of many.
DeleteI've done a lot of IVF and I have had a problem with this story line from day 1. A surrogate is not what she needs. What she needs is donor eggs. I don't see anyone ambivalent about having kids making the emotional and financial commitment to IVF. It is DRAINING! I mean, it takes it all out of you and the hormones and constant strangers poking and prodding your vagina can cause a mental breakdown. I think it's possible she has tried because IVF often leads to weight gain and misery but I also think it's more likely she hasn't because it takes an enormous commitment which she doesn't seem willing to make. Bottom line: I think it's a fake story line and she's not going to try to have a new child at this late juncture. I mean look at her house! It screams "spinster" or maybe "grandma". She is not going to want to get her precious knickknacks dirty or broken with a new baby. And as much as I dislike her, I certainly can't blame her for not wanting to start over in her forties.
DeleteAlso I just wanted to say that yes IVF is normally very personal but not for Meri since she continually hashes and rehashes it on tv for the world to see and she has allowed it to be a cliffhanger story line, even if a lame one, for several seasons now. They WANT us to discuss it and conjecture.
DeleteThe pressure of telling millions it failed while going through it, just too much.
DeleteThey must have another source of income...not a benefactor because if I funded these homes I wouldn't want them saying on national tv that they paid for them...
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking that the TLC funds are going to Brown Family Entertainment then each wife is given a little of that fund. This way with a small income the single moms would qualify for benefits. Are the house values taken into account when applying for state aid? Also, since 3 wives are 'single' would that benefit them more?
I don't like that Kody says they are all his wives but they have to report as 'single'...Yes, they are single but if Kody is so proud of having this large family then why didn't he support them all in Lehi? Christine was using food stamps back in Utah...she was his wife for bragging rights but single for the state aid...
First they can't say she is married if the state won't recognize the marriage. Second a two parent family with one child could qualify for assistance. Because he can't legally claim christine or Janelle or Robyn those or less deductions on his taxes as well.
DeleteFifteen percent of households are getting snap. About half of people in their life will be getting assistance. It's a scary number. Mostly a person will be on assistance in childhood or retirement. Can't afford meds and food at the same time sort of thing. As long as they don't lie about the baby daddy on the form it isn't fraud. My guess is on paper each of the other mamas, if they get assistance, show he is giving some sort of child support, likely their monthly allowance. As long as he is giving x dollars to the baby mama in support they could qualify for assistance listing a married man as the baby daddy.
They may not be on snap and such NOW.
First, spouses are not deductions. Children are, and Kody can claim them as dependents every other year and their mothers (besides Meri as she and Kody will claim Mariah each year) can claim them every other year. That is, if they actually file taxes and Kody is actually legally listed as their father. But basically, only one parent can claim them each year if the parents aren't together.
DeleteI understand the point of Anon. The issue isn't that they're single in the legal sense of the word and therefore list "single" on legal documents. The issue is the way they manipulate that fact to suit them at each moment. Their stories change constantly and it is all designed to get the most out of the system (and now their "fans"). Kody, if he in fact views himself as their husbands, should be contributing to their household incomes and he has failed miserably at this, as have they all really. Also, the way they shift around assets and file bankruptcies and receive welfare in all forms is appalling and the height of deceitful and unscrupulous.
I also want to say I've been going back and reading the comments on earlier episodes and I'm blown away at the audacity of this clan. Especially Christine. I know people like her because she seems sweet (yes I went there, lol) and genuine and fun but she is an admitted liar! The whole family admits she is the most accomplished and unashamed liar of the family. I have no good feeling left for her because everything she says is a lie. She is rotten to the core and people just don't see it because she's bubbly.
Right now they are in separate households but they do not file their taxes as if they are all one family. The wives besides Meri must file as single or head of house. You pay different taxes based on whether you are married or not. They don't manipulate the fact. They are legally not allowed to consider themselves married. They are required to consider parentage. Kody is right. If he died and had anything the others would have to trust Meri. Hopefully he has some Pay on Death stuff going to the others. But anything like pension or social security would not allow janelle raising his child a benefit. I'm not arguing that they should. Legal polygamy as matter of public policy would be a nightmare with benefits. But I can't fault them for listing themselves as single for food assistance or whatever else cause legally their hands are tied. They are not recognized as wives. If they don't put the dads name on then there is an issue.
DeleteALICE - there's a lot of us here that have stated in the past we aren't fans of any of the wives. including Christine. and Janelle even. :) and i'm not a Team Darger fan either for that matter. I've not seen nor read any firsthand accounts where religiously indoctrinated polygamy is really an emotionally healthy way to live re: which group is currently publicly promoting it. (including the centennial park group, too!)
DeleteIt's hard for me to pick one house that I like best. Three of the houses have a feature(s) that I like; one house I have a hard time liking anything.
ReplyDeleteIf my husband asked me to make his Mother's Caramels on Christmas day after I had spent the previous weeks moving 6 kids into a new home, unpacking, buying gifts, making gifts, wrapping gifts, cooking a huge meal for 20 some people I would LAUGH IN HIS FACE!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't laugh in his face, but he would be wearing those caramels when I got the put together (HOT).
DeleteAgree Anon 10.56 and let me clarify...
DeleteIf my husband asked me to make his Mother's Caramels on Christmas day after I had spent the previous weeks moving 6 kids into a new home, unpacking, buying gifts, making gifts, wrapping gifts, cooking a huge meal for 20 some people I would LAUGH IN HIS FACE!
But what would make it worse would be being a sisterwife and the fact he made it into a COMPETITION! Hell yeah I would be slinging HOT things at him but no way in heck would it be a caramel I made for him!!! Hot poker comes to mind.
Because seriously? I am sure from sun up to sun down Kody did nothing but relax their "Christmas Day" while the wives were busy busy cooking up a huge dinner for all, cleaning up messes and entertaining kids. This after packing to move to a new home, moving, unpacking and doing Cmas.
And those freaking caramels. Yeah Meri and Robyn cheated. I wouldn't have even made the effort to drive to the store. Sorry Kody. Guess I am not 'worthy' of you.
(Excuse me while I go vomit at the thought of being one of his harem...)
Oh, I got it alright. It's just that I would go along and catch him off guard when he least expected it. That would be the last time he would ask me to make caramels or anything else. Once everything was in the pan and hot you don't have to finish the job except for flinging the goo at him.
Deleteas if sharing a husband sexually isn't enough competition for a wife - yeah, let's take it up a notch by holding a candy making competition! these people are sick and don't even know it, imo.
DeleteWhat I love about all the episodes this season is that at least one wife has a deadpan look on her face while one of the other wives is speaking. Especially Meri, she sits there like a zombie, no brainwave activity at all. It cracks me up every time.
ReplyDeleteGreat recap/review as always CJ! I really appreciate how you juxtaposed the first ep with this one.
ReplyDeleteThe difference I think can be summed up in one word - "authenticity". There was authenticity in the first episode. There is little or none in this one. Hasn't been for awhile.
You know you've been reading the blog too much, when you wake up in the morning terrified that the lump next to you hogging all the covers is Kody Brown. :( I had a dream that I was Kody's new wife and he made me share a house with Mary. It was horrifyingly realistic, I woke up in a panic.
ReplyDeleteROTFL!!!!
DeleteMy nightmare last night was about Big Brother, and I woke up screaming when Gina Marie tried to eat me. But poor you--yeech! Gosh, was I lucky!
That wasn't a dream, it was a nightmare.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I keep up by reading the blog...it's too monotonous to watch a SW episode.
ReplyDeleteYes monotonous is right! Hoping Robyn's big confession isn't anti-climatic tonight.
DeleteOh no! I just saw this tweet from Mariah that was posed around 3am...
ReplyDeleteI would consider myself honored to have been raised on a ranch with real cows & real horses & a real cowboy grandpa. you will be missed��
My prayers go out to the family.
I will look into it, and when appropriate post what I find.
DeleteGreat review... again! As a general statement, I have to say these shows are so repetitive -- the theme of the houses is so old and boring and I can't bear to keep hearing the same explanations over and over about why they are plygs, how they are different than Warren, etc. etc. My goodness you'd think each one was the first show, first episode with all the constant repetitive explaining.
ReplyDeleteAs for this epsisode, I didn't like how basically all four wives cheated on the caramel competition. Yes, it was mildly entertaining to see them all cheat, but it kinda said a lot about their values ... that rules are to be broken when you can get away with it!
Basically everyone was disrespectful to everyone else ... the women to each other by the cheating and to Kody for corrupting the competition ... and then there's the disrespect from Kody with his jokes about the ladies each earning the right to be his wife and that Christine couldn't win. I guess they all deserve each other!
I don't think what Christine did was cheating because most cooks will make more batches to get the perfect one. She made the effort way more than the rest of them :)
DeleteAly, I thought I saw a scene where she was with Janelle's mother as well. I could be wrong. I agree she made more of an effort to compete appropriately.
DeleteI didn't see that Janelle or Christine did anything wrong. Janelle did the actual baking, she just used her Mom as a resource. Christine made multiple batches, so what. They didn't specify only one batch. And, although I don't remember a scene between Christine and Janelle's Mom, again, so what. Resources, resources.
DeleteActually, I am thrilled that Robin and Meri cheated. Can you imagine what the last two weeks of December were like? Moving 4 households, Christmas, extended family in the middle of it (two Moms). And Kody has the nerve to declare a baking contest?
Janelle has a blog up about obese people and the problem of flabby skin and the noise it makes while do some things her trainer asks her to do like sprinting. She still refers to herself as plus size. I wish this family would get nutritional guidance, i think they would all benefit from knowing how many sugar grams are in the food they eat. They all seem addicted to carbs. The recipes they put on the TLC website are prime examples of poor choices. If your going to eat tapioca make real tapioca, not cream of wheat stuffed with sugar. The picture Aspyn tweeted of a choc chip cookie in a cake pan with a giant dollop of icecream , Christine saying chocolate or im a bitch..on and on ..something is missing and being replaced by comfort eating sugar..it can change with will power and maybe a good anti depressant
ReplyDeleteI LOVE LOVE this blog, thanks for all the hard work putting it together and keeping it up! I used to watch the show. Now that SOAPNET has a Beverly Hills 90210 5 hr marathon on Sundays, SW lost me. I used to watch the show with my little Pumpkin woman who is now 26,so it brings back wonderful memories for me watching it. I stopped watching SW regularly last season because it was all fake and contrived. I do have a few questions though if anyone knows. Where did Jenelle get her degree from? I have to differ with someone's opinion of her, I really do not find her or any of the others all that bright. Another question, why are the only choices for colleges UNLV and some small little school in Utah? Logan seemed intelligent, how come no one strives for Harvard, Yale, USC where my daughter graduated from, or schools that are just better. Do they get free tuition at those schools, and hence those are their only options? These kids are all getting paid for being on the show, they can't afford to go to a good school? Meri was working on a degree in Utah when the show first came on, what happened with that, if anyone knows? Does anyone know what the ratings are of this show now? I know it was very high when it was first on, what is it now? What do these people make from TLC does anyone know? It must be a huge amount, that's the only reason they got loans I haven't checked with a title company to see what the loans actually are, because I've been so busy, but if anyone on here is a licensed realtor, you can check those things. The kids at the Jersey Shore got a million bucks an episode, each one did, if you can believe that, not at first, but the last season that's what they got, these people must really be making a ton of money from that show. Also what about Robyn's first husband? He's a Jessop,(sp) what is the real story there, if anyone knows. How do you know that Robyn's house has a lien on it? I think once the show goes off, they are done with those houses unless they pay a lot of it off with the TLC money! Thanks all I appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteI can't post in the above comments for some reason so I'll put it here.
ReplyDeleteKMS, I think the single thing people are not stating they are manipulating is the listing themselves in tax/welfare documents as "single". I think you're misunderstanding what we're saying. It's having their cake and eating it too. It's manipulating when and how they file bankruptcy, it's how they beg for money and then say they "MAKE$$$". It's a lot of things. I think anon was simply saying that if they're not single, then Kody should be providing, as well as all of the wives. And they have a history of not doing that and relying on taxpayers to do it instead.
Anon, yes I know I'm not alone :). I just know that some people do fall for Christine's act, or just simply disagree with me. But I find her lying to be abhorrent.
I just had to register and finally start commenting since I have been cackling happily over this blog for weeks.
ReplyDeleteI am HAPPY the whole will we or won't me story line is finally done and over with. It was making me a little nuts. I understand buying/building a home is hard. I've gone through the process more than once. I was extremely happy when Kody and His Hair talked to Mariah about her nasty attitude.
When I was in high school my parents were having a house built in Virginia. It was a long, stressful, crazy process and I felt horrible for both of my parents. My mother was constantly visiting the property and talking to the builder because my father kept trying to make changes that made the home less personalized and more resale ready.. It was a hot, stinky, drawn out mess.
That written... I NEVER ACTED AS ENTITLED AS MARIAH!!!
I was grateful that my family could afford to buy a home and felt extremely fortunate that my family could afford to build a customized home in a really nice area. Decades later I am still very grateful. During our building and move process we lived in a modest apartment that was budget friendly and kept stuff in storage.
I know I cannot completely relate to Mariah's situation because my parents were just a lowly monogamous couple. I am sure if I saw my father's wives (or my mother's husbands and families) moving into their custom built homes while I sit in my spacious rental home waiting I would be furious. It isn't unusual for a child to take it personally if they feel their parent is being slighted, but in Mariah's case her mother made a choice to live that lifestyle.
It was unreasonable for her to believe that she and Robyn would get their homes first and horrible for Meri to act so shocked and upset when she didn't get her way. I mean Meri even said, on camera, that she thought she wouldn't be "dead last". That leads me to believe that if it were one of the other wives getting their keys "dead last" she would have been spouting about patience and the joys of polygamy.
Okay I'm starting to ramble and rant. The whole house situation made me nuts and the whole Mariah and Meri thing was the rancid icing on the moldy cake.
Amy I see what you mean, but no one meant what you are thinking. Just a figure of speech, not comparing Robyn to other adults that are mentally challenged in any given way.
ReplyDelete