Sister Wives 7: One Down and Three to Go

[viii]

On 1/24/2022 at 11:34 PM, ifosterkittens said:

No, I don't think Kody considers himself married to Meri. Legally they divorced, and he is done with Meri. 

Why is he stringing her along? I don't think he is. I think he's made it clear how he feels, and wishes she would walk away, but she won't. 

I agree with this line of thinking, especially after reading a new article about Kody. 

https://people.com/tv/sister-wives-sneak-peek-kody-brown-doesnt-feel-safe-with-wife-meri-never-will-again/

(Article talks about how Meri doesn't understand why people ask her if she's going to leave Kody - this is her family and she's not leaving. Kody says their intimacy was damaged and he has zero desire to ever go back there. He will never feel safe with Meri again. He thinks of her as a friend and will look out for her and build her a house, but they will never be intimate again.)

He seems completely done with her. 

[DalmatianCat]

43 minutes ago, viii said:

(Article talks about how Meri doesn't understand why people ask her if she's going to leave Kody - this is her family and she's not leaving. Kody says their intimacy was damaged and he has zero desire to ever go back there. He will never feel safe with Meri again. He thinks of her as a friend and will look out for her and build her a house, but they will never be intimate again.)

He seems completely done with her. 

On one hand I understand Meri’s line of thinking that there’s more to the family than Kody. All the wives used to espouse that. 
On the other hand, who is she referring to as her “family” exactly? She’s never been close to Janelle’s kids (even Robyn was invited to the birth of Maddie’s first baby while Meri was forgotten), or Christine’s kids (I think Aspyn even lived with Robyn for awhile at one point???). Even before covid she would mention that she rarely saw anyone in the family, so what family, exactly, is she staying for?

[Jrodseyeliner]

4 hours ago, DalmatianCat said:

On one hand I understand Meri’s line of thinking that there’s more to the family than Kody. All the wives used to espouse that. 
On the other hand, who is she referring to as her “family” exactly? She’s never been close to Janelle’s kids (even Robyn was invited to the birth of Maddie’s first baby while Meri was forgotten), or Christine’s kids (I think Aspyn even lived with Robyn for awhile at one point???). Even before covid she would mention that she rarely saw anyone in the family, so what family, exactly, is she staying for?

The TLC money family I think she is referring to. 😂😂😂

[fundiewatch]

Family = wet bar?

[DalmatianCat]

When Kody is saying he has no desire for anything other than friendship with Meri, but Meri is saying she’s hoping their relationship can be restored, I wonder what she’s actyhewring him say. What is making her think there is hope?

I’m curious about Mariah’s relationship with her parents. She was Team Kody initially during the catfishing scandal, but I wonder if she’s disgusted with his current behavior and is keeping her distance with from him. Or it could just be that all the older kids are busy with their own lives and families and can’t keep up with dad’s drama.

[Pecansforeveryone]

Meri and Mariah appear to be on somewhat better terms. They made banana bread together in an episode. Meri mentioned there had been an improvement in their relationship. I have a hard time believing Mariah would agree with Kody's not to be there for any part of Ysebel's surgery. 

[ifosterkittens]

SW S16 Ep11 One on One Part 1 (Part 1 of 3)

The five adults meet with interviewer Sukanya Krishnan (SK) individually. I don’t think they had any reunion last season because of covid so this reunion seems to address both last season and this season. Sorry for the lack of consistency in tense. I put things in parenthesis to clarify things because the scenes were a bit choppy and clipped together.

Sukanya Krishnan (SK) told Janelle she feels Janelle is the conscience of the family. SK said Janelle pre-covid brought the adults together for dinner to discuss the family culture. Clip of the dinner from last season and solo interviews (formerly known as STH) of the wives saying in Flagstaff they don’t get together. The clip from the dinner pre-covid includes Christine saying get togethers are hostile, and she feels no one likes her. SK clarifies pre-pandemic the isolation began. Janelle told SK as the kids grew up the adults didn’t need to rely on each other as they had before. Janelle told SK a conscious effort needs to be made to gather the family, and they weren’t. Janelle told SK there are two danger zones in polygamy. 1. An active effort needs to be made to gather the family. 2. Stay out of your head and don’t imagine things about others and what they could be saying about you.

Kody told KS in the cul de sac in Las Vegas the family was united and forced to deal with issues. When they moved to Flagstaff and separated, they no longer were faced with the issues next door and could avoid them. Kody said he and his wives adopted the attitude I’m going to do what I want to do.

Meri tells KS it was weird they weren’t interacting once they moved to Flagstaff and initially felt people were getting settled, with time it became apparent more was going on.

Clip of Christine at the dinner pre-covid saying she is sure everyone hates her all the time, and she feels she’s on the outside looking in. SK asked Robyn how she responded to Christine after that? Robyn was surprised Christine used the word hostile. Robyn told SK when you aren’t around the family for a while you can get monsters in your head, and Robyn made sure to let Christine know she didn’t hate her. (Christine had used the word hate).

Janelle told SK she was surprised Christine felt that way. Janelle said Christine is usually the life of the party.

SK told Christine all the SWs were shocked when Christine expressed her emotions, Christine agreed. Christine told SK Janelle bravely had the dinner to confront their issues, so Christine chose to be open and honest. Christine told SK before every family gathering, she hesitates and wondered did they like her, or want her there. Christine told SK it was difficult to see Kody in functioning marriages with the other wives when she and Kody had been struggling for so long.

Meri told SK she was surprised Christine had such strong feelings (revealed at the pre-covid dinner), but she can relate to them because she’s experienced that insecurity herself. Meri told SK she reached out to Christine during those times with a text or call, and said it wasn’t always reciprocated. SK asked Meri did that dinner seem to highlight the issues between Kody and Christine. Meri said no. Meri thought Christine’s response was about the issues Janelle brought them together to discuss at the dinner.

SK said to Christine at the time of the dinner (precovid) Christine had shared there were fractures, strain and stress with her and Kody. SK asked Christine at the time of the dinner was Christine willing to work on her relationship with Kody and all the other SWs to keep the family unit together. Christine said when they had the dinner yes, and felt it was a wake-up call. SK said then covid happened. Christine said yes, and then they become more separated. Commercial break

SK asked Kody what were the initial covid protocols? Kody said schools sent kids home, local government shut down businesses, mask mandates and lots of warnings. SK told Kody different households had different protocols, shows some clips. Kody told SK initially there was a lot of fear, and he wanted to prevent the death of a child. Kody said in with hindsight he can say maybe it was too strict. SK asked was it all the what ifs (Kody had said there was concern of long-term effects of lungs and kidney) that made him stick to the initial protocols? Kody said yes, and that was advised by his doctor. Kody told SK if you don’t want to get pregnant don’t have sex, and same with covid if you don’t want to get it, don’t get exposed and the rules were in place to limit exposure. Kody told SK Robyn agreed to keep the rules because her kids are young and need their dad present. Kody told SK he had one wife (Janelle) who was mostly compliant but couldn’t keep the kids compliant, and another wife (Christine) who was not at all compliant. Kody told SK Christine said she just wanted to be free.

Christine told SK the restrictions Kody had were not realistic. Old clips were shown of the zoom call with the adults were Kody said he would be the only one going from house to house. Christine told SK she has kids everywhere and couldn’t just stay home. Christine said when kids say they need you, you go. SK asked Christine was she forced to make a choice? Christine said Kody wanted her to choose what he chose. Christine told SK they were smart, followed CDC guidelines, distanced, quarantined after travel. Christine told SK she followed CDC protocols, but not Kody’s.

Kody tells SK Christine told him she’d rather see her other (I think he means out of town kids) kids over him. SK asks Kody looking back does he understand why Christine did what she wanted to do? Kody said he can be empathetic, but he maintained the rules. Kody told SK Truely nearly died from kidney failure years ago. Kody said it was a borderline death, and had an essence of loss, and changed them (I think he means him and Christine), and he’s “dead aware of it.” Kody tells SK in hindsight maybe he could have been looser (I think he means with his covid protocols), and his sole goal was to keep everyone alive even if it meant staying separated (physically separated, not in terms of a relationship).

Robyn tells SK it was tough, and she was torn and wonders why they couldn’t have meshed Kody’s approach with Janelle and Christine’s. Robyn told SK she felt the family culture they had built was being destroyed. SK clarifies a lack of mutually agreed solution (about covid rules) essentially destroyed what the family had created. Robyn said not initially, she thought it (covid) would go away, and tears up. Robyn said she hates crying and SK asks for a tissue for Robyn. SK said hurt, Robyn said yes, and it’s painful because the family unity was thrown out the window over a virus. Robyn said she was surprised and shocked. SK asked Robyn did covid change the family or shine a light on pre-existing issues? Robyn responded both. Robyn wonders if they can come back from it? SK asks, can you? Robyn said she is trying and wants to. Commercial break.

SK tells Meri she wants to discuss loneliness because everyone experienced it during the pandemic. They watch some old clips about loneliness during the pandemic. Meri in a former solo interview she thinks everyone is happy they have the excuse of covid to not get together. Meri tells SK she used the word happy but said Janelle’s word choice of easier is more applicable. Meri told SK it is easier to not have to work on the relationships.

Janelle tells SK she doesn’t think anyone was happy (referencing Meri’s comment above), and Kody said something to the same effect, when she heard it, steam was coming out. SK asks why Kody said it? Janelle said Kody has become absolute with no one wants to get together, and Janelle feels it is extreme. SK asks Janelle about the relationships and isolation during covid. Janelle responded she mourned. SK asked a lonely period? Janelle said more than lonely, a sadness. Janelle told SK their choices were so different they couldn’t be together.

SK asks Meri if Kody checked in on her since he wasn’t coming over. Meri said they would text and call. Meri said most of her communication was with Robyn. SK clarifies Kody didn’t come over, and Meri said no he didn’t, and that is not where their relationship is at this time.

SK is with Janelle and references an old clip of a solo interview of Meri saying if she got covid no one would even know, and SK said she felt some helplessness in Meri’s solo interview. Janelle told SK it frustrated her, and if Meri got covid she should call her (Janelle) because they are family. Janelle told SK she knows Kody and Meri’s relationship is strained, but Meri is choosing a family identity and they should be a family. SK asks Janelle is she caught in the middle because Meri is choosing a family identity when Kody has annexed himself from Meri? Janelle said she’s not caught in the middle but does feel the tension when Kody has tension with another marriage. SK asked Janelle is she ever anger with Meri and say something to Meri about it? Janelle said no, it is not about sides, and she hurts for both Kody and Meri.

SK asked Christine having observed Kody’s relationship with Meri, did it impact her (Christine’s) decision making? Christine said her heart breaks for Meri, she doesn’t want their (Meri and Kody’s) relationship. Christine said she doesn’t want to be in a loveless marriage, and if she thought that’s what the future held, she wouldn’t live that way. Commercial break.

Meri said she was 19 and Kody was 22 when they met. They met and married in six months. Old clips of their wedding, and old clips discussing the cat fishing and their (Meri and Kody’s) relationship. SK asks Meri about their relationship when they first met. Meri said they were in love. Meri said when Janelle entered the picture, she struggled with jealousy of Kody being with Janelle. Meri said she didn’t know how to handle it (jealousy?), Kody didn’t know how to handle her (Meri), and Janelle had no idea what was going on. Meri told SK she thought the three of them had different ideas of what it would be, and it wasn’t. Meri said she had a harder time when Christine entered the family and doesn’t know why. Meri called her relationship with Kody roller-coaster.

SK asks Kody to tell her about his relationship with Meri. Kody said there’s nothing to talk about. SK said that is hard to hear. Kody said they are friends. Kody said there was a hardness in their marriage that was difficult and antagonistic and he didn’t know why they were in it (not sure if he meant the hardness or marriage). Kody said with time and counseling he told Meri he doesn’t see them getting back together. He said they won’t go back together because they would resort to the way they were before, and there is no chance that he wants that again. SK asked Kody why not leave Meri at that point? Kody said there is a double standard they (wives?) can leave whenever they want, he can’t. SK said it is not a double standard because he has left and emotionally abandoned them in some ways. Kody scoffs abandoned, please. SK said well. Kody interrupts and said take the word back. SK said ok. Kody said he takes offense to the term abandonment. SK starts to speak, and Kody interrupts Meri had an affair, she was leaving his ass (his word), and Kody said Meri said she was done with him and made it clear to everyone she was leaving Kody and the family. Kody said now Meri can’t admit that’s what happened because the family rallied and circled the wagons when she realized she has been duped. Kody said Meri was deceived, she was leaving and had found something else, a better richer man. Kody said because the family rallied together after Meri doesn’t see the situation for what it was. Kody said Meri sees herself as a victim, and he said she is, but Meri feels she did nothing wrong. Kody said she would never have been a victim if she hadn’t done something wrong.

SK asks Meri did she and Kody have an honest conversation about the cat fishing. Meri said she thought they did, and she thought Kody knew where she was coming from. Meri thought Kody understood how it all happened. SK said Kody felt you (Meri) were leaving him for another person. Meri said yes. SK said Kody felt betrayed. Meri said yes, and she understands. Meri said she wasn’t leaving, but during that time she was in a dark place and considered all her options. Meri said she started talking to the person, thought she was talking to a friend. Meri said it wasn’t meet someone online, fall in love and want to leave the family. Meri said people look at that moment (the catfishing) as the defining fracture in her relationship with Kody, and she said it wasn’t. SK asked Meri did Kody say trust was an issue after the catfishing, and Meri said yes. Commercial break.

SK and Meri watch old clips of Meri and Kody’s 30th wedding anniversary. Meri tells SK she is committed and still has hope. SK asks Meri if there is a future as a married couple in full fellowship (SK’s words)? Meri replied she wants that. SK asks Meri what keeps her emotionally invested in the relationship? Meri said her love for Kody. Meri said when she prays and meditates, she feels peace about staying in the family, and that is what she wants.

Kody tells SK Meri is still part of the family. SK asks the larger family? Kody said yes, the larger family. Kody said he will never be in a physical relationship with Meri because he won’t go through the emotional torture ever again. Kody said he’s not trying to make Meri sound bad, it’s a bad match. Kody said he’s trying to be honest without being cruel. Kody said if they weren’t in plural marriage or felt religiously bound to stay together things probably would have been different years ago. Kody said he told Meri she is still part of the family, and they can work things out (I think he means in terms of friendship only).

SK said to Meri she and Kody appear to be friends. SK asks Meri to help her understand because she’s (SK) is in a monogamous relationship and doesn’t understand Meri’s relationship with Kody. SK said she would think physicality is a part of needs, wants, and desires in a relationship. Meri said it (physicality) is, and it’s something she misses. Meri said she misses conversations, physical and emotionally intimacy with Kody. SK asks when the physicality ended. Meri said a decade ago. (The catfishing happened in 2015, this is likely being taped in 2021). SK asked Meri is she willing to wait forever for Kody? Meri said she has hope he will. She said if he doesn’t, she’ll create her own peace and happiness in the family relationships she has. SK asks Meri is it the larger family that is keeping her in the family with hopes to be in full fellowship with Kody one day? Meri said it is her family and doesn’t leave because she doesn’t want to leave. Meri said it doesn’t make sense to her why people ask her why she doesn’t leave. SK said she asked Meri because we (viewers) see Christine’s relationship unraveling because of the lack of intimacy and romantic relationship and how those are non-negotiable for Christine. Meri said she and Christine are two different people with different values.

SK tells Christine Meri has been in a relationship without intimacy with Kody for a decade. Christine said she doesn’t know how Meri does it. Christine said Meri must be more ok with it than her (Christine).

SK tells Kody based on the clips she (SK) thinks Meri wants a romantic relationship with Kody and to heal. Kody said there is a point when intimacy is damaged. Kody said he won’t have intimacy without safety. SK asked you (Kody) don’t feel safe with Meri? Kody said he doesn’t, and he never will again. Kody said he’ll be Meri’s friend, will build her a house on Coyote Pass, but will never feel safe in an intimate place. SK asks Meri hurt you (Kody) to the core, to a place that can’t be fixed? Kody said it wasn’t the catfishing. He said the catfishing woke him up out of the daze. SK said Meri is committed to the larger family, and Kody said Meri has a friendship with him. SK asked is that enough? Kody replied he doesn’t think it is enough for anyone, but everyone made their choices.

Next week part two of the one on one interviews.

 

 

[Tatar-tot]

This video was an interesting  take on last nights show:

I found the  guy’s take on Cootie’s behavior rather interesting.

[DalmatianCat]

Two thoughts:

1) if this is Kody’s version of being “honest, but not cruel” I shudder to think what his version of cruel is

2) It’s probably only a matter of time before Kody turns on Robyn

[ifosterkittens]

On 1/28/2022 at 5:27 PM, DalmatianCat said:

On one hand I understand Meri’s line of thinking that there’s more to the family than Kody. All the wives used to espouse that. 
On the other hand, who is she referring to as her “family” exactly? She’s never been close to Janelle’s kids (even Robyn was invited to the birth of Maddie’s first baby while Meri was forgotten), or Christine’s kids (I think Aspyn even lived with Robyn for awhile at one point???). Even before covid she would mention that she rarely saw anyone in the family, so what family, exactly, is she staying for?

What family is Meri referring to? Ari and Solomon. In the past she's said they love her unconditionally. To a smaller extent Robyn and her three older kids. I don't think Meri has a true friendship with Janelle or Christine. None of Janelle or Christine's kids have ever said they are close with Meri. I think Christine and Janelle tolerate Meri and vice versa. Janelle and Christine are friends, probably not best friends, but real friends. 

I think Meri is staying for finances and her religion. Once the show ends, and the finances change we will see if her religious beliefs are strong enough to stay with the family. 

13 hours ago, DalmatianCat said:

When Kody is saying he has no desire for anything other than friendship with Meri, but Meri is saying she’s hoping their relationship can be restored, I wonder what she’s actyhewring him say. What is making her think there is hope?

I don't think anything Kody has said or done has given Meri any reason to believe there is hope. Meri wants a marriage with Kody, and simply hopes it will happen because that is what she wants. I have lived with chronic pain for twenty years and I have hope one day I won't, or at least it will be far less. I choose hope because the idea that I will live with this level of pain for the rest of my life crushes my soul. My hope is not based on reason or logic, and it helps me get out of the bed in the morning and face another day. I think Meri's hope is the same. 

13 hours ago, DalmatianCat said:

I’m curious about Mariah’s relationship with her parents. She was Team Kody initially during the catfishing scandal, but I wonder if she’s disgusted with his current behavior and is keeping her distance with from him. Or it could just be that all the older kids are busy with their own lives and families and can’t keep up with dad’s drama.

I would love to know more about Meri and Mariah's relationship with her parents. I understand why Mariah was initially team Kody. I imagine Mariah went through a process of questioning everything she thought she knew about her mom. I think Meri's emotional affair broke Mariah's heart and made it tough for Mariah to trust Meri for a long time. I think the change in Mariah and Meri's relationship after the cat fishing was a far greater loss to Meri than the change in her relationship with Kody. One reason I think Meri didn't leave right after the cat fishing is because I think she feared it would further harm (possibly irreparably) her relationship with Mariah. 

In the One on One part 1 (last night's episode) Kody told the interviewer he felt Meri only saw herself as a victim of the catfishing and wasn't willing to take responsibility for her part in it. I believe Mariah said something to that effect a few seasons ago when Meri had Mariah meet another cat fishing victim. While Mariah probably still would like to see some accountability from Meri, I think Mariah can see how unhappy Meri was, and how she ended up in that situation.

Meri and Mariah are in a better place now, but I don't think the relationship is as strong as it was before the catfishing. I do wonder if Mariah said to Meri that she won't take sides, but if Meri left Kody she would still love and support her if Meri would be more inclined to leave. 

As far as Mariah and Kody's relationship I would love to know. I do think Mariah is busy living her own life getting a master's degree, engaged to Audrey, but I also think she's not as close to Kody as she once was. 

[Cults-r-us]

On 1/28/2022 at 9:10 PM, Jrodseyeliner said:

The TLC money family I think she is referring to. 😂😂😂

Meri is kind of puzzling. For one, for years she posts all these cryptic messages on SM teasing at leaving. For two, we see pictures of her on trips looking happy and  posing with attractive men friends.. For three, we hear how sad and lonely she is, wasting away at her house pining for Kody because he is "easy to love" (pardon me while I vomit in my mouth). Do you think the producers script her as the family lap dog? The psychologist in the clip says she doesn't have the self esteem to leave. The best thing for her would be for the show to end so she goes on with her life. That psychologist guy was right: Kody is cruel, loves to hold power over the wives, enjoys withholding intimacy and seeing them suffer.

[DalmatianCat]

1 minute ago, Cults-r-us said:

Meri is kind of puzzling. For one, for years she posts all these cryptic messages on SM teasing at leaving. For two, we see pictures of her on trips looking happy and  posing with attractive men friends.. For three, we hear how sad and lonely she is, wasting away at her house pining for Kody because he is "easy to love" (pardon me while I vomit in my mouth). Do you think the producers script her as the family lap dog? The psychologist in the clip says she doesn't have the self esteem to leave. The best thing for her would be for the show to end so she goes on with her life. That psychologist guy was right: Kody is cruel, loves to hold power over the wives, enjoys withholding intimacy and seeing them suffer.

Meri is very different on social media than she is on the show. She does a lot of lives, goes to Disney, travels, has friends, and yes, some of those friends are male and without knowing better (most of her male friends are gay), it would be easy to assume she was dating one of them. Kody seems like an afterthought and her life appears happy and fulfilled. It could just be overcompensating, but Meri has never been shy about vague-booking when she’s unhappy, so it seems legit.

All that just makes it make less sense that she’s hanging around in hopes that maybe Kody will love her again.

If the right guy (not a catfish) comes along I can see her being ready to leave him this time around.

[gustava]

14 hours ago, ifosterkittens said:

Robyn said she hates crying

😝

[Cults-r-us]

39 minutes ago, gustava said:

😝

To which I respond to Robyn: Liar, liar, pants on fire.

As for Meri vague-booking, she pots these cryptic messages, then acts confused why people ask her if she's leaving.

So after several years in intimacy-less dismay, the psychologist said Meri's cat-fishing scandal cut Cody to his core because he thought she was leaving him for a better, richer man. What an egotistical buffoon! He really thought she would be content to go on living in polygamy purgatory forever (which I guess she is, but at least made 1 stab at finding someone else).

 

 

[ifosterkittens]

SW S16 Ep12 One on One Part 2

All the adults meet with interviewer Sukanya Krishnan (SK) to have one-on-one interviews.

SK and Christine watch old clips of Kody’s covid rules that Robyn’s nanny follows. Christine said Ysabel was mad that she couldn’t go to Robyn’s, but Robyn had a nanny that could come and go from the house. Christine told SK she felt she wasn’t trusted.

SK asked Robyn why the covid rules weren’t given out sooner. Robyn said she wonders the same thing, felt there was lost time. SK asks Robyn didn’t you want to shake Kody you were around him most of the time. Robyn said Kody was grumpy, and when she said share the rules Kody said Christine and Janelle won’t follow them. Robyn said Kody got kickback from Janelle’s kids.

Christine told SK she never thought to ask what the nanny did that she could go to Robyn’s. SK asked why not. Christine replied she didn’t have a desire to get everyone together when she was struggling with Kody. Christine said she would do it for her kids. Christine said they only saw Kody a few hours a week and decided to travel and visit her other kids because a couple hours of Kody a week wasn’t enough.

SK asked Kody does he understand why some of the wives felt separated and polarized. Kody said it was because of their own actions. Kody said when the children are under 18 a mother’s duty is to her children first over the husband, but once the kids are adults it’s different.

Janelle was asked if she felt she had to choose her kids, and she said yes, and she’ll choose her kids. Janelle felt she could keep the kids safer at home and didn’t want to kick them out of the house like Kody wanted.

SK asked Kody about his relationship with Garrison and Gabe. Kody said it’s not good, they aren’t talking, clarified barely talking. Clips of Kody and the boys. Kody told SK it was a lack of respect from Garrison and Gabe, and G and G wouldn’t follow the rules. Kody said he understands they want to date and that is fine, but they should move out of the house so he can go to the house. Kody said Gabe, Garrison and he need therapy. Kody said he’s angry and not communicating, and thinks Garrison and Gabe are doing the same thing.

Janelle said Garrison and Gabe questioned should they respect Kody because they saw him as the one dividing the family. Janelle said Garrison and Gabe have since moved out, and their relationship with Kody is strained. Janelle said Kody’s relationship with several of his children is strained over his covid rules.

Kody said the bought the land on Coyote Pass with the hopes the kids would come back. He loves his kids but is sad about their lack of respect. Commercial break

Kody said he had a defensive nature when the adults met to discuss Thanksgiving. Clips of Thanksgiving conversation shown. Kody goes oh the shit eating grin (his deranged grin during the Thanksgiving talk).

Christine told SK she wasn’t surprised Kody was snarky during the Thanksgiving talk because she thought Kody was heartbroken, sad, and frustrated the whole family wasn’t gathering.

Meri told SK she was frustrated the crowd wasn’t gathering for Thanksgiving.

Janelle said Kody put the covid rules out 10 days to two weeks before Thanksgiving. Janelle said her boys said they couldn’t follow them.

SK asked Kody when Janelle walked out on the Thanksgiving talk why didn’t he go after her. Kody said no. SK asked what stopped him, was it his ego? Kody said there’s no loyalty, no support. Kody said he’s been betrayed by wives who refuse to communicate, understand or to partner. SK asked Kody are you saying your wives aren’t loyal to you? Kody said you judge. SK said she isn’t judging. Kody said given the history he won’t reach out, and was relieved, gave a shit eating grin out of sarcasm, hurt and anger.

SK told Christine Robyn was upset she and Janelle chose not to gather for Thanksgiving. Christine said yes, but she can’t make everyone happy. Christine said if she and Kody had a functional marriage, she could have made Thanksgiving work. At the end of the day Christine said she has a clear conscious.

Kody told SK everyone must make sacrifices during covid, and feels they (presumably the wives, maybe Garrison and Gabe) have been the biggest jack wagons about it. Kody said he knows other in plural marriage pushing through. Kody said he is “wondering if this is it.” Commercial break

SK told Christine it felt like she was in a pressure cooker, and Christine said yes, she was trying. SK observed Christine’s relationship with Janelle was going well. Clips of Janelle and Christine. In one clip Kody referred to bullying and clique-ie behavior. Christine said Janelle is easy to get along with, and she’s not trying to form a clique.

Janelle said she wasn’t excluding anyone, but she wasn’t following the covid rules to the letter so they wouldn’t come over anyway. SK asked Janelle about Christine joining the family and how it changed the family structure. Janelle said Christine married Kody a year after Janelle, and Christine was a blessing that acted as a buffer. Janelle said in the beginning she thought Christine was a princess (no elaboration) and they hated each other, not hate like cat fights.  

SK asked Christine did she think Kody was jealous Christine and Janelle were choosing to hang out with each other. Christine laughed and said she’s been jealous for years, and it would be ironic if Kody was jealous of her relationship with Janelle. Christine acknowledged Kody was angry the whole family didn’t get together for Thanksgiving, and Christine said she knew, but couldn’t choose the whole family all the time. SK asks Christine are their parallels with Janelle. Christine said she hopes not in terms of Janelle and Kody’s relationship and doesn’t want it to parallel her relationship with Kody. SK said parallels of unhappiness, the kids are growing up, the relation with Kody has changed, and asked Christine if she thought Janelle was happy with Kody. Christine said she asked Janelle about her relationship with Kody. Christine said Janelle said Kody is a great dad, always has been a great dad, still is a great dad, and they have things to work out, but she has no plans to leave.

SK asked Kody what about Janelle helps him be in sync with her. Kody said they aren’t in sync and don’t partner well. He said they have a marriage that is lower in attachment. He said they are good friends and get along well, more a committed relationship. SK asked Kody if he is in love with Janelle. Kody said he loves Janelle. SK asked in love? Kody said Janelle wouldn’t say she is in that place with him if she was being honest either.

Janelle told SK Kody is her best friend. SK said emotional and physical intimacy go hand in hand and asks if they are working on it. Janelle said they are fine, she won’t go into detail, but they are fine.

SK asked Christine does Kody fill Janelle’s love tank. Christine said she doesn’t know that Janelle needs that from Kody, and Janelle is strong and fills her own tank. Commercial break.

Clips of Christine talking to Robyn about being a basement wife, and everyone’s needs became before hers and her kids. Christine in the old clip said she put herself in the basement, and felt like she stopped having a choice, and didn’t matter as much.

SK asked Christine why didn’t stand up for herself and say she didn’t want to be a basement wife. Christine said she didn’t even know at that time what it was. Christine said she chose to be weaker, made things easier for others and as a result lost herself. Christine told SK she asked Kody for help and said she couldn’t be everything for everyone anymore, and said Kody said she wa changing the agreement. SK asked what was the agreement. Christine responded family came first. SK said Christine was the caregiver and the organizer, and Christine is uncomfortable with those terms and prefers constant.

SK asked Janelle is there was a hierarchy. Janelle said no, there usually isn’t, and not in their family. SK asked Janelle who Christine felt so alone with no hierarchy? Janelle said she feels Christine is coloring the past experience with her current perspective.  SK asked you can’t validate what Christine was experiencing? Janelle said she’s not saying Christine didn’t have that experience, and said Christine never said anything. Janelle said Christine may complain to Kody, but never said anything to her.

Robyn told SK she was surprised to hear Christine felt like a basement wife. Robyn thinks Meri and Janelle just dealt with the dysfunction, and wonders if Christine said I won’t just deal with it. Robyn said it unraveled things for Kody. Robyn said Kody has a memory of the past as a happy time, and hearing it was so hard for Christine made Kody lose sight of the big picture.

Kody tells SK he is carrying the load. His requirement to enter the family is to be part of one family. He said it was a living hell with Meri and Janelle. Kody said Christine lightened the burden for ten years. Kody said then Christine shrugged, didn’t care for the role, and then when Robyn entered the family, she picked up what Christine had shrugged off.

Robyn said she and her kids have struggled to feel fully accepted for years. Robyn said the struggle is with Janelle, Christine, and some of their kids. SK asked Robyn how it felt, and Robyn said it was tough, painful. Clips of Robyn feeling she is the easy target, and not truly accepted as part of the family. Robyn told SK her youngest doesn’t remember the names of her siblings because they don’t see each other. Robyn said her older kids don’t understand the decisions others have made and wonder why they chose not to be together. SK asked Robyn if she felt she was the easy target. Robyn said yes. SK asked why? Robyn said because she gets along with Kody.

Kody told SK Robyn told her children when they joined the family they would accept the other wives as mothers, and other kids as siblings. Kody said for some reason that acceptance wasn’t required of the others. Commercial break

SK asked Robyn did it hurt when the kids called and blamed her (presumably for the covid restrictions). Robyn said she hates it; it makes her angry and it’s insulting. Robyn said in plural marriage when one wife controls the husband to where it affects others she feels that wife is a bad person. Robyn said she’d help any of the kids have a safe conversation with their dad. SK asked would it be safe for her. Robyn got choked up, said she’s never cried so much in an interview. Robyn said it hasn’t always been unsafe, but there have been lots of unsafe spaces. Robyn said she wants people to see her for who she is, that she loves the family, is committed to the family, and wants the relationships.

SK tells Christine Kody said some SWs haven’t been accepting of Robyn and her kids. Christine said in the beginning it was difficult, it is tough to blend families. Christine said there was frustration and hurt feelings on both sides, and everyone came out scarred. Christine said she never intended to alienate Robyn and her kids.

Kody told SK there is a pecking order. Meri was hard on Janelle, Meri and Janelle were hard on Christine, and all three were hard on Robyn. Robyn wondered why they were that way. Kody said other than Meri he doesn’t know that Janelle and Christine even want to be Robyn’s friend.

Robyn told SK she recently had a conversation with Janelle and said she wanted a good SW relationship, and Janelle said she’d have to think about it.

Janelle told SK there is history in the past. Janelle said her desire is there, but wonders does she want to go through it again. Janelle told SK in that conversation (recent one with Robyn) she felt put on the spot. SK asked Janelle did she want a deeper relationship with Robyn like she has with Christine? Janelle said she thinks so but doesn’t know how because she and Christine raised kids together.

 SK told Robyn she felt she was the only one having a fully functioning marriage with Kody and said it must bother the other wives. Robyn said it makes her angry, tears up and asks how she’s going to get through the interview. SK asked Robyn why it makes her angry. Robyn said she doesn’t know why they won’t talk and work on the issues, compromise. Robyn said she can’t fix things for others. She can try to influence, beg etc. SK said it is a lot of heavy lifting. Robyn said it’s her family. SK asked Robyn as someone who has been through divorce can she share what Christine is feeling, and can Robyn relate to Christine now. Robyn said she (Robyn) was still trying when she (Robyn) was where Christine is now. Robyn said she loves Christine, and always wanted a strong relationship for Christine and Kody. Robyn said she understands Christine feels like she (Christine) doesn’t have choices, but wished Christine kept trying. SK asks where are Kody and Christine? Robyn said Christine says they’re divorced. Robyn said she doesn’t think they are technically divorced because the marriage was done by the church officials, and the church officials have not granted a divorce.

Christine tells SK women in her church are not trapped; they can leave if they go through proper channels to get released. Christine said she hasn’t been part of that church for a long time and has no interest in the church and isn’t worried about their church authority on the matter. Christine said she thinks God is fine if she wants to be happy and doesn’t need someone else to tell her the marriage is over.

SK asks Kody about his faith and if Christine is always married to him. Kody said Christine doesn’t believe it, and he is comfortable with where Christine is. SK asks would Christine go into the afterlife with him? Kody said God sorts things out. His religion says no, but that is dogma, and it’s in God’s hands and he’s not worried. Kody said Christine doesn’t believe in the faith anymore and is free from the bondage.

SK tells Christine Robyn is sad. Christine said she knows, and it’s not fun breaking others’ hearts. SK asks Christine where she and Kody are. Christine said they are divorced, coparenting.

Next week part 3 Kody questioning polygamy.

[Pleiades_06]

1 hour ago, ifosterkittens said:

Kody said he’s been betrayed by wives who refuse to communicate, understand or to partner. SK asked Kody are you saying your wives aren’t loyal to you? Kody said you judge

First of all thank you times 100 for your summaries. I don’t have TLC and if I did, it would annoy me to no end to watch.

Dud he really say „betray“?? What is wrong with this dude-betray means go against what he says?!

[Tatar-tot]

On 1/28/2022 at 4:00 PM, viii said:

I agree with this line of thinking, especially after reading a new article about Kody. 

https://people.com/tv/sister-wives-sneak-peek-kody-brown-doesnt-feel-safe-with-wife-meri-never-will-again/

(Article talks about how Meri doesn't understand why people ask her if she's going to leave Kody - this is her family and she's not leaving. Kody says their intimacy was damaged and he has zero desire to ever go back there. He will never feel safe with Meri again. He thinks of her as a friend and will look out for her and build her a house, but they will never be intimate again.)

He seems completely done with her. 

Why the f is the “feel safe with Meri?”  Does she with a revolver in her nightstand and a butcher knife under her pillow?  

[gustava]

13 hours ago, ifosterkittens said:

Robyn got choked up, said she’s never cried so much in an interview.

Yikes.  Sobbin' Robun outdoes herself🤣

[Cults-r-us]

1 hour ago, gustava said:

Yikes.  Sobbin' Robun outdoes herself🤣

Sobbin' Robyn outcries herself! I notice she is pretty legalistic herself, authoritatively quoting from her own plural wives handbook. Plural wives  can't go out of town and  miss holiday gatherings, plural families do this and that etc. She is happy to point out when the other wives step out of polygamy family line. Isn't this her first polygamous marriage? It gives Kody and Robyn common ground to nitpick over other's infractions of their made-up rules. 

We all have our own ideas about things. Janelle believes Kody was "such a good dad" (cue to vomit in your mouth). I believe a good dad spends time with his kids, models leadership and fairness and treats their mother well. 

[ifosterkittens]

20 hours ago, Pleiades_06 said:

First of all thank you times 100 for your summaries. I don’t have TLC and if I did, it would annoy me to no end to watch.

Dud he really say „betray“?? What is wrong with this dude-betray means go against what he says?!

You're welcome. I'm thrilled to have a place to discuss SWs because no one I know IRL watches SW. Yes, Kody said betray, and meant it. 

19 hours ago, Tatar-tot said:

Why the f is the “feel safe with Meri?”  Does she with a revolver in her nightstand and a butcher knife under her pillow?  

I'm wondering if the phrase "feel safe" came from the therapist. This season Christine and Kody were talking at Coyote Pass, and Christine said the conversation didn't feel safe and walked off. So then Kody said it about Meri, and my guess is it was a tool from the therapist they saw seasons ago. 

6 hours ago, Cults-r-us said:

I notice she is pretty legalistic herself, authoritatively quoting from her own plural wives handbook. Plural wives  can't go out of town and  miss holiday gatherings, plural families do this and that etc. She is happy to point out when the other wives step out of polygamy family line. Isn't this her first polygamous marriage? It gives Kody and Robyn common ground to nitpick over other's infractions of their made-up rules. 

You made an excellent observation of the legalistic perspective Robyn has. Robyn said Christine hasn't asked the church officials to release her from her spiritual marriage to Kody, so Robyn doesn't technically consider her divorced. When was the last time any of them attended the church where Christine and Kody married (not the specific church, but an AUB church)? Kody started home church in Vegas, and that was the last we heard of them gathering for church. I wish the Browns would share how they practice their religion. Do any of them physically or virtually attend a church and what type of church is it? Does Kody home church for Robyn and her kids? I want to know! Their faith was why they lived polygamy, but family dynamics have changed, and I want to know have their beliefs evolved or changed, and do they still consider themselves a part of the AUB church? Does the AUB church consider the Browns members?

 Robyn's first husband David Jessop was raised in polygamy, and I believe Robyn said they were open to polygamy but never practiced it. 

[Dominionatrix]

Rufus help me, but I’ve been watching early episodes of Sister Wives to see how things may or may not have changed over the years. Some observations:

-Early season Robyn comes off as energetic, levelheaded, and fun-loving, very different from what we see now. However, basically the moment she joined the family she was already putting herself forward as an expert in their family dynamic during group interviews. I as a viewer found it irritating, so I can only imagine how the women who’d been in that family for 16-20 years felt about it. 

-Christine says she always felt happy and secure in her marriage until Robyn. This is basically from the earliest episodes . C says K was good at balancing three wives and made each of them feel special and loved, but he wasn’t good at balancing four and she no longer feels special. 

-In an episode shortly before their wedding, Robyn is showing her daughter Breanna a photo of Kody, and asks who she sees. Breanna says the photo is of Kody. Robyn pointedly goes “Who???” and Breanna corrects herself and says “That’s Daddy” and Robyn affirms this as the correct answer. 

-Robyn gets an 11-day destination honeymoon and Christine and Janelle are livid because they each only got a four day casual road trip, and they feel it’s unfair to take K away from the family that long. R tells C it’s what she needed because at home with kids it’s hard to get that bonding time to adjust to being married.

-During the honeymoon, R insists that K call his other wives frequently, starting from their first day. He was going to wait a couple days, but she insisted, and she’s clearly proud of herself for insisting. Janelle is mad at K and doesn’t answer for a few days. They show K following R’s order to make a call, and he calls Meri in speaker while R gets ready for dinner. However, he only has a minute to talk, and Meri is miffed that he cuts her off so soon.

IMO, this interference is a good example of something that becomes really toxic over the years; R thinks she’s doing everyone a favor and being a model polygamist by trying to “help” K’s relationships with the other wives, but because these are longtime marriages that she is NOT IN, it winds up causing problems. Nobody seems to acknowledge this, so today (2022) R and K wonder why the others seem so hostile to precious R who cares so much about the family and is so innocent.

-By season 3 (still in Utah in the big house with Robyn a block away), C and K’s strained relationship is a frequent topic of discussion. Aside from the current thing about him withholding intimacy, it seems clear that the problems that caused their divorce have been ongoing for over a decade, and C has been trying to fix the same issues for that long. That’s why 2022 R saying C hasn’t tried is so ridiculous. 
 

-Still in season three in Utah, Meri has a stern talk with C about how she can’t change K, she can only change herself and her perspective. C later tells K that this made her realize she’s not grateful enough and she will try to be more grateful. To me this is where the other big problem with Robyn comes in: R is very good about advocating for her own needs with K, but the other wives are used to being gaslighted into expecting crumbs. 
 

-Interestingly, by the time R is in her second trimester with Solomon (so married a year-ish), Kody is still extremely affectionate and loving with Meri. He frequently tells her loves her, seems genuinely happy to see her and sorry to leave, and calls her his soulmate. So that break happened later. 

[Coconut Flan]

Kody picked up the habit of re-writing history from Robyn.  

[Cults-r-us]

On 2/7/2022 at 8:42 PM, Pleiades_06 said:

First of all thank you times 100 for your summaries. I don’t have TLC and if I did, it would annoy me to no end to watch.

Dud he really say „betray“?? What is wrong with this dude-betray means go against what he says?!

I think rhis is why Kody will never, ever forgive Meri

 

On 2/7/2022 at 8:42 PM, Pleiades_06 said:

First of all thank you times 100 for your summaries. I don’t have TLC and if I did, it would annoy me to no end to watch.

Dud he really say „betray“?? What is wrong with this dude-betray means go against what he says?!

I think this is why ego-driven Kody will never, ever firgive Meri for trying to find a "better, richer man"?, like Trump will never concede the 2020 election: it is too big of a blow to his ego.

[viii]

On 1/31/2022 at 9:26 PM, ifosterkittens said:

Janelle and Christine are friends, probably not best friends, but real friends. 

IA. I was scrolling TikTok and Paedon Brown (Christine’s son) popped up on my fyp. He discussed both Christine and Janelle briefly and seems close to them both. 

[Alice in Fundieland]

Gwendlyn apparently googled her father and shared the results on her Instagram story. 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/celebrity/sisteaol.com-wives-gwendlyn-trolls-kody-s-google-descriptor-post-christine-split/ar-AATAgto

I don’t know that she’s trolling him as the headline state’s. She didn’t really add much commentary. Maybe she’s embarrassed for him, who knows? I love that Kody the egomaniac is referred to this way, but I’m not his kid. 

Screenshots of the article are under spoilers. I didn’t include all of it because there was a lot of rehashing Christine and Kody’s breakup with no new information. 

Spoiler

 

Spoiler

 

Spoiler