Sister Wives Season 20 premiere as Browns face separation and dating.

Sister Wives returned Sunday, Sept. 28, with the premiere of its 20th season on TLC, bringing viewers a new chapter in the Brown family’s long-running story as members confront separation, dating, and the possibility of a different future for their marital arrangements. The hourlong episode aired at 10 p.m. Eastern and sets up several of the personal and logistical conflicts that will shape the season.

The series resumes after years of shifting dynamics within Kody Brown’s plural marriage. The family originally included four partners, Christine, Robyn, Janelle, and Meri, and their combined 18 children. In recent seasons several wives have left the plural household to pursue greater independence, leaving Robyn as the only remaining partner in Kody’s public plural relationship. The premiere follows how those separations have changed day-to-day life and relationships among the Browns.

Early scenes show Christine and her husband David traveling to Janelle’s property in North Carolina to celebrate Janelle’s new home. Kody and Robyn confront whether to remain monogamous, to welcome another wife, or to redefine their relationship in another way. Meri begins exploring the dating world...