Sister Wives - Season 16 (2021)

Meri and Janelle talk through old wounds after the family spins off in four directions: Christine takes Ysabel to have surgery in New Jersey, Janelle helps out while Evie gets foot surgery in North Carolina, Meri is in Utah, and Kody and Robyn stay home.

Christine and Kody's daughter Ysabel has surgery in New Jersey to correct her scoliosis. The recovery is far more intense than anyone expected, and Kody's absence upsets Christine.

Christine questions why a nanny is allowed around Robyn's kids when her family is not, so Kody produces a long list of COVID rules that the nanny follows. Janelle thinks that some of the rules are ridiculous, but the wives wonder why they didn't get this list sooner.

Janelle's kids blow up and call Kody's COVID rules "stupid." Later, at a family meeting to plan the holidays, Kody tries to persuade some of his wives to stay in town and follow his rules. Janelle walks out on him, angry and cursing.

The Brown family is more divided than ever; Christine and Janelle are each forced to choose between seeing Kody or seeing their older children; Robyn and Meri are following Kody's COVID rules so they can have Thanksgiving with him.

Kody faces off with his sons Gabe and Garrison, and they trade blame over COVID restrictions. Then, Janelle suffers a huge loss as Christmas is approaching. The family hopes they will all test negative and finally be together.

After a family gathering, the Brown family has their first COVID exposure. A conversation with Kody is the last straw for Christine, and when he returns to her house, he finds his belongings boxed in the garage.

The Browns sit down individually to talk about their most contentious season yet. Kody, Christine and Meri answer burning questions about the current state of their relationships, and the rest of the family discusses the challenges brought on by COVID.

The Brown family continues to speak one-on-one with host Sukanya Krishnan about the highs and lows of last year. Christine discusses being a basement wife, while Robyn reveals her struggle for acceptance within the family.

Kody and Christine share news that will change the family as the other wives weigh in on how it affects their future.