This spouse meeting after Christine left really highlights K's dynamics with his two enablers/flying monkeys. He wasn't getting what he wanted from Janelle (her choosing him over their sons and forcing everyone to spend Christmas with him), so he called on Meri and R to jump in. Meri complied and backed him up while R coddled him, validating his victim mentality.
While we can't diagnose any of these people officially, I thought it would be interesting to examine the dynamics within the family from through a potentially narcissistic family lens.
If you map the Brown family onto the classic narcissistic family system, it actually fits frighteningly well. The roles have shifted over time, but the underlying dysfunction has stayed the same.
The Narcissists
K – the overt narcissist, demanding loyalty, control, and validation. He revolves everything around his moods and rules. He gravitates toward the wives/kids who validate him and make him feel like the hero. Christine claimed that he outright told her that he gravitates away from pain (her) and toward pleasure (Meri/Janelle).
Meri – she functioned as a narcissist too. She had legal power as his legal wife, exerted control over the other wives, and clashed with Kody because she wanted dominance herself. She was abusive to the family but also enabled Kody when it suited her.
R – the covert narcissist. She plays the victim, manipulates through neediness and tears, and keeps herself and her kids positioned as the ones “in need of saving.”
The Enablers / Flying Monkeys
Meri – historically enabled K’s moods and punished anyone who resisted him. She gloated when K lashed out at Christine, tattled on Janelle, etc. Even post-divorce, she still runs defense for him when convenient.
Robyn – slid into the enabler role full-time after joining, catering to him, feeding his victim narrative, and backing his every decision so that she can earn favor and control.
The Golden Children
Early years – Logan, Maddie, Hunter, Leon, Gabe, and Savanah were among Kody’s favorites. He doted on them, especially when they made him proud publicly. Aspyn and Ysabel were liked but never fully prioritized.
Later years – Robyn’s kids became the focus. Aurora was treated like the “perfect” child, while Sol and Ari were indulged (though he’s tried toughening Sol up and has insulted Ari, calling her an idiot).
The Scapegoats
Christine – long-term scapegoat wife. Useful for childcare and logistics but rarely valued as a partner.
Christine’s kids – Mykelti and Paedon were treated like a problem and Gwen said she openly clashed with him though it didn't make it onto the show. Even Aspyn wondered what she had done wrong to lose her father's regard, which R turned into an attack.
Gabe & Garrison – during COVID, they became the biggest scapegoats. He demanded Janelle evict them for not following his rules. K tried to reconcile with them but K insisted on an apology which they refused to give.
The Lost Children
Savanah – was once doted on, but after his big blowout with Janelle over Christmas, she got lost in the shuffle. He stopped seeing her to punish Janelle.
Ysabel – was beloved but abandoned when she needed his support for her surgery.
Dayton – was golden early on but Robyn admitted she kicked him out during COVID, putting him in a trailer. His status shifted quickly once he stopped conforming.
Truely – he doted on her as a baby, but he never priotitized her. After Christine left, she became even more of a lost child where her father is concerned.
The Mascot/Jester
Christine often used humor to break tension.
Paedon sometimes filled this role too with jokes and loud behavior to cut through stress.
The Victim
R – mastered this role. She positions herself and her kids as unfairly treated, keeping K in perpetual rescue mode.
Patterns in the Kids
In the early years, all the kids fought for his attention. They performed, tried to please him, and jockeyed for his approval.
Over time, as his favoritism and neglect became clear, many stopped trying, choosing instead to distance themselves or openly rebel.
Janelle’s Position
It's harder to place her within yhe structure because she's someone he always likes, enjoyed and got validation from, yet she didn't put up with just anything from him and left him multiple times. She was pragmatic and independent, and they had a good sex life.
In Vegas, they had a “Renaissance” where their partnership shifted from pragmatic to romantic.
But in Flagstaff + COVID, K tried to control her through ultimatums. When she resisted, he withdrew attention from her and their kids as punishment.
Current Dynamics
Today, K only receives validation from R and their children. He clings to them as his last source of adoration while playing the victim about “losing his family.”
He refuses to take accountability for driving Christine away, alienating Janelle, and neglecting Meri. Instead, he reframes himself as the wounded father/husband whose family “turned on him.”
TL;DR: The Brown family fits the narcissistic family model almost perfectly, with shifting roles over the years. K demands constant validation, favors those who provide it, discards those who resist him, and scapegoats anyone who threatens his ego. Meri and R have both played narcissistic/enabler roles, with R now entrenched as the covert narcissist and K’s sole source of supply.