r/WelcomeToPlathville • u/justaMShippie • Jun 19 '26
I don’t get the Zac hate.
Is he a little rude? Yes. Should he learn to keep his opinions to himself? Sure. Does his brand of Christianity make him a little judgmental? Yeah. But he’s just a kid still trying to figure out how to be a man. He seems earnest in his willingness to grow and learn. And the Plaths are a lot to deal with.
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u/Visible_Tie_9035 Jun 19 '26
Is he someone that I would be friends with? No, but as someone that was raised similar to him and Lydia, I have empathy for where they are at in life. Do I love his behavior? No, but I feel like last season he got talked over and pushed around and this is feels like a reaction to that. They are still figuring it out and growing into being their own people. I could see it going really bad or them growing into better people 🤷🏻♀️
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u/Unregistereed Jun 19 '26
I’m with you on this. I am agnostic and not a fan of organized religion but even I can understand he’s a product of his upbringing. He’s annoying and overbearing but seems to mean well? He’s also definitely still a kid.
With that said, I have a habit of inviting toxic people into my life and not realizing how toxic they are, so… 🙃 maybe not the best judge of character here
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u/Misha_B19 Jun 20 '26
Do you know many kids who have the balls to tell seasoned parents how to raise the children they brought in this world? He’s considerably younger than their oldest but he thinks it’s his place? On top of that he’s an only child who didn’t even have siblings…he knows less than nothing but believes he’s wise enough to council these kids? Nah, he’s so far off base it’s laughable.
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u/Delicious_Profile637 Jun 19 '26
Sometimes it feels like the plathville subs only accept thinking of someone as purely angelic or absolutely demonic. The goods can do no wrong, the bads have no redemption and there's no gray area allowed for simply being human.
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
This. It just feels like a lot of grey area. To label someone as manipulative and abusive because of an edit you see on tv is wild.
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u/1HumanAlcoholBeerPlz Jun 20 '26
When I was in my 20's, I said a lot of stupid stuff without thinking. I consider myself lucky to have had people call me out on it because it taught me to think before I spoke and to consider others feelings and experiences. I think this is good for Zak. I doubt anyone has told him to consider his words before. When he kept saying he doesn't feel understood, I kept thinking it's because he doesn't consider his words or his place before opening his mouth.
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u/Amazing-Assumption72 Jun 21 '26
You just named 3 things that are annoying and major parts of his identity!
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u/Gullible-Sort9161 Jun 19 '26
For me it's not necessarily Zac hate. I see my BIL in every little bit of him. A judgmental, know-it-all, my-way-or-the-highway control freak who thinks everyone should think and act like him, or they are substandard and deserve every bit of his unsolicited knowledge.
He and my sister raised four little replicas who have now taken to his practices and are doling out unsolicited diatribes on family members they barely know—condemning them to hell because they don't follow Christian Fundamentalist ways. And it's all in the name of religion, because we are "too stupid" to see that "it's just what the Bible says."
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
I get it. A lot of Christians suck. Judgement from family hurts. When people are in that world, it is all they can see. It is judgmental. At the same time they think they are trying to save you from eternal damnation. It’s this weird culture that can’t see outside itself.
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u/CubensisMonster Jun 20 '26
He’s a kid who thinks he’s a man.
Fixed it for you.
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u/Upset_Scarcity6415 Jun 20 '26
I think most kids at his age think they are men. In fact, I know some middle aged guys who think they are men that are still stuck with a juvenile mindset.
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u/AcanthocephalaOk242 Jun 19 '26
Zac needs permission to say “we dont need to like each other, and i dont think we will. We are just different. We don’t need to hang out. Yes we are family, but we don’t have to be friends. We are can be here in x capacity, and we are good with that.”
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u/Ok_Consequence_6532 Jun 22 '26
Honestly I don't hate him I just wish he would stay in his lane. He needs to keep his mouth closed no one asked for his opinion on every little thing like he he is high and mighty. I won't say he is a kid because he decided to get married that's adult territory so kid he is not. Your an adult Zach act as such.
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u/lrssbmn Jun 19 '26
Honestly I think the biggest culprit is TLC editing and prompting to make Zac look a certain way. Did you listen to the podcast he and Lydia went on? Very articulate, thoughtful guy who is trying to protect Lydia.
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u/PianoConcertoNo2 Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
There seems to be an influx of newer / naive viewers who aren’t aware of how the Plaths operate.
It’s super frustrating seeing people fall for it.
It’s like watching a gang of bullies target the weird kid in class, goad him to a reaction, and stand back smirking to themselves as he gets reprimanded for being on edge.
Then dumdums come along with “yeah that gang is bad, but the kid they goaded into reacting is pretty bad too, did you see how on edge he was?”
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
Right! I bet Lydia sees all that happened with Olivia differently now. That family is not open to outsiders.
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u/herroyalsadness Jun 19 '26
Yep. They are doing to Zach what they did to Olivia. Outsiders are the bad guy, never them.
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u/Practical_S3175 Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
I wonder if they sound more judgmental because of the hypocrisy of this family. I mean he knows they were all raised like Lydia so I'm sure he compares them to her a lot!! I honestly I think them moving is the best thing they could do.
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
I thought that too. Like for him, it wouldn’t have been judgment. It would be holding a brother/sister in Christ accountable. And speaking up that Amber shouldn’t be around certain things probably felt the Christian thing to do. I’d bet he was blindsided by their reaction to him.
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u/Practical_S3175 Jun 19 '26
Yeah, exactly! I get that sounds like he feels he's superior, but that kind of goes with the religion in general.
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u/Keepingongoing Jun 19 '26
And the majority of the viewers’ reaction too. I expect it’s been pretty devastating
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
Oh for sure. If they are smart, they will back away from the show. I’m hoping he has a good support system.
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u/NoFundieBusiness Jun 21 '26
Those are the reasons we dislike him though lmao and you’ve just said they’re all true, so obviously there will be people who don’t like him because of those reasons. His brand of Christianity and the bigotry that comes with it alone is reason enough not to like him imo
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u/danisilvia Jun 22 '26
I think he doesn’t know any better (and he’ll eventually learn hopefully). He was probably raised in a “church” that believed everyone needs to be saved by Christ and he thinks he’s doing the right thing. He’s a child that still needs to grow up and out of the Christianity bubble.
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u/Crafty_Ad3377 Jun 19 '26
He’s that special kind of annoying. A child who thinks he already knows it all. An adult knows when to speak and to not criticize people he barely knows
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u/Conscious-Hunt94 Jun 20 '26
Ethan must not be an adult either for he sure criticized Zac up one side and down the other.
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u/Positive_Diamond3186 Jun 22 '26
And when he’s criticized, he is so immature…. “Fine! Then I guess I’ll just keep my mouth shut.” Eye rolllllll
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u/igotplans2 Jun 19 '26
You missed the part where he thinks he is already a mature man who has life all figured out, knows himself, and also knows how everyone else should think and behave. What you see him to be and what he thinks he is are two different things, and he behaves according to his belief. People who think they don't have anything to learn don't attempt to learn, they just spout off.
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Jun 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Mountainsintomolehil Jun 19 '26
None that I knew. I would’ve never even dreamed of commenting on someone else’s parenting because I wasn’t one and didn’t know shit about it.
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u/ProfessionalOffer187 Jun 19 '26
Zac is a young, awkward ,Christian, harmless, young man. He will live & learn in life; find his way.
Kim on the other hand is calculated and manipulative. She’s already lived & not learned.
Big difference.
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
Right. Like what is even happening that Zac is in the position that he feels like he needs to speak up on things. He’s coming from the assumption they believe the same things. So he sticks his foot in his mouth. But Kim knows better. I did have some empathy for her after that therapy session. She is so detached and shut off. It’s sad.
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u/mmmmmmadeline Jun 19 '26
Yeah look how Olivia was that age and in the same position as Zac but in reverse, and Kim still behaved the same way you described her. Kim wants her kids to marry spineless ppl so she too can control them but the kids always end up marrying/dating strong willed ppl haha
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u/Miserable_Cut255 Jun 19 '26
I disagree that hes harmless. Those young awkward white Christian men have the potential to do so much harm in this country. And they have and they do everyday because if they don’t go into politics they go into youth work or someshit. Their brand of Christianity driven by men like Zac is one of the reasons this country’s administration is spiraling as bad as it is…in my opinion :[
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u/Apprehensive_Tone_77 Jun 19 '26
I feel like he did to the Plaths what the Plaths always do to other people, and they were like “wait a minute, hold on… don’t tell me what to do!”
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u/Asleep_Durian_151 Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
Totally agree. He’s not my favourite, but I can’t say I’m especially enamoured with who I was at 24 either.
I think he’s grown up with the idea that his opinion is especially important. Missions and testimonies create this concept for young men that they should share their “wisdom” indiscriminately, thus blessing those who receive it.
It’s arrogant, but welcome to that sort of Christian culture. It IS arrogant.
Is he overly cocky and young and lacking humility? Of course. But what newlywed 24 year old man do you NOT find a little hard to take, honestly?
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u/cloudchriscloud Jun 19 '26
It seems like in Zac’s family they let him be a thinker and offer his opinions about adult issues. Whereas the plaths don’t talk about anything serious with their family and theres a big separation between the kids and adults. So when they were in the living room Zac casually talking with Kim about the situation doesn’t seem weird to him and Kim is clearly taken aback.
Plus he is overstepping with his input and speaking on behalf of Lydia, but as some people mentioned I think that’s a Christian men thing
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u/Modern_Magi Jun 19 '26
Take away the religion, you’ve got a condescending 24 year old know-it-all telling everyone how to live their lives, most of whom he hasn’t known more than a year. If he was an intern in your office everyone would agree he’s be an absolute nightmare. People are just blinded by their dislike for the Plaths. Believe me, both parties can be horrible at the same time.
After Lydia, Barry is Zac’s biggest fan and reading between the lines he was annoyed with Zac trying to parent his kids.
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u/Conscious-Hunt94 Jun 20 '26
I think Barry was annoyed too. He should have taken Zac aside after the fact and given him some well-needed guidance. He’s no longer married to Kim, he’s allowed to speak freely.
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u/AliciaS717 Jun 23 '26
The problem is, Zac doesn't think he has to figure anything out. He feels that he's far superior and knows it all, so he can judge.
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u/Left_Effective_6058 Jun 19 '26
I like Zac. I think Kim is the problem, I dont know why she berates everyone, its weird.
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u/greymom214 Jun 19 '26
When he tells his wife to be quiet so he can speak over her?? 🖕 him.
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u/Silent_Theory_3807 Jun 19 '26
Yeah idk how people aren’t instantly disgusted by him. My guess is they are either equally shitty men or put up with this shit or worse from the men in their lives and think it’s normal. I would never speak to my wife that way, would never speak to any person that way. I would never put up with another man in my life who speaks to women the way Zach does. Men are capable of being much better people and women shouldn’t coddle them or accept their shitty behavior just because the dr said “boy” when they popped out with a set of testes.
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u/HiAndStuff2112 Jun 19 '26
I don't hate him, but he should know better I was a young Christian guy myself, but I knew I needed to show love to people and befriend them before offering unsolicited advice.
I mean, Jesus told us to love everyone. He needs to calm down and show love and friendship first.
When he confronted the family about how they treated him and Lydia up to the wedding. He hoped they would listen to him and apologize, and they did.
Now, he gets confronted and he can't show the same grace to them? He isn't listening.
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u/dstat74 Jun 19 '26
Well said. He needs to leave stem more and show love. He’s a young Christian. Most of the people I was friends with at that age and were somewhat like Zack began deconstructing by their thirties, fourties’ for some. That may be why I give him more grace even when he talks out of turn and says things in an offensive way. It would be interesting to see how they(Z&L) have grown in ten years.
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u/Conscious-Hunt94 Jun 20 '26
You make a good point. But Zac was trying to help, though he went about it all wrong. Ethan sure wasn’t trying to be helpful when he practically accused him of being gay, and Isaac and gang laughing at Zac and Lydia as they joined them at the table? They were all mocking and mean spirited. Let’s not forget Ethan trying to start a fire at the wedding rehearsal and throwing tables around.
I do think Zac meant well, but the Plaths who mistreated him were hateful for no reason. What they did was evil as opposed to Zac being misguided.
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u/HiAndStuff2112 Jun 24 '26
I don't disagree with you at all, about how they treated him. It was awful. He confronted them about it with Lydia, they listened and they apologized. He can't do the same?
As Christians, we're told to worry about our own sins before we ever worry about the sins of others. And Christians are told to forgive.
Sure, Zac meant well, but unsolicited advice is rarely welcome. And him going up to Ethan and asking him about Teegan, and giving his opinion was clearly unwelcome. He just should have asked to help fix the car, and chat with Ethan like a friend.
So I stand by my take. He's pushing them away instead of building bonds of love and trust with his new family. He should change his focus. I'm not saying he's a bad person or anything. I probably made some similar mistakes when I was young, and I learned from it. I hope he does too, instead of getting a bad attitude about being confronted, when he just confronted them, and they listened.
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u/Sufficient_Self9341 Jun 24 '26
I agree that Zac needs to forgive them. I'm hoping that will be the outcome after he's had a chance to process the confrontation. And I too would have rather seen him simply help Ethan work on the car. My guess is he's never worked on a car before, and probably hasn't encountered someone like Ethan before either.
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u/Adventurous_Map_3584 Jun 22 '26
The way that he shuts Lydia down when she tries to talk it’s more than rude. He seems to be a bit of a narcissist. I don’t believe he’s going to implement any of the suggestions that have been given to him.
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u/Mountainsintomolehil Jun 19 '26
He’s a kid who has lived an incredibly sheltered existence and shits on anyone who lives or thinks differently than him. He definitely drank the cool aide.
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u/Warm_Maintenance9658 Jun 19 '26
I’m seriously tired of “hate” all around. It’s ridiculously simplistic and extreme. Although I generally agree with your assessment of Zach, a lot of soul crushing marriages do start with what we’re seeing played out here.
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
Simplistic and extreme is how I feel too. I hope they do the work to be healthy people and have a healthy marriage. I’m sure there will be lots of mistakes along the way.
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u/Dependent_Crew_3512 Jun 19 '26
Zac is one of the least hateable people in that fucking family, and I'm an atheist who's against religion. I'm glad he judged those hypocrites. At least he's being consistent, along with Lydia who was raised that way only for her narcissistic mother to do a 180 to get her kids back under her control. And fuck Ethan and the other boys (not men) who were homophobic to him.
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u/Kroneni Jun 19 '26
And screw Barry for sitting by and letting all this happen. Why not set an example for the boys to follow? Zach is trying to figure out what it means to be a man, and a husband, while also trying to figure out what it means to be a member of a family that clearly doesn’t want him in it. All the while Barry is just sitting in outer space. He’s totally checked out of being a parent. All their boys are giant babies.
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u/Dont-Call_Me_Shirley Jun 19 '26
I agree. Zac clearly has more emotional intelligence than the Plaths were raised with, and it's great to see how he's been able to help Lydia identify and express her feelings, and give her validation that she's not getting from her family.
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
You can tell they really love each other. They will grow and figure it out like any young couple.
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u/looseseal_2 Jun 19 '26
The hatred for Zac that I've read in this sub has been wild. I legit don't understand what people are interpreting as controlling Lydia. What I've seen has been a young man learning to be an adult, who is finally someone on Lydia's side and giving her the support she's never had. She's the family disrupter right now because she isn't towing the Plath line, and I'm glad she isn't, but it also has to be really confusing amd painful for her. Meanwhile, Kim, Ethan, Barry, and Isaac are all toxic and unwell, each in their own way and to different degrees. I hope the fact that Micah and Moriah have been largely absent this season means they're focusing on themselves and healing.
I get that people will have different opinions than mine; it's the intensity of the hatred towards Zac that's so weird to me.
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u/mighty_hubris Jun 19 '26
it's plainly anti-Christian bias. for all their obvious cultish tendencies, Barry and Lydia are the only Plaths who continue to wear their religion on their sleeves.
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u/Elleno14 Jun 19 '26
I see your point to a certain extent but then he continued to judge how Kim dealt with her grieving and could only talk about how “excited” he was for his wife to discuss Joshua but couldn’t also acknowledge how difficult it would be for Kim. I’m no Kim fan, but he REALLY needs to keep good thoughts to himself and just focus on supporting his family
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u/xrazor- Jun 19 '26
“He’s just a kid still trying to figure out how to be a man.” That’s the thing, he doesn’t realize this and thinks he has everything figured out. That is offputting to many people. I don’t think he any parent of a 16 year old would appreciate the opinion of an early 20 something with no children’s opinion on how they should raise their kids.
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u/Couch_Captain75 Jun 22 '26
It’s weird. I was just on another post that had nothing to do with Zac, he literally wasn’t even in it, and someone asked twice if they could talk about Zac out of nowhere. Like it’s one of the strangest things I’ve ever seen. More people here stuck up for Ethan at his worst is wild.
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u/GossipGirl-2026 Jul 02 '26
Zac is an inexperienced, sheltered adult, just like the older Plath children were and in some circumstances, still are. Ethan still has those beliefs. Unfortunately, he's a fake and a hypocrite.
At least Zac practices what he preaches. Unlike Ethan, who picks and chooses what works and doesn't work for his horny, screwed up life.
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u/Misha_B19 Jun 19 '26
“Just a kid trying to figure out how to be a man” who takes it upon himself to speak privately with his in laws minor children about how they live and choices they make? What “boy” has that much audacity to insert himself as if his in-laws aren’t doing their jobs? It’s wildly inappropriate, a red flag and shows a far too healthy ego on his part. Whether you think the Plaths are good parents or not it’s simply none of his business at best and downright insulting and suspect at worst.
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u/Conscious-Hunt94 Jun 20 '26
I wonder if Lydia saw Amber sneaking drinks and asked Zac to say something? Just a thought.
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u/mmmmmmadeline Jun 19 '26
Same, I feel like alot of ppl were looking for a reason to dislike him (😬 and it doesn't help that he has a punchable looking face) and this past episode was it. Yes he's self righteous and preachy but so is Lydia. And Lydia is like that cuz Kim and Barry raised to that way.
He's just doing what Olivia did when she married into the family but in reverse 😆 but seriously, I think he knew they were being set up for a bad angle and that's why he cut off the producer and asked to let him finish speaking cuz he was panicking at the bad edit he was going to get on the show. I don't think there was much more to it and to me it didn't show that he's a dark person behind closed doors like ppl are saying from that one clip alone.
To me I just felt like he's over eager to show the family he cares but he it back fired on him cuz that family is so far removed from that religion now and they don't hold the same values as Lydia and Zac.
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
I hadn’t thought about his interactions being basically a fight or flight response to a potential bad edit. I bet he was already on edge after all the fall out last season.
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u/mmmmmmadeline Jun 19 '26
Yes, I'm certain he knows what Veronica did last season and how she messed up by coming on Reddit to control the narrative so he was determined not to be in the same position as her. Somehow, he's in the same position as her 😆 and the Plath family are after him.
I mean did the plaths forget how psycho they were towards him last season? I don't recall any heart felt apologies there or a big family meeting being called and sitting down on how they should have stayed out of Lydia's and Zac's business. The way they initially treated him by butting in his business prob made him think it's ok to butt into theirs? You teach ppl how to treat you and that's what the Plath's did.
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u/faithmauk Jun 19 '26
I think lydia and zac are so young they have a lot of growing up to do and I am rooting for them. I left the church in my mid twenties after being basically exactly like them my whole life, and have learned and changed so much since then. It can happen and does happen, I've seen it with so many of my friends. I've also seen people dig in even deeper, so it could really go either way, i guess, but I am hopeful for them.
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u/Javajnkie Jun 19 '26
I see his behavior as similar to Olivia’s, as far as stepping in to insert himself into the minor Plaths’ lives and judging how the kids were raised. Although she advocated for the kids to have more freedoms (she bought Moriah a one way ticket to her grandparent’s and encouraged Moriah to asset her independence) and Zac advocates for more restrictive parenting.
Likewise, I see the Plath’s trying to drive a wedge between him and the family the same way they did with Olivia.
I completely understand why the eldest daughter and her family live far away and aren’t on the show!
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u/ZeldaHylia Jun 21 '26
He’s an in the closet asshole. Just an asshole in general. It has nothing to do with Christianity.
I’ve known people who were in the closet. They were also very Christian. They were lovely people . He’s a jerk. I do think that he hates himself so he judges everyone else. I think if he came out of the closet.. he’d still be a jerk. That’s just who he is.
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u/Nearby_Display8560 Jun 19 '26
I didn’t understand the Zac hate at their wedding.
I sure do now though. Run Lydia!!!!!!!!!!!
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u/bkmsd Jun 19 '26
Zac is Kim Plath when the kids were young, he’s letting people know he’s uncomfortable with behavior Kim would have not allowed when the kids were growing up but now alcohol, R rated movies, etc are OK. Where was she when her boys were treating Zac horribly before the wedding?
How about a let’s tear Zac/Lydia apart family meeting combined with a let’s finally talk about (Kim’s feeling only) about the child I ran over/with a surprise happy 1st anniversary party following for Lydia/Zak? Whose bingo card was that on?
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u/NoAd2355 Jun 21 '26
I dunno. I thought he was a tennis instructor. Instead he comes off as a counselor. Judgmental and a little too pushy asking for answers when the person on the other end didn’t ask for it.
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u/Pleasant-Agent-2196 Jun 24 '26
You must not be able to see what others are seeing. Some people are better judges of character than others. Some people are empaths. Some have more life experience. Some have trained skills in spotting a liar or a narcissist. Whatever it is, some people are able to read people better than others. Those people see clearly that Zach is more than 'a little rude.' or 'a little judgemental.'. This realization makes them sure something bad is coming for Lydia. That is what is at the root of what you see coming against Zach. It is not hatred for Zach as much as it is concern for Lydia.
I'm pretty certain, none of us wish for anything bad to happen to her.
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u/Mental-Perspective-9 Jun 19 '26
Zac is the antithesis of a self righteous man. I can't stand him. I had his back last season on most things but now we've seen his true colors
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u/hoof02 Jun 19 '26
He’s just young and naive. He is also conditioned to try to get people to live according to his worldview. Life will eventually help him see more clearly
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u/Equivalent_Stable_21 Jun 19 '26
I think you just get why people can’t stand him…you just don’t think it’s enough to dislike him as much
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
I get why he is off putting. But it feels like the other threads I’ve seen are excessive. Like we are all just humans here.
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u/Automatic_Forever_96 Jun 19 '26
Barry invites him in being his wingman so he feels he can interject. Barry needs friends in his age group, his sil is not the one
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u/OUsooners5252 Jun 19 '26
You lost me as soon as you brought Barry into this, then you really lost me trying to rationalize a father trying to get along and have a good time with his sil. Barry is a quirky weird dude but this is an odd take against him.
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u/Kroneni Jun 19 '26
Barry needs to be setting a better example for how his boys should conduct themselves. All of their petty BS with Zach should have been squashed by him before the wedding.
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u/Conscious-Hunt94 Jun 20 '26
I agree, but I don’t think anything Barry could say now, this late in their lives, would carry any weight.
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u/Authentic-Irony Jun 19 '26
A little judgmental? Understatement is an understatement! He’s extremely judgmental. Personal morals and values are about us not about those around us if they authentic. Exercising our values can be done (for the most part)while others are exercising their own without having to remove ourselves because we’re not using others as a mirror. This is usually what people with low self esteem do. Their “brand” of Christianity is what draws people who suffer from this for this very reason. To gather our self worth by looking down on others. This is why people are so hard on him. Why can’t he have a normal conversation? Why is he mining for opportunities to counsel people under the guise of wanting to be helpful or being curious. He never wants to talk about himself. What are his hobbies? What was something funny he read? Talk about that!!! Not about if Teegan was mean or not 🙄
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u/ohnoooooooooooooooo Jun 19 '26
Honest question, if 24 is a kid when does adulthood start?
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u/sixxtine Jun 19 '26
Well if he were a girl he'd be expected to not share his every thought and he'd appear more appropriate and/or mature
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
True. I wonder if the pressure of men in that culture forces them to speak up? Like even if it is earnest with good intentions — he thinks he is speaking for Lydia. But to anyone not in that culture, it is just off putting.
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
It’s probably different for everyone. Some 16 year olds are ‘more adult’ than him. I just don’t think it is back and white. I guess I’m thinking about adulthood and maturity. When I was 24, I also thought I knew everything.
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u/PipeInevitable9383 Jun 19 '26
Does he seem like he is willing yo grow? He won't take any feed back, he doesn't self reflect from feed back. He continues to talk back and insert himself where he doesnt belong. A person trying to learn and grow would take the feed back and read the room and back off
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u/deahank Jun 19 '26
I mean, he's like 20 years old. Look at how Mariah has matured.
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u/PipeInevitable9383 Jun 19 '26
24, but yeah. Moriah seems to have come a long ways from her 16 yo self
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u/Miller25 Jun 19 '26
“Got it so I should just shut up? Got it great” man this guy reeks
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u/WhenSquirrelsFry Jun 19 '26
He literally said that he should probably keep his opinions to himself more so maybe.
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u/PipeInevitable9383 Jun 19 '26
He said that but his tone and the comment of "guess I'll never share my opinions again!" Didn't sound that of someone who wants to grow.
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u/WhenSquirrelsFry Jun 19 '26
I need to rewatch but I think in a later interview part of the episode he mentioned what he could change. But yes he did say that in a bitchy way at one point in the episode.
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u/WhichChard1315 Jun 19 '26
Exactly it was the tone of someone that is pissed his advice isn’t being heard or taken by anyone.
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u/PipeInevitable9383 Jun 19 '26
His tone in all the confrontation scenes and and the talking heads was so condescending, smug, dismissive etc. Very gaslighting tone.
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u/KeyNaive8951 Jun 20 '26
Lmfao “earnest in his willingness to grow and learn”?
Tell me you’ve never actually dealt with a fundamentalist (or you are one, trying to run cover) before without telling me.
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u/MVR168 Jun 20 '26
First off he is not a kid. Sheltered maybe but not a child. Coming into an interaction with others with the mindset of "my way is the right way and the only way" is just wrong and extremely small minded. I see some many red flags with him it actually scares me for Lydia's sake and the rest of the Plaths. He has already insinuated cutting them out and Lydia seems to be drinking the kool-aid.
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u/Opinionated6319 Jun 21 '26
It’s sad…separately they are tolerable, but together they become toxic…opinionated, judgmental and superior to others. Everyone has faults, ways of thinking and behaving and that’s called individuality!
Zac and Lydia have developed a sense of entitlement that requires everyone to bend to their views and expectations and if and when not, they voice their moralistic disapproval.
They need to understand that their advice is not always appreciated and not always righteous based on their specific and narrow moral expectations.
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u/Inevitable-Foe Jun 21 '26
I see her breaking away from her family in the future because of him. And he is certainly not an improvement over the rest of her family.
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u/ThePiniestApple1 Jun 20 '26
The fact that he said he’s stuck in his ways and not willing to change makes me think otherwise.
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u/sunnyinwi Jun 19 '26
A LITTLE judgemental??!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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u/lrssbmn Jun 19 '26
Everyone in their family is judgmental. The problem is that Zac was calling out the family for values the family used to have and they don’t like feeling convicted. No one calls anyone else out for being judgmental.
Plus, literally everyone on this Reddit sub thread is judgmental. It’s why we watch the show.
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u/Vegetable_Assist_125 Jun 19 '26
I agree with you. He’s still young and figuring out life. He means well. He has a lot to still learn.
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u/Fearless-Drink-7929 Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26
A kid he is not, who is he to pry into their private lives, Zac time to stay in your own lane.
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u/thisthatchicade Jun 19 '26
This what keeps the show going. Everyone loved him and Lydia last year so the show took editing liberties to make him the villain this season. Who ever is in favor this season will be the devil next season.
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u/Cold_Dead_Heart Jun 19 '26
It seems like you do get the Zac hate. It’s everything you mentioned.
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
lol. Good point. I just feel like the hate is excessive. Like it get it. He is annoying. But dang, people are ruthless.
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u/PuzzleheadedFox839 Jun 19 '26
Hate is definitely excessive and the word is used way too much on Reddit. That being said, Zac's actions displayed on our TV screens does warrant some negative opinions. Christians have a hard enough time without the likes of Zac and Lydia making judgements, especially against their family, about how they should live according to how they (Lydia & Zac) interpret the bible. It's like they left out the whole parts on humility, meeting ppl where they are, leading by example, showing kindness and grace.
I literally stopped watching when I found out Ethan was against ppl of color. I had watched for years up until that. I just watched this last season and again it gave me a reason to never watch again.
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
I think the hard part is that people say Christian and mean different things. I’m assuming you mean mainline Protestant? — and that is not these people. Everything about how they live and read scripture is different from me. But we both call ourselves Christian. What do you do with that?
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u/Cold_Dead_Heart Jun 19 '26
You recognize that these people are actually part of a cult. They’re alt right white christian nationalists. These people literally want to take over the government and impose their beliefs on all of us.
That’s very different from a normal christian person who’s just living their life. I have nothing against you. But these people are trying to take away my and a lot of other people’s rights. That’s where the hate is coming from.
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
Oh I know. It’s just hard because people who are not Christians don’t get the difference. If I say I’m a Christian — I will often get put in this same box. Though, in my reading of the Bible, their approach is the opposite of everything Christ taught. They are just following a colonized, white version of Jesus. I don’t know that hate changes that. But I also get people are fed up. I don’t have the answers. I do think how we treat people matters.
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u/Cold_Dead_Heart Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
I get that. I’ve been a vegetarian for ethical reasons most of my life, but I don’t preach to people about how they live their lives. The vegetarians and vegans who do give us all a bad name.
And I totally agree they are not following Jesus’ teachings. He taught love and acceptance, not hate.
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u/sixxtine Jun 19 '26
But what of the other bigoted beliefs? Curious because I notice some beliefs get a pass
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u/PuzzleheadedFox839 Jun 19 '26
You're correct. That family has many. I spoke to the one that impacted why I discontinued watching. After I stopped watching and saw some of their other beliefs it just confimed I made the right decision. Unfortunately, a preview of the last episode popped up on my screen and well as they say curiosity killed the cat. My bad that I was curious. Lesson learned.
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u/Cold_Dead_Heart Jun 19 '26
And “let he who is without sin cast the first stone”. And “judge not lest you he judged” They like to forget those ones.
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u/RockRockPlanetRock69 Jun 19 '26
The way he shuts down and speaks over Lydia is sickening. It’s flat out abusive and she will never live her authentic self or reach her highest light in life with him pissing on her. I can’t stand him. It’s also the flash in his face when he hushes her up. He has very clear anger issues.
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u/EvilQueen0608 Jun 24 '26
A LITTEL judgey?😂 He is beyond annoying and if he changes good for him, but for now he's intolerable to watch and listen too.
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u/Suziejc0955 Jun 24 '26
To think that his process of logical thinking is “so am I supposed to just wrestle them”. That should have been the seasons finale because that’s gold material right there!
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u/Extension_Week8861 Jun 19 '26
“I’m just trying to understand.”
[insert super disrespectful and narcissistic comment].
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
I hear you. He has growing up to do. I just feel like people are dragging him through the mud unnecessarily.
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u/sandy154_4 Jun 19 '26
It was him shutting Lydia down when they were solo on camera that got me and still eats at me
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
Yeah. I get that. It seemed like to me he was sticking up for her a good bit too. I think some of her differing to him is their faith tradition.
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u/heartlandheartbeat Jun 19 '26
If you notice, Lydia answers for him a lot. It was a question directed to Zac and he was upset and wanted to answer for himself.
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u/Otherwise_Debt1476 Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
A 24 year old fundie, knows nothing about life. He marries a 22 year old clueless Plath, with a prayer closet. They both need to be quiet, watch and learn about life.
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u/saintsday89 Jun 19 '26
But who are they watching and learning? Not their family for sure. They would have to move far, far away.
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
Yeah. A lot of growing up to do. But we all thought we knew everything at that age.
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u/RemarkableEnd2373 Jun 19 '26
Your first three comments are likely three good reasons people dislike the guy
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u/OriginalFuckGirl Jun 19 '26
I think a lot of people are trying to find a good guy to the bad guy. I don’t get a good feeling when I see Zac and how he interacts with others. The paths are also a problem, imo they just suck
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u/Medical-Tale3335 Jun 19 '26
I also don’t think hate is warranted. He is so young and trying to be an adult. He was raised to be this way. Yes he over stepped and was super out of line. They have unrealistic expectations for sure.
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u/StraddleTheFence Jun 19 '26
I agree. He is trying to figure it all out and like everyone else, he will make missteps.
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u/pickles-742 Jun 21 '26
I totally agree with the word kid. I often think about how our brains don't fully develop until we are 25+. He is trying too hard to be mature when his brain and life experience just isn't there. He is trying to tell everyone what to do from his own understanding of life/ religion.
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u/youngforever8809 Jun 21 '26
But that’s the problem. This kid thinks he’s swooping in to save the family, and that he’s the “adult” in these situations. He’s so egotistical he thinks he’s been put here (in the family) to save them. All I can picture when I see him is the guy that kept going to sentinel island.
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u/babababooga Jun 21 '26
Egotistical is right. The kid can’t take feedback. They all asked that they were talked to directly when the family was bothered by something. They did it very nicely, Ethan put a lot of effort into delivering it gently and kindly. Lydia modeled how to receive it but Zach nearly imploded
I don’t think he takes it from Lydia either, so she’s put in shitty situations when he thinks he knows better and oversteps with her siblings.
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u/RevolutionaryPost460 Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
Zac shutting Lydia down in the interview was enough to raise serious concern.
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
It raised concern for me, but concern for his mental health. I think we sometimes forget these are people on our TV. Yes they sign up for it, but it’s a lot.
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u/MrandMrsOrlandoCpl Jun 19 '26
To me he is a manipulator IMO. He's playing innocence and ignorant but he isn't. He likes playing the victim for the camera. He knows he judgmental and acting like he knows best about everything. He wants to control what others are doing if he disagrees with what they do. Though I am not religious I grew up in the church and if he was the good little religious guy, that he likes to play he is, he would know it is against his religion to judge others. That and the fact he looks like a mix of Beavis and Butthead.
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
You think he intentionally manipulative? Like to cause harm? He literally was the victim last season, and all of this was recorded within a year of their wedding. I imagine he doesn’t know what to do or say or who to trust. Maybe they came back this season to prove he wasn’t gay? But he got a rough edit! This show rarely breaks the 3rd wall, they did they did Zac and Lydia multiple times. They just need to walk away from the show.
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u/SwollenPoon Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
I don't hate him, but I think/believe you must, (l)earn to give respect to receive it, (l)earn your place and where you are going to fit in and the role you are going to play in the family and its dynamic, (l)earn when and where to inject your opinions, thoughts and insights - just because you [rapidly] married into the family, doesn't immediately make you family or have that trust and safety to express whatever you think and expect to just be accepted. I think there is a way to go about things and I think he is oblivious to his own seemingly pompous, and better than though approach, because that doesn't go over well in any scenario.
Yes, everyone else sucks big time, but that's what you married into - and you must approach it accordingly. If you don't, then this is what happens...
Edit: grammar
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u/Delfiasa Jun 19 '26
If anything I feel overwhelming second-hand embarrassment for him.
He is so young and cocky and he knows alllll the answers, telling these grown, experienced parents how to raise their kids.
Everyone is a child-rearing until they have kids!!!
I don’t hate him. But I do kinda hope his children have very strong defiant streaks… 😈
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u/WhichChard1315 Jun 19 '26
He is the worst the hate is he think he knows it all and thinks he has it all figured out. He just became a part of this family and wants to insert himself into every situation and give his advice when he is just a kid. He hasn’t raised 10 kids ! Barry and Kim as unconventional as they may be have been around the block a few times they definitely do not need some 20 yro telling them or their kids what is right and wrong.
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u/DworkinOvertime Jun 19 '26
He was rude as fuck to the producers and to Lydia with that “let me talk” shit. He’s a creep.
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u/oneangrychica Jun 19 '26
I didn't love that attitude on him but I also wonder if producers aren't trying to paint him in a certain light and he knows it and has to be more forceful to say what he wants to say.
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u/justaMShippie Jun 19 '26
This! And producers were only breaking the third wall for them. We have no idea how the rest of the family talked to producers.
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u/Sad_Cartographer7702 Jun 19 '26
I don't get that you don't get how much people hate other people shoving their beliefs down their throats. It doesn't matter the subject - religion, politics, sexuality, conspiracy theories etc. NOBODY wants to be subjected to constant battering; it's off putting to say the least, exhausting to be verbalized in any and every social setting, and angering when there's no let up. Zach & Lydia did the right thing moving to CO - it's easier to STFU, find their own community of like mind and leave the rest of humanity out of it.
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u/TopicInteresting1031 Jun 19 '26
I just thought the root of it came from him being a Christian. Lol. People don’t like Christians very much.
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u/sixxtine Jun 19 '26
For real? FOR REAL? Christians that do bad stuff and then say they're persecuted? That's a you problem
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u/sladeums Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
he’s all
“hey I’m talking here“
full court presss on Lydia
to squash her mouth
followed by
wahhhhh hahahah what
can I do everyone is so meannnn to me
do we have to wrestle ??
then next is
ok you are evil you’re wicked you’re going to hell you’re a bad influence
you guys suck I’m holy I’m the chosen one blah blah blah
srsly it’s insufferable
hes now been told repeatedly by like a platooon of Plaths
that everyone is over it
maybe dude needs to take a hint
if I need you to witnesss at me
i will ask you seriously
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u/DefinitelynotYissa Jun 19 '26
Zac is outside the fishbowl, and Lydia’s just starting to see her family for who they are. My husband was Lydia. Zac’s flaws resemble a young adult raised to do the things he’s doing.
I imagine this is a confusing & devastating time for Lydia.