nosedive

Now we know how she gets that "surf's up!" forelock action going.

And she thought he was just a rennal.

Ugh! I've watched half of the preview.

Forty-two minutes? After commercials and replays of what we've already seen in the season, what's left?

Slight adjustment to your thesis... do whatever you want as long as YOU'RE THE MALE. The women are expected to be obedient subjects of their future planet god.

I need to stop reading this board while eating.🤮

The Painting is God Speed by Edward Blair Leighton, painted in 1900. It depicts a knight going off to war, leaving his beloved behind. Maybe it's from Christine's vision board: an aspiration to be swept off her feet by a chivalrous suitor. Or maybe it's a visual fantasy that Kody goes off to the battlefront and doesn't return. Or maybe it was on the markdown table at Home Goods.

How about "Mine and Truely's Gently Used Clothing?" Is she harkening back to the language of 17th Century England?

LOL! A secretary at a mortuary, maybe.

This is such good point. In the weeks following my mother's death (and she had had a very long life), it was so important to me, and comforting, to be surrounded by family who knew and loved her. Husband included. Kody's lack of empathy toward the non-Robyns crosses into the realm of cruelty.

Joseph Smith began the Mormon religion. I would think he would factor into their belief system for that reason. I noticed a framed picture in Robyn's house that I assumed was Moroni, though I didn't look very closely. Having their origins in the Mormon religion, I have always assumed they recognized the same prophets. Anyone who is in the know, please illuminate me. I'm only guessing here.

Kody’s hair! Wow! Or should I say Kody’s hair plug. How ridiculous it looks. A curly pony sprouting up from the center of his noggin, surrounded by a sphere of bald scalp. Poor Gabe. I’m sure it’s hard to acknowledge that your father is a complete jerk. What a nasty cur Kody is for speaking to his son about his mother in that manner. No, Gabe, you don’t want to be a teammate with him. He’s not a team player and never will be. “Obedient wife?” That’s the basis of what’s most disturbing about this “religion.” Women are chattel to be ruled over their master. Unless they’re Robyn. If Robyn is hoping to earn her SAG card with her melodramatic performances, I think she’ll be disappointed. Who does she think is buying her BS? Kody accompanies his wife of almost thirty years to attend the funeral of her mother, his mother-in-law, the grandmother of his children, the sister wife of his mother and the wife of his late father, and his takeaway is: if he got Covid there, he’d never be forgiven by Robyn. That just about says it all, doesn’t it? While he waits for testing in his car, he tells us he’s “praying to God” that he tests negative. Why is this testing option, and “praying to God” for a negative result, an option only for him and only so that he can go back to Robyn’s house? Why couldn’t testing be an option for other family members so he can spend time at their houses, too? Of course, we know the answer. He doesn’t give rat’s tail about them. Why not just admit it, Kody, you contemptible fraud? Nobody’s buying it anymore, not even your own kids. Maybe especially your kids. Newsflash, Kody. Many of us were a little blue on Christmas of 2020. We couldn’t be where we wanted to be or see who we wanted to see. But we were grateful for what we were able to make of it, unlike those who had succumbed to Covid or who were missing loved ones who had. You might be surprised to learn this, but you’re not the only one who has been affected by the pandemic. Ariella didn’t seem to forget who her siblings were, as Kody claimed, but was confused by which one was the donor of the gift she received. But nice spin, Kody. You should go into journalism. I have to give kudos (or tudos/toodles to quote Day-un) to Meri for consistently trying to make events special. No way does Kody have a carton filled with books. Maybe comic books, but definitely not something without large, colorful illustrations. I hope Christine meets a handsome, strapping hunk of a man with a good job and head full of curly hair, who falls madly in love with her and chases her around the bedroom three times a day. In your face, Kodouche!

Looking at that rug every day would send me into seizures. It's so chaotic!

Miscellaneous observations: Way too much Robyn, but at least there was less Kody. I’m shocked Meri didn’t pop a vein when Robyn pronounced herself the family scapegoat. 1.It showed all over Meri’s face that she considers it complete and utter nonsense. 2. Undoubtedly, Meri claims that title for herself. I was impressed with Meri’s restraint, but disappointed that she didn’t call bs on Robyn. Robyn’s stage directions: Swipe bent fingers under nose (subtext “I try sooo hard.”). Swipe said bent fingers across forehead (subtext “God knows how hard I try.”). Eject loud sigh (subtext “Nobody understands just how precious I am.”). Press finger to corner of eye, wipe, look at schmutz on finger (subtext “Why, oh, why, doesn’t everyone bow and scrape before me?”). Shake head and shrug shoulders (subtext “Oh, God, it’s a burden being so special.”). And scene! When Robyn told her children that Janelle and Christine had made alternate Thanksgiving plans, it was telling that Aurora’s reply was “THEY’RE the ones (Janelle and Christine) who have constantly been pushing for the family to get together.” Not that it’s a surprise, but her statement belies Robyn’s claims of her high regard for family unity. Robyn’s two eldest daughters have been trained to turn fairly benign situations into opportunities for drama and tears. Well done, Robyn. When Robyn announced that Meri would be joining them for Thanksgiving, it sounded like Day-un’s response was either Tudos or Toodles. Is that Polygamist for kudos? For a young-ish woman, Robyn dresses very frumpily. My mother wore similar tops in her 80s and 90s. Meri looked positively joyous when she was reunited with Robyn’s kids. Sol looks like he’s going to be tall. He has long arms and legs. Kody will need permanent lifts surgically attached to the soles of his feet. Meri’s hair looks nice. I thought the Rice Krispies turkey was cute. Of the lot of them, Meri would be the one I’d invite for pot luck dinner, personality notwithstanding. Christine would be second on the list, though I’m not a fan of casseroles made of frozen potato puffs, bacon and Cheez-Whiz. Meri would be wise to stop trying to ingratiate herself with Robyn, and hitch her wagon to Christine and Janelle, approaching them with a humble attitude and a commitment to improving relationships with them and their kids. I believe there’s more hope for being part of a family with them than there is with Robyn and Kody. Robyn would stab her in the back in a heartbeat. I didn’t notice Ariella using a pacifier, as one poster observed, but that could contribute to her lagging speech development. She must be close to six now, so then, about four? Robyn is a master at subterfuge. I wonder whose job it is to dust all the tchotchkes on the shelves of Robyn’s house. I wonder whose job it is to clean the hair out of the shower drain at Mykelti’s and Tony’s house. Previews for next week: Gabe’s nose seems awfully itchy.

I hadn't considered this before but you might be on to something. He has always exhibited symptoms of bipolar disorder. He is now grandiose, paranoid, OCD and narcissistic. If this continues he will need inpatient treatment. An interesting theory. Of course, we’re privy to only a glimpse of his life, but that won’t stop me from jumping in with my analysis 😉. Kody’s personality and behaviors to me seem to be less driven by a mental illness and more the result of having spent the past thirty-plus years operating in a patriarchal construct that endorses his role as absolute authority over his wives and children, a role reinforced by the acquiescence of the members of the family: a construct that demonstrates (in his mind) his hyper-masculinity. But now the construct that has defined him as man-in-charge, potent-impregnator, super-stud, quasi-deity, and which has been indulged by his family for the past three decades, is crumbling, and all his blustering and hissy fits and stomping his foot can’t stop it. When his wives were compliant with all his wishes and whims, and his children were too young to exert agency over their own lives, they reflected his self-image back at him: god of his earthly kingdom to be worshipped and adored. But who is reflecting that image back at him now? Robyn and her spawn, maybe? Certainly not his adult sons. Certainly not Christine. And while Janelle hasn’t yet jumped ship, she has the audacity to question his divine wisdom. With their words and actions, they tell him he’s a failed leader, a paper tiger, an empty shirt. The more they dare to challenge his authority and disobey his edicts, the more desperate he becomes to reestablish that image of himself. So he tightens his grip in an attempt to regain control, no matter what he has to do to accomplish it, including insults and threats and even banishing the recalcitrant sons from the kingdom. The more his family turns away from him, the more blurred that image becomes and the more he lets loose his fury on them. If he’s not the exalted lord over his earthly kingdom, who is he? Kody is not the leader he fancies himself to be because leaders inspire. Leaders make personal sacrifices for the good of others. Leaders bring out the best in the people they lead. Thirty-plus years ago, perhaps Kody was a decent fellow. Perhaps he was insecure about his masculinity? Perhaps he felt he needed to prove his worth to his father? Perhaps he actually did believe in The Principle? But today he is unkind and callous towards the people whom he has pledged to love and cherish for eternity. What he’s doing is cruel and he knows it. I know and love several people with mental illnesses. They have their challenges, but not one of them is deliberately cruel.

Such as?

Ewwww! Gag! Barf! I'm going to print this out and tape it on my refrigerator and read it every time I'm tempted to cheat on my diet.

So much to plumb! When Kody is at a wife's home, she can't read in bed? Gee, I wonder how monogamists are able to pull that off. And men were beating down Robyn's door with proposals of marriage? Seriously? And she could have been in a happy monogamous marriage with any number of other men (well, except her first husband, apparently). But what about "it was des-i-nee" and "we all shoulda been together since Day One?" I guess Purell tub-soaks and triple-masking fumes have fogged her memory.

Blech! That is one unappetizing brown splat. I'd be checking the bottom of my shoe.

Poor Kody. Persecuted from so many sides. The government. His spirit wives. His adult male children. The mortgager of Robyn's house. The supply chain and its shortage of Victoria's Secret lace teddies. Is it possible to canonize someone before death? I hope so. I want to nominate Kody. St. Kody, Our Lady of Perpetual Persecutions.

I believe one qualifies (or doesn't) for Obamacare (ACA) based on income, exclusive of assets.

But he's the head of the household! What authority could a municipality possibly have over such a divine anointing?

So here's something about which I'm puzzled. The penalty for polygamy in Utah has been reduced from that of a felony, with some exceptions, including abuse, coercion and force. If Kody were to be prosecuted in Utah, he could be fined modestly and required to do community service. Polygamy in Arizona is a felony. Punishment could be time in jail followed by probation (potentially amounting to as much as five years total) and/or a hefty fine. I presume there are more polygamists living in Utah than there are in Flagstaff. Why, given the greater risk of prosecution, as well as being isolated from other like-minded peers (polygamists), does it make more sense to the Browns to choose Arizona over Utah? Add to this the higher cost of living in Flagstaff compared to St. George, or somewhere else in Utah. Their reason to remain away from Utah (avoiding persecution for polygamy) doesn't seem to be valid, based on the actual law.

I was astounded (well, not really, considering the source) that Robyn was so disturbed at the prospect that she "would be the one" chasing after her kids. Isn't that what mothers typically do? Look after their own kids at a group event? What a spoiled princess she is.