I am certain thatWelcome To Plathvilleshould be canceled as its authenticity is coming into question. I’ve been watching the show since the beginning and have expert knowledge of all the on and off-screen drama.Welcome To Plathvilleseason 6is currently airing, and the show has captivated viewers since its premiere in November 2019. The hit TLC reality show follows the Plath family, which is comprised of parents Barry and Kim Plath, and eight of their ten children, Ethan, Moriah, Micah, Lydia, Isaac, Amber, Cassia, and Mercy Plath.
There are a total of 10 Plath kids, but middle sonJoshua Plath died in 2008, and eldest siblingHosanna Plathhas chosen not to participate in the show. The Plath parents raised their children in a religious and ultra-conservative environment, and Kim homeschooled all the children. Barry and Kim sheltered the kids on a farm in small-town Cairo, Georgia. Over the last six seasons, much has changed in the Plath family dynamic, and Kim and Barry’s willingness to accept change. However, I avidly believethere are points about the show now that don’t make it quality reality television anymore.
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Ethan & Olivia Are No Longer Together
The Welcome To Plathville Storyline Is Fractured
Eldest son Ethan was newly married toOlivia PlathinWelcome To Plathvilleseason 1. Their early marriage was joyous, as both of them were breaking free from their separate conservative worlds and trying a lot of new things together.Olivia had more worldly experience than Ethanwhen they married, as she was an established wedding photographer. They lived together in Cairo in the early seasons before moving to Tampa with Moriah and Olivia’s brother, and then to Minnesota on their own later.
As the seasons went on,TLCcouple Ethan and Olivia grew apart and started to resent each other for several reasons. Namely, the fact that Olivia had extreme disdain for Kim and Barry and the way Ethan was brought up. She was hyper-critical of Ethan’s views. Ethan was split between wanting a relationship with his family and wanting his marriage with Olivia to work, which made for good reality TV. The other negative element in their marriage was Ethan’s steadfast nature in having traditional values andOlivia’s insistence that Ethan not be so close-minded.
Ultimately, I feel it became obvious their differences in Olivia not wanting anything to do with the Plaths and their ever-differing outlooks and life desires drove them to get divorced. Ethan and Olivia’s marriage has been a major storyline of all six seasons, and now that they are split, theWelcome To Plathvillestoryline is fractured.
Olivia now has her own narrative on the show, which I am certain draws away from the show’s quality and original intention and makes the show more chaotic.
The Drama Between Olivia & The Plaths Is Over
The Core Welcome To Plathville Drama Has Passed
Along with Ethan and Olivia’s separation went the core drama ofWelcome ToPlathville, and so did the beef between Olivia and the Plath family. Olivia ended up falling out with everyone by season 5, which seemed to be good for Olivia personally regarding her boundaries, but I think it was not good for the drama of the reality show. Olivia first had friction with Kim and Barry over how they raised their kids.Kim and Olivia’s rift grew more when Olivia accused Kim of using Ethan’s credit cards.
From there, all the Plath children, sans Ethan, rallied behind their mom to dispute the allegations. Furthermore, Moriah and Olivia feuded over Moriah accusing Olivia of stealing her music, and Micah had harsh views of Olivia being a toxic and unrelenting person. The many tense moments betweenOlivia and the Plaths were the show’s bread and butter, and without it, the show seems lacking for valuable drama.
Now, Olivia is in a world all her own on the show, and the only drama to come for her is how her sister Lydia Grace feels about her new relationship, which viewers will be introduced to next episode.Welcome To Plathvilleneeded Olivia in the mix with the Plaths for relevancy. Now, I believethe show is grabbing at straws, which I think means it should be canceled.
Kim & Barry’s Split Changed The Show
The Plath Family Is Coping
InWelcome To Plathvilleseason 4, Kim and Barry announced to the world and their children that they were separating and seeking a divorce. I know this was a big blow to the show, but it did take it in an interesting direction regarding the newly changed dynamics of the Plath family. However, by season 6 now, I’m certainthe divide is played out. Barry and Kim no longer hold on tight to their reigns of overbearing and authoritarian parenting.
While I think it has been nice seeing a change in the pair, it is not a strong enough storyline to sustain the show.
Has The Show’s Value Reduced Because Of It?
Another huge contention withTLC’sWelcome To Plathvillethat I need to bring up, isthe heightened amount of manufactured dramathat has been put in front of viewers in season 6. In one episode, Olivia had what appeared to be a set-up scene involving a sex education party that she “organized,” with people who happened to be Micah’s old LA friends. Moreover, the Plath family is getting together twice this season as a whole unit despite the divorce, and those situations make it seem like production is putting those situations in place to further the show’s agenda now that Olivia’s out of the Plath picture.
Having manufactured or predetermined scenes is not a good direction for a reality TV show because I know it pushes away fans who want to see authentic drama and genuine moments.
I am certain thatWelcome To Plathvilleis flailing this season, andthe show doesn’t have enough dramatic value on its own to warrant a continuationof the series. However, many fans have grown attached to watching the Plath family grow before their eyes, and it’s possible that season 6 may not be the end, despite what I think are credible reasons for it to end.
Welcome To Plathville
Cast
Welcome to Plathville is a reality television series that follows the lives of the Plath family, a strongly conservative family with nine children that, while sharing some of their values, have begun to yearn for and seize their own independence. As the family tries to hold onto their old-world values, primarily separated from the rest of the country, they will reckon with their children’s newfound beliefs and clash with new family members from their spouses.
