S08.E05: Ben and Robin & Kevin

[FormerMod-a1]

Ailing couple, Ben and Robin's hoarding is so severe that EMTs can no longer access their home for emergencies.  Kevin is hiding a hoard of sexual paraphernalia in his home from his family by living in a hotel.  He must reveal his secrets and clean up his home with family if he wants to move back in.

 

 

[califred]

This should be interesting.

[FormerMod-a1]

I saw a preview with the sex toys.  Oy!  Back when Matt did his 5 Decisions Away podcast, he talked about finding this kind of thing in hoards, too.  Not that there's anything wrong with it, of course, but the people involved are usually super embarrassed.  But this guy must have gotten over the embarrassment if it's going to be on TV?

[Brooklynista]

Have we ever seen hoard helpers playing keep away with dead rats before? That was new for me. Interesting way to pass the time while the hoarders sort thru their urine soaked possessions.

Kevin's sister having a full on meltdown because Kevin liked a little strange in his life? Girl, bye. She's probably the type of wife that only gives it up on Wednesday and gets on top only on hubby's birthday. There's a whole lot of nasty out there girlfriend and some people love it. Get over yourself. Kevin had way bigger problems than the kind of kink he liked.

She should have been more concerned about why the older sister was hoarding eyebrows. I thought she had caterpillars crawling on her face.

Edited January 25, 2016 by Brooklynista

[Primetimer]

(...Sorry.) As Kevin's sisters make an oogy discovery, Dr. Pfeffer tries to give Ben and Robin's whole family therapy on Hoarders.

Read the story

[DasFlavorPup]

Yeah, sister dearest needed to get a damn grip.  It was a dildo and some wigs and accouterments, and he's clearly a lonely guy - freak out when there are books bound with hooker skins or there are liquefied animal corpses in the fridge.

Edited January 25, 2016 by DasFlavorPup

[Lightning]

I didn't see the previews for this, but in one of the first shots of Kevin's mess, there was a woman's white high-heeled shoe.  I thought maybe some long-ago girlfriend had left it, or it belonged to a sister.  Never guessed the truth until it was revealed during the clean-up.   From the looks of Kevin's lower legs, I'm surprised those sores haven't let in tons of bacteria leading to a full-blown case of sepsis or gangrene.  Those mounds of soaked pee-pads -- I would have been much more disgusted by those than any of his sex paraphernalia.   As for the son of Ben and Robin -- sitting out there on his fat ass while complaining about his sister only "caring about money".  Well, she seems to be the one willing to help out family -- she gave him some, and she offered to pay for her parents to get out of that hellhole.  Suddenly she's the bad guy.  What is the old saying -- "no good deed goes unpunished"?

[Gbb]

Yeah, sister dearest needed to get a damn grip. It was a dildo and some wigs and accouterments, and he's clearly a lonely guy - freak out when there are books bound with hooker skins or there are liquefied animal corpses in the fridge.

Seriously. And I thought Dorothy and Dr. Chabaud weren't helping matters either. Dorothy especially seemed to be tut tutting with a side of pot-stirring: "Oh dear, it's another sex toy. *gasp* It's S&M stuff guys."

Get over yourselves. He doesn't owe anyone an apology for his sexual proclivities as long as they don't involve kids, animals or lack of consent.

Edited January 25, 2016 by Gbb

[FormerMod-a1]

The one sister really was over the top with the histrionics, but I thought the other was fine.  She was surprised/shocked but got over it quickly and was more upset about not being warned than anything else.  Even knowing people are sexual beings, coming across hard core porn and sex toys unexpectedly can take you aback.  Especially when it's more than a few things.  

[Lightning]

Also especially when it's your brother. 

[AmandaN]

I was so bothered by this episode. The way Kevin's sisters reacted and treated him was horrible! But even worse, the professionals just tossed him into the fire. When Kevin first made an attempt to prevent the sisters from seeing his hidden secrets, the professionals forced him to allow his sisters to continue to do as they pleased, instead of doing as he asked and having someone else clean those specific spots. So the next day when the crew and everybody got there, of course Kevin didn't try and stop the sisters from going upstairs and cleaning his room. He knew he had no choice. My ass he "didn't protect his sisters"!The professionals didn't protect him and almost seemed to be just as against him for having a big sexual appetite as his sisters were. Seemed like all involved were trying to shame him for having sexual desires (as all men do!) That was terrible. The "professionals" could have ruined that man's life forever........and I thought they were there to help! Ridiculous!

[KittyS]

I kept waiting for Dr. Chabaud to say something therapeutic like, " I know it must be uncomfortable to see these things of your brother's, but there is a wide range of sexual proclivities out there and it's perfectly ok of your brother to have these private things." But no, she just let everyone go on about what a freak he is. Way to advocate for your client.

[Grommet]

I was very disappointed in Dr. Suzanne and Dorothy. I hope this was edited for drama and the compassion got left on the cutting room floor. Ken's family did seem to care about him and he seemed grateful. But shaming him for the sex toys was excessively exploitative, even for this show.

 

I think the goal for the elderly couple should be safety and minimal cleanliness. Nothing is going to change their baseline behavior. And brother Ted should fuck off.

Edited January 25, 2016 by Grommet

[Pepper Mostly]

Kevin's porn and props were just a little sad, to me. He's a lonely guy with a hoarded up house and congestive heart failure. His sister was insanely over the top. the ones who alarmed me were the West Virginia farm family. Robin was clearly living in some world of her own making! Dead behind the eyes. The poor daughter! I thought she was tremendously brave to be there and deal not only with her insane, checked out parents, but her nasty hateful brother. He was clearly struggling with his own issues, but he was, um, not sympathetic. He seemed to think that everyone had to take sides and he was the "good child" who sided with his parents. He was as bad as they were, in his way. I felt terrible for her--I hope she had a good stiff drink in a nice clean hotel room after that was all over!

[bren70]

Very disappointed with Dorothy and especially Dr. Chabaud.  I was shocked that a trained, experienced therapist like Dr. Chabaud would act like Kevin was a bad person just because he was into out-of-the-norm sex.  You're not supposed to be judgy when you're acting as someone's therapist.  And I mean even if she thinks being into that stuff means he has issues that need to be dealt with (not saying it does, just saying that even IF she thinks so), it doesn't mean he's a bad person.  And that's exactly how she was acting up in that bedroom when seeing the items.  I have met Dr. Chabaud in real life and always had a decent respect for her, but was very disappointed with her last night.  Dorothy too, but I wasn't as surprised by Dorothy.  Plus she's not a therapist.  

 

I felt very bad for Kevin with the way his entire family treated him throughout the episode.  I wonder if he has any old co-workers, neighbors, or friends that he could hang out with instead of his histrionic family.  

 

From the Ben/Robin story, holy hell.  How extremely rare is it to find someone that is willing to literally financially support someone else (including renting them an entire apartment!) -  family or otherwise?!  That is a LOT of money.  I get that they are her parents, but they weren't even nice to her AT ALL and acted like they didn't even like her!  I don't care what the parents and brother say.  Just the fact that the sister was willing to do that says something about her character.  And she had given the brother money the day before?!  When he treats her like that and talks about her like that?  Please.  I know it's hard, but she should cut ties with all of them and use her money for her own self.  I get that hoarding is a sickness and that it makes you defensive when it's time for people to help you clean out your hoard.  I get that there are always arguments here and there in these situations.  But they could not be nice to her for half a minute, let alone being grateful for her offer.  I understand them wanting to refuse the offer, but at least tell the girl thank you and act like she's your daughter, not a piece of trash from your hoard.      

[funky-rat]

I felt some sympathy for Kevin, but not much.  His sister's hand-wringing and histrionics makes me wonder what model swing and ball gag she has stored in her closet.  And the "You didn't protect them" crap?  He didn't want them in there.  And I'm sure the whispering that was done was to warn the therapist about what might be found.  And even still, if I knew I had a film crew coming, I'd be digging out what I didn't want to be found, hoard or not.  If I couldn't do it, I'd find a trusted friend to help.

 

Ben and Robin's daughter is screwed.  She's like my husband.  They're toxic, and she's suffered (and continues to suffer) the consequences.  My husband cut his mother off after years of therapists telling him to, only to get crap from other family members, telling him he should be ashamed of himself, abandoning his mother with all of her health problems, etc.  He'd been given the money line just as the daughter was (like we had any money - that's a laugh - yet they were always under the illusion that we were rolling in it).  The best thing for her is to let them languish in their home, since it was on TV that's what they want to do, and make a small effort on special occasions, and let the rest go.  Once the parents are gone, she shouldn't bother with her siblings anymore.  Sure, they'll trash her, but that will never change.  And it sounds like the heavyset brother (who fled the house as soon as he was able, just like his his sister did, so he didn't have a sunshine and roses existence either) lives in another state, so she should be fine.

[StatisticalOutlier]

 As for the son of Ben and Robin -- sitting out there on his fat ass while complaining about his sister only "caring about money". 

 

What is it with fat people and their canes?  Something about the way they sit always makes them look so imperious.

[Mojeaux]

ITA with everyone who said the show threw Kevin under the bus. He TRIED to tell them not to go certain places. Why didn't someone clue in this might be more embarrassing than trash bags full of used adult diapers?

[Lorna Mae]

The synopsis was misleading too, claiming that Kevin lived in a motel because his home was so full of porn. I was picturing stacks and stacks of XXX media and tubs of paraphernalia. What we saw was just not that severe. Plus, it may be that he didn't know the TV crew would be there until he was already off site, and he didn't have a porn buddy to sanitize the place for him.

And really, there have to have been other subjects, on this and the other show, who had some porn or paraphernalia. There must have been a vibrator or two uncovered by a cleanout crew. This is just the one case where they made it a focus of the episode.

ETA: In fact, there was a rerun I saw a week or two ago. Fuzzie and Fredd, husband-and-wife punk/goth/slackers: the ones Matt told they had enough hobbies and needed to get jobs. They were pretty kinky, with the mannequins and the birthing table. You could tell they were jonesing for reactions to the birthing table. Wish Kevin's sisters could have seen that.

Edited January 25, 2016 by Lorna Mae

[Empress1]

I kept waiting for Dr. Chabaud to say something therapeutic like, " I know it must be uncomfortable to see these things of your brother's, but there is a wide range of sexual proclivities out there and it's perfectly ok of your brother to have these private things." But no, she just let everyone go on about what a freak he is. Way to advocate for your client.

Yeah, that was really disappointing. Porn, sex toys, and women's clothing are really not a big deal. He's not hurting anyone by indulging in his kinks in the privacy of his own home. We all have sexual appetites, he's lonely, he found a way to fill his. I would be freaked out if I found anything sex-related of my brother's and he would be freaked out if he found anything of mine, but that's because we're siblings. We'd have the same reaction to finding any family member's sex stuff. The one who was gnashing her teeth and rending her garments all "WHAT THE HELL" and "How DARE you hurt us like this?" needed to calm waaaaaay down - it had actually, literally nothing to do with her. If they'd found child porn, yes, freak out and turn his ass in, but a little consenting adult S&M? So what?

And really, there have to have been other subjects, on this and the other show, who had some porn or paraphernalia. There must have been a vibrator or two uncovered by a cleanout crew. This is just the one case where they made it a focus of the episode.

Agreed. I'm sure it happens all the time. Vibrators are pretty mainstream, I think, as is porn. The internet has made it so that no one really needs to have a stash of dirty magazines or DVDs anymore, but people certainly do. I think the sister's reaction to it is what made it the focus of the episode though - if she'd just been like "Ew, that's my brother!" and threw it in a garbage bag, or reacted without comment, I don't think the show would have focused on it. 

[FormerMod-a1]

I got the impression there was more than we saw.  They brought 1 trash bag down of what they found in his room, but that had already found stuff in another room.  So it's not like it was a vibrator and a couple of magazines  That said, I never thought they were shaming him for it.  The were mad he didn't warn them they'd find it.  Yes, in the past he said he didn't want them cleaning up, but he never said why.  And that day he was all happy like "sure, go clean my room" and didn't give a "you might find some things you aren't expecting... I am a grown adult... hint hint" kind of thing.  Like the one sister said, she didn't care but to let them find out that way and with the cameras rolling.  That's not right.  I also didn't think Dr Chaboud was shocked at it or shaming him either.  I thought she was more shocked at the over the top reaction from that dramatic sister upon finding those things, so she just stood silent for a while to let her rant.  

[theajw]

The description for the episode was very misleading!  I'll admit that I'm a bit of conservative prude, but my God, the way that the sister was carrying on made me think they had discovered the brother was an unsub from Criminal Minds.  

 

About the old couple in West Virginia:  There was a showdown between the two siblings, but where was the third (Bill?), the one who had been helping them out before?  Did he disappear mid-episode?  Or did I not see him?

[AuntTora]

Fuzzie and Fredd, husband-and-wife punk/goth/slackers: the ones Matt told they had enough hobbies and needed to get jobs..

 

Ugh, those were in my top ten most hated hoarders. I remember one of their art pieces -- a bucket of used broken vibrators. I suppose I'm outing myself as a philistine, but calling something "art" doesn't make it art! Sometimes a bucket of used broken vibrators is just a bucket of used broken vibrators. Unless you macrame a flat rat in there, of course.

[Josette]

I also wondered why we didn't hear more from the other brother.  I kept waiting for his perspective on his sister.  Sounded like Ted was envious of his sister or suffering from an inferiority complex.   Sure, he took her money, but you know he resents that she has it to give to him. 

[briochetwist]

The description for the episode was very misleading!  I'll admit that I'm a bit of conservative prude, but my God, the way that the sister was carrying on made me think they had discovered the brother was an unsub from Criminal Minds.  

 

I had really lousy day and this made me laugh so hard. I totally agree with you, and thanks!

[BooksRule]

I recorded this episode and watched it tonight.  I don't know if it was because I had a bad day at work, but watching the younger sister totally lose it over Kevin's 'stash' gave me the giggles.  I did feel bad for him, though.  I agree with others that as long as it was within the law, he wasn't hurting anyone.

 

As for the jerk of a brother in the West Virginia segment, I thought he looked just like a big tomato, lounging under that tree.  I wish the sister luck.

[LittleIggy]

 

As for the jerk of a brother in the West Virginia segment, I thought he looked just like a big tomato, lounging under that tree.  I wish the sister luck.

He looked like an extra from Hee Haw with that stupid cap on. I liked when Dr. Pfeffer called him out on his shit. Of course, he wouldn't listen. Those parents were just hateful. They lied about the place not being hoarded before the kids moved out. It broke my heart to think of Amanda as a child trying to clean the place up then her hateful mother punishing her for it.

[goodbyeglittergirl]

I love Dorothy the organizer and Dr. Chabaud, and I think they both blew it this episode. Their inability to remain professional and separate about the "discovery" was ridiculous. Unless there was something monstrous we didn't see (kiddie porn, etc), what we did see what nothing to get all whipped up about. I am hoping (b/c I have always liked them both) that maybe the two of them did eventually behave correctly and that footage was just left on the editing table. But it was disappointing to see their reaction to this fellow's sexual preferences. 

[terrymct]

Kevin's sister having a full on meltdown because Kevin liked a little strange in his life? 

 

 

I figured it was the final straw that broke her composure, the image of her obese brother lying amid piles of trash in a garter belt and S&M gear using his toys.  Most of the families on these shows have the point where they finally break and let loose a flood of emotions.   

 

Kevin really could have gotten rid of those things if they embarrassed him.  He knew the TV cameras were coming and that his stash would be found.  I was wondering if he didn't get off a bit on the embarrassment and deep down enjoyed shocking his sisters.

As for the jerk of a brother in the West Virginia segment, I thought he looked just like a big tomato, lounging under that tree.  I wish the sister luck.

 

She's the only sane one in the bunch.  Imagine if she lived far away and that brother was the one living near Mom.  Holy moley.

[auntjess]

 

Kevin really could have gotten rid of those things if they embarrassed him.  He knew the TV cameras were coming and that his stash would be found.  I was wondering if he didn't get off a bit on the embarrassment and deep down enjoyed shocking his sisters.

Well he knew the things were there, but wasn't he staying at a hotel, since coming out of the hospital?

I wasn't sure if he was able to get upstairs after that.

The person I thought should have been shamed was Robin.  Yes, she's a sick old lady now, but she was trying to say the house got bad only after her stroke, but the kids said they had live in when it was bad, and the one brother talked about having breathing problems from the mold.

[notyrmomma]

Well he knew the things were there, but wasn't he staying at a hotel, since coming out of the hospital?

I wasn't sure if he was able to get upstairs after that.

The person I thought should have been shamed was Robin.  Yes, she's a sick old lady now, but she was trying to say the house got bad only after her stroke, but the kids said they had live in when it was bad, and the one brother talked about having breathing problems from the mold.

First, add me to the crowed that was yelling "so fucking what" at the TV when everyone was getting their panties in a bunch over the porn and etc.  Now if they would have found kiddie porn or a dead prostitute, then well OK, get upset.  Robin was a piece of work! They showed childhood pictures of the kids where you can see the hoard in the background.  I also don't know what was the deal with that tomato-esque brother.  He tried to make it seem like he was such the good guy because he "cared" about what made mom and dad happy.  Please!  How happy are they going to be when they die in that garbage heap?  I bet the tomato is a hoarder himself.

[operalover]

well I had to rewind it to make sure I saw what I thought I saw. And yes as they started to go through the living room downstairs he said "i am embarrassed and there are things in here I don't want my mom and sisters to see". Then he said "drop your garbage bags and LEAVE!" then he said it again "I have things here i do not want you to see, I am not comfortable with you going through this particular things I have here- get out please!" so he told them to get out.  Apparently the next day they went upstairs and found more porn and then they all read him the riot act for not "warning" them and allowing them to go in there. BUT HE DID TELL THEM! It's on tape for godsakes. Clear as a bell. They ignored his warnings and wishes so he said Fine, then you won't listen to me and you don't care so keep sorting and too fucking bad ....why was this his fault?

[FormerMod-a1]

No - he told them to go ahead and clean out his bedroom.  He did not warn them about it at all.

[Jordan27]

Have we ever seen hoard helpers playing keep away with dead rats before? That was new for me. Interesting way to pass the time while the hoarders sort thru their urine soaked possessions.

Kevin's sister having a full on meltdown because Kevin liked a little strange in his life? Girl, bye. She's probably the type of wife that only gives it up on Wednesday and gets on top only on hubby's birthday. There's a whole lot of nasty out there girlfriend and some people love it. Get over yourself. Kevin had way bigger problems than the kind of kink he liked.

She should have been more concerned about why the older sister was hoarding eyebrows. I thought she had caterpillars crawling on her face.

A little strange??!?!?..hardcore porn, sex toys, wigs, and women's under garments is not a little strange.   There is a lot of creepiness out there, but that doesn't make it right or normal. 

 

And the point the sisters were making is why didn't he tell them before they found it.  Most people would be shocked.

Edited January 31, 2016 by Jordan27

[Brooklynista]

A little strange??!?!?..hardcore porn, sex toys, wigs, and women's under garments is not a little strange.   There is a lot of creepiness out there, but that doesn't make it right or normal. 

 

And the point the sisters were making is why didn't he tell them before they found it.  Most people would be shocked.

 

 

 

 

Just cause we aren't into it doesn't make it wrong either.  His sisters went too far in shaming the man for something out of their comfort level.

[operalover]

No - he told them to go ahead and clean out his bedroom.  He did not warn them about it at all.

Yeah because when he BEGGED them not to clean out the living room they would not listen to him. He had porn in there too. He told them to stop and leave their bags and to get out--- and no one listened they ignored him. Then when they went to do the bedroom he didn't bother to ask them not to as they ignored him already! He already saw they did what they want with no regards to what he was saying so why bother. At that point they had already found a lot of porn. They were hellbent on cleaning it all up and we not going to listen if he told them to stay out of there. I dont blame him. Yet then its all his fault?

[Mu Shu]

I was so bothered by this episode. The way Kevin's sisters reacted and treated him was horrible! But even worse, the professionals just tossed him into the fire. When Kevin first made an attempt to prevent the sisters from seeing his hidden secrets, the professionals forced him to allow his sisters to continue to do as they pleased, instead of doing as he asked and having someone else clean those specific spots. So the next day when the crew and everybody got there, of course Kevin didn't try and stop the sisters from going upstairs and cleaning his room. He knew he had no choice. My ass he "didn't protect his sisters"!The professionals didn't protect him and almost seemed to be just as against him for having a big sexual appetite as his sisters were. Seemed like all involved were trying to shame him for having sexual desires (as all men do!) That was terrible. The "professionals" could have ruined that man's life forever........and I thought they were there to help! Ridiculous!

That really sucked. Plus, he probably found the porn and pee pads they already found to be more embarrassing.

No Eugene Levy, you did not "find S/M". You found fetish paraphernalia. Dorothy should have dive into the hoard and found a strand of pearls for them all to clutch. Shit, that hood was just some cheap Lycra thing you get from your local adult store. If I was told there was something "shocking" and just found a cheap wig and some garter belts, I would be relieved. They didn't have to shame his on TV for something as pedestrian as cross dressing.

Speaking of shaming, why was an elderly, partially disabled man called out for having a pair of dirty draws on the floor? Did they really have to be shown in a close up? Shit, I have a pair of underwear on the bathroom floor as we speak from yesterday. They're not crusty though.

Kevin's mobility issues are just going to get worse. What his family really should focus on is dropping 5k into new carpet, paint, and sprucing up the kitchen and bathroom and selling the place. He will never be able to use the upstairs again, and the profit he makes (assuming it's paid off since he's been there at least 26 years) should get him a modest single level studio where he can get daily assistance. Poor guy, I hope if he's not really successful that he believes he is.

Edited February 4, 2016 by Mu Shu

[funky-rat]

Kevin's mobility issues are just going to get worse. What his family really should focus on is dropping 5k into new carpet, paint, and sprucing up the kitchen and bathroom and selling the place. He will never be able to use the upstairs again, and the profit he makes (assuming it's paid off since he's been there at least 26 years) should get him a modest single level studio where he can get daily assistance. Poor guy, I hope if he's not really successful that he believes he is.

I don't recall the stairway off the top of my head, but I wonder if a stair lift would work for him.  If he's the only one living there, it wouldn't be so bad that the lift would take up most of the stairwell.

[Mu Shu]

A chair lift would probably work. I'm assuming that the ground floor only has a half bath. How does he bathe?

I really think they had a lot of nerve shaming both male hoarders this episode. Never mind that Kevin was one of the nicer and more cooperative that's been on the show. Fuck that noise Kevin. Let your freak flag fly.

They made it seem like the worst thing was the women's clothing and wig. He didn't kill any animals, or force children and sick spouses to live in filth. I hope he got to keep his gear.

[halkatla]

I´m the biggest prude and I´d never watch porn and I´d probably die if I found a family members stash of "stuff" but I´m also kind, and aware enough to never attack someone like the sisters did Kevin. They shamed him when he´s already down. I could have understood if they were shocked and embarrassed but the way they reacted, after basically making it clear the day before that no warnings would deter them from going up there. It was embarrassing to watch but also nice to see that they really did care about him. They were probably just totally naive and didn´t know how to deal with stuff like this. The professionals should have gotten the situation under control, they showed an appalling lack of professionalism, (judging by what was shown).

 

I felt so bad for Amanda, sometimes I just hate the hoarders, how soulless and cruel they come across. Her parents (at least the mother) were really bad, as was one woman on an older episode, she basically said she loved a pebble more than her family. I know they are sick but I just don´t have compassion for something so far out.

Edited February 8, 2016 by halkatla

[Andyourlittledog2]

The only way that level of histrionics would have been appropriate was if they had discovered that Kevin was masturbating to pictures of her. 

 

I have never been more angry at 'professionals' on a TV show than I was during this episode. They took a man at his lowest, exposed something personal that was clearly not meant to be broadcast to anyone much less the nation, and treated him like he was some horrible pervert in the process.  'Oh, it's sooooo much worse!!!  There are garter belts!'  That damn hoarding 'expert'. She fed into the sisters hysteria and cosigned their 'horror' at discovering their brother has a sex life only slightly less than vanilla. Women in their damn fifties, acting like fifteen year old girls who found their daddy's stash or something. Just sickening. 

 

I hope Kevin reads comments like this, and can take some comfort in the knowledge that not everyone thinks like his sisters and that damn 'professional'.  

[Mu Shu]

I still don't see what was so awful and shocking about the fetish gear. I also don't see how he "failed to protect them". They already found what they considered "hard core" visual porn downstairs, and he warned them that there were more things upstairs. Actually, if the visual porn was sadistic or illegal, I would think finding a couple of garter belts to be a respite and relief.

[OSM Mom]

Because he wasn't strictly into wasp missionary position only with the lights out sex. Those women were prudes of the highest magnitude.

[Mu Shu]

I'm not even sure Kevin is a hoarder. It didn't seem like he was attached to his stuff. It seemed more like his mobility issues and likely depression created the mess. He probably just needs treatment for depression and a home health aide. Since he wasn't a traditional jerky hoarder, it seems they used his predictions to amp drama. I actually think he may have been the most emotionally and mentally stable person featured on the show.

Hopefully he has found decent people to socialize with. Those idiot sisters can pound sand.

[lh25]

When Kevin first made an attempt to prevent the sisters from seeing his hidden secrets, the professionals forced him to allow his sisters to continue to do as they pleased, instead of doing as he asked and having someone else clean those specific spots. So the next day when the crew and everybody got there, of course Kevin didn't try and stop the sisters from going upstairs and cleaning his room. He knew he had no choice. My ass he "didn't protect his sisters"!

 

 

I totally agree with this, and other comments along these lines.

 

He tried very hard to keep them out of some areas.  They weren't having it, so I don't blame him for just letting them go to it.  And really, it wasn't that shocking.  Granted, I don't want to know a thing about my brother's sex life, but I hope he has one!

[Becks]

The only way that level of histrionics would have been appropriate was if they had discovered that Kevin was masturbating to pictures of her. 

 

I have never been more angry at 'professionals' on a TV show than I was during this episode. They took a man at his lowest, exposed something personal that was clearly not meant to be broadcast to anyone much less the nation, and treated him like he was some horrible pervert in the process.  'Oh, it's sooooo much worse!!!  There are garter belts!'  That damn hoarding 'expert'. She fed into the sisters hysteria and cosigned their 'horror' at discovering their brother has a sex life only slightly less than vanilla. Women in their damn fifties, acting like fifteen year old girls who found their daddy's stash or something. Just sickening.

 

Word, word, word. I'm behind in the episodes and just watched this one - I'm glad to see so many people calling out the sexual shaming of this guy by the show. We've seen so much horror throughout the entire run of this series - countless animals tortured to death slowly, a whole gamut of child neglect/abuse, elderly abuse - with fairly mild reactions from the doctors/organizers/crew members (see the non-reportage of Peggy's animal abuse this season). Yet Kevin's porn and toy stash is what got Dorothy and Dr. Chabaud up in arms and behaving with CRAZY unprofessionalism? WTF. He killed no one. He harmed no one. It's not illegal. I was pretty disgusted with both of them. The pearl-clutching fainting-couch sisters with their telenovela-type histrionics reacted how they reacted, but Dr. Chabaud and Dorothy know better, dang it. In that situation they both should have been trying to diffuse things, and instead they piled on.

 

Shame on whichever producer decided that placing so much emphasis on this aspect of Kevin's cleanup was the way to go.

Edited February 22, 2016 by Becks

[Mojeaux]

I was watching last week’s episode yesterday morning, and Dorothy introduced herself. I said, “Dorothy, I’m still mad at you from last episode.” Mr Mojeaux gave me the side-eye.

[Tosia]

A chair lift would probably work. I'm assuming that the ground floor only has a half bath. How does he bathe?

I really think they had a lot of nerve shaming both male hoarders this episode. Never mind that Kevin was one of the nicer and more cooperative that's been on the show. Fuck that noise Kevin. Let your freak flag fly.

They made it seem like the worst thing was the women's clothing and wig. He didn't kill any animals, or force children and sick spouses to live in filth. I hope he got to keep his gear.

Lol, Mu Shu! Eugene Levy! My advice for her was to lighten her brows, and advice for the other sister was to lighten the fuck up! Jeebus. I was wondering if she was religious or something like that for her to melt down. No big deal...even from a brother. ...the guy lived alone.

My mom and aunt cleaned out my single, alcoholic uncle's apartment when he was hospitalized. I wish they were alive today to ask if they found any freaky shit. They would have had a good laugh about it.

Edited March 7, 2016 by Tosia

[robroy]

I saw this episode last night and have to admit- the reactions those broads had gives me life. I think we underestimate just how 'vanilla' some people are and just how in denial certain families can be about one another's orientations or proclivities. They did seem like a nice family in the end and I imagine trying to please a 'nice' family while being who you are is much more difficult than simply cutting ties from assholes.

Upon further thought- I think most of you are correct. There should have been a professional lead who simply state 'these appear to be personal items, go clean in in area X while I discuss them with Kevin.  But there is a part of my dead, cold soul that wishes they had cataloged his shit item b item for the reaction shots. Anal beads, we found anal beads... and flavored lube... I truly think minds were being blown in that scene.

[aliya]

On 1/25/2016 at 8:09 AM, bren70 said:

 I get that they are her parents, but they weren't even nice to her AT ALL and acted like they didn't even like her!  I don't care what the parents and brother say.  Just the fact that the sister was willing to do that says something about her character.  ...  But they could not be nice to her for half a minute, let alone being grateful for her offer.  I understand them wanting to refuse the offer, but at least tell the girl thank you and act like she's your daughter, not a piece of trash from your hoard.      

I know I'm posting a few years after the fact, but these shows are on amazon prime now and I just finished watching this episode (after watching a few others). I must have missed this one the first time around. Watching the families on this show, I swear I don't understand why they cry, "You're my mom...." Really? What did mom do for you? When you've got a grown daughter with PTSD from growing up in the hoard, I don't think there was a lot of mothering going on, but darned if these adult children don't cry and moan about their hoarder parents. Some of them have cleaned up multiple times, only to have the parent hoard again. At some point, you have to cut your losses and walk away. I always enjoyed the show, but I wonder now if so much focus is on the hoarder, that none of the therapists ever say, "You done your duty. Go take a cruise and forget this POS."