VioletNevermind

I have some belated observations on this episode: * Robyn seems to have a very high opinion of herself now. Even the way she carried herself in this episode came off snobby. * Meri has the audacity to use family resources to return to school in her 40's when there are SEVENTEEN children in need of educations. I have no words for that. * Everything about Mykelti screams "daddy issues." No surprises there. * I had to chuckle when Christine stood up to leave and while she was extricating herself from the mic cords, Tamron said, "You're not a hostage!" * The whole "Robyn is pregnant!" teaser is starting to look like exactly that: a big, dumbass tease. * Robyn definitely nodded when the wives were confirming that they'd told Kody how lonely they were (cue the violins). I am continually amazed by the bitching about something that they all willingly and knowingly signed on for. * At the beginning of each one of these tell-alls, Tamron Hall tells us that the Browns have agreed that nothing is off-limits, but sure enough, they refuse to answer questions, usually pertaining to the bedroom. Why so coy, Browns? Believe me, the less I know about what goes on in Kody's bedroom(s) the better, but don't pretend to be prepared to unveil secrets, then act like awkward 12-year-olds when the subject of sex inevitably comes up. * It looks like the "investors" crapped out on the Browns after all. I LOVE IT. The last thing these grifters deserve is another handout, especially to fund a niche joory business that they can't even get their own family interested in. I, for one, have no interest in paying $60+ for a metal "Superwoman" pendant that will turn my neck green after two weeks. You can almost smell the gas running out of this show. I can't imagine it lasting after next season, but I've said that for the last three seasons, so what do I know?

The moment before the first scene aired, I thought the exact same thing. They went much more natural this time. Christine looks better than I've ever seen her. I guess we should just be grateful that Kody left the ponytail holder at home this time. *shudder*

What a great point about the teasing that the kids must endure from classmates. I have to wonder what their classmates, friends and their parents think when they see these episodes with Kody jumping around, shaking out his hair in the mirror, tooling around in his sports car while his stable of brood mares agonizes over the bills, etc.

Yes. This is the main reason I have a problem with it. He didn't earn that title over time with love and respect. The children were trained and drilled to call him "Daddy" from the beginning (before they were even "married") and corrected when they didn't. There's nothing natural about that. Underneath all of the tears and overwrought sensitivity, Robyn is one shrewd woman. She knew that her options were running out when she was by herself, so she latched onto his crazy train, probably figuring that it was better than being by herself (a dubious assumption, in my opinion).

Not to nitpick, but Kody is only married to Robyn "celestially," so he really isn't the kids' stepfather. He plays the role of one (as much as a man can who only sees his children one day out of every four). Robyn got her name changed to Brown, but in order to change the kids' names, their father would have had to relinquish his parental rights. I'm sure it varies slightly from state to state, but that's my understanding. I've gotten the feeling several times over the last couple of seasons that Robyn pushes the kids to refer to him as their father. I've seen a few scenes where she's corrected them. It just makes me wonder how their actual father feels when he hears his children call some other man "Daddy" on national television. I don't think it would make me feel very good.

I caught that, too. There were quite a few moments like that throughout the episode. You would think that a woman whose "husband" has repeatedly said that he views her as little more than a sexless brood mare would take care not to make comments like that about her kids. Quite frankly, I think all of them have done pretty well considering the fact that their only father figure has been their teenage brother.

Whew. Okay. Here are my thoughts: 1. Why do Robyn's children refer to themselves as Browns and call Kody "Daddy?" Did he adopt the kids or have they all encouraged another man's children to see Kody as their father? Did their dad (a Jessop) relinquish custody to Robyn? If not, what they're doing is dead wrong. 2. The part where all of the women gushed about how when Kody's eyes are on you, you feel so sparkly (actual quote) and special. My gag reflex kicked in. I still totally fail to understand how this nimrod got one woman to marry him, let alone four. The key to his "appeal" is the ability to hone in on shy, sheltered women with low self-esteem who would be grateful for any male attention. 3. Kody's ponytail. Just no. I never thought I'd hear myself say that I prefer his standard shaggy, unkempt, filthy look. He needs to take a long, hard look at his receding hairline and ask his barber for an adult hairstyle pronto. If Kody has his people call my people, I will even offer to pay for the hair cut. 4. Logan. He's just wonderful. I hope he's able to find himself a great woman and have a nice life. He's been more of a father and role model to his siblings than his useless jackass of a father has ever been. 5. Mykelti. Oh, honey. Just because saying the word "fuck" under your breath makes you a rebel in your culture doesn't make you a badass rebel to the rest of the world. 6. Kody acting like he did Robyn this big favor by dragging her into this mess. He really does like to feel like the grand, omnipotent savior where she's concerned. 7. The potential 18th(!) child. I'm not loving that final scene where they jerked us around yet again re: Robyn's pregnancy. Were there not enough clues peppered throughout the episode to make it obvious that she is? That would make 18 kids. The irresponsibility of the choices made by the adults in this family is staggering. Do they think they're going to be able to ride this money train forever? Jon Gosselin once lived in a huge McMansion with no job to distract him. Last I heard, he was a waiter in a mom-and-pop restaurant in a small, rural town in PA. Take note, Browns. I could go on and on, but I'm nauseous. I've ended every post I've made here the same way because it always hits me after every episode: WHY DO I KEEP WATCHING?!

Ugh, I know. She came onto the scene a few short years ago, long after this family was well-established. I can't stand how she has to chime in any time they have these retrospective shows. "Oh yeah, that's just like Mykelti!" Give me a royal break. She's not all that much older than the oldest kids!

Check out what I just stumbled across totally by accident: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a2r21TSMTY. It perfectly encapsulates the sheer douchebaggery that is Kody Brown. I don't think it's possible for me to hate this dude any more than I do.

Wait until Miss Skinny Wife gets knocked off her pedestal by the next wife *ahem* victim *ahem* Kody drags onto this sinking ship. She won't feel quite so entitled then.

Wow. I'm watching this episode for the second time right now just to be sure that my first impressions were correct. They were. The Richards are . . . odd. The kids who had to participate in Dad's little parlor trick where he summons them all at the snap of a finger looked pretty uncomfortable. I'd love to see him try that shit in another five or six years when the oldest ones are in their teens. Good luck, Dad. The first wife sounded like she was on Quaaludes as she was explaining the moronic reasons they became polygamous. Her husband can't entertain himself on the couch for a half hour while she makes cookies (probably for him)? Once again, a major life/marriage choice that solely benefits the man. The way Kody teased that poor little red-haired boy until he ran out of the room turned my stomach. What an asshole! Kody does something incredibly cringe-worthy every. single. episode. How on earth does not only one, but FOUR women find him in any way acceptable physically or socially? Honestly, I really need to know because I'm more baffled with every week of this crapfest. (And yet I KEEP WATCHING!)

Man, this episode was hard to stick with for the entire hour. Am I the only one who thought Amy's first super-casual attempt to sing the slow song in the studio was totally faked? It was nothing more than an opportunity for the producer to "school" Grandma about how he has to dish out tough love if Amy is to achieve her dreams of stardom. Poor girl. She irritates the shit out of me, but it's always hard to watch someone shooting for a dream that they will absolutely not realize. Please, no more Amy episodes!

Well, what do you know? A "bombshell." Every single episode of this show, someone is dropping a "life-altering bombshell that could change the family . . . FOREVER." *yawn* (But, I can't stop watching.)

I often wonder if the Duggars' rules re: hair length, clothing, and courting will relax, if not disappear altogether, as the Howlers age. Josie is already four-years-old. By the time she's old enough to start thinking about courting (by Duggar standards), her parents will be in their early 60's. By the time Josie is 10, her oldest sisters/moms will be married off and no longer able to fulfill their roles as their incredibly self-centered mom's indentured servants. I can't imagine that Michelle and Jim Bob will even have the energy to continue to mandate every little thing about the younger kids' lives and appearances at that point. (By the way, it's so good to see all of your familiar names here after being a faithful TWoP lurker for 10+ years! Why did I never create an account?!)