S19.E01: A House Divided Cannot Stand

[surfgirl]

I just re watched part of this epi and I've changed my mind, it was NOT Christine's job to initiate any conversation with Kotex ir Sobbyn, ESPECIALLY after having to quietly sit through the Knife in the Kidneys tirade, nor enduring the fucking ugly goodbye scene that Mykelti insisted Upon!  My best guess is that Myjelti and her leechy hubby probably slither on over to production and pitch gross situations that they know Christine will be uncomfortable in, and they finagle extra payments for setting up these awful situations like: the ugly goodbye Flagstaff scene, the birthing scene, and now the sprinkle scene. Mykelti is just gross enough and alimey enough to scheme up this bullshit as long as it brings her more lonely and she doesn't have to get a real job.

 

[SunnyBeBe]

People not speaking at family events, especially a hello, how are you, imo is petty, in most circumstances.  Most child custody agreements and some court orders require parents of minor children to be cordial in public and private gatherings, for the sake of the minor children.  (Yes, I realize they didn’t go to court and likely no written agreement.) The tense atmosphere and silence between the parents adds to the stress on the child.  It’s not about the parents’ comfort level, but I doubt Kody or Christine could get that.  I do sense that Christine enjoys playing games of annoyance, though I do like her in general.  I just attended a wedding where certain people did not speak…..it took me a long time to recall why…….then I recalled the ancient history….still stressful for the children who are now are all  adults.   
 

 

Edited September 23 by SunnyBeBe

[kassa]

Sometimes not speaking is the most polite thing for everybody involved, even if there is no danger of arguing.  There was no shortage of guests for them to interact with separately, so if people were uncomfortable because they were deprived of the main event they were hoping for, that's on them. (But maybe this view is because I come from a long line of people who are perfectly capable of ignoring one another entirely at events. We consider that good manners ;) )

I think the main awkwardness here was caused by nobody really wanting to hang with Robyn and Kody, which appears to have carried over into other family events since then (prior to the funeral). I don't think Christine can be blamed for that - they're ALL mad at them.  It's got to be awkward to be making small talk with Kody while you hear laughter and fun coming from Christine's side of the room and you just want to hang with your siblings but *somebody* has to include Dad. 

[General Days]

I really think the production made them have an event where at least some of the parents were in the same room. It seems to me that if Christine was throwing a shower (sprinkle) for Mykelti's sake, of her own volition, and if she agreed to invite Kody and Robyn, Christine would have been a gracious hostess. I think she was talked into doing this party, for the production, so she gave them the bare minimum, and good for her.

[Roslyn]

6 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

People not speaking at family events, especially a hello, how are you, imo is petty, in most circumstances.  Most child custody agreements and some court orders require parents of minor children to be cordial in public and private gatherings, for the sake of the minor children.  (Yes, I realize they didn’t go to court and likely no written agreement.) The tense atmosphere and silence between the parents adds to the stress on the child.  It’s not about the parents’ comfort level, but I doubt Kody or Christine could get that.  I do sense that Christine enjoys playing games of annoyance, though I do like her in general.  I just attended a wedding where certain people did not speak…..it took me a long time to recall why…….then I recalled the ancient history….still stressful for the children who are now are all  adults.  

As an adult looking back to my childhood I can say that yes...passive aggressive, silent treatment and petty behavior by adults most certainly trickles down to children. Also looking at my childhood experiences I suspect that family members would show up to gatherings just to perform for others.  Being very open and friendly to some to then make it very obvious (and public) that they are shunning others.

Just being in the room at that shower, tripping over camera people to boot, with Christine in one corner and Kody/Robyn as a unit in the other would have made the air heavy with awkwardness. Tho I also think that Myketi either is fully immune from awkwardness or she uses it as fuel.

[Absolom]

Obviously it was all done for a production set up.  The individual interviews with Christine and Kody were not by accident.  They were planned and executed by production to emphasize the conflict and thus allegedly increase the number or engagement of viewers.

Edited September 23 by Absolom

[Natalie68]

4 hours ago, kassa said:

Sometimes not speaking is the most polite thing for everybody involved, even if there is no danger of arguing.  There was no shortage of guests for them to interact with separately, so if people were uncomfortable because they were deprived of the main event they were hoping for, that's on them. (But maybe this view is because I come from a long line of people who are perfectly capable of ignoring one another entirely at events. We consider that good manners ;) )

I think the main awkwardness here was caused by nobody really wanting to hang with Robyn and Kody, which appears to have carried over into other family events since then (prior to the funeral). I don't think Christine can be blamed for that - they're ALL mad at them.  It's got to be awkward to be making small talk with Kody while you hear laughter and fun coming from Christine's side of the room and you just want to hang with your siblings but *somebody* has to include Dad. 

Right?!  If there were 10 people there (M&T, Christine, R&K, Aspyn & Mitch, Truly, Ysabel, Janelle) it would have possibly been uncomfortable. Looked like no one noticed they didn't speak. Adults are not obligated to conform to anyone else's rules. No one seemed uncomfortable and there were no fights.  I am curious why the responsibility was only on Christine and not K&R to make others comfortable.  Seems like she was doing that for 30 years.

[SemiCharmedLife]

On 9/19/2024 at 4:49 PM, Dobian said:

Television's hottest new couple

Let's see how long it takes her to wipe that smile right off his face.  ;)

[Denize]

There were a couple of people I didn't recogize at the "sprinkle", one being a dark-haired young woman - possibly David's daughter or one of Tony's relatives?  I was also wondering if they held it at an AirBnB, since the bathroom had male/female cutouts on the door. Normally friends of preggos host showers, not their parents.

[ginger90]

19 minutes ago, Denize said:

I was also wondering if they held it at an AirBnB

It was at Mykelti and Tony’s house.

[Denize]

3 minutes ago, ginger90 said:

It was at Mykelti and Tony’s house.

They hosted their own gimme presents party?  

[Orcinus orca]

9 minutes ago, Denize said:

They hosted their own gimme presents party?  

Well, sure.  Grifters gotta grift.  It's their MO.

[kassa]

I think there's a difference between passive/aggressive and petty and a simple détente.  For this family, the wounds are still fresh, plus you add in having to air their grievances simultaneously behind the other one's back and to their face (via tv) and it gets ugly.  But in general, I think adults who have no use for one another can be present at the same event with minimal interaction without making everybody awkward.  Doesn't have to be hostile to mutually agree to avoid one another and otherwise have a good time rather than force awkward interactions.

 

Edited September 25 by kassa

[Denize]

7 hours ago, kassa said:

For this family, the wounds are still fresh, plus you add in having to air their grievances simultaneously behind the other one's back and to their face (via tv) and it gets ugly.  But in general, I think adults who have no use for one another can be present at the same event with minimal interaction without making everybody awkward.  

Perhaps the Browns who have lost their religion could start celebrating Festivus with its Airing of Grievances on December 23. The best way to air grievances is in person if you want to accomplish anything.

There were enough people to talk to at the "sprinkle" that it didn't seem awkward. Just like any party where you talk to the people you want to talk to even when you have no problems with anyone in the room.

[Elizzikra]

Quote

Perhaps the Browns who have lost their religion could start celebrating Festivus with its Airing of Grievances on December 23. The best way to air grievances is in person if you want to accomplish anything.

That could take years.

[the-grey-lady]

On 9/25/2024 at 3:28 PM, Elizzikra said:

That could take years.

And TLC will show them to us in the year 2041.