Halfway through ‘Sister Wives’ series: Here are my thoughts

My ears immediately perked up when I heard that ‘Sister Wives’ was delivering serious drama in their eighteenth season.

Before I get labeled as the ‘outsider’ jumping on the bandwagon, I watched the first couple of seasons in 2011 when it first aired. And don’t worry, I started completely over.

“Love should be multiplied, not divided” gave me serious deja vu twelve years later.

Here are my takeaways from the first nine seasons:

Favorite Wife: Christine

At first, I found Christine to be “tightly wound” ('The Office' reference) and wasn’t sure how I’d relate to her. Over time I appreciated her vulnerability, quirkiness, calming spirit, and brutal honesty. It made for a very interesting watch when she held Kody's feet to the fire (several times) and was unapologetically herself. She admits to struggling with intense jealousy, but at the same time, also sees value in herself in knowing she deserves more in specific situations. I can't wait to continue watching this dynamic as I think we're just skimming the surface here.

Meri and Catfishing: I Smell Damage Control

The show (and family) spun this situation to protect the family + gave Meri a PR toolkit. Unfortunately, I did not sympathize with Meri because I didn't think she took accountability for her piece.

When asked if she loved this person online, Meri concluded every sentence with “... with a person that ended up not being real." Yes, that person ended up being fake. But [to me] doesn’t justify that she was still seeking a connection outside of her marriage up until that point.

Because Kody said that he didn't believe someone could fall in love without meeting someone face-to-face, I think Meri got a free pass here. She was looking for an “out” and was embarrassed it didn’t happen, so she hid behind the “I wanted someone to laugh with” friendship verbiage that feels “talking points-focused.”

Prediction: I think this is the downfall of Meri + Kody and he will refer back to this point in time as “the shift” in their relationship.

It's All About Robyn

As the newest (and youngest, ahem) wife, there is a level of resentment and “earn your place” vibes amongst the three other wives that had been there 15+ years. Robyn got an extra layer of attention and care but this continues to get explained away as she’s the newest, has kids already (+ they need to be made comfortable in a blended family situation), and times have changed for Kody (more money = more money for courting, dates, vacations, an actual wedding, etc).

I understand all of the above points logically... but my reality TV lens still just thinks she’s simply the favorite. *shrugs*

These Reunions... Tamron Hall and "Tell All: Raw"

I couldn’t stop thinking about 20/20 and the subject matter I’m used to seeing Tamron covering on my TV screen. This didn't feel like a good, authentic fit as the recurring interviewer. Dare I say, this is giving me Vanessa Lachey vibes? I am grateful that these ‘reunion-type’ episodes exist but I found myself laughing at the “Tell All: Raw” name while I watched these and simultaneously cooked dinner.

That's it! I can’t wait to see how the next nine seasons unfold!