Literata

Oh, gag. As someone who has a soft spot for the Bateses, I keep hoping some of the Bates kids will distance themselves from Gothardism, but then again, I'm not sure how I think that can realistically happen. It does make me happy that Alyssa seemed to be dressing a little less modestly than usual in her honeymoon photos, though.

I may be in the minority, but I see this thing a little differently. I think Michelle is the one driving the bus. All kidding aside, I think she has emotional/mental issues around being pregnant, and also around Gothardism; I don't know anything about the cult personally, but my guess is that the Duggars have been exalted for creating their own army of children to continue to populate that particular sect. I also wonder if some tenet of their faith actually mandates that Mom hand the babies off to older children to raise so she can continue to populate the army. So she's not expected to be so much mother/nurturer as she is child-grower/figurehead. Judging from what we've seen of Mary Duggar, her late husband, her daughter Deanna, Deanna's husband, and Amy, I think Boob came from an evangelical Christian home, certainly, but not from the wackjobbery that his own family now espouses. My degree in armchair psychology leads me to speculate that because of the way Boob grew up -- financially insecure with an apparently difficult father -- he probably didn't come out of the nest with the healthiest self-esteem. So when teenage hottie Michelle returned his affections, he vowed then and there to do what he needed to do to keep her happy. Remember that it was Michelle, not Boob, who decided women shouldn't wear pants, for example. My guess is she stumbled upon Gothardism/Quiverfull and laid down the law to Boob, and Boob is doing what he needs to do to keep the queen happy. (Not that Boob doesn't enjoy the endless boinking, I'm sure. But left to his own devices, I don't think he would have set out to have 19 kids.) The guy acts like a knob, to be sure, but I still think he loves those kids and tries to have some semblance of a relationship with most of them. Not to give him a free pass, but I honestly don't think this is his dog-and-pony show.

How wonderfully handy to be able to use that as a reason for anything one wants to do. :/

Seriously, Jill looks beautiful in the newly posted photos; I used to think she was among the plainer of the Duggar girls, but time has proven me wrong; she really has turned out to be quite lovely. No doubt, her personality helps in that regard, as I don't find Jessa nearly as striking anymore. Not that what I think matters, and I really don't like snarking about looks ... and after all, everyone in the family is conventionally attractive. But marriage agrees with our girl Jill, to be sure. Speaking of marriage, I've been wondering: Remember how Boob had the scripted-but-still-horrifying sex talk with Smuggar before Smug and Anna got married? Do we think Michelle had any type of sex talk with Jill? I'm hoping someone at least prepared Jill for the fact that things may be a little uncomfortable at first, or that she was at least allowed to read about what it might be like to do the deed. Didn't Boob give Smuggar some fundie sex manual? Do they have one of those for women?

I just don't like Jessa. I really don't. She seems self-centered and just plain mean. I wonder if she's the family member poor Jana talked about having had trouble with. Seriously, what is the deal with Jana? Do we really collectively think Boob and Michelle are keeping her there against her will? Do we think she fell in love with a non-approved guy? Do we think she really hasn't found the right guy yet?

I do wonder, though, if there was some truth to that, based on the fact that Smuggar asked Bin, "How many girls have you courted?" It seemed like an odd question, but not so odd if you're a guy who courted more than one person.

Jill looks lovely in that pic. She really does. And unlike other sisters -- cough cough, Jessa, cough cough -- she really seems to be a very humble, kind person. I'm happy for her.

I can't imagine, as busy as God must be, that he gives a rat's about Michelle Duggar's knees. He wears shorts? How have I missed this??

Poor Jenny. Wonder how she's dealing with the absence of the only mom she's ever known. Presumably, she didn't follow through on her threat to lasso Jill to a chair, or whatever. I like the fact that Jill asked Johannah to be a bridesmaid and didn't just lump her in with the howlers. She looks so happy in the photo. This makes me really happy. You KNOW those kids all have conversations that Boob and Michelle have no knowledge of ... right? I hope so, anyway.

Agreed. Also, when he and his mom were walking off the plane, she said, "I'll be so glad when you two can just talk." Was that a reference to the fact that Jill was allowed to only text, not talk, so Boob and Michelle could monitor her conversations? Now that I think about it, though, it probably wasn't possible for them to talk on the phone while he was in Nepal ... but I definitely got the "this is nuts" vibe from his mom. I have no doubt that her conservative Christian values are in line with those of the Duggars, but clearly, she's much more mainstream, which makes me happy. I so hope she's able to beat her illness ... I keep thinking back to her line about wanting to spoil Jill, and I hope she's able to do that. I wonder if she was diagnosed only recently, or has been ill for a long time. My guess is the former, as I can't see Derick having gone to Nepal knowing his mom was seriously ill. I must be going soft, but I really, really like Jill and Derick, and I'm hoping he can help her understand that the Duggar way is not the only way.

So much WORD to so many of the posts above. Love this forum. 1. My cold, hard heart melted, too, when the photos were shown at the end of the episode. Jill represents Boob and Michelle’s best work, for sure. I think she is a genuinely good, kind, loving person, and I think she and Derick have a genuine and loving connection. But, yes, kids – please, just kiss. You know you want to. 2. I, too, giggled at the “bulge in my pants” remark. Poor, nerdy Derick. Bless mom Cathy’s heart for letting that one pass. 3. Speaking of, I love the relationship between Derick and his mom. So natural and loving. Take notes, Michelle; that’s the kind of relationship that can evolve when you know your kids’ names, spend time with them, and maybe even kiss and hug them. 4. Go away, Smuggar and Anna; this wasn’t your d*mned episode. But did anyone else notice when Smuggar came into the room and said one of the M kids was puking and wouldn’t be going on the tour? Michelle didn’t even look up. Grandma of the Year. 5. Back to Cathy … yay, pants. And yay to her remark about spoiling Jill. I see shopping trips, spa visits, and encouragement about higher education in that girl’s future. One can only hope. 6. Also, yay to Cathy for pointing out that the Duggars aren’t the only ones who raise their kids according to a certain “instruction manual.” You can be a Christian and not be nuts.

Did anyone else watch the "Nature Hike" video on the Duggars' blog? http://duggarsblog.blogspot.com/ Shoot me, but I actually liked Boob in this one. Gotta give him props for interacting with the howlers.

I'm still mourning the fact that she and Zach Bates didn't end up together.