Daughters of the Cult

Tge Daughters of the Cult is this years MUST SEE TV! I binged the series in JUST one day! It is so well done.....from the interviews, to the graphics.....everything! I had read Anna LeBaron's book, "The Polygamists Daughter," but this brought a different aspect, perspective and dimention. I loved how the siblings and cousins supported each other, and my heart ached for each and every of them. But through all the trauma and tragedy, they lay out a clear path of hope. I loved to see the family tree and paused it when it came on to study it. Don't hesitate to watch.....its amazing! Such a story of hope!!

I had read Anna LeBaron's book The Polygamist's Daughter but I still found myself staring open mouthed at the screen during some of the revelations in this documentary. There is something so powerful about hearing it straight from the survivors of a violent cult. No one knows how many children cult leader Ervil LeBaron had but estimates are at least 50. Many of his children and other relatives appear on screen to share their stories. I believe I binge watched this over two days, and I want more. We need a Part 2! The description of the 4 o'clock murders was so clear that it was more horrifying than reading about it. I loved the sibling relationships shown on screen and I wish these capital S Survivors all the best!

I hadn't heard this story before, and it was really fascinating, but it was so dragged out and could easily have had less episodes. But the main let down was the interviews. Got quite repetitive at times. I'm not going to get personal in this public space but will note that people talking over each other, and interrupting each other, in the interviews was very hard to watch. Worth a watch. The old news footage and photos were also interesting. The expert and professional interviews were ok, definitely more interesting. However, I had to watch over several viewings, not a show to be binged to me.

I'm familiar with this story as a reader (and multiple re-reader) of Anna LeBaron's book The Polygymist's Daughter. This isn't just another true crime docuseries. It's a multifaceted look at a compelling story that is told by multiple members of the family who come together with vulnerability, pain, humor, survival, honesty, and growth to tell the story of their lives. You will watch this and walk away with questions. This is a series you will want to watch and rewatch. I watched all the episodes in two nights, and I will be watching them again with my family and friends. My respect and thanks go to the family for telling this difficult story with the vulnerability and bravery that I know it took. You all did an amazing job. I hope that the healing continues.

The story is insane and the documentary is worth watching but the production/editing was so freaking weird. The interviews felt like a really bad reality tv show which I felt did a disservice to the 'survivors'. It made them annoying and hard to empathize with instead of connecting with them and their experience. Whoever did the editing allowed so many things to be repeated over and over and over again that the repetitiveness was also an annoying factor and it jumps all over the place, there was no need to try and be clever, just tell the story linearly. It didn't need to be 5 episodes either, it could have been done in 3. The mental gymnastics it must take to believe and convince others to believe your narcissistic delusions boggles the mind. Interesting story, really weird production.