[Small Talk: Only 2 Ounces Of Commenting Allowed]

1 hour ago, OoogleEyes said:

Is there something that we who were born in the 50's and 60's still call something that the kids today don't?

The funnies, box boy and linoleum for any vinyl flooring. 

[Spoiler, Speculation and Social Media]

That interview could have been so much shorter. Trim the fat and make it an hour. And the main host was awful. Speaking of the host, I vaguely remember who he is but who were the women on the screen? Top right looked very familiar. No idea who bottom right was or why she was there. And the woman with John…his mom or sister?? 

[S17.E08: Hang on with Me]

I’d love to know how the ‘family’ pot is funded. 
 

Do they each agree to contribute a certain percentage of their income? Do they each contribute an equal amount? 
 

I’d also like to how it’s distributed, currently. 
 

In the past, some members have gotten more than their fair share. We all know it was never Christine (or Janelle, but that’s another story), so even *if* she ‘came out ahead’, she really didn’t. It’s more like things evened out.
 

I just had a related thought- Christine made it a point to say that she had made every mortgage payment with her own money. Am I reading into that or did she make the point because family money had possibly been going to pay for Robyn’s mortgage? And/or her rental before that? 
 

The Brown finances would take an forensic accountant to really figure what’s going on. 
 

On another related note…I was listening to a true crime podcast. The setting was a commune where everyone helps equally and all the fruits of their labor are equally divided. At least that was the plan. They have members who believe in the lifestyle and work hard. But then they had new members come join, who didn’t pull their weight. However, they were still be provided for as much as the next guy. Until things got heated, hence it being a true crime story.  Anyway, it reminded me of the Brown family and the unfair division of combined funds. 

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

4 hours ago, Joan of Argh said:

Exactly and for a guy who prefers curvy women he sure was crazy for skinny Robyn…. He couldn’t keep his hands off her and he was obviously over the moon and dreaming of tapping her ass from the start!

I always thought he said that and Robyn repeated it to keep the other 3 dummies off guard and wallowing in their delusions of Kody preferring chubby women.

Regarding your second paragraph, I agree. I don’t think Robin even believes that he prefers chubby women at all. She has ulterior motives for everything she says. 
 

If you go back and look at the previous episodes, he and Janelle never had a spicy relationship. They were more partners and a means to an end for Janelle. He also was never attracted to Christine. In fact, he was disgusted by her zest for nachos. The common denominator? Both women were fairly heavy when they married. 

Meri was thinner and from watching the first season, you can see a mutual attraction. 
 

I believe he was extremely attracted to Robin, who was obviously very slender back in the day. And to be honest, the first and only wife he was in love with, IMO.  
 

[Matt and Caryn]

2 minutes ago, Irate Panda said:

Just me guessing, but as I’ve said I do think some of the farm stuff is pushed for the show. They’re pretty much running out of storylines.  I don’t think that part of the farm is worth 4 million, I mean the market is overly inflated, but I do think it was worth a lot more than Zach was offering.  

I do think that Matt worries about money, despite being around 60.   I think he knows his health care costs will continue to increase and I don’t know how much he still owes from the Amy sale, plus he’s trying to build his new home.    I would guess he’d be willing to part with that of the farm if he could really get 4 million for it because it would probably become a storage unit as I don’t see Caryn and him actually living there. He wouldn’t like it, but 4 million would make it more palatable.  

So at best he gets 4 million dollars at worst he has another storyline for the show.  YMMV :)

That’s an angle I’ve also thought of and makes sense, too. 

[Matt and Caryn]

On 7/6/2022 at 10:32 PM, Dustbunny said:

he's waiting for Matt to.....  put a ring on it 

I asked my teenager if he wanted to watch the new episode with me. He said, no thanks. It’s mainly just them showing the kids (Tori and Zach) punishing Matt and Chris being in love with Matt. Which is the perspective of not only a 15 year old but I suspect most adults. 
 

Side note: He never watches any TV with me at this point in his life and I’m sure heard me yelling at the TV during previous episodes lol. 

[Matt and Caryn]

Does anyone else think Matt has no real intentions to sell that 1/2 of the farm? Or at least doesn’t want to sell it that badly?

I could be wrong, but I can’t see him giving up control of any part of the farm. And maybe that’s why he priced it on the higher end after the market was staring to cool? 
 

Logically, one would ask why he would even put it on the market if he didn’t want to sell, and I don’t have an answer to that. But as an example (smaller scale obviously), I’ve been to garage sales where certain items were priced well above typical ‘yard sale’ prices. When asked if price is negotiable, they say no, I really don’t ‘need’ to sell it and I’m fine just keeping it. It doesn't make sense that’s it’s even on a table, offered for sale when they know no one will by buy, yet, it is. 
 

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

22 hours ago, Art Of Noiz said:

Offs, she like fer sher would love Tom Cruise, shiller for one of the richest MLM cults! 

Growling. Oh merciful day!!

She has a thing for men who abandon their children…and their wives. 

[I Saw The Signs: A Rewatch Thread]

10 hours ago, WhatsUpDummy said:

If I'm remembering right, Meri ended up being about $5K over budget and she said she would pay the difference out of pocket.  Kody did make some comment to Christine (who was significantly under budget) about giving up some of her money to offset Meri's overage, but Christine said no and she ended spending her money on the stone on the outside of her house.  I'm not really bothered by Meri going overboard on her choices because at this point, they're no longer solely living off of Kody and Janelle's income. They're all on tv and they're all "working" for TLC, and they're all getting the same paycheck.  It's her money, she can spend it how she likes. Although, I would like to know what everyone's grocery budget was.  If there was any place in the budget where Meri could have given back a bit, that was it.  

In the very early episodes, it was pointed out that Mariah would go eat what Christine was making, instead of what Meri cooked. If the food allowance was the same for Meri and the other moms, that alone is crappy. But then your kid is going to Christine’s to eat dinner most nights?? What are the chances Meri reimbursed Christine for that…I’m guessing zero chance. 
 

On a related note. Meri had the POV that she should still get the same budget as the other moms because it’s not her fault she wasn’t able to have several kids, even though she wished she could have. Robin offered to make that happen and she messed around deciding, until Kody said forget about it. Also, she could have adopted children, offered to cook regular meals for the  ‘bonus’ kids, etc. I believe Meri didn’t really want more children. Having only one child makes her a martyr AND she has more than her fair share of the income. 

[S16.E09: The Teflon Queen]

1 hour ago, notnowimbusy said:

I think poor Gabe was wrong about one thing - it is Robyn calling the shots.  She is nattering in Kody's ear all day/night.   She whips up his anger, plants doubts about anybody else following his rules, makes the neurotic behavior of her kids all about their love for Kody, their constant need to have him there, and I'm sure she has made any suggestion of intimacy with another wife out of the question.   Covid has worked out perfectly for Robyn.   She can deny it all she wants, but if Covid ended tomorrow, there is no way Kody would return to spending time at anybody else's house.   And Robyn will always remind him how they were not loyal to him.  

That’s her master plan exactly. She will of had 2 (maybe 3 years) to milk Covid as the reason to stay away. That’s long enough for her to poison his mind and totally alienate him.
 

It reminds me of a abusers. The early signs are they slowly alienate them from their family and friends. Sometimes by convincing the victim that the abuser is the only one who really cares about them. I believe Robin is taking a page from that playbook. As you said, she is convincing him that she is the only wife who obeys him. Which ironically, I’m sure, are her rules that she convinced him were his in the first place. So they’re very easy to follow when you’re the one who made them. And by extension, her children are the only ones who respect their dad. I want to say she is super stealth for this long con. But I won’t give her credit. Kody just happens to be an idiot and easily fooled. 

[S16.E09: The Teflon Queen]

Just now, Pegasaurus said:

Agree with this assessment. Her behavior starts to sound like a mental abuse form of Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy. (if there is such a thing) 

Or else Robyn is just sociopathic monster and will sacrifice her own kids mental health to get what she wants.

The latter is my opinion. 

[S16.E09: The Teflon Queen]

2 hours ago, Tabbygirl521 said:

The thing is, he could have seen his kids with a high degree of safety if he’d wanted to. I’m super, super cautious but have still had outdoor gatherings with other cautious people, and I walk weekly with a friend and have since early 2020. Even if the chance of dying is only 3% (which I question), there are too many other serious ongoing health problems that can occur - not to mention the fact that you can continue the spread of the disease if you contact it 

I don’t take issue with extreme precautions but I do take issue with Kody not taking advantage of safer ways to gather or at least fucking CALL his kids once in awhile  

 

I thought about this after the show. According to the schedule (Meri is out) he should spend at least 2 nights a week with each wife and kids. His reasons for not going over- because of their standards being lower than his (lie) so he had to stay with the obedient wife. Why couldn’t he spend those two days calling that wife and her kids separately since that should be technically their time slot?  Robin wouldn’t have anything to gripe about because those are days he shouldn’t be there, in the first place. Gabe said Kody rarely ever calls him. There is no excuse since that part of the week should be carved out for that family. Of course we know the answer to all of the above. He’s using Covid to avoid anyone who is not Robin or her offspring. There are just so many ways he could have connected with Gabe during that 7 months, and I’m sad that Gabe believes quarantining had anything to do with it.  

[S16.E08: Two Cliques]

24 minutes ago, Jeanne222 said:

I keep watching Robyns family and there’s just something  ‘off’ with them. 

The oldest son says nothing. Yes I know about his disability but he’s too quiet. 

The two oldest girls remind me of Stepford Wives.  So anxious to be happy and get it right!

The two young ones seemed just too overly excited to see Meri!  I noticed them glancing at the camera. 

The boy seems quiet and the little girl is showing signs of something. She’s very backward and not seeming to be very social after the huge Meri hello!

I would say not all is well in Robyns home!

In the very first season, before she married Kody, her kids seemed fairly ‘normal’. I remember scenes where the kids were being ornery and happily goofing off, driving Robin nuts. 
 

The contrast now is really sad. Aurora is Robin 2.0. She is the only Brown who I think might live polygamy. Robin will of course teach her how to be HBIC, if she does. 

I’ve always liked Brianna. I hope she can break away and seek out healthy relationships once she’s 18. 
 

 

 

[S16.E08: Two Cliques]

Robin rose to a new level of manipulation this episode. 
 

She is like Mommy Dearest meets Clauddine Blanchard. There is such an incredibly weird dynamic there. 
 

When Kody called the other wives out for not having respect (because they chose their kids), I’m sure that came from Robin. I can see her being the devil on Kody’s shoulder. Constantly whispering in his ear how the other wives are failing him. Of course in an indirect way to where he believes he has come up with that all on his own. She knows exactly how to play him. 

The look on Meri’s face when Robin pretends to be the scapegoat…priceless! 
 

 

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

4 hours ago, NoWhammies said:

New business idea for Janelle. She should shill her services on Cameo. She can charge $100 bucks to create videos telling people to fuck off. 

I believe that would be a great business idea for Janelle’s youngest son as well. I’m a cheapskate but I’d pay to see him drop some truth bombs. 
 

Or even Garrison. That way he can expedite moving out of the house, as Kody so badly wants. 
 

 Horrible dad wants his son to move now.

 Son spills the beans about how horrible is dad is, by exposing all his dad’s dirty laundry. 

Son now has the cash to move.  
 

Easy peasy. 

 

[S16.E07: Choosing Kids Over Kody]

1 hour ago, Desert Rat said:

Maybe, but that still doesn't answer the question. How is it even possible to effectively disinfect paper without destroying the paper? Bleach and boiling water in the quantity needed to disinfect would ruin paper. The only think I can think of is maybe a UV light. I'm afraid a heat lamp would burn the paper. So what are people like Kody who claim to regularly perform this ritual actually doing?

Maybe Kody’s “doctor” gave them further instructions on how to sanitize mail. You know, since it was him who gave Kody the list of rules. 

[S16.E07: Choosing Kids Over Kody]

1 minute ago, Elizzikra said:

Back in the days of the anthrax threat, the Federal government was sanitizing their mail and I think they did it with UV light - and it made the paper sort of yellowed and crinkly. No idea what people would do at home to replicate that. I think at one point people were handling mail outdoors with gloves and/or letting it sit outside for a week before handling?

Wouldn't that ruin most print correspondence?

I’m going by memory (which is questionable at best) but I thought the rules stated using alcoholic for that? There were so many rules that I’m probably confusing that one. Also, Brown logic isn’t normal person logic. Example- Swimming in a poop pond and tossing your child into a giant pit. 
 

 

[S16.E07: Choosing Kids Over Kody]

6 minutes ago, Joan of Argh said:

To me it sounds like BS

Not only the clothes changing but I’d bet they’re not sanitizing their mail at home either. And to further call them out, I don’t even think Kody and Robin were doing most of that. IMO, the rules were made to be so ridiculous that the other wives wouldn’t ever agree to follow them. That way Kody and Robin can continue with their monogamous marriage, with less push back. 

[S16.E07: Choosing Kids Over Kody]

5 hours ago, kicotan said:

But I’m betting you didn’t involve yourself in a polygamy set-up where you and all the other wives pump out as many as you can with one man because heaven as if that’s supporting ANY child’s mental health, and then somehow manage to navigate the pandemic clinging to that principle for dear life, regardless of that man’s actual physical involvement with you and/or your kids.

Kody’s wives have impressed upon their children that “living the principle” is more important than the children are, collectively or individually.  The children have to suffer the consequences of their mother’s decision to go against what is considered in modern times socially and/or legally acceptable by choosing their religious beliefs over what is in the best interest of their child(ren). Their children are at risk for mental health issues from the git if for no other reason than the GLARING absence of a responsible, loving father.

I’m also betting that not ONE of those 18 children will choose to follow their parent’s chosen religion or lifestyle.  Lucky for them there are a lot who reject the religion they were exposed to as children so they will have some support in that department.

That’s a whole can of worms. I personally think it’s amazing that so many seem to be functional adults, and also contribute to society. 
 

I do agree with you also, as far as the parents doing a number on the kids, for the simple fact that they are part of a cult religion and that must impact them to some degree. Even if it’s minimally. We have an extreme example of Mariah who is even worse than her mother, and that’s not a low bar. Then Logan who is a very functional adult and appears to be fairly unscathed. Although I don’t know him personally or what he may be dealing with since he escaped. 
 

My feelings are this. They’re all terrible parents, or at least have been. The mothers (minus Robin) have all accepted crumbs from Kody and even fewer crumbs for their kids. But I’m glad to see at least a couple of the moms finally advocating, somewhat for them. 

 

[S16.E07: Choosing Kids Over Kody]

16 minutes ago, MsMalin said:

The jerk has to out down his wives at every turn even criticizing their Christmas gifts of Nut crackers and Angels. How much money do they have to spend with 18 kids and 5 adults?

And then when he says the kids want to be with Christine, its because she has no rules. No dumbass, its because she is a loving mother to all of YOUR childrenl

That comment enraged me. Does Christine allow her kids a little more freedom to do dumb stuff (Christmas Tree incident), yes. But that doesn’t not diminish the fact that she really loves those children as her own and was the primary caregiver during their early years. Kody is so blinded by his disdain for her that he can’t even give her credit for loving HIS kids. It just kills him that they have more loyalty to Christine. So he has to minimize why they might choose her, to build himself up. 

[S16.E07: Choosing Kids Over Kody]

6 minutes ago, Pegasaurus said:

But his divorce from Meri and marriage to Robyn was real, wasn't it?  I thought the reason for the divorce in the first place was so he could legally adopt Robyns kids?

Was Meri being played? 

Are WE being played by TLC and these carnival clowns?  (no offense to carnival clowns)

In my home state, being married is not a condition of adoption. And quick Google search looks like it’s also not required in Nevada, so unless Kody being married to another woman who is not the mother of the children was an issue, I don’t see why divorcing Meri was part of the process. I mean, I do see why, Robin is a terrible person and so Kody. Obviously her goal was to be legal wife. But in this particular case, if divorce wasn’t an actual requirement, wouldn’t Meri have been aware or made aware by the attorney? 

[S16.E07: Choosing Kids Over Kody]

5 minutes ago, Jeanne222 said:

Can this show go on, continue when everybody hates the male lead! 

Sad scene watching Meri at Robyns thanksgiving table.  Robyn has everything Meri always wanted.  Kody, Children and a lovely home.

Kody refers to Janelle and Christine 's children as Her children not our children!

Gabe has to have so much anger.  Ripped from high school where he was doing so well and now Kody wanting to once again take away his happiness.  Never any credit for adjusting so well to the move!  It has to be tough being polygamist in any school district!

What a mess and I agree something is really wrong with Kody!

He’s doing quite well, considering how many times he’s (and all the Brown kids) been ripped away from stability. I also give him some slack for anything being labeled as a tantrum or disrespect. One can only take so much BS before they have to release some steam.

Plus I love how he’s dropping truth bombs with his IDGAF attitude. I think Janelle is also proud, on the down low.  

[S16.E07: Choosing Kids Over Kody]

1 hour ago, Xena said:

America in a nutshell (well, other countries have their own version of this but we are so good at it - yay 'Murica!).

I would hope that maternal instincts are strong all over the world, not just in America. I won’t ever apologize, be guilted, or socially conditioned that I’m selfish (as those who use the term ‘Murica in a derogatory way to describe a country and a citizen’s viewpoint) because I support the mental health of my children. Keeping them socially isolated increases risks for suicide, depression, and drug use.
 

If allowing my kids to work outside the home, go to in person school, and yes, see their friends socially, and even hug outside family members makes me some sort of person (insert label), than I guess that’s what I am. 

[S16.E07: Choosing Kids Over Kody]

4 minutes ago, goofygirl said:

AMEN to this!!  WHY are Sobbyn's two "grown" kids not out on their own, with jobs, and their own places to live??  Aren't they 18 or so??

Because they don’t question his hypocrisy. Tow the line, and you can stay. Think freely, and you’re out living under the nearest bridge.  

[S16.E07: Choosing Kids Over Kody]

6 minutes ago, UsernameFatigue said:

Gabriel has become my favourite Brown. I love how he pointed out that they didn't have to be afraid of having a job, but did have to be afraid of their mail. Lol. And he pretty much confirmed what I posted last week -that he is annoyed (understandably) that Kody has spent the last nine months with Robyn and her kids. 

Speaking of jobs, I guess Kody can follow all the rules, because the only job he has is filming this show. And he is angry because he sees the gravy train drying up with his family asserting their independence from King KoDouche. 

Did Janelle say that Gabe used to be close to Kody? I have been watching since the days when all the wives shared the one home in Utah, and I don't remember Kody ever being close to any of his sons. He has always treated them like competition. 

I have only watched half the episode so far, but just had to post how much I am enjoying Gabe's FU attitude. 

He’s being featured more than any kid this season (I believe, I haven’t officially counted to screen time) and it’s nice to hear a family member finally call out Robin…and more than once.