True Confessions: I watched Counting On

[Ginevra]

You know, the revised Duggar TV show featuring the older kids. Here's my review for people with more resolve than I have: *yawn* It was dull. Which is not to say that the old show was a non-stop barrell of laughs, but it just seemed...weird.

 

There were parts where it seemed like the producers were trying to de-perfect-ize the inter-sibling interactions. They featured a part where Jessa and Jana were disagreeing on how best to manage adding light to Jessa's dark single-fixture bedrooms.

 

It also seemed like the producers were trying to paint Jana into a corner where she would gush about just wanting to marry Mr. Right and have a dozen babies. She did not oblige. Frankly, she has always seemed to me to be the least comfortable being "featured." I don't think it suits her.

 

I like Joy Anna; she seems very natural. But they made her look silly by shopping for eyeglasses, video-chatting half her sibs for help choosing the glasses, but then not wearing them in the interview. They pointed this out and she just looked foolish.

 

And finally, Jessa's husband just seems like a bit of a butter knife. Not too sharp. Maybe the dim bulb in the bedroom was a metaphor. They also were talking about planning to adopt and they just sound like they are in La-La Land.

[momacacia]

Plenty of dim bulbs to go around there, I'm sure, but hopefully it's good money for them. Don't know how they'll eat otherwise.

[DawnM]

Plenty of dim bulbs to go around there, I'm sure, but hopefully it's good money for them. Don't know how they'll eat otherwise.

 

:lol:

[DawnM]

You know, the revised Duggar TV show featuring the older kids. Here's my review for people with more resolve than I have: *yawn* It was dull. Which is not to say that the old show was a non-stop barrell of laughs, but it just seemed...weird.

 

There were parts where it seemed like the producers were trying to de-perfect-ize the inter-sibling interactions. They featured a part where Jessa and Jana were disagreeing on how best to manage adding light to Jessa's dark single-fixture bedrooms.

 

It also seemed like the producers were trying to paint Jana into a corner where she would gush about just wanting to marry Mr. Right and have a dozen babies. She did not oblige. Frankly, she has always seemed to me to be the least comfortable being "featured." I don't think it suits her.

 

I like Joy Anna; she seems very natural. But they made her look silly by shopping for eyeglasses, video-chatting half her sibs for help choosing the glasses, but then not wearing them in the interview. They pointed this out and she just looked foolish.

 

And finally, Jessa's husband just seems like a bit of a butter knife. Not too sharp. Maybe the dim bulb in the bedroom was a metaphor. They also were talking about planning to adopt and they just sound like they are in La-La Land.

 

Thanks for the recap.  No need for me to watch.  I thought the original was pretty dull.  If this is even more dull, never mind.

[SparklyUnicorn]

how exciting...

 

:huh:

[mamiof5]

Lol! Gotta love "reality" TV :P

[SparklyUnicorn]

One thing I wonder about the original show.  They homeschooled right?  Did they ever talk about that?  I always think I wonder if some brave homeschooler out there will do a reality show where homeschooling is the focus. 

 

not me...noooo....but that would be a show I'd be interested in watching 

[Guest]

One thing I wonder about the original show. They homeschooled right? Did they ever talk about that? I always think I wonder if some brave homeschooler out there will do a reality show where homeschooling is the focus.

 

not me...noooo....but that would be a show I'd be interested in watching

Once in a while they did, because they promoted the ATI Wisdom booklets. They also talked about using Sing, Spell, Read and Write with the young kids. They would once in a while show the family gathered in the Dining Room, all listening to Michelle talking about something. I think that may have been the Wisdom Booklet thing.

[DawnM]

One thing I wonder about the original show.  They homeschooled right?  Did they ever talk about that?  I always think I wonder if some brave homeschooler out there will do a reality show where homeschooling is the focus. 

 

not me...noooo....but that would be a show I'd be interested in watching 

 

For a while they were the advertisement for Switched on Schoolhouse.  They had computers on the landing of the 2nd floor.  I remember once they made a big deal about how only the older kids had computer access and no internet because they were a non-screen family.

 

Then a couple years later they showed the younger kids watching a video, maybe Veggie Tales, on the laptop.   :glare:   Whatever it was, they made a comment about how the younger kids loved whatever it was and had watched most of the episodes.  

[ktgrok]

Thank you for taking one for the team and watching for us!

[slterry]

Yeah, I watched the first two episodes and they were incredibly boring. The family is a train-wreck and they're all but ignoring the only thing the general public would be interested in. The first episode was about the newly married daughter making dinner for the entire family- the ENTIRE hour was 95% about that. And the second episode was mostly about them installing can lights in her very dirty house. 

[plansrme]

Plenty of dim bulbs to go around there, I'm sure, but hopefully it's good money for them. Don't know how they'll eat otherwise.

In the dentist's office yesterday (really!), I picked up a copy of People that had an article on the new series, and the parts I had time to read emphasized what they all do for a living. They have all kinds of stuff going on. One of the boys is a pilot, and another is training to be a pilot. The whole family, it sounds like, is flipping houses. They buy, repair and resell cars. And, of course, the oldest two were lay midwives (in training, at least). One of the boys is a part-time police officer of some sort. Anyway, I probably have the details all wrong (darn that timely dentist), but they at least claim to have income from sources other than TLC.

[Guest]

In the dentist's office yesterday (really!), I picked up a copy of People that had an article on the new series, and the parts I had time to read emphasized what they all do for a living. They have all kinds of stuff going on. One of the boys is a pilot, and another is training to be a pilot. The whole family, it sounds like, is flipping houses. They buy, repair and resell cars. And, of course, the oldest two were lay midwives (in training, at least). One of the boys is a part-time police officer of some sort. Anyway, I probably have the details all wrong (darn that timely dentist), but they at least claim to have income from sources other than TLC.

Yes, I have seen those things too, and I saw that People mag in the supermarket aisle. Personally, I think they do all that featuring to try and silence the people who give them grief about keeping the kids from going to college. Getting a pilot's license doesn't necessarily earn income, BTW, and it is a very expensive hobby. (Something I know because DH, his brothers and My FIL are all pilots.)

 

Nothing wrong with any of those activites if that is what a person wants to do. (DH earned money, especially when he was younger, selling cars, planes, motorcycles and boats, and we own rental houses that were flip-and-rent.) but if you are doing those things because nothing else is available to you and/or your parents homeschooled in a way that hampers your further credentialing, I am against that big time.

[Guest]

Thank you for taking one for the team and watching for us!

It was my duty. But that is it. I have to draw the line somewhere.

[Vernal]

It was my duty. But that is it. I have to draw the line somewhere.

So you are not going to keep up with the Kardashians for us?😜

[lulalu]

Yes I watched the two recent ones. Boring would best describe it. There doesn't seem to be anything to record. They made the first set of this new spin off real dramatic with Anna. That seems to have run out. I dont know if this can continue. Hope the family can accept their time is coming to an end and find a way to support and simply be family. It will be hard for the kids I am sure.

[momacacia]

So, I had to go watch a clip of it (yes, I had to :huh: ), and it was of one of the older unmarried girls (I think?) discussing how the Josh "cheating Ashley Madison" thing impacted her and she's tearing up and crying. I realize the whole family probably needs counseling for other reasons, but it struck me that for that thing in particular, she could really use some deep spiritual/emotional counsel and healing. It's just really so very sad what has happened to the kids because of the so very public choices the parents made. Those kids really need some help.

[kandesmom]

"And finally, Jessa's husband just seems like a bit of a butter knife. Not too sharp. Maybe the dim bulb in the bedroom was a metaphor. They also were talking about planning to adopt and they just sound like they are in La-La Land."

 

Well, he may seem dim witted, but he has a poly sci degree.

Edited March 25, 2016 by kandesmom

[Guest]

"And finally, Jessa's husband just seems like a bit of a butter knife. Not too sharp. Maybe the dim bulb in the bedroom was a metaphor. They also were talking about planning to adopt and they just sound like they are in La-La Land."

 

Well, he may seem dim witted, but he has a poly sci degree.

I don't think that is correct. Derrick, Jill's husband, has been to college. Ben, Jessa's husband, was doing windshield replacement when they met. He was also only 18 when they met, I think.

[musicianmom]

I don't think that is correct. Derrick, Jill's husband, has been to college. Ben, Jessa's husband, was doing windshield replacement when they met. He was also only 18 when they met, I think.

Ben has since finished an AA degree from community college. He said his major was political science. After the AA, he stopped school because Jessa was pregnant and he wanted to spend more time with her.

[Guest]

Ben has since finished an AA degree from community college. He said his major was political science. After the AA, he stopped school because Jessa was pregnant and he wanted to spend more time with her.

Ah, well. Still not evidence that he's some giant of profound intellect.

 

Anyway, I meant in demeanor. He gives off a doltish aura. I grant you, he is easy on the eyes. But I think Jill made out much better.

[slterry]

So, I had to go watch a clip of it (yes, I had to :huh: ), and it was of one of the older unmarried girls (I think?) discussing how the Josh "cheating Ashley Madison" thing impacted her and she's tearing up and crying. I realize the whole family probably needs counseling for other reasons, but it struck me that for that thing in particular, she could really use some deep spiritual/emotional counsel and healing. It's just really so very sad what has happened to the kids because of the so very public choices the parents made. Those kids really need some help.

Yep, they do need help.  REAL help, not the fake counselor help they've gotten. They sent Josh to a Christian work center to pray away his sin (and, I'm a Christian so I'm not hating on religion- the "rehab" he attended is not rehab). They claim they've gotten therapy, but considering the type of therapy they got for the sex offender, I shutter to think what they got for their other poor children.

[slterry]

Ah, well. Still not evidence that he's some giant of profound intellect.

 

Anyway, I meant in demeanor. He gives off a doltish aura. I grant you, he is easy on the eyes. But I think Jill made out much better.

 

I completely agree with this. He got an associates degree, not a doctorate. It doesn't indicate profound anything, except for the basic ability to follow directions and write basic papers. He doesn't have a job outside of the Duggar family "business" and relies on the family money for living. He does give off a serious dolt vibe. He seems confused, his answers to any questions are overly simplistic and he thinks a VERY long time before answering simple questions from the producer.