S19.E23: The Stars Will Fall From the Sky

[Salacious Kitty]

As Christine's new dynamic with David continues to flourish, she realizes that she was more alone with Kody than she understood. 

Airs 05/04/2025

[Mr. Miner]

David climbed the fence, what’s the big dill?

[whydoievencare]

Everyone cried for him except Robin, who pretended to but couldn't actually manage to manufacture any tears for poor Garrison.  And Kody wonders what might have been (if he hadn't been such a totally horrendous father) while he's performing for the cameras.  

[toodywoody]

But yet here we are a year later and he is still estranged from all his non Robyn kids. 

[Lady of nod]

Kody didn,t have time to say goodbye??? You had 4 freaking years, you ***!

Edited May 5 by Lady of nod

[surfgirl]

1 hour ago, toodywoody said:

But yet here we are a year later and he is still estranged from all his non Robyn kids. 

He didn't learn a damn thing and it shows.

[ButterQueen]

This episode broke my heart.  I loved Janelle’s younger sister.  She knew when to speak up when Janelle would get too emotional to finish her thought.  It was so touching to hear that Maddie and Caleb tried so hard to get Garrison to move down with them.  Caleb showed more emotion than Robyn.

F you Kody and Robyn.  They learned nothing.  It made me sick hearing Kody saying he wanted to take his boy home.  So disrespectful after his behaviors.

[MsMalin]

Very sad episode. I felt bad for Kody until he opened his mouth and made it sound like he never maligned his sons on national tv and tried to reach out. Never thought I'd feel that way about a parent who lost a child.

[laurakaye]

That certainly was an extremely rough watch.  For those of you who couldn't/wouldn't watch, 3/4 of the episode was about Garrison.

There was real, true, raw emotion from Janelle, Meri, Christine, Gabe, Madison and Caleb.  They were all hard to watch but Gabe's was probably the hardest.  And Christine trying so hard to say Garrison's favorite movie quote out loud, and taking several minutes to get the words out.

I have no doubts that Kody and Robyn have also been devastated by this.  But Kody talking about how he'd wished he'd had more time was hard to hear.  We all know the things he's said about Garrison and Gabe.  Kody had the time.  He chose to use that time differently.  I am sure the guilt eats him alive.  But again - he said things about his sons that were shocking at the time, and to know Garrison started to slide into depression during Covid...well.  

Robyn doing her patented "look to the ceiling, dab the eyes" routine that we have all seen a million times - again, I have no doubt that she was very sad, but I think her sadness came more from being with Kody full time and watching everything play out through him.  She had to be there while he potentially came to terms with certain things he had done or not done.  And maybe she had to think about her role in all of it.  I don't know, I may be giving her too much credit.

 

 

Edited May 5 by laurakaye

[suzeecat]

Despite being so hard too watch, I loved the touching interviews, even Kody and Robyn, I had to let go of my resentments on how Kody treated his children, causing their estrangement, because I know that their pain was genuine.  

It did feel a little/lot weird that they started out with David climbing the fence and then Meri doing a ceremonial "changing of the tablecloth" - both such trivial and nonsensical scenarios - then, jump right into the reactions to Gabe's passing.  

I have heard that it's no longer appropriate to say someone "killed themself", rather it's more correct to say they "took their own life".  Something about taking the criminality aspect out of it.  

[ginger90]

13 minutes ago, suzeecat said:

with David climbing the fence and then Meri doing a ceremonial "changing of the tablecloth" - both such trivial and nonsensical scenarios - then, jump right into the reactions to Gabe's passing.  

I know TLC isn’t “deep” but I interpreted it as things can change in an instant.

[LotusFlower]

I found all the “where were you when you heard the news” confessionals to be sensationalist and unnecessary, and every second on Kody was infuriating.  Yes, he seemed to acknowledge that punishing his sons over his stupid Covid rules was a mistake, but there was no follow-up sentiment to learn from this and not make the same mistake with his other children.  

But Gabe’s confessional was beautiful.  It was clearly important to him to honor his brother with such kind words of tribute. 
 

 

[VioletNevermind]

This was a rough one.  I thought that the episode was as thoughtfully produced as possible, given the subject matter.  I have so many thoughts about the entire situation that have already been expressed by myself and so many others here.  We all know that Kody is a piece of sh*t father (and way before Covid) and his shy, pretty wife is a conniving, double-crossing harpy who pretty much single-handedly destroyed this family with her selfishness.  I will say this, though: I HATED that they gave him the last word at the end of the episode.  He did not deserve that.  That should have been reserved for either Janelle or Gabe and not one of Kody's self-indulgent word salads, with Robyn sitting there next to him, grimacing as if she's struggling not to cry.  

I'd love to say that Garrison's passing forced Kody to reevaluate his behavior/relationships with his OG kids, but we all know how that turned out.  Poor Garrison is truly free of his demons now, but it did not have to happen.  He was a sensitive, troubled young man who desperately needed a solid, committed father and he got stuck with a ramen-headed doofus who was all too happy to toss him and his brothers out like trash the moment that Robyn snapped her fingers.  I hate them both more than I should.

(One positive note: I loved that the Flagstaff Humane Society acknowledged all that he did for animals with a plaque.  Any man who likes cats is a green flag all the way.)

Edited May 5 by VioletNevermind

[laurakaye]

26 minutes ago, LotusFlower said:

But Gabe’s confessional was beautiful.  It was clearly important to him to honor his brother with such kind words of tribute. 

Of all the Brown kids, I think maybe Gabe has been hit the hardest.  It's clear that he feels things deeply, which is exactly what he attributed to Garrison.  Those are the two boys who had been hurt the deepest by not only Kody's absence, but the things he said about them on the show.

I do believe that Gabe has a strong sibling support system around him, and I hope he's doing okay.

EDIT: I wish TLC had not included the segment of Kody's phone calls to Meri while she was on the interview couch.  Because we all knew what that phone call was, and Meri didn't, and that was painful.

Edited May 5 by laurakaye

[Twiz44]

1 hour ago, suzeecat said:

Despite being so hard too watch, I loved the touching interviews, even Kody and Robyn, I had to let go of my resentments on how Kody treated his children, causing their estrangement, because I know that their pain was genuine.  

It did feel a little/lot weird that they started out with David climbing the fence and then Meri doing a ceremonial "changing of the tablecloth" - both such trivial and nonsensical scenarios - then, jump right into the reactions to Gabe's passing.  

I have heard that it's no longer appropriate to say someone "killed themself", rather it's more correct to say they "took their own life".  Something about taking the criminality aspect out of it.  

You’re correct with regards to the language used when talking about these tragic events. The “IASP” recommends using, “died by suicide”.

[Granny58]

I agree with so much of the above.  Very hard to watch but handled well enough.  I lost a brother as a youngish adult, definitely too young to expect him to die, and it was hard for me but crippling to my parents.  I felt  their pain.  NEVER assume there is more time.  

 

[lookeyloo]

4 minutes ago, Granny58 said:

I agree with so much of the above.  Very hard to watch but handled well enough.  I lost a brother as a youngish adult, definitely too young to expect him to die, and it was hard for me but crippling to my parents.  I felt  their pain.  NEVER assume there is more time.  

 

Agree.  I lost a brother to suicide and Sweet Son to cancer.  The future is always uncertain.  

[islandgal140]

Utterly devastating episode. I have had some trepidations on how this would play on screen. Not that I didn't think it should air, because this is the most real reality a family can go through and it needed to be addressed, but more so, TLC whoring a death for ratings. For the most part I think they did ok. The exception I had was the heavy-handed ads  for other shows which took up 1/3 of the screen during some poignant moments. 

I am flabbergasted that Meri learned of Garrison during a talking head session. I am glad the cameras cut off before we saw the full impact of the news register with her.  For some reason, Meri's segments were extra moving to me. I can't even put my finger on it. I guess maybe because Meri rarely cries and is so stalwart seeing her so affected was moving.

Oh, Janelle. No words. The scenes were she is baking with her sister were so real and raw. 

Christine being barely able to get out the quote - also too much for me. 

On the one hand, I am glad that Robyn didn't do a 'grief off' vs the Browns. On the other, for someone who literally cries every, single episode and loses their shit over a porch moment, she seemed quite composed. Damned if she does, damned if she doesn't, I guess. But she really didn't bother me this episode.

The OG13, Kody and Robyn really hid Gare's drinking and depression. This was all news to me. Poor guy. Seeing Gabe was heart breaking, but you can see that he put his mental health first and did the work to be able to participate. 

I will say that when I heard about Garrison's suicide, I immediately thought of Kody saying last season in response not getting together with any of the OG13 kids for the holidays "that there would be other Christmases".  He took for granted that he had time. I admit that I haven't been keeping track of what Kody's current relationships are with the OG13 kids. If what I am reading here in these posts is true, I continue to be disgusted by him.  If he can't learn from such a tragic incident, then there is no hope for him and the OG13 OG12 are better off without him.

 

 

Edited May 5 by islandgal140

[goofygirl]

13 hours ago, whydoievencare said:

Everyone cried for him except Robin, who pretended to but couldn't actually manage to manufacture any tears for poor Garrison.  And Kody wonders what might have been (if he hadn't been such a totally horrendous father) while he's performing for the cameras.  

THIS!  I hesitated to even talk about this episode and Garrison's death because my husband committed suicide and it isn't something I often feel comfortable discussing.

We've seen Robbyn, even called her SOBbyn for all that wailing and caterwauling over the rocking chairs on the porch and watching all the grandkids OVER AND OVER AND OVER....

But yet, here's Garrison who took his own life and Sobbyn can BARELY ACT like she's squeezing out a tear or two.  It's SO WEIRD!!!  I wonder if she's still pissed off about the perceived slights Janelle and Christine's kids gave her.

Also, I DO wonder if the Douchecanoe is rilly thinking about what might have been and all his nasty comments towards Garrison and Gabe and their pencils  during Covid.

THAT was some hideous stuff that he spewed.

Finally, I hate that Gabe was the one to find his brother; that had to have been awful.  I'm glad he's been to counseling and hope he continues to go.  This takes a looooooooong time to get through, trust me.  I feel like as Janelle has runnoft to North Carolina, she can sort of skate on through to the other side with all the planning and work involved.  I think she needs some serious counseling, as well.

Edited May 5 by goofygirl

[Adiba]

This episode was brutal. I agree with much of the previous comments, especially about Robyn. She seemed sad,  but not broken up as the other two  “bonus” moms. 

[laurakaye]

1 hour ago, islandgal140 said:

For some reason, Meri's segments were extra moving to me. I can't even put my finger on it. I guess maybe because Meri rarely cries and is so stalwart seeing her so affected was moving.  

I felt the same, and I think it's because some of the Browns have turned Meri into such a pariah over these last several seasons, so her segments were proof that she was indeed a true member of this family and that she too loved all of those kids, not just her own.

So just because Kody decided to renege on any love he'd ever had for Meri, she clearly did not give up on everyone even if that's the story we were told by others - namely Kody and Robyn.

[islandgal140]

On 5/5/2025 at 1:19 PM, laurakaye said:

I felt the same, and I think it's because some of the Browns have turned Meri into such a pariah over these last several seasons, so her segments were proof that she was indeed a true member of this family and that she too loved all of those kids, not just her own.

So just because Kody decided to renege on any love he'd ever had for Meri, she clearly did not give up on everyone even if that's the story we were told by others - namely Kody and Robyn.

Yes! All this. Her and Gwen sobbing in each other's arms at Kody and Robyn's. Meri calling Janelle and saying I'm coming over to be with you.

Even though it is well documented and they both said out of their mouths, they bumped heads and will never be BFFs, they were/are still a family and are there for each other. I will never forget Janelle saying, when Meri divorced Kody and he married Robyn, that even though they don't get along, she trusts Meri to do right by the sister wives. Robyn, not so much. That to me said EVERYTHING! 

Edited May 6 by islandgal140
spelling

[Auntie Freeze]

I love that Meri grabbed food and went over to Janelle’s. That’s family whether they like each other or not. 

[JDAlexander]

I can’t for the life of me figure out why someone—anyone—can’t put a damn box of tissues next to these people during their talking heads! 

[General Days]

9 hours ago, ButterQueen said:

F you Kody and Robyn.  They learned nothing.  It made me sick hearing Kody saying he wanted to take his boy home.  So disrespectful after his behaviors.

 

I am trying to give Kody some grace.

The family (with the OG3 wives and maybe 10 or 11 of the oldest kids) all lived together in Wyoming, and I think they have really fond memories of it. After they moved to Lehi, the boys used to go back to spend some of their summer vacations working at Grandpa Winn's ranch. It was a special place for them. 

Janelle's mom, Sheryl, who married Winn before Janelle and Kody got married, is buried there. I suspect Janelle wanted Garrison's ashes there, too. And I'm pretty sure if she didn't, her living sons would never turn those ashes over to Kody. They'd smack him down.

 

5 hours ago, suzeecat said:

It did feel a little/lot weird that they started out with David climbing the fence and then Meri doing a ceremonial "changing of the tablecloth" - both such trivial and nonsensical scenarios - then, jump right into the reactions to Gabe's passing.  

I have heard that it's no longer appropriate to say someone "killed themself", rather it's more correct to say they "took their own life".  Something about taking the criminality aspect out of it.  

 

I agree with @ginger90. I think production's idea for framing the episode was to show how an unexpected death hits with this immediate force that affects everything. (And this idea echoed in Maddie's comment that having to call and inform siblings about Garrison's passing felt like an event that actually changed her brain chemistry.)

I can see how they came up with the framing. The production staff went through this, too. I don't mean to equate their grief with that of Janelle and the rest of the Browns, but production has known these kids since they were little. I'm sure it hit them.

They thought they were just going to be listen to Meri blab about the carriage house, and her birthday, and then everything changed. Suddenly they were faced with the knowledge that this young man, whom they'd known, watched, and worked with since he was an 11 or 12-year-old boy was gone in the blink of an eye. 

 

4 hours ago, VioletNevermind said:

(One positive note: I loved that the Flagstaff Humane Society acknowledged all that he did for animals with a plaque.  Any man who likes cats is a green flag all the way.)

 

That was lovely.

After Garrison's death, fans sent in donations in his honor. I think the animal charities were stunned by the response, and that's when they realized they should do something to recognize him. This article, dated nine days after his passing, had the amount at $13,000, and noted that donations were still coming in.

 

1 hour ago, islandgal140 said:

Even though it is well documented and they both said out of their mouths, they bumped heads and will never be BFFs, they were/are still a family and are there for each other. I will never forget Janelle saying, when Meri divorced Kody and he married Robyn, that even though they don't get allow, she trusts Meri to do right by the sister wives. Robyn, not so much. That to me said EVERYTHING! 

 

I think Meri and Janelle, even though they're quite different in some ways, are also probably the most similar in some ways, particularly values. I was glad to know Meri did that.

[Granny58]

3 hours ago, Adiba said:

This episode was brutal. I agree with much of the previous comments, especially about Robyn. She seemed sad,  but not broken up as the other two  “bonus” moms. 

I'm trying to err on the side of graciousness here.  She didn't know Garrison since he was a baby.  He must have been 13 - 16 when they became "family?"  Is that about right?  She may have been initially devastated, cried, shared in Kody's pain.  But it's been a while since it happened.   It's reasonable to assume she's not as emotionally invested in the older children.  

[OlderThanDirt]

Where is Gabe living now?

I was glad Janelle's sister asked about him. All the parents were so concerned with their own grief -which I believe is heartfelt for 4 of them.  But not only did Gabe lose his closest brother, he was sent to find him and had to call their parents.  I hope they are looking out for him but agreed not to put it on the show.  This was fairly tastefully done. But one can't help but wonder if there will be any follow-up to  the rumors that there was a break between Mykelti and Kody & Robyn over the memorial service.

[Calibabydolly]

This was sad to watch and TLC did what they could to relay the messages to us BUT I was appalled to read the caption under Kody, when he was 1st reacting to the death of his son: "Robyn's husband"! Are you kidding me???? They could not put: "Garrison's father"? I know Kody wasn't a dad to him, but he was his actual blood father.  I wonder who's idea that was. As if we don't remember the past

[ginger90]

17 minutes ago, Calibabydolly said:

BUT I was appalled to read the caption under Kody, when he was 1st reacting to the death of his son: "Robyn's husband"! Are you kidding me????

They’ve been identifying him like that since the splits.

[surfgirl]

3 hours ago, General Days said:

I am trying to give Kody some grace.

I'm not. He was horrible to his sons, absolutely gutwrenchingly awful. Saying things you never say about your own children. For that, and for the abandonment and righteous indignation that he served up to them, I have no grace to give him, not now, not ever.

2 hours ago, Granny58 said:

I'm trying to err on the side of graciousness here.  She didn't know Garrison since he was a baby.  He must have been 13 - 16 when they became "family?"  Is that about right?  She may have been initially devastated, cried, shared in Kody's pain.  But it's been a while since it happened.   It's reasonable to assume she's not as emotionally invested in the older children.  

She pretends she's 'all in' on plural marriage but she only ever wanted to be the Queen Bee and lord it over the rest of them, convincing her husband that her children - both with him and with another man - were more important that the children he had prior to knowing her. She ripped this family apart in the cruelest of ways, all while dabbing at her non-crying eyes, acting like she was the aggrieved one in the family. If she cared oh so much about ALL the children and felt they were all like her own, then why didn't she tell her husband to invite them over during Covid, or afterwards? I don't think a lack of tears belies her briefer relationship with the OG13, rather, it shows how little they meant, and continue to mean, to her. The saddest part is neither she nor her husband will ever 'get it' and his 13 OG children have lost a father as a result.

This show is so done, I wish someone would just pull the plug already.

Edited May 5 by surfgirl

[Denize]

TLC may as well call Kody "ex-husband of 3, ex-father of 13"

Edited May 6 by Denize

[toodywoody]

I'm still trying to get over the me, me, me that I heard from Kidney. The only reason Robyn wasn't making it about herself was that Kidney was making it all about him. 

Not once did he say what a fine young man his son was or how proud he was to have had s son like him. 

And then for him to now be estranged from all the OG kids, just says so much. 

What a piece of crap. 

I saw someone upthread ask where Gabe was living. Did he move to SC too?

[ginger90]

5 minutes ago, toodywoody said:

I saw someone upthread ask where Gabe was living. Did he move to SC too?

If you’re referring to where Janelle moved, it’s North Carolina. No, he moved to Vegas, I haven’t heard of any other move as of now.

[Denize]

Did Gabe move to Vegas? It is good that Logan & Michelle are there and his friends and familiar places from his highschool days.

Edited May 6 by Denize

[Absolom]

Gabe did adjust and seem to do well in Vegas so perhaps there are many happier memories there for him.

[General Days]

1 hour ago, surfgirl said:

I'm not. He was horrible to his sons, absolutely gutwrenchingly awful. Saying things you never say about your own children. For that, and for the abandonment and righteous indignation that he served up to them, I have no grace to give him, not now, not ever.

I was responding specifically to Kody wanting to take Garrison's ashes to Wyoming, which is why I then went on to discuss about that.

[mythoughtis]

If you go to the Janelle thread, you will see that @ginger90 shared a Thank you ( FB, Instagram?) post from Janelle about people’s response to the episode.  That tells me Janelle approved the episode.    Or least the parts involving her or her children. 

Edited May 6 by mythoughtis

[Meow Mix]

Wow, this was a tough watch.  My heart goes out to the OG wives and kids.  I really respect them for being willing to talk so frankly about Garrison's struggles rather than sweeping it under the rug.  Addiction and suicide are still so stigmatized.  Hopefully by their honesty and vulnerability, someone else was moved to take the help offered to them and stay a little longer.

Things I thought during this episode:

• I understood what they were going for with showing the fluffy stuff first then shifting tone.  That's often how life is.  You're going along and suddenly something unexpected happens that upends everything.  I've been there.  I definitely felt for Meri when she realized that something was very wrong when Kody texted her to pick up because it was an emergency.  You feel like the ground just dropped out from under you.
• Goodness, poor Janelle.  She is right that there will be good days and bad days and good minutes and bad minutes.  I am so glad she has support around her.  Say what you want about Meri, but grabbing some food and heading over there to be with Janelle shows that she is there when the chips are down.  I really like their relationship even though they are not friends.  They still get it done.
• Poor Gwen.  I hated that she had to ask permission to go over to her father's house for comfort upon realizing that the brother she was close to was gone.  Then all he would do was hold her hand.  Meri came in and gave her a big hug and let her cry as much as she needed to.  
• Gabe took me out.  Just seeing his face was enough.  It took a tremendous amount of strength to go on camera like that, but I think he really wanted to get that lovely tribute to Garrison out there.  I hope off camera he is getting the help he needs.  I don't need to know the gory details and I'm glad that when Janelle was talking to her sister, she only discussed him superficially.  
• I love how the siblings are all there for each other with this.  Maddie was trying to get Garrison to come to NC because she thought a change of scene might help him.  It looks like at least for a while Gabe was there and Janelle said Savanah was going to be there before starting school presumably at ECU.  I also appreciate that anyone who didn't want to be on camera wasn't forced to do so.  Maddie made simple statements, but I could tell she was working through her own grief as well.
• Christine trying to get the movie quote out was another hard thing to watch.  It makes me tear up every time someone repeats it, but it is so fitting for him.  You can tell the Meri and Christine both see Garrison as their child just like Janelle.  Meri could hardly speak during her interview.  That was genuine grief, not the fake performative stuff.
• Now to Kody.  I think things are most complex with him.  There is so much dysfunction there and it really is sad.  First, I am sure he had the idea that big boys don't cry pounded into him from a young age.  Second, he is still so self-focused that it takes him a very long time to get through all that to think about what Garrison must have been going through or what his surviving children are going through.  He's just not there and sadly doesn't seem to have ever gotten there.  Next there is his religion.  He has such a complicated relationship with his faith.  Sometimes he says it's all BS, then he's going on about God during his birthday discussion, then he's whispering AUB prayers while baptizing Aurora, then he's angry that the elders gave Meri a release.  I think he is struggling with the fact that Garrison died by suicide and that he was cremated.  I think that was what that uncomfortable statement was about wanting to take him home and put him in the ground.  Some religions are against cremation, but will allow it if the ashes are then buried.
• As for Robyn, I really try to give even her some grace, but she makes it impossible.  I understand that she lost a brother to suicide, so some of this may be her way of coping.  But she seemed so detached throughout this episode whereas in the past she would do that fake crying over every little thing.  Then when Kody was talking about thinking about what ifs she said something that came across as though she was saying Garrison was responsible and not Kody.  It just really rubbed me wrong.  
• Finally, TLC, you did such a great job all through this, then dropped the ball at the end.  While Kody was talking about burying his son, you plastered an overlay for 90 Day Fiance over two thirds of the screen complete with bouncing people in the corner.  Seriously?  I think people would have known that trashy show was coming up next without that.

[ButterQueen]

1 hour ago, Calibabydolly said:

This was sad to watch and TLC did what they could to relay the messages to us BUT I was appalled to read the caption under Kody, when he was 1st reacting to the death of his son: "Robyn's husband"! Are you kidding me???? They could not put: "Garrison's father"? I know Kody wasn't a dad to him, but he was his actual blood father.  I wonder who's idea that was. As if we don't remember the past

I had to rewind to make sure I read it correctly and then repeated my what the hell.  I just hate, hate, hate that Kody and Robyn got so much airtime.  We all heard the words come out of Kody’s mouth, with Robyn’s support, so they can just F off.  I’m not sure I could be as forgiving as Janelle and allow him at the memorial service.  He not only ignored his children, he trashed them on television.  

1 hour ago, toodywoody said:

I'm still trying to get over the me, me, me that I heard from Kidney. The only reason Robyn wasn't making it about herself was that Kidney was making it all about him. 

Not once did he say what a fine young man his son was or how proud he was to have had s son like him. 

And then for him to now be estranged from all the OG kids, just says so much. 

What a piece of crap. 

I saw someone upthread ask where Gabe was living. Did he move to SC too?

OMG, I was so angry and actually yelling at the television as he made it all ME ME ME.  No kind words about his son he lost, the son who discovered his brother or even Janelle.  It was all about him.  

[Liddy52]

28 minutes ago, ButterQueen said:

OMG, I was so angry and actually yelling at the television as he made it all ME ME ME.  No kind words about his son he lost, the son who discovered his brother or even Janelle.  It was all about him.  

In all fairness, and trust me I don't like to give Kody any grace, but is it possible that he got a bad edit?? Perhaps he did speak well of Garrison or Gabe or Janelle,  but the producer chose not to include that part of the interview.  I will admit too that it is possible that Kody was as self absorbed as he appeared.  

[precious pupp]

11 hours ago, VioletNevermind said:

This was a rough one.  I thought that the episode was as thoughtfully produced as possible, given the subject matter.  I have so many thoughts about the entire situation that have already been expressed by myself and so many others here.  We all know that Kody is a piece of sh*t father (and way before Covid) and his shy, pretty wife is a conniving, double-crossing harpy who pretty much single-handedly destroyed this family with her selfishness.  I will say this, though: I HATED that they gave him the last word at the end of the episode.  He did not deserve that.  That should have been reserved for either Janelle or Gabe and not one of Kody's self-indulgent word salads, with Robyn sitting there next to him, grimacing as if she's struggling not to cry.  

I'd love to say that Garrison's passing forced Kody to reevaluate his behavior/relationships with his OG kids, but we all know how that turned out.  Poor Garrison is truly free of his demons now, but it did not have to happen.  He was a sensitive, troubled young man who desperately needed a solid, committed father and he got stuck with a ramen-headed doofus who was all too happy to toss him and his brothers out like trash the moment that Robyn snapped her fingers.  I hate them both more than I should.

(One positive note: I loved that the Flagstaff Humane Society acknowledged all that he did for animals with a plaque.  Any man who likes cats is a green flag all the way.)

I totally agree.  I have a soft spot for sensitive men that appreciate cats, and I know Gare (as Gabe referred to him lovingly) is deeply missed and was very loved.  My relative that also took his life was such a gentle man that loved animals.  ❤️

[SemiCharmedLife]

I just assumed the show wouldn't address Garrison's passing, or perhaps have a tasteful memorial photo to announce it.  These interviews must have been excruciating to do, but I admire everyone who participated, especially Janelle, who was so open and vulnerable. As a viewer, I knew how heartbreaking this news was and expected the family to be private about it.  I appreciate the family being willing to share their pain and I hope others can benefit from their strength.

[General Days]

Thank you for that excellent, thoughtful post, @Meow Mix.

 

2 hours ago, Meow Mix said:

 

• Now to Kody.  ...   Next there is his religion.  He has such a complicated relationship with his faith.  Sometimes he says it's all BS, then he's going on about God during his birthday discussion, then he's whispering AUB prayers while baptizing Aurora, then he's angry that the elders gave Meri a release.

 

From different things he's said on the show, and on a podcast within the last couple of years, here's what I understand Kody's faith to be. He definitely believes in God. He is still retains a more or less Mormon worldview and believes that Joseph Smith was a prophet.

It's the AUB he is done with. I think the most personal reason boils down to the fact that he failed at polygamy, yet Kody cannot accept blame. If a thing doesn't work, Kody deeply needs that thing to be at fault. That's why he's pissed about Meri's release. He's pissed because they released her on the grounds of abandonment; he can't take that they found him to be (at least somewhat) at fault.

AUB baptisms are probably the same as the LDS baptisms. It's likely Kody said, "Aurora, having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." There's nothing specifically Mormon about what the LDS refer to as the "baptism ordinance." Most of non-Mormon Christianity baptizes "in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" (and in years past, English-speaking Christians said "Holy Ghost" rather than "Holy Spirit," and some still do). 

 

 

[Absolom]

I made it through.  It's so sad, but at least TLC didn't do a horrible job.  Kody though.  He's so egotistical and self-centered that talking about his son, it was still all I and me.  He only relates to the death as it affects him.  Not a kind word about Garrison to be found.  I guess the horse's rear end will never change. 

[RoxiP]

Robyn's eyes didn't even get red, much less produce tears.  What is she dabbing?

I think Meri must feel things very deeply.  Sometimes I think she is shown as being a peripheral character in the lives of Janelle's and Christine's children but it was obvious last night that she was deeply affected.  The way she turned her back to the camera when she realized what Kody was saying to her was the start of my tears - I honestly wasn't expecting it to be introduced like that.

Kody was me, me, me the whole show.  

The world lost a good guy.

[laurakaye]

Forgive my constant references to podcasts, but I listen to three SW recaps - it's like it is here, I like to discuss shows I watch with people who know the people and the backstories.  The Sister Wives Professor had a lovely take on Garrison.  He said that some people feel the world deeper, they feel the beauty of the world and of animals and other people's feelings deeper, which is a blessing and a curse, because feeling that deeply often causes pain, which can sometimes be too much - hence, self-medicating.

Given that Garrison loved to take pictures of the night sky, and travel, and adopt cats, and was the family jokester - trying to always lighten things up - it's clear that he was a deep feeler.  All of the Brown kids are amazing in their own ways.  It's too bad Kody was so blinded by Robyn that he missed really knowing these incredible people he helped bring into the world.  And it's beyond the pale that Robyn pushed for it to happen.

 

Edited May 6 by laurakaye

[waterytart]

Whew. I lost my 25-year-old daughter to murder in 2018 and I knew this was going to be rough so I waited till I had a minute alone in the house to watch. My heart goes out to that family and I hope that they are able to find some peace. I can't even imagine being in Kody's shoes. I'm not at all sure that he is capable of self-reflection or true empathy, but if I had pushed my child away like that I don't know that I would be able to live with myself. I was guilt stricken enough as it was, thinking about the fights we had and the missed opportunities for connection that I didn't take because I also thought I had all the time in the world. There was also a lot of love and laughter, but when you lose someone it's very hard not to focus on the what ifs.  I try now to live my life in such a way that I can look back without regrets. 

Spoiler

 

ETA I don't know how to get rid of the spoiler box.

Edited May 6 by waterytart

[BAForever]

1 hour ago, waterytart said:

 I'm not at all sure that he (Kody) is capable of self-reflection or true empathy, but if I had pushed my child away like that I don't know that I would be able to live with myself.

  Reveal spoiler

 

 

This times 1000 @waterytart. Whether it's Robyn's influence, his childhood experiences or a character flaw, I think that Kody is incapable of empathy and self-reflection. Interestingly enough, it seems like most of his sons are different. 

[RoxiP]

1 hour ago, waterytart said:

Whew. I lost my 25-year-old daughter to murder in 2018 and I knew this was going to be rough so I waited till I had a minute alone in the house to watch. My heart goes out to that family and I hope that they are able to find some peace. I can't even imagine being in Kody's shoes. I'm not at all sure that he is capable of self-reflection or true empathy, but if I had pushed my child away like that I don't know that I would be able to live with myself. I was guilt stricken enough as it was, thinking about the fights we had and the missed opportunities for connection that I didn't take because I also thought I had all the time in the world. There was also a lot of love and laughter, but when you lose someone it's very hard not to focus on the what ifs.  I try now to live my life in such a way that I can look back without regrets. 

  Reveal spoiler

 

ETA I don't know how to get rid of the spoiler box.

Thank you for sharing this deep loss and your perspective with us.

 

[Elizzikra]

4 hours ago, RoxiP said:

Robyn's eyes didn't even get red, much less produce tears.  What is she dabbing?

Sometimes during allergy season, I press on that part of my face to relieve sinus pressure. Perhaps that is what Robyn is doing under the guise of blotting tears?