Hey Sister Wives fans, there’s a lot of talk this week about the way Janelle Brown handled the topic of Kody Brown on the episode about Garrison Brown‘s suicide. Viewers were impressed by how Janelle addressed Kody’s estrangement from his grown kids. As we saw, Kody’s strained relationship with Garrison weighed heavily on him.

Sister Wives: Janelle Brown Shows Compassion

The latest Sister Wives episode showcased Janelle Brown’s incredible strength and compassion during one of the toughest episodes from this show that we’ve ever seen. 

As the tragic events with Garrison Brown unfolded, Janelle never pointed fingers at Kody Brown or condemned him for his estrangement from Garrison. Instead, Janelle focused on Garrison’s last days and how she and his siblings tried to help her son before he tragically took his own life.

In comparison, it was obvious that Kody struggled with guilt during this latest Sister Wives episode, as so many people do after the suicide of a loved one. Kody’s comments were very different from Janelle’s. When talking to Robyn, we saw Kody try to explain some of his own behavior with his kids, including Garrison.

Kody Brown Bounced His Grief Off Robyn Brown

During this heartbreaking Sister Wives episode, Kody told Robyn that he never meant things to turn out like this. And Kody thought he’d have plenty of time to make things right with Garrison. And the fact that he never got to mend fences still haunts Kody.

Meanwhile, Janelle’s focus in the aftermath of Garrison’s death was on her other children, especially Gabriel Brown, who found Garrison dead and made the heartbreaking call to Janelle. We also learned on this episode how Maddie Brown Brush and her husband, Caleb Brush, became a much-needed support system for Janelle.

And it turns out, Maddie and Caleb were also trying to help Garrison in the days before his death. Maddie looked into the Sister Wives camera and said that she and Caleb almost got Garrison to come to them in North Carolina. Maddie wanted Garrison to move there, but then time ran out.

Sister Wives: Janelle Talks About Garrison’s Struggle – Kody Talks About His Own Struggle

Janelle and her kids all knew Garrison was struggling, and Janelle rallied his brothers and sisters to be a support system for Garrison before that awful day. Not only did Janelle text Garrison several times a day, but so did his Sister Wives siblings, like Gabe, Maddie, and Logan Brown.

Then, when it came to Kody, viewers could see that he struggled to talk about Garrison’s death. Kody seemed to struggle to find the words to say.

He told Robyn that he bombards himself with so many “what” ifs”—like what if he had spent more time with Garrison? However, Kody also told Robyn others told him not to fall prey to that “what if” type of thinking.

But Kody said to Robyn on the latest Sister Wives episode that he will continue to do it, as it is part of his grieving process for him. But most of all, it keeps a connection going for him with Garrison.

Janelle Kept Negativity at Bay

Janelle Brown said in past Sister Wives episodes how heartbroken and angry her kids were over Kody’s lack of contact and how he just stepped out of their lives. So, Janelle’s very sadly aware of what Kody wrestles with today because he’d fallen out of touch with Garrison before he died.

But Janelle didn’t use this against Kody as they individually work through their grief over losing Garrison. This makes many Sister Wives viewers applaud Janelle for not adding to Kody’s grief.

Many fans chimed in to agree with how Janelle handled it, saying, no matter how awful Kody might have been to his kids in the past – it is not appropriate to blame his estrangement with Garrison for what happened.

Sister Wives: No Need to Add to Kody’s Grief

Sister Wives viewers watched in shock as Meri Brown found out about Garrison’s death live on camera while filming a confessional segment. Kody called to personally deliver the news to Meri and she just happened to be taping. As she listened to Kody’s call, you could see deep pain and sadness immediately on Meri’s face.

Sister Wives fans noticed Christine and Meri’s visceral reaction to the horrific news if Garrison’s suicide. It reminded fans of the closeness Meri and Christine felt to all the children in the family.

Robyn came into the family about 15 years into Kody’s plural marriage – She was not there for the childhoods of the older kids, including Garrison. So, some of the kids never really embraced Robyn as one of the shared moms.

Who is Robyn Brown to Kody’s Kids?

Sister Wives fans debated on social media whether if Kody also doesn’t see Robyn as a mom to his older kids either – although Kody pushed Robyn as another mother figure in the early years. This brings us to what else he said in the episode about Garrison’s death.

Kody told Robyn “I want to bring my boy home,” when talking about where they should bury Garrison. Home to Kody is Wyoming. He wanted to lay Garrison to rest with “Grandma Sheryl,” who, if you don’t recall, is Janelle’s mom. But fans caught that Kody didn’t say “our boy,” when talking to Robyn.

By the Sister Wives patriarch saying my instead of our boy, it seems to show he does not consider Robyn one of Garrison’s mothers like Meri, Christine, and Janelle.

Sister Wives: Robyn & Kody Act Differently Than His Three Ex-Wives

Sister Wives viewers noticed that Robyn was entirely focused on consoling Kody. Meanwhile, Meri and Christine reacted very much like Janelle, Garrison’s biological mom.

Meri instantly ran to Kody’s house once she found out Garrison took his life, to comfort Gwendlyn. Then Meri also reached out to Janelle to be by her side at this dark time. Their co-parent instincts kicked in while Robyn reacted as a wife.

But again, what Sister Wives viewers seem to notice most of all was Janelle’s grace after losing Garrison. Despite Kody’s estrangement from Garrison at the time of his death, Janelle never blamed Kody.

There are some viewers out there commenting on social media, blaming Kody for Garrison’s troubles. During the pandemic and beyond, Kody was harsh towards his sons on Sister Wives.

But Janelle isn’t laying into him, and if she has any negative thoughts about how Kody’s rejection might’ve affected their son, she’s not said so on camera or on social media. This was a difficult episode to watch and a low point for the Brown family. What they’ve gone through losing Garrison is unimaginable.

Head back to Soap Dirt for the latest Sister Wives buzz.