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Friday, December 14, 2012

Review: S05Ep04 "Polygamist Cults"

Why was Mariah at Janelle's house?
I've got to be real about this: I did not like this episode at all.

This was a typical, superficial attempt to show the Browns giving back to society by doing volunteer work, told in a typical reality show format.

If you've ever watched Kitchen Nightmares with Gordon Ramsay, you'll know what I mean. Ramsay goes to a failing restaurant to help them become profitable again. He has major conflicts with the restaurant owners. They trade mean words about each other. Someone (usually the owner) cries. By the end of the show, Ramsay and the owners suddenly have a Kumbaya moment, make up and Ramsay leaves knowing that he's saved yet another restaurant from ruin.


That's basically how this episode was constructed. The Browns send 3 teenagers (Aspyn, Maddie and Logan) to Utah to do volunteer work. While there, they encounter a recalcitrant young woman who is so anti-polygamy, she leaves Aspyn speechless and Maddie in tears from her less than nice retorts ( Logan, wisely, doesn't get involved). The Brown teens return to Nevada with their new Utah 'friends' to show them how the Brown version of polygamy works. At a picnic, the recalcitrant teen softens her stance somewhat, Maddie and Aspyn dress up in FLDS dresses, and later, Christine calls the men of the Kingston group 'bastards'. Recalcitrant teen realizes Kody is a real dad. Sadly, the only thing missing was everyone singing Kumbaya around the campfire.

At the end, I was left with about a hundred questions - most beginning with the word Why.  Like, why did I waste an hour of my life watching this?

Why would Christine believe Tonia would want to take Aspyn away from her? Why would Christine not know of the abuses of the Kingston Group? (better file those  with the questions why is Christine afraid of toasters, why does Christine believe anyone who's not AUB is a shark, why would Christine allow Aspyn to ditch classes)

Why was Kody shown 'interrogating' Aspyn about her ability to maintain the company line concerning polygamy?  Did I hear her say 'polygamy has been very very good to me' to Kollene (formerly known as the recalcitrant teen)? Why was that clip shown at the beginning where Aspyn said she wasn't interested in polygamy, and then miraculously, a few seconds later she now wants to be in a plural marriage? Was she changing her tune because Mariah "I want to be a doctor and a plural wife" wasn't going on this trip?



Why was Logan only shown uttering maybe 7 or 8  sentences in the entire show? Why did Logan yawn when Maddie was talking and crying? Why wasn't his yawn edited out by production? Why was Logan even there? Why was Logan's hair so dark?





  Back to Christine, why did she bring up the 'problems' she was having with Kody? Why did she think if Tonia had told her to leave Kody, that she would have actually left?  What makes her think the problems she had with Kody are over? (see preview for next week's show) Am I the only person getting really tired of Christine and her holier than thou "this isn't what I signed up for" attitude?

And I still can't get over Christine saying she didn't know men could be bastards. Earth to Christine: Wait up and smell the Postum percolating!

 
 
Is anyone glad that Meri did not cry, or say the word 'wet bar' in this episode? Does the picture above illustrate that Meri and Robyn could share a kitchen without being abusive to each other? Does Hunter know Kody is wearing his shirt?
 


Did anyone feel weird when Kody made a point of saying his favorite picture of his family was taken at Robyn's wedding reception? Why did Kody need to say he had 1 pair of running shoes at each of his wives houses?  Why does Kollene look like she's not falling for Kody's slick talk? Who was Kollene's stylist and can production hire them for the Kodettes and Brown teens?



Was anyone surprised when Nicole mentioned her 27 mothers were too busy fighting for the attention of their husband, ignoring their children altogether? Was anyone surprised this went right over the heads of Kody and Janelle? Isn't 'plural monogamy' basically how the Browns are living right now in their four separate homes?

That's all for now...

No wait, I've got something more to say.

I've only watched the Duggers maybe a couple of times, but it seemed each time they were shown doing some kind of charity work. Considering that Figure 8 produces the Dugger's show as well as Sister Wives, I just find it hard to believe they couldn't come up with a better show on par with the Duggers.

The producers took a Utah charity, Holding Out HELP,  and made it into a vehicle to exclusively highlight the Browns.  The production values in this episode were lousy. The storyline was predictable. The research was incomplete. Google Kingston polygamy Utah and you come up with a wealth of information - how it's a huge business empire with a predilection for polygamy, violence,  and underage daughters marrying their uncles. It's no wonder Nicole describes the polygamy she grew up with as "... a bunch of control freaks who get into power and prostitution."

But that important point was glossed over. We never got Kody and Janelle's reaction to Nicole's bold claim.  Why not? Were they afraid Kody's balding head would suddenly explode?  All we got was Christine's 'teary eyed' statement that she didn't know men could be bastards, and if you weren't paying close attention you would think she was talking about all men rather than the Kingston version. I've left out the FLDS because I am certain Christine knows exactly how they operate. After all, how many tears did Robyn shed whenever SHE tried to talk about the abuses of the FLDS?

It was all so exploitative - an attempt to show that the Browns version of polygamy is the good kind, the others are the bad kind. So sorry if you had the misfortune to be born into the wrong kind. Can I show you my pairs of running shoes I have in each of my four homes? How about I take you on a tour of my homes to rub your noses into what you did not have the good fortune to be born. Hey, wanna see a picture of the beginning of the end of my children living as brothers and sisters? It was taken at Robyn's wedding reception (that TLC paid for). Too bad the film editor did not edit in a replay of Meri telling Christine how she needed basically to keep sweet and change herself instead of thinking Kody needed to make any changes.

Who needs a headboard saying to 'Keep Sweet' when you've got Meri to keep errant wives in line?

I'm finished now.






148 comments:

  1. I agree - this episode was just pointless and I watched about three minutes and changed the channel. I decided not to waste the time on it. This family has become so annoying to me on so many levels that I really should stop watching and yet I continue to do exactly that.

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  2. IMO, the Duggars are not a "good" family. They're are plenty of forums discussing their hypocritical Christian values, but I wish they had a "Sister Wives Blog" sort of thing set up for their show, it would be good. I can't wait for the editors to throw them under the bus like they did Kate Gosselin in her last episode. I hope they do that to Sister Wives too.

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    1. oops just saw the post below!

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    2. Duggars are a great example of a Christian family! As a Christian for 19 years, I vouch for them and they are real. They teach their children to serve the Lord by serving others just like the Bible teaches us.

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    3. Lol...I don't know..I think having that many kids no matter how many parents you have is just insane..I'm 24 and a mother of two and a stay at home mom at that and holy shit is it tough. I guess I don't think that the Browns are as scandalous as you make it seem u know. I mean I agree to an extent and I sure as hell am not going to deny that all the reality t.v stars don't fabricate a little bit, but at the same time really? who's not against polygymist cults...especialy if you opnely live that way..I think way more ppl are like that than we realize..and not only that but biologically we arn't monogamous creatures..sure we choose to be(I do, I sure as hell would not be ok with antoher woman with my man) but I am not going to tell someone else it is wrong. I really see all the Browns as good people and there kids are great too.

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  3. Hopeful, you might want to check out www.duggarswithoutpity.blogspot.com if you haven't already...excellent recap as always, Cynical Jinx, thank you...as much as I like the kids, I would prefer that this show focus more on the wives, not Kody or the kids...show the wives volunteering someplace and even Kody, too, he's not busy!! I thought it was condescending of Kody to explain to the teens that he has a pair of running shoes at each of his 'wives' homes, among other things...who cares about his shoe distribution?? Get over yourself, Kody....and I was extremely disgusted when Kody said that he could be looked at as a husband for Kolleen if he were in that group...again, get over yourself...ick times a million....

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    1. Also, freejinger.org takes on the Duggars and other Christian Fundamentalists (if you're interested in that sort of thing.)

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    2. In their own book they describe a prolonged courtship between Kody and an underage girl,they had intended to make Kody's next wife. They just wanted to wait until the girl turned 18. Pot, meet kettle.

      And creepily, they describe the "courtship" as being between Kody, MERI, and the girl. YUCK!

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    3. I checked out freejinger.org and it appears to be a hate group. Their only purpose is to denigrate people they watch. They call them fundies. Nothing of any value there. I do not tolerate any hate groups.

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  4. I agree Cynical Jinx! This episode was a joke. Maybe they were trying to show the Browns as the "good plygs" versus "bad plygs" but it didn't fly. Kody is still creepy, Meri is a still a bully, Janelle is still a robot and Robyn is still crying!

    P.S. Maybe Christine needs to google her plyg royalty heritage because she's got a few of those man-bastards in her family tree. Stop lying Christine...it's rude.

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    1. I particularly liked the tease for the next show with Christine crying that her and the kids need more attention, opposite of what she wanted the ex-pligs children saw or heard from the Browsns...oppp

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  5. Whew !!! CJ, your review on this one is sooooo refreshing and "real."

    Yes...viewers *should* have been left with all the "whys" you stated.

    When an episode is so obviously scripted as this one was, it is time to call it for what it is. Your comparison of it to Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares was so accurate !! It is all BS for the camera and the ratings.

    Hint to TLC and producers....Logan's yawn really should have been edited out.
    Aspen's flip-flop on her Plyg aspirations did nothing except show how staged SW is across the board.

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  6. What are the ratings for Duggars? They must be better than this pile of poo. Right? Anyone know?

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    1. Don't know specific ratings but they've been on TLC for what seems like forever. I don't watch anymore because it's boring and predictable. I generally love the Duggars, but they are now very PR savvy and very rich. Not as genuine, in my opinion. While I also don't agree with all of their beliefs (having a zillion kids, skirts only, no dancing, etc), all I see are some really good Christian folk, however narrow they may be. Must add though, that it's interesting to see how their kids turn out. I am not fond of their oldest son Josh. Ok, back on subject...

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    2. Duggars are not being discussed - the Review is!

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    3. Anon 1:34, with respect to you and your opinion - that is not your call. That is for CJ and MS to state, and we will happily oblige.

      MS and CJ - Sorry for hijacking the topic. I'll try not to veer so much from the subject at hand going forward.

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    4. If we post it, we think it is fair but we appreciate you protecting us!

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  7. Pointing out the picture really bothered me! And his comment after that it was nice for them to see that because they probably never had a family photo before. COME ON. How many polygamous family photos have we *all* seen?

    Just the ARROGANCE of him. We have to show them.... They have to see...

    Of maybe they could have just listened! =8-| Kollene may have been bullied into saying that Kody is a Dad, but I'm sure the rest of us set the bar a LOT higher.

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    1. My thought exactly Kim. It appears to be the norm in polyg families to have these large color coordinated family photos ala Warren Jeffs. Nobody can be part of a religion and be so ignorant to the practices of other fringe elements of the religion.

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  8. CJ thank you very much for the review. I agree with everything you said and could have added many more questions of my own, but you did a great job hitting all the high points.

    Normally I like Logan but he seemed disconnected and absolutely not interested in taking part in this show. That's fine, but they shouldn't have included him then. His loud yawning and not even bothering to cover his mouth or muffle it in anyway was just rude.

    This show disgusted me on many levels, not least of which was Kody taking pains to flaunt his lifestyle in front of the people that escaped polygamy and do not have all the things the Kody Krew find so necessary to their lives.

    I don't even really know why the group that escaped polygamy were invited to Vegas. It's not like they were oging to suddenly "see the light" and join the AUB so they could practice polygamy like the Kody Krew.

    I wish Kollene and the others featured in this episode all the good things they deserve in this life and feel bad they were put through this garbage that made up this episode. Kollene - you go girl! You have the attitude to recover from your ordeal and to be successful and I hope you absolutely find what you love and make a life doing it.

    *To Hopeful (above) there are websites similar to this for the Duggar's shows also. I found several of them by using a search engine when I was looking to see if TLC did pay for some of their home decorating when they moved into their new home. I agree with you about their religion - I searched for disciplining children in whatever their religion is called - I forget it's name - and I was sickened. That's all I needed to read.

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    1. They're Christian fundamentalists. At least the Duggar kids are happy.

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    2. I'm active on those duggar forums but i love cj's reviews of sister wives and i think she'd be great at reviewing the duggars lol.

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    3. Anonymous 8:37 - there are many debates on whether or not the Duggar kids are really "happy." They have a "keep sweet" thing going on in that family too and definite brainwashing. A good site for everyone to catch up on the Duggars and other fundamentalists is "freejinger."

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    4. Anonymous @ 8:37 - it's called Quiverfull, I searched for it. Read how they disciplines their children - search disciplining children, quiverfull - it starts by telling you to teach your 6 month old child that they cannot move off their blanket!

      Part of it is that they have to "joyfully obey" so if they aren't happy that's calling for punishment from what I read. Not so sure they are happy

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    5. Got to Get Me a Sausage TopDecember 15, 2012 at 3:30 PM

      Duggar kids happy? Of course they are. They have been conditioned from birth to follow, not lead. It really is an easier life if you don't ever have to make any decisions for yourself or have an independant thought. They just follow the doctrine of their controlling religion.

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    6. One of those repair homes shows came in and completed their home for them, furniture and all. i don't know if it was TLC or not.

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    7. I am not a Duggar fan on the basis of their controlling their daughters' lives so much. However, I live near them and I have to tell you that those kids are free range, meaning they play so hard and have so much outdoor activity and the girls are just as active as the boys. The older girls are not allowed to entertain boys without a chaperone but I really wish that I had not allowed my daughter to entertain boys without a chaperone. My point is the quiverfull is crazy in that they don't believe in birth control so of course they pop babies out like crazy but the Duggars are good parents and do pretty much what my mom, who had ten kids, did…the older kids do help take care of the younger kids. I was always in charge of my younger sister and it didn't hurt me one bit. In fact, I am a very organized and goal driven individual. So, say what you will, the Duggars are good people who don't lie or cheat and they never take chairty and they give so much in this community. If it werent for the large family and the long dresses, you would probably consider them just good clean christain folks.

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    8. i don't know what there religion is or what its all about.
      But I agree with you that they seem to be a very good family that live what they say.

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    9. They are baptists and a wonderful family. My husband used to go to church with them.

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    10. I too am a Kollene fan. When Kollene noted that Kodouche was a good father, I suspected that this was her subtle way of indicating that she wasn't impressed with him as a husband, nor would she consider him as a husband for herself. The young woman has grown up with pervy older men trying to hit on teen girls; she probably has learned to navigate those murky waters.

      Some young women learn that a way to shut down a dirty old man is to mention his adult kids constantly. "How's your daughter doing? Is she 23 now? Wow, she's my age!" How effective this is varies.

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  9. Kollene's stylist must be a Pat Benatar fan.

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  10. Everyone seems to have missed that the headboard read "Keep Sweet Dreams." I think it was the organizaton's effort to change the meaning of the term that they had heard all their lives.

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    1. Hi Serena,

      The headboard was Suzanne Steed's mother's (who was not shown on the show)from their own home. It was not a headboard provided by or changed by HOH. Suzanne even explained to Maddie what the words "Keep Sweet" meant to the women in the FLDS.

      Maddie even commented on the fact that the headboard showed just how far the FLDS would go to keep women and children submissive.

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    2. I was going to comment that that headboard needed to be painted over but hell, that headboard deserves to be destroyed and burned. Am sure the woman who slept in that bed would get some comfort from that. She needs a new one to go with her new life.

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  11. Bwahhahahah
    Love it.
    I have to admit, I didn't watch this one over and over. I felt like i knew it already.
    We are so on to them.

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  12. After today's shootings in Connecticut today, the thought of the wives buying Kody a semi automatic rifle makes me sick. those things should not be a gift. I certainly hope they will get him something better this year.

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    1. thinking of everyone in Connecticut today, can't image how they must be feeling. rest in peace little ones.

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    2. I agree, these people now need to go away. Shows like this glorify dysfunction and we all (me included) need to stop watching. CJ you do a great job of recapping the crazy and I love reading your insights, but I can't watch these people any longer.

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  13. Simply put it was arrogant of Kb and family to show that the HELP kids and ladies that they were simply involved in the "wrong" kind of plural marriage/ cult. kody is an idiot, he showed that with the husband comment when talking about Kollene. You could see how uncomfortable she was talking to Kody, and I am sure she only said that Kody was a great dad etc becasue of some form of threat or bribe, like maybe TLC offered her her own show if she towed the line about KB and family.

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  14. Excellent Review!
    the Browns need to stay far away from this type of filming. They make a sham of it.

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  15. I agree, CJ. The episode was exploitive of the young adults that suffered serious abuse by polgyamy. The Browns trying to 'convert' the abused kids to the Brown style of polygamy was just wrong. Logan is so over this and I get that - he should be focusing on his own life and college. I feel that the Brown girls are now trying to minimize the abuse of polygamy by saying that 'oh well we aren't that bad so we must be ok". Abuse is abuse. I also found this episode to be self serving and exploitive. The Browns are NOT charitable and worried about the 'more serious abuses' in polygamy, they are concerned about their wetbars, hubby rooms and McMansions. I felt really let down by this.

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    1. I did too!! Those houses are crazy and not needed. I use to have a little respect for them. I read somewhere that they are suing the state of Utah over scaring them about arresting Kody. They make me sick now...

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  16. Even the title cracked me up - for they ARE a cult, with a false leader!

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    1. Got to Get Me a Sausage TopDecember 15, 2012 at 4:33 PM

      Oh silly you.....Meri is the leader. Kody was a non plyg that came into the lifestyle as he calls it, under the tutorship of Meri Meri quite contrary.

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  17. I had problems with this episode also. I thought it was a good public service announcement to feature the shelter and support group.... but I thought it was in terrible taste to send these scarred, scared and generally uneasy refugees to Las Vegas to give the Browns a chance to re-indoctrate them in the 'joys' of polygamy.
    Totally oblivious to what they were going thru.

    Logan may have yawned because they may have been up for a long time. Not sure if they were filming at the shelter home over 1 long day or a couple shorter ones. Still think Aspen needed to hear what those young women had to say. She doesn't realize what type of a family she could marry into. And, even though Maddie is currently saying the 'lifestyle' is not for her, she needed to hear it also.

    Christine is totally flaky. You don't grow up with the family tree she has, where the grandfather went to jail, without knowing the rest of the family history.

    Still can't understand why these people think that being jealous is something you should have to work through rather than something that indicates things are not all they are cracked up to be.

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  18. Thank you for making my night! Loving to laugh out loud!

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  19. I could almost hear Kody saying, "I recognize that you have had some abuses in your lives with BAD polygamists. You girls have been forced to leave home for your own safety; you boys have been thrown out because the older men in your community don't want to compete against you for the girls your age. I feel your pain. REALLY. I have to have four pairs of running shoes because of my religious beliefs!!!!"

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    1. That was great great snark. Best.comment.ever. (Having said that: I don't think Kody is evil in any way; he's just not a very deep thinker and he was way over his head here.)

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    2. I agree - Kody isn't a very deep thinker. If he was, he'd look into the mirror and think, "This hair looks really stupid in this century on a man my age who has rarely been anywhere near a surfboard."

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    3. Got to Get Me a Sausage TopDecember 15, 2012 at 3:55 PM

      How does Kody get to one of the houses? Bare Feet like Jesus? Isn't he wearing shoes when he arrives? Sooooo.......if he jumps out of bed in the morning and gets dressed, can't he put on the same shoes he arrived in?

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    4. I thought Kody's boasting about having four pairs of running shoes was weird-in earlier seasons he was complaining because he was always leaving clothes/items he needed at one wife's house when he was at another.

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  20. And the biggest joke of all, followed up by this weeks show, where the wives are arguing over the homes again~! Me thinks someone wants them OUT and Dargers IN

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  21. The Duggars are worse. Go to freejinger and search for the Duggars. They can fill you in to all the abuses going on there.

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    1. Absolutely Id Marry Bill! They are way worse!

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  22. Whoa, I'm a lil confused as to why Aspyn & Maddie would even come out dressed in plyg dresses...I still havent't had a chance to see this episode yet...

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    1. Got to Get Me a Sausage TopDecember 15, 2012 at 3:59 PM

      The plyg dresses thing did give me the creeps and reminder of the plyg life. I think it is much easier to gloss over all the creepy things about plyg life, if wearing conventional street clothes like the Browns & that other mob of plygs - Joe and the girls in the band.

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    2. The dresses were just another psychological tactic the Browns are using to say, Hey, it's them not us like that ---- dress or no dress, the Covenants are the same.

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    3. Got to Get Me a Sausage TopDecember 15, 2012 at 4:48 PM

      Quite right! from Anonymous at 4:35 PM. You can't make a silk purse out of a plyg's ear.

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    4. Call me evil, but I only watch "Reality TV" for the snark value. I might learn something, but I never expect it to be anything worth really knowing. I plan on being amused.

      But seeing girls in FDLS dresses was not amusing. Those dresses are such a symbol of oppression. Only the required hairstyle could have made it worse.

      The one time I have ever seen FLDS women was on a cruise ship out of Miami of all places. The three of them followed their baby daddy all over the place. They grinned like they were seriously medicated and reminded me of duckings.

      Of course they all had the same hair and the same dress in pastel pink, yellow and blue. Do you think they wear different colors so that the god (who always has his back to them) can tell tham apart?

      Do they think he knows or cares?





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  23. KoKo pretty much validated just how LOW the bar's been set for fatherhood in her own plyg world for her to be able to say at the end she thinks Grody's a good dad. LOL - yeah, i know she was told to say it for the "happy ending" script. blech

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  24. Logan's yawning spoke volumes. For himself as well as us. Thanks Logan - i couldn't have said it better myself!

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  25. I agree with u jinx, this episode was almost an insult to us viewers. And it was for sure an insult to the lady running the org(i think her name was tanya?) For christine to have the AUDACITY to say, on national TV...that "god forbid! She was actually HELPED by them, what would have happend?" I just cant with christine anymore...first she said " i heatd some bad things about her" (tanya)...like what? That she, "god forbid" helps women and children get out of abusive situations?

    As a woman who is actively escaping a violent man who has tried to kill me, i find christines stance to be truly offensive. And i used to really like christine. But apparently, she has really drunk the kool aid!

    I just hope kolleene is able to eventually heal from all of this. In the meantine, she has a right to be angry. And to subject her to the Browns dog and pony show, just for the sake of ratings? Why TLC? Why? The poor grl has been thru hell! & like i said, i dont blame her one bit for her attitude. Its that anger that is helping her escape, and if she finds strenghth in her anger, then so be it....

    Its about time someone stood up to the Browns, and called them out on thier bull****...

    Sorry to vent ya'll...usually i can snark rite along with the best of them...guessing this episode just hit too close to home...I just cant stand seeing women and childrn gettng abused, all the while Kody and crew are "pearl clutching" feigning ignorance of what is going on right in front of thier face...claiming, i never KNEW men could be such BASTARDS! Spare me Christine!

    Ok, rant over! Prayers to evryone in CT...

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  26. I too want to know what bad things Christine heard about Tonia. The whole "god forbid" thing about what if she had gone to Tonia for help just speaks volumes. If you think your relationship decisions are that easily influenced, that should tell you something.

    Kody is such a douche for showing off and then cornering those kids and demanding to know if they would choose his lifestyle. Plus that whole thing about him feeling like he needs to shoulder their burden? News flash: IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU. GET OVER YOURSELF.

    All of my best to those kids escaping the years of abuse they've endured. Can I be on Team Kollene? She has every right to be angry and every right to express it. I REALLY would have loved to have seen her rip Kodouche a new one. I bet she could really take him down a few notches if she'd been allowed to. How ironic that she was basically told to "keep sweet" by the producers in order to go to Vegas and be on the show.

    Michelle in Sactown, my thoughts are with you as you escape your own violent relationship.

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    1. That is so true, although I could care less what Christine heard (no offense - just differing view).
      Really, once I got over how dull it was, this blog has really got me thinking, and more OUTRAGED that The film Co, TLC, and the BROWNS Espeically, would take a great group of people trying to help, and ABUSE them by saying bad things, they just have to KNOCK everything, don't they. For a group that won't allow one bad post, they sure have their mouths open to judgement of everyone!
      So sad they could showcase the group in a much different way. But to those from the group that read this, WE GOT IT, YOU ARE DOING A GREAT SERVICE and we are in awe of you.

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  27. I dvr SW, I started to watch this episode and, truthfully, was totally bored. I deleted it after about 5 minutes.

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    1. There is a reason to watch, though. Watch how they behave, remember, they are representing a religion! Watch the hypocrisy - and filter the good things, like then googling the hope foundation and reading about it!

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  28. Someone mentioned the odd spellings of these kids names in a previous blog post and I'm wondering if the mothers choose these odd names/odd spellings because it's the only control or creative freedom they will EVER have in this lifestyle? Just a thought.

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    1. I married into a large French Canadian (read: Catholic) family- with a very common last name. All the normal names have been taken 3 times or more. The only hope you have of not being mistaken for someone else is to have a very unusual spelling for your kids names- and I do. :-)

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    2. As a former teacher, I HATE odd spellings. Like, Mathew, drives me wild!

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    3. @ Anonymous: It's a Mormon thing and a Utah thing (well, these are essentially the same). I mean that was what the video I posted on the last blog post was all about: That it's a Utah thing.

      If you want to know more about that:
      1. "What's in a (Utah) name?" by Cari Clark
      http://wesclark.com/ubn/article.html

      2. "The Utah Baby Namer"
      Cari Clark, who wrote the first article, and her husband collect weird Utah names and publish an annual list. This is that list. All names (one worse than the next) are listed on the right.

      3. "Black or Mormon?" (about African American 'creative' naming vs Mormon 'creative' naming)
      http://isteve.blogspot.com/2006/04/dbrickashaw-ferguson-black-or-mormon.html

      @ MeanMeri: Agreed. But Mathew is rather tame. "Alycesaundra" for "Alexandra" takes the cake. Also bad: Madlyn for Madeleine.

      I dislike almost all of the Brown children's names (which obviously is no reflection on the great children, only on their parents taste differing from mine). I am fine with Logan, Gabriel, Aurora, Breanna (I prefer Brianna though), Solomon and Hunter. I can survive Mariah (although I prefer Maria) and Savanah (although I prefer Savannah; it's unfair to give your child a name that he or she has to spell every.single.time - and I am unfortunately one of these children).
      Ysabel (what's wrong with Isabel or Isabelle?!), Truely (that's truly silly), Paedon (this unfortunately reminds me of paedobear, very unfortunate), Mykelti (Your what?!), Dayton (that's a city in Ohio or a peace accord between several countries after genocide, not a great boys' name), Garrison (his brothers' names are Camouflage and Ammunition I presume?) and Aspyn (I don't get it. I don't even get why anyone names their child after a place, so I wouldn't even like Aspen, but why does every single name get butchered with a y?). I dislike Madison and yes, I am aware that it is superdupercommon. But it is still "son of Matthew" and I still, so many years after "Splash" don't understand why your daughter is suddenly a son.

      Delete
    4. When I see a terribly spelled name, I assume poor education, lack of basic spelling skills, or illiteracy. I know it's not always the case, but that's still what first pops into my mind.

      Delete
    5. My nephew is Callum spelt Kailum. And he is of no particular religion. So it's not just Mormons who name their children in stupid ways!

      Delete
    6. I live in one of the most education and most affluent counties in the US, and large percentages of the children have names that are of unusual spellings. It's just the way things are done right now, and it seems to go across all boundaries of class, education, ethnicities and religions. The kids all just kind of roll their eyes about it, but their parents tend to get upset when you can't spell their child's name correctly. Even out top ten names are in significantly small numbers than they were twenty or thirty years ago. And as someone who has a name that is unique, I will say that there are advantages in today's search-engine driven world to being the only one in the world, even if I have to put up with problems of people misspelling and mispronouncing my last name (my first name is uncommon, but not an unusual spelling.)

      Delete
  29. I think that in all we see about fundie Mormon polygamy, be it the Browns or any of the other sects, the one common theme is that "It's all about the husband."

    In that, Figure 8 is being true to the heart of fundie Mormonism by letting the show be about Kody.

    Kollene could not have said a more poignant and to the point comment than "the mothers were so busy competing for the husband's attention they had no time for the children."

    To those that say the show doesn't display the Brown's religion, I think you're missing the point. What we see on the Brown's show seems to me to be fully consistent with what I've read about fundie Mormon beliefs...husband is future god, wives eternally pregnant and giving birth....all about the husband using the wives to have more babies.

    I get that seeing it happening in action is distasteful. I agree! But to say it is just Kody and his ego...I think that misses the broader construct of the religion that nurtures and supports this type of husband-at-the-center-of-the-world mentality.

    Of course Kody would highlight his 4 pairs of running shoes. Important to draw the Focus on him, his athletic ability (flirtingly so), his wealth allowing him to provide for 4 (maybe 5?) wives and their children. Did anyone else think that the tours of the houses showed them in each bedroom?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Insightful. You are right that it is the Kody show, as fundie Mormonism is patriarchical, as is mainstream LDS.

      Delete
  30. Does Chritine eve know what a bastard is? One born to a woman and a man who are NOT legally married. just sayin....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Got to Get Me a Sausage TopDecember 15, 2012 at 3:45 PM

      All Christine's children are bastards in the true sense of the word. She truly is "too ignorant" to know this.

      Delete
    2. Got to Get Me a Sausage Top
      Ok, I struggled with letting this one in. I understand what you are saying about Christine using that word not even thinking about the meaning of the word, but let's refrain from any more discussion about it relating to her children.
      It is such a nasty term, and yes she used it! Let's know it and not say it. It just shows her stupidity in conversation skills.
      No more comments on this please.

      Delete
  31. OH Yeah one more thought. Logan better beware when he finds a girlfriend lest he find himself in the same shoes as Tom Greens son. When Tom's son brought his girlfriend home, Daddy took her for his own wife.... Beware Logan, Kodiddy might move on yer girl.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tom Green is pretty much on Rulon Jeffs', Warren Jeffs' and Ross LeBaron's level of awful and disgusting.

      I think comparing Tom Green to Kody is unfair to both the underage victims of Tom Green's rape and abuse and to Kody.

      Delete
    2. To Anonymous December 15, 2012 1:13 PM. I had to respond to your comments - not sure where you are getting your information but -
      1. Tonia, the executive director of Holding out HELP does not have a daughter old enough to be married, let alone into a polygamist community!
      2. HOH does not support polygamy
      3.HOH does not support the Browns lawsuit
      4. HOH did not arrange for the Vegas trip - that was TLC's own way of exploiting the kids.

      Delete
    3. I deleted the comment you are referring to - however, wanted to post yours as it has good points for folks to see.

      Delete
    4. Thanks, ANON 4:48 for the rebuttal and the *facts.*

      Delete
  32. I tell you what burns my Texas britches, is that they want us to allow laws to be changed to accommodate them, but never, I mean never, tell the public what they stand for.
    That a woman must go through the man to get to heaven.
    That they will live on planets having sex and eternal babies.
    Well, they can have that. I want to go to HEAVEN, and be with GOD.
    Others may have differing views, but I doubt anyone, I really mean anyone, would say, hey now, that's a religion and a place I want to be!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Got to Get Me a Sausage TopDecember 15, 2012 at 3:50 PM

      Where do single and unattached women fit into this Plyg thing? No heaven I guess. What about plyg women who are married, and can't have any children? No heaven for them either I guess.

      Delete
    2. Sausage Top - alot of times the barren women get given another wives' babies - at least they do in the FLDS. Flora Jessops tells about the additional heartbreaking cruelty her mother went through in having to give up SEVERAL of her babies to one of her sister wives. It's in her book, CHURCH OF LIES. ;'(

      Delete
  33. @Anon 11:23, someone on another post linked to a youtube video about first names in Utah. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfIehCrO4Zs
    Seriously I almost fell out of my chair laughing, and then I made my business partner watch it. Love love love to whomever posted it originally!

    At this moment, I think I am renouncing 99.9% of my former brief support for Christine. Her pretended ignorance/"bastards" comment has set me off. Granted I know she comes from a large family and probably doesn't know all of her relatives but if I'm doing the geneaology(sp?) correctly, Kristyn Decker, author of "50 Years in Polygamy" is Christine's first cousin once removed. Kristyn (Sophie in the book) mentions her uncle Rulon several times and her childhood home was a gathering place for the AUB priesthood council. I'm only 12% into this book on my Kindle and I'm sick to my stomach over what happened to this child. I still think Christine was raised in a very insulated environment but I also think, as her Twitter handle supports, that she chooses to see only what she wants to see through those blasted proverbial rose colored glasses.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hello Sister Wives Blog! I just had to come back and say more.

    Long time lurker. Always loved ALL the posts, but esp. the ones that are so smartly written by Cynical Jinx, Mr. Sister, and loved last years songs by Terrasola!

    My thoughts on the review; all parenthesis written above by Cynical Jinx:

    "This was a typical, superficial attempt to show the Browns giving back to society by doing volunteer work, told in a typical reality show format."

    YES! How you can put into words our thoughts are enlightening! You put it all into perspective when I know that I get jumbled up at times stuck on something that ticked me off! Thank you for that! The Browns showing that they are giving? What a hoot! I bet my Tax dollars and personal shopping costs all went up because of their bankruptcies and grifting off of welfare!
    do they have a card game where they flip to see what they do today? It would be called GIVING or GRIFTING.

    ""Why would Christine believe Tonia would want to take Aspyn away from her? Why would Christine not know of the abuses of the Kingston Group?""

    Of course Christine knows no one would be taken away, she knows the woman! To sit her ass on that couch and say that is such an INSULT to the woman. Of course Christine knows about the abuses of not only the Kingston group, but her group as well!!!!! One only knows what she really knows. Wasn't it Granddaddy that stole a million dollars? PLEASE......... What hypocrites they are. I bet their own group is appalled at their behavior. Oh, that's right, can someone clarify if the AUB gave them the boot? If they did, does that mean they are ALONE in their group?

    And can anyone say BRAVO to CJ's finale?
    "It was all so exploitative - an attempt to show that the Browns version of polygamy is the good kind, the others are the bad kind. So sorry if you had the misfortune to be born into the wrong kind. Can I show you my pairs of running shoes I have in each of my four homes? How about I take you on a tour of my homes to rub your noses into what you did not have the good fortune to be born. Hey, wanna see a picture of the beginning of the end of my children living as brothers and sisters? It was taken at Robyn's wedding reception (that TLC paid for). Too bad the film editor did not edit in a replay of Meri telling Christine how she needed basically to keep sweet and change herself instead of thinking Kody needed to make any changes.

    Who needs a headboard saying to 'Keep Sweet' when you've got Meri to keep errant wives in line?"

    WOW, so powerful!!!!

    Does anyone else think that TLC and all the Browns come here? I say yes.
    To Kollene and the others and the wonderful group that actually HELPS others, GREAT JOB!
    Ok, my rant is done. I hope some posters answer their thoughts to Cynical's questions, that would be interesting!!!!!!



    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Spot on!
      Here's another comment Cynical said that I enjoyed:
      " Recalcitrant teen realizes Kody is a real dad. Sadly, the only thing missing was everyone singing Kumbaya around the campfire."

      For these teens, the abuse, yes, we can't imagine. But don't you think that someone, TLC, Productions, MADE them say he was a good dad as part of the deal? They told the girl to tone down her hatred and words. WHY? It's not just the abuse, it is the strange religion and Joseph Smith crap they are leaving too. Making them go there was AWFUL in my book.

      Delete
    2. Yes, I do think the HOH teens, in particular, Kollene, were instructed to tone down their words.
      In the other thread, Kollene herself said that being invited to come to Vegas was contingent on her toning down her opinions.
      And doesn't that speak volumes about the ethics and intent of the show's producers and of the Brown family.....???

      It was embarrassing to watch the Browns (especially Kody) flaunt their "lifestyle" to these people.
      I actually felt ashamed and phony for watching such a blatant insensitivity and lack of awareness on the part of the Brown adults.

      Meanwhile the Browns were all pumped up with their "look at us"...."look at all we have"..."we are *good* plygs".....!!!

      Delete
  35. CJ, great review!

    Logan, yes drama is boring.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Meri just tweeted that they will have 9 ornaments for sale on their website tomorrow.

    Wow. 9 ornaments. Count them folks. Ugh.

    Thanks for a great review CJ. I had to rewatch the show because I missed Grody's story of shoes at every house. He has such a rough life....NOT. This show was so weird. It was a pathetic attempt at showing the Browns doing charity work.

    Needed this today after the recent events. I'm so glad you have this blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. just in time to hold an "after Christmas" sale on them. of course, there's only one of each ornament for a grand total of 9, so get 'em quick!! lol

      Delete
  37. So the Brown's consider this doing "charity work". I say..if you wanna help somebody, go work in a soup kitchen, maybe go help the elderly. Heck, give some starving, homeless children some of money from one of your FOUR MINI MANSIONS.. or atleast what it will cost for all these extra bedrooms & that damn wetbar!! ..But DON'T lie to these young women and the young man.

    Every one of Kody's wives, and in every single episode..is either CRYING, whining, gripping or
    talking about...what it would be like if they decided to
    just leave one day. "I've heard it so much..I wanna know too.. So Please, somebody leave so I can see
    what it would be like!" And then there's Kody (Mr. I'm Perfect) Look at my perfect family in this picture, it was taken at my perfect wife Robin's reception. I gotta show you my four pair of perfect running shoes, haa haa, I keep a pair in every perfect house!.. "excuse me while I vomit!".

    As far as kollene and all the others, I didn't grow up in a "plyg" home, but I did grow up in a very abusive home (because of a pedophile stepfather) and I left home at age 15 and became a young Mom to 3boys. It's been a tough life, but I can
    honestly say the one thing that changed my life for
    the better..I found God, but..on MY own terms! NOBODY, tells me how to pray, when to pray, or
    what church to go to. ...Best thing I ever did! My kids are all grown into.. (GREAT, RESPECTFUL, HARD WORKING KIDS) & I also became a
    grandma "I LOVE IT" :) Believe in God. Believe in yourself. Life will get so much better & you will eventually be able to put the past behind you for the most part. ...I wish you all the very best!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous 10:08 - I could have written the part from " . . . but I did grow up in a very abusive home . . . " through your experience with finding God and believing in Him. Our story of abuse is all too common.

      The joy is in choosing to be a victor rather than a victim. And if we can use those experiences to help others, we are made even stronger.

      Delete
  38. Excellent excellent post for a less than excellent episode. I just wanted to comment (I think I am reading your sarcasm correctly) that I am glad you pointed out how annoying Kolleen was! I get that she has "spunk" and I can't even imagine what she went through, but she made this episode incredibly annoying for me. Rude rude rude. I know so many people on this site are "Team Kolleen," but I cannot stand the girl. Ugh

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kolleen definitely did not Keep Sweet.

      Delete
    2. YAY!! TEAM KOLLENE! Kollen's keeping it real (as much as she was allowed to do for the show's script) and i doubt will ever be able to just KEEP SWEET for any sexist, chauvinistic man in real life! So happy for her escape from that crap. Just think of the healthy and strong sons and daughters she will be able to raise based on her experience. My money's on her being happy and successful in life and love!

      Delete
  39. It makes you wonder why Kody has the same pair of shoes at each house. Doesn't he come to each house wearing the running shoes already?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, you would think that he would be in great shape, maybe running a marathon, after that relevlation, but I don't think so ....

      Delete
  40. Christine, you are a drama queen. It is a side of you that I have seen in preivious episodes. To say you did not know men could bastards is a lie. You are just trying to act naieve. You want to protray yourself as some innocent, naieve woman. Why? It only makes you look pathetic.
    Meri, you are not being practical and thoughtful to your husband and his mistresses. Face it. That is exactly how you see them as. They are your husband's mistresses. So now you feel you are entitled to having the best and having it all because you feel you have been making sacrafices after all these years and now you think Kody owes you. You are also very bossy and tempermental. It is part of your personality. And no one has put you in your place. You are blind an unwise.
    Janelle, you have a voice. You are entitled to use it.
    Robin, please, stop and think about what you and Kody have done to these kids. As far as I am concerned you allowed it to go this far. You know very well that Kody thinks with the wrong head. It is lust for Kody, and noww the kids have lost a lot from their lives. The oldr childre had the chance of living with their dad under one roof and their siblings. The younger children including Solomon now has no chance of growing up together like siblings should.
    Kody, you are one pathetic man. You don't even know how to descipline yor children. It takes practice and you don't even try. You coward and by cowarding only forces the mothers hviing to take control of the situation. You don't have any back bone and you know that deep down, you just don't want to admit it. You don't even know how to hook up a washer machine. Your wife and mistresses can't rely on you to do what needs to be done. You have a Peter Pan complex.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Some serious, not flippant, questions about Mormon polygamous groups:

    1) Does a sister-wife ever become close friends with an unrelated sister-wife from another polygamous family, or is a woman expected to spend most of her time with her own sister-wives? For example, would it be considered odd if Meri Brown and Valerie Darger began having lunch together weekly without any other wives around?

    2) Because most teen boys are chased off, the adult population in Mormon polygamous communities may have 10 adult women for every adult man. At gatherings, do the polygamists notice how few adult males are around, and realize such a disproportion is unusual, or even sad?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1. That wouldn't be odd at all, except for the example of Meri and Valerie Darger. Typically, that wouldn't happen because they don't share a congregation. The Browns are AUB and the Dargers are independent, although they are strongly affiliated with the AUB. Maybe for the Browns it would be different, but if it was one of my sisters, she would not associate with an independent. That tends to be frowned upon. But it's not unusual for women to make friends with the women in another family.

      2. If they notice it, it's something they avoid discussing. To do so would be to acknowledge their critics, like me. They always have an excuse when someone mentions the imbalance between the sexes. Countless times I've heard them say that men are inherently sinful, and that's why so many leave. But no one ever discusses their grievances. That's a kind of taboo. To them, people ONLY leave because of spiritual weakness and apostasy. It doesn't make sense, but they're a religious cult. If they were honest with themselves, they would be able to get themselves out, at least in principle.

      Delete
  42. I can't help but notice that the kids are merely engaging in a form of child labor in order to help their polygamist dad who is a deadbeat and can't support the family he chooses to create. After all, that's the plyg way of doing things. Child labor isn't just something the "bad polygamists" force on their kids. I was in the AUB. I started my first summertime job at age nine. At eleven, I starting working full time--permanently. During jr. high and high school, I labored to stay awake in school because my dad got me up hours before school to do work he could have easily done himself, had he not seen his children as human resource assets. It will be interesting to see what happens as all the kids get older. If they're angry about their situation, it will smolder until things get really ugly, then they'll go off like bombs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cosmo, wow I can't imagine my almost 11 yr old boy having to work! I'm curious, you mention your father making you do hours of work he could easily have done himself, is there a mindset in the AUB that adults shouldn't really have to work much? I mean when I look at the Browns, I see nothing but a bunch of lazy ass adults (minus Janelle). Neither Meri or Christine have ever held a full time job, Robin doesn't work (MSWC is not a real job imo) and yet she won't even work as a homemaker (hence Taralyce), and Kody doesn't do $h#@"! Like I said, I'm wondering if this is typical AUB behavior after what you said about your dad and what we see of the Browns.

      Delete
    2. Love you Cosmos, so great to hear from you!!
      First, I am sorry you had to go through that. I bet it made you the man you are today- great plilosopher.

      Second, WHAT a GREAT point about the BROWNS!!! we should all ponder that.

      Delete
    3. Cosmo,

      So sorry you had to go through that in your life. I cannot imagine trying to get through school being exhausted from working everyday before school. That you ever finished is a testament to your hard work.

      Thanks for posting here. I always look forward to hearing from you. Interesting point about the Brown kids.

      Delete
    4. Well, when I see child labor, I can tell that adults aren't doing everything they need to be doing. My dad was partly lazy, but partly it was due to the attitude that children go to work for their father when they are old enough to do so. He's in another century. He would have been perfectly fine if I'd dropped out of school and gone to work in construction, like my brothers.

      The Browns, like most polygamists, are in too deep and they need an enormous income just to get by. They don't seem to have any sense of financial discipline. So they've got this show and all of the kids have to participate, but did anyone ask them if they wanted to go in front of the world with something they wouldn't tell any stranger? I doubt it. I can imagine their misery and humiliation. When I was growing up, my dad's polygamy was a huge embarrassment. I didn't even tell my friends in high school. To them, I suppose I was some kind of odd kid who never invited friends over and worked ungodly hours.

      Kids are very self-conscious, especially when it comes to the strange behavior or their parents. Very few are so devout that they don't cringe over the embarrassment. Polygamy is not cool in a teenager's world!

      Delete
    5. I remember Joe Darger's wives stating that the kids go to work around 11 or 12 yrs. old and he starts charging them rent then. Nice . . .

      Delete
    6. yeah, teens don't like to think of their parents having sex with just each other let alone that your dad's sleeping w/a bunch of women and still having babies with them, too. PLUS still in the market to bring another one into the picture at any given moment. talk about huge ick factor to get over every time you're around your dad as well as all your moms.

      Delete
  43. Hi, It really disgusts me when Kody says "That is a dress a father should never see on his daughter". I love how they act like they are so modest and their children shouldn't be allowed to wear short skirts, yet he is having out of wedlock sex with 3 women because he is only legally married to one of them and he has many out of wedlock children. Sick, sick, sick. Mr. holier than thou.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When he said that, he was referring to the robes they had put on to prove a point about the abuse these women who are forced to wear those dresses face. Similar to prison clothing I suppose. I don't think he was wrong there.

      Delete
  44. Kody isn't a real man. He is NOT SUPPORTING his family. TLC is. A real man supports his family. They all are not working because as of right now they don't have to. All of the adults are taking full advantage of TLC right now and TLC is allowing it because they are making money of off the Browns being on the program. Once it is over, Kody is going to have to go back into the work force. So will the women. I don't find them to be religious at all. I think they are taking full advantage of the religion for an excuse to live this lifestyle out of their own desires. The Browns are not true to their form. They are not sister wives, for crying out loud, they don't even like each other. Their love is being divided, it isn't being multiplied. The Browns are a scam. He married women that have issues of their own, and low self esteem. Any women with high self esteem would never marry Kody Brown.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Interesting to see a couple of tweets from Robin asking us to tune into the show tonight. Perhaps they realize they need to connect to their viewers to keep the show alive. they must peek at this blog every once in a while. She even says there may be some live tweeting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen. WIthout this blog the show would never even make it to the television! TLC should come to CJ and ask for a show. Am I right?

      Delete
    2. I used to follow the Browns on Twitter, but it is just too tempting to spend all day replying to their tweets--and trashing Kody. He's such a douchebag. I've told him so. They never reply to me.

      Delete
    3. you mean they've never blocked you either??

      Delete
  46. Why aren't they showing (or barely showing) Robin's kids this season? And if these 4 wives are so happy, why are they always blubbering?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Their joy comes from "out-martyring" each other! lol

      Delete
  47. They are tweeting like the show is in real time. Don't get it. and what take the dog to Utah? No euthanasia in Nevada? are the kids going to back to Utah to visit the grave?

    ReplyDelete
  48. Live tweets all over the place. Gag me with a spoon. So fake.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Thanks for this awesome, snarky review, CJ!

    Comments on the tonight's episodes:

    They had a dog? Who knew?

    I understand how hard it is to see your furchild decline, and that it's hard to know when to put them down.

    I expect that the whole "take the dog to a vet in Utah" thing is a setup by TLC. I'm quite certain that there are vets in LV and that they aren't that hard to find, and they might have even driven up to the house to do it. Although they wouldn't have been able to dig the grave in Lehi before the dog was put down if they'd had it put down in Vegas. They did create a lot of talk with this episode: many negative comments about euthanization are being posted on the TLC sister wives facebook page.

    All that said, "Take him up to Utah" is going to be my new euphemism for euthanization.

    I liked the individual focus on Janelle and Christine.

    I'm happy to see that Janelle is going to the gym again and talking about her weight on tv. It seems that this new trainer is working better for her than Bill did. She is going to be super-gorgeous when she reaches 170, I have to say.

    I am completely jealous that Mykelti got to go to the fashion shoot thing. That's not exactly the hard part of designing clothes, but it's certainly a fun part. it seemed like the Brown family was using Kody's "leaving the room when the model was wearing a bra" to show that he's respectful and a good man. Please. Most men I know who weren't involved with dressing the model would be decent enough to leave the area while she was being dressed. Kody's not special in that way. Some might even ask what he was doing there in the first place since it was for Mykelti - it came across as Kody needing the spotlight. Again.

    And then there's my sisterwife's closet. Look - Robyn is wearing the necklace for the first and only time! People looked and didn't buy because a) the items are crap and b) the shipping was too expensive.

    I thought Kody didn't have any input into the pieces? Huh. Well, whether he was part of it or not, the business was a flop and they seem to have abandoned it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yeah, the dog hasn't ever been featured as their beloved family pet before, so being blindsided out of the blue w/all the drama and emotion about him was a little lost on me. It would have been nice if we'd ever seen the kids playing and loving on him as a preface to tonights scripted drama episode. All i got was that Mariah was young when she got him as a puppy and of course, what child DOESN'T love a new puppy but i suspect he's been low priority for a number of years now. The kids in this family don't even get the emotional attention they need - why would a dog??

      I only saw Mariah as the only teen upset about it as it was really just her dog and NOT the whole family's as the script tried to portray.

      I also LOVE how Kody and Meri were acting like this was their FIRST trip back to Utah and their home!! LOL guess they "forget" about all their tweets about going back and forth constantly.

      Delete
  50. Hi Browns,I love your show and your life values.Im a married man to one woman and could never ever see myself having 2 or more wife's but do not hold anything against your beliefs.

    ReplyDelete
  51. so ridiculous for Madison and Aspyn to deny that Kody is not 'the king'. He gets treated like one everytime he shows up. If each wife gets a date night out, he gets four dinners out.if each gets a vacation, he gets 4 vacations. 4 pairs of shoes. The wives have cheap claddaugh rings, but kody gets gold with diamonds and expensive presents,while his stepkids lack a dresser. His kids leave for vegas without toys and posessions, but the rrailer dragging kody's motorcycles and man toys goes, even when the cars his kids are treadless. i so wish janelle will get out, the rest of them disgust me

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love how he still never wears his expensive custom designed 4-diamond claddagh ring they had especially made for him. another "surprise" gift fail - just like the laptop he wasn't thrilled about and the gun he never uses. They all know their man so well! lol

      Delete
  52. I watched it with a finger on the fast forward button. I didn't really get why they had to take the dog to Utah, either... but whatever! I've given up trying to understand these people.

    Good for Janelle about going back to the gym and GOOD FOR JANELLE that she made it a solo activity! I'm glad she got a new trainer, too.

    Good for Christine on passing the real estate exam, too. It is hard to be a stay at home mom then re-enter the work force. I think it SUCKS that she didn't get any help with it, though.

    Even if the jewellery was really nice- who can afford it? =8-/ Wouldn't make sense to have a price range? I just think that none of them have ANY business sense and it is really sad.

    MSWC... :-| Don't even get me started on that gong show. Only 26 orders and they have four homes to pay for?! Huh... Well that doesn't seem like it is working out super well.

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  53. These wives are not happy at all. Kody, Is the biggest idiot there is and the women are very unhappy fools. He runs around like an idiot and the wives are getting heavier as every episode goes by. They all look terrible.

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  54. I really do not understand why they had to take the dog to Utah and show the poor thing passing away on television. In my opinion that is cruel. All Kody could do is think about himself while his daughter is watching her dog die. Grow up and be a man.

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  55. Robyn - learn how to pronounce your product. it's "jew-el-ry" and not "jew-ler-y." Also, the word you were trying to say on your deep thoughts about Kody's gentlemanly manners about looking at nude women he's not married to is "dis-robes" and not "dis-robe-ses." lord.

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  56. I LOVE how Christine's all excited that she passed the test (why didn't we get her actual score - was it the minimum 75 required?) so that NOW she can get back to being a mom full-time. NOTHING about now having to go to work at the ungodly realtor hours required in order to get that first big commission check she's already excited about getting! LOL

    Also, I kept waiting for Janelle to explain why she DID pass her test months ago when Christine didn't but still hasn't officially gotten her license and hung it w/a broker and started working. What EXACTLY was the point for either one of them to pass a realtor test when it appears neither one really is planning on taking the next step and START WORKING in the business??

    Passing the test is the easiest part of the business!! It takes a couple of years or more to establish yourself and get good at obtaining listings and closing sales of other listed properties w/a TON of hours put in first to get there!

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  57. I'm sorry but I was laughing my head off at all their excitement about 300 people flooding their website within minutes of it going up and then the instant depression when the realization that NO ONE was buying and they started getting snarky tweets about it! Their arrogance and self-importance of being "novelty famous" plygs never ceases to entertain me!! LOL

    I actually had forgotten how really ugly and juvenile that jewelry was until they showcased their most "awesome" pieces. ;'p

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  58. "Now I can go back to being a full time mom". REALLY? If you had no support in studying for the test just wait until you have to pound the pavement everyday to earn that first big commission check! Christine has no clue to the meaning working mom. I also thought Kody's attitude on the 28 orders were "oh well, now it's on to the next big manic idea". I only watched the last 30 minutes of this episode, I used to DVR it, now I cannot stomach the fakeness and whining anymore. Love this blog tho!

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  59. As a new reader to this fantastic blog and a new fan of the Sister Wives show (not them as people, just the show), could somebody please give me a run down on each wife? From reading some of the older blogs, I can def see how everyone feels about Kody, but what about the wives? Who was married first and who is considered to be the favorite? Thank you in advance to anyone that answers this for me!

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    1. MERI - First Wife - only legally married wife. to be feared by all including Kody. She's in charge of this whole mess and is emotionally unstable and cold-hearted and mean at heart. Maybe just from the emotional abuse of her joyous plyg lifestyle. Also - probably bisexual if not a closeted lesbian married to her closeted gay husband, Grody.

      JANELLE - 2nd wife. used to be married to Meri's brother in a monogamous marriage. Meri was a heartless bitch to her from Day 1. Janelle is also emotionally unstable. She has admitted that she's an emotional eater and that's why she's so big. She and Kody are more like platonic friends than husband/wife. Kody has said he's always thought of her more as a guy friend. Janelle's mother is married to Kody's dad as a sister wife.

      CHRISTINE - 3rd wife. ditzy happy homemaker. coming from the Allred family, she is AUB royalty. that used to mean something to Grody. Christine always wanted to be 3rd and LAST wife. she was happy in that spot for 17 years til Sobbin' Robyn came along and ruined her world. Emotionally unstable due to polygamy.

      ROBYN - 4th wife. young wife. manipulative liar. not very bright but does have her passive/aggressive survival skills finely honed. Knows to kiss up to Mean Girl Meri w/the power. doesn't kiss up to either Christine or Janelle. kisses her knight/village idiot in shining armor's ass daily. She plans on having a "honeymoon marriage" just like her plyg parents did. She failed to say however, they were divorced. Robyn came into the family as a divorced (monogamous) mother of 3. Kody said he initially had an ick factor about her cause she already had kids from another man. She's emotionally unstable.

      Kody and Janelle were both raised in mainstream Mormon homes. Kody served a mission for the LDS church. Meri, Christine and Robyn were all raised in plyg homes. All 5 adults are emotionally unstable and have low self-esteem due to the polygamy lifestyle. It comes out in various forms of bullying, passive/agressive manipulation, constant crying, depression, jealousy, selfishness, neediness, etc. They have certainly sold me on the pure spiritual joy of the religious plyg lifestyle done their self-proclaimed RIGHT WAY! HAH!

      I pity these fools and i truly feel sorry for their countless innocent kids born into this and having to deal w/the godforsaken mess both publicly and privately.


      (oh yeah - obviously for now, Sobbin' is Kody's fave. not just for the new hot sex but also for all the new adoring daily worship he gets from her.)

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  60. I keep watching cause I keep hoping one of these "strong" woman will forcefully stop Kody from flipping his hair and being such a diva. Mary is the only one legally married to him and yet he is so awful to her. Christine might actually be the one who takes him down a peg.

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    1. How is he awful to Meri? She always gets her way and he actually seems to listen to her. He usually agrees with her, they almost always sit next to each other on the couch, they are very touchy-feely with each other, she snaps at him and he does not snap back. She has a history of being mean to the other wives and he has a history of not stepping in to diffuse the situation. From what I see on TV, a couple of the others are treated a bit worse.

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    2. yes, Kody fears Meri's legal as well as bitch power and will not risk being truly awful to her. He doesn't care about Janelle and Christine's hurt feelings but genuinely does Robyn's as they are reciprocally head over gaga heels for each other.

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  61. I'm been a lurker for a while now, but I wanted to say I love this blog!

    To answer Anon 12:29, Kody was married to Meri first, then Janelle, then Christine is wife#3, and Robin is the fourth wife.

    I would say most people think Meri and Robin are his favorites.

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  62. I continue to watch Sister Wives not because I agree with their way of life, because don't, but because I listen to them complain about: FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, RAISING THEIR CHILDREN, and THEIR HOMES. This is what I see..

    Why does Kody seem to always have a new convertible car, new, and he drives himself around leaving the wives to drive HIS children around - no matter where they go. Why can't the guy help drive? I see KODY as coming and going and letting the wives raise those kids.



    If they have limited money, why are they ALWAYS going on vacation?

    How did they get the money to purchase new homes? I don't see Kody working. Are they playing the system?

    In reality - Kody gives me the "creeps" I agree with another post above - Kody does appear to be a diva or narcissistic. BUT.... I want Christine to keep challenging him - I really want her to walk away from this relationship - she's too smart for this. Meri is his first wife, but she's always crying and feeling sorry for herself. As for Rachel, I'm sorry, but I think she's fake. When I watch the show and see her I think a mistake was made.

    THERE'S TOO MUCH WHINING!!!!!!!!!!!!11

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  63. I actually cant help but to feel bad for Meri, i dont think she's meant to share any man. I think she's meant to be monagamous, but since she comes from a plural family, she convinced herself she would be ok with sharing a man. Obviously she isnt! lol

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  64. "THIS ISN'T WHAT I SIGND UP FOR!" said every person who has ever been married...

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  65. these so-called adults anger me because they never seem to really care about how their lifestyle and choices (tv reality show) affect the kids. don't you just know they get questions galore about the lifestyle of their parents? i can only imagine how they feel when somebody who might not be so kind asks them how it feels to know the dad is only legally married to one wife.

    and really what are they thinking??? bringing more and more children they don't even work to support into an already overpopulated world. it just makes me go WHY?

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