Kid Nation - Episode 8

Day 23.

Fourteen year old Sophia lies in the middle of the dirt street, feigning unconsciousness. Why? She is dying from boredom. And she’s not the only one. Other kids gather and soon decide to join her. The town is dying of boredom. The game (anti-game?) only ends when Sophia gets up and walks off because 15 year old Greg decided to lie on his back between her legs and use her stomach for his pillow. Greg likes Sophia, Greg likes Sophia.

We are treated to shots of kids loitering or working or talking together about being bored to death. Interspersed in this okay-we-got-it time filler is a one-on-one with former town councilor Mike talking to the camera about being bored to death.

Oh, wait: I just got it. Adding a subtle weave of dramatic irony to the tapestry of the show, the producers have edited this sequence in a way that makes us actually feel what the kids are feeling. You got me, guys. Good one.

Eleven year old Jared sums up the situation in inimitable brainiac style: “Dance, theater, plays, art; all these things are absent in Bonanza City. Would you like to know one of the causes of the Dark Ages? They ditched art and entertainment.”

Cut to DK and 4 or 5 other kids, keeping out of the rain in one of the bunk houses. They all agree they can’t take the boredom any longer. DK takes it upon himself to call an emergency town meeting. The group follows him into the rain to ring the church bell.

Hey! Remember that? Wow. I’d forgotten. Remember when boredom was an emergency? Thanks, kids, for the memory.

DK tells the town, “The council did not ring the bell – we did. We’re just fed up right now. If we’re not working, there’s nothing to do.” Hey, what about the bats and balls and musical instruments the town council bought last episode? Fourteen year old Maggie, part of DK’s group, speaks up. “We all have to work together to make this a cool town that everyone wants to be in.”

There is a cut-away to DK addressing the camera. “Something needs to happen. A change needs to be made. But we had absolutely no idea what to do. The town council needs to do something.”

On the one hand, we can take this as a legitimate complaint. The council has consistently rejected recreational prizes offered in the challenges. On the other hand, isn’t making some outside authority responsible for one’s own entertainment a bad (sad?) choice? Oh – wait a minute. I forgot about every public sports complex in every city of every civilization that’s ever existed; from the Coliseum to the Meadowlands.

The council consults the pioneer journal, and it’s like the dead author has been reading their thoughts!

"April 23, 1885 – If you’re reading this you have been living in Bonanza City for 23 days and by now you are probably itching for some entertainment.”

The journal goes on to advise the kids that, when you come right down to it, Mickey and Judy had it right, all those years ago. Hey gang! Let’s put on a show! The town assembles and the council announces a talent show will be held the following day. Enthusiastic cheers all around.

Laurel quietly calls the council together and suggests the gold star not go to the person who works hardest this time – it goes to the person who cheers people up the most at the talent show. The others agree, with Zach saying, “It’s as important to socially cheer people up as it is to be a hard worker.”

We get introduced to 12 year old Kennedy, one of many kids who have yet to emerge as more than silent extras. She’s a bit of a clown and is looking forward to getting goofy on stage. She’s friends with Savannah, who, like Kennedy, is from Kentucky. Savannah is homesick and the two are preparing a Kentucky dinner together.

We also meet Blue team members Natasha, 13, and her friend Migle, also 13. They are Upper Class this week and, unlike the other members of the Blue team, aren’t interested in freely helping out around town. Natasha tells us, “At home, I’m usually the princess of the family. I’m a high-maintenance Miami girl.” She puts me in mind of 10 year old beauty queen Mallory and I wonder how common the self-as-royalty delusion is among southern females.

Greg and Blain confront the girls’ about their laziness and threaten to throw the next challenge and make them Laborers. It seems to put the fear of the Lord into them.

Like Kennedy, sweet little Alex notices Savannah is feeling down. He consoles her; she voices a desire to go home. He asks her to stay. “You’re a positive influence on the town,” he says.

Challenge time. A large paint-by-letter picture (G = green, B = blue, etc.) must be filled in using wads of chewed gum. Time allotted is an hour and as it draws to a close the kids are sick and sore from chewing large, hard, candy-coated gumballs. Green, for the first time, wins Upper Class. Blue are the Merchants, Red are the Cooks and Yellow are the Laborers. Not just that – Yellow doesn’t finish within the hour, so no choice needs be made between house paint (yeah, that’s right) or an all-night block party, complete with disco ball (I’ve been to more than one block party, but never one with a disco ball).

Markel MCs the talent show. Kelsey, 11, does a Chopin piece on the saloon’s poorly tuned piano. It still sounds amazing. Campbell does a bird call in the glass shattering frequency. Eric plays piano and sings about living in Jersey, no turning back. I’m thinking Springsteen, but it’s not one I recognize. Eric’s from New Jersey, so for all I know, it could be an original. Jared does a monologue from King Henry V. Greg and Blaine do at least two skits in drag. MC Markelle says, “I wouldn’t say it was hilarious, but it was sort of weird.” I’m with him. Eleven year old Jasmine steps out of the background to do an à capella ballad. She sits to sing and is as relaxed and self-possessed as a chanteuse on a bar stool. Olivia, in her brittle way, does a rather brave stand-up routine. Kennedy is next. She clowns for no reason other than to cheer up Savannah. At show’s end, Savannah gets up and announces she has reconsidered and has decided to stay.

Gold star winner? Kennedy.