Reality TV reunion specials aren’t just a beloved staple of the genre—they’re supposed to deliver the perfect finale. Ever since Survivor and later the Bravo universe set the standard, fans expect drama, resolution, and a few jaw-dropping reveals. After an utterly wild Season 3, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives should have been primed for a legendary reunion.
Instead, the highly anticipated Season 3 sit-down barely delivered. With the Vanderpump Villa affair aftermath involving Jessi Ngatikaura, Demi Engemann, and Marciano Brunette; plus Whitney Leavitt admitting she returned to MomTok purely for career gains; and Dakota Mortensen confessing he cheated on his baby mama with Taylor Frankie Paul’s longtime family friend, there was more than enough to unpack. But what we got felt more like a stitched-together highlight reel than a true reckoning. No resolution, no real tea—just a vent session for cast members who hadn’t settled their beef on camera. Calling it a flop almost feels generous.
‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Reunion Fell Flat
Listen, when the cast is equally confused about how the reunion was edited, you know that something went horribly wrong. During the one-hour reunion special, only a portion of the 13-hour filming day was shown to viewers. As Zac Affleck, husband to MomTok’s Jen Affleck, revealed, “Trust us, we are equally confused on it and what did and didn’t make it.” Nevertheless, with what we were provided, it’s our responsibility to analyze what was parsed out.
With so many mind-blowing moments during Season 3, many of which carried through from episode 1 until episode 10, only so much was discussed, leaving many reactions to the wayside. The buzzword the series is known for is “accountability,” and let’s just say there was none. Instead, everything was just a rehash of old storylines as a reminder that it happened. As seen during the season, Season 3 was filmed while Season 2 was still being promoted, which meant we saw some falsities and animosity come out during the Season 2 reunion and press tour that couldn’t be addressed until Season 3 aired. The same thing is happening here, as they are filming Season 4 in real time, making this reunion feel unfulfilled and unrealized.
That meant there was zero discussion about Jen and Whitney’s experience on Dancing With the Stars and how the latter only filmed the season to earn a spot on the celebrity reality series. The timeline of Taylor’s relationship status came into question, as we know she is currently the lead of the upcoming season of The Bachelorette. Nothing came to light about the actual aftermath of the allegations of sexual assault, which now sees Marciano suing Demi and the producers for calling him a sexual predator. Instead, Demi continued a victim narrative whose authenticity some fans have questioned. And of course, we were left without any discussion about the truth behind Fruity Pebbles, a true Season 1 callback. And let’s be real, that’s what we all want to know about.
“Every hate comment that they get now is just a new follower. It’s just another bag.”
‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Thrives on the Second Screen
Borrowing the format from Bravo, notorious for multipart reunions, the rushed single-episode reunion didn’t satisfy the viewers’ needs. Furthermore, host Stassi Schroeder, of Vanderpump Rules fame, was unable to control the room or guide it toward progress. Instead, she continued to relate her reality TV experience to everything occurring on stage. Even if some were unsatisfied with Nick Viall‘s biased hosting style last season, at least he held the women accountable. This is vitally important because reunions are meant to cap off the season. The only thing new we gathered was that the men, now known as DadTok, will be appearing on the third season of Vanderpump Villa in London. But, perhaps the most egregious moment of the entire reunion was the producers allowing Dakota the grace to appear on stage with the request that all the women leave so he could lie through his teeth. When Taylor, her parents, and MomTok returned, whether staged or not, it just seemed to gather a clickbait moment that left out vital information.
Because the stars of MomTok live their lives on social media, fans of the women and the show have already watched this drama on the second screen. We’re not here to say that the reunion is unnecessary. We’re here to say it has to be handled better. The reunion felt more like a contractual obligation. More information seeps out on TikTok, leading fans to share their own posts, which then garner actual reactions from the cast.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is transcending reality television because of how we are consuming the content. Even on the show, it’s a fourth-wall-shattering exploration of the cost of fame. It’s more than okay that the show has evolved from the soft-swinging scandal. That was the draw. Now, fans, including celebrities like Lana Del Rey, are so engrossed with the action on social media that there really isn’t a time “off” that we’re not privy to MomTok. The filming schedule does not suit the show fans adore, and the show needs to give some space between seasons to ruminate fully. And let’s be honest, with the drama off-camera being more fascinating right now, we deserve better. The reunion left far too much to be desired. But maybe it’s a ploy. If we demand more, there are still 12 more hours left on the cutting room floor.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is available to stream on Hulu.
