The Secret Lives of "Mormon" Wives

[expectantsteelerfan]

Who else is watching this trainwreck?

I'm on episode 5, and as I said in the Randoms, I'm so mad at myself for continuing to watch this junk, but also can't stop.  

I put Mormon in quotes in the title because so many of them are not even trying to follow their religion that I'm not sure how they haven't been kicked out of the church yet (is that a thing?  I feel like that's a thing). 

I hadn't heard of MomTok or the swinging scandal or any of them before this, and to me it's clear that the show is just them airing whatever drama they can come up with so that they have a platform to gain more fame and followers and make more money.  There is no real point to the show.  And that's why I'm mad that I'm watching it at all.  

[fivechickens]

I watched it!

Train wreck, indeed.

[ssmjlm]

I've become so focused on the production oopsies at this point. I have about half of the last episode left.

Whitney is shown coming back from Hawaii to a house with green cabinets. Then later they show them in a smaller kitchen that is not the same one. Reddit says there was 11 months between filming episode 1 and the rest and they must have moved or not even really had the house with the green cabinets at all.

In the episode where Mayci is in the car with Dakota, he gets into her car and they show a VW symbol. Later they show b-roll of them driving and it's a white infinit. Not the same car.

[fivechickens]

Most, if not all, of these women are/were in abusive situations.

It is so sad, really. Jen, Taylor, Whitney, the one who at 21 married a 49 year old. Yikes. So sad.

Most of these girls looked like they should still be in HS but are married and have multiple kids. I hope this show does not come back.

[fivechickens]

Sept 11, 2024 6:53:33 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

I've become so focused on the production oopsies at this point. I have about half of the last episode left.

Whitney is shown coming back from Hawaii to a house with green cabinets. Then later they show them in a smaller kitchen that is not the same one. Reddit says there was 11 months between filming episode 1 and the rest and they must have moved or not even really had the house with the green cabinets at all.

In the episode where Mayci is in the car with Dakota, he gets into her car and they show a VW symbol. Later they show b-roll of them driving and it's a white infinit. Not the same car.

Whitney's hair went from being really long to mid/short in the next episode and no one said anything like ‘oh cute hair’. Taylor went from having a miscarriage to almost 9 months pregnant. Production should have explained the gap in filming since it was so obvious.

[lilac05]

I watched about 5 minutes and couldn’t do it.

[eddy]

I rarely can get into reality tv but I am HOOKED on this show. I especially love all the loopholes they find to indulge in vices but still be mormon. 

It is absolutely fascinating.

[gerberdaisy]

I never watch reality TV and was sucked in to the first episode. I'm now wondering if I've been missing out all these years. Haven't watched beyond the first one yet, but honestly, I will watch anything with Mormonism in it, it is fascinating to me.

[eddy]

Also all these women are the bread winners but still let their husbands act as if they are head of households.

Getting botox in your mid-20s is absolute insanity and a sign all of them have way to much money. They already don't drink or smoke. Botox actually ages their face, but maybe that is the look they are going for.

[cville]

Sept 11, 2024 8:08:45 GMT -5 eddy said:

I rarely can get into reality tv but I am HOOKED on this show. I especially love all the loopholes they find to indulge in vices but still be mormon. 

It is absolutely fascinating.

The idea that laughing gas and ketamine!!!! are a-ok, but coffee is not is mindblowing.

[ssmjlm]

Sept 11, 2024 8:10:52 GMT -5 gerberdaisy said:

I never watch reality TV and was sucked in to the first episode. I'm now wondering if I've been missing out all these years. Haven't watched beyond the first one yet, but honestly, I will watch anything with Mormonism in it, it is fascinating to me.

I find organized religion fascinating in general, but Mormon is interesting because it's made up. I mean they're all made up, but this one is just extra made up. Like scientology.

[ssmjlm]

Kate Kennedy on IG was posting some of the comments from Zac's family about how the show made him look bad, he's not like that.

Uh, there are receipts people. Everyone saw the text messages AND he has a gambling problem.

[gerberdaisy]

Sept 11, 2024 8:15:26 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Sept 11, 2024 8:10:52 GMT -5 gerberdaisy said:

I never watch reality TV and was sucked in to the first episode. I'm now wondering if I've been missing out all these years. Haven't watched beyond the first one yet, but honestly, I will watch anything with Mormonism in it, it is fascinating to me.

I find organized religion fascinating in general, but Mormon is interesting because it's made up. I mean they're all made up, but this one is just extra made up. Like scientology.

Yes! Really, I am fascinated by all religions, but Mormonism is something extra.

I live near where it was founded? started? and went to the Hill Cumorah pageant one year, it was something else. 

[dontlook]

Sept 11, 2024 7:15:36 GMT -5 fivechickens said:

Sept 11, 2024 6:53:33 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

I've become so focused on the production oopsies at this point. I have about half of the last episode left.

Whitney is shown coming back from Hawaii to a house with green cabinets. Then later they show them in a smaller kitchen that is not the same one. Reddit says there was 11 months between filming episode 1 and the rest and they must have moved or not even really had the house with the green cabinets at all.

In the episode where Mayci is in the car with Dakota, he gets into her car and they show a VW symbol. Later they show b-roll of them driving and it's a white infinit. Not the same car.

Whitney's hair went from being really long to mid/short in the next episode and no one said anything like ‘oh cute hair’. Taylor went from having a miscarriage to almost 9 months pregnant. Production should have explained the gap in filming since it was so obvious.

Episode 2 starts with saying XX months later.

Im with the OP. I’m not sure if I can keep watching. It’s ridiculous but also really sad and I’m not sure I should support it. It’s so hard to look away though.

[eb777888]

Sept 11, 2024 7:12:22 GMT -5 fivechickens said:

Most, if not all, of these women are/were in abusive situations.

It is so sad, really. Jen, Taylor, Whitney, the one who at 21 married a 49 year old. Yikes. So sad.

Most of these girls looked like they should still be in HS but are married and have multiple kids. I hope this show does not come back.

The 47 y/o married to Demi has known her since she was 10! He's Angie Harrington's ex (for Real Housewives of SLC watchers) and Demi's parents were good friends with Angie and Demi's (now) husband and hung out at their house all the time. Disgusting. 

[sproctopus]

Connor has some lewks!

The mental gymnastics for the sake of religion is WILD.

Zac is terrifying to look at.

I love the honesty in the staged scenes, LOL.

Mayci is the only one with a brain.

When do the children get parented?

Whitney is at best self-centered and at worst a narcissist.

Their brand deals must love this show.

I cannot imagine staying in these marriages if I was the breadwinner. Like...for what?

Taylor is too dumb to not say the quiet parts out loud but I love her bc she's like a dumb dog?

10/10-- loved this show.

[eb777888]

So.... was Taylor the only one who did soft swinging? I feel like with the Fruity Pebbles thing (lol), a lot of stuff is very vague. Or does more come out? I'm having a lazy day over here so will probably finish today, I'm only four episodes in.

[sent]

This is on my radar to watch. I spent my late 20s with a few Mormon male co-residents who didn't get me and my non-white existence. I didn't get them, their wives, and their lily-white lives. I can feel my one co-resident right now rolling his eyes at the mention of this show. That was back when "Big Love" was on HBO and they didn't agree with that portrayal of them either.

[expectantsteelerfan]

The only part I've actually enjoyed watching is them going to the soda shop and learning about how those are a THING because soda is the only vice drink allowed by their religion.

[pinkdutchtulips]

I don't know if I can watch this. I have a bunch of Mormon friends dating back to HS. I make no judgements about another person's beliefs provided they don't attempt to aggressively convert me to theirs.

The trainwrecks described sound more like a bunch of ladies out for their 15 minutes of fame.

[livinitup]

One of the most interesting things I’ve learned about LDS from chatter about this show is the term Jack Mormons. It’s definitely slang and might be a slur. You are Mormon, you just aren’t strict about it. You’re a Jack Mormon.

I don’t think it’s that crazy to assume that lots and lots of families aren’t that into adhering to what we thought being a Mormon was all about. It’s a high-controlled group encompassing vast geographic areas that requires the expulsion of non-Mormons. People vary, their rules do not. There is also easy access to the greater non-Mormon culture and all of its vices. So, you are going to end up with chunks of people who aren’t that strict but don’t want to leave (and they pay their tithe). You are going to have parents, friends, and neighbors who don’t want to expel their children, friends, and neighbors. So, you get Mormon families like the ones in the show. Lots of them.

I saw it growing up in a big Roman Catholic family and neighborhood. Do you sent your kids to Catholic school? Mostly go to church or don’t say you don’t loudly? Donate regularly to your parish? Maybe you’re in the Knights of Columbus. Are you cheating on your wife, mean, a jerk, un-Christ-like? That’s okay!!

[ssmjlm]

Sept 11, 2024 9:03:27 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

Sept 11, 2024 7:12:22 GMT -5 fivechickens said:

Most, if not all, of these women are/were in abusive situations.

It is so sad, really. Jen, Taylor, Whitney, the one who at 21 married a 49 year old. Yikes. So sad.

Most of these girls looked like they should still be in HS but are married and have multiple kids. I hope this show does not come back.

The 47 y/o married to Demi has known her since she was 10! He's Angie Harrington's ex (for Real Housewives of SLC watchers) and Demi's parents were good friends with Angie and Demi's (now) husband and hung out at their house all the time. Disgusting. 

While this is fine in fictional book tropes, a big NOPE in real life.

[eb777888]

Sept 11, 2024 11:15:50 GMT -5 pinkdutchtulips said:

I don't know if I can watch this. I have a bunch of Mormon friends dating back to HS. I make no judgements about another person's beliefs provided they don't attempt to aggressively convert me to theirs.

The trainwrecks described sound more like a bunch of ladies out for their 15 minutes of fame.

So you think watching this is making a judgment on the Mormon religion? I'm trying to understand some of the posts here. I guess I'm a little confused why people feel bad watching this. Maybe it's because I was raised Mormon for a portion of my childhood and have family still in the religion and I never thought to feel bad about it? I watch all things ridiculous, lol. 

[pinkdutchtulips]

Sept 11, 2024 11:24:25 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

Sept 11, 2024 11:15:50 GMT -5 pinkdutchtulips said:

I don't know if I can watch this. I have a bunch of Mormon friends dating back to HS. I make no judgements about another person's beliefs provided they don't attempt to aggressively convert me to theirs.

The trainwrecks described sound more like a bunch of ladies out for their 15 minutes of fame.

So you think watching this is making a judgment on the Mormon religion? I'm trying to understand some of the posts here. I guess I'm a little confused why people feel bad watching this. Maybe it's because I was raised Mormon for a portion of my childhood and have family still in the religion and I never thought to feel bad about it? I watch all things ridiculous, lol. 

I watch things all ridiculous too .. see Chimp Crazy but the depiction of Mormon wives on this show is a total 180 from friends of mine who are Mormon. It's almost like its a caricature. 

[expectantsteelerfan]

Sept 11, 2024 11:24:25 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

Sept 11, 2024 11:15:50 GMT -5 pinkdutchtulips said:

I don't know if I can watch this. I have a bunch of Mormon friends dating back to HS. I make no judgements about another person's beliefs provided they don't attempt to aggressively convert me to theirs.

The trainwrecks described sound more like a bunch of ladies out for their 15 minutes of fame.

So you think watching this is making a judgment on the Mormon religion? I'm trying to understand some of the posts here. I guess I'm a little confused why people feel bad watching this. Maybe it's because I was raised Mormon for a portion of my childhood and have family still in the religion and I never thought to feel bad about it? I watch all things ridiculous, lol. 

I feel bad watching it because I don't like that I'm giving the women in this show what they want, I.e. attention and fame for no real reason/talent.  And I feel like they only got the smallest bit of fame because they are exploiting the idea of Mormonism because so much of the show is about their religion and its' rules and how some of them choose to break those rules.  

As I said in randoms, I honestly feel like some of their insane behavior is due to the feeling of needing to rebel from the restrictions of their religion, though that is just my opinion, and it makes me judge the religion and their lack of support as they are making bad life choices (like staying in abusive/controlling relationships).  

TBH I watch a decent amount of junk tv, but I only feel this way about watching stuff where I feel the people on the show need more support than they are getting in their lives, Teen Mom comes to mind as another prime example.  

[tamarindy]

I watched it and had a lot of thoughts. One was that there isn’t a husband/boyfriend on this show that most women would even consider dating/talking to, but here you have this beautiful group of women. Pretty depressing lol

[eb777888]

OMG, Whitney is SO ANNOYING. And Ben Affleck's second cousin is creepy AF. He gives me some....vibes.

[sent]

livinitup , I grew up going to Catholic school and went to a Catholic college. I feel like I was always surrounded by Catholic kids and college kids who were very much not into following the strict tenets of their church. I can think of like 10 students or fewer that I met during these years who actually wholeheartedly followed Catholicism and didn't stray at all. Then I got to know a lot of Mormons once I got to grad school and residency. They were so much more intense about their religion. There was nothing casual about them at all. They were all cookie cutter. Maybe only the very religious Mormons flock to dental school.

[ksun]

I've only watched the first episode.

Jessi is someone I've followed on Instgram at least 3 or 4 years because she got into a discussion with a Monat hun and told her how awful the products were etc (Jessi owns a salon) and the Monat huns all came for her. She had drama several years ago because she was pregnant, divorcing her first husband, marrying her second and then it turned out the baby actually was her 2nd husband's not her first.

[cville]

Sept 11, 2024 11:44:24 GMT -5 pinkdutchtulips said:

Sept 11, 2024 11:24:25 GMT -5 eb777888 said:

So you think watching this is making a judgment on the Mormon religion? I'm trying to understand some of the posts here. I guess I'm a little confused why people feel bad watching this. Maybe it's because I was raised Mormon for a portion of my childhood and have family still in the religion and I never thought to feel bad about it? I watch all things ridiculous, lol. 

I watch things all ridiculous too .. see Chimp Crazy but the depiction of Mormon wives on this show is a total 180 from friends of mine who are Mormon. It's almost like its a caricature. 

Yes? I mean, my friends who live in DC have next to nothing in common with the Real Housewives of the Potomac. 🤷🏻‍♀️