Summary
- Welcome to Plathville for season four, where Barry and Kim evolve after a breakup and shed their ultra-conservative beliefs.
- Micah’s return from California surprises fans as he settles in Florida with a mysterious girlfriend.
- Season 6 promises a solution for the estranged Plath family and a move towards a more individual self-discovery.
Welcome to Plathville season 4 is a welcome improvement over previous seasons. The new season opened in a dark mood after Ethan Plath and Olivia Plath’s divorce decision. Parents Barry and Kim Plath continue to deal with the aftermath of their own divorce and its effects on their children. At the same time, the older Plath children find themselves and continue their own journeys.
Welcome to Plathville premieres in 2019 on TLC. The series focused on the conservative lifestyle of Barry, Kim and their nine children. Plath’s children were raised on the family farm in Cairo, Georgia, without television, the Internet, or formal education. While some of the children loved their bucolic upbringing, others—particularly the older children Ethan, Micah Plath, and Moriah Plath—began to rebel and seek real-life experiences. This led to discord within the family, and later seasons have captured the breakdown of several of Plath’s family relationships.
Barry Plath and Kim Plath have changed their attitudes
Once conservative parents find themselves in the middle of their divorce
In the beginning of the year Welcome to Plathville, parents Barry and Kim were unpopular with viewers. Their isolated lifestyle apparently deprived their children of the experiences necessary to survive in today’s world. Some of their older children resented this. When Ethan married Olivia, his relationship with his parents became strained.
Barry and Kim were in charge – they kept Ethan away from his younger siblings.
Barry and Kim announced their separation in 2022. Since the separation, both have begun to relax their attitudes and loosen their control over the children. Barry threw himself into fitness and is proud of his lovely appearance. Kim focused her energy on her dance studio and continued with her new boyfriend, Ken Palmer. Kim even considered moving in with Ken, which is in stark contrast to the religious rules she and Barry set for their children.
Most importantly, Barry and Kim have improved their relationships with their children. Barry even helped baptize Moriah when he rediscovered his faith. Kim worked to repair her relationship with Ethan and admitted the mistakes she made while raising her children. Freed from their not-so-romantic marriage, Barry and Kim have grown up and discovered who they are as individuals. In doing so, they have abandoned the ultra-conservative beliefs they once focused on Welcome to Plathvillewhich opens the door to more diverse storylines.
Most of the Plath children are now adults
The dynamics of the show changed as the cast grew
When Ethan and Olivia were married at the beginning of the year Welcome to PlathvilleThe rest of Plath’s children lived at home with their parents. Micah and Moriah caused a stir when they moved out, seeking freedom from Barry and Kim’s strict rules. Middle daughter Lydia Plath stayed at home and was given additional responsibility for her younger siblings: Isaac Plath, Amber Plath, Cassia Plath, and Mercy Plath.
In season 6, Isaac and Lydia are now adults. Lydia, once afraid to question her parents, is openly skeptical of Kim’s boyfriend in the trailer. Isaac, on the other hand, realizes his dream of becoming a pilot. The three youngest girls, Amber, Cassia, and Mercy, now live on a houseboat with Kim, giving them a vastly different upbringing than their older siblings. The growing up of the Plath children gives the show a more sophisticated feel.
Micah Plath moved back east to live with a woman
Micah left his adventurous lifestyle behind
Perhaps the most unexpected change in season 6 is the return of Micah. She previously moved to California to model. He met new friends and embraced a wildly different lifestyle on the west coast. She talked about her dating life and accepted people from all walks of life. Although Micah remained on good terms with his family back home, he seemed to thrive in his new life.
In the Season 6 premiere, Micah announced that he had moved to Florida, where he lived with his girlfriend. The update was very unexpected as Micah had never been in a serious relationship. Micah was very protective of his girlfriend’s privacy and her identity was never revealed in the premiere. However, she will likely make more appearances as Season 6 continues, as it would be impossible to keep her hidden while she’s Living With Micah. It will be interesting to see how Micah navigates the prenup and adjusts to home life back east.
The Plath family can finally come together and put their differences aside
Season 6 may include a resolution within the family
Due to estrangement within the family and Barry and Kim’s divorce, the entire Plath family has rarely met in recent seasons. However, the Season 6 trailer teased Moriah gathering her entire family. With Barry and Kim growing up, and Ethan’s divorce bringing him closer to family, it’s entirely possible that the Plaths can spend some quality time together again.
Welcome to Plathville season 6 includes big changes. As the Plath family leaves their conservative beginnings behind, they find themselves as individuals. Each member of the Plath family is at a turning point and it will be interesting to see which direction they take.
