WWTBAM Bored

So, they read from The Book again, which tells the council to explore the territory around Bonanza City. There's even a map, which leads them past the old mine and around a mountain, where the council finds that a handful of the Pueblo tribe have set up a couple of teepees. Gosh, however did the folks way back in 1885 know that would happen?

Apparently, the ground rules about the kids having no contact with adults doesn't apply when The Book sends them to contact other cultures. The chief gives the council wise advice about dealing with the younger children: always give them encouragement and support and lead by example. All very nice...except that this show is nearly over and the council won't have time to try any of that!

Meanwhile, Sheriff Sophia is in charge (I'll skip her preliminary stupid psychology experiment--she does that when she's bored). She walks around town, pointing out what work need to be done. The kids do it, she congratulates them for a job well done, and she opens the arcade. Gosh, that was so easy, why wasn't she in charge since the first day?

And, with the council (who are now the four oldest and strongest boys in town) gone, it's time for a very physical Pointless Challenge, loosely inspired by the Homestead Act. Each team must disable the roof and four walls of a "house", transporting it west and rebuilding it. Along with transporting a chicken in a cage, their flag, and that animal that was essential to all homesteaders, an alpaca!?

Since the council is gone, some other kids get to shine. Unfortunately, with Blaine gone, the Yellow District is back to having a distinct disadvantage as the youngest and weakest group. Nevertheless, they manage to get things together in the last three minutes of the hour (perhaps with some extra leeway from the host in the final seconds). Sophia gets to choose between a permanent monument to their efforts ("On this spot in 2007, yada yada yada.") or a hot air balloon ride for all. She picks the balloons.

The council returns the next day, just as the others are finishing their balloon ride.

Migle, who previously was only briefly highlighted as half of Bonanza City's "Paris and Nicole" is suddenly getting some positive air time.

It's time for the town to line up and express their opinion of who should get the gold star. (It's unclear whether they do this every episode or not; since this exercise is not aired every week. And, as usual, the extras never get air time in this vote, only those who have already become established as featured characters.) The incomplete set of votes we see get split between Migle, who's working hard now; Alex, who's a nine-year-old genius and might go to college and cure cancer or something with the money; and Jared, who's also brilliant and wants to invent the Star Trek transporter (although he doesn't plug the series, that's what he's talking about).

Zach comes before the council and has to fight back tears before voting for himself, since he sees this week as his last chance. As far as we see on the air, he leaves and then Greg disses him for faking the tears. DK rips into Greg for being cruel. Zach, however, apparently has heard this, and he loses it. He cries and yells some more back at his bunk about being disrespected, then goes back and cuts in line in front of the others still waiting to vote, and tells the council that they're the worst people ever! Greg reassures Zach, who leaves again. DK rips into Greg again for contradicting what he had just said.

But the damage is done. At the town meeting, Alex gets the gold star. And asked what he'll do with the money, he can't think of anything he needs $20,000 for, so he says he'll probably save it for his children and grandchildren! Alex, remember, is nine years old!

There's still a glimmer of hope for Zach, though. In the previews for next week, we see that there will suddenly be super-sized gold stars!

Oh, and some fake storefront will be on fire, but I suspect that Kid Nation will not be following the Survivor example of burning down the whole town before they go home. More's the pity.

Incidentally, the town council voted to close the arcade for good at the end of this episode. It had been open for (part of) four days...

There were mixed opinions about this decision. Some supported it, to give them all more time for singing around the campfire and other last-minute bonding experiences. Others were complaining that "all we do is work" and were loath to give up their one distraction.

I guess, in Kid Nation, even when you take the fun reward, you're not expected to keep it.

One fo the many dumb things they have done. They could certainly regulate the hours it is open if they choose to. No need for an all or nothing policy.