The women of Season 3 of the hit Hulu reality TV series “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” have faced intense criticism after the release of the latest season, which fueled debates about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints culture, their friendship dynamics and the reality behind what they present on social media.

“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” features a group of Utah-based Mormon mothers who create content on TikTok. This group’s following grew rapidly on social media over the past few years, fueled largely by a scandal in which Taylor Frankie Paul, the creator of MomTok, went on a livestream and exposed her extramarital affair. Paul also alleged that other women in the group were engaged in “swinging,” or swapping sexual partners. 

This sparked widespread controversy and the falling apart of MomTok, which ultimately led to the debut season of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.”

Season 3 delivered a new level of intensity to the series, picking up after Season 2 ended on a dramatic cliffhanger. The show effectively pulls back the veil that is social media, revealing the real-life challenges for the women of MomTok. 

Last season, Mikayla Matthews and Mayci Neeley spoke openly about their history with sexual assault and therapy. Their honesty defied the perfectionism expected of women in Mormon culture. 

Layla Taylor steps into a more confident role this season — not only as the youngest member of MomTok, but also as the only Black woman in the group. 

The dramatic reality TV-style editing of the show created a fast-paced and chaotic season in just 10 drama-filled episodes. This season was certainly a step up from previous seasons. The cast members seemed more comfortable on screen, and no one held back. 

But Season 3 is overly produced compared to earlier seasons. Some storylines drag on for too long and the women rehash past issues for more screen time. 

Besides some heavily staged moments and the constant drama, the cast members still convey emotional honesty and candid conversations, making this series far more interesting than most other reality shows out today. The Mormon church is still mysterious to many people, so this show gives an intriguing peek behind the scenes.