Amazon is currently developing a docuseries examining the Duggars and other TV reality families. The news comes closely on the heels of Joshua Duggar's criminal trial and conviction for receiving and possessing child pornography. Sadly, the news was only the latest in long string of controversies stemming from the family at the center of TLC's 19 Kids and Counting and Counting On. The Duggars began their reality TV career in 2009 with 17 Kids and Counting, where they amazed viewers with their family of 16, and later 19, children. However, the family also concerned viewers with their extremely strict fundamentalist Christian views on raising children, gender roles, and marriage.
19 Kids and Counting was cancelled in 2015, when it was revealed that Josh Duggar molested his sisters as a teenager and that the Duggar parents, Jim Bob and Michelle, attempted to cover it up. However, Counting On began the same year and continued to give the Duggars a platform by following the adult Duggar children as they married and had children. Counting On was also cancelled in 2021 when Joshua Duggar was first charged with possessing and receiving child pornography. He currently awaits sentencing and faces up to 20 years in prison for his crimes. With this latest scandal, the Duggars and the principles that guide them are certainly worthy of further investigation.
As reported by Variety, the Duggars and other reality families will be examined by a docuseries in development by Amazon. The untitled docuseries is currently in production by The Cinemart, Story Force and Chick Entertainment, and expected to release in 2023. The docuseries will specifically investigation the Institute in Basic Life Principles, the Christian organization that the Duggars adhere to. In its investigation, it will also take a look into other reality families such as the Bates and Plath family who also associate with the Institute. Check out the docuseries logline below:
On the heels of Josh Duggar’s explosive criminal trial, the untitled project will expose shocking connections between some of reality television’s most famous large families and The Institute in Basic Life Principles, a controversial fundamentalist organization and homeschooling empire. In addition, prominent commentators, writers, and social media voices will explore the broader zeitgeist of reality television, social media, faith, fundamentalism, patriarchy, and power.
The docuseries is certainly intriguing and has the potential to uncover information that is vital to the public. As viewers have watched Josh Duggar's disturbing trial unfold, many can't help but wonder if certain harmful principles the Duggars abide by contributed to his crimes. What is most shocking is that Joshua continued to have access to children and to have a family even after details of his sexual assault as a teenager arose and even after he was subsequently caught up in multiple cheating scandals. Sadly, his wife Anna Duggar says divorce is the last resort, despite the numerous disturbing allegations against her husband. The cover-up of Duggar's crimes and the pressuring of his wife to remain married to him, certainly hints at harmful underlying views on the patriarchy and gender roles.
The Institute in Basic Life Principles isn't only followed by the Duggars. It is a large non-denominational Christian organization that hosts multiple ministries under it, as well as a homeschooling program. The potential that it could be spreading harmful views is especially concerning as numerous families abide by this institute and raise their children under its instruction. The families that abide under it, such as the Duggars, Bates, and Plaths, all share similarities in that they decry the public education system and block out much mainstream media. In this way, they are especially able to ingrain their views into their children without providing them the opportunity to learn of outside views. Just what these views are and how harmful they might be, will hopefully be investigated by the docuseries. As Amazon prepares to investigate the Duggars and other reality TV stars, it may uncover harmful principles of the Institute that have led to these families' inordinate amount of scandals and concerning, cult-like traditions.
Source: Variety