Welcome To Plathville: I'm Convinced Kim Plath Won't Relinquish The Spotlight (& Will Make Season 7 About Her)

Kim Plath’s children are growing up, but that doesn’t mean she will let them take the lead in Welcome To Plathville. Kim and her ex-husband, Barry Plath, are the parents of nine children who they raised in an extremely religious household. The conservative family shunned sugar, television, and anything that was deemed immoral. The Plath children were homeschooled, which gave them little exposure to views that differed from Kim’s. This left the children with lasting issues that followed them into adulthood.

After her separation from Barry in Welcome To Plathville season 4, Kim underwent a transformation. She relaxed her parenting, began wearing more revealing clothing, and started dating again. I’m convinced Kim’s transformation was an attempt to remain in the spotlight as her children branched off and developed their own lives. Kim is working to repair her relationships with her kids, but she stops short of admitting that the damage she inflicted is her fault, a quality I don’t believe will improve in season 7.

Kim Has Been Called Out For Many Faults

Her Parenting Style Caused Estrangement From Her Children

Kim has never been popular with audiences due to her judgmental and inflexible attitude. Welcome To Plathville’s early seasons showed Kim’s estrangement from her older children due to her strict parenting style. Her daughter, Moriah Plath, was the first to rebel. When Kim didn’t approve of Moriah’s choices, Moriah moved out of the family home when she was just a teenager. Although Moriah and Kim are once again close, I’m convinced Kim’s unreasonable rules are what drove Moriah away in the first place.

Kim’s oldest son, Ethan Plath, wasn’t shy about voicing his grievances with Kim. Ethan insists that his home-schooled education left him at a disadvantage compared to his peers. Kim’s questionable curriculum didn’t adequately prepare her kids for the adult world. Once Ethan got married to his wife, Olivia Plath, Kim’s interference in their marriage led him to eventually cut off all contact with her. Kim and Ethan are now on speaking terms, but the damage she did to Ethan’s marriage caused his eventual divorce from Olivia.

Following her separation from Barry, Kim moved out of the family home and left her daughter, Lydia Plath, responsible for homeschooling her younger siblings. This was incredibly unfair to both Lydia and the young children. Kim abandoned her responsibilities when she grew tired of them. She then abandoned the conservative lifestyle she had pushed onto her children for so many years. While it’s great that Kim is evolving, her children are left picking up the pieces from Kim’s decisions.

It's Obvious Kim Relishes The Spotlight

She Makes Everything About Her

Kim has always loved the attention she gets from starring in Welcome To Plathville. She was the driving force behind the family’s decision to appear on television, despite Kim’s tight control on her own children’s access to television. Kim knew that viewers would be fascinated by her family’s unique lifestyle. She created drama with Olivia, refusing to have calm conversations and instead putting on a big show for the cameras. Kim continues to make everything about her even after Ethan and Olivia’s divorce, focusing on the ways Olivia wronged her.

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During her divorce from Barry, Kim attempted to play the victim. I’m convinced she thought viewers would take her side, but surprisingly, Barry has received a more favorable edit. Kim seems bothered by Barry’s calm and rational behavior, and she tries to find ways to get under his skin. In Welcome To Plathville season 6, Barry met Kim’s boyfriend, Ken Palmer, face-to-face, for the first time. Kim built up anticipation for their meeting, as if she expected them to fight over her. To her disappointment, the men were cordial and respectful.

Kim's Potential Season 7 Storylines

Will Kim Get Remarried?

Kim’s relationship with Ken may play a bigger role in season 7. Kim has already hinted that an engagement could be in her future, despite her divorce still not being finalized. Kim may be rushing her relationship with Ken because of her desire to stay in the spotlight. She knows that because her children have grown up, she risks losing her central role on the show. I believe Kim sees her relationship with Ken as a way to keep all the attention on her.

The finalization of Kim and Barry’s divorce could also be a major part of season 7. Even though they separated more than two years ago, the legal dissolution of their marriage is held up by their properties and disagreements over custody of their minor children. Kim and Barry had minimal interaction during season 6, but since they have officially filed divorce papers, tension between the former couple may rise.

Now that Kim’s adult children have lives and relationships of their own, Welcome To Plathville no longer revolves around her. I believe Kim has embarked on her spiritual evolution as a way to keep viewers interested in her. However, it is hypocritical of her to shun the lifestyle she once pushed on her children. If Kim wants to receive positive attention, she should admit the mistakes she made in the past. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely she will ever take ownership of her faults and will instead continue to draw attention to herself in season 7.

Release Date November 5, 2019

Seasons 6

Directors Deborah Ridpath