mamadrama

See, I don't think any of the things Family Brandon did was particularly wrong or weird on the surface: - going to pick her up at the airport together (my mom went with me, she was as excited to see my husband-as he was her-as I was) - concerned over birth control (they probably don't want to be stuck raising their grandkids) - spending the day sightseeing together (our nation's capital, why not?) - making them sleep in their own rooms (it's a facade, Mama Brandon herself even said she was sure they'd sneak to each other's room at night. She just wants to be blissfully ignorant) I don't find any of those things weird at all. It's the way they played out that's weird. - calling up the gynecologist and talking about Julia's reproductive system without her permission - calling Julia herself out about her reproductive system on national television when that should really be a private matter between her and Brandon (unless Julia herself brings it up) - seemingly scheduling everything, from dinner to sightseeing, the moment Julia arrived and giving them seemingly no time alone. Sure she and Brandon got their own room but were they ever in it? (Although TBF that could be editing nonsense.) They're treating Julia like their foreign exchange student, not their son's fiancee. But, then again, he's letting them.

The length of these episodes is what's ruining the series for me. Just when they start getting interesting... I liked the single bachelorette.

And because "family is important to them."

Not that his Elmer Fudd would've done it for me, either, but I wonder how much of Hazel's reactions were nerves. Not only was she meeting him for the first time, but she was being filmed. She may have been acting timid and prudish (or at least cautious) because she knew that her parents and friends might watch the show. Tarik's been to see her several times since their previous season so she may have loosened up some. (Though she may very well be a lesbian using him for a GC.) I swear they said he was living in the barn on the previous system. All this talk about Uncle Cousin Beau moving out...What Mike actually said is that Beau was going to move out "for a while." Even without the extra stuff we know about him, I don't think this is unreasonable. If Mike and Natalie do truly want to work on their relationship then it makes sense for them to want to be alone for a bit.

Many have co-sponsors. The income stipulation is that one must earn, at minimum, 125% of the federal poverty limit. That is $21550, so it's fairly low. I don't think Brandon is truly broke, I think he just wants to keep staying with his parents.

This CAN'T be a real relationship, right? This is a dude supporting his good friend who wants to be an influencer/reality star/Insta model, right? I have friends into LARPing. It's interesting. That's what I thought he was doing until I saw the kids.

Not that we couldn't snark on Howdy Doody's bedroom escapades for hours, but are we going to talk about the German Shepherds? My tolerance for such things is probably a trifle higher than some people's, but seeing them in the cages bothered me. I live on a farm so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and hope that they have a much larger, covered and uncovered, area for the dogs and that they only put them up for filming. Still...I run an animal rescue. We separate for safety, but never cage unless medically necessary.

Once they hit my TV screen they're fair game. (Except for Kiralym because my girl crush doesn't allow for snark.) Do Brandon's parents understand that she's coming over to marry him? Because they seem to act like they just finished the home study for their international adoption...

Just bumping this.

So much of this falls on Brandon. It sounds like he's been dishonest with Julia and has misrepresented his situation. I don't care for his mom, but it is her house and he's not going to change her. If he doesn't like her rules and doesn't like her hovering then he can find another place to live-even if it means they have to wait on the wedding. These are all issues that should've been sorted out before applying for the visa. I don't think he DOES mind it, though. I think he's just giving Julia lipservice. I think part of him enjoys living at home, having his parents take care of everything, and having his mom to blame when things go awry.

I feel like my comment was mistakenly misconstrued to mean that I think they're in a GOOD relationship. That's not what I meant. I said that I don't think there is FRAUD involved. These are two different things... 1. Natalie isn't speaking excessively about being excited to live in America as a whole. 2. She seems to already have a nice flat and life in the Ukraine and, so far, hasn't made any remarks insinuating that she is upgrading. 3. When she talks about Mike she talks about HIM, not his money, lifestyle, or citizenship. 4. She has never stood him up in the Ukraine. He's visited multiple times and she's seen him during those times. 4. He has spent offline time with her and her mother. 5. They met through friends (who married and started a life together), not on a dating site or matchmaking company. 6. She doesn't appear to have catfished him by being dishonest about her age or appearance. 6. They've been getting to know each other over a long period of time (about 2 years) and didn't rush into things. 7. He doesn't appear to be financing her lifestyle. 8. They communicate freely via phone, text, and email, not a third party that charges. 9. Her command of the English language is good, making it possible for them to communicate above a shallow level. I can't speak for how they may feel about each other or where this may go. My comment was only in regards to the odds of her being a scammer. I don't think she is. Crazy? Probably. Mike doesn't appear to be a sex tourist, though, and she doesn't appear to be a Maria or Lana.

Check this out: Mike and Aria before Natalie's arrival (S8E2): Natalie supposedly before she goes to Sequin (S8E1, S8E2, & B90D): I don't disagree, it's her house and she can set whatever rules she wants. I was just responding to the "new girlfriend" comment.

The elephant in the room about Uncle Beau and WHY Natalie isn't comfortable with him is really frustrating me. I wouldn't want him there 24/7 with me, either. At least not until I got to know him better. She's a little nutty, but I am 100% on her side on this. This isn't a case of the new woman of the house just kicking him out. They're portraying him as this goofy, but loyal, offbeat sidekick who's getting kicked out of his home by the crazy Ukrainian shrew. If I were her, I wouldn't have gone along with the storyline they're pushing. Also, I feel like Natalie has been to Mike's farm before. In the intro video, where they're talking about how they met, they show her posing in front of the SAME part of the farm that Mike and the cat stand in later. They also showed this last season. I'll try to take a screenshot. I think we may be getting snowed more than usual.

But Julia isn't "new." Not only has she been around for awhile, but Brandon's parents met her before and even vacationed with Julia and her parents. This isn't the first time they've met.

Me neither! The one positive thing I can say about Brandon and Julia is that problems aside they do seem to like each other (as much as they know each other). This doesn't seem to be a scam. Not that I think it will last.

He just went through his third round. He was on homebound all of last year because of it and, of course, he's been home this year because of COVID. It's been rough. Not only has he had trouble fighting it, but it's almost completely killed his immune system so he's been in and out of hospitals for 1.5 years now. Even allergies or a slight cold sends him into pneumonia. The prognosis is actually pretty good, though. The last round of chemo was really a precaution. He's starting to get his appetite back. At one point, no kidding, we were in the hospital at the same time. Since neither of us could have visitors they put us in the same room so that he wouldn't be alone. This was from mono, by the way. He had mono 4 years ago and apparently this is a rare complication from it. Mono can kiss my ass. ETA: Little Mister Drama

Kiralym is too good for this franchise. Please don't show her in a commercial right before Nicole and Azan...

TLC's standards have fallen so low that I actually thought the Progressive commercial was for a real reality show at first.

I thought you were directing this at me at first and I was all like, "Where?!" I hate armchair diagnosing but there seems to be something else going on there.

I wondered if maybe this was a friendship thing-he's marrying her to get her in the country but they don't really have a romantic connection. Because I don't get this relationship at all.

Or the bane of my viewing pleasure, Ratthew. The one who didn't wear a condom because he "wanted to get his noodle wet".

I think the weight helps a little. She looks healthier.

That's what made me upset about Rosemarie's house and Ed's reaction to it. Sure it's not what he lives in at home, but she had her little sleeping mat rolled up and put away. Like, she was trying. I grew up poor. My grandmother always said that soap and water cost very little. There's never a reason not to take care of your body and your things.

Hazel makes me a little sad.

Nope-that's what he's bringing Hazel there for.