braines-66279 I have read a lot of posts online & the majority of the naysayers are upset because portions of the show are staged. It is a TV show, not the nightly news folks, so get a grip! Does it completely and accurately portray everything about daily Amish life? Probably not. I won't say yes or no because I didn't grow up Amish! However, does it give someone like me a picture of just how different their lifestyle and culture is, good and bad? Yes, I believe it does. Obviously no lawyer is going to allow their clients to be filmed committing felonious acts. Duh! But does stuff like that really happen? Probably. Have any of you people ever read the Old Testament? Not so different, my point being it has been around since the beginning and no one is immune, because human nature is what it is. But the show tells a lot of things about everyday Amish life. Why would anyone who has ever watched Oprah or Dr. Phil be surprised that women like Esther and Mary have suffered abuse that was never reported? Sadly, it happens every day and no community is immune. My heart goes out to them both and I'm glad they now feel empowered enough to speak out. Maybe that will empower other women in their community to speak out as well. I give full credit to the producers and crew who have worked hard to show us an interesting slice of Amish life and manage to make it really entertaining. One more thing: my dad wasn't raised Amish, but he was an old country boy who only had an 8th grade education but grew to be a very successful businessman. He told me stories about stuff he and his friend (who grew up to be a judge) did as boys. Not much different than some of the stuff Lebanon Levi and his crew do on the show. I'll take this show any day over "Survivor" as "reality" TV. Much less offensive and much more entertaining!!!

rubyjb I have lived in two Pennsylvania counties in close proximity to Amish and Mennonites for most of my life. So I can say based on my own personal observations: 1. Yes, they do have a lot of cash money, (let's say you attend an auction- the men carry large rolls $$$$ in their pockets,) and the farms and buildings alone are worth millions. They don't pay taxes in the same way an ordinary citizen would, which contributes to their amassing large fortunes. 2. Because of interbreeding in these small communities, their gene pool carries a high risk for many types of congenital abnormalities, defects, emotional and cognitive disorders; the occurrence of typically rare anomalies is astronomically high- such as club foot, dwarfism, and some mental disorders. 3. You will find both intelligent and stupid people in these communities, but ALL of them will have only 8 years of formal education, combined with "bible teachings" and a lot of superstition; they will not have studied MANY of the things an ordinary American can or will study. THEREFORE, you see a lot of the social and interpersonal manipulations, socially childish behavior in some cases, a lack of logic in problem solving, a lack of understanding the bigger picture, etc. MUCH could be said here. 4. There is a LOT of crime, and most of it goes unreported. There is a great deal of child abuse, (including sexual abuse) wife battering / abuse of women, along with some of what you see on the show- theft, vandalism, malicious gossip/ slander, and that list goes on as well. Their religion doesn't put a lot of value in "possessions" so the destruction of such is not considered heinous. 5. The Dutch that they speak in PA is probably not going to be intelligible to a "German" speaker- it is a strong dialect and heavily bastardized with English words. Have you heard the term "Spanglish?" Same kind of thing. In closing: I find it sad that so many people stoop to the bashing and trolling just for a shock laugh or to ride the bandwagon without having seen the show, or truly knowing any "real" Amish. If you have an idealized or utopian view of Amish life based on some books you have read, that's not "real" either. There's a trend to scream "fake" at almost anything on the internet, just to seem like you know something. I think the producers of this show are using their creative license to illustrate some REAL TRUTHS in these communities, that deserve serious consideration.

dittygirl I keep reading the above reviews about there not being a real Lancaster county Pa police dept. and these are fake actors, NOT. If you look these people up online you will see that they have criminal records and that there is indeed a Lancaster County Police Dept. with mugshots and all. There are even News Stations reporting the arrest of the "Black Amish" Alan Beiler. Much of this show is reality and you will see that the church and the Bishops dole out there own justice and do depend on Amish Aid which is there own type of insurance when things get broken and the like. The kids do keep much from their parents and do all the hut parties, have sex, own and ride in cars like English during what is called Rumspringa, which translates to running around. I saw a documentary on this and I wish I could remember the name of it, but I am sure you can google plenty on the Amish and Rumspringa and what happens during that time. They act like regular teens in America and experiment with everything from drugs to sex and rock and roll. So, that being said, I believe that the show is for the most part a true portrayal of the Amish. I believe that the Amish Church is powerful and will shun you if you brake their rules and they find out about it. But, as with any other religion certain illegal, immoral, and down right ungodly behavior is totally overlooked for the sake of the church and the almighty dollar. If you want to see what the dirty side of the Amish Community is like, that is what you are going to get with this show. Lots of weird excitement and I say weird because when you have so many church rules crammed down your throat your eventually going to regurgitate and when you do it is fun to watch. The characters seem real enough to me. Your gonna love it. I gave it a 10 to get the reviews up so more people would watch and because I just absolutely love this show and their characters. All reality TV is faked somewhat but so what! See for yourself what the Church really tolerates and how hypocritical the Bishops are and how they and the characters twist the bible for their own gains.

Block Taber Boy, oh boy! These are stories based on semi-actual events, that may have happened. What more could I ask for? I am always on the edge of my seat every week. Forget exciting action movies and gripping thrillers, we're talking about shaming, shunning, and telling the church on people and lots of tattling. You really need to be ready for story shifts and lots of minor threats. Please watch THE DEVIL'S RIDE. You will also see the exciting world of empty threats, and how a "do nothing" biker group builds excitement and no payoff at every commercial break. They seriously spent 2 full shows worrying about paperwork! Kind of like this show..... Lots of music build up and "what will happen nexts" on both shows, with the same results. Next to nothing, no fights, no one stands up to the Amish "enforcers". The English are always backing down from 1 goof after another that shows up to stop their business encroachments. You must be careful in the community! If you are not careful, a van pulls up and takes you away in a straight jacket. What is this, a video game? With this series, you get a mental ward van, 1 black Amish man, 2 Midget Amish men, 1 crazy assed woman, A pudgy "Don" with an orange shirt under his black clothes, a wanna-be tough guy 15 year old and no shortage of telling on people to the bishops.I don't have any issues with Amish people, real Amish people. This show is built for 1 hour of light story and mild suspense. You could definitely watch this "Mafia" show with your kids of all ages since there is virtually no violence or swearing. They will be asleep in 3 minutes but you can have them watch along with you if you wanted. Older kids might say "Why didn't he hit that guy?" Well, no one hits anyone in this "Mafia" show.... Amazing.