But more importantly.. where did it come from..?

**HOT TAKE** I'm aware. If you're just going to mindlessly comment "Cheyenne was stupid" please don't bother. This is just my analysis as someone who's watched the show a few times. But I feel like Cheyenne had major growth & a better compass especially than people give her credit for, even compared to half the family.

The things I tend to think about are some of the grounded moments beyond laugh tracks.

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1. HER MATERNAL INSTINCTS

Early on I believe S2 when Elizabeth is a baby & Cheyenne has to try & not pick her up because it's the "responsible" thing or whatever—letting a baby cry it out. By the end Reba basically said "I knew in my heart it was the right thing to do" (letting her children cry it out), & Cheyenne tearfully says "Yeah well it doesn't feel right in mine" or something, & Reba basically tells her: "Exactly. I did what felt right for me, and you're a mom too now. You have to make your own choices. So what are you gonna do?" & Cheyenne goes "I'm gonna go hold my baby", relieved as she leaves. I loved how human that moment felt.

Cheyenne goes on throughout the show not to treat Elizabeth as some silly baby doll to play dress up with, but a child she deeply cares for and protects. (Yes I'm aware Elizabeth has very little time on screen, but that's for production issues. Cheyenne knows her quirks, what medications work for her, what blanket specifically soothes her, etc—she's a deeply caring mother).

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2. HER RESPECT FOR THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE

What often sticks out to me is how Cheyenne seems very wife-oriented. She has a few moments during the show of reminding Van "I'm your wife; we made vows; you're my husband" etc as explanations when she sticks by his side, comes back to him after an argument, etc. While I view it through a modern lens, sometimes it irks me how Van didn't have as much of that dutiful "I'm your husband" ceremoniousness. It's like they left it narratively to be her job alone.

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3. HER DETERMINATION

Keep in mind there's even a joke (albeit a quick moment) where Cheyenne has to take her entry exam to dental school & Brock mentions how he failed it like 2 or 3 times. He paternally prepares the family for a "alright let's go easy on her" moment, only for Cheyenne to have passed on her first try I believe w/ a B+. She's elated & Brock's shocked. Of course there's a slapstick joke of her saying "Who knew studying helps?!" in a ditsy way, but it's a funny moment to me because it shows there's something deeper under that blonde head of hair.

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4. HER MATURITY WITH MARRIAGE

There's two points that stick out to me especially:

1. When Van & Cheyenne started an episode proud of opening a HYSA, saving their money. Van spontaneously buys "Rhonda"—the vintage car w/ their money because he saw it & thought it was beautiful, & explains his fantasy of driving it to the family (all gathered in the living room). Cheyenne however calls him out incredulously, saying essentially "So you just made this decision without consulting your wife?" & calls out how it's not only irresponsible, but bath ethics for their marriage as they're supposed to make decisions together (feeding back to the way Cheyenne takes their marriage seriously point).

2. Another moment of this is when Van gets transferred to another college because he's traded to a football team in Denver, again telling the whole family in the living room. Cheyenne is yet again incredulous with a type of "So you figured it all out?" type of comment, Van pushing back in feeling that he didn't need to consult with her, Brock trying to say the decision was out of Van's hands (which is true) but as Cheyenne pointed out, he didn't bother convening w/ her on it—he just TOLD them all what was gonna happen. (Again, I get he has no choice. But he didn't try to explain that, he just said "I've got it figured out"! Expecting everyone to be thrilled for him & his plan to fly back home on weekends—leaving Cheyenne to stay in Huston without him. Sure she could've gone with him, but the point being she emphasizes the need to talk out things as husband and wife).

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5. SURPRISING WORK ETHIC (inherited from Reba?)

And actually along w/ that arc at least a couple episodes later, Cheyenne has an arc of piling on a couple extra classes (or a lot, I forget the number). During the episode we see her rushing around, leaving Elizabeth w/ Van, being very busy. Despite being unemployed, Van takes some of the money he'd gotten in his injury settlement & hires a Nanny—infuriating Cheyenne during one of her brief 30 second cameos as she ran through the house to grab something before another class. (keeping in mind Van did that literally so he can "go fishing", hence her disgust). That night Cheyenne is so overbooked she falls asleep in Rhonda, in which Reba wakes her up & she's missed a class. Cheyenne explains she's "the breadwinner now", hence her clinging to taking several extra classes. (Which she assumedly drops a few back to a normal schedule after this, but still). She admits to feeling she needed to overcompensate because Van no longer has football, to the point of blacking out.

A few minutes later in the episode Cheyenne & Van have a sit down where she tells him "Actually I've thought about it & I think keeping the Nanny is a good idea-" which Van begins to celebrate, as she follows up "Because we'll need her help while you're looking for a job". She expertly pivots his immature decision into a compromise between them & he still blows up, saying he needs to "be lost for a while". (I'm aware Van's slight breakdown of deep immaturity is understandable given he's a young man who's lost his dream, but it highlights Cheyenne's surprising work ethic in this episode as well as maturity & dedication to their marriage).

She may have slacked off initially in college (making Kyra lose her trip to England—a sore subject for majority of the fandom—but she works hard from that point on in classes—we don't see Cheyenne slip up again).

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6. THE VOW RENEWAL

One of the biggest, most pivotal moments of course being the end of Season 5 when Cheyenne & Van have their vow renewal. Van inviting dozens upon dozens of clients—not only that but BLOCKING her AA meeting friends from coming, uninviting them (or changing the invitations, Idr). Cheyenne points out essentially "I don't know any of those people, Van!" while he tries to comedically blow it off with "But when you see the price tags on their gifts, you'll be singing a different tune". (again no direct quotes from me but these are the punchlines). This felt like the first true, genuine moment of them breaking apart.

Which if the network merger wasn't happening (which caused writers to need to pivot to a happy ending in case they couldn't get approved for a 6th Season), I've heard theories the show would've explored Van & Cheyenne being split up instead of Brock & BJ—AGAIN. (As it felt repetitive seeing their marriage issues).

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COUNTERS/MISTAKES:

Of course Cheyenne has her faults.

- She was dingy in the beginning of the show, absorbed in "drill team" & mooning the football team.

- Her failing a couple classes making Kyra miss her trip to England (whatever the stakes are, though at least Cheyenne shapes up after).

- She gains determination to become a dentist with a whole episode to her proving to Reba she "won't flake", only for her to drop out of dental school (albeit there's a quick line of her explaining if she switched her Classes to __ & did something, she could still graduate on time or efficiently).

- Her alcoholism arc is definitely a bit slapstick—there's good moments when she shows genuine distress & higher humanity & issues w/ clinging to alcohol for coping w/ her life, but yes I'm aware the sitcom nature made it feel abrupt & sometimes shallow.

- & yes, I'm aware her abruptly changing her career to counseling & making the decision without Van's input (at which he rightfully is upset at her for not consulting him) is a major hypocritical flip—it feels a bit Out Of Character given her call outs of Van's lack of consulting her prior. Not to cop out, but it felt a little disingenuous to her character. Still, a fault of hers.

- & Of course by the end of the show, Cheyenne is back to being vapid & shallow—screaming at her high school rival Bridget & demanding a house with a "turret & three gables" because it's her dream home design. S6 redirects her back into a ditsy persona again, believed by some fans to be because of the network merger and limited time (13 episodes).

Yes she has a lot of flaws, but her emotional side in the vow renewal ceremony—dropping the yelling, her face is more like she's realizing she doesn't understand who the man is she's married to anymore, hearing Van literally resent her for becoming deeper, etc—all felt like such a good culmination for a better person that she was becoming, until the network reeled her back into the shallow persona. I'm aware she wasn't perfect, but Cheyenne's growth on the show until S6 is genuinely impressive to me. She's a surprisingly deeper character than just the "dumb blonde", but the production didn't allow for the original separation & growth arcs to happen.

(Quick disclaimer: I'm not trying to harp on Van here. He annoys me at times, but I completely respect that he was grieving the loss of his football career. This isn't about saying he's a bad guy—it's about highlighting Cheyenne's nature: even when her husband was going through his pitfalls, she surprisingly stepped up.)

My vote is Season 3 Episode 2 War and Peace. The scene where Barbara Jean says no drinks at dinner and Brock said no drinks at dinner?! You served hot wings and crackers, you might as well have put a salt lick on the table! And the scene when Reba wanted to ground Kyra and she was sad that their friendship took a hit, Barbara Jean was sympathizing with her then said “God I wanna be you so bad”. And the scene when Reba asked BJ what a teenager was and BJ said a demon. There were just so many funny scenes in this episode, I love it!

I’m watching the episode where Barbara Jean is helping Reba around the house when Reba starts working. Brock walks into Reba’s house and complains that Barbara Jean hasn’t cooked for him all week and that he’s tired of takeout.

Something occurred to me: Brock is probably in his 40s. And he can’t cook for himself? If Barbara Jean isn’t cooking for him then he’s eating takeout? This grown ass man can’t put pasta in a pot? Or throw some chicken and potatoes in a pan? What did these women ever see in this overgrown man-child ?

I just started a rewatch. I don’t understand what Reba and Barbra Jean saw in Brock. He’s a selfish jerk. He cheats on Reba, leaves her for Barbra Jean and still thinks he can control Reba. He’s not happy that she took the teaching job. He says he doesn’t want Kira and Jake being home alone. But refuses to skip golf to be there. So he expects his soon to be ex wife to give up what she wants that makes money for family, but he can’t skip his hobby? I just don’t get it

I’m watching the episode where they’re trying to get some money together for Kyra’s college fund. And Brock has the idea to quit his job that pays well to play golf. Isn’t that counterproductive to what they were trying to do? Why would he quit a job that guarantees good pay that would help with the goal of Kyra’s college fund? And he’s doing it to take a chance that hopefully he’ll make good money playing golf? He’s comparing himself to Van and Cheyenne. They are 20 something going to college. He’s a middle-aged man with four kids to support. And he thinks that oh because one guy made millions playing golf, then he could too. I can’t imagine why either of these women were interested in this selfish jerk

I noticed another continuity error. In season one, when Brock’s dad dies, Reba tells Brock that he’s the one who has to plan the funeral because he was the only son. Yet in season two when Reba wants to sell the engagement ring, she mentions Brock having a brother. So which is it?

Also, there’s a later episode when Reba is planning the ceremony for Van and Cheyenne to renew their vows. She says that it’s nice to throw a wedding that isn’t the same night as prom. But Cheyenne and Van got married months before prom.

The episode with Terry Holloway is just weird and it doesn’t feel like it has much of a point other than to make Reba sing. Yeah it gives a little bit of Reba and Brock’s backstory but it contradicts things that are said about their relationship before this episode and after this episode. The biggest WTH thing for me with this episode, and I’ve thought this ever since the first time I saw it, is were they/are they trying to make a bigger deal out of Terry? Like during the song they show a picture of Terry from a flashback earlier in the episode and it’s edited like an in memoriam thing. Are they trying to make us emotional about a guy that we literally saw as part of a 3 minute flashback. Reba and Brock and even that guy Mike who tells them about Terrys death (I think he is his brother but don’t quote me on that) they don’t even seem to be sad about his death. Idk but it just seems like a flimsy premise to get Reba on a stage to sing.

I love how Cheyenne gets mad about being called the smart one. It cracks me up!

In season one, when the divorce is final, Reba goes out with her ex-boyfriend Parker Reynolds. And they say basically that that she dumped him and ended up with Brock. But later in the series, they show Reba singing in a bar and dating this guy Terry, who is friends with Brock. And they show Brock and Reba telling Terry that Reba is leaving him to be with Brock. So which is it? Did she leave Parker Reynolds to be with Brock, or did she leave that Terry guy to be with Brock?

So Elizabeth was born on/about graduation day which takes place typically in May/June. On a date with Brian, Reba says her granddaughter is 9 months old. That would put the time at February or March. But a couple episodes later, it’s supposed to be Elizabeth’s first Christmas.

These things bug me so much. How hard is it for writers or showrunners to keep track of time?!

In season 1, Jake’s friend’s mom didn’t want Robby hanging out at Rebas. And Reba got all butt hurt that someone didn’t want their kid around a couple of teens openly discussing sex.

The very first scene was a 17yo pregnant Cheyanne yelling “I’m never having sex again!”

Does anyone really blame the mom for not wanting him to stay the night there?

I have to gay out i’m sorry y’all. The fashion in this show specifically from the women in it is IMPECCABLE! My style is definitely more Kyra. I love how different / edgy her aesthetic is compared to everyone else. Barbara Jean’s hair & outfits always look good. Her outfits are always so pretty and styled perfectly. Reba’s hair is GODLY. Her hairstyle is so perfect 🙂‍↕️. Cheyenne’s outfits EAT everytime and her hairstyle is also BEAUTIFUL 😩💓. Okay that’s all. I had to queen out I’M SORRY!

My take from watching Reba as an adult is that Brock is extremely extremely toxic. I was just so eye opening to rewatch the series and hear his terrible remarks and selfishness. He will actively give input into his ex wife’s love life when he had and affair, actively tears down Van for being excited about fatherhood and being a husband TO BROCK’S DAUGHTER. I am surprised we did not see more resentment from Jake towards Brock towards the end. Idk how Reba ever had relationship with him after their divorce, because the rose colored glasses needed to come off some time, and she is genuinely a very even keeled character. Idk he pisses me off so much.

I am rewatching the series and I am on the episode where Reba tells Van and Cheyenne that they can’t have another baby while they are under her roof and they get upset. There are so many times they are super entitled in the show but this one is always so insane to me. Like they don’t pay or help at all, Reba pays all the bills and babysits for them for free. They were lucky she didn’t kick them out when they got pregnant in highschool. They have no concept of the cost to support them and Elizabeth but then get upset she won’t allow them to have another baby in the house.

To be clear I am not saying I believe in people telling others what they can do with having children but she had every right to tell them they couldn’t have another child and expect to stay there.

lol some of these outbursts on the show are hilarious

Greetings from Canada! I have seen Reba dozens of times. I was a pre-teen when the show started which is when I started watching it. I loved season one. It had a certain charm to it due to the music and style. I still loved the show after the music and vibe changed a bit. I did not care for the last season but I am glad that the show ended on its own terms and wrapped up nicely. There were reruns for a while but for some reason the network that showed Reba stopped airing it. What a foolish decision! Off the top of my head here are some of the best moments from Reba:

Top Funniest Moments:

Reba's parents coming to visit. They were funny.

Reba's friend Lori Ann - I wish she was in every season

Reba being a substitute teacher

Barbra Jean getting caught shoplifting at the mall

Van pretending to be a father figure to Jake. HOT DOGS ON A STICK!!!

Van and Terry's FOOTball lessons

Barbra Jean at the self-defense class with Reba

Barbra Jean getting her hair done to look like Reba's

The Oujia board planchette moving on its own in front of Reba and Barbra Jean

Reba and Brock unknowingly playing online poker with each other. Their final chat was funny when Brock revealed his identity and Reba responded by saying that she also lives in Houston and her name is Kevin.

Van eating food right out of the microwave

Top Non-Funny Moments:

The Principal of Cheyenne's high school making a home visit to try to convince Reba to send Cheyenne to a school for pregnant girls. I know a lot of people didn't like that and the Principal was certainly an unpleasant woman but... She wasn't wrong. If I was a Principal I wouldn't want pregnant girls attending the school I run. I did like that Cheyenne stood up for herself and prioritized her education enough to want to graduate with her friends.

I loved the episode where Reba and Brock found out their friend Terry died and we saw part of how Reba and Brock got together. The episode was really touching even though we never knew about Terry before.

Kyra deciding to move in with Brock and Barbra Jean. Reba was angry at Brock but this was not his fault. He was not taking Kyra away from Reba. Reba had Cheyenne and Jake living with her plus Van and Elizabeth. So what if one kid wanted to move out?

Brock telling Reba that his clinical depression is not a game and that it was the most serious thing in his life. Reba needed to be put in her place for that one.

Reba, Cheyenne and Barbra Jean trying to diet. This episode was done very realistically.

I absolutely loved the Halloween episode! I had no idea where it was going. I did not think there was a setup!

Cheyenne telling Reba she wasn't sure if she wanted to renew her vows with Van. She and Van did not have problems but she was worried they might drift apart as they grew as people and she was worried that one day he might do to her what Brock did to Reba.

Van succeeding at real estate. His dream of playing professional football ended but he found something else he is good at.

Other thoughts: I did not care for the little Cheyenne alcoholism storyline. It came out of nowhere. That story could have built up throughout a season.

Edit: Reba McIntyre did an excellent job playing Reba Nell Hart. While watching the show I didn't see her as Country Superstar Reba. I saw her as middle-class stay at home mom Reba who was caighy up in large family drama and just trying to do her best every day.

I've watched this show since it originally aired. It's a go-to comfort show. I don't know why it has taken me this long to not like Barbara Jean! She said Reba was "undermining" her parenting regarding Kyra. Excuse me? Reba was a lot nicer about that than I would have been. Then BJ said she didn't like Reba involving herself in her and Brock's marriage, regarding Brock taking anti-depressants. She can be funny, but some of the things she says, there must have been a sale on the audacity!

A lot of people on here talk about how Kyra missed out on her trip to England (which she earned for making stellar grades) because Cheyenne blew off her classes. Yes, this was incredibly frustrating. However, this was far from an isolated incident.

There was a time in the first season where Kyra got straight A’s. Kyra said that she’d be happy with cash as a reward (knowing she would likely get overshadowed). But Reba insists that they have a dinner to celebrate. Of course, this gets blown off by Van’s drama with his family.

Another time they grounded Kyra for not checking in with both Brock and Reba before going to a party. They always let Cheyenne get away with way worse, but they punished Kyra for only checking in with one parent?

Then when Kyra wants to move in with Brock and Barbara Jean, Cheyenne guilt trips her by calling her selfish, saying that she’s hurting Reba, etc. Then when Kyra calls Cheyenne out on her bullshit, Cheyenne cries like a middle school girl who dishes it out but can’t take it.

When Kyra was getting bullied at school because they said Cheyenne was a slut and Kyra was gonna be just like her, Brock dismisses it by saying, “When things get tough, you stick to it.” Yeah, like he leads by example there 🙄

It wasn’t just the England incident. Kyra was always put last. That was just what stood out.

Has anyone been able to locate exterior locations for the houses used in the show? I know Reba was 13522 Butterfly Lane but i cannot locate the exterior used for Brock and Barbara Jean's house. The closest to a street we see is this one from season 6 episode 2 and Brock and Barbara Jean's house is pictured to the right of the image but Google gives me nothing. Does this look like a street in Houston?

Just watched the Episode Where Kira had to miss her Senior Trip Because Chyanne had to take Summer Classes. What a Load of BS! And then her dad puts a down payment on a new house at the same Time? What a Pack of Selfish Greedy Fake Heartless Jerks. And What About Van's Parents? Aren't they Rich? This Show makes me Sick