The number one documentary series on Prime Video is a terrifying foray into the secrets that lurk beneath the surface. Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets is not only the most-viewed documentary series on the streamer this week, it’s the most-viewed series overall.
The series purports to be an explosive look at the Duggar Family, the once cable television phenomenon of Arkansas House of Representatives member Jim Bob Duggar his wife, Michelle, and their horde of children, originally 17, though 19 by the time their series, 19 Kids and Counting, capped. Check out the trailer for the docuseries below:
The TLC series and a subsequent spin-off were cancelled alongside allegations that the Duggars’ oldest child, Josh, had regularly abused the other children. While no charges were made in that original case (Josh was instead sent to a faith-based camp), he was later arrested and convicted in 2021 on child pornography charges. Beyond the Duggars themselves, Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets casts a wider net to probe the Institute in Basic Life Principles, a Christian organization founded by Bill Gothard (himself accused of sexual abuse and misconduct) whose mission parallels with increasingly regressive and fraught political battles around the country.
Shiny Happy People is an urgent, at times harrowing watch, one that insightfully interrogates the organization’s roots and the hold they have on ostensibly normal families around the country. It recontextualizes both the show and the church’s culture writ large, ably demonstrating how easily pernicious ideals take hold as those in power regularly abuse their authority. Check out what fans are saying about the disturbing, “must-watch” series below:
I’m watching Shiny Happy People and my stomach hurts because they are sick . How do you beat a 14 month old?!
— Raven Baxter’s Big Sis (@L1v3lyIvy) June 9, 2023
I watched shiny happy people last night… & that umbrella of protection stuff was deff taught at the “progressive” black & multiracial churches I went to growing up.
These cult teachings EVERYWHERE
— ROCKo’s Moderna Life (@alysSAWRAH) June 9, 2023
I watched Shiny Happy People on Amazon. Wow.
— Jesse Brooks (@jessecbrooks) June 9, 2023
ok watching Shiny Happy People and only on episode 2 but the pastor(?) who pretended to be a little boy’s father so he could spank him and then hug him was the creepiest most sick thing i’ve ever seen in my life..
— Lana’s Daughter (@libratimestwo) June 9, 2023
I think where I went wrong this week was triggering my cptsd by watching shiny happy people
— Rebekah Fuller ® (@hopefull_er) June 9, 2023
If you want to understand the mainstream white evangelical church in America, I strongly urge you to watch The Secrets of Hillsong on Hulu and/or Shiny Happy People on Prime. The two of them combined come pretty close to showing how I was raised…
— ʙʀɪᴀɴ -𝔻𝕠𝕔ℍ𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕤- ʜᴀʟʟ 🇮🇪️ (@DocHikes) June 9, 2023
I did not expect Shiny Happy People to resurface my own christian religious trauma, yet here we are. Great doc though.
— Rachel (@rachannepat) June 9, 2023
Shiny Happy People was deeply disturbing, but just light enough to not make me obsessed.
— Super Nintendo Switch (@tears_panda) June 9, 2023
The Shiny Happy People Duggar documentary is WILD….a must-watch.
— Abby Snyder (she/her) 🟦 (@abbyfsnyder) June 9, 2023
Shiny Happy People is a must watch. Christian extremism has no place in a free country. There’s a reason less people are religious now.
— Vic Rose (@VicRoseArts) June 9, 2023
What do you think? Have you had a chance to check out Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets yet? Let me know over on Twitter @Chadiscollins.
Tags: shiny happy people
Categorized: News
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