I know people talk about how it's great to see a show that isn't centered around sex - and I agree with that one point, that it would be great, if the show didn't seem to be fueled by sexism and racism.
I only watched this show because I love Jennifer Lawrence, and I found after a few full episodes, I had to start scanning through and mostly just watching her scenes. Even then, it was disappointing to see her have to deliver such terrible writing.
It was so predictable and incredibly offensive that themes of male dominance and women's place being in the home were consistently perpetuated and the kids were pretty spoiled much of the time. It was always father-knows-best and mother never being given credit for all she does. Similarly, there was talk about how Bill needed to show his power or he would lose it altogether, rather than equality in relationships and mutual partnership.
It was also extremely problematic to have an episode which basically promotes child maltreatment as acceptable if used to teach some sort of lesson. The episode in which the kids refused to clean the garage unless paid or rewarded (I will grant you this furthers my point of them being written as fairly spoiled), so Bill decides to revoke all of their privileges - which he states to include both food and light, among other things. These are not privileges, and what astounded me was that he brought all the food to their bedroom so the kids couldn't even make their own dinners. I suppose I could have let it go if they were at least given the option to fend for themselves, but to deny basic human necessities for survival is not punishment - it's abuse. I know it's a TV show, but to reinforce the notion that such treatment is acceptable under any means is absolutely abhorrent.
And those are just a few examples of why I take issue with this show. I appreciate some people liking it, but honestly, Jennifer was the only redeeming factor for me, and had she not been part of it, I certainly would never have continued watching past the first five minutes, if at all.
I only watched this show because I love Jennifer Lawrence, and I found after a few full episodes, I had to start scanning through and mostly just watching her scenes. Even then, it was disappointing to see her have to deliver such terrible writing.
It was so predictable and incredibly offensive that themes of male dominance and women's place being in the home were consistently perpetuated and the kids were pretty spoiled much of the time. It was always father-knows-best and mother never being given credit for all she does. Similarly, there was talk about how Bill needed to show his power or he would lose it altogether, rather than equality in relationships and mutual partnership.
It was also extremely problematic to have an episode which basically promotes child maltreatment as acceptable if used to teach some sort of lesson. The episode in which the kids refused to clean the garage unless paid or rewarded (I will grant you this furthers my point of them being written as fairly spoiled), so Bill decides to revoke all of their privileges - which he states to include both food and light, among other things. These are not privileges, and what astounded me was that he brought all the food to their bedroom so the kids couldn't even make their own dinners. I suppose I could have let it go if they were at least given the option to fend for themselves, but to deny basic human necessities for survival is not punishment - it's abuse. I know it's a TV show, but to reinforce the notion that such treatment is acceptable under any means is absolutely abhorrent.
And those are just a few examples of why I take issue with this show. I appreciate some people liking it, but honestly, Jennifer was the only redeeming factor for me, and had she not been part of it, I certainly would never have continued watching past the first five minutes, if at all.