'Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation': Parade Of Nations

To win the gold medal on Meerkat Manor: The Next Generation is merely to survive. One slip, one miss, one bad day at the office and you're dead. There is no silver medal on the Kalahari. That's too bad, because I enjoyed tonight's romp across the desert as opposed to the Puppy Games of last week. C'mon Animal Planet, leave the puppies for halftime of the Super Bowl only!

These Spoilers really are for the Ornithologists of the world. You're welcome.

Straight out of Alfred Hitchcock, an army (gaggle?) of drongo birds buzzes overhead the Whiskers burrow. Seeing as how this is young Nugget and Beaker's first-ever taste of birds, they're naturally frightened. If anything was dive bombing anywhere near me, I'd be a wee scared too. However, there are bigger concerns today as the burrow is infested with parasites. While on the move to a much cleaner location, the gang find time for a breakfast. Nugget has found some tasty grub, but a hornbill lurks in the distance. No matter, the bird keeps his distance... this time.

Turns out our Rocket Dog is quite the lady of the evening, as she is once again preggers. She's not alone in the Whiskers clan, as Sophie, Kat and even kid Rita are with child. We've seen what happens when more than one of the females of a clan are pregnant... but all of them at the same time? This could get ugly.

Meanwhile, Beaker is being shadowed by a wayward drongo who wants nothing more than to steal her meal. Nugget is having problems as well, having wandered away from the pack to find food on his own. A black-chested snake eagle, also in the market for a meal, makes eye contact with the lonely pup. Rocket Dog raises the general alarm, but the drongo actually helps the Whiskers by scaring away the eagle long enough for Nugget to wander back to the family.

It's nap time for the Whiskers! Sounds like a plan for me after the show. The mood is light after the siesta is over. As quick as the fun starts, Mitch, who was on sentry duty the whole time, sounds the alarm. Trespassers to the Manor have stepped onto the wrong territory, but abandon all hope of entering once the Whiskers give chase.

It was Fin, a recently rejected (and pregnant) Whisker female, along with a couple others, who wanted nothing more than to rejoin the family

Over at Camp Commando, they're also making a breakfast run. Unfortunately for the pups, food is a little harder to come by, so fights break out over what grub is actually available. Kids will be kids, and food will be had, so the pups go back to doing what Commando kids do best: roughhousing with one another. Zorro, on the other hand, has a slightly more pressing issue in his brother Miles. Zorro wants him to back off the pursuit of Nikita, and is ready to lay the smack down.

Miles loiters just outside the family zone while Zorro makes his mark on Nikita. He attempts to sulk away, but Zorro catches up to him as he attempts to enter the burrow. After the fierce fight, Miles whimpers away, destined to become the first male ever evicted from the Manor. If he leaves, he'll be alive but alone. If he stays, he would likely endure relentless bullying from Zorro.

Looks like Miles doesn't even have the pleasure of charting his own destiny, because once Zorro locked his eyes on Miles, he called upon all the Commandos to charge him. Lucky for Miles, he was able to give them the slip. While Miles survives the attack, he's now alone on the Manor... a most unfortunate situation.

It seems Rocket Dog has lead the Whiskers clan to a new home, but the group of crowned plovers would seem to think otherwise. The birds squawk and pester the meerkats until finally Rocket Dog takes the family out of harms way.

The squawking was more than enough for me to mentally avoid them the rest of my life. Eventually, Rocket Dog does find a new burrow for the family and her unborn pups.

We end with a shot of Zorro sporting quite the accessory... a radio collar. Once you've received that, you know you've hit the big time. However, I think our little Castro of the Kalahari needs to watch his back for usurpers and other ne'er-do-wells that might threaten his newfound ultimate power.

Next time on MM:TNG, Wilson's back... and so is his libido, while two sisters unite for quite the alliance.

What goes up must come down... how long can Zorro wield his unmatched power? Have you already bought something off Rocket Dog's second baby shower registry? Will Michael Phelps win that magical eighth gold medal?

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