134 replies to this topic

[shortykb]

Saw the first two episodes of Amish Mafia. Never knew them kind Amish folk was as corrupt as the regular "English" folk they like to call us non Amish.

There is no way that Joline is Amish. Those tattoos look too much gang to be Amish.

And yes at least Discovery shows that some of this is reactments but I would prefer that you show it on the bottom of the actual reactment. Otherwise I assume the whole episode is.

[Sunfire]

It sure seems strange to see them driving around in Cadillac's.

[bulldawgtownie]

The thing is what we consider "Amish" is not all the same. There are different denominations, for example Jolin is a Mennonite; they use electricty, wear modern clothing, drive cars, and in general are more liberal than other Amish. Also none of the guys in the Amish mafia have been baptized into the church thus they can get away with more such as wearing tatoos and carrying guns.

This show is interesting to me because as I understand it the Italian mafia also started as a kind of bank/police force for people in their community.

[ZoloftBlob]

If Jolin is Mennonite then Jolin isn't Amish. Since Discovery is the parent company of TLC these days, I'm seriously questioning what ISN'T staged.

[ubi]

I watched the first couple eps and was intrigued. I'll have to ask Dad if he had anyone ask if he was charging too much to drive Amish to Florida when he was younger.

[lizg]

If Jolin is Mennonite then Jolin isn't Amish. Since Discovery is the parent company of TLC these days, I'm seriously questioning what ISN'T staged.

Jolin is Mennonite. Just because he isn't Amish doesn't mean anything. Old Order Mennonite and Old Order Amish are in fellowship with each other. The one thing that gives this series any credibility is that no one in it has been baptized. Once you are baptized you are expected to live within the church constraints and edicts. Outside and before that vow, the church has no power. Anything prior isn't a concern as they practice adult baptism.

As long as anyone connected with this show isn't baptized, the Amish Church has no power.

Is this staged, absolutely. Is there any way an unbaptized person would have control over the insurance fund, never.

It's bad tv, but capitivating because it's so bad.

[ZoloftBlob]

Mennonites and Amish are not the same faith. They're connected because the beliefs are similar but Jolin is not Amish, if baptized in the faith, Jolin will become Mennonite not Amish. Methodists and Baptists are pretty similar as well, but both churches would beg to differ that they're interchangeable.

I'm not especially fond of the Amish/Mennonite culture but I do question the morality of tv producers exploiting them.

[shriekingeel]

The first episode (sex police) was more interesting than the second. The main storyline of the second ep, the "pursuit" of this Alan guy, never amounted to anything because Levi's guys never caught up with him and whatever he supposedly was wanted for remained vague. I would rather have seen more about the truck of fake Amish goods that the show implies was hijacked by Levi's crew.

[bulldawgtownie]

Is there any way an unbaptized person would have control over the insurance fund, never.

I agree some of this stuff is staged but I believe more of it is real than people think. For example that "insurance fund" that Levi is taking care of is clearly extorion money so it doesn't matter if he's baptized, amish, or whatever.

Edited by bulldawgtownie, Dec 17, 2012 @ 5:00 PM.

[Hezadelsol]

I like how they warn you at the beginning that parts are reenactments. Parts? You mean like the entire show? Apparently Esther got knocked up at 15 and left the community, and has been shopping herself around for modeling gigs. She's ex Amish, like I'm guessing most of these people are. Also don't "real" Amish people dislike having pictures or photos taken of them? Having their face blurred out wouldn't change that. Literally everything featuring other Amish people is 100% reenactment.

That said, I think this show tries to capitalize on what most people think Amish is. No technology, no electricity, no plumbing, etc. Meanwhile faiths like Mennonite are relatively technological and "normal". I see them all the time at my thrift stores in their big white van that seats like 18. It's a guarantee you'll find a Mennonite clan at a county wide garage sale, even if they don't live near by.

[Kapsberger]

I like how they warn you at the beginning that parts are reenactments. Parts? You mean like the entire show? Apparently Esther got knocked up at 15 and left the community, and has been shopping herself around for modeling gigs. She's ex Amish, like I'm guessing most of these people are. Also don't "real" Amish people dislike having pictures or photos taken of them? Having their face blurred out wouldn't change that. Literally everything featuring other Amish people is 100% reenactment.

I'm glad I wasn't the only one thinking this. I grew up near a very large community of Amish (in western PA), and I can't imagine anyone I knew in that community taking part in anything like this. It's not unusual for them to use or work on something that's forbidden--they'll happily borrow your phone, and a very handy fellow named Gideon did a lot of small engine repair for us--but sitting down for these talking heads and being followed by cameras seems way too far over the line for even the most lax adherents.

[lizg]

I agree some of this stuff is staged but I believe more of it is real than people think. For example that "insurance fund" that Levi is taking care of is clearly extorion money so it doesn't matter if he's baptized, amish, or whatever.

Except that there is an actual Amish Insurance Fund paid to and administered by the church. Esther saying the insurance fund is controlled by Levi, an unbaptized member, is just false. It confuses things in actual Amish practices.

The unbaptized youth are allowed to integrate with the "English" community because the Amish practice adult baptism. The parties and such, and even Green Corn (true), are realistic, but rumspringa is really exploited.

Overall, I think most of this is probably true in terms of exploitation. As peaceful as the Amish seem to be, they are not the most forgiving. However, they're conundrum is that they practice Adult baptism so anyone who is unbaptized as an adult can pretty much 'proclaim' Amish without 'being' Amish.

[bulldawgtownie]

Except that there is an actual Amish Insurance Fund paid to and administered by the church. Esther saying the insurance fund is controlled by Levi, an unbaptized member, is just false. It confuses things in actual Amish practices

They can't say it's extorion money so insurance fund, it is.


Whether the people on this show are ex - amish, or baptized or whatever is totally irrelevant to me. It's about a criminal orginization within the Amish community and I find that both entertaing and interesting. I couldn't care less about who's doing it.

Edited by bulldawgtownie, Dec 18, 2012 @ 3:59 PM.

[shriekingeel]

This show is like an extended SNL or SCTV skit.

[Phred62]

We enjoy this show in our house. My daughter says it's cheese-tastic! I watch for the snark factor rather than the realism. It's fun.

Oh and John is a freaking idiot!

Edited by Phred62, Dec 19, 2012 @ 11:08 PM.

[ubi]

... and Merle is freaking NUTS!

I'm a bit skeptical about the Amish barn fights but found it amusing that none of Levi's lieutenants could enter the buggy contest for proprietary reasons but his cousin ended up wining with his motorized buggy (should that even count?).

[ChuckTheWriter]

Lancaster County's police force must have been trained by Chief O'Hara or something, there's no way that they don't know what's going on here - if this show was actually real. I mean, come on - in the third episode, Jolin and Esther make reference to having a secret conversation and needing to turn off their wireless microphones. Funny... I recall that in the first episode, Esther said that the Amish will talk in Pennsylvania Dutch if they don't want the English to understand it. So just talk in Dutch and send the Dutch-to-English translator out for some shoo-fly pie or something.

[TommyD]

Lancaster County's police force must have been trained by Chief O'Hara or something

I was thinking more like Chief Wiggum! LOL

Now, with Esther, if I was a little younger, I'd try like hell to run up in that!

[lizg]

Oh and John is a freaking idiot!

Agreed! He's like Franco in the Corleone family.

Jolin and Esther make reference to having a secret conversation and needing to turn off their wireless microphones. Funny... I recall that in the first episode, Esther said that the Amish will talk in Pennsylvania Dutch if they don't want the English to understand it. So just talk in Dutch and send the Dutch-to-English translator out for some shoo-fly pie or something.

Actually I thought that was Jolin and Esther having a little rendevous that only required the barest of physical communication.

[shriekingeel]

And "go f*** a cow" is my new favorite insult.

[chickieloveknit]

Apparently Esther got knocked up at 15 and left the community, and has been shopping herself around for modeling gigs.

Modeling? Excuse me while I try to control my laughing.

This show is like an extended SNL or SCTV skit.

That is ALL I can think of too when watching this! SNL please....this skit has already written itself!

Are we supposed to find Levi an intimidating force? He looks like a baby faced, pudge to me. And Merlin is obviously intellectually challenged to the point where I almost feel sorry for him.

These Amish shows have ruined the idyllic idea of the Amish lifestyle for me. I'm now being lead to believe these people are all hypocritical (don't truly practice what they preach).

[ubi]

in the third episode, Jolin and Esther make reference to having a secret conversation and needing to turn off their wireless microphones. Funny... I recall that in the first episode, Esther said that the Amish will talk in Pennsylvania Dutch if they don't want the English to understand it. So just talk in Dutch and send the Dutch-to-English translator out for some shoo-fly pie or something.

That won't keep Levi from understanding what they said, nor a translator in post-production, but I think they were going to speak another language altogether, if you get my drift.

Edited by ubi, Dec 21, 2012 @ 1:09 PM.

[bulldawgtownie]

Actually I thought that was Jolin and Esther having a little rendevous that only required the barest of physical communication.

but I think they were going to speak another language altogether, if you get my drift.

I'm another person who believes they were going to do some "horizontal talking".

I really wish the TPTB hadn't included this Merlin guy, no way I can take him seriously.

[KarenESP]

The first episode seemed like it took an hour and a half... only scheming Esther and dope=punk John make it funny

[Xingu]

I am convinced this show is completely contrived. I don't believe a single word put forth. For starters there is no way in hell the Amish would entrust their funds with anyone outside of their sect. This is just Discovery jumping on the Amish bandwagon. Just take a note of all the disclaimers at the beginning and end of the show. They might as well read, "What you are about to see it totally made up, but if you are stupid enough to keep watching and supporting our sponsors, well the joke's on you. But thanks for watchin'; we'll think about you all the way to the bank. And that's a real bank, not the phony Amish bank we portray on the show."

And if you're going to totally stage a show, at least hire good actors.

I grew up with Amish and I find this show so insulting to them. Gee, they pick on a group of people who don't normally have TV or web access and so don't even know they are being insulted. What a greasy, money-grubbing group these producers must be. They make me sick. But they know the Amish won't sue. They know the Amish aren't watching. So the Amish are left with no counterbalance.

What's next? Aborigines in Porn: The Untold Story?

Edited by Xingu, Dec 21, 2012 @ 4:55 PM.

[313Mary]

Not that I believe 97% of what the show puts out, but the story keeps getting crazier and crazier. And the 3% of what I did believe is dwindling. I can't stop watching though.

[aimlessbird]

Apparently Esther got knocked up at 15 and left the community, and has been shopping herself around for modeling gigs.

I have had trouble finding anything about the cast online except for Levi or that Alan Beiler.

In the last show Esther mentioned her and John's parents, but I thought in an earlier show she had said her father had died at a young age. I wonder if John and Esther have more siblings.

John also called Esther his little sister and I had been assuming that Esther was the oldest.

That Melvin guy is creepy.

[bulldawgtownie]

Are we supposed to find Levi an intimidating force? He looks like a baby faced, pudge to me

Throughout the history of the world there have many dangerous and powerful individuals who weren't phsyically intimidating. Heck, "baby faced, pudge" could apply to both Napoleon(who was also very short) and Al "Scarface" Capone.

Not that I believe 97% of what the show puts out, but the story keeps getting crazier and crazier. And the 3% of what I did believe is dwindling. I can't stop watching though

Are you me?

[ubi]

Heck, "baby faced, pudge" could apply to both Napoleon(who was also very short) and Al "Scarface" Capone.

And "Baby face" Nelson.

So why does John owe Merlin money? Did I miss something?

[4Sibes]

So why does John owe Merlin money? Did I miss something?

I might also be missing something, but I thought that it was because Merlin felt John promised that he'd win the Pimp My Buggy competition.