Sister Wives S18E5 When the Going Gets Tough 

Robin whining about her Christmas knowing that her husband’s children didn’t get gifts or time from him on Christmas tells me everything I needed to know about Robin.

My favorite part was when Christine said that she wouldn't have been friends with Robyn even if Robyn had asked her to because she didn't trust her. All I could think about was all of those times when polygamy expert Robyn kept saying how you can't be friends with your sister wives if you don't trust them to support your relationship with your husband. Apparently, that is exactly how Christine felt.

Robin requires that Kody not spend more than a couple days at a time away from her children, but doesn’t understand that Kody neglecting his other children is a deal breaker with their moms is insane to me. Can you imagine how she’d act if Kody didn’t go to one of her children’s surgery or ignore her children on holi?

The whole scene when Robyn told her kids that the family didn't want to spend Thanksgiving with them and twisted it in such a way that it seemed that it was because they didn't like them... Pretty much lets us know how she twisted things when she spoke with Kody.

This episode ticked me off. Savannah seems like such a sweet, well adjusted kid and doesn't deserve a father like Kody. It's starting to make sense why some of the girls asked Logan to take them to that dance at school in the earlier seasons

The crepes are a throwback to Christine's tradition of celebrating St. Lucia - a Scandinavian holiday. Christine was truly the BEST at creating and organizing neat family traditions. She should have been appreciated SOOOOOOOO much more. smh

Extra gifts for Christine at Christmas was Kody being passive aggressive mean to Meri.

It ticks me off when I hear Kody say Christine was a horrible sister wife to Robyn. Christine was the 1st one to rush over & hug Robyn when they announced her being pregnant with Solomon. 😡

Meri was at the meeting in season 17 when Janelle told Kody that her and Christine were getting a vacation rental, and Ysabel and Truely could visit Kody for Christmas. So Meri knew months earlier that Ysabel would be in Flagstaff at Christmas.

If I could speak to Jenelle in this episode I would tell her," Having a new start with Kody would be like buying stuff off your own garage sale, just let the junk go Jenelle. "

She didn’t know Ysabel was in town. But I think it was subtle shade at Robyn for her also not being included in second Xmas.

Usual SW episode, Robyn makes it all about her and cries. It’s not about you Robyn and no one owes you an explanation about their marriage. And that whole “cheapened Christmas” thing was stupid. Not to mention if Meri had of stuck with the original plan and invited everyone to her house for Christmas Eve, she would have know the kids that were in town.

Robyn’s classless (and clueless) whiny remark about “the recipes/food” is obviously motivated by Robyn’s jealousy over 1) how much the family enjoys Christine’s food and try to duplicate it and 2) The fact Christine has a successful cooking show.

Robbin totally controls the Kotycoaster. SheRa is armed with grenades, n leads koty around with a string attached to his wet pencil 😂😂

Fans: We couldn't possibly hate Robyn more. Robyn: Hold my beer...

I think it speaks volumes that Christine said she was never able to trust Robyn, and would have never been her friend.

The inequality of time and resources, I totally believe. Especially the resources part, I mean the proof is hanging on the walls at Robyn's McMansion. All the overpriced crap decorating that house proves the inequality of resources. Remember when Janelle said in a past season confessional that she noticed family money being spent in a questionable manner.

This episode showed why Christine needs her own show. She is so succinct in her points, entertaining at the same time.

I found this last esp harder to watch thank last week. It’s crazy to me that this is what Robyn and Kody think makes them look good. Every word that comes out of their mouths just points out how bad they really are.

Kody's not just bad at polygamy. He's bad at being a marriage partner of any kind.

I love that Robyn and Meri, the two wives who got the most resources, are complaining about how Christine was favored.

It's so funny how you need a shower after discussing Sister Wives!!!😂😂😂

"...we're going to rip into them anyway..."😂😂😂

Before Robyn came in to the picture, Kody was lucky enough to have three strong and independent wives that did everything. Even though they obviously had struggles and issues, they were a well oiled machine with the child care, the finances, the planning of events. Robyn came in to the family as Kody's "play mate". She did not contribute in any meaningful way, but she DID start convincing Kody that he needed to take charge (probably so that she could be in charge through him). Now that Christine is gone, the kids gravitate toward her as the caregiver/parent. Janelle and Meri leaving will affect them financially. And, Kody was never responsibly in charge of anything. Now she is a lazy woman stuck with a lazy husband. All her tearless crying is because she is losing her free ride and never about how the other women felt, what they invested, or what would be in their best interest - let alone their children. The entitlement those two exhibit is so disgusting.

That LoveSac beanbag killed me. My sister had one and moved a lot, and I was always the one that got stuck lugging the LoveSac up and down apartment stairs. I was so glad when she got rid of it. Watching them struggle to get it through the door cracked me up. 😂😂😂

Nikki, I think you may have missed this. When Robin was having her melt down about being a cheap Christmas, she said I don’t care about how many fancy houses they RENT. Wow, definitely a slam

That episode all I walked away with is janelle is right kody is pushing her out he’s intentionally treating Savannah poorly to get janelle out. I Hope Savannah never sees what he said about her and her getting her Xmas whenever

Kody’s ego, narcissism, & immaturity is not surprising and if anyone is self-deluding, it's him. But Robyn’s selfishness as she cries for her own “heartbreak” without a thought for the heartbreak of those children who have been neglected and ignored by their own father, not just at Christmas, but for surgery and birthdays and other milestones is absolutely astounding & shameful! Not to mention hearing him put them down and watching him with another family every week where he play-acts as a loving father. She has a lot of nerve.

This episode had me seething, I was mad for Savannah, I was mad for Janelle. I was furious with Robyn, Meri and if I could have jumped through the screen I would have slapped the sh*t out of Kody. The whole conversation between #1& #4 (I don't even want to say their names, I would call them witches, but then that gives witches a bad rap😂) anyways that conversation felt set up, especially #4's side. I want to quit watching but still continue on hoping Janelle, Christine & their kids get some kind of vindication. So happy Christine has moved on and as soon as Truly turns 18, Christine no longer has to deal with the DB that Kody is.

Bahahahaha! Kody the cosplay business man! Love it!

Robyn: Wahhh!! Christine treats me like an outsider. Also Robyn: Wth happened to Christine and Kody? They need to fix things for ME. I don't know what happened, I'm just an outsider, explain it to me Meri!

Oh my gosh Robyn complaining to Meri she didn’t get Kody enough? 🙄 January 2022.

Robyn always says she doesn't understand how any of their situations are a deal breaker and that no matter what they should stay and work it out.... BUT SHE LITERALLY LEFT A MARRAIGE BEFORE KODY! It's so insanely hypocritical and I haven't seen anyone call her out on that.

2 specific parts that pissed me off, were when Kody said he didnt have a relationshi with kids because he didnt have a space in their homes, what a crock of *bleep* that is! and then of course the other part that made me real mad was when ROBYN complained about the time in Vegas when she says he Kody wasn't around enough....its like look lady, thats nothing in comparison to him being at your house for 5 months straight and then now all the time

I think what Meri (and a lot of people) keep missing is that the reason Christine’s relationship was “good” for many years before Robyn, is because she made things PERFECT for him. She did “whatever he wanted” including caring for Meri and Janelle’s children on top her own. In s17ep1, Christine tells Kody that she “did whatever I could so that you would want to be around me”, and Kody agreed. So her marriage was always sad in the sense that she couldn’t be her true, vulnerable self. Either she had to be perfect or lose his love and “favor.” She gave all of herself to her and children’s detriment and he wasn’t there for her when she really needed his help. It’s worse than a slap in the face. Things continued to deteriorate as Robyn entered the “big picture” and began to push the OG wives and kids out of the frame figuratively and literally (I.e. creepy hand drawn picture of a young Kody with Robyn’s children as babies). Christine took the heat while Meri and Janelle both played down the inequity in order to avoid the negative repercussions.

When Robyn talks about the special food, it’s a direct hit at Christine and all her special foods and recipes that the kids love. She is jealous that all the kids gravitate to Christine

This spiel with Kody spending an entire month with Christine came out of nowhere. May I see a show of hands of folks that believe for a hot minute, that Kody went 25 days without Robyn getting his pencil wet?? They were probably sneaking out of the cul-de--sac at night and meeting up to bump uglies.

Didn’t Robyn say last season that early in her marriage the other wives basically threw him (Kody) at her? So why is it now she says that she was treated unfairly with his time?

Robyn's rant made me actually laugh. I loved angry, truth telling Christine this week.

I love how Janelle & Christine’s girlfriend energy. I wish Janelle was in a place to move closer to Christine.

I want to see Kody have to pay money back to Janelle and Meri and learn humility. But he never will. His misogyny is growing, and my patience is thin. Tell John to keep being a smart ass it's really funny. I've got some of your books. They're fun. I also follow you on Twitter.

Of all the things they could have aired, why this ? Why is Robyn still whining about Christine?

NIkki your imitation of Robyn's 'crying' voice and mannerisms is so spot on!! It cracks me up every time.

I think Kody getting Christine so many gifts for Christmas that time wasn't so much about Christine or her being the favorite, but was more about punishing Meri. He used Christine to punish Meri (for whatever reason, real or imagined) and it also created tension between Christine and Meri which he also loves to do. He enjoys pitting the wives against each other. I don't believe he ever wanted the wives to get along well and have good relationships. It's a control thing for him. He's just a bad person. Love you both and your commentary!

I didn’t see Meri telling that story to go against Christine! I saw her telling that story to show the manipulative games Kody has always played depending upon whose his favorite at the time. I saw Meri saying a lot of “I don’t know” to Robin about Christine & Kody. Robin was trying to get Meri to say a-lot of bad things about Christine but I don’t really see where Meri took the bait

Your recap was better than the actual episode

Meri stays for the pay check. Meri left because the SW contract is over. Christine “left early” because she couldn’t fake it anymore. She took her house sale $$ and all her future and 💯 whole TLC checks when she split. Pretty sure Janelle made the same money moves by establishing her own LLC in September 2021. THAT is why Kody was really pissed off in December 2021. Kody can’t invest their money into the family fund’s account any more. The bottomless spending sprees are over. The happily ever after-ending will be truest for Christine & Janelle’s futures.

I love when John says that he doesn’t care.

I can’t wait to see your recap of season 4 episode 10. Wow. The changes since then…. The look on Robin’s face when everyone says how much they love Christine’s mock tapioca. You can see how jealous she is of how everyone raves about it.

Janelle finally gave proof of Robyn’s manipulative BS and that is why Christine and Janelle don’t want to be Robyn’s friend and why they don’t trust her. They have both tried but Robyn runs to Kody after conversations with them and tells Kody that they are mean to her. So it’s finally been revealed. This is why Kody thinks Janelle and Christine are bad and mean sisterwives. Robyn has what the other wives feel are some what private conversations. Later to find out that Robyn runs to Kody and twists everything. I was also annoyed that even with Meri leaving she just won’t freaking commit, she has to make it clear that she isn’t “really leaving” and that’s just irritating. Now it just her “ business “ is moving it’s enough already Meri. We all know EVENTUALLY she leaves but why even show the Meri in the car scene… She admits Kody doesn’t care she admits she has heard him say he wants her gone but it’s this “ hee hee hee I’m not leaving the family even though everyone treats me like dirt”. She is humiliating herself for money I guess…..

“Narcissist gotta narce.”😂😂

Robyn always speaking over the existing family about them just shows to me how much she expected them to join her idea of the family, not her joining their existing family.

Your husband has grown on youtube. I remember when he was shy and now he seems so invested and make funny comments. You guys are just a great couple ❤ Love hearing what you guys have to say!

The producers are trying to rehabilitate Robyn's and Kody's reputation. They are doing a horrible job.

John I clutch my pearls at the betrayal! 😂 No simpletons just schemers, trust!

Christine and Janelle were spectacular this episode. Christine refusing Robyns friendship because robyn cant be trusted and Jenelle coming in and confirming that with the whole buying a house convo that robyn immediately repeated to kody! Meri even did okay with her "both parties have to want therapy". Robyn needs to mind her damn business, shes not owed an explanation about Christine and Kody's marriage.

Thank you for the recap, TLC needs to pull the plug and take the show out of its misery.

What drives me absolutely nuts is the fact that this awful father did this with the boys and could look at the last season to see how this affected his sons and then this season does the exact same thing with Savannah. I thought he was blind to the situation and did not have any self awareness or empathy. Nowwwww I think he is a horrible absent and borderline abusive father.

Love your ad John’s opinions on the show. btw. You look glowing and healthy, in other words great.

I think that the one month Kody spent with Christine in Vegas was when Truley was recovering from kidney failure.

I'm betting the month at Christine's was aftrer Truly almost died from kidney failure on his watch ??????

I thought it was so funny when Christine and Janelle were discussing how Kody always told them they weren’t being good sister wives to Robyn but as I remember Janelle and Meri never really had a great relationship and he didn’t seem to give a shit about that lol he only cared when it came Robyn.

“Words is hard.” “If your hair hasn’t greyed yet just wait.” Man, we need a tee shirt for every episode of John’s sayings! Love the fact that you guys like Bob’s Burgers, too. 🍔.

IMO it worked before Robyn because Kody wasn’t overly invested in any of the wives. They all could share focus on kids and the idea of The Family.

Exactly - Janelle and Christine united their families and celebrated the holidays as one, big, loving family. Robyn didn't invite anyone to come over and thought/hoped that would ruin their holidays. Robyn was describing hers and Kody's family's broken Christmas and doesn't even realize it - Karma for the WIN!

They could have skipoed this episode, Robyn the other wives left because Kody was only with you! What part of that don't you get?

You two are crazy!😅😅😅😅about the insomnia part from Watching the show, that gave me a good laugh. PS:your husband looks great with the hair cut , Nikki your smile is cute always😊

I sit here and shout AMEN while watching the 2 of you❣️ I love spending an hour with you both on my lazy Monday❣️ Btw I have never looked so intensely for tears to come out of someone’s eyes like I do watching Ms Robin. 😂🥲🤪

LuLaroe is one that you sell their clothing. She has to have somewhere to store the clothing, her inventory. The way LuLaroe works is they send you clothing and you don’t know what patterns are on the clothing. Some of the solid colors you can order, but every shipment is a total surprise on what’s in there. You sell the clothes and then you have to get more. Mary happens to be a top seller, so she makes really good money and I imagine she has quite the inventory. Plus they do their marketing by uploading a show of the clothes on social media. Then anyone can follow along and order what’s in her inventory.

The whole time they tried pushing the bean bag in I just kept saying turn it on its side. Drove me nuts they didn't fig that out. And Meri was totally side eyeing Robyn almost that whole convo😂😂.

Mykelti is the relative who you don't speak openly around because she will bring it up later in front of a group of people who you don't like.

Noooo you missed it! Robyn was throwing shade at Christine’s cooking show. And the renting of the house. Go back and listen word for word!! She was showing her true colors with that whole spew.

I’m so excited. Cannot wait to hear John say “Getting his pencil wet”. So funny.

When Robyn talked about how this Christmas was cheap, she said, I don't care if you rent a fancy house Janelle rented the most bare bones basic Arbnb that still seemed small.

The beanbag looks like a lovesac-type thing. Those things are heavy, and they fluff up so huge (they’re filled with memory foam shreds)… the only way to move them around is to squish the air out of the memory foam and either wrapping the heck out of it with plastic wrap (like Christine) or, if you have a factory-sized industrial-strength vacuum packer, you can vacuum-pack it 😂

Robyn and her "Text *ss Chain Sore Massacre!" 😆Seriously, that woman should see the exorcist - and I don't mean the movie.

Kody and Robyn are trying to garner sympathy for themselves by throwing spaghetti against the wall, hoping something will stick. Their stories may alter a bit each week, but it ain’t working. No one is buying anything they are selling. Once again, I just fast-forward through their soliloquies. I am sooooo tired of TLC dragging this out. Move on!

I think that Meri pointing out about how Kody gave all the gifts the Christine and her nothing was to say that Kody spoils his flavor of the month to the detriment of everyone else. I took it as a dog at Kody, not Christine.

Christine and Meri also had offices at their houses too. We saw them all in Christine's nice office when they all sat around at the round table and told Meri that they wouldn't give her any money for her B&B. (Se13 ep1)

23:26 i laughed so hard. When she should have got a little lamb 😂😂😂😂 this wad john funniest.

I'm starting to think all this complaining and lying from Robyn and Kody are to get people riled up, so more people watch Sister Wives. No one can lie so much about things we can easily fact check. It's on purpose.

😂😂😂😂 " And we don’t CARE"" 😂😂😂😂 Nikki, you married a comedian!! John you are too much!! ❤️ you two!!

It’s so obvious that Robyn is in Kodys ear all the time. I’m not buying her past insistence that she isn’t allowed to discuss the other wives with him. Also there must be so much more history with Mary over the years that isn’t discussed. Jenelle and Christine not keeping a relationship with her can’t be just because they are cruel.

Been waiting on your take, is John upset about the Mary quote not being at all what it sounded like in the previews? As someone newly divorced and Janelle's age, it is just hard to imagine dating again period, I can understand her thinking.

I like John. A no-nonsense kind of guy. I find that refreshing.

My blood was boiling after the episode.

🤣🤣🤣 Narcissists gonna ‘narse’ !!! 🤣🤣🤣. I almost peed. Hilarious!!! Thanks!!

I laughed when John said that about Kody and Robyn being simpletons...my husband says something similar about Kody. Like i would be getting mad and be like can you believe he just did/said that? And he always says that he thinks Kody is just that dumb that he doesnt understand or care how his actions effect others.

I love your channel guys also your books

I was yelling at my tablet 😂😂😂 some not so very nice names at grody&robbym!!!🤭 Grrrr 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤣

I call BS on Kody & Robyn. He claims he was only at Robyn's because he's in an office working. However, wasn't it last season or two seasons ago that he filmed himself in a closet at Robyn's, making the point that he has no space for himself anywhere? So which is it? He has to go into a closet to get space for himself, or he's in 'his office' working? They can't have it both ways.

I love the way John says "don't care"

The Meri-Robyn conversation seemed like a response from Robyn about all the reasons nobody can stomach her

I think Meri has stood by Robyn for several reasons. 1- Meri picked Robyn and to be critical of her would reflect poorly on herself 2- I think she thought being in with Robyn might create an “in” with Kody 3 - Robyn was a “friend” for her since Janelle and Christine weren’t her friends. Also I appreciated that Christine admitted that she was never going to be friends with Robyn.

I love your imitation of Sobyn. 🤣

Mykelti …I go back and forth on whether she “plays the middle” to make sure that her kids have grandparent (which is what I hope), or whether she always felt left out, and this middleman role is a way for her to be important in the family.

We have been watching for 18 seasons...YES Robyn got more time, love, understanding, attention and nanny care...

Y'all rock! Thanks for taking it for the team And yes, why is Mykelti still on the show?

All the houses had extra room. Christine’s garage got the wrestling equipment. Robyn said Kody is always in the car working. Kody said Robyn gave him an office. With 5 kids and a live in nanny… ? Really? Me thinks their stories don’t align. I don’t buy it. I don’t buy he can not work in different homes on different days. I think it’s a big lie.

I honestly think that Meri thought she would "find favor" by bring Robyn to him like some kind of offering or something. Like look I brought you this young hot wife.