Sister Wives – Kody Brown’s “Plural Monogamy” Charade Has Drawn Blood (It’s Not OK)

Sister Wives' Kody Brown's spouting off about "plural monogamy." It's a sad new twist that lets him get his way. Will Janelle embrace the concept?

Maurice BenardOctober 8, 2023

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Kody Brown’s “plural monogamy” is a desperate attempt to justify favoritism towards Robyn, and neglect of his other wives.
Kody’s polygamy jargon’s used to manipulate his spouses, and keep them under his control.
His focus on Robyn (and lack of fairness) has caused resentment. It’s led to his wives thinking about themselves. They no longer see him as a hero.

Sister Wives star Kody Brown’s latest soundbite about, “plural monogamy” is another lame attempt to justify the kind of favoritism that’s made Meri, Janelle and Christine Brown bitter women. Like a PR spin doctor, Kody plays with words, trying to make himself look like a decent human being. He’s living in luxury with Robyn Brown. Meanwhile, Janelle probably wakes up feeling exhausted and empty, after sleepless nights spent stressing about her Coyote Pass debts. Meri Brown feels abandoned by everyone – Robyn twists the knife by sharing information about family gatherings that Meri wasn’t included in, and didn’t even know about. Christine’s in a better place, but has her moments.

What a mess! Sister Wives season 18’s Kody’s “plural monogamy” chatter is so desperate. He’s holding up a facade with nothing behind it, like a stagehand setting up a prop before a play. Or maybe he’s a subpar opera “divo,” going for histrionic emotional displays that never ring true. Is Kody just playing to the Sister Wives audience? When it comes to the series, Kody wants the show to go on, no matter how bad things get. Is the pain that his unloved spouses (and ex) feel worth the price? Kody’s “opera” has gone on forever, as the leading man tries to make the world believe that he cares about Meri, Janelle and Christine. Maybe he doesn’t.

Is Kody Trying To Manipulate Janelle?

Kody has a strong financial motivation for playing the innocent victim, but no one is buying his act. While he may have some feelings, the fact that he’s all about Robyn is a glaring plot hole that renders his entire performance unconvincing. While Sister Wives isn’t a scripted show, inside Kody’s head, wheels are turning. He’s trying to do damage control, and “plural monogamy” is just another variation on his now-monotonous theme.

However, there could be another reason why he’s droning on about, “plural monogamy.” Maybe he really wants out of his increasingly troubled polygamous situation, but prefers to let Janelle down gently. If that’s the case, it’s too little too late, but he might deserve some compassion. However, there are clues that this scenario doesn’t quite compute. Offscreen, he’s said that he misses Janelle. Out of his non-Robyn wives, she’s the one he likes to talk to the most.

What’s “Plural Monogamy,” Anyway?

According to US Weekly, Kody’s vision for “plural monogamy” is him having him everything he wants, while every wife but Robyn fails to get her emotional needs met. Kody can enjoy sleeping with Robyn without needing to sleep with anyone else. The households are separated, and really, he’s freed from so many annoying aspects of plural marriage. Everything he’s slowly turned away from through 18 Sister Wives seasons, he can definitively reject by bringing his “plural monogamy” mumbo jumbo into play.

Like corporate doublespeak, such as “synergy” and “curated,” Kody’s created his own polygamy jargon. His catchphrases are useful from a brainwashing perspective. When he hammers his wives with his jargon, his goal is to make them see things his way. He can maintain control over them by getting inside their heads. However, Janelle’s never been so resistant to his games. She’s thinking about herself, and not a moment too soon.

There’s always a point when the wives start thinking about themselves, and when they do, Kody’s no longer the hero in their stories. He’s fallen off their pedestals. After that, it’s never the same. In the exclusive, he opened up to Janelle, saying that they don’t “have the function” to exist in a typical plural marriage. He seems to be saying that his monogamy with Robyn within the plural family isn’t something that’s going to change. He’s giving Janelle an oblique ultimatum, letting her know exactly what’s up, and then waiting for her reaction.

Will Kody Ever Get Real?

“Plural monogamy” talk is just more deflection from King Kody, whose Queen Robyn’s really his sole focus. His own children by other mothers have said that he squanders resources on Robyn and the kids he raises with her. They also feel like he gives his kids with Robyn more attention. The children who complain feel a lot like Meri, Janelle and Christine do. They feel overlooked. If everyone’s complaining, shouldn’t he take a look at himself?

While Kody tries to establish a new “plural monogamy” system that gives him free reign to be with only Robyn while maintaining his carefully-crafted uber-patriarch facade, he looks like a “divo” who’s a very difficult person. Robyn has some “diva” qualities too. This King and Queen may need to do some self-reflection. Kody says that the “flames are on the bridge” but who set the fire? He and Robyn held the metaphorical matches in their hands and then let them fall onto that bridge.

Now, the flames are really starting to blaze. Soon, the bridge will be no more. Right now, onscreen, Kody’s trying to extinguish the flames, but because his heart’s not in it, he’s doomed to fail. Something in him has been moving towards this outcome for years. Even if he doesn’t realize it, this is what he wants. He wants that bridge to burn right to the ground.

Once the bridge is nothing but ashes, Brown family members can possibly heal, and Kody can finally stop treading the boards. He’ll be able to step off the stage and heave a sigh of relief. The performance he’s had to give for so long must have drained him. Playacting, by pretending to be the caring patriarch, is surely hard work. Although he derived benefits from that role, time have changed. His wives want to be treated well, and they’ll take action if they aren’t. Christine proved that,

No one can really control another person who’s lost faith in them. Right now, Sister Wives season 18’s Kody’s “other” three wives just don’t believe that he cares about fairness, so they’re out for themselves. They want solutions that allow them to be happy people, rather than the victims of an outmoded “sacred loneliness” principle that’s been dead wrong from day one.