Welcome To Plathville: Is Olivia Brainwashing Ethan?

Welcome To Plathville season 5 looks like it’s going to be a roller coaster of emotions, especially after an exclusive clip shared that Barry Plath believes his son Ethan Plath is being brainwashed by his daughter-in-law, Olivia Plath. As viewers patiently await the premiere of Welcome To Plathville season 5, many are wondering about the state of the Plath family. The series follows the lives of the Plaths, a large religious family who is currently going through a major life transition after separation. For Barry and his estranged wife, Kim Plath, things have never been more complicated.

Barry, who separated from his wife of nearly 30 years in 2021, has been struggling since his breakup, while it seems Kim has been doing somewhat better. In the trailer for Welcome To Plathville season 5, Kim is shown branching out. The matriarch of the family starts to date, not caring much about how her family feels about the decision. The drama surrounding the Plath family is more high-stakes than ever, which makes the fact that Barry and many of Ethan’s siblings are still wary of his wife, Olivia, difficult.

What Did Barry Plath Say About Olivia Plath?

Barry, the patriarch of the family, has always been complicated, but his claims create a whole new level of depth. Barry has always been a manipulative figure in the family, essentially brainwashing his wife and children into sharing his Christian Scientist beliefs. In a clip from People, Barry’s son Micah Plath’s explains Olivia, “has always hated the way we grew up,” sharing that, “She’s always talked crap. And Ethan has, I really feel like he’s absorbed all of that.” Barry is quick to call out the behavior, stating, “You know what it’s called? It’s called brainwashing…she’s done that [to Ethan].”

How Does Moriah Plath Feel About Olivia?

Moriah Plath, the second-oldest daughter of the family, used to be tremendously close with Olivia, even calling her a best friend. The two have had a strained relationship since Moriah began distancing herself from Olivia after dealing with some of her behavior. According to Moriah, Olivia has been spreading lies about Kim and Barry in order to validate some of the tough feelings she has about her in-laws. While Moriah believes Olivia’s feelings are valid, she doesn’t appreciate the misinformation being spread about her parents and has chosen to take a step back from their relationship.

Did Olivia Plath Brainwash Ethan Plath?

While Olivia did give Ethan an outside perspective on his childhood and family structure, it’s impossible to say whether Ethan has been “brainwashed” on Welcome To Plathville season 5. It’s possible he’s been blinded by his wife and taken on her beliefs as a result, but it’s also possible Ethan has simply chosen to separate from his family. While some of Olivia’s behavior has been uncalled for, Barry and the Plaths have chosen to live in a very different way than Ethan and his wife. With Welcome To Plathville season 5 returning, viewers may be able to have an answer about Olivia and Ethan sooner rather than later.

Welcome to Plathville airs on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC.