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Kid Nation: Viva la Revolucion!
by Jackie Schnoop, posted Oct 17th 2007 11:42PM
(S01E05) Is it me or was there really not much to get up in arms about this week on Kid Nation? No killed animals, no steer taunting, no religious rivalry, no bullying. What's this show coming to, eh?Well, there was a smattering of bad behavior, but we're talking kids here. Some of these kids could be teensy adults, y'know. A lot of them certainly are more worldly than I was at their ages. And, the show reminded me that I should really study up on the chronological order of US Presidents. I definitely know the ones in my own lifetime, but I surely would put Taft in the wrong place.
Of course, there's nothing like a good old-fashioned food fight to start off a show! While I was surprised that they didn't show the after the mess clean-up and any accompanying bickering, it set the stage for an Olvia and Anjay showdown. No, not the show's showdown challenge. I'm talking about anti-Anjay sentiment which would play a role later in the show. Another foreshadowing of what to come was the kids brushing their teeth with what looked like Elmer's Glue and their fingers or rags. Ew.
Tonight's adult intervention in the form of a bogus journal from 1885 advised the town council leaders that there should be elections. I'm all for that due to a few reasons. The producers hand selected the current town council members. I personally think that Laurel is the only clear-cut leader of the four. Mike is too hyper and overly emotional or, as the kids would say -- emo. Anjay just isn't much of anything in the way of a leader although he seems like a smart kid. Then there's Taylor. She's adorable in the looks department and seems very smart. But spoiled and lazy leaders tend to have spoiled and lazy followers. Also, I think the kids on the town council deserve a shot at the gold star.Since each district could only vote for change within their own districts, it wasn't a huge free for all with many throwing their hats in the ring. In the green district, the kids are thinking along the same lines as I am -- they decided they want Laurel to remain their leader. But there's unrest and dissatisfaction growing in all three remaining districts.
Since the show can only focus on a small group of the kids each week, we haven't seen much of Guylan from the red district. He wants to go up against Mike. I believe they're about the same age but Guylan doesn't seem as emotional.He's quick to tell us he's been home-schooled and seems like yet another smart kid. I don't think they have any not smart kids on this show. Although he wants to win, he's taking an "I can take it or leave it approach." Mike is worried, very worried. As he should be, I thought.
In the yellow district, Taylor had to face her biggest critic ... Zach. She got with her little girl friends in the district and they made posters signed off with her motto -- deal with it. What is with this kid? Meanwhile, Zach would be a much more logical choice for a leader.
Olivia decided she would go up against Anjay in the blue district. Now, that's more like real politics. Who's the lesser of two evils? Or, more accurately, who's the more of the lesser? I like Olivia, but she has a smugness about her which would make it hard for me to support her. I think Anjay is more personable on the whole, though not a good leader and definitely shaken about the election.
Before they went to their town hall meeting, it was time for a showdown. The challenge was a good one for the kids, tying in with the town election. One at a time, they had to smash piñatas which were seeded with pictures of US Presidents. Once a team gathered seven pictures, the town council leader had to put them in chronological order. In the showdown, I thought we got the best line of the night from Kelsey (Taylor's friend) as she referred to Zach -- "George W. Bush isn't smart at all, but he won two times in a row." Heh. From the mouths of babes!
Yellow won upper class again. Although it doesn't help with Taylor's aversion to work, the kids will eat better with the red district cooking. Green took second place, making them the merchants. I'm so glad they didn't get laborers once again. Blue will be the lower caste ... er, laborers.
I'd like these kids to just go for the fun and silly choice one time! They had a choice between a BBQ party or dental hygiene supplies. The town council chose the latter despite the majority wanting the feast. Nothing against dental hygiene, but if they cut down on the root beer quaffing and candy buying with their wages they might not have as many issues with teeth. I'm just sayin', you know.
In between the showdown and the town council, we saw Taylor's campaign sign created by Kelsey (I think) destroyed by Markelle. I personally thought the pogo-sticking atop it was a nice touch, but it was wrong for him to do it. However, the situation once again put Greg in a better light as he comforted her.
Mike, still not totally sure of Greg and bearing his grudge from the first day, was reluctant to award him the gold star. I was a bit surprised that Taylor didn't say too much in opposition to Zach being awarded it. But in the end, the kids on the council voted for Greg. He was thrilled -- it's the only money he has for college so far. I think the money and his appearance on this show are going to really affect his life in a very positive way.No one gave me a $20,000 gold star or I wouldn't have had to pay back those college loans years ago! Where is MY gold star? This isn't my beautiful car, this isn't my beautiful wife.
Ahem.
In the elections, only Laurel had an easy time of it. Anjay, who worried so much that he was shaking and freaking out a bit, easily won over Olivia 7-3. Like I said, it had to do with likability -- she might be a better leader than him, but he's more personable in the long run.
The real drama came with the red district's vote. Uh-oh. Mike was the only vote for himself. Well, I assume he voted for himself. Guylan carried the rest. As someone cried out, "Ouch!" Mike had been worried, but he had no idea the vote would go down that way. He cried a bit, but gathered himself and recovered.
Then came the moment we all -- or many of us ... okay, I was -- waiting for. Ding dong, the witch is dead! Zach is the new council leader for the yellow district! Well deserved, I say! He shouted, "The reign of Taylor is over! Viva la revolucion!" Now he's beginning to remind me of my college days when we thought we were all revolutionaries. Although this image doesn't show it, Taylor actually took it pretty well. Judging by the promos for next week, she might just remain a problem child. Two of her five girl friends in the district voted for her, so she still has a posse.
Jared didn't get enough air time this week. Yeah, they showed him quite a bit. But the kid has to talk. He's my one-liner king of kids. Fix that next week, CBS.
| Mike | |
|---|---|
| Taylor | |
| Olivia |
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