[Robert Garrison Brown - RIP]

From the second TMZ article: "We broke the story." Fuck you, TMZ. This isn't a "story," it's real people's real lives.

I can never watch this show (or possibly any others that exploit kids' lives as entertainment) again. It's not entertainment, and no amount of Schadenfreude in seeing Kody and Robyn get their comeuppance will ever make me find enjoyment in watching Sister Wives again. What an unspeakable tragedy.

I have a friend who lost her son of about the same age to suicide a few months ago. I have been with her as she's worked her way through it. I have held her as she has sobbed the most heartbreaking, gut-wrenching sobs I have ever seen. The pain of these things is unimaginable. It's visceral, and no matter what we think of how any of these people present themselves on our screen, I suspect every last Brown is experiencing that unimaginable pain.

And for my part, it's time to do some serious soul searching about what I consume on television. I don't watch a ton of TV, but I've watched Sister Wives since the beginning, and I've done a rewatch of most of the series. But the fact that I watch this and participate in conversations about it contributes to the exploitation of these kids, and that clearly can have real-world consequences. I sincerely hope the show won't continue, but if it does, I won't be watching. And I sincerely hope that there won't be "Dateline" style shows about the whole thing, but who am I kidding? There will be. I just can't imagine finding that entertaining, either.  

I hope that the Brown family can eventually find some type of peace.

[Meri Brown and her Wet Bar of Tears]

I'm okay with occasional snark, too. They're seeing all the nasty shit Kody & Robyn said and did at the same time we are, which I would imagine could re-open old wounds. It's funny how you think you've really worked through something and then something comes along months or even years later and brings back those old feelings. Forgiveness and healing is a process, not a specific moment in time.

[Meri Brown and her Wet Bar of Tears]

5 hours ago, kimaken said:

I think the "beer and skittles" crap is simply for ratings (for the show)/viewers or clicks (or whatever it's called) for the podcast. Meri has had plenty of time to badmouth her former sister wives and Kody, yet she really hasn't said much, if anything, about them. She's poked back at Kody and Robyn on HER podcast, but so far (at least as far as I can tell) she hasn't done so in national media. Perhaps if she gets invited to do some of those type of interviews (like Christine and Janelle did), we'll see if she continues the "beer and skittles" crap, or if she'll take the high road, like in her statement last January when she and Kody made their split final and public.

I actually appreciated that Meri said something in the couch episode she did with Jenn (talk back, maybe?) about what she sees with Kody is that he is a man who is struggling and in pain, so she doesn't want to poke him — or something along those lines. I thought there was some actual grace and compassion in that statement given what an abusive fucker he had been to her all those years.

[S18.E24: Christine & David's Wedding Special (Part 2)]

2 hours ago, Quof said:

How does one "deserve" to get married, especially when they have explicitly said it's not something they want? Sounds like a punishment to me, like your mother wishing "someday I hope you have a child just like you." 

I was an absolute delight as a child, so that would be an amazing thing to wish on people...

I agree that marriage doesn't seem like end game for Janelle. I suspect she's enjoying her freedom. 

[S18.E22: Look Back: How It's Going (Special Episode)]

Also Kody's comment, "Sadness makes me angry." WTF?

M'kay... sadness makes me sad. Maybe in Kody's pea-brained belief that he is hypermasculine, anger is just sadness leaving the body (much like pain is just weakness leaving the body). Twat. 

[S18.E22: Look Back: How It's Going (Special Episode)]

15 minutes ago, 65mickey said:

Kody screaming about his wives "You can all fall in line or get the hell out." Other than making him look like an out of control angry bully what was that statement suppose to accomplish? I have to wonder if he ever watches these segments and thinks that he looks like a complete fool because I am sure the vast majority of viewers think this. 

I don't think self-awareness is Kody's strong suit. So, I suspect he thinks it makes him look masculine and strong. Somehow I doubt toxic masculinity is something Kody knows about. 

[S18.E22: Look Back: How It's Going (Special Episode)]

Robyn's summation at the end was fascinating because of what production shows: 

Robyn: "We didn't communicate." (quick shot of the adults at a dinner table in Flagstaff when Janelle invited them to see if they all still wanted polygamy and Robyn made it about her)

Robyn: "We weren't looking at each other with charity and love." (quick shot of adults reading at the recommitment ceremony)

Robyn: "We weren't following our family mission statement." (continues the shot from the commitment ceremony)

Robyn: "We let the ease of being apart drive us apart from each other." (shot of Christine's family at Janelle's house during COVID standing 6 feet apart and sending hugs to one another, all of them looking overjoyed to see each other)

Robyn: "We let Covid drive us apart." (quick shot of Kody and Gabe in their last convo on Coyote Pass)

Robyn: "We held onto our grudges and didn't let them go" (quick shot of Kody and Meri looking mad at each other in Meri's LV living room), 

Robyn: "We let fear drive us." (quick shot of the moving truck as during Fleehi)

Robyn: "We let jealousy drive us." (quick shot of Christine leaving the couch after Kody's dress reveal),

Robyn: "We let selfishness drive us." (LONG lingering shot of Kody and then another LONG lingering shot of Robyn).

(Shot Back to Robyn on the couch) "We failed. We screwed up."

Seriously, all the other shots were quick, but on the "we let selfishness drive us," there was a long pause, and the camera seriously lingered first on Kody on Coyote Pass and then a second lingering shot on Robyn on Coyote Pass. I suspect there's a message in there from production. 

[S18.E19: Sister Wives: Talk Back Part 1 (Special Episode)]

10 hours ago, Orcinus orca said:

I can't believe they are still clinging to that false "Flight to Vegas" story saying they were could be prosecuted.  That myth was debunked a decade ago, let it go.

I think Kody sold this to them at the time... and they believed it. So I suspect that they believe it to be true because it's what they truly thought was happening at the time, and Kody then referred to LV as his "exile" for the entire time they were there. When they moved to Flagstaff, he told them their exile was over because they chose where they got to live (as in, LV was not a choice). Brainwashing is a bitch. 

[Robyn Brown: She wanted the family, but got stuck with the man.]

I've come with some helpful advice for Robyn. They make Puffs Plus tissues with Vicks VapoRub embedded in the tissue. I know because my hubby brought me some for this cold I'm fighting. I forgot they had Vicks in them and wiped my eyes. Instant tears. And it just looks like a normal tissue. No need to stare at lights or poke my eyes with my fingers. Just a discreet dab will do. If I ever feel the urge to dry cry (don't know why I would, but I suppose it could come in handy), I've got these babies at my disposal. 

[Kody Brown: Part-Time Father, Full-Time Asshat]

7 hours ago, Absolom said:

Kody's description of having COVID and what we saw of him on the show don't match.  He acted like he'd been near death yet we saw him driving Robyn to the hospital and waiting in the car for her with nothing that looked like he was super sick.  

Sure, sure. But he did mention he wanted to "check himself into the hospital" (as one does) so he could be with Robyn. He probably had to wait until the 4 PM check-in time so housekeeping could make up his room, and by then he'd learned Robyn would be fine and it was time to take her home. 

[Spoiler, Speculation and Social Media]

Kody should be giving them money for college  — that's what fathers do. So good for him for at least being that responsible. But you know — when I gave my kids money for college, I never asked for anything in return. I suspect with Kody, there are always strings attached. I know this personality type. I had a rich grandma who would give us money for things as teens/young adults. There were always strings attached. 

[Mykelti]

38 minutes ago, ginger90 said:

Most entertaining wedding I've ever seen on television. 

[S18.E15: One on One: Part 1]

Oh thank god I got through all that. The hotness (or notness) of sex between Kody and the wives is going to give me nightmares. The only thing more nightmare-inducing from this show would be discussing the hotness or notness of sex between Mykelti & Tony.

[Spoiler, Speculation and Social Media]

2 hours ago, xwordfanatik said:

His face looks fuller.  Cheek implants?  

He looks puffy.

[Spoiler, Speculation and Social Media]

10 hours ago, ginger90 said:

Clip from the tell nothing:

 

WTF is going on with Kody's face?

[Spoiler, Speculation and Social Media]

1 hour ago, General Days said:

 

I do think a health condition (physical or mental) is part of the reason at least. Gwendlyn, who does not waste any love on Robyn, has said that her home was always clean.

However, both Gwen and Mykelti have acknowledged or at least allowed that Kody and Robyn have a shopping problem. 

Just looking at the amount of Kody's crap that Christine had to box up, when she decided to put Kody out of her house was stunning -- particularly considering he had 2-to-3 other wives' houses, where he could stow his shit.

 

 

That's what Gwendlyn has said (the neat part) and she and Mykelti both think Robyn AND KODY having a shopping problem. I feel a little bad for Robyn (I mean not deeply, because she is awful), but as a culture, we still hold women more responsible for the state of the house than we do men. That's not fair. It's effing Kody's effing house, too.

I think Kody was a packrat-to-hoarder, even before he met Robyn. Now whether Robyn is lazy, or has an illness, does not excuse Kody from not cleaning up and tidying their shit.

Also, I'm fairly certain the "art" is Kody's. (Mykelti mentioned that he sees it as an investment).

And also, Kody did, once upon a time, appreciate that Meri's house was quiet, tidy, and orderly. He's said it on the show, so he knows what clean is. He's even thrown some shade at Christine, in the past, for the state of her domicile, so he's capable and responsible -- CULPABLE, one might say -- for the state of Robyn's McMansion)

 

 

I think she does, but I think Kody is the main culprit.

 

(I'm sorry. I feel like I am too repetitive in this post, but let's blame effing Kody, too. He's not a child, even if he acts like one. And he's not a marriage and parenting newbie. He's not a newbie to setting up and settling into a home. He's not a newbie at running his mouth when he dislikes aspects of his homelife. Whatever problems Robyn may or may not have, Kody is a grownass adult who could fix this, should he choose.)

 

Absolutely agree that Kody and all children of cleaning age (in other words, all children) are equally responsible for the state of the manse - at least from a cleanliness standpoint. It has always bugged me that women are judged for the state of a house and not the men and kids.

Also agree that a shopping addiction may also be at play. As well as general overwhelm. When you start to let stuff go, it probably gets more and more overwhelming the bigger the mess. That much clutter and mess is a chaotic and super stressful way to live and probably takes a mental toll on everyone in the house. 

[S18.E14: Always Darkest Before the Dawn]

Robyn's continuous repetition of sittin' on the porch with her sister wives borders on pathological. Look, we all have dreams about how the future might be, but as situations evolve and life changes, we adapt and change those dreams instead of stamping our toddler feet and insisting that everyone is ruining our dreams as they fail to bend to our will. I can't imagine still holding tight to the dreams I had 10 or 15 years ago because my life has moved far beyond those. 

Also, I think Kody was trying to let the television audience know he was "performing" for the whole 18 seasons of the show (without breaking the fourth wall). In his pea brain, I suspect he thinks that will make people view him more kindly somehow because he never meant any of it...it was all an act, doncha see? His OG wives were all hideous, awful humans and he managed to perform in spite of their inherent horribleness. The sacrifices he made to pretend to love them! He's a hero. 

[Spoiler, Speculation and Social Media]

It makes me wonder if Robyn has some kind of uncontrolled health condition (probably autoimmune - maybe Hashimoto's, judging by her neck) that makes it really hard for her to have the energy to clean up or be very active. There have been times over the years that I've been "out of spoons" in chronic illness vernacular to do a ton of cleaning - although never to that extent of clutter because my husband and kids could help, and I'd do what I could no matter how shitty I felt. But then, I didn't have 7 people living in my home, either (of course, I also worked full time and didn't have a nanny). 

I hate giving Robyn the benefit of the doubt, but is there anything about Kody that says he'd be willing to step up to the plate and help with housework if Robyn was under the weather?

ETA: Holy crap that stresses me out to look at that kind of mess!

[Season 18 Live Chat]

Robyn is a shitty actress. 

[S18.E13: The Elephant in the Room]

The episode title is the production team totally making fun of the Kody, Robyn, and any of the other adults in the fambily who use the tortured idiom, "the pink elephant in the room," right? If so, chef's kiss. 

[S18.E13: The Elephant in the Room]

1 hour ago, General Days said:

 

Gotcha.

 

@NoWhammies, where did you hear that next week is the season finale?

 

Yep  - sorry. See my post above. It was apparently a hope-induced hallucination that this thing was finally going to come to an end. 

[S18.E13: The Elephant in the Room]

1 hour ago, mythoughtis said:

If so I missed it too.  A comment prior to mine said the finale was next week.  So I was asking.  I have no knowledge of it being next week.  Seems early to me. 

No sorry - I said that. I think I hallucinated out of wishful thinking that in the preview for next week, they said, "Next week on the season finale of Sister Wives." I just checked, and they did not. It was a beautiful dream. 

[Janelle Brown: Smarter Than Your Average Brown (Maybe)]

12 hours ago, Absolom said:

The amount of food was the first thing I noticed.  That's indeed quite a lot for someone supposedly losing weight.  That's close to enough for me for an entire day possibly more than I have some days.  I'm considered a normal weight (BMI) for my height.

You can't really control the portion sizes you get at a restaurant. It doesn't mean she's going to eat all that. It's what the restaurant gave her from whatever breakfast she ordered (which looks like huevos rancheros or chilaquiles). 

[Meri Brown and her Wet Bar of Tears]

7 hours ago, renatae said:

I haven't been watching too terribly long. Would anyone care to explain to me the "wet bar" and the cat fishing? Thanks! 💕

💕

When the family was having the Vegas homes built, Meri was obsessed with getting a wet bar and thus had to have a big, giant house with a gazillion rooms. The wet bar came up a lot. 

After Kody and Meri legally divorced so Kody could marry Robyn, Meri got herself caught up in a very public, very humiliating catfishing scandal whereupon she thought she was going to run off with a super rich, handsome, tall dude named Sam who turned out to be a very sick and malicious woman named Jackie who eventually released a lot of Meri's voicemails, etc. 

[S18.E13: The Elephant in the Room]

I have no sense of spatial relations and I was watching the show on an 11" laptop screen with 58-year-old eyes, and even I could see that car wasn't going to fit in that trailer. Morons.

I thought Robyn looked genuinely anxious on the Zoom call. It's uncomfortable to watch your chickens come home to roost. 

Please, show, less of Tony. A) he's gross. B) I can't understand what he says because he's a mush mouth. C) Mykelti married her father (and also is her father). 

Thank goodness we're finally getting the season finale next week. I'd be okay if it was the series finale.