Sister Wives... TLC's new winner

I finally got around to catching a few episodes of Sister Wives, TLC’s new cult phenomenon now that Jon and Kate no longer be bringing home the bacon.  I admit, I tried to watch Sister Wives when it first debuted a few weeks ago, but was bored to tears within the first five minutes.  My DVR on the other hand, continued to record all new episodes.  I knew this past Sunday was the Wedding episodes where Kody Brown, already married 3x over with enough kids to start his own league, married Robyn, a woman with kids of her own (who’s the daddy?  I don’t know.. like I said, I only just started watching).

Anyway, I’m hooked!  Robyn got to have the big wedding reception, and decided to include the other wives (in order of marriage: Meri, Janelle, Christine.. unless I got wives 2 and 3 mixed up.  How does Kody keep track??)  Christine felt rejected upon finding out that Kody had a say in what wedding dress Robyn would wear.  “He never cared what dresses we wore.. that hurts”. 

Just so many questions come up!

1. So is he only legally married to Meri, with her being the first wife?  In case of an emergency, does Meri have final rights on decisions?

2. Did Meri know when she married Kody that he was a polygamist and wanted multiple wives?  She mentioned that Janelle was present at her wedding.

3. If she didn’t know, how did she feel about it when one day Kody rolls up with another lady. 

4. HOW IS THERE NOT MORE JEALOUSY? 

5. In my opinion, Kody seems all “HAHA, look at me.. I got 4 wives, I’m living the life!” It was a little odd when Janelle? (Christine? Idk) was helping Kody put on his tie for his wedding with Robyn and then he kissed her.  Kissing another lady on your wedding day…just odd. 

6. Let’s get down to business.  How many dependents does Kody claim on his taxes? 

7. Do they all work?  What do they do for a living?  How are they able to feed, clothe, and house all these kids? 

8. Robyn gets to keep her own house a block away.  Is this for tax purposes?  The other wives are jealous and annoyed that Robyn gets to keep her own house.  Does that mean the other wives want to live on their own too?  Doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose of a marriage? 

I’m just fascinated.  And granted that my DVR keeps recording Sister Wives on Sunday nights, I’ll probably continue to watch.  It’s not every day you see a guy on TV dating multiple people… oh wait.

  

So I just googled Sister Wives to get more information, and I came across this article on MSNBC about how the Brown family is under investigation as it is a 3rd degree felony in Utah to be polygamist.  Per the article, Kody is only legally married to Meri (that answers my first question!) but refers to Janelle, Christine, and Robyn as his "spouses".  I understand why this sort of situation is deemed abnormal, but I don't see how it is against the law.  Legally you're married to one person.  What you do with your time and with who is almost the equivalent as those who have Open Marriages.  Kind of the same thing, isn't it?  

This seems definitely like a topic I'd love to delve deeper into.  I mean, to me it seems the biggest obstacle to overcome is not so much the legal issues, but the emotional issues of jealousy and resentment I'm sure these women (or others in similiar situations) will inevitably have.  It's just irrational for you to have a husband with other spouses, sharing your house with you, taking nightly turns as to who gets to sleep with your husband.. having your husband take the other spouses sides over yours.  I mean, those are the real issues.  

FASCINATING.  

As Mr. MoviePhone would say... "I'M IN!!!!"