Barry Plathhas been known as the strict patriarch inWelcome To Plathvillesince season 1, but his divorce from Kim Plath has revealed ways in which his selfish ex-wife held him back. After years of being portrayed as the strict, traditional patriarch, Barry is now showing a different side of himself. He’s been hitting the gym, which hasn’t gone unnoticed, asBarry’s newfound fitness regimenhas transformed his physique. However, despite the attention, Barry seems more focused on personal growth and isn’t actively seeking a new relationship.
Since her divorce from Barry,Kim has been living a selfish and kookylifestyle. The split, which was publicly announced in June 2022, marked the end of their 24-year marriage. Their separation was a turning point, especially considering the conservative and religious views they portrayed inWelcome To Plathville.Kim got a DUIin October 2022, but things have been looking up for the former matriarch. However, it’s become abundantly clear that Kim is holding Barry back asWelcome To Plathvilleseason 6unfolds.
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8Barry Couldn’t Focus Couldn’t Focus On His Fitness Like He Is Now
He’s Made A Physical Transformation
Barry’s fitness transformation seemed to coincide with the tumultuous changes in his personal life, particularly his separation from Kim after 24 years of marriage. Perhapsthe most obvious way Kim held Barry back, this life change appeared to be a catalyst for Barry to focus more on himself and his health. In interviews and episodes, Barry hinted that the emotional strain and need for personal growth pushed him to take better care of his body. However, he got into fitness alongside his son, Micah Plath, who’s a model.
Barry has taken the idea of the “revenge body” to the next level, becoming super muscular and dedicated to fitness in the past year.
Barry’s transformation has not gone unnoticed by fans and viewers ofWelcome to Plathville. Fans in the Reddit thread,alsoaprettybigdeal, have commented on how much younger and healthier he looks, and some have even speculated that this change might be related to him re-entering the dating scene after his separation from Kim. One fan commented, “My GAWD!! It obvious where those Plath boys got their muscle genes from.” Barry definitely has the revenge body going for him after the divorce.
7Barry Is Closer To His Children After Leaving Kim
He’s Healing His Relationships
One of the most striking changes in Barry’s relationship with his children is his increased presence and support. In earlier seasons, Barry took a hard approach to his beliefs and parenting. However, since their separation, Barry has become more understanding. He’s been having heart-to-heart conversations with Moriah Plath and Micah; he listens to their concerns and offers guidance without judgment. It’s possibleKim held him back from expressing his openness. Surprisingly, Barry has also encouraged his children’s independence and supported their choices, which is different from the controlled environment Kim and Barry imposed. He’s been accepting ofMoriah’s lifestyle and careerchoices despite their differences in values. This acceptance strengthened their bond, as Moriah expressed feeling respected by her father and even returned to Christianity. He’s also been working out with Micah, who’s in modeling.
6Barry Didn’t Have A Great Relationship With Olivia Plath Due To Kim
It Strained His Relationship With Both Ethan And Olivia
Due to the strict upbringing Barry and Kim chose, the Plath children were homeschooled and isolated. Olivia Plath, who married Ethan Plath, grew up in a similar environment but rejected those restrictive beliefs. As Olivia started to challenge the Plath family’s life, particularly Kim’s authority, tensions arose. Kim’s relationship with Olivia has been contentious from the beginning, but Barry’s usually on the sidelines in these disagreements. Olivia openly criticized Kim’s controlling nature and how it impacted Ethan and his siblings. This criticism didn’t sit well with Barry, who had always supported Kim.Her influence over Barry was evidentin how he handled the conflict with Olivia. Rather than mediating or trying to understand Olivia’s perspective, Barry usually sided with Kim, deepening the divide between him and Olivia. Perhaps they can heal now that Kim’s out of the picture.
5Barry Can be Religious On His Own Terms
He Might Soften After His Divorce
Barry has a newfound opportunity to explore and express his religious beliefs on his terms, and it will be fascinating to see if he does so. Throughout their marriage, the Plath family’s religious practices were deeply held, but after the divorce, the rigidity fell apart. Since their split,Barry has the freedom to redefine his relationship with faithand spirituality without the constraints of their former marriage. Barry’s journey could involve finding a more personal connection to his faith, one that reflects his values and experiences rather than adhering strictly to immovable doctrines.
Barry has always been a strict patriarch, but recent drama might inspire him to soften.
This period of self-discovery might also lead Barry to reassess his role as a father and how he wishes to guide his children spiritually, especially given Moriah’s return to the Christian faith. Without Kim’s strong influence, Barry could choose how to engage with his faith, possibly adopting a more open-minded or flexible approach. He seemed pretty judgmental, but Moriah might have changed him. Barry now has the freedom to decide for himself.
4Barry Can Separate Himself From The Olivia Drama
He Can Let Kim Figure It Out For Herself
Barry was often caught in the crossfire of Kim’s vitriol for Olivia, and he now has the power to separate himself from the Olivia drama. DuringWelcome To Plathvilleseason 3, Olivia cut ties with Kim and Barry, leading to a temporary estrangement between Ethan and his parents. This put Ethan in a difficult position as he struggled to balance his loyalty to Olivia and his love for his family. The drama took a toll on Ethan and Olivia’s marriage, with season 5 detailing their eventual separation. WithBarry and Kim divorced,Barry finds himself in a new dynamicwithin the family. This separation could offer Barry an opportunity to avoid the drama that has plagued the family for years. Without Kim, Barry could prioritize his relationships with his children on his terms, even rebuilding his relationship with Ethan.
3Barry Can Reconnect With Moriah And Ethan
He’s Redefining His Role In Their Lives
Kim was depicted as the primary decision-maker in the family, especially when it came to enforcing strict rules and lifestyle choices. This control created a rift between her, Moriah, and Ethan, who felt stifled by their rigid upbringing. Moriah and Ethan’s desire for more freedom led to tensions that Kim especially struggled to accept. However,Barry seems more open since leaving Kim, a sign that she held him back. Moriah discussed how her strained relationship with Kim was a big reason she left home. She felt Kim’s strict rules were suffocating and leaving was the only way to find herself. However, Moriah and Barry seem to have rekindled their relationship since the divorce, meaning Kim was the bigger problem. She also stood by Kim during the Olivia drama fromWelcome To Plathvilleseason 5.
Ethan’s relationship with his parents was deeply affected by Kim’s controlling nature. This conflict led to Ethan cutting off contact with his parents to protect his marriage, further straining his relationship with Barry. Kim’s inability to compromise or ease her control made it difficult for Barry to reconnect with Ethan, as the source of the tension was never fully resolved. However, Barry and Ethan can heal past wounds now that Barry doesn’t have to align with Kim.
2Barry Can Live Out His Beliefs Without Kim’s Input
His Strict Views Could Shift
Kim and Barry enforced immovable beliefs and values on their children, which included limited access to modern technology, a strict dress code, and a conservative religious upbringing, but Barry is now free to shift and evolve in his views if he chooses. EvenKim began to question the strictness of their lifestyleand started to drift away from the rules they once followed together, eventually getting divorced. This created tension between Kim and Barry and within the Plath family.
With Kim no longer in the picture, Barry seems to have found a new sense of freedom to live out his beliefs without the influence or pushback from Kim. On the show, Barry has started to embrace a more disciplined and fitness-oriented lifestyle, which he may not have fully pursued while with Kim. He has also become more vocal about his commitment to his faith and the values he holds dear, which suggests that he felt restrained by Kim’s changing views. They no longer have to consult each other and can be their true selves.
1Barry Could Become Softer And More Understanding In His Beliefs
Barry has a huge opportunity for growth that could prove that Kim was holding him back. As Barry navigates life post-divorce, he might be more open to exploring perspectives outside the conservative views he once held. Interacting more with his adult children, who have developed their own beliefs since leaving the Plath home, could influence him to reconsider some of his previous stances.
The strain and eventual breakdown of his marriage might lead Barry to prioritize emotional connections over rules, especially since divorce is highly frowned upon in his faith. His efforts to repair his relationship with Moriah, who previously rebelled against the family’s strict lifestyle, suggest that he values their bond more than enforcing old beliefs. InWelcome To Plathvilleseason 6 and beyond, Barry might recognize that some of his previous actions, rooted in his strict belief system, contributed to the distance between him and his children. Kim was holding him back.
Welcome To Plathvilleseason 6 airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. EDT on TLC.
Welcome To Plathville
Cast
Welcome to Plathville is a reality television series that follows the lives of the Plath family, a strongly conservative family with nine children that, while sharing some of their values, have begun to yearn for and seize their own independence. As the family tries to hold onto their old-world values, primarily separated from the rest of the country, they will reckon with their children’s newfound beliefs and clash with new family members from their spouses.
