S09.E01: Duggars & Mothers

[SusieQZie]

My thoughts on the episode (though they pretty much echo all the others here):

- I think it was kind of a jerk move to have the Mothers Day brunch knowing Derriks mom was sick and most likely wouldn't be able to attend in person.

 

- Amen to those who also thought a chaperone at the hospital was completely unnecessary. Jill and Derrik are adults. They were going to visit his ailing mother. I highly doubt they would have been thinking of slipping off in to a supply closet to get it on on their way.

 

- I am not at all a Ben fan, but poor thing, he was totally trapped in to living with them. I have a feeling he and Jessa like the idea of marriage, but with the moving in thing, sh*t just got real!

 

- None of those kids seemed sincere in their Mothers Day wishes to Michelle. Good.

 

- Jessa, those rolls were not burnt. It is also not cute that you think it is cute that you aren't good in the kitchen. It just makes you look stupid.

 

- Josh and Anna were hilarous in their attempt to not be put out that Jill and Derrik were getting a "mansion."

 

- Poor Jana.

 

- It seems that this episode was kind of a hodge podge, like they were trying to cram a lot in so they could skip ahead to the wedding stuff.

 

- It's kinda anti-climatic since we all have seen photos of the wedding and know about Ben and Jessa's engagement.

 

- Why must they always say "Ben (Bin) Seewald"? Do they have several other Bens in their life that they would get him confused with??

[NJRach]

I was thinking of what type of house Boob is going to give Bin and Jessa to live in. Then I realized it's already there. They will probably switch out the twin bed in the warehouse loft with a double. 

 

Boob barely conceals his disdain for Bin. At the Mother's Day dinner, he turned from his meal and said loudly to Bin, "So, how is your relationship with Jessa?"  Right in front of about two dozen people. He is so passive-aggressively nasty to Bin. Meanwhile he falls all over himself showering Derrick and Jill with the trip to Nepal, homes and the 1,000 person wedding.

 

I almost wonder if Jessa got knocked up on purpose to spite Boob and that's why the wedding is coming up on such short notice. I think there is a lot of stuff going on beneath the facade.

Edited September 3, 2014 by NJRach

[Ljohnson1987]

So Anna and Smuggar got Grandma’s old house, and Jill and Derrick get a mansion? How fair is that? The comment about how Jill may be delivering her children in the tub probably isn’t that far off.  It was so sad seeing Derrick’s mom in the hospital. I’m so glad that things are better for her now.  Jessa needs some Proactiv. Did you see the acne near her chin? Poor girl.  Also, why did she call the Seewald’s her future inlaws? What if she and Ben hadn’t worked out? It was a good episode.

[lottiedottie]

At some point during the Mother's Day brunch, Bin said that he loved Jessa. So let me get this straight. Professing LOVE to someone is totally OK, but hand holding, kissing or being alone with a person of the opposite sex is not. I've only told two guys "I love you" in my life, but I can tell you that I have kissed many more. Furthermore, how can you profess to love someone when you've never had a private conversation with them? The mind boggles at their logic.

[Ljohnson1987]

Isn't Bin moving into the house just screaming for he and Jessa to get it on before marriage? Smuggar was never allowed to do that with Anna. Also, it was annoying when Bin was whining about how he and Jessa were a few hours apart, and only got to see each other every other weekend. Dill were 8000 miles apart. Stop bitching, Bin. 

[starfire]

BitterApple, on 02 Sept 2014 - 9:16 PM, said:

Ripley68, I found it very telling that you could practically hear the crickets in the background when Boob made the offer. Bin said nothing at first, then you could see him trying to work out a way to say no without looking like a dick, then he said he'd pray on it, next he looked to his father for back-up and then got royally screwed when Mr. Seewald told him it would be a great idea. Meanwhile Jessa is next to him smirking. I'm not a fan of Bin, but I do think it was pretty crappy for Boob to put him on the spot like that in front of the whole family.

I agree. JimBoob should have talked to Ben and Jessa privately about it instead of putting the kid on the spot. Even then, I think it was an inappropriate "offer".  Ben needs to be focusing on his education and becoming independent instead of becoming a dependent "employee" of JimBob, mowing acres of lawns and doing whatever other grunt work "projects" he comes up with. And we know that Boob isn't doing Ben any favors. He just is asserting control and wants cheap labor he (and all the other Duggar kids over age 12) can boss around.  I don't like Ben, but he is just a kid, and I felt very sorry for him in this episode.

 

I am surprised that the Duggars, with all their BS about chaperones and purity, would be encouraging their unmarried daughter's teenage boyfriend to basically move in with them. That is very strange and contradictory to me.

[GEML]

It's hard to pin down, but it was my understanding the in Gothard world, the woman was to provide the dowry for a home and the man the business/income. So Josh and Anna would have had a very different set up, as what JB was responsible for providing for them was the car lot - Anna was responsible for paying a rent/mortgage on a house, and perhaps the Grandma house was all she could afford. Thus, when she said "This is a house that belongs in DC!" I sort of took it as a slam at JB - sort of saying, "If we had stayed here, we would have nothing, but because we left here, my husband has provided me a great life." She also didn't look too unhappy to be leaving at the end.

[questionfear]

I think JB has them in the house because he's looking to keep Derrick close. Derrick has a steady job at a well-known company, one that's especially revered in Arkansas, so he would have no problems renting or buying just about anywhere in the area. But if he and Jill rent somewhere else, JB might lose some control. 

 

Bin, on other hand, has no reason to assume anyone would give him the time of day, let alone rent him an apartment on his mystery "business person" income. So JB can treat him like crap because, well, Bin has no other resources.

 

And I agree, i think that house is being sold to Jill and Derrick at a major discount if they toe the line long enough. 

[joanofarch4]

I am now pathetically obsessed with this show lately, largely the result of marinating myself in daily reruns from the early days; thanks, TLC! 

 

My question: with all the "fellowshipping" they did with so many other large families -- from the Bateses (or "Bates") to the annual Big Sandy trip, which at least yielded a wife for Josh -- with the clear intent of introducing future spouses, how is it not one Bates has ended up with one Duggar?  Why did they have to go the ridiculous extreme of settling for a Bin out of the blue?  It is strange! 

 

I, too, assumed Bin was besotted with...Jessa...  (he always inserts a dramatic pause before uttering her name), but when JB proposed the move, he was all deer in the headlights.  Finally he rationalized, "Well, I've been thinking of moving; this is a nice area.  Oh yeah, and I could see...Jessa...more often, too."  The heck?  I gather things weren't progressing quickly enough with four hours separating them, yet Jill and Derick managed to go from strangers to parents in less than half the time with 8,000 miles between them?  As someone else pointed out.

 

Speaking of that song, it should be, "I hope that you will SEE," to rhyme with me; not "THINK."  Did the writer feel that was too presumptuous?  This, too, has been bugging, but what a cute song!   

 

Sad for Derick and his mother.  The honeymoon baby is a good thing if it means she can meet and enjoy a grandchild in case her treatment isn't successful, which would be really tragic, his losing both parents so young. 

 

Joyless Anna is a hoot.  Oh, and...  Poor Jana!  If she's Josie's "buddy," she may never get out of there...

Edited September 3, 2014 by joanofarch4

[lottiedottie]

I would like to rescue Joy Anna. I think she wants to break free. She has a look on her face like she is so over this.  Maybe Joy Anna and Jana are going to make a break for it.

 

Bin seems dumb as can be. It's painful to watch him talk...it's like his brain can't quite keep up. I feel like Boob saw that a wedding was inevitable so he moved Bin closer so he could groom him. He doesn't want a dumbass who can't support his daughter. 

 

Derrick's mom  seems like a really lovely person. You can tell how much she means to Derrick, which is interesting compared with how the Duggar kids talk about/to their mom. There's nothing there.

[SnarkyMcSnarkerson]

K- I was only half paying attention but did Anna actually allude to the fact that the newlyweds would be "gettin after it" so much that her and her a-hole hubby couldn't stay in the mansion when they come to visit??

He looked at her like he wanted to smack the fresh right out of her mouth. ..go Anna!

The look on Josh's face after Anna said that was hilarious! Like he hadn't thought about that before and now he did...and was grossed out at the thought of his sister and Derick.

[trimthatfat]

 

Ben's reaction when JimBob asked him to move up to Springdale was priceless. Judging by his face you'd have thought Boob was asking if he wanted daily rectal exams or something. He didn't seem entirely thrilled and he didn't even say yes until Steve Carrell jumped in and railroaded him. And yes, a windowless room in a mice infested warehouse...how welcoming...

 

 

 

I don't like Ben, but I really felt for him in that moment. It looked like he was hoping his dad would step in, but nope.

 

I don't feel bad for Anna and Josh that they had a much smaller house as newlyweds. It's not like they were living in a dungeon before. Plus, they are living pretty cushy lives so they should be grateful they even had the opportunity to have their first home when they were so young when they got married.

Edited September 3, 2014 by trimthatfat

[bigskygirl]

My main rant about Derick's mother was not the chaperone, but the poor woman was having a cancer treatment with cameras in her face.  I do not think Derick was happy about it, and Jill did look a little uncomfortable. Leave the poor woman alone. There was no reason for the scene at all.

 

If my in-laws came in with a camera crew and wanted to interview my husband while he was having a dialysis treatment, all hell would have broke loose. The Duggars have no respect when it comes to people dealing with a tough time in their lives.

[JerseyGirl]

Jessa mentioned in a TH that she spoke to her father about moving Bin up to the compound, so I assume it was her idea, probably offered to move him to the fire hazard room in the steel shed.  She is so desperate to get married, she'd do anything to move things along quickly!  I'm curious what JB is going to do (for) with them housing-wise once they marry on November 1st.  Does he have any other mansions laying idle??

Edited September 3, 2014 by JerseyGirl

[joanofarch4]

Also, I was really impressed with Mackynzie (sp?) using the word "usually" in one of the more recent reruns.  The "Bin Goes to DC" one, I think?  She said, "I USUALLY have a nap."  Smart as a whip, and she and Michael are adorable!  I sensed in this episode that they miss their aunts and uncles and having a big family around; they were sad to leave.  I know Anna homeschools them (eye roll).  Do they get out much in the capital?  Sadly, she seems fated to become the first M'slave.

 

Hope this isn't too off-topic, but in another rerun (Mack's baby shower), Michelle went to great pains to correct the spelling of the baby's name on the cake -- from an "I" to a "y" -- yet totally ignored what followed: "Children are an heritage from the Lord."  Hee!

Edited September 3, 2014 by maraleia
changed cousins to aunts and uncles

[cereality]

Why exactly is Ben SO desperate to marry Jessa? I get that he's a horny 19 yr old boy and he's pretty close to sex, but if he were to break it off -- he could get into another fundie courtship and be married in another 3-6 months. I think that's worth it to avoid being owned by JB all his life. Alternatively he could just not marry and date other conservative Christians -- I get that he wouldn't get to have sex, but I think they could still hold hands, hug, kiss etc. so maybe he wouldn't be as desperate.

 

He's 19 and 19 yr old boys tends to be opinionated about what they don't want or won't do. He could have put his foot down about living in JB's house or living in that room and Jessa could have blamed it on "he's his own man, this is what he wants to do."

[Missmissie173]

Hi Everybody - 1st time poster here.

 

Never really paid attention to this show until this year.  I have watched all the past seasons in the reruns during the last few weeks...one very provocative and messed up family are the Duggars!

 

And this new season...Geesh...so many thick undercurrents, you could cut them with a knife.

 

ITA with others here that Josh and Anna seem highly pissed at being "special guests" and not regulars on  "The Jill & Derrick Dillard Hour."  The whole Dim Bulb gives a rehabbed mansion away (housesitting my Aunt Fanny) appears highly unusual. Derrick works for WalMart Corporate, why would he need or want Dim's flip house?  Something wrong there.

 

Also, the whole tone of the new season feels way different then all the others I have watched.  Like most of the J'Slaves have suddenly gained some worldliness and/or sophistication, and realize they have been played by the DQ for all these years - and they are MAD! Take this job and shove it MAD! Revolution type MAD...JMHO.

 

Oh, also agree that Jana is Sad and Mad.  Sadness just pours off of her.

 

One other thing.  Is it just me, or is there something about little Josie that is off-putting? Like yeah I feel sorry for the rough start you got in life little girl, but I really don't want to be around you. IDK, maybe it is just me.  And I very rarely say anything negative about little kids. But she gives me *shivers" for some reason. 

[Fuzzysox]

Poor Cinderella Jana always slaving away working, working too busy to find her own Prince Charming.

 

Loved how Jana couldn't come up for a good word to describe her evil stepmother Bitchelle. Let your sass shine through you deserve to tell the world what your life is really like.

[GEML]

For whatever reason, JB wants the Bennessa relationship to work. This goes beyond ratings, because let's face it - most of us would watch the fallout of a failed courtship. (Admit it!). He would have to eat his words that Jessa hadn't given away "pieces of her heart" but after last night's episode, it's clear he is the force behind this - perhaps along with Ben's father. The two themselves have almost no say. Josh and Anna had a long distance courtship, as did Jill and Derrick (not only Nepal, but Jill was away on the book tour upon his return. ) That is no reason for not moving things along.

There is a feminist poem with a line something like, "all over America is the smell of buning food" which means one way women got out of the kitchen and into careers was by proving, gosh darn it! That they just couldn't cook no matter how hard they tried. I thought of that poem last night when Jessa kept "reminding" us how badly she cooked (and refused to follow a recipe) and showed us her "burned" rolls.

[3 is enough]

I must agree with sigmaforce, I thought the chaperone was for the drive to the hospital, but once they got there there was no reason for her (was it Joy?) to go up to the room.  And cameras in the room?  Major dick move, show.  A little respect for someone so ill would be nice.  Although Derrick's mother was very gracious, sick as she was.  

 

Loved the barely contained jealousy from Josh and Anna when they saw Jill's new place.  He just HAD to get in a snarky remark about carpeting, didn't he? Derrick has a degree and a REAL job.  He didn't need to be handed a crappy used car business.  I think that's the real issue, not the house.  As Joy pointed out, they didn't own the house when Josh got married.

 

Poor Ben.  I don't like the kid, but talk about being blindsided!  What a totally awkward situation.  Jim Bob is such an ass.

 

Where were Jer and Jed?  Didn't see them.  Hope they haven't been shipped off to ALERT.  They do seem to be a bit brighter than the other howlers.  Gotta nip that in the bud and keep them towing the line.

 

Just have to add:  What was with those deer heads on the wall of Ben's room?  CREEPY!

Edited September 3, 2014 by 3 is enough

[Fuzzysox]

Boob is an idiot for forcing Jessa into a failed relationship. Let's face it Bin is a loser his parents dumped him and he is now forced at 19 to marry a girl that is going to make his head spin. He should be out there sowing his wild oats having fun dating and sleeping with whomever he wants not stuck in a warehouse taking care of himself because he is not allowed to touch a girl. Well hopefully he has some privacy up there in his room without a view.

Edited September 3, 2014 by Fuzzysox

[WTFFF]

 

One other thing.  Is it just me, or is there something about little Josie that is off-putting? Like yeah I feel sorry for the rough start you got in life little girl, but I really don't want to be around you. IDK, maybe it is just me.

 

It's not just you.  Something about that kid makes me feel uncomfortable.  She really doesn't seem "all there" and I have no idea if that and her generally bratty behavior are because she has some developmental difficulties or because she's a spoiled kid.  If it's the former, I feel really bad about saying that.  But there's a weird deadness to her face or something, like she already has Michelle's glassy eyes at age 4.  And she behaves and communicates like an eighteen-month-old, which doesn't endear her to me, as adorable as Michelle may find it.

 

I'd feel bad being this critical of a little kid, but there's no chance she'll ever see this, and if the Duggars do - either get your kid some intervention or teach her how to behave.  She either has problems or she's a brat, and either of those situations needs to be dealt with.  I feel sorry for her, I do; her family has clearly lost interest in her right on schedule. 

 

I don't feel that sorry for Ben, though.  He's in what appears to be a shitty situation, but at the same time, though he behaves like a dumb child, he's actually an adult, and an adult male - in their lifestyle, that means he's allowed to have some say over his life.  If he chooses to give that up in favor of chasing reality TV fame, that's his decision.  Though I don't get his dad at all - he criticized JimBob and Ben's new lifestyle nonstop in that blog rant, but he seemed to be pushing Ben into it in the first place.  Am I missing something?

Edited September 3, 2014 by WTFFF

[joanofarch4]

Josie was born at only 24 or 25 weeks' gestation and struggled for life for many months, so it would actually be highly unusual for her not to have some developmental delays or problems.  Just don't tell Michelle, who continues to insist -- at least to the cameras -- that Josie is "perfect in every way."  I was kind of waiting around for some conclusion to the earlier cliffhanger visit to the fertility specialist.  Did they ever establish once and for all that this "season of life" is definitely over; does Michelle accept that fact?

Edited September 3, 2014 by joanofarch4

[BitterApple]

Wow, I really have to admit I am in shock I didn't think I could be anymore shocked by anything else but a young eighteen year old boy exchanging a job, family, home, college, friends and a life for a room with no windows, bathrooms and to be a virtual slave all in order to be with Jessa. Meanwhile, Jill gets a mansion. I mean until it "sells". 

To me, Bin looked like a cornered animal when Boob proposed the move. It sucks for Bin because career-wise this is a total step backwards. Even if he was only an office assistant at State Farm, it was giving him experience in a big industry and could have led to a promotion if he eventually got licensed. Now he's doing Boob's shitwork for probably less than minimum wage. IMO, banging Jessa is hardly worth becoming JimBoob's bitch.

 

Did anyone else think Michelle seemed put-out and annoyed that she had to help plan a wedding? 

 

I co-sign on those who want to rescue JoylessAnna. That girl is so smart and could go so far in life if she could escape Tinker Toy Prison. I  LOVED her "bitch please" face when Venessa (seriously, "Venessa" with an "e?", it couldn't just be "Vanessa?") was steamrolling Jill over the wedding details. Like this shitfest is going to be some Duchess Kate affair that needs two years of planning. Bust out the paper table cloths, Solo cups and Great Value Mixed Nuts and call it a damned day already. Sheesh. 

Edited September 3, 2014 by BitterApple

[Jenniferbug]

My vote for Duggar child most over this circus: James. He is not even trying for the cameras in either the Dishing segments or on the show last night. Maybe he's taking losing his Jill buddy pretty hard?

Jessa barely concealed her jealousy when talking about Jill getting that mansion. Not that I blame her- that house looked really nice! I wonder if Josh and Anna were hoping it would be given to them if they move back. They didn't seem overly pleased it was going to Jill either.

I think the house is a way to keep Derick around and in line. I suspect Boob will allow Derick to make rental payments towards purchasing the house. No way is Jim Bob going to evict with a baby on the way.

Was it me, or did this episode actually seem kind of real? I know the timing of things was provably edited, etc but it felt like the kids were actually being themselves and there were more glimpses into how they all interact. Maybe finally having some excitement in the family means less staged outings. Thank goodness.

Ben has sold his soul to Jim Bob. Hope he thinks Jessa is still worth it 5 years from now.

[Diane]

I'm sorry but I don't believe for a second what happens on camera is not setup.  You would really have to be gullible to believe that the first time Jim Bob ask Ben to move to the compound is on camera.  This is a reality show, which we should all know is mostly scripted. We see what they want us to see.

Edited September 3, 2014 by dcmjdc2

[Straycat80]

Wasn't Bin taking classes at some sort of community college or something? What about his education? Has he given that up to be another J-slave? I don't think his parents really care about his future or well bring. Or they just want him to be on the Duggar famewhore train.

Sad.

[stafford]

Stratcat80, I believe Bin is taking on-line college courses in political science.

[DangerousMinds]

Bin is someone that, to me, really needs the classroom environment, so that he can be exposed to varied opinions and views live and in-person, learn how to debate effectively with others, etc. Online courses are not going to be the same.

[Turquoise]

Jessa barely concealed her jealousy when talking about Jill getting that mansion. Not that I blame her- that house looked really nice! I wonder if Josh and Anna were hoping it would be given to them if they move back. They didn't seem overly pleased it was going to Jill either.

 

It could be the jewelry box part 2...Jessa could start picking on Jill. Then Michelle will tell Jill to give Jessa her house to make her stop.

[charmed1]

I liked JoyAnna giving Ben the business too. I hope that JoyAnna gets to spend time with Amy and Amy's mom away from the compound. She seemed particularly fond of Amy in earlier seasons and maybe Amy lets her chill out in the house in a pair of yoga pants. I liked that JoyAnna was a bit of a tomboy like I was and I know it must suck being a tomboy who is forced to wear long skirts every day. She seems so bored.

[wanderwoman]

I don't think Bin would miss school since we can infer this move happened after mother's day, but before the wedding. He can just do a summer transfer if he's in a brick-and-mortar school.

There's so much wrong with Bin and Jessa thinking they're ready for marriage. She is a sheltered, not terribly intelligent, gain girl. He is a man-child with little in the way of life experience and no real plan.

I'm guessing that the house for Jill and Derick is more for the show and to keep Jill nearby. Think about it. Their house will, undoubtedly, double as a shoot location. Anna and Josh had to put in special lighting and the lack of space meant difficulty filming. With the McMansion, there's room to follow Jill and Derek much in the same way they followed Josh and Anna. But, now Jim Bob can write off part of the Dillard house for business purposes (it's a flip AND a location for the show). He could feasibly charge a pittance for rent and take it as a loss. On another forum, frequented by fundy folk, it was mentioned that Jim Bob bought another foreclosed/bank sold McMansion and, paired with the new airline business, speculation points to John David being close to entering a courtship.
There was a strange post that was quickly pulled off the site that named a guy who's been seeing Jana and a girl considering John.

[ariel]

I'm sorry but I don't believe for a second what happens on camera is not setup.  You would really have to be gullible to believe that the first time Jim Bob ask Ben to move to the compound is on camera.  This is a reality show, which we should all know is mostly scripted. We see what they want us to see.

If that's what  they wanted us to see,  I would love to see what really happened.  It may not be a pretty picture for TV & their image.

[mguberow]

Hello. New poster to the site. I have a question to you wanderwoman, What forum was this that said that Jana or John might be possibly courting? What is the name of this forum that fundie folk post on? Thanks.

[Mrs. P.]

I think what Michelle meant by "we're backyard and barefoot people" was that planning a wedding is a heck of a lot of work. And she doesn't want to do that.

I've been wondering what exactly Michelle does with her time. She doesn't prepare the food or clean the house or do the laundry. She hasn't been breast feeding an infant in a long time. So what does she do?

[wanderwoman]

Hello. New poster to the site. I have a question to you wanderwoman, What forum was this that said that Jana or John might be possibly courting? What is the name of this forum that fundie folk post on? Thanks.

You joined the site 15 minutes ago to ask that? That's interesting. The message board I'm referring to is only open to people who use the company's curriculum. I was a consultant, one of many, for one of the secondary school topics. They never removed my ability to read the boards. I was also invited by a curriculum parent. Edited September 3, 2014 by wanderwoman

[mguberow]

What J'ichelle does all day is probably exercise and stay locked in her bedroom and only there for a photo op or her 15 minutes of fame. Or more baby making to try for baby blessing #20 with boob. And maybe pretending to clean and cook. Or barely interacting  and spending and  time with her children at all. Michelle clearly loves to spend more time with JimBob  than care about her children except for miracle Josie that she dotes on. That woman has no motherly bone in her body at all.

Michelle is lazy and loves the j-slaves doing her work.

[wanderwoman]

What J'ichelle does all day is probably exercise and stay locked in her bedroom and only there for a photo op or her 15 minutes of fame. Or more baby making to try for baby blessing #20 with boob. And maybe pretending to clean and cook. Or barely interacting  and spending and  time with her children at all. Michelle clearly loves to spend more time with JimBob  than care about her children except for miracle Josie that she dotes on. That woman has no motherly bone in her body at all.

Michelle is lazy and loves the j-slaves doing her work.

I think you nailed that one. Michelle probably spends her day pretending to manage the house. She doesn't actually do anything but delegate her responsibility to the JSlaves. It was telling when she was outside shooting marbles with James. She was awkward in her interactions. That makes me think she doesn't know what she's doing.

[Literata]

So, a few things:

 

I've been a Duggar detractor for years, even devoting a couple of blog posts to what about them makes me batshit crazy. But now, I have to admit:

 

I love Jill and Derick. And I love that Boob gave them a mansion for, in my opinion, the simple reason that he likes Jill best. 

 

I think Jill is a genuinely good person, and although I had hoped beyond hope she wouldn't toe the party line, I still think there's a chance she'll end up less bizarre than the rest. Even though Boob is a tool, I like him SO much better than I like Michelle, and it does seem as though he truly loves his kids -- especially Jill, who's just so damned GOOD and probably hasn't given them a bit of trouble, ever. (I used to think Jana was his favorite, and maybe she was -- until something undoubtedly happened that we'll probably never know about. He barely pays attention to her now, which makes me sad.)

 

I also don't think Jessa is a favorite of his at all. I think he's enamored with the fact that, in his words, "They don't get any prettier than that"... but I also think he realizes what a colossal pain in the ass she is, and he wants her to become Bin's problem. So he's moving Bin to the compound to help him become financially ready to move things along.

 

Appropos of nothing, James looks SO much like Amy. Those are some strong Duggar genes.

 

I had to laugh when Smuggar and Anna just popped in like the Mertzes on "I Love Lucy." What were they doing there? And yes, when Anna mentioned that she wouldn't want to live with newlyweds, Smuggar looked horrified at the thought of Jill and Derick getting freaky ... and speaking off, as horrific as it is to even speculate about this, does Gothard mandate what happens in the bedroom, or are they allowed to be adventurous at all? 

Edited September 3, 2014 by Literata

[BitterApple]

I forgot to mention how badly I wanted to puncture my eardrums when Jessa described cooking as "fun and exciting." There's certain Duggar-isms that just cause me fits. Is anything in their world not fun, exciting or challenging? If dumping frozen rolls on a cookie sheet and shoving them in the oven is the highlight of her day, then homegirl needs to get out more. 

 

If I hear fellowshipping, blessing, season of life, fun, exciting, challenging, purpose to, or guarding their hearts one more time, I'm going to need a padded cell.

[maraleia]

The purposing word makes me bat shit crazy. Who uses the word purpose like that other than the Duggars. Since Jessa talks so much I can hear her voice saying it when I think about it which makes it worse.

[joanofarch4]

I seem to remember when they bought that (no doubt foreclosed) house and an episode was devoted to them all pitching in to remove the worst of the trash from it.  Wasn't it implied then that it would go to John David or whomever is that second-oldest boy (I can't keep them all straight, except for James, who is an Amy clone)?  They added that he also ran his own towing company and was a volunteer firefighter; a great catch!  Guess they figured he would never get married, either, so it might as well go to Dill!  JB wasn't kidding when he said he didn't want to give her away.  Michelle probably also likes keeping "the fun buddy" in close proximity to the howlers. 

 

I suspect Jessa was being facetious, in that odd way of hers, in referring to cooking (which she clearly detests) as "fun and exciting."  It will be interesting to see what happens when the bulk of the scullery maid work falls to Ginger and Joyless.  Obey immediately!

Edited September 3, 2014 by joanofarch4

[andromeda331]

Did anyone else think Michelle seemed put-out and annoyed that she had to help plan a wedding?

 

 

She seemed very put out. I don't know why its not like she's going to do any of the work. But I think it has more to do with the fact its Jill's wedding and Jill will be the one getting all of the attention not Michelle. Michelle can't stand the fact of anyone getting attention except her. Even her own daughter. At one point Michelle mentioned they were barefoot people I don't know if it was in the episode or when they were showing us a preview of a very nice looking venue to me it showed how happy Michelle would be to give her daughter a very crappy wedding or as cheap as possible because in Michelle's mind she's the only one who deserves all of the attention and all the nice things. 

[ramble]

I haven't had a chance to see this episode so I'm hoping one of y'all can clue me in. I read that Dill have a mansion, is it a large house or truly a mansion type of house? Does anyone know which community it's in because different towns tend to price differently in NWA. I have a tiny bit if self-loathing that I'm so nosily interested in these people.

[mguberow]

In my opinion Jill earned the mansion  because she is the duggar kid that drank the koolaid in the cult. She was never in trouble her whole llife as her siblings said in one episode. Jill is never in trouble with Jimbob or Michelle at all. And she toes the party line and follows the cult rules for a female to a tee. And so Jilly Dilly  is the favorite of JimBob. The reward is the newly renovated mansion for Jill and Derrick.

life (typo)

[margol29]

Wow! Just! Wow!

 

That is a guest house????  What!!  No windows no air conditioning. Can you imagine that is the Arkansas summer? Then they cover the air holes with fabric?

 

Yeah lets have everyone over for Mother's Day and you girls can handle all of that, okay. Afterall you can't expect me to do anything it's MOther's Day!!

 

If my mom was sick there would be no way on this Earth that I would not spend Mother's Day with her. Jill would just have to understand.

 

Who could possibly want to be Jim Boobs slave? Have  you no respect for yourself?

 

This episode had so much going on!!

[JennyMominFL]

Bin is someone that, to me, really needs the classroom environment, so that he can be exposed to varied opinions and views live and in-person, learn how to debate effectively with others, etc. Online courses are not going to be the same.

I'm  in college and I take classes both online and in school. I'm actually taking my required Poly Sci class online this semester so that I can do schoolwork while I'm in Europe for a month. I think it really depends on the school the class is  from. If you are taking it from some online fundie college you're probably right  We are required to do a massive amount of discussion posts with various people of various idealogies. I probably learn more about the other students on my online class because we are forced to interact with discussions.  Oh, and I just have to say that I hate it when they use purpose as a verb. I know that technically, it's correct, but it bugs.

[Marigold]

I think Jim Bob gave Dill the nice house because Derrick is the "wild card" that Jim Bob can't control. Derrick has a college degree and seems like a decent guy.  He could find a job and take Jill far, far, far away from Duggarland. 

The house is a carrot dangling in front of the horse.  The horse will run in the barn and Jim Bob will SLAM the gate shut. Gotcha!

 

Josh and Anna couldn't go anywhere for a while. 

Bin doesn't look like he can get to the grocery store alone...he is gonna stick around by his own choosing...he wil always need Jim Bob's financial help. 

[Carolyn15]

Hey, was this an episode on tonight???   My house burned and is totally uninhabitable and will be for a long time.  I'm in a hotel with only a few cable channels, few of which I ever watch, and no public tv either, so I'll miss the Roosevelt mini-series, Midwives, and Downtown Abbey.  Where can I find TV on line?  Please somebody, HELP

Micks Picks-- I am so sorry to hear about your house. Hope you and your family are doing OK.. I agree with others are posting. If you have a laptop you can long on to Hulu. A friend of mine watches alot of shows on there. ..

[BitterApple]

ramble, no it's not really a mansion, but it is a good sized house. I don't know the specs, but it looks to be around 4,000 sq. ft. with some absolutely gorgeous woodworking on the interior. I believe the property is huge as well, around 20 acres. The exterior could use a better paint color and some decent landscaping, but all in all it's a pretty amazing starter home for a newly married couple.