Why Welcome To Plathville Fans Can't Stand Barry Plath

Welcome to Plathville's Barry Plath often flies under the radar, but viewers still think he's problematic. Does he cause the problems in his family?

Barry Plath from Welcome to Plathville may not be as outspoken as his wife Kim Plath, but that hasn’t stopped fans from taking issue with him. Barry is proud to be the patriarch of the family, and although his behavior is subtle, most fans think that he is just as bizarre and troubled as his wife, Kim Plath. Oftentimes, he tries to come across as being genuine and sincere, but some viewers aren't buying it.

The way the Plath children were raised has been a hot topic since Welcome to Plathville first aired. Barry and Kim have been accused of using religion to control their family, with fans feeling that the strict rules they implemented have done more harm than good. In particular, the older kids have had a difficult time adjusting to life in the real world, and learning to navigate romantic relationships.

Many fans think that Kim is a narcissist and a hypocrite, but Barry tends to get overlooked. However, he may be equally responsible for the fractured family dynamic. Now, it's time to take a look at a few reasons why fans can’t stand Barry Plath.

Condescending Attitude

Barry isn’t typically as direct as Kim in terms of his approach to communicating with his children, and giving them guidance and advice. A lot of times, his criticism is hidden behind what looks like well-meaning suggestions. His condescending tone, and the way he speaks to his kids, truly upsets viewers. Instead of actually apologizing to his son and daughter (Micah and Moriah Plath) when they tried to discuss why they were upset about how they were raised, and the inevitable consequences that followed, he gave a clipped and almost mocking response. Fans were outraged when he said, "Can you forgive us for our shortcomings, perceived or real?"

Crossing Boundaries

From the beginning, many fans thought that Barry and Kim were manipulators. After they voiced their concerns that their son Ethan Plath and his wife Olivia Plath might be negative influences on the younger children, they cut them off from spending time with the kids, unless the visits were supervised. This ultimately triggered a long-standing conflict between Ethan and his parents, and he made the decision to keep Olivia away from their judgmental behavior. When Ethan went to their house to say goodbye to his siblings, he asked if he could take them to say goodbye to Olivia, who was in the car. Instead of agreeing, Barry started walking down the driveway toward the car in a somewhat comical manner, brushing off his son's frustration and anger as if it didn't matter. This led to a heated argument which almost got physical.

Facial Expressions

Fans still don't know everything about Barry Plath, and that is a problem. Aside from his personality, they also find his facial expressions unsettling. His smirk, even in the most serious and tense situations, leads viewers to believe that he doesn't respect (or truly care about) his kids' opinions. Some viewers feel that Barry tries to portray himself as a caring, fun, loving, and goofy guy, but some fans think that there is anger brewing beneath the surface, which he doesn't want everyone to see. His passive-aggressive attitude, and the way that he handles conflict, doesn't impress viewers.

Barry is usually one of the least-discussed Welcome to Plathville cast members, but he is problematic, even though he tends to fly under the radar. Now that the new season is underway, fans are getting the chance to see him in more of a parental role, as it looks like Barry and Kim may be headed for divorce. Hopefully, he will show some redeeming qualities as the show moves forward.

Next: Welcome To Plathville: The Best & Worst Parental Advice From Kim & Barry