S01.E03: Mom's Gonna Find Out

[Guest]

Airs November 19, 2019

Quote

Barry and Kim leave the farm for a night to celebrate their anniversary, putting Micah and Lydia in charge; the Plath kids party and some uninvited guests join them.

[b2H]

Devastating revelation that may part of the control issue for Mom.  I get it - the guilt and pain must be awful.  But enforcing more control won’t solve the problem or change the outcome.

[jumper sage]

50 minutes ago, b2H said:

Devastating revelation that may part of the control issue for Mom.  I get it - the guilt and pain must be awful.  But enforcing more control won’t solve the problem or change the outcome.

I was just going to say that.

[Honey]

I cannot even begin to imagine the excruciating pain that Kim must have felt.  To lose your little boy is bad enough, but knowing that you killed him?  That is truly life-ending pain.  I couldn't have gone on, I don't know how she did.

Ethan has the mentality of a 13 year-old boy, and the sex appeal of a turnip.  There is no gym that would allow him to play on the equipment like that.  He was disrespectful, and I'm surprised he wasn't hurt.

Also, please don't ever make me listen to Moriah sing again.

Ethan and Olivia were flat out wrong to go over to the house with the parents gone.  The right way to earn trust is to ask permission, not sneak over the minute they leave.  It's a stupid rule, but it's their house.

Olivia was right when she said that their theological differences are never going to change, so it's going to be very difficult to resolve their problems.  All Kim and Barry can do is raise the kids with respect and integrity, and teach them their beliefs.  Then have trust in the kids to make responsible decisions as they get older.  It's impossible to keep them sheltered forever, all they can do is give them a solid foundation, then let them go.  As adults some may continue to live like the parents do, and some may not. That's how it goes.  Forcing it like Kim and Barry only causes resentment and rebellion.  It's not Olivia that's changing the older kids, they're just growing up.

I just wanted to add that I hate it when they say "The Gays".

Edited November 20, 2019 by Honey

[Armchair Critic]

4 hours ago, Honey said:

Ethan has the mentality of a 13 year-old boy, and the sex appeal of a turnip.  There is no gym that would allow him to play on the equipment like that.

At the gym when he was on his knees and throwing his arms around Olivia and putting his head on her stomach asking her to take him home. So awkward. He acts like a little boy and like Olivia is his mother, that would be a big turn off.

[ethalfrida]

An adult married man says he’s going to go play with his younger siblings.

[sATL]

It broke my heart when the oldest daughter present walked away b/c the riff b/w her parents and the older son and his wife. She basically said the only friends they know are the siblings.

Edited November 20, 2019 by sATL

[SabineElisabeth]

I was hoping for something new to mindkessly watch/listen to while crafting, but I think I'm going to have to pass on this one. Not only is the show rather boring, the parents are distinctly unlikable.  They always seem to have this air of superiority about them, and I find myself wanting to slap the smirks off their face every time I look up at my tv.  The parents, Olivia/Ethan, and various older children at various times, also squick me the fuck out. And finally, their story is so wholly inconsistent with being on a tv show (because  having a reality tv show about your family doesn't just happen, to be clear) that even I can't suspend disbelief enough to enjoy watching. 

Re this episode  - I so did not need to see that kiss between Kim and Barry. If I want to watch soft porn, I'll go watch soft porn, thankyouverymuch. (Seriously, why do people think that anyone ever, in the history of the universe, wants to see them do that shit??)

Was totally not expecting the revelation that mom ran over and killed one of their babies.  Absolutely horrific. And I still don't like Kim, at all. Probably because I'm a bad human being, but there you go.

Somebody, and it will most likely be Kim haha, needs to clue Olivia in that trust is earned when one keeps his/her word; trust is broken when one blatantly disregards an explicitly stated rule.  Sorry, but not even young, lanky girls with long, flowing flaxen hair get to demand they be treated as trustworthy when they are actively acting in an untrustworthy manner. 

Ugh!  You can do better, TLC!  I know you can. If you can bring us Danielle and Mohammed, the Little Couple, 79 seasons of Say Yes to the Dress... you can totally do better.

Edited November 22, 2019 by SabineElisabeth

[b2H]

I'm ok with my house/my rules.  But essentially, they're punishing the oldest boy for his choice in spouse and isolating him from his siblings who, as the older kids pointed out, were all he had for friends growing up.

The parents aren't getting the message:  Hosanna (the oldest child) has already flown the coop.  In the previews next week, Emily and child-husband entertain the idea of moving away (not that I expect them to, it's just a really bad teaser).  They're already losing their grip on the Moriah (and there's rumors out there that she isn't even on the farm anymore, but unsubstantiated).

Their house of cards is already collapsing.  Being rigid isn't helping them at all.  And the remaining older kids on the farm already have begun to realize what their family's bubble lifestyle has cost them.

[Quiet1]

Something is off with Olivia. We know the mom is controlling but Olivia seems just as controlling. She seems like she is bent on destroying the family and acting like it's in everyone's best interest. Looks nice but disobey her and watch out, mean girl will come out.  So Olivia and Ethan will be fine with people undermining their authority when it comes to their own children, right? Feed them shit as long as it's all fun. Coke and other sugary foods are really not good for you.

Isaac seems more mature than goofy Ethan. They seem to be around the family a lot, the parents just didn't want them there while they were away. I think taking care of a grown man will get old for Olivia and I just don't see that marriage lasting but if she has total control maybe that's good enough for her. 

I think the parents not encouraging and not giving the kids skills for higher education is the most detrimental for them but limiting screen time is good. I think the kids will look back at their childhood and appreciate the running around outside and being together playing.

[winsomeone]

The mother is a controlling, joy less, mentally ill woman. She needed treatment after killing her young son it sounds like. If she refused, then she should have been removed from the home instead of being allowed to ruin the lives of the remaining nine children. Shame, shame on the father for allowing this woman to stunt the minds of these children to the point that some of them will never recover. They have grand parents..maybe they would have been willing to step in and help?

[suziespend]

Really sad revelation on this episode  about the little boy. Definitely explains some of her control issues but it seems like she was like that even before that happened. I always feel sorry for kids raised by these types of parents. Sure it must be fun to run around with no shoes all the time and never have to get up early for school but to be literally afraid of people who don’t believe exactly the way you do is borderline abusive. They only skimmed it on the show but you know there’s major homophobia and mysogony going on in that house.  

[KeeperOfTheIce]

I wonder what the relationship with Olivia, the oldest boy (can’t think of his name) and the parents was like when the two were dating?  Parents  really must have resented and hated their relationship and didn’t think Olivia is the right one for their boy.   Face it Olivia - you are never going to be trusted or probably even liked by the mom. 

[Alonzo Mosely FBI]

Soooooo we have one daughter in daisy duke shorts and the other  one always in a modest dress and the parents bragging they like the beach in season where people are clothed ? Whaaaaaat? 

No ice cream ?? ONLY CERTAIN BRANDS? C mon people Cherry Garcia won’t hurt ya! There is no acid in it !! 

That oldest boy is a married child. Now that he has the freedom to be an adult he is making the independent choices he should have been making at developmental childhood stages. They will NOT stay married. He looks LOST listening to Olivia speak. He wants the poontang but also wants to just go home and turn wrenches and play. And his parents want him home too. 

Not a one of them knows how reckless the racing mower and heavy old uninspected unsafe car with no steering was with no helmets . Ironic given the accidental death of the baby brother. Their protection and control just put the kids in abject danger. They have no decisions making skills. 

I cannot figure these people out. On screen kissing. Tossing these kids not just to technology but to reality tv. Do they want a Christian band ? The money? I cannot figure how this is being done by mom to help her with her unresolved trauma. 

Scary. TLC has this fuzzy heavenly light filter on all the camera work. Crickets and cicadas dubbed in. Eerie. 

[Armchair Critic]

1 hour ago, Alonzo Mosely FBI said:

He wants the poontang but also wants to just go home and turn wrenches and play.

I know that's sad but the way you said that made me laugh. He acts so emotionally stunted it would be like having sex with a 12 year old. I do wonder if once the sex is not so exciting and new that Olivia's hold on him may not be enough and he will go back to his parents.

[suziespend]

4 hours ago, Armchair Critic said:

He acts so emotionally stunted it would be like having sex with a 12 year old

I was thinking the exact same thing. How sexy can it be to be with a boyman who probably got a boner having his first coke and pop tart. 
Also I think Olivia may have a savior complex. First she wanted to save Ethan and now Mariah or whatever the daisy dukes sisters name is. It’s like she got saved from living in a fundy hell forever when her parents saw the light and now she wants to save everyone else. 

[alegtostandon]

Are these people for real?  Where did the oldest boy meet his free spirit wife and why would she even be attracted to him?  Is the whole town like them?  I've only watched 1 full episodes  (this one) but saw bits of previous episodes.  My first thought was they reminded me of a horror movie.  

What happened to their baby was horrible,  but I agree with winsomeone, mom really needed to get help after the tragic accident.  Something similar happened to a friend of ours.  He would back into his driveway.  Was leaving one day and, unknown to him,  his 2 year old followed him out. From what they were able to figure out, the 2 year old grabbed onto the back bumper of the car, pretending to be pushing the car & was dragged down the driveway & the street.  Neighbors screaming caught Friends attention.  Friends Son was in the hospital for a couple of weeks. I could not imagine running your own child over! 

[calliope1975]

Lydia appears to be on the way to either a breakdown or full Stepford robotic repression. 

[JKL845]

The parents are a bit scary. I guess the mom's childhood and death of her child really messed her up. Isolating and instilling fear of others isn't helping to raise loving adults, though the kids seem to be overcoming that. 

Bitch please, with that trust nonsense. They just trusted you to take their daughter across the country, then in a hot minute your ass is at the farm as soon as they are gone. Yes, it is a stupid rule but you could have waited (I'm sure the parents were only gone a night or two) and talked about why you couldn't be there when they are gone. No doubt her husband was just there the whole time she was in CA with his sister. You JUST proved they can't trust you. Now you have to work to earn that trust back. 

Poor Ethan, going from parent's in charge to "new mommy" in charge. I don't think he'll ever be able to make a decision on his own. When he said he wouldn't be going back to work out unless "new mommy" makes him-yikes!

This does come across as "fake" so I'm not sure how much more I will tune in.

[winsomeone]

Isn't there a married daughter? If so, why is she never mentioned, has she been banned or something? What I found sad, is that as soon as the parents were out of sight, all of the children, from the youngest o the oldest, did everything they are not allowed to do when they are at home. So much for instilling values into them. I think in most families, where the children are more free to make choices, that does not happen.

[Mahamid Frauded Me]

Tragic what happened to the little boy. Clearly the mom wears the overalls in this family. Childboy groom is a doofus, so cant imagine what Olivia saw or sees in him. They tote on very little technology, but why is rebel child carrying around a cell phone? 

[Armchair Critic]

4 hours ago, Mahamid Frauded Me said:

why is rebel child carrying around a cell phone? 

Olivia got her one because she is working with her in her photography business. I would think that would be a bigger issue with the parents. 

[jacksgirl]

I get that the producers invent storylines and the TLC execs are pretty adept (see 90 Day Fiance) at this, but unless these people are pretty good actors there's some real animosity between Kim and Olivia. That being said Olivia and Kenneth should never have gone over to the farm when the parents are away. Agree or disagree they made the rules and they need to abide by them.

[silversage]

Olivia loves to show how worldly she has become. She wanted to get far away from her childhood upbringing yet went right back and married a current fundie. I just don't get it.

[HaaCHOO]

On 11/26/2019 at 3:13 AM, silversage said:

She wanted to get far away from her childhood upbringing yet went right back and married a current fundie. I just don't get it.

Incredible S-E-X.

On 11/22/2019 at 6:38 AM, winsomeone said:

. I think in most families, where the children are more free to make choices, that does not happen.

Well...it doesn't happen (usually) to a major extent, but it DOES happen.  My kids were good, but my younger son invited "a few friends" over to play cards when I went out of town overnight.  Against one of my few rules. Gossip spread around the school and there was a MASSIVE turnout.

[HaaCHOO]

On 11/20/2019 at 8:51 PM, Quiet1 said:

I think the parents not encouraging and not giving the kids skills for higher education is the most detrimental for them but limiting screen time is good

Which screen time?  Watching or being watched and paid?

[Twopper]

On 11/19/2019 at 10:32 PM, Honey said:

I cannot even begin to imagine the excruciating pain that Kim must have felt.  To lose your little boy is bad enough, but knowing that you killed him?  That is truly life-ending pain.  I couldn't have gone on, I don't know how she did.

I have been trying to avoid getting sucked into this show, but the few minutes I have seen of it have caused me great dislike for the parents.  How awful to kill your child;  I think I would just lie down and die.  

I hope this show doesn't have another season.  Putting it close to the Duggars will probably get it more viewers than it might otherwise have gotten.    I don't wish any of them ill; I just want them off the air.

[Mahamid Frauded Me]

Well they are back for another season, I really can't imagine why- the first season was a total bore. Looks like John Boy fixed his hair and is sporting a goatee or something to make him look older, the other son who wants to be a model in rural Georgia and the girl Mariah that skipped town is now back for a paycheck.

 

[Kiss my mutt]

Sadly, I will probably be watching.