I watch Plathville, and have since the beginning.
The family originally did have a hook - they were a “quiverfull” type religious family like the Duggars. Bunch of kids, all homeschooles, strict rules. Their oldest boy, Ethan, had gotten married to a woman (Olivia) who had grown up in a similar family but she had “seen the light” and busted out and realized how toxic that type of family environment was.
Once they were married, Olivia also had some issues with the way the mother, Kim, had manipulated Ethan into opening a credit card then using it to “join” Kim’s MLM (pyramid scheme - Plexus maybe?) downline. Ethan wasn’t educated and had no idea what Kim was doing, but it was costing Ethan money and messing up his credit and the family (Ethan & Olivia’s) money.
So Olivia didn’t like the Plaths and the Plaths didn’t like Olivia and the first season was a push/pull for Ethan’s soul or something.
The third season, the second oldest daughter, Moriah (tidbit - the oldest daughter Hosannah has never been on the show and as far as we know does not communicate with the family) broke out from the family grip and was living with Ethan & Olivia, and getting her first taste of dating. Also the next son, Micah, was out of the house, first living with the siblings but then moving to Los Angeles to be a Hot Young Guy In Los Angeles. At the same time, Ethan was basically a hot mess of a man, not really knowing how to be in a healthy adult relationship with Olivia, so there was a lot of “will they stay together?” during those seasons.
Also during last season the parents, Kim & Barry, started breaking up. This season they’re full on separated and Kim is dating someone else. Also Moriah is sick of Ethan & Olivia, and they are sick of her, so she’s out on her own. Micah is in LA still. Ethan and Olivia just moved out of Tampa to Minnesota. The next oldest boy, Isaac, is now getting more air time.
Basically with this show they started off with one premise (a quiverfull family) but everyone had such quirky personalities and they served up so much drama that TLC just said “Keep filming! We can’t make this stuff up!” and it’s as compelling as any boring afternoon scripted drama so they just keep giving them new seasons. The premise isn’t remotely the same as it was in the beginning, other than “this family is weird.”