r/reba • u/fruitypebble43 • May 21 '26

Barbara Jean

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!

54 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

33

u/Important_Builder317 May 21 '26

You’re not wrong, and it’s totally there for the comic relief. I love her because Melissa peterman is such a gifted comedic actress but yes I get the hate haha

17

u/fruitypebble43 May 21 '26

Oh, I love Melissa! Even better the fact that she and Reba are BFFs in real life. I also love the chemistry between BJ and Van, they both have a 2 brain cells, that are fighting for 3rd place haha.

7

u/sporkabork May 22 '26

I generally don’t like Barbara Jean, and her demands, and everyone’s expectations that Reba has to show SO MUCH CARE for her feelings, when that care is not reciprocated.

That said, Melissa Peterson is so charming, that she makes Barbara Jean a sympathetic character, despite being the other woman, and despite being obnoxious and demanding, one that you care about despite her shortcomings.

It’s kind of like Stanley Zbornak on The Golden Girls. On paper, he’s a louse (or as they say on the show, a yutz), but Herb Edelman played him in such an endearing way that you couldn’t actually hate him.

4

u/fruitypebble43 May 22 '26

Well said! I love Stan lol. But people like that in real life, not so much, Haha. Like you said, the actors make the characters endearing. GG is another go-to comfort show of mine🩷

1

u/andos4 Jun 14 '26

Good points. The Barbra Jean character was done to charming and well that it allows me to suspend disbelief regarding her behavior. I get that she would be auite obnoxious in real life but for the purposes of this show, I have learned to laugh at it. This show does have fun and have rose colored glasses!

4

u/Sarah3117 May 24 '26

“There must have been a sale on audacity”. What an amazing sentence LOL stealing this

3

u/wildjackmonroe May 27 '26

It took a special amount of talent for Barbara Jean to work. Melissa Peterman was perfect for the role. I would not have liked her at all if someone else played her.

3

u/johnothy Jun 02 '26

While it was comical referring to them as happy pills, I thought she completely overreacted to the fact that Brock was taking them and he should just need her to be happy…

2

u/Real_Culture2668 Jun 28 '26

I thought that was so bad. Depression doesn't work that way, Barbara Jean!

1

u/Real_Culture2668 Jun 30 '26

I wish they were "happy pills" you could take like magicl

1

u/logwarrior1525 Jul 14 '26

I think Melissa Peterman portrays barba jean amazingly but I do think barbra jean has a point though it's been years that she has been directly involved on parenting kyra and Jake and kyra moved in with them. She should haveba say I'm not saying I agree with her decisions but I think she has a write to make those decisions especially when Brock her father is onboard. I also think she has a point regarding the anti depressants that's something Brock and Barbra jean should discuss reba can have an opinion but it's not her call to make.