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New Season: Meri, Meri and More Meri


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This show has gotten so BORING. It feels like they're rehashing the same damn thing every season. The only reason I'm still watching is because I'm homesick for Flagstaff and I love seeing all the local shots.

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42 minutes ago, indianabones said:

This show has gotten so BORING. It feels like they're rehashing the same damn thing every season. The only reason I'm still watching is because I'm homesick for Flagstaff and I love seeing all the local shots.

I agree... The only reason I love watching the show is because it is like a car accident, you can’t help watching. The other reason is watching the kids grow up so bloody normal despite their parents. They are working, and having normal lives... all of them!!! ??‍♀️??‍♀️

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Season 15 Episode 2 Felons No More

STH- Solo Talking Head (solo interview)

SLC- Salt Lake City

There were no children in this episode, only the Brown adults (Kody, Meri, Janelle, Christine, Robyn) and the Darger adults (Joe, Alina, Vicky and Val).

Kody, Meri, Robyn, and Janelle meet at Meri’s house with Christine on speakerphone to organize a trip to visit the Dargers in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Darger family has been politically active in attempting to decriminalize polygamy in Utah.

Janelle STH (solo talking head) has not heard from anyone since their big lunch last episode. Review footage of the move to Las Vegas. After leaving Utah the Brown family sued Utah and won their lawsuit, for a year polygamy was decriminalized. Kody in a STH the state appealed, overturned the law, and doubled down with new law HB 99 which made bigamy a third-degree felony. Janelle STH new bill SB 102 in Utah Senate reclassifies bigamy to an infraction.

Christine is on speakerphone because she is working in Phoenix (type of work not discussed). Christine in a STH thinks Kody is complicating things by driving to UT to discuss the new bill SB 102, and she feels it could be done via a video conference. Christine also said it was a spontaneous road trip. (Flagstaff to Salt Lake City is 500 miles, 8 hour drive.) Janelle tells Kody, Meri, Robyn and Christine (on speaker phone) in the news she saw they are making the point they are keeping fraud and child marriage illegal and separate those who are living polygamy as consenting adults. Robyn in a STH said she has family in Utah that live plural marriage, and the new law could be a blessing for them. Kody says leave consenting adults alone, don’t legislate bedrooms or sexuality. Kody in a STH says trying to legislate consenting adults in the bedroom is naïve. Robyn said the concern is about child brides, and it is a real concern. Robyn in a STH said some lawmakers think by decriminalizing it will become a free for all when in reality with the current laws some moms are afraid to come forward if their daughter is being abused because she fears the child will be taken away.

Kody tells the group this discussion makes him thankful they didn’t move to St. George. Janelle says halleluiah, thank you. Meri says so we get to say I told you so. Flashback to when Kody tried to convince the wives to move to St. George (while still living in Vegas, before Flagstaff). Kody asks the crowd would they be ok with Utah now if bigamy was decriminalized. Robyn is about to jump out of her seat and says are you really asking that? Robyn in a STH said she is going to ignore that comment, Flagstaff is home. Kody says to the crowd wouldn’t it be cool? Christine in a STH said she would say yes to Utah, says Flagstaff hasn’t been good for the family. Christine feels Utah is home. Janelle STH she’s flourishing in Flagstaff, said the family can deed her all the land if they go to Utah. Kody to crowd he’s not saying he wants to move there.  

Kody asks if they want to travel together to SLC. Kody in a STH said not traveling together bugs him and shows they are fundamentally not comfortable with one another. Kody said his wives will deny it, but if they were comfortable doing things together, they would do it more often. The vehicle proposed has two seats in front, three seats in the middle, Kody says it will be tight. Robyn in a STH said traveling together could be fun or tense and stressful. Meri in a STH said if you don’t put effort into a relationship it fizzles out and she’s seen that happening in Flagstaff. Packing up the vehicle, only have Kody, Christine, and Robyn and their luggage at this point, and Christine says based on the luggage they need two vehicles. Christine in a STH said Kody said to pack light, but he didn’t pack light. Kody in a STH said don’t start the two car conversation, in a whiny mocking voice says autonomy, and I don’t want to sit by her all day. The vehicle says check tire pressure, Christine said it does that every cold morning. They arrive at Meri’s house, Kody said the tire is flat, he needs to go to the dealership. Christine in a STH said she drove to Phoenix yesterday in this car, it didn’t have a flat at her house, how could they have a flat now? Christine doesn’t think the tire will be a quick fix, and suggests another car, Kody said it’ll take 20 minutes to get the tire fixed. Bicker about the cars, going to the tire store. Kody goes into Meri’s house hollering for her all over the house. Meri in a STH said she ran to the restroom when she saw the car pull up. Meri offers her car saying it is just as big, and Kody said he needs a big engine that will pull them up the mountain. Meri in a STH said she wishes she had flown.

 They arrive to pick up Janelle, and she asks if her luggage will fit. Kody tells them not to micromanage him. Kody physically forces the trunk door down (it appears to be an automatic closing, one he’s physically forcing) and Christine said don’t hurt my car. Christine in the car says they should call Nancy (their family therapist). Meri suggests they pick up Nancy, and Robyn says she doesn’t know where Nancy would fit, and Meri said Nancy could ride in her lap. At the tire shop it is discovered there is a nail in the tire, the tire isn’t repairable, needs replaced and they don’t have that size tire in stock. Kody says Robyn suggested her minivan, that the van has more room than the current vehicle. Robyn in a STH said Kody thinks the minivan is uncool. Kody in STH said it is clear we don’t like being together, the five of them. Kody tells Christine they aren’t taking two vehicles, Christine says ok, we can just call Joe Darger, put it on speakerphone. Kody in a STH said the phone is different than in person, next time Christine wants him to come over he’ll just call her, how does that sound? Christine in a STH said Robyn can sit in the front seat and deal with grumpy Kody, that’s a polygamy perk. Janelle in a STH said driving into Utah her fear is they’ll get pulled over for a driving violation and the polygamy charge will get tacked on. Janelle said that’s how it works, they get you for something else then add the polygamy charge. Robyn in a STH said going to a place where your family is illegal feels oppressive and makes her worry.

Janelle in a STH said they arrived in SLC at 11pm, despite Kody’s misgivings the van did great, and had some good conversations. Joe Darger is married to Alina, Vicky and Val. Vicky and Val are sisters. Val was married to someone else, got a divorce and several years after Alina and Vicky had married Joe, Val joined the family. Christine in a STH said it is normal in her community for a girl and her girlfriends to want to marry that same guy, normal thing for sisters wanting to marry the same guy. Janelle in a STH said it is not uncommon for sisters to end up in the same family unit. The Darger family has nine kids still at home, the baby is six. The Dargers adults plus Browns adults (nine total) gather. Kody asks Joe is it time to grow up and stop having children, or can he have one more? Robyn tells Kody it isn’t passing a golf ball. Robyn in a STH said Kody is talking like he births the children. She said everyone knows the other wives are done having children, he’s talking about her in front of everyone. Kody in a STH said since he was small wondered what type of dad he would be, and how many kids would he have. He wonders could he have one more. Joe Darger the grandchildren is the reward. Vicky said the six-year-old wants a baby sister, so the six year old is trying to find Joe another wife to get a baby sister. Meri in a STH said she wishes Kody had more exposure to other polygamist, there is a camaraderie.

The Dargers have a gorgeous kitchen they renovated, and Joe said they renovated to accommodate the growing family, they wanted more open space. Janelle in a STH said the Dargers live under one roof, share a kitchen, and she said good for them for making it work. Joe is contemplating his final dream home, one central kitchen they’ll share, but each wife with her own apartment, and Joe wants his own bedroom. Christine in a STH said plural men never get alone time, plural women do, and she thinks plural men get jealous of the time plural women have to themselves. Joe is sick of three closets. Kody said he’ll never get that. Robyn in a STH said if she can deal with the jealousy and drama of plural marriage, Kody can deal with a few closets. Meri in a STH said the family has separated and interacts with individual families (monogamous families), not plural families, and she feels they are now reacting like individual families. Meri said there was a time when they pulled together and struggled together, now they are struggling independently of each other. Christine in a STH said she feels they could benefit from being with other polygamist. Christine said they’ve lived in the monogamist world for so long and its hard. Christine thinks maybe they should move back to Utah.

Alina Darger asks what the Browns are thinking when they build. Kody shared his one home idea with common area. Vicky said she loves it, and it is important for them (the Dargers) to have an area to gather the family. Kody in a STH said he’s not pitching he’s bitching, he has a sense the one home doesn’t work for his family. He claims he doesn’t know why that they all need to be honest about their relationships. Kody tells the crowd he grew up with the dogma of one family, one home. Christine says to grow as a celestial family. Kody said it’s not about growth for him, it’s about being able to see all his children daily. Christine in a STH said as a child she was taught living all together was the right way, but as an adult doesn’t agree with that. Christine’s family didn’t live together. Kody said after conversations with Christine he realized it was a dogma. Kody in a STH explains dogma is a religious perspective that has been created through tradition. He said as an example, not is his case if you are married to two women who don’t like each other living together is soul killing. He said in plural marriage you don’t want people enduring their fresh hell so they can get to heaven. Robyn tells crowd if we aren’t all united in the idea (one home) it doesn’t work. Kody tells crowd he and Christine have had a little struggle because it doesn’t work for her, and Christine said it wasn’t a little struggle. Christine in a STH said they are both heated about it, and haven’t had a logical conversation about one house, and how much she hates it. Val Darger says she’s lived together and lived apart and said there are pros and cons to both.

The four Dargers together (Joe, Alina, Vicky and Val) Vicky said she’s glad they live together and feels the benefits outweigh the challenges. She feels the more time they spend together the more compassion, understanding and caring they have for another then if they didn’t see each other as often. She wonders how often they would get together if they didn’t live together. Alina and Val said they have walked around each other not talking to each other, but when living together you must work it out at some point. Meri in a STH said if you aren’t together you don’t have to deal with it, and they don’t. Joe said he understands Kody’s perspective because the pros for him are great, and the cons seem petty to him, but that is selfish on his part. Christine in a STH said she hates this conversation because it is vulnerable, and that’s what living together is like, it’s too hard. Alina loves the interaction with all the kids, not just her biological kids. Robyn in a STH said it pricked her heart because she knows what it’s like to not have that, she is a step mom. Robyn said she wants and promotes the relationships, but it is a source of sadness for her. Janelle in a STH said her kids that grew up in one roof will go over to Christine’s, look in her fridge, they’re very comfortable there, and it’s not the same with Robyn.

Robyn tells the crowd she’s trying to make peace with what has been decided. Kody tells the crowd he has recently reflected, and he feels he has done a poor job because his family doesn’t want to live under one roof; it is a reflection on him how he’s managed his family, how he’s done things, he’s unraveling the past. Kody in a STH asks what happened in the past that made it so they couldn’t’ live in one home? What did he miss? What injustice did he allow? He hasn’t gotten to the real reason; he doesn’t know what happened. Joe Darger said don’t look at it as a failure, your family went through a crucible ten years ago when you got news of the investigation, and you had to leave. Joe said can you think of something more dramatically different than Salt Lake, your kids still love each other, you’re still a family, don’t’ minimize that. Joe Darger with just his wives feel the Browns lost their community when they moved and it’s an important factor for the Dargers. Kody in a STH said Joe is being kind saying they aren’t that dysfunctional, and Kody feels they aren’t as functional as he wishes they were.

The Brown and Darger adults sit down on chairs and couches. Kody said he has four puppet strings and each wife pulls a string. Christine said he has 25, Meri said she doesn’t ever ask Kody to do anything, crowd goes ohhh, Meri said he only had three puppet strings. Kody said Meri is still strumming that string, Robyn stands up physically between Kody and Meri (who are seated), and acts like she’s a wall. Robyn in a STH said she doesn’t want Kody and Meri to have an issue right here it is a deeper issue, she just wants them to get along. Kody asks Joe what the bill means, it amends the bigamy law. Joe said currently to call each other sister wives is a bigamy. Christine in a STH said polygamy in Utah is a felony, they are felons sitting with fellow felons (Dargers) and they could come in and arrest them. Christine said it’s up there with murder. Joe said instead of a felony it would be an infraction, like jaywalking ticket up to $700 fine and maybe some community service.

Janelle in a STH said in theory Kody could go to jail anywhere from 9-15 years because he has one legal wife and three sister wives, probation includes not seeing your children, not seeing your family, so you would be violated back to jail. Joe Darger said the bill passed the senate, but there are two houses, Senate and the house, so the work is far from done, and they don’t want to celebrate too early. Joe Darger said three years ago they lost by one vote. Joe said some powerful people against it made a compelling case they needed it to go after bad guys. Janelle in a STH said they could prosecute underage child marriage and welfare fraud separately, but they created this polygamy statue.

Alina said what has changed is people coming forward and telling their story how it has been harmful. They know a woman who needs urgent medical care, but she’s adamant she won’t fill out the paperwork because she was part of a plural family, and afraid she would be arrested. Alina said the story of being afraid to come forward out of fear of being arrested in more common now. Christine in a STH said these stories aren’t new, there are many things she didn’t do so people wouldn’t find out her dad was a polygamist. Christine said people don’t go to college because they couldn’t apply for scholarships, it is difficult to fill out the census. Christine said you can’t apply for any help, at all, ever. Kody tells the crowd Christine’s grandpa was the leader of their church in the 70s and he encouraged polygamist to be open so that they can be viewed as normal people with a small difference from others. Christine in a STH said when her grandfather came forward the law came after him, the family had to separate, and never got back together again. Christine said the timing wasn’t right then, but the timing is right now. Meri in a STH said she is cautiously hopeful, if it doesn’t happen this time it will, polygamist aren’t going away. The Darger adults, Alina said the Browns seemed stressed. Robyn in a STH said if they stayed in Utah the family could have been broken apart, they gave so much to stay a family, and she feels they lost sight of it. Robyn feels this bill makes the sacrifices worth it.

Next week discuss building on Coyote Pass, who gets what lot?

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I watch and backtalk Kody

The part that got me - and it was a tiny little bit.  But I believe he said it at least twice.  It was the we have to take this vehicle to get all these big people up mountains (or something to that effect).  And I sat there stuck on 'big people.'  Was he including himself in the big?  Or was he referencing the size of his four unhappy wives?  And they didn't need that vehicle to do the job.  The minivan did it. And what the hell with the whole flat tire run around pick everyone up then take care of it.  Dude - call them and go get the tire taken care of, then make a decision. 

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WOW!  Thank you, ifosterkittens!!!  What strikes me is that Christine is so open about not wanting one house for all.  She's polygamy royalty, still wants to live her faith.....but separately.  Something is definitely going on with her.

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1 hour ago, gustava said:

WOW!  Thank you, ifosterkittens!!!  What strikes me is that Christine is so open about not wanting one house for all.  She's polygamy royalty, still wants to live her faith.....but separately.  Something is definitely going on with her.

I think she’s having a huge crisis of faith...and isn’t sure what to do about it. She’s loved the role of “polygamist royalty” and always seemed like the polygamist expert early on (she was the one proud of being the third wife because third wives help solve problems between wives 1 & 2...and Janelle and Meri did seem to settle down after Christine showed up). What struck me was when Christine admitted last week that polygamy to her was ”lots of grandmas” and her dad had only had two wives...so her mom and one other wife. Whether they lived together or not is unclear, but having your mom be just one of two wives is waaaaaay different than being one of four. And her mom did leave the faith at one point, so maybe Christine is finally coming around to thinking maybe her mom made a decision that wasn’t wrong.

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I think the wives are just getting more comfortable with flat out saying what they think and to hell with Kody’s feelings. He is a lousy husband,father and spiritual leader and the women have had enough.

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3 hours ago, clueliss said:

I watch and backtalk Kody

The part that got me - and it was a tiny little bit.  But I believe he said it at least twice.  It was the we have to take this vehicle to get all these big people up mountains (or something to that effect).  And I sat there stuck on 'big people.'  Was he including himself in the big?  Or was he referencing the size of his four unhappy wives?  And they didn't need that vehicle to do the job.  The minivan did it. And what the hell with the whole flat tire run around pick everyone up then take care of it.  Dude - call them and go get the tire taken care of, then make a decision. 

I try to keep my personal opinions out of my recaps (clearly I'm not always successful), and this episode Kody was just pissing me off, so I wasn't clear what Kody was saying about a vehicle full of big people and needing an engine to haul them up a mountain, so I chose to err on the side of caution thinking maybe I was just annoyed by him and misinterpreted it. I deleted the episode so I can't go back to check. I don't know vehicles, so I didn't recognize what type of vehicle Christine drove (the first one that got the flat), but when Kody said they'd have two seats in the front and three in the middle I thought if you have three adults across one middle seat and luggage in the back that is a tight ride. Smaller kids is one thing, but three adults for an 8+ hour drive seems cramped when you have the option of the van. I noticed upon arriving at the Darger's home the road didn't appear to be paved, and I wondered if they live in an area that have steep roads that aren't paved, or aren't well maintained-- maybe that factored into the decision? 

In Kody's solo interviews he was going on and on about Christine saying let's take two separate vehicles and he made it out to be she didn't want to be trapped in the car with the other adults for the duration of the trip. I felt Christine was making valid points of the luggage barely fits, and we haven't picked up Meri or Janelle and their luggage yet. How they handled the tire was ridiculous. If you are that concerned about losing air why did you stop to pick up more people, and not go straight to the tire place? Christine pointed out it may not be a quick fix (maybe she knew the tire is an odd size and it wasn't easily replaced?), and she said let's just take another working vehicle. Kody was in a crummy mood, and I can see Christine thinking I don't want to be trapped in the car with him for 8 hours today and 8 hours tomorrow. Spending time with the sister wives didn't seem to be the problem. 

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Kody is a selfish, stupid asshole and Meri has nnever gotton over not having more kids, that's why their relationships don't work.

All the separate living seems to make the idea of plural marriage pointless. The women all might as well be single.

I also wonder what they expect to happen when theg get old. Kody won't be able to go from house to house when he's 70.

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Kody always seems so annoyed, frustrated, and unhappy in all of his talking heads. And he's sooo condescending- no one seems happy in that family. I don't blame the wives for it, having to be married to him.

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They all seem so unhappy.  If the wives wanted to get together on a regular basis, then they would make it happen.  The fact that they barely stay in contact speaks volumes.  They've managed to make polygamy even less appealing than it already was.

For people who talk about money problems, they like to spend on nice things.  Most of them have large houses that they currently own and/or are renting.  If I were Meri, I would look for a small cozy apartment or house.  In addition to costing more, a large house just means that there is more to clean, more money being spent to heat/cool, etc.  And Christine's car looked like a large Infiniti SUV, which is a luxury brand.  She needs a large vehicle for her large family, but if they were really worried about money, it seems like a different brand would be more cost-effective.  I realize that everyone makes their own decisions and has their own priorities, but it seems contradictory that they complain about money when they seem to only buy/rent nicer items.

During the show, it was mentioned that Christine was in Phoenix on business.  When I googled her, I could only find references to LuLaRoe and a company that she formed to raise money for her daughter's surgery, but I didn't see any reference to what that company actually does.

 

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I think what irritates me is that they talk as if the viewers can’t see through their bullshit. We can see their animosity towards each other, their false smiles and when they’re pushing what is obviously a producer driven story.

If they wanted to get together they would. Even in pre COVID times they weren’t having dinner together on a regular basis. They keep pushing the theory that “monogamists” just don’t understand them but I think we understand them all too well. They don’t like or respect each other.

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Finally watched the episode...

-Kody...wow...he’s always been a mess, self-absorbed, and all over the place, but in this episode he was just plain mean, rude, and condescending to his wives. It made me wonder if something happened off camera before they started filming (maybe an even bigger fight with Christine), and he wasn’t over it yet. But some of those things he said in camera...people complain about reality tv not being “real”, but saying things like that to a tv crew about your spouse knowing it will be there for everyone to see forever...yikes! Some of those statements would be hard to come back from.

-which leads to...Kody really needs a friend to talk to so he doesn’t have to blurt out every idea that pops into his head to his wives. Kind of like on “The Office” when Pam doesn’t always instantly connect Michael to the person on the other end of a call because the first thing out of his mouth is so dumb.

-definitely heard that comment about “getting these big people over the mountain”. Considering none of the wives reacted to it (granted, only one was within earshot), but he must say stuff like that all the time and they either don’t mind, or have given up on having him care about bursting their feelings.

-by the way Christine ran into the Darger’s house and started hugging all of them, I think she wouldn’t mind being invited to join their family.

-Janelle said they had good conversations in the car about the kids, life, etc. Why was none of that shown? That would have been way more interesting than hearing about a polygamy bill. I’m guessing most of the kids want privacy and ask their parents not to discuss them on camera.

-Meri is the only wife that didn’t seem concerned about going to jail...either she knows the chances are slim that any of them would end up there, and everyone else is blowing things out of proportion OR she’s fine with everyone else going to jail and is pretty sure she would never would end up there) she’s legally divorced from Kody, never sees him anyway, and figures a good attorney would be able to get the charges dropped. (I’m pretty sure any good attorney could...they all seemed a little too distraught)

-I could not follow Robyn’s reasoning when she said some polygamist women don’t report their daughters being abused because they’re afraid it might break up their family. Ummm...if your daughter is being abused and you don’t report it...what do you think should happen to your family??? Daughters not being safe is the whole point of the law. If Robyn wants to advocate she should come up with a better reason.

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9 hours ago, DalmatianCat said:

Meri is the only wife that didn’t seem concerned about going to jail...either she knows the chances are slim that any of them would end up there, and everyone else is blowing things out of proportion OR she’s fine with everyone else going to jail and is pretty sure she would never would end up there) she’s legally divorced from Kody, never sees him anyway, and figures a good attorney would be able to get the charges dropped. (I’m pretty sure any good attorney could...they all seemed a little too distraught)

For a while I've felt Meri was showing up for her required filming days/events (however that is decided), pitches the idea to visit Mariah and Audrey every season as her story line, and outside of filming lives her own life. She said this season the only time she hears from Kody is when he calls to discuss business. So it seems safe to assume Kody is not spending one night a week with Meri, and he rarely sees her outside of filming and business meetings.

I wonder if Meri at some point saw an attorney of some type to figure out her financial and legal standing if she stays with Kody, and if she left Kody. Complete ISB but if she decided she is better off financially to stick around while money comes in from TLC, and when the show ends she may choose to walk away. I wouldn't be surprised if Meri met with an attorney to discuss her legal standing as a spiritual wife (to cover her bases in case of an arrest or legal action). The attorney may have advised her to keep a detailed record of how often he visits her house, how often he spends the night, how many things do they do together (business, filming and for fun), and maybe she can prove (if needed) that while they claim on TV to be part of a spiritual union the truth is outside of filming and the occasional business phone call (backed up by phone records) they don't interact.

Meri wanted to buy the inn in Utah herself, and not have the other adults on the mortgage. Is Meri thinking long term if the Inn is only in her name, and if no other adult is on the paperwork, if she walked away from the marriage and family (at least financially) that may be a source of income only for her, and not have to be split with the others? I don't think she's bought a house in Flagstaff, so her name is on the Coyote Pass property, so if she walked away she may say I'll sign over the property to one of the Browns in exchange for being financially free from all other family businesses, or the inn being totally hers. I'm guessing she is biding her time when
the show ends and the TLC money is no longer coming in. 


The Dargers have been open about being polygamist (they had a TLC special), and have been active in polygamy legislation for years all while living in Utah, and they haven't been arrested. 

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43 minutes ago, ifosterkittens said:

I wouldn't be surprised if Meri met with an attorney to discuss her legal standing as a spiritual wife (to cover her bases in case of an arrest or legal action).

I'm having trouble seeing how an attorney could help Meri with her situation.  An accountant perhaps could be useful for the financial part.  She's divorced from Kody and the "spiritual wife" thing has zero legal standing or implications.  I don't think anyone is interested in arresting her for polygamy at this point.  She'd have to be committing some kind of welfare type fraud in Utah for it to even begin to be an issue.  She's basically regarded as a side piece in every other state.  No one cares.  

As far as any property goes, she'd have the same legal entitlement to it as any other partner in a land purchase.  I believe she's the sole owner/mortgagee of the BnB so she wouldn't need to offer anything from that to the others.  She'd be entitled to her share of any proceeds if any from the plague flats parcel.  She's positioned well to end her rental and run when the show ends.  I hope she's saved most or all of her MLM earnings although I doubt it.  She's probably spent a minor fortune on Mariah.  If she can start saving, she could hopefully turn the BnB into a profit making venture and be self-sustaining.

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Season 15 Episode 3 Robyn the Peacemaker

STH- solo talking head

SLC- Salt Lake City

I’m not sure of the show’s timeline. The discussion in Christine’s house was September 2019. I’m guessing Mariah and Audrey visited Flagstaff early 2020 maybe Jan or Feb. I’m not sure about the Robyn, Kody and Meri scene, guessing later 2019-early 2020, guessing all pre pandemic.

Mariah and Audrey visit Flagstaff snow is on the ground. They currently live in Chicago, and a year ago announced their engagement when they last visited Flagstaff. Kody and Janelle are out of town. The crowd (Christine and her kids, Robyn and her kids, plus Grandma Bonnie- Meri’s mom) gathers at Meri’s house to visit. Mariah and Audrey announce they are moving to Salt Lake City, Utah. Christine STH that’s the best news ever, and she said if only the rest of them could move to Utah, claims to be kidding. Mariah tells crowd at Meri’s house a year without her siblings is too long and she’s sorry it’s been so long. Mariah and Audrey STH said they’re moving to SLC, thinking towards having a family, will get married first. Robyn asks when they’ll be moving, Mariah said she’ll finish her semester and transfer her social work degree to the U (not sure which university that is) in the summer which is in six months. Mariah tells the crowd they’ll get married in SLC. Mariah and Audrey in a STH said friends asked why they weren’t getting married in the mountains because they love the mountains, they agreed, and plan to marry in a year and a half. Mariah said and Audrey agreed living in Chicago was hard for Audrey and she was really missing people. Christine in a STH said she could see it was hard for Audrey. Mariah said at Christmas she realized she was missing a second Christmas with her family and hadn’t seen siblings in a year. Meri in a STH said Mariah has a cool bond with siblings. Christine in a STH said Mariah embraced her siblings with full enthusiasm and they all know they are loved by Mariah.

Christine in a STH said she doesn’t know her younger siblings well, her siblings from her other mom are younger, one is Aspyn’s age. Meri in a STH said she has a younger sister Debra (same mom) that was two and a half when she got married, and she didn’t develop relationship with younger siblings until years later as an adult. Audrey lived in Utah from age 6 until she and Mariah moved, she doesn’t have a lot of friends in Chicago, some of her siblings are in SLC. Mariah and Audrey in a STH Audrey said she was struggling in Chicago for mental health reasons, she’d been working from home, she hasn’t had a chance to meet people, make friends. Meri in a STH said Kody will be happy Mariah and Audrey are moving he wants kids close; his life focus is his kids. Group hug at Meri’s. Meri STH said she grew up in culture where you marry young, have kids, you’re quiet about who you are, stay in a little box. She said the parents (Kody, Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robyn) tried to create a you can do whatever you want to do for the kids. (I believe Meri meant the kids had the option to pursue their passion and didn’t have to follow in their parent’s footsteps.) Christine in a STH said Mariah and Audrey are a good couple, they communicate well, and it is a true partnership. Christine feels they made the decision to move to SLC together to both be their best selves. Christine asked herself who will move to Utah next? Maybe us she replies to herself and laughs.

Christine invites the adults over to her house. Christine finally got an offer on her house in Las Vegas. Christine in a STH said her house was the first one on the market, last one to sell and that is called irony and it sucks. Meri said she thought Christine was going to announce she was pregnant. Christine said no the womb is closed. Kody asks really did you think that. Christine said no she didn’t, she’s joking. Janelle in a STH said this is a throwback years ago whenever they had these meetings it was to announce a pregnancy. She guesses they can’t let go of that habit. Janelle said Maddie said a while ago Kody’s soul mate are his children, so the idea of Kody having more children always appeals to him. Christine in a STH said she doesn’t know if Kody will ever be done having children, but she’s done. Christine tells the crowd she accepted the offer in minutes, it was a lot less than she wanted, but it is cash, and the buyers want it in a week, and they will take it as is. Kody said they took a hit that every house sold for less than they thought. Meri said there is something to be said about it being done.

Kody in a STH said there is always an emotional connection to a house, for him the house in Lehi was the hardest. Kody said first trip back to Utah after moving to Las Vegas was taking the dog Drake to be put down. Meri, Mariah, Kody took the dog back to Lehi, to put him down and bury him. Flashback to those scenes. Kody in a STH said it was the first time he owned the emotions of the struggle of leaving Lehi. Kody said they’re living in Flagstaff, but it’s not home yet. Kody said he is worn out with marital relationships and wives, they’re not on the same page oh how to exist, behave with each other, and not the family they used to be. Christine tells crowd she hasn’t told kids yet, but their first question will be when they are going to start building. Christine in a STH said they need a plan for the kids. Meri in a STH said she believes they all want to get out to the property, and she sees the emotional health of family is not the best. Kody in a STH said he’s discouraged and wants to avoid talking about building.

Janelle in a STH said the wives are ready to get a surveyor and make plans, Kody is running around with thousand-yard stare because he is spread thin and has a ton of responsibility. Janelle said he is reacting instead of planning. Kody tells crowd just because the houses have sold doesn’t mean we have the money. Robyn in a STH said Kody is good at the starting part of idea, puts in a lot of energy and then is exhausted towards the end. Janelle in a STH said his execution is where he gets a little lost. Kody in a STH said he can be a finisher, but there’s a lot of projects to start and not enough time to finish them. Christine in a STH said she’s good at starting projects but then loses interest. Janelle in a STH said she’s not a visionary, she’s a worker bee who makes something happen. Robyn in a STH said she’s a finisher which is good because she’s the fourth wife (chuckles). Meri and Janelle both want to know where the lots will be and what type of houses they’ll build. Kody in a STH said everyone wants the same property and it changes. He doesn’t want to talk about it anymore, now he’s mad. Flashback to four months earlier discussing/fighting about who gets what lost. Kody in a STH said he got in trouble for manipulating everyone which he claims he did not do it. He said it made him look like a bleep and an idiot.

Kody tells the wives they have seven lots will have three rentals and should build all seven homes at once. Kody in a STH said they bought two extra lots to build to rent or give to children. Janelle in a STH said Kody says he wants to be a real estate tycoon, and she’s said how about we build our houses first so we have somewhere to live. Christine in a STH said Kody wants to build a subdivision, and she feels they should start with one house. Kody in a STH said talking big picture and doing seven homes at once is him stalling because he wants to put the wives off and enjoy some peace. Kody tells the wives the local developers are making a huge profit. Kody in a STH said he’s speculating, actually he’s stalling. Janelle to crowd says they can move forward, Kody said he thinks they can move forward; it is more complicated than that. Christine in a STH said she enjoys Janelle is on her side, but it isn’t making a difference. Robyn in a STH said the only way to move forward is if Kody starts it. Robyn said it’s not appropriate for one of the wives to lead. Christine says to the crowd so no firm commitments, just maybes. Kody says to crowd he doesn’t have the means. Janelle said she doesn’t know why paying a little money to gather facts for a plan is a problem. Kody in a STH said maybe he should turn it over to the ladies, maybe it would go better, maybe he is the drama problem. Kody to crowd everyone is in a house, not enough money to move forward. Janelle and Meri say that is depressing. Janelle in a STH said she’s frustrated they need to keep moving forward. Christine in a STH feels Kody subconsciously isn’t interested anymore, and he’s fine with them living separately. Meri said it’s September now, get through the holidays first. Robyn and Kody in a couch interview Robyn said not being together is creating issue with family structure, is affecting family culture, relationships and it makes her nervous. Kody in a STH said we have to understand he just went through one of the worst fights he’s ever had with a woman getting Robyn into her house she didn’t want to buy. That process has been hard plus the blow out over Coyote Pass, there are days he wishes he could just sell the property.

Robyn asked Meri and Kody to come out to the property. Revisit last season’s fight over the lots. Kody in a STH said he bent over backwards to keep Meri happy about her location. Meri voiceover she didn’t feel she was having a fight with Robyn she was mad at Kody. Kody tells Meri Robyn said they had a misunderstanding, and it would be good to straighten it out. Kody in a STH said Robyn is the family peacemaker and wives take their complaints about Kody to Robyn. Robyn tells Kody and Meri the five of them didn’t come to the property and communicate and that was stressful and a break in their culture and way they do things. Kody responds it is because they’ve got a break in their culture. Robyn in a STH believes the group has trouble communicating. Kody voiceover we don’t gather the way we used to. Christine in a STH said she doesn’t see her sister wives often; they do things separately now. Janelle in a STH said the family physically gets together a couple times a month. Robyn in a STH has times when she feels she hasn't seen Kody in a while and wonders if he’s spending extra time somewhere else. Christine in a STH said if she brings it up to Kody she doesn’t feel he is spending enough time at her house it causes all kids of problems so she tries not to think about it.

Kody tells Meri and Robyn they aren’t having family meetings, don’t sit down and talk about things. Instead, he went out with a wife to the property. Robyn in a STH said it feels strange to be separate from family. Christine in a STH said it is less complicated to live separate and she doesn’t feel guilty doing things without the whole family. Kody in a STH said they don’t feel like a family. He has an unsettling sense not everything is right, the problem with five of them is five of them, it’s discouraging. Kody tells Meri and Robyn yes there was a misunderstanding, and it was his fault.

Kody in a STH said he’s tired of trying to organize property, family goes the way leadership goes and he doesn’t give a bleep anymore. He feels like he is constantly doing a dance, has to dance more for some. He has lost desire to gather his family it is easier for him to deal with one wife and her children at a time. He doesn’t know what their dysfunction is but it makes him uncomfortable, and he doesn’t care to get together anymore. He said the way they are living apart in Flagstaff isn’t his personal ideal for plural marriage, he doesn’t feel the idea of one family big picture is supported anymore by the wives. Robyn in a STH said Meri and Kody don’t need more misunderstandings or more issues they are already struggling. Meri in a STH revisit two months ago when Meri and Kody went to Nancy (therapist). Kody in a STH said his relationship with Meri at best is distant and amicable. Kody feels Meri always has unloaded emotions into a burden he is supposed to carry, he won’t carry it, no reason he should. He said he hasn’t put effort into his relationship with Meri because he has three other relationships that are rewarding and wholesome and children that need him, need to see him (still living at home). Meri in a  STH said she is careful about pushing Kody, feels like she’s made it known where she wants relationship to go, leaving ball in his court. Kody in a STH said neither of them see value in the relationship because if they wanted to be together, they would.

Robyn in a STH wishes they could be better about communication. Meri asks Kody is he admitting Meri never said she wanted that piece of property? Kody in a STH said there’s a major factor he doesn’t want to bring up with Robyn and Meri now and it was there was concern about Meri having a pond lot. There is the question and always will be the question will the family have access to the pond if Meri has the title on the lot with the pond. Robyn asked Kody did you think this lot was best for Meri because she said she didn’t want to be in the trees? Kody said yes. Robyn ok, Meri didn’t know that. Meri in a STH said she didn’t want to be in the trees, but never said she wanted to be by the road, she’s imitating Kody better make Meri happy, give her what she wants, and give Robyn the table scraps (rehashing last season’s fight in her STH). Meri said she didn’t know that, and it isn’t her fault. Robyn says to them it is misunderstanding, Kody said he is willing to sort it out. Kody in a STH said he’s dumbfounded still, not sure why its so hard to figure out. Meri in a STH said he thought he was giving me what he thought I wanted, but I never said I wanted it. Meri to Robyn and Kody if she had first choice she doesn’t know where she would be on the property, she loves the trees not sure she wants house in the trees. Kody in a STH sigh let’s all wait for Meri to decide.

Kody in a STH said Robyn has an assumption in their culture they all work things out, and that’s not true. He said they negotiate with each other through him, and 9 out of 10 times he takes the blame. He visualizes monogamous couple as yin-yang, make decisions together. Kody to Meri and Robyn said he was out of turn because he felt he was giving Meri what she wanted and then she didn’t want it, that is how he perceived it and he apologizes. Robyn asks Meri and Kody are we all good here? Kody said he’s good, Meri said she’s fine. Meri in a STH said the family is in a weird place in Flagstaff. Kody in a STH said he doesn’t think the wives want to be together much, and they enjoy the independence from one another. Robyn, Meri and Kody hold hands walking on the property with Meri in the middle. Robyn in a STH said she’ll do what she can to help Meri and Kody, and their relationship has an affect on the family. Kody in a STH said having Robyn in the middle of him and Meri makes the relationship safer, more functional. Robyn in a STH said monogamous culture teaches women they are supposed to compete with each other and the polygamous culture if done right support one another. Robyn asked if everyone in the world was in plural marriage what would women be like with each other? What would women be like if that polygamy was the norm? Robyn said it’s special when your sister wife has your best interest at heart and is rooting for your relationship— it is the purest kind of love.

Next week SLC wedding venue with Mariah and Audrey.

TLDR Mariah and Audrey are moving to Salt Lake City and will get married there. Christine’s house finally sold, all the houses are now sold, and she wants a plan for building on Coyote Pass. Kody isn’t interested in making a plan for Coyote Pass now claiming they don’t have the money. Robyn, Meri and Kody go out to Coyote Pass to create a story line rehash Meri likes trees but doesn’t want to be in them, doesn’t know which lot she wants. 

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@ifosterkittens thank you for your recaps-I actually find them much more entertaining than the show.

Kody is such a douche. If he can’t handle all these things, why does he have so many wives? In Islam (which has its own issues), a man is not allowed to take on a another wife if he can’t emotionally, physically, and financially give her the exact same as the others. By this standard, Kody fails miserably. Wouldn’t it be better to set Meri free and let her live her life??

 

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Meri is as free as she wants to be right now. She is legally a single woman. She could do whatever she chooses. 
There may still be a small tug from her religious background and worry about her eternal soul but I think she enjoys the money , fame and martyrdom. 
 

Just how quickly her life changes when the show ends will be interesting to watch.

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I spent a good half the episode grumbling back at Kody.

Gee - maybe you SHOULD hand over the whole property/house issue to the women.  But you won't because I honestly believe you somehow enjoy punishing everyone around you. 

 

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Have not watched this show in years, but I think things started going downhill when he married Robyn. He should of just kept his original 3. Don't agree with their lifestyle, but I think they had a perfect set up back then.

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3 hours ago, Tangy Bee said:

Have not watched this show in years, but I think things started going downhill when he married Robyn. He should of just kept his original 3. Don't agree with their lifestyle, but I think they had a perfect set up back then.

This could be taken to the next level, and say things started "going downhill" when they started the show. The show exists because of Robin, IMO. The first season was about their courtship (gag) and "marriage." 

But honestly, I think it was bound to fall apart as the second generation started growing up and moving out. Kody didn't marry wife #2 or #3 because of shared interests, other than an "interest" in having them bear his children. He never planned to "grow old" with them all together, playing cards or traveling and reflecting back, laughing and piddling about the house doing woodworking and gardening. He married them to have kids and out of obligation. 

His wives are too connected to the world, and Kody is too distant to them for anyone to be happy in this situation. They see what other married couples their age are like, the adult "children" are realizing that their family of origin is a tiny minority and all the advantages that other kids have that they didnt. 

Plus all the moving. Kody's overall selfishness. The separate houses. If this is plural marriage, it looks awful for everyone involved. 

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Man, I hope they don't start up on that "who gets what lot" crap. That's just...seriously, give Meri an ultimatum, tell her she chooses which lot she wants by this date or she gets what she gets. 

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I don’t believe they have any money at all to build on their land. They have blown it all on mortgages and rent in both Las Vegas and Arizona.
Kody is a complete idiot and never researched how much it would all cost especially the price of bringing utilities to the land. He can’t admit they can’t afford it so this is just a storyline for the show. 

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Robyn in a STH said monogamous culture teaches women they are supposed to compete with each other and the polygamous culture if done right support one another. Robyn asked if everyone in the world was in plural marriage what would women be like with each other? What would women be like if that polygamy was the norm? Robyn said it’s special when your sister wife has your best interest at heart and is rooting for your relationship— it is the purest kind of love.

Only sister wives can support other women?  LOL.  I guess this occurs while they are arguing for financial resources, for time with the husband, etc.   And if they don't like each other, they are still stuck together.  I can't imagine the hurt that they must feel when their husband goes out with a different wife, prefers a different wife, wants to get married to yet another person, etc.

Seems more like a competition than anything else.  

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  • Coconut Flan changed the title to New Season: Meri, Meri and More Meri

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