"Army Wives" Discussion Thread

Episode one is a wrap. Who watched, and what did you think?

Click here for my original review.

Update: Discussion thread for the June 10 episode can be found here.

Comments

[Heather S.]

I watched and I am definitely intrigued. I really like the characters so far and am interested to see where the story lines go. I like Roxy and Roland a lot. Though I don't know how "real" the scenes with Joan really are. I kind of hope that isn't the main theme for the re-integration story line. I think that watching Roxy figure out military life will be interesting. Of course these 5 spouses getting together is far-fetched...but I'm willing to swallow that in order to watch the story lines unfold. Pamela's story line is interesting and unique. I don't know how many people will relate to her...it will be interesting to see where it goes. Overall, I am definitely interested and ready to watch more.

[Monique]

Well, I am an Army Reserve wife, but lately I feel like an active duty wife since he was gone for a year and a half in Iraq recently and is currently away for two more weeks at a course, but I know there is a lot I don't know about the active life, so you can take my observations with that background.

I liked the show. I have many active Army spouses as friends and while yes, the show has stereotypes, it has to because it is television and must be entertaining, otherwise they would call it a documentary. Reading the message boards on Lifetime you would think the creators were out to vilify Army wives. I think we should give the show a chance before hanging it on the first episode. I honestly thought the camaraderie between the spouses was touching - and that is real.

Hey, at least there is a show called Army Wives :) Who knows, maybe they'll be Navy Wives, Air Force Wives, etc

[LAW]

how did they get housing so fast? huh? and the "they don't like their wives to work" crud... a long long time ago when I was a young wife maybe. The LTCol bit was ridiculous (the bar dance... oh c'mon!)

The nasty wives (the WWJD ones) I have met. Now, tell me how this Major didn't figure out his kid is a nasty piece of work, but I have to wonder why they had to give into that stereotype of "dismissed" etc overbearing father.

This is not a show I will worry if I miss. What I can't wait for are the questions from the civilians at work tomorrow!

LAW

[Sgt. L's Wife]

I liked it and watched it back to back to make sure. Some of the things are unrealistic but, hey, it's t.v. However, some things were right on. It will be interesting to see how things unfold. I loved Catherine Bell in JAG and love her in this, too.

[Marianne]

I think this show is very unrealistic. I have been an active duty military wife for 12 years and was a military brat before that. The ER scene and the "tea party" please. The homecoming where they get off of the bus and run into their arms (without head cover) and the bar scene with the Lt.Col. ok need I say more? I feel outraged.

[Heather S.]

I'm sorry that some wives feel insulted by some of the scenes in the show. I didn't personally feel insulted at all. I didn't really think that the portrayals were negative either. Also, I've read a lot of complaints about the ER scene. I don't mean to offend anyone, but people do sometimes jump line at the hospital by using rank. I've seen it happen. It's just one small scene. And actually I was really impressed that she let Roxy go ahead...I think that shows a good character.

I really love watching Roxy "learn" the military. She's great!

[Laura Roberts]

I watched the premier tonight and came away disgusted. Supposedly written by an actual Army Wife it portrayed only officers wives with one or two enlisted wives who was portrayed as "white trash". In no way did it deal with what we deal with on a day to day basis. The enlisted wives deserve better then how we were portrayed. We are the backbone, the ones who are always there, the ones who have to deal with countless deployments and such. I'm disgusted by this show and found it highly insulting. Someone needs to tell it like it really is. I'm shocked that this is how our lives will be portrayed to the public.

As an Army wife, I spend my days supporting my husband and his troops. I live with all the separation and day to day problems. I'm educated and by no means the crude "trailer trash" that they portray in this series. I demand that we get equal respect and an honest portrayal of what we go through. Army Wives is nothing but garbage.

Respectfully,

Laura M. Roberts
Army Wife
to SGT Keith M. Roberts
Currently serving again in Iraq

[Jan Wesner]

As many of you have mentioned, the show is based on stereotypes - good ones and bad ones. But I found it very entertaining in a soap opera sort of way.
I would imagine doctors feel the same way as some of you when they watch "Grey's Anatomy," or cops when they watch "CSI" - they are probably sitting there looking at the screen yelling "Oh, COME ON!"
A definite high point was the soundtrack. Great music.
http://blogs.tampabay.com/standingby/

[Julie Anna]

I kind of liked the show. Hopefully they will focus on making it more realistic, as well as entertaining. We all know there can be plenty of entertainment with this lifestyle. I do agree they were too hard on the enlisted wives. We're not all trashy! I wrote a longer review on my blog.

[Kel]

It was ok.. The whole tea party was a bit unrealistic.. How many officer's tea's has a PFC's wife been invited to lately? But other than that i look forward to seeing how it unravels with future shows.

[Marine Wife]

I agree with several of the other comments in that this is supposed to be a TV drama, not a documentary. I doubt that any of the hospital, police, or lawyer dramas are any more realistic than this was. In the military vein, neither JAG nor NCIS was/is terribly realistic. Didn't stop me from being entertained, even when I spotted the mistakes. That said, I'm still reserving judgment. This was only the first episode and it's still early days.

[Andi]

I knew we would have some varied reactions to Army Wives, and we do. I agree that when they went over the top, they really went over the top (like the LTC in a Jody bar and some of the other non-existent stereotypes that were shown), but as many have pointed out, this is not a documentary.

I've read comments on several threads which have complained about the cheating spouses (who are background characters), but I think it's important to point out that the main character, Roxy, disapproved of the two women who were cheating on their husbands. Roxy was shown as the role model in that scene.

I don't believe the producers are trying to show Army wives in a poor light, I believe the main characters are strong and interesting women (and one man). The gossips and troublemakers come across as they should - petty, shallow and rude.

I found it helpful to watch the show more than once. The first time I watched, I did so, rightly or wrongly, with the hope that I would see my life on screen. Once I got past the fact that this is television after all, I watched it for what it was intended to be - entertainment and not a reality show.

Someone pointed out that it's only the first episode and the jury is still out. I agree, let's wait to see how it all unfolds. It will be interesting...

[AF Wife Niki]

I was very excited for the premier of Army Wives, and to be honest, I wasn't the least bit disappointed. I mean come on, it's television. They could have done a lot worse like have a cheating spouse get pregnant from an affair and her husband comes home from Iraq to a new baby that everyone knows isn't his because the child is a different race. That happened on my base. Anyway, I watched the show with my husband and after many scenes he kept complaining about how unrealistic it is. His biggest complaint was that there is no way an officer would be drinking in a bar with an enlisted because it is not allowed.

What got me was the line about soldiers not wanting their wives to work. I'm sure if this was real and the family was in debt, such as Pamela and her husband, a soldier would not mind his wife working at all. Many of the wives I know work and it is greatly appreciated by our husbands.

I liked the different backgrounds of the wives and husband. You have the doctor, the ex-cop, the ex-nursing school student, who I believe graduated and just never practiced, and the bartender. The law school drop-out seems unrealistic because I think if any of us were in Harvard Law and about to graduate with honors, we would wait until we finished to move with our husbands and they would completely understand. She already has student loans, unless her parents were rich, which was alluded to. She might as well make it worth something even if she never ends up practicing law. I didn't move to Texas with my husband until I graduated college a year after we got married. Not all milspouses are housewives and stay-at-home moms. I'm not, but my closest friend down here is. We are all different and lead different lifestyles.

The thing I liked the absolute best is how loving and devoted the husbands were to their wives and how the wives love their husbands, the main characters anyway.

I like Army Wives and I'm looking forward to the next episode! I have the DVR set to record all future episodes. I think we should give the show a chance and try not to take it so personally. Nobody knows what spouses go through unless they are a spouse, so if we want a show that is realistic, we have to do it ourselves. Plus I'm sure the producers and others behind the show aren't as concerned with our lives as they are ratings and paychecks. Accept the show for what it is-- a fictionalized television drama.

[Reasa]

I really enjoyed it. So much was correct and in correct. But it is TV as alot of ladies have already pointed out. I will watch to be entertained and nothing more. I am to tired to pick things apart at thispoint. :)

[Butterfly Wife]

I loved it. I thought is was very entertaining. And that is the point, to be entertained. So if you didn't like it, write the producers and convincingly tell them what was wrong with the show and why it needs to be changed. If you like it, keep watching and I'll be watching with you.

[Susan]

I enjoyed the show...like Desperate Housewives in the Army. I expected that it would not be very realistic and it met my expectations. I liked that Roxy was shown in a good light when the other minor character wives were shown as cheaters. I look forward to see how the characters develop. Of course it's going to be exaggerations of steryotypes...it's TV. I don't think any of the main characters were shown to be bad people, quite the opposite. I think that how they all pulled together and bonded despite their obvious differences was very positive and actually the most realistic aspect of the show. I'll be watching next week.

[val]

As far as the, 'soldier's don't like their wives to work' comment, I wondered if that wasn't aimed more at characterizing that particular husband and/or relationship... the one who is overspending his family into debt and isn't very receptive to talking about difficult things with his wife.... We shall see, I guess.

[Kristy]

I really enjoyed the first episode and felt that they did a very good job of making it realistic to what an army wife's life is like. Although my husband and I do not live on post, I'm a new army wife and relate to Roxy. I still don't know hardly any of the acronyms, rules or other nuances of the army. And the gossip does run rampid! However, the wives are not the only culprits in that game. Anyway, they should also incorporate the difficulties that couples experience prior to deployment, because I just recently went through that. I didn't know what to expect, and it was a lot more difficult than I would have imagined. Including that in the show would help new wives like myself prepare for the pre-deployment experience. Having to discuss SGLI is an extremely stressful situation that I was not prepared for. I had a hard time relating to the officers and their wives though. Since my husband is enlisted, I think the show can teach me what my life experience cannot.

Overall, this show was a great idea at such a terbulant time in our country. Society in general has really been made aware of the U.S. military once again, although it's too bad it took a war to open up people's eyes. My hope is that this show will inform society and help them to understand what our lives are really like. People always feel sympathy, but without any real notion of what we go through day to day, month to month, and sometimes year to year. It is endearing, though, to know that the creators of this drama thought about us enough to share our lives and stories with the entire country. I will continue to watch the stories of these courageous women unfold each week, until my husband comes home and begs to watch something other than an army show...lol.

[Jill]

I personally felt that the show was/is unrealistic. I'm not an Army wife, I'm a Marine Corps wife but service life is service life. The housing waiting list is generally a long one however we've now had 2 duty stations in which we were in housing within 2 weeks so that's not unheard of. We have The Unit and now Army Wives if people want to see what our lives are really like why doesn't one of the networks or cable channels have a crew follow us around for a few weeks to see how our lives REALLY flow....or don't. Hey, I'm available, I homeschool because my son is autistic, my husband's preparing to re-deploy, all kinds of teen angst going on in this house. My husband sits and picks apart these shows saying 'this is wrong, that's wrong, doesn't happen that way, etc.' so let's make it real people. Toss the fluff, the officers dancing on bars and throw in the wife who MUST work because if she doesn't the car will be repossessed or you go hungry so the kids don't.

[Karen]

Well I see a lot of different thoughts on the show. Personally I liked it. Some of it made me laugh like the kid at the table talking about Jody's lol. I wasn't to impressed by the "Welcome" she got by the other "Not so faithful" wives but whatever. I know they exsist from when we lived at Campbell. The "Tea Party" was a bit out there but it's tv. As for the stereo types and people not liking it, well it is kinda like that. You see all different types of woman at any army post. Overall I liked the show a lot and intend to watch it for the season. I've been an Army wife for 10 years and I've seen the active part and now am living the National Guard part which may as well still be active just without the post. He's currently in Afghanistan and will be for another 9 months. I did miss the 1st half hour of the show so some of the things i've read in everyones post I didn't see. But i'll be watching all the rest for sure!

[Kel]

I do have to say the one htign i lied very much is they do have a male spouse int he show. not many show the male spouse and thigns they go through and i like the fact they actually have that role in this show..

[Lissa]

I wonder where these so-called advisers are, and if they actually have any real experience with military life?

As a former USAF Spouse of 15 years-some of which were Gulf War I years, I saw a few things in the TV show which were a bit ridiculous.

First of all. you don't get a "chit" for not mowing the yard of housing for which you have just taken possession. In addition, you can’t take possession of housing until you report for duty, and obviously that family had just rolled onto the post!

Officer's wives and enlistee’s wives don't mingle socially unless it is an official event. Afternoon tea at the Major's home is not an official event, it is a social event. It is not likely that enlisted wives will be invited to a Field Grade officer's wives’, or even a Company Grade Officer’s wives’ social event. In the rare event that an invitation is extended, most enlisted wives would not consider attending such an event to be an enjoyable experience. I was an Officer's wife and I did not enjoy attending those kinds of functions because of the snobbery that was prevalent. Socially, the military is very class-conscious. There are Officer's Clubs, Non-Commissioned Officer's Clubs and Enlisted Clubs, and the parallel Spouse's clubs.

As far as working wives being discouraged, that just was not true. It was true that officers "wives" working outside the home were in the minority but most enlisted "wives" needed to work to supplement the family incomes. Many spouses were employed on the base in various capacities.

[wife]

question? what if your marine husband is trying to divorce you. he packed my things up and sent me home with no money. just my stuff. know he is trying to get me off his checking account. he sold my car with me knowing. know he wants to sign the title over. dont know what to do???????

[Sarah]

My expectations for the show were *extremely* low, so I came away pleasantly Not Disgusted. The one thing I liked that I don't think anyone else has mentioned is that they showed that there are all kinds of folks in the Army. There were bitchy officer wives, nice officer wives, bitchy enlisted wives, and nice enlisted wives. I think that's fairly accurate, at least in my experience. I'll watch it next week and see what else happens.

[Mrs. Stewart]

Army Wives was great! It was really entertaining and I can't wait until the next show! I will definately be a devoted viewer. It's interesting to see how other people view our lives. Of course it won't be exactly realistic--it's tv. But I like it already! It's a drama so don't take it too seriously. I'm a fairly new Air Force wife (my hubby's been in for 1 year and 10 mos so far) but I have seen some of the same drama that happens in the characters' lives happen for real.

BTW Denise should have told her husband about their son abusing her a long time ago. Really. I might have done something else if that was my son.

P.S. "Wife" with the divorce problems, you need a good lawyer.

[Linda]

I watched...I liked...I'm going to watch again.

What I find more fascinating is the us/them division seen here on the discussion! We just had a "can't we all get along" discussion.

I have to take exception to Lissa's comments regarding how things work in the wives lives, particularly as an Army Officer wife. Lissa, I am hellbent on trying to break the generalizations of officer vs. enlisted spouses. You are quite mistaken in your generalization that we don't socialize unless it's an official event. You haven't been in the band field...or you'd really re-think that thought. Not all units have a commander, XO, and platoon leaders (all officers) where the wives can all get together and commiserate. I am one of those who have no other officer wives in the unit. I am the lone one. I get left out a lot, but I do my best to keep friendships going. We have a group of women interested in the same things, and we don't give a flying patootie what ranks our husbands are. When we go to the commissary, we all shop. There's no special aisles dividing us. People who perpetuate the myth are the ones I am trying to re-educate.

I belong to the headquarters coffee group - from the CG's wife (a 2 star) to the Army Nurse's wife (he's a 2LT)...and the enlisted leaders' wives too - E6's and E7's, E8's and 9's...and we do NOT wear our spouses' ranks. We do have a separate spouses club, but it's only because this post has always had it that way. I'm sure it will change eventually.

Back to Army Wives...there were some unrealistic scenes, but that was to be expected. My husband scoffed at more of it than I did (the LTC bar dance was one), and he commented that some soldier had his patch on upsidedown - you'd think they'd have caught that, but then again, there was a picture in the Army Times of a soldier re-enlisting who had her USA Flag on the wrong arm, so uniform mistakes happen in real life too!

For all those who thought it unrealistic - give it a chance...and enjoy it for what it is - entertainment!

[Stoicmom]

Civilian opinion here. I have never been an Army wife but I am an Army mom. I really liked the show. I liked how it showed so many different types of wives and some of the story lines were really surprising...the abusive son, that was a surprise. I liked the scene with him and Claudia's husband taking him to task since the father was not home to do the duty. I have a feeling that kid gets a good arse-whipping a few episodes down the line.

My favorite character though has to be Roxy. And I like her husband who appears to like her kids. The saluting scene really hit home with me because of a story my son's new wife told me a few weeks ago. She said they went to their first FRG meeting and most of the guys were in uniform since they had just gotten off work and they were all sitting around waiting for the meeting to start. Suddenly the Commander walks into the room and every soldier in the room jumps to his feet at attention. She said she jumped up too. My son told her she didn't have to stand up but she said she was afraid not to. I had to smile at that one.

Sure, some of the scenes are a little far-fetched, like the LTC in the jody bar, but they did give her a really good line when her husband comes to collect her and finds her passed out in the back room. When she wakes up she says "If you knew the things I had to do over there you wouldn't love me any more." I suspect that line has been thought, if not spoken, by more than a few battle-weary soldiers in reality. Personally, I think the show has potential and the mere fact that a TV show about the military is being done speaks volumes about what the people in this country are thinking about right now. I hope it lasts.

[Sarah]

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[Navy Wife Wendy]

I think if I can remember this is a Drama and not take it too seriously then it will be good summer entertainment, a guilty pleasure. I don't watch a lot of TV, but my DVR tapes Grey's. I love that show because it is filled with a mix of drama, fantasy, sap, ….it makes me laugh, cry and lets me relax for 45min. If Army Wives does that, then I’ll keep watching. (Even if I have to fast forward through the offensive parts - I do that on Grey's too.)

[Tiphany]

I enjoyed the unique storyline of the show. There really isn't another show like it on TV. Despite the stereotypes some complained of, it was entertaining. Besides, all TV is driven by stereotypes, so I wouldn't be offended by the characterizations. Most people know that soldiers make sacrifices, but "Army Wives" will expose the public to the sacrifices that military spouses and children make for their country.

[Navy_K]

Thank you for your thoughts regarding Lissa's comments, Linda. I can't say it better than you did and couldn't agree more with your response. I will leave it at that! :)

As far as Army Wives, I actually really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to watching the future episodes. I like Catherine Bell and I'm excited to see her in this show. The characters are interesting and there appear to be exciting storylines to develop - I think my favorite character so far is Roland. :) Some of the "unrealistic" things and stereotypes did irk me a little, but like most of you have said - this is television (and Lifetime tv at that!).

[navywifemeg]

I think the show is aimed at entertainment and the major complaint seems to be that it isn't "realistic" enough. Think about it though....how exciting would it be to watch them stand in line for 2 hours at the housing office? They clearly needed to take a few liberties, had Roxy and Trevor been forced to live off-base or in TLA until they got on-base housing the story lines would not have worked. While seeing the realities of a new marriage, enrolling in DEERS, getting an ID card, finding housing, might make the show feel more realistic it would also make the show a lot more boring. Think of it this way...the show is an hour long but it deals with multiple days in a characters life...they simply edit out all of the boring routine stuff!

[Charity]

I thought this show did a dis-service to military wives. I have been an Air Force wife for seven years. I have only encountered women who acted this way once! And they were gone quickly. To civilians, this show portrays weak morals on the home front. Where is the strength that military wives have? It is not shown well at all. I felt this show was very disappointing. Hopefully with all of the feedback, they turn it towards a more realistic approach. After all women of strength that take care of everything should be just as interesting as women who whore around. Or make it a comedy. We all know life can get pretty crazy during deployments and if we don't laugh about it we cry.
I hope comments do get considered and they don't take as many liberties with portraying our lives.

[angela]

I just WISH I could wear a thong in public. If that was me those poor women in the bathroom would have fallen out on the floor laughing so hard.

[RedLegMeg]

Charity, I'm not sure where the "whoring around" came into play. Unless you're talking about the two women who played Roxy's "welcoming committee". It was a small part of the scene and Roxy made a point to put them in their place and move on; they weren't seen or mentioned again. I just don't think that it was the focus of the show and let's be realistic, it happens. It's not pretty and doesn't make us proud, but it's out there.

[Hooahwife71]

I personally liked the show. And yes it was unrealistic in some ways however in others it was not. My husband has been in the Army for 16 years. He had an 8 year hiatus and then returned before Sept. 11.

There are many things that I have read on this discussion that are not true.

One of the big things is that everyone keeps saying that one of the lines in the show was that the spouse could not work. Apparently people were not listening. What was said was that no soldier is going to let his wife work in a Jody Bar.

Another problem that I have is that it was brought up that Officer wives do not have anything to do with enlisted wives. Apparently this person has lived in the dark ages because what does happen in today's society is that all of us spouses realize that there is no rank when it comes to the spouses of soldiers. We are in the military by association with our spouse however those that think that they can hang it over someone's head that they are an officer's wife and they need to follow them are incorrect and Army reg will tell you this as well. Things have changed and those that think differently really need to check regs.

[becky]

It was a pretty good episode. They have to round the characters out more i think. Some of the things were pretty unrealistic but i think there was some real realism in it too, even if we may not want to admit it. The "tea party" was a little over the top like pp commented. Rank is kind of a big deal even among the wives. We all know that and i doubt if a PFC's wife would be invited to a tea party. All in all pretty good entertainment it could be better. We'll have to see how the story lines go.

[Dani]

Hoohawife71: Actually there was a line in the show where they said that soldiers don't like their wives to work. Pamela said it and she said that's why she quit her job as a cop and didn't look for work again-- because her soldier husband doesn't want her to work. And that's why they are in debt. And that's why she is a surrogate.

I really liked the show! Like someone said earlier, my husband had more bones to pick with it than I did. I kept telling him that it's tv and it's Lifetime, so calm down. I can't wait until the next show!

[k]

I am trying not to judge based on one single episode however I am not holding my breath that this series will be more than another evening soap opera. If that's what it turns into I will be disappointed. If I wanted to watch something like that I would waste my time on silly Desperate Housewives.

As members of the military family I think it is easy for us to figure out the rights and wrongs of the show b/c we live it everyday. It's even easy for us to say "oh it's just entertainment." However I can see where the average civilian with no military experience may get a skewed impression of what it's really like for us. This is how those negative stereotypes are perpetuated. And this is why it can be offensive to some of us. If they are promoting this as based on a true-to-life book then I hope they keep the exaggerations and the typical over-the-top negative stereotypes at a minimum, regardless of their need to entertain. Maybe I am biased but I think the lives we lead are just as interesting as anything else out there...without the Hollywood makeovers.

I do think they missed a huge opportunity when the Catherine Bell's husband deployed and they just showed a quick clip of them dropping him off at the bus. Where was the background story with all the craziness and roller coaster of emotions that goes with getting ready for that event?

[Kath]

I can't comment on the show itself as I'm in Britain and can't watch it, BUT I have paid attention to the show's website and media attention and of course the comments on this post.
I agree with K in that, as a military wife (albeit British military and the Marines not Army) I take my "job" as a military wife very seriously. I take it personally. And I'm smart enough to know that there are people out there who know nothing about the way I, *we* live except what they see or hear from others, or t.v.
So while I know the negative happens (hey there are stupid people in this world) I do wish that in this time when our men and women are fighting dangerous battles in many countries, and are being torn apart by (more stupid) people in the press and the political realm - and let's not forget Hollywood, there wasn't a t.v. show, any t.v. show, that portrayed the negative for "entertainment purposes". I'm wouldn't be entertained.
But then again, I don't watch soap operas to begin with.
I wish the show luck though, and truly hope that it brings an actual true-to-life Army and homefront to the small screen - full of everything hopeful and optimistic that the military is.

[angela]

I agree with K that the deployment scene should have been more real. Where were all the kids crying? The kids screaming "daddy don't leave me"? The realatives calling for days before and after the deployment date saying "now do you wish you had kept him from joining"? They made it look too easy.

[USMC wife]

Although the show was a little bit exagerated...I think it was more or less on the money. It sums up the wives I have run into whether it be caddy or white trash, the cheating wives or the uptight officers wives. It all seems real, and the housing chit for not having lawn mowed, loved it!! ANnd EVERYONE does have their secrets whether it be enlisted or officer. It's good to show the good and bad of the military scene. Being a supportive wife for 9 years now it's not easy. I relate to Roxy to this day I still haven't been introduced to proper military etiquette. Once at a USMC Ball I was amazed at the medals on a GSGT chest and felt the need to touch, hahah needless to say not something you do, and I didn't know you had to stop on base and salute at the anthem/colors or what have you depending on the base morning and night...there' so much you just learn as you go and then to run into gossipy wives who have to start trouble it's crazy. This deployment we decided to move to our hometown for the proper support we need not the military scene. God bless the spouses and our tropps!!

[Married to the Army Forever]

I think some parts of the show were overstated, then again...it's television. I wouldn't want to watch it if it was boring. Granted, some things are unrealistic - the LTC drunk and dancing on the bar, the tea party w/ a mix of officer's wives and enlisted wives, etc. But there were many scenes that I thought were probably true in some sense - the hospital scene (I've seen it happen. I did find myself laughing a lot throughout, maybe because I identify with so much of it. I also found myself emotional, like when watching Denise see her husband off on another deployment.
Pamela is another character that I identify with...not because of the "saving her family from debt" routine, but because of the gossip mongers that attacked her on the first show. These women DO EXIST. I have met them, and I'm sure I'll meet many more over my husband's career. I loved the way Roxy disapproved of the other wives running around on their husbands while they were away, considering "Pamela" played a cheating wife in the FX series Over There. Nice turnaround. All in all I loved it and will definitely set my DVR to record again.

P.S. I am a wife that works and goes to school full time and my husband wouldn't have it any other way. There was never a day that he didn't want me to work.

[Vypergirl]

I thought the show did portray the Army lifestyle from different perspectives. That also goes to say that just because you have never personally seen these particular situations where you are located, doesn't mean it hasn't happened.

The soldier who got housing quickly, he didn't just move to that base - he was all ready stationed there. I don't think they would have been given a chit that quickly though.

As far as the tea goes, they did say that it was a fund raiser and that is why all wives were invited.

I think that the characters are going to be developing and that we have only glimpsed a little bit of who they all are. I am excited to see how the show will progress. I will definitely be watching!!!

[Dorothy Adame]

Hello my name is Dorothy Adame, living here in beautiful San Diego, CA. I would like know how many Military wifes live out here in San Diego, CA.?

[nik]

My goodness people, this is television, everything is going to be enhanced for entertainment purposes!! Do "housewives" sit around and complain about the realistic and unrealistic aspects of "Desperate Housewives"??? i doubt it.. the point is anything on TV is never going to COMPLETELY align with reality, that is why it is on tv. Television is escapism, and thus it should be an opportunity to forget about the problems in your own lives for a time and be enthralled by those of the characters! I for one really enjoyed the show and it is giving this current single mom and hour every sunday to be entertained and not dwell on missing my husband who is deployed..enjoy the show!

[Renee Leake]

I watched a bit of it. I'm both an army wife and a former army officer, so the stereotypes grated on my nerves a bit. I know it is just TV, and it is pretty entertaining, but I do not think I'll watch it because I think that I would just be too annoyed by the inaccuracies. Speaking of inaccuracies, I have to point this one out. The female LTC is said to be a Citadel graduate. Unless this is supposed to be about 10 years in the future, that would be impossible. The first female did not graduate from the Citadel until 1999 and would at most be a CPT. LOL . . . this is why I can't watch. It would just drive me nuts.

[Tish]

I loved the book and the show. The TV series makes more sense after reading the book. I recommend it for those of you who point out the inaccuracies in the show. The book fills in more correct detail where time doesn't allow them in a tv series.

[Ahna]

I rather enjoyed it, especially with my husband's side comments of "Yup" or "Don't be like that". Rarely is anything DEAD ON. It's TV, of course there will be stereotypes! If you don't like it, don't watch it. I find it enjoyable, a "Desperate Housewives" for the Army. HOO-AH

[Remo]

It really makes me sick to my stomach. All the news show have spouse being women, when there are alot of spouse out there that are men, who has sponsor being women deployed also. You look at news and its always women getting all the tv time, what about the men who are spouse that have family stories to tell! Its almost like its non-existing! Can someone tell me if my story is any different cause Im a male and not a women. I have a story to tell, raising my family, while my sponsor is deployed servicing our great country. I think they dont think men have anything to say, cause its always from a women point of view....like oprah!!!

[Tab Burnett]

I was excited about the prospect of a show that portrayed "Army Wives", but turned it off right after the bathroom scene. What a wasted oppourtunity to honor the unsung heroine of our soldiers in green.I, am the husband of an "Army Wife". I have been married to my "Army Wife" for 19 years and have been serving for 22 years. My "Army Wife" started out married to a SPC, that would be Specialist, or E-4 to the uninitiated. Over the years she has learned about the monthly "Family Support Group", now called "Family Readiness Group" meeting. Depending on the CDR's wife, could be good, could be bad. She has learned hundreds of acroynyms, TDY, PCS, FSTE, NPD,(No Pay Due), etc.. All the while, maintaining our home, raising our children during deployments, training exercises, volunteer events, paying the bills, changing the oil on the car, fixing the washer, attending to the daily routine that makes a house a home. And for what? For the love of a man that is grumpy in the morning because he gets up too early, grumpy in the evening because he works too late. He drinks too much for her taste but is never disrespectful or violent. For the hope that he gets that next promotion soon because they really need the money. For the hope that the next assignment will bring good schools, good housing, and a decent Commissary/PX! My "Army Wife" has endured, and has motivated this soldier to achieve more then I ever thought possible on my own. She started out married to a SPC, E-4, but through her guidance and direction and support, and an occasional kick in the ass, she is now married to a CW4. And I have my "Army Wife" to thank for that, not the "Army Wives" that are portrayed on this show!!!!!!!

[olbrowns5]

I watched the show I did definately enjoy it. A very dear friend of mine is the singer of the song "Is this Love?" So I had to listen to hear him!

[Neal]

These kinds of shows are why I watch the Discovery channels . Some of you haven't figured out that you're being trained to accept trash as entertainment thus makeing it acceptable .

[jamie lee]

i know that some of the things could have been more realistic but it is tv it must be entertaing and it is true its just like watching bones or csi or someother show. i love catherine bell and im glad shes in it. im just happy somebody let a military show on air since its not a to common thing. i think its really good that this show is on the air i want more im addicted!

[Kim]

The acting is pretty awful and for that, I can't really take it seriously. It would have been better as a reality show!

[Veronica]

This show is extremely biased! I am an enlisted wife who is an accountant and I am far from being the "typical" enlisted wife that they portray on the show." Just because I am not an officer’s wife it does not mean that I am stupid and uneducated.

[laquetta]

To all my friends,
This was recently sent to me and I can not verify any of the infomation. But what I can say is that it reminds me that OUR SOLDIERS go through some of the worst situations in the world. They do this because their love for their country and their families, and their country has sent them to these places to do a job. If we agree or not about the war or politics that have sent them do this job, is irrelevent. The fact is that the front line soldiers see things and experience things that we would not want to imagine. THEY NEED OUR SUPPORT PLAIN & SIMPLE.
K.


This message was sent to me by someone who had loved ones who served
in Vietnam!!!

> She really was a Traitor
>
> IF YOU NEVER FORWARDED
>
> ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE FORWARD THIS SO THAT EVERYONE WILL
>KNOW!!!!!!

>She really was a traitor
>
>A TRAITOR IS ABOUT TO BE HONORED
>KEEP THIS MOVING ACROSS AMERICA
>
>This is for all the kids born in the 70's who do
>not remember, and didn't have to bear the
>burden that our fathers, mothers and older
>brothers and sisters had to bear.

>
>Jane Fonda is being honored as one of the
>"100 Women of the Century."
>

>BY BARBRA WALTERS

>Unfortunately, many have forgotten and still
>countless others have never known how Ms.
>Fonda betrayed not only the idea of our country,
>but specific men who served and sacrificed
>during Vietnam
>
>The first part of this is from an F-4E pilot

>
>The pilot's name is Jerry Driscoll, a River Rat.
>
>
>In 1968, the former Commandant of the USAF
>Survival School was a POW in Ho Lo Prison
>the "Hanoi Hilton."

>Dragged from a stinking cesspit of a cell,
>cleaned, fed, and dressed in clean PJ's, he was
>ordered to describe for a visiting American
>"Peace Activist" the "lenient and humane
>treatment" he'd received.
>
>He spat at Ms. Fonda, was clubbed, and was
>dragged away.
>During the subsequent beating, he fell forward
>on to the camp Commandant 's feet, which
>sent that officer berserk.

>In 1978, the Air Force Colonel still suffered from
>double vision (which permanently ended his
>flying career) from the Commandant's frenzied
>application of a wooden baton.

>From 1963-65, Col. Larry Carrigan was in the
>47FW/DO (F-4E's). He spent 6 years in the
>"Hanoi Hilton",,, the first three of which his
>family only knew he was "missing in action".
>His wife lived on faith that he was still alive.
>His group, too, got the cleaned-up, fed and
>clothed routine in preparation for a
>"peace delegation" visit.
>They, however, had time and devised a plan to
>get word to the world that they were alive
>and still survived. Each man secreted a tiny
>piece of paper, with his Social Security Number
>on it, in the palm of his hand.
>
>When paraded before Ms. Fonda and a
>cameraman, she walked the line, shaking each
>man's hand and asking little encouraging
>snippets like: "Aren't you sorry you bombed
>babies?" and "Are you grateful for the humane
>treatment from your benevolent captors?"
>Believing this HAD to be an act, they each
>palmed her their sliver of paper.
>She took them all without missing a beat. At the
>end of the line and once the camera stopped
>rolling, to the shocked disbelief of the POWs,
>she turned to the officer in charge and handed
>him all the little pieces of paper.
>
>Three men died from the subsequent beatings.
>Colonel Carrigan was almost number four
>but he survived, which is the only reason we
>know of her actions that day.
>
>I was a civilian economic development advisor
>in Vietnam , and was captured by the North
>Vietnamese communists in South Vietnam in
>1968, and held prisoner for over 5 years.
>
>I spent 27 months in solitary confinement; one
>year in a cage in Cambodia ; and one year
>in a "black box" in Hanoi .
>My North Vietnamese captors deliberately
>poisoned and murdered a female missionary, a
>nurse in a leprosarium in Ban me Thuot, South
>Vietnam , whom I buried in the jungle near the
>Cambodian border.
>At one time, I weighed only about 90 lbs.
>(My normal weight is 170 lbs.)
>
>We were Jane Fonda's "war criminals."
>
>When Jane Fonda was in Hanoi , I was asked by
>the camp communist political officer if I would
>be willing to meet with her.
>
>I said yes, for I wanted to tell her about the real
>treatment we POWs received... and how
>different it was from the treatment purported by
>the North Vietnamese, and parroted by her as
>"humane and lenient."
>
>Because of this, I spent three days on a rocky
>floor on my knees, with my arms outstretched
>with a large steel weights placed on my hands,
>and beaten with a bamboo cane.

>I had the opportunity to meet with Jane Fonda
>soon after I was released. I asked her
>if she would be willing to debate me on TV.
>She never did answer me.

>These first-hand experiences do not exemplify
>someone who should be honored as part
>of "100 Years of Great Women."
>Lest we forget..." 100 Years of Great Women"
>should never include a traitor whose hands are
>covered with the blood of so many patriots.

>
>There are few things I have strong visceral
>reactions to, but Hanoi Jane's participation in
>blatant treason, is one of them.
>Please take the time to forward to as many
>people as you possibly can.
>It will eventually end up on her computer and
>she needs to know that we will never forget.
>RONALD D. SAMPSON, CMSgt, USAF
>716 Maintenance Squadron, Chief of
>Maintenance
>DSN: 875-6431
>COMM: 883-6343
>

[Mindy Atherton]

I watched the whole episode and I liked it. I thought that some of them were far fetched but all the same I liked it. I am a new military wife and he is deployed right now and I just thought that watching the show would let me know something. I really don't think most of that stuff really happens but I still loved it!!

[L]

I didn't like the show the first time, but my husband is gone. I have a little extra time on my hands, so I watched it a second time. It's definately cliche and inaccurate at times, but I'm interested to see where it goes.

I know it's random, but I was mostly bothered by the suggestion that a Major by that fact alone could get someone into West Point. He would have had to know people. So did the Colonel make the call? I couldn't quite figure out if he did or he was willing to. Not that it would be super realistic, but definately a lot more believable.

As far as the upside down patches, my husband has explained to me before that they aren't authorized to wear the uniform. Doing something wrong keeps them technically out of uniform. Or something like that. Point is, it is done on purpose.

[Kristy]

What everyone has to remember about television is that the writer's have to exaggerate to make it appealing to the viewers. Of course, many of us look at it and think that certan aspects are inaccurate, but that also depends on where you're stationed and what your husband does in the army. Any tv show does this. I would bet that many housewives were disgusted by watching Desperate Housewives the first couple of times too, until they realize...it's tv. People understand that this is not an exact portrayal of our lives. Just like not every housewife cheats on their husband, neither does every army wife. Oh, and let's remember that if beautiful people are not on tv, no one will watch. Including the people complaining about them. Besides, I like that we're being portrayed as beautiful.

[Devin]

Ya know what Army Wives forgot to portray? Apparently the level of judgement that a lot of Army Wives feel they are entitled to. I can't believe all this griping about how 'we' are being portrayed. I come from a well off family, and married a man who decided to take a $10K per year paycut to enlist in the middle of a war. Personally, I could relate a lot to the Officer's wife, but I am an enlisted wife. I have met several wives who could play the part of Roxy to a tee. And they are my friends. I could relate to her trying to adjust to the Army life after living as an adult civilian. I think the beautiful thing about being part of the Army Family is the opportunity to meet people from all different walks of life. I don't understand what makes some of these wives think they can call Roxy's character 'trash' because she is a little country. For me, Army Wives was spot-on. Not in all of the little details, or what I thought someone would really do, but in the sense that it did a great job of portraying some of the challenges and joys we experience as military dependents. By the way- I was a bartender for a short time after my daughter was born to help supplement our income. Now that we are making even less my husband insists I do not go back to work as a bartender. So what one Army husband would do or say is not neccessarily what the next one would do or say. And some people are going to find something to complain about no matter what- I'm waiting for the show to create the character of the Army Wife who is bitter and resentful and has a sense of entitlement because "her" husband fights for our country. There are probably about five of them on this blog, what a huge oversight by the producers and writers- maybe the show SHOULD be cancelled. I'll keep watching until it is...HOOAH!

[Sean]

I am a havy husband, so for me the Army husband in the show is really nice. I personally liked the show. I've read the posts and don't agree with all of them. To start with the LTC dancing on the bar can happen. While I was in I saw more than one officer get drunk and do something stupid it isn't just an occurence among the enlisted. With the my soldier doesn't want me to work thing I've seen it both ways. Some spouses are very supportive and want their significant other to do what they want and others think that their wife should just stay at home. Overall I thought it was a good show and am going to watch agian. Not much else to do while the wife is in the middle of the ocean.

P.S. Remo don't take it hard that most of the people gettting news time are WIVES and not husbands. We're in the minority and most people don't realize that there are men who are willing to follow their wives around so they can serve. That is a realitivly new thing. I still get weird looks from people when I pull out my dependent id and they hear I'm the stay at home parent and college student. Just remember that what you are doing is for you and your wife NOT for the media coverage.

[pavteam]

I am an officer's wife - have been for 28 years. The officer & enlisted wives tea party can happen. When my husband was deployed, we had joint activities all the time. The ER - scene - I HAVE seen that HAPPEN, but the Col's wife ignored the young enlisted wife. The Lt Col dancing in the bar - Yep I've seen it - both officers & then some wives too that have gotten way too drunk! The pregnancy & adoption - I have seen some wives whose hubby's were on a years deployment to Okinawa and they have had a baby and have given it up for adoption before hubby got home. Sometime they even asked to be induced, so it's born & gone before hubby gets home - it wasn't his. One time as a new Lt's wife, I was at the commissary and this wife was getting in front of the line telling every one, my husband is an officer. A General's wife overheard her and went up to her and said "Honey, my husband is an officer too, in fact he runs this base. I'm waiting in the back of the line and you can too! Applause from all over the check out area! Back in the 80's when they guys were deployed to sea for 6 months or 1 year to Okinawa, a lot of the officer wives would go over to the enlisted clubs to hang out and the enlisted wives would try to go to the bar at the O' club, so that hubbies friends didn't know what they were up to and tell on them. On time at a BN beach party at LT brought a date who upon seeing the ships off the coast playing thie war games said "my husband is out there on that ship" At first I thought she was joking - she wasn't and the LT got chew out by the Col the next work day. So some of you may not think it's realistic, but I have seen a lot of this in my 28+ years.
Semper Fi,

[Me]

I am an officer's wife, but I was enlisted before we got married. I thought the show was very realistic. However, I think that they mixed several different characters into one. I guess to save on having to pay so many people. I know that my husband and I hang out with all different ranks and some of our best friends are enlisted couples. As long as the friendships are started through the wives then rank doesn't matter. That is because you can't tell a wife, a civilian, who she can not be friends with. I look forward to the next episode because the drama is real. Sometimes I run into drama that you would never think could possibly happen in a million years. The drama on post is no different from the drama in the civilian world, it just isn't talked about. It's kinda like Vegas, what happens on post stays on post.

[Judy Turner]

I'm an ex-Army wife of an enlisted soldier and I have a son who is a career officer in the Army. I loved the characters and for the most part, thought they were realistic. I remember being the "newbie" and not having a clue as to protocol. I can't wait to see the next in the series. I loved the character of Roxie.

[phyllis]

Ok I have a question for pavteam if the whole post knows the husband is gone and the baby is not his doesn't someone tell him when he gets back that his wife had another mans baby. You can't keep that secret. I've never lived on post.

[Karla Freshwater]

Personally, being an army wife, I loved it. I think that most of it was very realistic and heartfelt. You have to add drama, duh, for Hollywood, and if you want anyone that is not an army wife to really get into it, it has to be enhanced, I did not THINK that it made enlisted spoused trash, sorry, i think some are being too sensitive. Its just a good show that helps america see what THE SILENT RANKS are like and God Bless Them as well as the soldiers in Iraq.
Sincerely,
Karla Freshwater
FRG Leader 3SB STB A CO
Hubby in Iraq 13 months to go....

[Marla Bass]

Being new to the Army Life. My husband has only been enlisted for 7 months and is now currently in Iraq. I could relate to Roxie. However the Show does not deal with some of the issues that we as ArmyWives deal with while our Husbands are deployed such as screwed up paychecks and dealing with broke down cars. But other than that I really love the show and have gotten my mom into watching it.... Proud Army Wife

[Becky Weatherly]

I have been reading these posts and have to wonder, the people who are saying this show is trash, have they been in the military or a spouse of a soldier for long?

I was ready to denounce the show as trash and swore up and down that I would not watch something that would never be realistic. Well I found myself watching and became instantly hooked. I feel as if I know these women. Heck, I've been them from time to time.

Of course these characters stand out and personify aspects of many different spouses, but the longer you are a spouse, the more you can identify with each one of these women. Be you a man or a woman you have been there and had to deal. For those who are saying it isn't realistic, give it time, there are so many things to handle as a spouse that there is no way they could all be addressed in one shot.

It will be intresting to see how these women handle the office-enlisted relationship of their husbands. I'm cheering them on and hope for many more episodes.

Here is to the military spouses,

HOOAH!!!

[Jeannie]

I was an army wife for 30 yrs. Lived on many different posts and have seen alot, good and bad. We are not much different than civilian wives, except we do move around alot, and husbands are gone alot. There were alot of good wives and alot of trashy wives. I am even thinking of writing a book lol My civilian friends love hearing some of the stories. As for moving into housing as quickly as Roxy did, I wasnt that lucky with the waiting list being so long. Although I was lucky enough to have housing quickly each time we went to Germany. I did see alot of cheating wives, but it went both ways. Husbands coming back from reforger and finding there apts empty and wives long gone. Officers wives and NCO wives didnt mindle from what I saw. Never seen a Jody bar, but heard of them, and heard of Jody lol When you think about it though, there are alot of husbands in civilian life who have jobs that move them around alot and have to be away from the family alot. so see we really arent that different. As for working, my soldier didnt want me working, but I wanted to, and once I did he saw what the extra money did to help. You wont get rich on army pay , alot of wives in the army now work, where back in the 70s most wives didnt work. I really enjoy the show and look forward to watching the next. Remember this is a show dont take it personal.

[Jeannie]

This is for pavteam.. I read what you had to say lol and I have to say you are right on!! I posted before reading what you had to say, and I was being nice. You couldnt have said it better, cause I also have seen alot of what you are saying lol I remember once one of my neighbors who lived on one side of me was fooling around with the neighbor that lived on the other side of me lol omg what a scene when the wife found out her hubby who was an MP was messing around right under her nose!!The parties that took place while the husbands were away lol What a soap opera of a life!! Never a dull moment. When telling my civilian friends the stories I often wonder if they thought this was all make believe, if I hadnt seen it myself I would have thought the same!! Love the show, and hope to see some real action!!

[jamie lee]

im really loving this show im already addicted! its so good to see a show like this on tv! after JAG retired i was crushed but now that i have it DVD and army wives is here i am happy once again! to all my friends and family i have in the military i love you! and its amazing once again to see some much needed support on tv!

[Peggy Hinton]

I have to say I watched the first episode as as a military wife for over 28 years, I have not come into contact with any of the types that your characters play with the exception of one lady whose husband was a retired Colonel. However, I am sure some CEO's wives act the same way. My husband is a Colonel however it is he that wears the rank, not me. I knew from day one that he was the one in the military. I have never gotten to any Army Post and received housing the very first day. Even when we were told we were number 1 on the housing list it still took 6 months to get them and then it was temporary quarters. Stairwell living as you military families know of in Germany. Top floor, 12 flights of steps to get to it and since they are WWII buildings they have no elevators. I was really excited when I heard about this show and when I watched it I was so discusted. I know some will watch this and realize it is just a show, however there are those that will take it carved in stone that is how military life is. I have had civilians come up to me and tell me how lucky I was to get to go to the commissary and PX and get free food and clothes. I don't know where anyone would get that idea from, but when we go to the commissary and PX we pay. Some of the time things on the economy is cheaper. The Generals' wives I have known have all been gracious women that would lend a hand to anyone that needed it. I felt bad the way the generals wife was shown. What I want to know is if the show wants to do a show based on Military wives, why not get the correct information to do it? Truly, life is more interesting than fiction. There are times that we all laugh and have a good time then there are the times that we have to comfort a family due to their loss of their. There is one thing though, when the chips are down one can truly count on their military family to help out. Another myth about military is we are lucky to get "Free" housing. I must tell you that it is far from free. When a family lives in housing they must forfit their housing allowance. I have not watched another episode of the show as I just could not let myself see again the embarrasing why we military spouses are potrayed. Please do a little more research and come up with something that we can be proud of.

[Laura Lusby]

Hi! I am an Army wife of 3 years living in Italy so I just saw the third episode even though it's October. I think I agree with everything everyone has said. The show is on in some ways, and off in some ways. We are in a really small post, and this is my first post, so there is no Enlisted club or Officer club here. I also have nothing else to compare it to! My experience is unusual, I know, but it's one I am enjoying, like the show.