AfterThe Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesseason 1, there was some concern that the next season of the series would feel contrived, but after its full release, it’s clearthe show committed to authenticity in a whole new way, proving that the drama is real. ThroughoutThe Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesseason 2, the drama that started building up in the show’s inaugural season finally came to a head. Taylor Frankie Paul and the rest of the women of MomTok, a Utah-based TikTok content group, have been sharing their lives, leaving some wondering how real the series is.
ThroughoutThe Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesseason 2, it became abundantly clear that the MomTok group was dealing with drama from several different angles. While their personal lives had been dramatic prior to the show beginning to film, their own drama mixed with MomTok drama paled in comparison to the issues they began seeing when fame entered their lives. After the massive success ofThe Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesseason 1, the women struggled to keep their names clear and the drama that was arising in the press. Maintaining themselves on screen,the MomTok ladies were consistently authentic.
TSLOMW Season 2 Breaks The Fourth Wall
The Cast Often Talks To Producers & Camera Operators
Throughout the firstseason ofThe Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives, it was clear that the women were on reality TV. While this isn’t revelatory, most reality TV shows choose to operate under a mask. Pushing viewers to suspend disbelief in a lot of ways, many reality shows have their stars act like the cameras aren’t around, or don’t have them interact with producers, camera operators, or crew on screen.The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesnever tries to prove to viewers that they aren’t filming a reality TV show. In fact, they do the opposite most of the time.
Rather than not having thecast ofThe Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesnot interact with crew members or producers, the show often leaves in moments where the cast refers to the cameras, talks to the producers, or discuss the fact that they’re being filmed for a TV show. The level at which they break the fourth wall is often surprising, but leaves the show in an exciting space. Trusting that viewers will be able to handle the fact that the cast is on camera,The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesdoesn’t mind breaking the fourth wallfrequently for viewers.
TLOMW’s Cast Members Address Outside Media & Drama Directly
While most reality TV shows embrace a sense of reality,The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesembraces all of the cast members' realities. Rather than only featuring moments that the cameras have filmed for the show,the series often discusses news about the cast members that occurred when cameras were down or when the show wasn’t filming at all. Using news footage, clips of their own videos, and TikToks to weave together a more complete picture,The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesdoes its best to work through everything going on with MomTok rather than a selective handful of drama.
ThroughoutThe Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesseason 2, it became even more clear that the cast was open to talking about anything and everything going on in their lives. While the first season pushed that into the public eye by using bodycamfootage of Taylor Frankie Paul’s arresting officer, it becomes even more crystallized in the second season of the series when viewers get the chance to see headlines, group texts, and other found moments to piece the story together rather than relying on the women’s versions of things.Seeing the full picture is a major step toward authenticity.
Cast Members Live In The Real World Rather Than Isolated Reality
They Don’t Create A New Universe For The Show
Although thecast ofThe Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesaren’t sharing absolutely everything going on in their lives, the show is very much grounded in their reality no matter what. As the cast moves through their drama, it’s clear that rather that ignoring bits and pieces of their lives like other reality shows likely would,The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivescrew is embracing everything they have happening and then some. If Taylor is going through drama with MomTok, her family, andher relationship with Dakota Mortensen, it’s all shown on screen rather than being pushed to the side.
DuringThe Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesseason 2, Mayci Neeley was shown to be having some issues dealing with the passing of her late boyfriend from years prior. Mayci, who’s been one of the most neutral members of MomTok and therefore becomes a great narrator for the series, lost her son’s father when she was just 13 weeks pregnant, and is still grappling with grief. The show was able to bring her into a tough moment honoring him without losingthe other plots Mayci was involved in, proving thattheir balance and understanding of drama is at its peak.
TSLOMW Is Unique In Its Authenticity
The Show Bears It All
While other reality TV shows sometime have to pick and choose the way they incorporate drama into the series or share cast members' lives,The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesis able to live in an authentic space that makes it unlike its competitors. The show is able to be an authentic, living, breathing representation of what’s going on in the lives of the MomTok group, sharing things that are silly and things that are serious in equal measure. While there’s always the occasional contrived moment of reality TV,The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesis able to remain authentic.
Even in moments where the show may be pulling strings, the drama between the cast is real and the pieces of their lives they’re sharing are legitimate.The emotions at play from MomTokand their families aren’t up for debate, and the authenticity in the way the show chooses to frame the world of MomTok is excellent for viewers. Knowing thatThe Secret Lives Of Mormon Wiveshas only gotten better between its first and second seasons, the show can only continue to improve if it keeps up the same style and formula, staying rooted in the world it shared.
All episodes ofThe Secret Lives Of Mormon Wivesare available to stream on Hulu.
