The controversial TLC hit reality show Sisters Wives season two premiere started out with the polygamist family announcing their intent to send most of the kids to public school. In addition, Cody Brown and his four wives Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robin pack up their bags and leave their sixteen kids behind to come ‘out’ to the world as polygamists. We’ve got a full recap of the one hour season premiere here!
After being introduced to the Brown family last year, TLC brought back the polygamist Utah family for a second season to delve deeper into the lives of Cody Brown, his four wives and their sixteen children.
In the beginning of the show, Cody and the wives shared their mixed emotions for making a trek to New York City to ‘come out’ as a polygamist family on The Today Show. They were excited to be able to lift the weight off of the shoulders with the big ‘coming out’, but they were nervous for the possible backlash they would not only receive from the world but from their fellow community members. So what will the world think? We do not get to find out about the legal investigation (that we already know about) that was brought on as a result of their ‘coming out’ until the end of the show.
For filler, we get to see how the kiddos get through their first days at school. While many of the polyg-lits (as the kids call themselves) prepare for the start of another school year, most of the children fret about starting public school. Mariah, Meri’s (Cody’s first wife) daughter, chooses to continue attending the private church school due to her hatred for public school. During a family meeting, which included a lot of Cody’s serious googly eyes and his mop top dancing uncontrollably atop his head, the kids expressed their concern for attending public school and being accepted as a polygamist family.
Quite a bit of time was spent on the preparation for the first day of school. We discovered that Christine, the third wife, is a fabulous cook and the other wives, kids and Cody enjoy popping over to Christine’s crib to see what baked goodies and other home cooked meals they can snatch.
How the wives handle their emergency contacts for the children’s school paperwork was interesting. Christine writes her emergency contacts Janelle and Meri as the ‘other moms’, while Janelle feels more comfortable with referencing the other wives as “aunts”.
Before the big Today Show New York visit, the whole family celebrate their unity by spending some quality time together. Their activity of choice? Taking bags of ice to the top of a hill, sitting on the blocks and sliding down the hill as if they were sleds or as they call this activity…ice blocking. They enjoyed a hot dog and
Then came the ‘big’ Today Show visit. During a three hour set visit and waiting, Meri forgot to zip her pants up after numerous bathroom breaks, while Christine expressed how starstruck she was meeting Meridith Viera and felt “fantastically weird” when the morning talk show host asked her how baby Truly was.
After being asked by Meredith why he chose polygamy, Cody was speechless. For what seemed an eternity, Cody sat struggling for words, while the wives looked on. After feeling frazzled, Cody was able to spit out that his intentions were “faith based” and that he “followed through with it” and “this is kind of how it landed.”
When the family arrived back at their home turf, they worried about neighborhood acceptance and trying to shield their children from the negativity of internet blogs.
Unfortunately, after their appearance on the Today Show, they became under an investigation into the family to see if they would be charge with bigamy. Due to the lawsuit, their new found fame and the big coming out, there was cause for concern as paparazzi and media sat outside their home snapping photos.
In the final couch moment, Cody went on to describe his fear that his family could be torn apart due to this lawsuit. He said that he chose the lifestyle ‘out of love’ and by ‘choosing to abide by faith’ he is ‘now faced with reality of something much scarier’. He added that it really ‘makes you search your soul’ and ‘puts you in touch with your maker’.
Meri breaks down when contemplating whether she would choose this lifestyle knowing what she knows now with the legal drama they are experiencing. Her response? A resounding yes and she went on to say that what she fears the most is that she would be taken away from the family or have Cody taken away from the family.
With Janelle and Robyn chiming in with a ‘yes’ response to choosing the polygamy lifestyle again, Christine responded with a mere ‘I don’t know. I don’t know.”
What do you think of their family dynamic? Will you be tuning in for more of Sister Wives season two?
March 13th, 2011 at 8:07 pm
Polygamy May Suck For Women, But It’s Great For man
March 13th, 2011 at 9:31 pm
I personally wouldn’t couldn’t share my husband but I watch Sister Wives and I see a family that truely loves each other. A family that is there for each other, kids that are well educated, taken care of, and loved and that is what family is about. Why can’t the police investigate the real crimes and leave the Browns alone. They aren’t hurting anyone, the sad thing is, it is the narrowminded people who are hurting this family and why because you don’t agree? You don’t have to live it but there are kids out there that are abused and have drug addict parents and may only eat when they go to school but it is much more important to tear this family apart who truely love each other and all of the children and the children are well adjusted kids who are going to do well in society not be criminals. LEAVE THESE WONDERFUL LOVING PARENTS ALONE and focus on the parents that don’t take care of their kids.
March 13th, 2011 at 9:45 pm
Sister Wives was great to watch this evening, I was not aware of the early shows. I believe they are sincere. Since I live close to the issue I see an amazingly refreshing approach to plural marriage which the FLDS members in Colorado City AZ fail to demonstrate. I would be curious how controlled this family is by their church hierarchy as shown by such figures as Warren Steed Jeff (my wife cousin).
March 13th, 2011 at 9:53 pm
I really think this family should be left alone. Yes it is great for the man but these wifes are not complaining and are very happy. They each chose this lifestyle. Times have changed and now two men and two women can be married. The only time this should be illegal is when children are forced to marry into this lifestyle. Adults should be able to make own decisions. At least he takes care of all of them and as far as I have heard does not rely on public assistance to take care of all those children. I agree with everything Shawna said.
March 13th, 2011 at 10:23 pm
uggh, over this family.
March 13th, 2011 at 10:45 pm
I hate it when people like you write statements that are not true as if they are facts. I do not believe in the life-style-I do not believe it is biblical and I have trouble believing that Cody is really sincere about his reason for following this life-style. However, I stand up for the truth and your statement “With Janelle and Robyn chiming in with a ‘yes’ response to choosing the polygamy lifestyle again, Christine responded with a mere ‘I don’t know. I don’t know.” just is not true. The question they were responding to is whether or not they would choose to do the TLC show and come “out of the closet” (my words) again NOT whether or not they would choose the lifestyle. Cody’s statements and their elaboration clearly show that the question they were answering was whether to live in the open or keep it a secret. I hope this was an innocent mistake on your part and not a deliberate teaser to get more hits for your article. It is exactly why those of us who write for the internet have a bad reputation (as a group) to overcome.
March 13th, 2011 at 11:06 pm
The state of Utah is a double standard state they as Mormon in Utah should now about pursacution. I’m a jack mormon and I now about it. I now about the extermination order that was put ot was put out on the mormons in the 1800′s did you? I say just watch and except them for who they are as a family not what the believe. WWJD people would say
March 14th, 2011 at 3:17 am
Though my personal beliefs are much different than those of the Sister Wives; I don’t think any one has the right to judge this family. They seem to be have a “normal” life with all that comes with that. The children seem fine. What is a good thing is that it’s out in the open. We read in the papers about the cults and the sects. These are the ones who want to keep everything private because they are doing something wrong. I applaud them for “coming out” and wish them all happiness.
March 14th, 2011 at 4:07 am
This is one of several reality shows that provides entertainment, is mindless, and can be enjoyed for it’s comedic value at the end of a long day. Kody’s no fool. He has a real harem and is not about to risk losing it.
I think they would be wise to remember the words “Wherever you go, there you are.” You can run, but you cannot hide.
March 14th, 2011 at 8:03 am
I love this family and I wish the coppers would leave them alone. I hope the whole season does not have to center around whether or not poor Kody is going to be arrested and taken away from his children… and wives. Instead I look forward to watching them be the beautiful, interesting and intriguing family that they are. Definitely one of my favorite shows right now and I will keep watching them as long as they are on the air. I’m not mormon nor polygamist but I am Christian (a nonjudgemental Christian)and admire the plight/’principle’ they are fighting for (There were men in the bible from the old testament who were polygamists…”if he takes an additional wife, he must not reduce the food, clothing, or marital rights of the first wife” EXODUS 21:10). I also love shows on TV that are wholesome enough to watch with my 13 year old daughter but interesting enough for me, also. Their are seldom real-family-value shows and Sister Wives is one of them. I just cannot say enough good things about this family. Love and wish all the best for them.
P.S. “Judge not lest ye be judged.”