With the announcement of the Duggars’ return to TV, we can now put the rumors to rest: Jill & Jessa will be Counting On this March.
What can we expect? The Jill & Jessa: Counting On trailer offered some hints, but largely, the Duggars’ comeback is shrouded in mystery.
Expect some strong opinions from Duggar critics and fans alike as the polarizing Arkansans make their way back into the spotlight March 15.
Here’s a list of things we hope to see this spring on TLC …
Zika Virus 101
How are Jill and Derick protecting themselves from the Zika virus in El Salvador? And is she really on birth control – a Duggar family no-no if ever there were one?
Jinger and Lawson Bates 4-Ever?!
We don’t know if Jinger’s first date with Lawson Bates has actually taken place, or if they’re really courting as the rumors have implied, but we sure hope so – or that at least we can get some clarity in that regard.
Joy-Anna Deadlifting Her Body Weight …
Seriously. How is this not a fun B-storyline some week? Joy-Anna BEASTING IT (in a skirt, no less) and putting up 145 lbs.? Insane.
… Or Horsing Around
This girl seems like she’s really sweet and a lot of fun (i.e. the perfect conduit for rebuilding the Duggar family brand after the events of the past 12 months). We hope to get to know her better this spring!
Josiah and Marjorie Jackson Courting … and Splitting Up!
A courtship ending is practically unheard of in Duggar Nation. What happened between Josiah and would-be wife Marjorie Jackson last year?!
The Genesis of Spurgeon
How did Jessa and Ben Seewald settle on their son’s unusual name? We hope the cameras were rolling for those discussions …
John David Taking On a Bigger Role
Like twin sister Jana, John David Duggar is 26 and single. With Josh toiling away doing whatever he’s doing in sex rehab, and Jim Bob likely to receive less emphasis, JDD is the male we’re Counting On to step up to the family forefront. He’s featured in TLC’s early promos, so it looks like we’ll get our wish on this one.
Israel (and Derick) Dillard Photos Explained
Jill and Derick Dillard were once so sweet and harmless. Now every photo they share and thing they do comes under heavy scrunity. Is this all Internet speculation and much ado about nothing, or are there serious issues behind the scenes? Why is Israel seemingly getting hurt all the time … and is Derick’s health something we should be concerned about? Also, why is every detail of their “missionary work” worthy of major side-eye?
Anna’s Visit to Josh’s Rehab / Labor Camp
Josh Duggar has been stashed away for so long, we’ve *almost* forgotten about him (Jim Bob’s strategy is clearly somewhat effective). We’d love to know what happened when Anna visited him in rehab, however … especially given rumors that he knocked her up during a conjugal visit. We can almost guarantee that’s not true, but … did she ever consider leaving him for real? What did they talk about? What is her (and his) mental state these days?
Is Anna Pregnant?
As we just said, we highly doubt it … but the show addressing this question is something we legitimately are looking forward to.
Danica Dillon
Okay, there’s not a snowball’s chance in heck (or a stronger word the Duggars would never say in this context) that Josh Duggar’s alleged porn star mistress will warrant a shout-out by name on the air. But we do wonder if there’s any chance of his legal battle over her sexual assault claims getting at least a passing mention.
Courtship Plans
We’ve touched on Jinger and Josiah’s Duggar’s purported and former love interests earlier, but in general, who will be the next Duggar to enter the “pre-engagement” phase? Is it in the cards for any of them? Or has Josh tainted the entire family at this point when it comes to attracting outside interest in quasi arranged marriages?
Life at Home with the Seewalds
Not long after Jill Duggar’s made-for-TV moment when she became a mom on 19 Kids & Counting, the show got yanked by TLC and she moved to Central America with her family. Jessa Duggar, meanwhile, is doing the more conventional stay-at-home-mom thing in the Natural State. How’s she holding up? Does Ben have a job? Do they read Bible verses to each other for fun, and/or engage in other hobbies? A look inside the Seewald household these days would be pretty enlightening.
These Two Not Being On the Show
It’s unclear if Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have been jettisoned from air time altogether, but they’re clearly no longer the focal point after they took significant heat for Josh’s scandals last year. We’re intrigued to see how much – and in what light – the parents are shown on TLC in 2016.
Will Religion Be Downplayed?
On a related note, how much will the show downplay the family’s faith and political/social views as they pertains to Josh’s unbelievable hypocrisy? Obviously, the Duggars remain devoutly religious and aren’t all guilty of the same things Josh is because they were raised in the same traditions … but one wonders if the fundamentalist family’s faith will be promoted more subtly this time around, if at all.
The Kiddos Growin’ Up!
A year is actually a long time for this show to be off the air, and it will be interesting to see the difference in some of the younger Duggars!
The Return of This Swimsuit
Seriously. We need to see the pool party where this actually gets worn.
Always More Amy
One can never get enough of the “rebel” Duggar, cousin Amy. By this family’s conservative standards, she is a bona fide badass who speaks her mind and flies by the seat of her pants. And we love her for that.
Jana Duggar. In General.
We really hope to see a heavy emphasis on “Cinderella” Jana Duggar, whether she’s at the wedding of Michaela Bates (above), chilling with her adult siblings, wrangling her little brothers and sisters, or – optimistic as this may be – pursuing her own dreams in life and in live.