On Sept. 6, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” was officially released on Hulu. With eight episodes in its first season, the show has already become the most-watched unscripted series on Hulu. Despite its popularity, the show has received low reviews, scoring 4/10 on IMDb and a 57% approval rating from Google users.
The series has faced criticism from many Mormons who claim the show spreads misinformation about their religion and mocks their beliefs. They argue that the influencers in the show engage in behaviors that go against Mormon values.
Throughout the show, the group of mothers frequently argued about their faith. Most of the conflict stemmed from moms judging one another for not conforming to Mormon standards.
The show also touched on issues of domestic abuse. One of the moms, Taylor, was arrested during the season after an incident with her boyfriend, Dakota, though the two remain together and now have a child. Viewers saw a growing tension in their relationship. Whenever Taylor expressed concerns about Dakota’s infidelity or lack of support, Dakota would manipulate the conversation and place the blame on her.
Another couple that also gained attention was Jen and Zac Affleck. Jen is the primary breadwinner in their relationship, while Zac plans to attend medical school. After a night in Las Vegas, Zac threatened Jen with divorce and taking custody of their children because she visited an adult-themed club, though she didn’t participate in any activities and left early. Zac’s reaction came across as controlling, and it was troubling when, in the final episode, Zac decided to move the family to New York, away from Jen’s support system of family and friends who had encouraged her to leave him.
Overall, the show was very dramatic, it shed light on the struggles women face in controlling relationships. Though most of the behavior wasn’t physical, it was still emotionally manipulative and harmful. A second season is expected to be released in the fall of 2025.
