'Counting On': Did Austin Forsyth Change Fan Perceptions with This One Statement?
The producers of CountingOn really seem to be reaching for content these days. While the showtrudges along, season after season, producers are forced to come up with moreand more convoluted storylines. This conundrum was showcased recently on the serieswhen several couples were shipped off to a “marriage boot camp” hosted byKendra Caldwell’s father. While the retreat was clearly an attempt to fill 40minutes of screentime, a few fun facts came out of it. Fans learned that JosiahDuggar and Lauren Swanson are a bit passive-aggressive and that Jessa Duggarhas a tendency to steamroll her beard-loving husband, Ben Seewald. Austin Forsyth,however, was the biggest surprise of the episode, and he may have just completelyblown apart all preconceived notions that fans had about him.
Austin and Joy appeared to communicate better than any othercouple
Joy-Anna and Austin’s relationship was put to the testduring the marriage boot camp run by Kendra’s father. While they struggledmightily during a blindfolded rowing challenge, the pair did exceptionally wellwhen working together on building a nest that could hold marbles. Both trialswere designed to increase communicationskills, but the nest building challenge was really about compromise if youwant to get technical.
Joy and Austin managed to compromise much better than manyof the other couples who were tasked with the challenge. Lauren, who marriedJosiah Duggar in June 2018, for example, stomped off to take a nap when Josiahrefused to listen to her ideas. Kendraand Joseph Duggar, who recently welcomed their second child, worked on thetask in near silence, something most fans assume befalls their homestead often.Joy and Austin, however, worked together to figure out the nature-themedchallenge. Sure, it was right in their wheelhouse, but their ability to work togetherwas refreshing.
Austin admitted that he needs to listen to Joy-Anna
Austin, aside from successfully communicating with his wifeof two-years, also paid her a bit of a compliment. In doing so,he stepped off-brand and actually suggest his wife might have more than a fewgood ideas up her sleeve. During an interview segment, Austin noted that he shouldlisten to Joy’s opinions more often because she’s usually right. While somefollowers may have read into the statement negatively, the positive connotationsmust be noted.
Austin and Joy were both raised inside the IBLP,a controversial Christian ministry, that teaches that a man is the headship ofhis family, and is entirely responsible for making decisions for the family.For Austin to even suggest he should probably listen to the lady of the houseis a big step. Whether or not he’ll actually listen to his wife, well, thatremains to be seen. The acknowledgment was nice, though.
Are Joy and Austin actually the most well-suited couple?
Followers of the Duggar family have long been suspicious of Austin.He does come across pretty cold and calculated. Many followers believe he is aclassic alpha male, dragging Joy-Anna along for the ride. Ithas also been suggested that the couple were forced down the aisle by their parents,both of whom allegedly enjoy playing a hand in their children’s marriages.
It would appear, however, that the couple is actually well-suitedto one another. Both Joy and Austin greatly enjoy the outdoor life, and Joy,unlikely some of her sisters, has never shied away from more masculine tasks,regardless of her upbringing. Thequintessential tomboy, Joy, is now living a life filled with rebuilding oldhomes and hanging out at campgrounds.
While fans are still a little concerned about whether or notJoy really has a voice in her marriage, it would seem like her interestsactually align pretty well with Austin’s hobbies. For a group of couples whoare not allowed to be alone with their beloved before rings are exchanged, youcan’t really hope for much more.
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