The Ultimate ‘Sister Wives’ Streaming Guide

Things are as divided and chaotic as they’ve ever been in the Brown household, which means there’s no better time to start watching “Sister Wives” for free.

Watch Now: Season 18 of “Sister Wives” Episode 10 – “Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket”

If you’ve never seen an episode of the series, it offers a rare insight into what it’s like to live in a family that practices polygamy. The primary focus is on Kody Brown, the president of a “firearms and accessories” company, and the four women he married, legally and spiritually. Between each of his wives, the much-reviled Brown has fathered 18 children.

Keep up to date on all the latest “Sister Wives” news here.

The series is, in many ways, the ultimate reality television show; it provides insight into fascinating circumstances while also offering tons of drama.

Here’s everything you need to know about the show, including where to watch “Sister Wives” and who is going to be in season 18.

What is “Sister Wives” about?

You could summarize “Sister Wives” with one simple sentence: “1 man, 4 wives, 18 kids.”

The first season of the series, which aired in 2010, followed Kody Brown during the “courting” and eventual marriage of his fourth wife, Robyn. This was the first time Kody had added a partner in 16 years, and doing so created much uncertainty among his existing relationships.

The upcoming season of the series will be its 18th. By this point, Kody’s only remaining wife is Robyn. The new season will explore the fallout from the failure of each of these relationships and will show how this family attempts to heal and move on in the midst of so many complicated entanglements.

What are “Sister Wives”?

A sister wife is a woman who is married to a man with one or more additional wives. They do not have to be literal sisters, contrary to a common misconception.

The practice of marrying multiple partners is called polygamy.

What religion does the “Sister Wives” family practice?

The titular women of “Sister Wives” and Kody are members of the Apostolic United Brethren or AUB.

The AUB is a sect of Mormonism that practices polygamy. Most members reside in either Utah or Mexico and although their exact numbers are not known, they are estimated to be more than 10,000.

Kody has been legally married to both Meri and Robyn, with the other two marriages considered “spiritual unions.”

Where to watch “Sister Wives”

“Sister Wives” premieres its 18th season on TLC on Sunday, Aug. 20 at 10 p.m. Each episode runs for about an hour, with one airing per week.

You can use the channel finder on your provider’s website to locate TLC: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV, Dish.

If you’re a cord-cutter or don’t have cable, you can live stream “Sister Wives” on Philo (free trial) or DIRECTV Stream (free trial), both of which offer free trials. They will also feature each episode on demand for several days after it airs.

Who is on “Sister Wives”?

Kody Brown is the (currently unpopular) focus of the series, considering that he was the polygamist to whom each of the women was married. His career was shrouded in mystery until his son Paedon made cryptic remarks on TikTok about how “controversial” it would be if it were public knowledge. This led to In Touch Weekly confirming that Brown works for US Tactical LLC, and is likely involved with the sale of guns.

Meri Brown was the first of the sister wives. She married Kody in 1990, although they later divorced so he could legally marry Robyn. Meri and Kody have one child together. Their relationship was deeply strained by a catfishing incident in 2015, in which an online relationship Meri thought she was having with a business tycoon named “Sam” was revealed to have been a series of lies concocted by another woman, Jackie Overton.

Janelle Brown is Kody’s second wife, whom he spiritually married in 1993. Kody introduced her to polygamy, and together they had 6 children. Janelle is a major fan-favorite from the series, due to her protective nature and how supportive she is to the rest of the family, both emotionally and financially. She received a B.S. in Accounting while working full-time as a mother.

Christine Brown is Kody’s third wife. The two were spiritually married in 1994 and had another 6 children together. Their children have been a massive source of conflict for the two; when one of Christine’s daughters, Ysabel, needed back surgery in New Jersey, Kody refused to accompany them due to alleged COVID-19 concerns. Christine divorced Kody in 2021 and is now engaged to another man, David Woolley.

Robyn Brown is Kody’s fourth and current wife, the only one he is legally married to. She had 3 children of her own, prior to meeting Kody, and has since had another 2 with him. Her addition to the sister wives has been the source of much of the conflict in the series.

What happened last season on “Sister Wives”?

In season 17 of “Sister Wives,” Christine “divorced” Kody and officially removed herself from the Brown family. This had a considerable effect, including the strong implication that Janelle could soon leave, as well.

Since the season concluded, both Meri and Janelle have left Kody as well, as they announced in a j oint statement on Instagram. This means that, at the start of season 18, Robyn is Kody’s only remaining wife.

If you want to watch the “Sister Wives” season 18 premiere without actually watching 17 seasons, there’s an easy way to catch up. The final three episodes of season 17, each of which are entitled “One on One,” function as “Tell All” episodes.

For additional context, the premiere of season 1 will also give a detailed picture of each of the wives and the family dynamic.

Here’s a throwback clip taking a look at what it’s like for Kody Brown to navigate Valentine’s Day with four partners, courtesy of the official TLC YouTube channel: