Yikes. Wednesday (Nov. 14) night's Kid Nation was pretty action-packed, eh? A district swap, a genuinely compelling Showdown, a humiliating F-bomb, a kid going home, Taylor in tears and a shocking end-of-episode cliffhanger?

[The Pioneer Journal says "Back in our Bonanza City, poorly concealed surprises ruined our community. Warn your readers that your recap contains spoilers." Consider it done.]

The storylines from Wednesday's episode:

The Fall of Laurel. It was just last week that I mused in this space about how Laurel was obviously the best council leader and that she should be able to earn a Gold Star herself. Amazing the difference a little editing makes, eh? This week began with Laurel and her Gold Star-heavy Green District having a Gold Star dance in town, celebrating how much better they were than the other districts. After the Journal warned them that old Bonanza City fell apart because the original pioneers failed to properly merge their tribes (or something stupid like that), the other leaders decided that they would gladly make a few changes. Anjay, feeling disrespected for his leadership, volunteered to take on lazy Emilie, the worst worker on the Red side. Guylan, feeling his team lacked sufficient intellect, took on OCD Gold Star winner Nathan. And Zach, fearing his team was under-sized, split up the Greg-n-Blaine alliance by grabbing Blaine, or as he was formerly known "Pretty Greg." Only Laurel refused to mix up her team. By the end of the episode, Sophia was calling her selfish and Michael said she was shallow. Uh-oh.

The Blue-icanization of Emilie. Little Emilie (previously mostly spotted lounging around or half-heartedly trying to save chickens) was initially greeted with trepidation by the grouchy young women of Blue, particularly Mallory, but she immediately announced "Trust me, I'll pick up my game." Indeed, she appeared to be helping everywhere later, even when she didn't need to.

As Method Man Might Say, "Bring the Blaine." "Them separating was like separating two brothers," said Olivia of the Blaine/Greg split and certainly Greg was vocal in his rage at the decision, wailing "You'll always have blue in your blood" to his departing friend. He also attempted to bunk down with Blaine. [I really hope nobody's 'shipping this show.] Anyway, the person least unhappy about the move was Blaine, who admitted, "Now that I'm out of his shadow, I'm going to get a lot more credit for things I do." Indeed, Blaine immediately took over a leadership role, both in the Showdown and afterwards.

Red Hates the Creepy Kid. Nathan is going to need counseling, eventually. It was bad enough that the triple-washer dreaded moving to the Red bunk because of its dustiness, but when he arrived, he had to listen to Mike, Markelle and Jared tearing into Guylan about messing with their chemistry. The next morning at the Hunter-sponsored prayer session, though, Mike came to recognize that maybe shrieking about how much you can't stand the anti-social loner is the best way to end up in pieces in his fridge. Or maybe he just realized that it's up to the strong to protect the weak in their flock and he embraced Nathan. Not literally. Nathan would have been uncomfortable with that.

Randi Wants to Go Home. Not much to this one. Randi, one of the least vocal members of  Taylor's Yellow posse missed her family. Not even Greg's pep talk and piggy-back ride or a sign from God could convince her to stay. Say hi to Jimmy and Cody.

The Showdown. Probably the most intriguing Showdown of the season, the teams just had to haul sleighs of rocks. The problem: In order to receive the group reward, they had to collectively cart a total of one ton (or 50 Mallorys [Mallorys have joined Smoots as my favorite units of fake measurement]) of rocks. So their choice was to either sacrifice the collective good by carting very few rocks and earning upper class, or carrying a huge quantity of rocks even if that meant risking becoming laborers or cooks, because that's what the greater good demanded. Once again, Kid Nation tipped its Communist hand. With Greg leading the way, Blue finished first, followed by the Blaine-paced Yellow, then Green and Red. Each team was responsible for an average of 500 pounds and it turned out that no individual team carted that much, so they didn't come close to reward. Because they thought like Capitalists instead of Communists, they missed out on either beds or an awesome lounge area. Let that be a lesson to all of you. For shame! Want more shame, though?

The F-Bomb. Shamed in communal defeat, Guylan accused everybody of caring more about their status than the town, to which Sophia responded, "F*** you." Guylan, humiliated, told the camera that he was beginning to wish he'd never put his name out there for a leadership role. Even though Sophia went to apologize, Guylan was still wishing for a time machine to go back and urge himself to keep quiet on election day.

The Gold Star. All of the nominations we saw came down to two people (we assume Divad still nominated herself). It was Hunter, steady and hard-working but overshadowed by the Green luminaries, versus Blaine's new-found assertiveness. The winner? Blaine.

The Cliffhanger! After the Gold Star results, Useless Host Man asked the town if they approved of how the council was performing their duties. Only, $20,000 in hand, approved. When everybody disapproved, Useless Host Man asked if they were ready for elections. Hell's yeah! DK's ready to go against Guylan in what we can only assume will be the biggest electoral rout since Reagan-Mondale. Greg wants a piece of Anjay's Blue power. Blaine figures he might as well run against Zach. And, in the biggest stunner of all, Michael decided to run against Laurel.

Next week should be fun.

Thoughts on this week's episode?

Comments

I should have known this show would be a load of Commie, oh excuse me, progressive crap. This is PC public school nonsense.

Jink | Nov 14, 2007 8:30:44 PM | #

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Well jeez, Jink... When I say it, I mean it as a compliment, but you make Kiddie Communism sound so unsavory!

-Daniel

Daniel | Nov 14, 2007 10:43:16 PM | #

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Sorry you feel that way Jink... When The Revolution comes, I'll make sure you're in the most un-PC re-education camp available! (And if ANYONE posts "Wolverines!" below here, so help me...)

J | Nov 14, 2007 10:50:19 PM | #

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Deal with it!

Wolverines!

Taylor | Nov 15, 2007 3:19:15 AM | #

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I have been a huge fan of Laurel so far in the show, but she was selfish. Her decision was the tipping point to an already unsettling situation.

I think big smile Mike is gonna take her in the election, per the scenes from next week when she is doing a good Stalin imitation in town square.

Houston Pop | Nov 15, 2007 6:06:18 AM | #

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I've always been a big supporter of short terms (see the Monty Python: Holy Grail), but this may have been a really short term. This council was up for, what, two weeks?

pakopako | Nov 15, 2007 6:33:38 AM | #

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As long as Anjay gets kicked off the Council, I'm happy. That kid is totally useless. Greg told him, "Mallory is more of a man than you are!" Wow, apparently it's not just the editing.

I also can't stand Sofia. Notice how she always complains, but never steps up to a leadership role.

Cornelius | Nov 15, 2007 7:29:41 AM | #

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The "Wolverines!" thing is a _Red Dawn_ reference, yes?

It's true; these kids aren't getting enough hands-on training with surface to air missile launchers. Send in Patrick Swayze.

progressive pinko porcupine | Nov 15, 2007 7:41:39 AM | #

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I'm just waiting for Greg to tell someone "Is this your first kill? Then you've got to drink the blood" the next time they kill a chicken...

And Taylor, you're on The List.

J | Nov 15, 2007 7:56:01 AM | #

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where are all the romances?

thursday | Nov 15, 2007 9:53:29 AM | #

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i think laurels tru colors are finally coming out. i mean what a look to michael huh. and the only one i think should be up this is zach. anjay just needs to be a worker before he comes home with a really bad complex, poor kid is getting smashed by everyone. and dk, ya well bye, bye guylan hope you had fun

kydd | Nov 15, 2007 9:55:07 AM | #

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I have loved Kid Nation until this episode, but this episode ruined it for me. The producers are using the journal to create conflict. Why? Because happy kids=bad TV. The council became stuck up, and other kids became bullies (e.g. Greg, Jared, Sophia, Olivia, etc.) It gets even worse in the next episode. Greg and Blaine raise hell after hearing the Green Team complain, and Greg vows to leave if the town votes for him to do so. After another journal entry causes the town to flare at the council again, the council threatens not to give the gold star to anyone. Finally, the council throws down an ultimatum to Taylor, who is not happy about seeing her friend leave: work or NO REWARDS. The show has disintegrated into sixty minutes of yelling and crying, and I'm sick of it. The kids were doing fine, until the crew ruined everything. If this is what they plan to do for another season, CBS might as well pull the plug now.

Jeremy | Nov 15, 2007 8:03:59 PM | #

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Sofia and Zach are the best ones, and definitely the most intelligent. Anjay needs to get out of leadership because he's far too weak. Guylan was never much of a leader so DK will do a better job and the green team needs to see some change. Too bad Sofia or Morgan didn't run for leader.

mark | Nov 18, 2007 8:49:54 PM | #

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This show is almost over who can believe it! I will miss Seeing it on T.V To all the gold star winners great job!

A dedicated KN Fan
♥Lindsey

KidNation | Dec 6, 2007 4:07:20 PM | #

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I love taylor & i don't think she deserved to get kicked off the council!

KidNation | Dec 9, 2007 2:36:11 PM | #

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hey mark are you a big baby that your poor shophia or your poor morgan didn't run for leader awwwwwww to bad for you.

KidNation | Jan 2, 2008 3:27:16 PM | #

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hey mark are you a big baby that your poor shophia or your poor morgan didn't run for leader awwwwwww to bad for you.

KidNation | Jan 2, 2008 3:27:39 PM | #

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im from Aus and here we've just seen the ep where Zach and Guylian hav been voted onto the Council...n one thing i can surely say is that thankgod Taylor's off! I was sympathetic towards Mike, he seemed lyk the most grown up in the council apart from Laurel. N Guylian seemed a bit too smug in my opinion, but seeing as how its KIDnation. Even though alot of ppl rag out on Anjay bcoz he's more of a follower than a leader, i felt really bad for the kid. N if there was anyone i loathed on the show after watching, its Olivia who's prved what a b**** she can be.

nina | Jan 4, 2008 3:49:06 AM | #

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I agree with u Nina. I'm frm Ausieland 2 n i was under the imprssion that Olivia was a good lil' christian church goer. U'd think she'd b lyk a saint or sumthing. But her claws came rite out this ep. Poor Anjay, n he shud hav stuck up 4 himself.

KNFan | Jan 4, 2008 3:53:12 AM | #

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Oh shut up nina and KNFan, girls like you can't stop talking about stupid boy. Maybe your just boys yourself and are gay. Yep thats it! (:^P~~

Kidnation | Jan 4, 2008 4:30:04 PM | #

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oui kidnation person BAG IT!!
everyone has there own opinions and u need to stop over riacting
im from aus too and i'm a fan of blaine i can't wait too see him rise out of gregs shadow and go for councelour and he said it for himself!! not too say i don't like greg cos i do but sumthimes he just needs to cool it or get anger managemnt =]

ginnaaa | Jan 16, 2008 11:47:03 PM | #

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oh shut the fuck up ya shit head!

kidnation | Jan 21, 2008 5:58:14 PM | #

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