From Polygamy to Mainstream TV: Sam & Melissa React to "Sister Wives" Season 16 

Here's what the nanny did:1) kept Robyn's kids isolated from everyone else in the family; 2) kept Robyn and Kody from having to actually raise their children; 3) gave Robyn and Kody unlimited shopping, eating out, traveling time; and 4) gave Robyn unlimited time to service her "best customer".

I know you guys don't want to rewatch season 18, but I feel like it may be valuable to do so now that you have (almost) the full context of everything leading up to it. You may notice things you didn't previously, or see them differently now. No pressure! Just a suggestion! Thanks for your insightful content. I always appreciate your take on things!

It was later revealed that Kody told Ysabel he couldn't be away from his FAMILY for that long ... Evidently Ysabel being his daughter did not qualify her as FAMILY

My Dad took the day off work when I had my wisdom teeth out. Just saying. Miss you Dad.

Robyn had “Nannies” throughout the entire show. Her sister, niece, and at least one mom-family member. Plus Mykelty, Asypn, and other Brown kids helped watch Robyn’s kids.

She has always had a nanny, never had a job, and let Kody spend all his time at her place. Regarding COVID-19, Kody & Robyn never got vaccinated, and Kody traveled to multiple events. Even going as far as officiating and dancing at a wedding. But wouldn't go to Isabelle's surgery.

the nanny kept the kids occupied while Robyn serviced her best customer

Add on that Kody and Robin did not vaccinate. Once the vax was available Janelle and Christine got the jab, but were still not ‘safe enough’ for Kody. (Not starting a vax debate, just adding another layer to Kody’s insanity)

Christine leaving was a narcissistic injury for Kody. Loss of control and feeling less of a ‘man’ because someone left him were the things that angered him.

Gabe and Garrison had jobs……more than Kody can say.

COVID gave Kody an additional excuse to separate from the rest of the family. He kept moving the goalposts and had no interest in acting like a family.

Robin was in on the cat fishing: she admitted her best friend knew about it all along

This season makes you feel so sad For Janelle And Christine.

Robyn also ticked me off because she was saying her kids could not go more than 2 days without seeing Kody. If her children had to have surgery Christine would have been the first for Kody to go be there and champion for it to happen. It was so infuriating and it seemed like the last straw for Christine.

Kody acted as if it was all or nothing with Isabelle’s surgery. He could have flown up with them and stayed for two weeks and come back to Flagstaff. Then when they came home, she could have stayed with them for another 2 weeks to help with her recovery. Meri could have helped Robyn and the nanny with the kids. But to your point, there are three young adults in the house and only two minor kids. Robyn and Kody are full of it. They used Covid as Kody’s official entry into monogamy.

Love it, "The math ain't mathing."

"Nobody has the right to always be right" 💯👍

That sweet girl's surgery was the end for me with Kody and Robyn. I don't care what's happening in the world (COVID, a world war, the apocalypse), nobody is cutting into my daughter's spine without me being there!!! NO FREAKING WAY!!! And if Robyn loved those kids the way she does her own, she would have forced him to be there. I spent years thinking maybe they got a bad edit or the show was leaving out context. . . . . But no edit/extra context makes this ok!! That's your baby having major surgery!!!!

I got the impression that Kody was upset and angry over the divorce because being divorced made him look bad in his faith, and because Christine dared to go against him as the patriarch. There is a scene from season 17 (I think) where Kody and Christine are talking things through after the split and Kody starts to become belligerent and Christine just completely shuts down. It's obvious at that point she is just saying placating things to diffuse the situation. I think that scene really shows why Christine didn't communicate with Kody her intentions to pack his stuff up, because she knew how he would react and she didn't want to deal with it. You guys nailed the frustration over the nanny being allowed access to Kody and Robyn's family when the rest of the family was not. The hardest part about the nanny situation was that no matter what the OG 3 and their kids did for COVID protection it was never enough. And they were never believed that they were actually following guidelines, where the nanny was believed outright, and given grace when she did expose them to COVID in a way that the others weren't.

You two are like literally the best example of humans

The official COVID rules constantly changed. So why didn’t they change in a relaxing way for Kody. Even after they all get it he wants Truely to test for Dec 2022. They got it Oct 2022. Savannah not called or invited to come. She was a minor living in town. Yet Robyn held Avalon talking into that baby’s mouth who was from out of state in her backyard letting the kids touch Mykelti out of town in front of Kody. They travelled… The next day Ariella can’t knock on Christine’s door or touch Truely. Only Kody can. Janelle ignored that. Her kids that came ignored that. But Robyn and her kids did not touch Truely. Truely who spent time with Mykelti who they could all touch. Does Covid exist in Christine’s backyard and not Robyn’s? You will be livid for season 17.

I've watched this entire series multiple times, as have many of the fans. It feels to me, once Kody was settled with just being with Robyn, he slowly started to act like a jerk. He had already figured out how to not be intimate with Meri for DECADES (her words), but kept her dangling (IMO) for her monetary contributions. What Kody could not foresee is just how loyal his OG3 wives were to THE PRINCIPLE, the dogma of the church, their children, their family unit, so therefore to Kody, the patriarch. Then Kody just had to keep getting meaner and meaner, cruelty, upon cruelty, to just try to shake these women loose. He even says as much, hinting that men can't "divorce" their wives. It's the wife that has to leave. I'm not sure if that's true in their doctrine or not, but certainly it's true for someone like Kody--a narcissist. Plus, the longer they stay, the easy access Kody and Robyn have to the "family funds". So, why not keep things strung along a bit, but drive the wedge further and further (like with Meri), to where he doesn't even have to visit his OG3 families. And they can come to him, in "the big house" where he lives with Robyn, for family functions, etc. But Christine was not going to stand for this and good for her! I think, as others have said, that really hurt his narcissistic ego. And then, Janelle is observing her own relationship with Kody fall further apart, at HIS hand, and watching what is going on with Christine, and I think the blinders started to fall off for Janelle as well. And then Kody finally got what he really wanted--to just be with Robyn. But he's still struggling with his wounded ego. And his lack of access to their funds now. But he made Christine choose her child(ren) over him and turned around and made Janelle choose her own kids over him, so he was straight-up chasing them further away with those actions, among other actions (like changing the goal-post on Covid rules, etc). Torture to watch. Absolute torture.

Kody hates the idea that he's been dumped rather than being the one who dumped her. Secondly, he no longer has access to her money

The only reason they blame Breanna was she was a minor. No idea who got it first. Covid didn’t just exist in the high school. It existed at stores, wedding, gun shows, the college and the elementary school. If the little kids got it it would be their fault. If the college kids got it they would have to leave. So it was Breanna. What they did to that child/adult. By the couch interview she was 18.

3 things 1st What the scene Kody asked if Meri that is following ALL his rules ould start coming over and Robyn shut it down. Robyn ALWAYS brought her own chair to the meetings, Kody nevr did. Itbwas Robyn rules. 2nd the question "What did the nanny do?" was Christine asking what the nany did differently to the family about covid and the rules. We ran with, Robyn doesn't need a nanny. 3rd Robyn would've never allowed Meri to babysit the kids becwhen Robyn first joined the family she pointed it out to Kody that Meri spanked the kids too harshly borderline abusive.

Crushing watching that episode. I raised a blended family of 6 to 8 kids, all lived with us. No Nanny, fulltime jobs and Sports for all. Lots of working lates nights too be present for them all, daily.

Kody and Robyn’s family got COVID when one of Robyn’s older children brought it home from school. It wasn’t the Nanny.

Kody takes the blame for nothing. I think we all have that same question. He has no control over Christened and he can’t handle it! 😊

If it had been one of Robyn's kids needing surgery, he would have been right there!

I mentioned it on your last episode, but listening to how little support his daughter got makes me sick to my stomach. I had to convince my husband to leave the hospital parking lot and go home when my daughter was admitted during Covid and he wasn’t allowed in. My sweet little girl finally getting scooped up by her daddy at discharge was such a relief to all of us. I just can’t fathom making this choice and seeing Sam feel that same way just reaffirms that you guys are great parents.

I was really looking forward to this review from you both! Season 16 is when the cracks not only open wide for all to see, but spread rapidly through the family! Kody could not leave to support his daughter during her very serious surgery, but he COULD leave to marry his friend! He danced with all those people and not even a face mask in sight! I just cant stomach him anymore !

I don't know the nature of the back surgery but you briefly mentioned before that it had to do with a rod placed in back due to a curvature. I don't know how mobile that she would or wouldn't have been prior BUT I am disabled and a permanent wheelchair user who has a rod in my back. When I had the surgery it required 2 people to move me from bed to a chair or chair to bath in order to ensure that the rod didn't shift or break while I was still healing. It may be possible that she would have required the same immediately after surgery at least temporarily.

It broke my heart to see Kody use the rules as an excuse to deny all relationship with his kids and wives. There are so many things he could have done to have safe contact with them, even if face to face in a room was unwise. He chose not to. He could have have spent the days that belonged to a certain wife in constant zoom calls with each and every child from that wife. They could have had dinner "together" via zoom, they could have masked up and sat outside, or had a distanced picnic. They did none of that. He went months not seeing his kids with every day belonging to Robyn. Then the fact that he went to a WEDDING, unmasked, unactivated, and dancing and breathing in the faces of everyone there? Mind-boggling. Especially after Ysabel's surgery. So selfish....

Kody was torn up because he lost face in his church (Christine was royalty), he was torn up because he lost control, he needed someone to vent about because he is never wrong.

!!! Robyn comment that Arie cant be away from kody for more than 2-3 nights shows that she never HAD to experience that long without him because he was never away to the other wives homes even before covid

He made the rules so nobody could meet his demands giving him the perfect reasons to not show up and blame them for it. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. They needed the nanny because Robyn slept in very late in the morning.

So exciting to hear the progress update on the channel's Room at the Dream Center! It's amazing to see your hard work making a financial impact for this important organization. ❤

We really never found out what the nanny did. :) I have really appreciated all of your commentary on sister wives. Looking forward to next week!

It would be fun to see you two react to your previous comments on season 18 now that you've watched from the beginning 😅

Kody had the opportunity to be there for Ysabel's surgery. Kody made her try every other therapy in the book to avoid Ysabel getting a needed surgery. Also, Kody doesn't see doctors. In older episodes, he talks about chiropractors, naturopath, etc. Kody can say til he is blue in the face he was protecting his family. I call bull on it. Kody was being a self-serving control freak. When he didn't get his way, he pitched a tantrum. Maybe the nanny wasn't for the children 😅😅😅

I started tearing up when Sam was talking about Isabella’s surgery. I have daughters and I can’t imagine. Thank you both for making these videos. I look forward to them every week

48:07 I think there is a direct correlation between Kody being an attentive father and him being on the "outs" with the wives. I used to think he was tough on his children that were going against the grain of their family and that of Kody's rules/beliefs, but he even began treating his "obedient/loyal" children poorly too; and I think it's because they are children of the wives that he no longer gets along with. He gets along with Robyn's kids because he loves her. But he dismissed his other children because he doesn't get along with their mothers. Even Savannah, Truly, and Ysabel were disregarded because they belonged to wives he was angry at, despite the fact that these girls weren't doing anything that he was disappointed about. That's Just my Take.

The nanny issue gets even worse when you remember the age of her youngest son(s) is the same age as when Christine’s daughter (m) had to live hours away from her at Robyn’s when she was just a girlfriend as Robyn’s nanny. So if Robyn accepts m can be a nanny a x age but then says that s at x age her child needs a nanny. Doesn’t that say a lot.

Don't forget Merri was following his rules. Robyn and Kody stayed away from her. So , it wasn't about compliance.

Fr. Richard Rohr, a Franciscan spiritual teacher, says, "Do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy?" Insisting that everyone agree that you are right can never lead to happiness - your own or that of anyone in contact with you. Look how many people Cody saddens by his desire to always be right, by demanding that they "respect" him and show "loyalty" by stating that he is always right.

She is the one with influence. Cause of time. And contact. Uneven time. Always. I was watching past season and he was napping at Robyn’s when Christine brought Truely to hospital. The day before he was supposed to go to Utah for Leon.

I love what you are doing! Watched every episode you have done. I would love to hear you guys reaction to Seeking Sister Wifes. Not very religious but very strange.

The nanny was the third in the bed. There is no other reason for a nanny when there are three other members of the family were available.

Janelle encouraged Kody to see Ysabel when she went back to school when it was available. Cause Janelle sincere about polygamy. Ysabel is hers as well as Christine’s. Meri encouraged Kody to stay in Vegas and not go to Utah when Truely had kidney failure. Janelle said her kids can walk into Christine’s and take something out of her fridge. Her kids can’t do that at Robyn’s. Cause to Robyn those kids are not hers.

Kody and Robyn both said that the nanny helped with "childcare and schooling". Well, Ari wasn't even in school yet!

Ahh! I love the mrskickstand reference! I love her TikToks! "What. Does. The. Nanny. Do!" 😂

I think you mentioned how hard it would've been on Gabe ir Garrison if one of them brought home covid. Kody would've come down so hard on them! But since it was Brianna, you don't hear him getting mad at her at all. You only see how Aurora was quarantining in the basement, and she was crying cause she misses everyone, and Kody cried too, missing her for 10 days. Then the saddest part was how he didn't contact his other kids for months, and doesn't miss them at all. 😢

The catfish has a real life connection to Robyn. He stopped sleeping with her while sleeping with others. Leon got no time with dad. Leon could see he was at another’s house. Damaging. If Kody upset by catfish he would have formally left her about the catfish. We know he strung her along but left her years before catfish.

Kody is upset about Christine leaving because Christine pulled the plug, not him like he did Mary

FYI kody called Isabeles surgery as christine going on VACATION!!! What the heck

Also .. I recall Robyn had 2 helpers. Her niece Mindy for help with children. And her nanny for shopping / housekeeping/cleaning etc.

Kody can’t bring the littles to Meri who has been all alone. Following the rules that mean they can get together. But Robyn said no. That it would be relaxing the rules. Yet those were the rules to meet.

Sam, I was applauding you when you talked about how all the dysfunction between Kody and his wives has negatively impacted the children! The children are so often overlooked in this crazy family.

The reason he gets upset is MONEY. He didnt think she was going to leave in a tangible financial way. He didnt think she was going to sell her house and disentangle herself from the family financially. He thought she was just going to be like Meri, but without the "hope."

In the beginning, they talk about making decisions by committee. That ended pretty quickly after Robin was settled into their marriage, it seems.

there is a comment that a neighbor who were friends with Kody and Robyn stated, Kody and Robyn spent a lot of time in their private spaces while telling the children to not bother them. So the nanny was the housekeeper, the child care, cooking, washing the groceries etc.

Just a reminder, Covid still exists and vulnerable people still need to isolate and be very careful.

Hearing from the older kids, they were not vaccinated as children but got themselves vaccinated as adults. Also, Kody and Robins family were never vaccinated. That was said either in an episode or in a video from one of the adult kids.

Christine offered to watch Robyn's kids and Robyn said no.and obviously meri would have filled in, but they didn't want that.

Kody could have used Coyote Pass to visit with any of the family. Plenty of room to social distance. I wish Suki would have asked about that.

Best review yet, you see what we all see! Thanks for saying Kody was Horrible Father about Ysabel surgery. No 30 yr old woman should be going to that type of surgery on her own, let alone 17 yr old!

Bottom line with the separation with Christine is that it’s all ego with Kody. He doesn’t want her but he doesn’t want anyone else to have what HE thinks is HIS and he can’t play mind games with her to make her jump when he says jump! And that includes Christine’s money or money that is no longer HIS)! 100% control freak!!!!

No one knows what the nanny did! There was no reason to have a nanny, unless you are working dull time+, there is no reason to have a nanny!

Robyn never had a job. She’s never worked so there’s a lot not mathing up.

The matter with poor Ysabel, Kody didn’t have a good relationship with Christine and I’m sure Robyn didn’t want him to be alone with Christine and that dynamic had collateral damage upon Ysabel. I can only imagine the emotional havoc that is placed on ALL the children other than Robyn’s kids!!

Kody is at Gabe’s 7pm-7am. He is there a couple hours, sleeps then goes to Robyn’s cause he enjoys it. He only cares for his minor children. Why would the boys bend over backwards for maybe 2 hours when they are home if they are home before he goes to bed 1-2 days a week? If that? This is not Big Love where their nights start at 9am and last 24 hours. This is not Big Love where the schedule is decided for him and changes made among the women for events like birthdays and anniversaries.

I have to admit… I watched the first several seasons, stopped for awhile then saw previews for the drama and I was like WHAT IS HAPPENING?! So before season 16 started I watched the seasons I had missed over the last few years prior. 😂🤣

I would love to hear you recap My Five Wives which was also on TLC, or even interview Brady the patriarch of the family! They left their religion but continue to practice polygamy.

I think you answered your own question with regard to the kids its because the older ones are all grown and no longer in his control, I think everything that happened with the boys made him really realise he no longer has any power with them so he stuck with the kids he can still control xx

Ofc we cant know things for certain but Christine has maintained consistently that she did give Kody a lot of notice to come get his stuff he just never did so she had to start putting it in the garage

The nanny was a school tutor for the Covid schoolwork. Now one would think they would set up a garage classroom and have ALL their school age children be there and tutored, especially since truly, and Solomon are much closer in age than Solomon and Ariella… One tutor for one household, when three houses have children in the same grades.

Kody is such a narcissist that he is a TERRIBLE leader. He can’t take anyone else’s position or feelings into account. He couldn’t lead a thirsty horse to water. The mystery to me is why did it take so long for the family to fall apart?

I think there was something I saw about one of the younger kids being special needs but I can't pinpoint it exactly.

If Kody was a God driven leader he could not treat those woman like bad leftovers. Catfiaher knows Robyn! The boys makes me so sad. I lived in a bad marriage, for 14 years, the first 10 because of God! The last 4 trying to escape. Then God blessed me with God centered man who has blessed me with the friendship, love, kindness, laughter, and TIME I deserve. I do the same. Even when its hard.

Kody's extra- emotional response in the next season may be the result of narcissistic injury he feels from Christine's leaving. His pride, sense of control, and sense of self were injured, so he lashes out either in anger or in feeling sorry for himself. He rewrites history and blames Christine for all the "bad" feelings in the family.

Wait til meris mom passes away . Kody goes to funeral and doesnt act like covid matters . He is chatting away close to everyone

There were rumors that Robin had a thyroid issue which could have caused fatigue enough to need a nanny. However, it was all about Robin's anxiety that caused COVID rules.

35:35 you are the only viewer who thinks suki digs deep. 😂😂

It’s great to see you both have your eyes wide open now… I always thought you guys needed to watch all previous seasons! Glad you’ve all come full-circle!! 👍🏻

You two are hilarious 🤣 love your channel. More seriously, your content is always great and provides such an interesting perspective, allowing your viewers to learn something new!

Robyn didn't work yet needed a nanny for two children just so that she could stay in her bedroom with kody is my theory

Truely was a year older than Sol. She didn’t have a husband or nanny.

I wonder if Robin doesn't have great mental health and struggles with depression. I also dont think she is very smart. I know in an early episode she wanted the kids to put up their arms in the shape of a Y for Wyoming. Meri had to correct her laughing saying that Wyoming doesn't start with a Y.

Kody was pretending for the camera too

Glad you're starting to see it, now rewatch and you'll see the rest of it easier. Oh and Kody still hasn't gotten the j. A. B.

During all this Janelle still had intimacy in her relationship, something that gets glossed over.

I think there was one time where Robyn tried to change the rules during a family meeting and kody said to her "now wait a minute-that's not what we agreed on" and it was so clear he only considered himself and Robyn.

The look on y’all’s face when he said “maybe Robyn is an astronaut.” 😂😂😂

and Yes Meri should have been the nanny

Kody said in front of the camera that many couples have non intimate marriages, so he 100% told her that off camera.

The family could have all gotten vaccines to prevent hospitalizations, was it NOT an Option?

Kody and Robyn are horrible. They are self serving, selfish, lack compassion and honestly don't give a damn about the OG members of the family. It makes me sick. Those poor kids.

It’s a total midlife crisis AND he thought he had the og3 locked in! The money the show pays them is incentive to stay and he dangles future affection from himself as a carrot to stay the course and osck along his baggage. His continued disregard and disrespect or lack of affection/attention to the og12 is the straw that breaks the camel’s back. And Robyn finally caves to let Meri come by, but you KNOW she didn’t want it.

We were having a social distancing get-togethers later in covid. My grand daughter snuck a hug. She thanked me for hugging her. I hugged all my grandkids that day. 😢

Warren Jeff withheld intimacy as punishment ? That's interesting because I'd be happy if I was his wife and he withheld that because that dude appears creepy