The Blended Bunch (2021– ) User Reviews

Heartwarming and Fun

[randymcbeast · 7/10 · 24 March 2021]

Reality TV is so much better that fictional TV and certainly better than everybody being a super hero with special powers. You are not at the mercy of writer, producers and directors who are force-feeding you their view of the world or making you believe that you could be better than everyone else if you could fly or see through walls. These fictional views are often tainted with political correctness and brainwashing towards what they think you should think. It's quite disturbing. Reality TV is by no means perfect since you still have idiot producers chopping it up and presenting their view but it's definitely more transparent and closer to reality, and the Blended Bunch, so far, is a reality TV gem.

I've just watched two episodes so far but I am already in love with this family. They've gone through some very tough times and have come together to face it all head on and we get to experience it all with them. Sure, they are getting paid, but they should and I hope this becomes very successful. It could, of course, take many directions as with many other reality TV families but let's hope for the best. I'd certainly rather watch and root for this family over Keeping up with the Kardooshians which is thankfully over, albeit 15 seasons too late. Keep that pretentious, materialistic, selfish, ostentatious, narcissistic garbage off the air and give me a real family like this one any day.

I just hope they continue to keep it real. There is no reason to force drama or action. Just turn on the camera and let it roll. The struggles, the good times, show it all. The reality TV that is nauseating is when it's contrived or fake (see Bradshaw Bunch). So far, this series has got the balance right. One minor nit, please stop with the "Coming up.." and "later..". I wish all of the shows that do this would stop telling us every ten minutes what's coming up next. So stupid.

What Are They Thinking?????

[crabbylil · 2/10 · 7 April 2021]

This is like watching a train wreck. It's apparent that both parents were/are so desperate to be married that they jumped in this marriage before ANYONE, especially the children, were emotionally ready.

The kids are being thrown together like boarding school, stuck in bedrooms with "siblings" they don't know and don't like. It looks like they have a big enough basement to make more bedrooms out of so at least they could have more private space.

That aside, I cannot get passed that Erica's first husband had a disease that is hereditary and which the odds if you have it is 95% - 99% chance of getting cancer and they kept having children, not only with him dying but while passing this horrible syndrome to their kids!! That is beyond selfish and incredulous. She should be charged with child neglect for having more children and exposing them to this. It's like putting your kids in a car without a seatbelt or car seat saying "God will protect them". That is NOT how it works!! God stands by while stupid happens. I cannot wrap my brain around having kids knowing the odds are very high they will get a fatal disease!! What a horrible thing to do to them. Ugh, these poor kids. Disgusting!

What an awesome family

[jelbin-427-53044 · 10/10 · 17 March 2021]

You really feel for these guys. Watching this show is not only heartwarming but you are rooting for them the entire time. Great show, great concept, love Spencer and feel he is extremely genuine!

Heartbreaking story that is going to create an even more heartbreaking story

[jacob-james12736 · 1/10 · 24 March 2021]

This show gives you the feels. But after that it is just creating another heartbreaking story. The poor kids in this show are going to have a rough life after filming this and all the terrible choices the parents are making. Maybe it's just the Mormon culture that is influencing this parents to make such rash decisions. These poor kids should not be in a reality TV show after all they have done. Good job TLC trying to ruin another innocent family.

Very good and real show that is well done but honest

[robert-iversen · 10/10 · 9 May 2021]

This is one of those shows that is real and honest, but done well. They present the families in the light of who they are for good and for bad. The families are so very direct in the way they talk that is needed. This is the attraction. They are not these perfect families, which makes this do attractive and captivating.

If you want to see perfect families with no issues, then this is not your show. If you want to see total disfunction and train wrecks, then this show is also not for you. But if you want to see a show that will make you grow and challenge you to be a better father, husband, brother, son, grandfather, etc.

I like this show a lot and appreciate a show that is real and puts real into reality tv. Families you know and can appreciate.

Weird show

[ryanjohnsonbrother · 1/10 · 22 March 2021]

This show is really odd. Spencer creeps me out. I get weird vibes from him. He seems like he's hiding something. I'm curious if he even mourned his wife's death. So wrong to put the kids through all of this and then throw them into a tv show. Bless their hearts. I hope the kids can think freely one day...and also learn more about the Mormon church and how awful it is as well.

Great fun to watch

[vlohrlemieux · 10/10 · 16 April 2021]

The Shemwell/Mean family are so fun to watch. You can tell Erica and Spencer really love each other and love their kids. I really enjoy watching this show. I hope they do a second season.

Hard to watch

[courtdocs · 2/10 · 23 April 2021]

These adults are so clueless and so cultish. They are forcing trying to be the perfect large LDS family. The difference between this and the other TLC shows with large ultra religious families is these children are grieving. Not ok TLC. The average American doesn't understand why somebody would continue having children even though they know they're going to have cancer. We also don't understand blending a family so soon after a parents death and forcing adoption on children who just lost their parents. This isn't a light hearted TLC reality show. These aren't just adults making free choices for themselves. This is heavy stuff that is negatively impacting children and shouldn't be on a reality show.

Blended Family??

[mmill-01913 · 4/10 · 20 April 2021]

From an outsider looking in, something is seriously wrong with this family. Mom and dad connected after only a year of mourning? I don't feel the children or the parents have had enough time to mourn before they were thrust into a lifestyle change with new siblings and a new mom and dad to deal with. I don t hear the parents or grandparents saying anything when the children point out, " you aren't my sister or my grandparents. It seems this is a topic of every situation that arises.

Honestly I feel like the adults don't know what to say thus allowing the children to continue to divide the family.

Maybe this has already happened, but perhaps the children as well as the adults could benefit from some talk therapy in order to deal with all these feelings and grief.

Loved it!

[mandymoo-39646 · 9/10 · 28 August 2021]

I really enjoyed this show and found it to be inspiring and uplifting. They are all doing the best they can whilst raising their beautiful family in the most respectful way possible.

We only just now got this on STAN in Australia and I binged the first season😁💜🌻 I really hope they get another season please!! 🙏 💜 This show is a great insight into real life struggles of a blended family and obstacles they have to overcome. The aren't fake but are very real with what they want to achieve. The kids are so funny too. Tanner and Bexly are so adorable!!💜

BORING

[johnjohnsonto · 1/10 · 9 April 2021]

This is a pretty boring show to be honest. Fake drama. Cultish family. Neglected children. Parents who only rely on God and not their true intuitions. Come on TLC, stop exploiting children and families.

Inspirational

[armiller-13830 · 10/10 · 7 July 2022]

I watched this in the hospital as my child went through cancer treatments. It was inspiring to see people LIVE after tragedy. My son passed after 9 months and I pass on his legacy of love, not a legacy of depression and lifelessness.

With a family like Erica's who needs enemies

[LAgirl94 · 1/10 · 6 May 2022]

Erica's brother Quinn in a complete A-hole. There is being a supportive and concerned brother but he is hell bent on destroying her marriage. I have been the stepchild but never the step parent and never a widow. But they seem to be pushing things. Adoption should be something special. But her family definitely makes things worse. Therapy therapy therapy. ALL of them. The 2 oldest boys are probably the most mature. And the the grandma of the mom that passed is a great example. She and the parents of the husband that passed really have to trust. Those kids are their only connection to their child they lost and they really have to put their trust and hope in the "new" families. I really hope they are getting therapy for the kids. The parents, and the rest of the family. And the uncle is just disgusting. I would not want him in my corner.

Inspiring for what NOT to do in a family

[marchellethomson · 2/10 · 7 September 2023]

To be fair, I haven't read any other reviews about this show. I didn't want to be biased based on the reviews. Also, to be fair, opinions are always biased based on an infinite number of variables. I should say first, I am very sorry for both family's losses and I can relate to their loss and blended story in many ways. However, I found it necessary to say that this show actually frightens me. To watch the obvious narrative, including the manipulative, controlling, cult-like behavior of the "Shemwell" parents ( or "Meanswell" for those of you who think that's cute and sweet), is disheartening. It is also disheartening to see the supposedly questioning uncle appear repeatedly as part of the narrative, as well as the grandparents, of all the children involved. Disgusting use of the name "Means" as a double meaning multiple times throughout, and a disgusting use of both family names as a promotional tool. It is a social experiment and pushing an agenda with a "wolf in sheep's clothing" narrative at the expense of the children. The children are the only "characters" who aren't play-acting in all of this (or are they?). Either way, I'm hoping at least some of these precious children will see their way out of this mess at some point, as I'm sure some others will continue to live out their parent's wishes, or something in between. It's all "in God's hands," right? That's a sloooowwww 2-star clap from me and a never watch again.