S02.E01: Broken Family

[OnceSane]

In the Season premiere, Mary's shunning continues because she attended Andrew's wedding. Meanwhile, Abe and Rebecca feel disconnected from the Amish community; Jeremiah and Katie Ann try to obey the rules; and Kate tries out a new look.

[ghoulina]

I don't even know why I'm watching this show, I find it so offensive. I realize there is a debatable amount of "reality" in all reality TV, but given that the entire premise (innocent Amish kids encounter English life for the FIRST TIME in the big city!) was all a ruse, I just find myself wondering if they're putting me on with each and every scene. Is Mary really shunned? Is Chester really back in with the church???

 

I mean, look at Katie Ann (aka Mose!) and her red hair! That shit was dyed recently! 

 

If the family drama isn't entirely manufactured, then Chester can go take a flying leap. I can't respect anyone who would choose their church over their family. And, IMO, a decent church would never ask you to. 

 

And Andrew is in "jel". Is it the same one Amber Portwood went to? There can't be that many "jels" out there. 

 

I found it hilarious that not only is Rebecca's mystery daughter suddenly allowed to be filmed, but they're just calling her Abe's daughter and Mary's granddaughter with no fucks to give, as if that whole storyline and speculation about their past never happened. Okay. 

 

I'm probably a total bitch for thinking this, but I'm skeptical of Kate's horse-broken nose story. I mean, why is that EVERY.SINGLE.TIME someone wants a nose job it's because they have a "deviated septum" due to some horrible accident? Why can't anyone ever be like, "Hey, I hate my nose and I want to get it fixed". Meh. I could be wrong, if so, forgive me.

 

And where is Sabrina??? Really, her brand of crazy is why I watch, so yea....

Edited June 1, 2015 by ghoulina

[JocelynCavanaugh]

This show is painfully fake, and they're all terrible actors, especially Mary. But I will totally keep watching. I grew up somewhere between Amish Country and the Jersey Shore, so unfortunately I find both of these terrible "reality" genres fascinating.

[OhioMom]

This show is painfully fake, and they're all terrible actors, especially Mary. But I will totally keep watching. I grew up somewhere between Amish Country and the Jersey Shore, so unfortunately I find both of these terrible "reality" genres fascinating.

I agree they're bad actors. But some of them are definitely Amish. You can't fake that.

[JocelynCavanaugh]

I agree they're bad actors. But some of them are definitely Amish. You can't fake that.

 

I didn't mean to imply they're not Amish. They're just terrible at acting out all the fake set-ups the producers apparently come up with. 

[ethalfrida]

I can't stop[ watching it either. Jeremiah is so pitiful in a way. He has no one, wants to be a bad boy and then, again, a good boy who just needs someone. He makes me sad, actually. I am trying to figure out how it benefits model agencies to have Kate as a working model. If it wasn't for the show I think she wouldn't get the types of jobs she does because the industry is so physical looks driven. Could be wrong, though.

 

Abe is a wuss.

 

Rebecca.

I can see someone deeply religious forsaking his non-conforming family if he or she was "soul" driven. Not sure what they Bible says about that though. But I am not feeling his loyalty to his church. It just doesn't seem right that they embrace some things but banish others. I remember Oprah interviewing a group a while back and incest was horrible. The girls said they couldn't even go to the outhouse in peace because their brothers would follow them out there and actually make them have sex. That is the one thing I remember about that show. And they said the elders knew but did nothing. It's not that their religion is any worse than any other that looks the other way on sexual abuse but these people are so strict, like with the shunning and all.

 

Mary is amusing but seriously needs to lose the extra large tummy. 

Here is something I've thought about. They refer to everyone else as English. What is that all about? A total discount of all the cultures that make up this country, the same country they live in. So, to me, it means one must be White in order to matter. I know that is a simplistic conclusion but its all I have right now.

[truelovekiss]

Damn I hate this show so much.

*I actually liked Mary's bed and breakfast idea a lot. I went to the Amish Country a lot for weekend trips as a kid, and I think I would have enjoyed that kind of immersive experience. (Lol I was/am kind of a geek)

*Rebecca wasn't fhe absolute worst in this episode...give it time...

*Good for Kate getting her "deviated septum" fixed. Out of all of them, I have to highest hopes for her, and I think she will parlay her modeling into something else more sustainable.

*Poor Chapel.

Edited June 2, 2015 by truelovekiss

[Snarklepuss]

Here is something I've thought about. They refer to everyone else as English. What is that all about? A total discount of all the cultures that make up this country, the same country they live in. So, to me, it means one must be White in order to matter. I know that is a simplistic conclusion but its all I have right now.

 

I think it's probably an old term that came into existence at a time back in the 1700s when pretty much the only other ethnic/cultural group in the area was made up of people of English descent, and they just never stopped using it.  I'm pretty sure the Amish would want to distinguish themselves from the greater American culture they came to associate with the English.  To them it was probably seen as wicked and un-Godly.  It could also refer to people based on their primary language, given that theirs is not English.  I think the fact that they still use the term to mean anyone who is not of their culture shows how socially isolated they are, because it hasn't represented reality for a long time.  The scene last season in which Mary meets people of African American descent face to face for the first time was very telling.

 

That said, I only watched the rehash episode, not the new one yet (it's on my DVR), but I too can't seem to break away from this mess.  It's excruciating but fascinating to watch even if I suspect that a lot of it is fiction.

Edited June 2, 2015 by Snarklepuss

[kav]

Sabrina is not in it for personal reasons.  It is not something to joke about or be mean about.  If you want to know, google it.

[JocelynCavanaugh]

Since other commenter kept it vague and scoldy, here's a quote from Sabrina I found on a celeb gossip site:

"Bottom line is, I was raped by someone I trusted and I tried to destroy myself because I didn't love me anymore I thought it was my fault," she wrote. "I let it control my life and ruin my life and I tried to heal the pain with substance abuse. Some other things happened as well and I'm still learning and growing and I have a long way to go. Please don't ask any more questions and if you don't have nothing nice to say then don't bother saying anything at all. THAT'S the truth."

[ghoulina]

^^^

 

Thanks for the info. 

 

I didn't think anyone was really being mean about her absence. But we do snark on ALL of them, and having no knowledge of what was going on with Sabrina, I don't think anyone said anything out of line. 

 

What she describes is a horrible situation and I am very sorry she's had to go through that. I wish her the best. 

[riverblue22]

I am glad to see that Abe has an actual real job and his family seems to be doing fairly well.  I do feel bad for Chapel, but I don't think Andrew is going to be there for her.  He can't seem to get out of his rut (drugs? alcohol?)

 

Sabrina seems to be a very unstable person and life just seems to be spiraling downward for her.  I hope she has counseling.

[ghoulina]

I am glad to see that Abe has an actual real job

 

Yes! This. Thank you. 

 

I get so darn sick and tired of all these reality show "stars" who just rest on their earnings and don't consider the big picture. Plus, to be honest, it seems people are a lot more interesting when they have jobs/lives outside of the show and we're not just manufacturing crap like vacations and vow renewals every five minutes.

[gunderda]

So that means Sabrina won't be in this season at all? 

 

Every time Mary kept talking about wanting to get back with the church I just wanted to scream at her "THERE ARE OTHER CHURCHES YOU CAN JOIN!!!"

I would imagine Abe and Rebecca are likely involved in some type of congregation. Or if not, why can't Mary and them find a nice Lutheran church or something? 

[Thumper82003]

So that means Sabrina won't be in this season at all? 

 

Every time Mary kept talking about wanting to get back with the church I just wanted to scream at her "THERE ARE OTHER CHURCHES YOU CAN JOIN!!!"

I would imagine Abe and Rebecca are likely involved in some type of congregation. Or if not, why can't Mary and them find a nice Lutheran church or something?

Family & the Amish Church are so intertwined that I can see why Mary doesn't quit the Amish. I think there are other adult children not shown in the series.

The first man from a Breaking Amish type show had a documentary type series a few years ago. He explained the different churches among the Amish but the minute you quit, you were going to hell. He also explained how breaking away from family hurt. Those who left are really alone, with a high percentage with psych problems. Most were not allowed to read the Bible themselves, with the Bishops explaining their version of it. He also said that psych help was very discouraged.

If Mary were to join another church, she would be forever shunned from all family. At least now, she has a chance of being allowed back into the church, and back in the family.

Regarding Kate: I would doubt her deviated septum story until the doctor went on camera explaining why she had the procedure. He would not get on camera unless it was true. There may have been cosmetic reasons for it, but I believe the deviated septum repair story. That level of nasal obstruction can really interfere with breathing, especially during sleep.

[gunderda]

Family & the Amish Church are so intertwined that I can see why Mary doesn't quit the Amish. I think there are other adult children not shown in the series.

The first man from a Breaking Amish type show had a documentary type series a few years ago. He explained the different churches among the Amish but the minute you quit, you were going to hell. He also explained how breaking away from family hurt. Those who left are really alone, with a high percentage with psych problems. Most were not allowed to read the Bible themselves, with the Bishops explaining their version of it. He also said that psych help was very discouraged.

If Mary were to join another church, she would be forever shunned from all family. At least now, she has a chance of being allowed back into the church, and back in the family.

Regarding Kate: I would doubt her deviated septum story until the doctor went on camera explaining why she had the procedure. He would not get on camera unless it was true. There may have been cosmetic reasons for it, but I believe the deviated septum repair story. That level of nasal obstruction can really interfere with breathing, especially during sleep.

 

Family & the Amish Church are so intertwined that I can see why Mary doesn't quit the Amish. I think there are other adult children not shown in the series.

The first man from a Breaking Amish type show had a documentary type series a few years ago. He explained the different churches among the Amish but the minute you quit, you were going to hell. He also explained how breaking away from family hurt. Those who left are really alone, with a high percentage with psych problems. Most were not allowed to read the Bible themselves, with the Bishops explaining their version of it. He also said that psych help was very discouraged.

If Mary were to join another church, she would be forever shunned from all family. At least now, she has a chance of being allowed back into the church, and back in the family.

Regarding Kate: I would doubt her deviated septum story until the doctor went on camera explaining why she had the procedure. He would not get on camera unless it was true. There may have been cosmetic reasons for it, but I believe the deviated septum repair story. That level of nasal obstruction can really interfere with breathing, especially during sleep.

Oh I know and understand how they feel tied to the amish church - however, Mary says no one, not even God will come between her and her kids.  That's why I don't understand why she isn't considering any other religious options.  She's not apart of the church and never will be if she wants to see her kids. Her bond to the church is obviously not as strong as her husbands. And if she's shunned from the church that means she's not going to church, right? Or do they still let them worship with the congregation?

[truelovekiss]

Thank you for the information, JocelynCavanaugh. I had no idea about Sabrina, and I have nothing but sympathy for her. I hope she is getting counseling and is doing well. I did not mean to be insensitive or mean spirited in the least. I don't follow these guys outside of the show, so I had no idea that she wouldn't be back or what she had been through.

[truelovekiss]

I think I remember Abe having another sister named Ella? I read that the Amish average about 7 children per family, so I'm going to assume there are more and Katie Ann is just the youngest and only one at home. I also think I remember Chester and/or Mary saying they had Amish grandchildren.

As far as Kate's doctor goes, I've seen too many Kardashian doctor's appointments to fully trust any doctor, lawyer, therapist, etc that allows sessions to be filmed and put on tv. If she wanted to get a nose job, that's completely fine.

Abe and Rebecca do have some cute kids! Are we ever going to talk about the older one's father again, or is that just going to go away? I'm still saying she is either Abe's or Andrew's.

[JocelynCavanaugh]

Thank you for the information, JocelynCavanaugh. I had no idea about Sabrina, and I have nothing but sympathy for her. I hope she is getting counseling and is doing well. I did not mean to be insensitive or mean spirited in the least. I don't follow these guys outside of the show, so I had no idea that she wouldn't be back or what she had been through.

I didn't think anyone was mean-spirited. In fact it was way less snark than average for PTV! I assume that poster is someone close to Sabrina or at least feels they are.

[Thumper82003]

As far as Kate's doctor goes, I've seen too many Kardashian doctor's appointments to fully trust any doctor, lawyer, therapist, etc that allows sessions to be filmed and put on tv. If she wanted to get a nose job, that's completely fine.

Abe and Rebecca do have some cute kids! Are we ever going to talk about the older one's father again, or is that just going to go away? I'm still saying she is either Abe's or Andrew's.

I guess I'm biased as I have a deviated septum. It truly does interfer with breathing. I had a procedure to try to open it without the major surgery and it failed. I'm now on CPAP to get enough air in during sleep. Kate's procedure may have been cosmetic but I suspect more due to breathing difficulties.

Rebecca's oldest was with her grandparents during the first shows. Her Amish ex didn't have her. That tells me she's Abe's. However that's my guess, and at present she is with her mother and her father/stepfather. It is Rebecca's business, not ours. For the child's sake, it is better if she is just considered theirs. No matter whose child she is, she is loved.