One of the most interesting storylines of Teen Mom 2 Season 9 has taken place off-camera.
Jenelle has been doing battle against producers all season and attempting to strongarm her bosses into re-hiring her husband, David Eason.
At a loss for how to continue featuring Evans on the show without filming Eason, execs pursued an unexpected strategy that doubled as a punishment for Jenelle — they decided to focus on her previous baby daddies.
Yes, Andrew Lewis and Nathan Griffith have both figured prominently in the current season of TM2, much to Jenelle’s chagrin.
Sadly, Andrew seems to have little interest in his son, Jace, but Nathan is apparently determined to win full custody of his son, Kaiser.
And not surprisingly, Jenelle is willing to battle him every step of the way.
Take a look at how the drama unfolded this week:
Dueling Exes
There was a time when it looked as though Jenelle and Nathan might actually work out an amicable co-parenting arrangement. Those days are long gone.
Stuck In the Middle
Unfortunately, as with every custody battle, there’s a young child at the heart of the conflict between Jenelle and Nathan.
Happier Days
There was a time when it seemed that Nathan was content with weekend visitations with Kaiser, but that’s all changed over the past year.
The Hurricane Kid
Nathan and his mother Doris began to grow concerned about Kaiser’s safety when his parents refused to evacuate in the midst of Hurricane Florence.
Mysterious Illness
In the months that followed, Kaiser suffered numerous health issues and was hospitalized on at least one occasion.
Unexplained Injuries
Several photos of the boy also showed bruising and other injuries for which Jenelle and David never offered a suitable explanation.
Cause For Concern
Add to that the many, many times that Jenelle and David have been visited by Child Protective Services, and it’s not hard to see why Nathan and his mother might be worried for Kaiser’s well-being.
The War For Kaiser
Monday night’s episode of Teen Mom 2 delved into the ongoing battle for sole physical custody of Kaiser.
Nate Lifts Weights
Because it’s apparently in his contract that he can only be filmed while working out, Nathan discussed the matter with his friend during a weight lifting session.
The Intervenor
Nathan explained that his mother has filed a petition to be recognized by the court as an intervenor — someone who can serve as a mediator between the parents and assume guardianship duties in the event of an emergency.
Putting It Mildly
“From what I know, he’s doing okay but not as good as I want him to be doing. I still think there’s a lot of problems,” Nate complained to his friend.
Angry Nate
“She hasn’t been 100% providing for my son the way I wanted him provided, the way we agreed upon, it’s done, it’s over,” Griffith ranted.
Monkeywrench
As has been the case so often this season, David made it impossible for MTV to film the real drama, and so, viewers were forced to rely on Jenelle’s recap after her day in court.
Shakin’ Her Bacon
Jittery from too much espresso, Jenelle told the tale to Barb while shakily devouring breakfast meats.
Dude Law
“You’re not gonna get full custody, dude,” she said. “I think he just wants to make himself sound good.”
Always a Problem
Jenelle explained that she has no problem with Doris serving as intervenor, but for some reason, the day in court was contentious anyway.
Hashing It Out
According to Jenelle, her lawyer argued that there’s no need for any grandparents to be involved in the situation at all.
The Irony
This, of course, comes from a woman whose mother has custody of her eldest child.
The Real Victim
Jenelle stated that the judge would reach a decision after he took some time to “look at the law,” but as far as we can tell, the custody battle rages on. And little Kaiser is still stuck in the middle.