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Season 4 - Initial Thoughts & Review

- ℂ𝔸𝕄ℙ ℂℝ𝔼𝕋𝔸ℂ𝔼𝕆𝕌𝕊 𝕊ℙ𝕆𝕀𝕃𝔼ℝ𝕊 𝔸ℍ𝔼𝔸𝔻-

I have to say, I’m pretty disappointed by this season, for many reasons. While it’s not an absolute disaster, I felt aspects of what made the show interesting was cheapened thanks to decision’s they made. This is personally my least favorite of all the seasons.

As you could probably tell by the name of this blog, I’m a huge Kenji fan. And the biggest part I enjoyed about Kenji was his big brother instincts. I had originally perceived that his greatest flaw was his innate fear of being alone, which made him act out and cope.

The surprise romance with Brooklynn...personally for me, it felt like it really cheapened the character arc that I thought he was having. I don’t know everyone else, but last season, I had perceived the reason why he was so angry at Darius was because he valued everyone’s safety over Darius’ ‘We gotta do the right thing for the dinos!’, which I thought was a very interesting conflict. In fact, that’s what was inferred in the first episode. 

But a few episodes later, the reason was suddenly changed to ‘Oh, I was only angry at you because I like Brooklynn’? I felt that completely erased what was interesting about his character, that he was a jock who had insecurities about being alone and just wanted friends. I found myself cringing during every single ‘romance’ scene and I can’t say that I’m very fond of Kenji’s character now. Seems like he was just ‘after the girl’ the whole time :/

Also the quality of this season was...all over the place? I don’t know if anyone else noticed, but there were so many moments where I noticed they used the wrong model for some of the shots. In the first episode alone, my friends and I noticed characters switching from their ‘clean’ model and her ‘dirty’ models. In an important scene with Darius, Kenji swapped to his Season 1 model and then back to his current model.  I didn’t see this happen in the previous season, so what happened this time? The quality control just went...way down...?

I’m honestly glad that I have other shows I’m watching at the moment and don’t particularly care about Camp Cretaceous as much as I used to.

Despite all things I dislike about this season, I will have to say that Yasmina got some great arcs this season. She’s obviously suffering from PTSD and it’s portrayed in an incredibly realistic way, a bit too real for me honestly, but it was great and realistic. I also like how they tackle that even though she’s better after talking it out, that it just doesn’t magically make things better. It’s a step-by-step process and this character moment is probably the highlight of this season for me.

As for other minor things, they succeeded in making Kash the most unlikable character in existence. If he doesn’t die by next season I’ll jump in there and do it myself. I like Mae’s character, she’s fun and I’m glad she’s looking out for the kids. I like Ben and Firecracker’s friendship, it’s really cute. I feel so sorry for Bumpy, who obviously misses him. Is Darius’ bro gonna do something? 

I will say, the ending hook is rather interesting. Kenji’s dad being the leader of Mantah Corp is an interesting dynamic and I’m curious to see how they run with it. But I am disappointed of what became of Kenji, I may make this a Yasmina blog instead lol. Can’t say I’m terribly excited for the next season.

I feel like Camp Cretaceous has really gone on longer than it should. The series should have ended with Season 3 with them getting off the island, it would have been a better ending. Personally, Season 1 still ranks the best season, for being the most realistic and grounded in reality. Now it’s just your typical kid’s show narrative with secret plots and Sci-Fi robots. Tbh, I’m fine with it all, though I kinda miss the realism of Season 1.

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Oh boye, here we go again...

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Season 3 Initial Thoughts

- ℂ𝔸𝕄ℙ ℂℝ𝔼𝕋𝔸ℂ𝔼𝕆𝕌𝕊 𝕊ℙ𝕆𝕀𝕃𝔼ℝ𝕊 𝔸ℍ𝔼𝔸𝔻-

Holy shit, this Season was a doozy. I absolutely loved this season. It was a lot more intense than both Season 1 and 2, but had the realism from Season 1 that I loved so much.

Also I was fucking wrong, boys. Well not completely. I did make the prediction that they’ve been on the island for at least 2 months, because for some reason that was a reasonable number in my head. A nice believable number for the kids to have survived and did all they did, but six months!? Like half a year!? They would have been 1.5 years away from getting blown up from the volcano in JW2. Bruh...

The Scorpius Rex probably had the most terrifying design I had ever seen for a hybrid dinosaur. It felt way more threatening than both the Indominus and Indoraptor, probably because of it’s very odd hodgepodge of a design. I also love the twist of it being extremely unstable and causing other dinosaurs to lash out after being poisoned. Having this thing chase around the kids was definitely terrifying to say the least. Also wasn’t expecting Sammy to get spiked by the poison too (and turn an odd shade of green, sorta narmy lmao). I knew she wasn’t going to die, but I wasn’t expecting a nice squick shot of the quills in her abdomen that was a fun treat.

Also finally! Kenji, my boy, finally has some character backstory and development! I will probably do a more deeper analysis on Kenji’s drawing of his family, but is already kinda confirmed what kind of person his father is. He didn’t care enough about his son to want to put pictures of him on the wall, only himself. It makes sense why Kenji was so self absorbed as well. I found it pretty heartbreaking that Kenji risked his life to try rescue his father’s “precious” art statue. I’m not sure if he tried to rescue it because he was scared of his father scolding him or if he just wanted to bring it back for his father for a pat on the back. Either way, it’s just brings up sad implications all around. 

Honestly Kenji had some absolutely great development this season, in my opinion, way more so than the others had and way more interesting too. I think the episode that really marked a change in Kenji was Episode 5 (Eye of the Storm), when Kenji took it upon himself to be in charge of packing. For most of the episode, he was acting like typical Kenji, but he began to take his job way more seriously when it came to the safety of his friends. When Darius took after Ben, he properly took charge of the group (nice contrast to Season 1 where he was more nonchalant about it and tried to pass off responsibility). It was around this point that we didn’t see Kenji acting all high and haughty anymore, he was fully devoted to saving his friends.

I definitely wasn’t expecting Kenji to run off with the laptop to make the trade and save Brooklynn. The boy tried to fight a man with a loaded gun to save his friend, how foolish and brave of him to try do so. It was amazing to see Kenji, who spent most of the series cowering behind others, fully devoting himself to protecting Brooklynn in the finale (leading her to safety and shielding her with his own body). I do think that Kenji has some issues regarding losing friends; I think that the Camp Fam really is the first friends he’s ever gotten, which is why losing them hurt him so much (Sammy’s faux death and Brooklynn getting kidnapped). 

The way at the end when Kenji refused to forgive and accept the idea that they were going to risk Brooklynn’s safety over the laptop...it was a very mature way to handle that situation. Pragmatically, Kenji was absolutely right, they shouldn’t be risking their lives over a stinkin’ laptop. It’s not they’re responsibility, they’re just kids. But his friends were good people and Kenji played along, but decided to take matters into his own hands. His friends are important to him and he’s going to do anything to keep them safe. 

From haughty jock who only seemed to care about himself to a team member willing to risk everything to keep everyone safe, Kenji really has grown so much as a character.

All in all, I’m surprised the kids actually made it off the island this time. My friends and I were placing bets on whether or not they would make it off the island this season. Everyone had voted that they wouldn’t, but they did...hopefully? They got a stowaway so I’m wondering how they’re going to deal with that. Go back to the island? Keep going? Clearly it all isn’t over because Kenji’s character arc isn’t quite solved yet. I wonder how many more season CC will have. I do enjoy the series, but there’s only so much they can keep right?

This initial thoughts ended up more of a Kenji reaction post, so I’ll dedicate the end here to some other thoughts I had overall:

Yasmina and Sammy’s friend-(or maybe more)-ship was really cute and wholesome. I found Yasmina’s chumminess afterwards Hello-Zuko-Here levels of second hand embarrassment xD (Are they a maybe-couple? When Brooklynn mentioned crushes that Sammy might’ve had she mentioned Yaz lmao).

Thank god, Bumpy didn’t die. She has her own family now...for at least 1.5 more years until the volcano explodes...

Ben, you stupid child, of course you want to get off the island. I would have knocked you out and dragged you on the boat myself.

It was nice of the pilot and mercenary to board the kids upon finding out they were children. Even though they died / ended up splitting up the kids, the meant well.

I can’t believe Dr. Wu was in this season. He isn’t as much as a bad guy as I thought. He still left the kids, but at least he didn’t...kill them? Set the bar too low maybe?

And that’s all for now. This being a chock-full Kenji season, I’ll probably be doing some analysis or posts on him, but thought I’d make a reaction post with all my initial thoughts for now!

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I don't mind romance I guess (it doesn't really seem to fit the theme of the show imo but I digress), but I wouldn't see it happening until after they get off the island or in a sequel to this series when they're older. I know sometimes in dangerous situations it can breed close relationships but with the plot already focused on just surviving dinos, I'm not sure there will be room for romance.

Also, it's important to remember that we people are not the intended demographic. We are the extra DLC package that tacked on to the demographic. The creators are happy we're here watching the show but there are way more kids that watch JWCC than us. First and foremost this is a show for around ages 7, probably dinosaur nerds. If you ask them, what they would prefer: dinosaurs or romance, it's going to be the dinosaurs more likely xD Not that kids don't enjoy a little romance but kids watch Jurassic World for the dinosaurs and not the romance subplot is what I mean.

I wouldn't mind playing around with the idea in the future after they get off the island and some god damn therapy. Or maybe in a sequel and they're older and surviving dinos in Jurassic World Dominion on the mainland.

I had hope that there might be some romance in the show and it’s fine if there isn’t any cause I understand that they are on a dinosaur filled island and are trying to get off it. Like I wouldn’t be focused on romance either.....BUT since there aren’t really any adults to interfere with them exploring the sexual orientation, I was pretty hopeful.

Plus it is like 2015-2016 when things were going better for the ✨gays✨ so I really had some hope for some fruity content.

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Bro, I'm lowkey convinced she's dead.

I feel like Ben wouldn't want to leave Bumpy behind if he could, she feels too important. Maybe she separated amiably, but it would also make sense if she died so there's no longer anything keeping Ben there and why the kids are so vulnerable in the trailer.

Realistically, Bumpy is doomed either way. It's a toss in the air even if she survives CC, let alone the volcanic eruption in Fallen Kingdom and the other main land shenanigans.

Maybe it's nicer fate to have her die now...as much as it pains me to say it.

i’ll be having a crisis for the next month because my emotional support dinosaur is missing from the trailer

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Camp Kids - Season 1 VS Season 3

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My boy’s been on the island for so long his facial hair’s started to grow back ㋛

I’m not a man, but according to google, it takes roughly 2-4 months for facial hair to grow back. Taking account of all the things that happened the past few seasons, it wouldn’t be that hard say at least 2 months have passed since the start of the series.

I wonder what Roxy and Dave are doing. Have they given up on the kids? I know they were really adamant on waiting for them and there was some hope they’ll come back for the kids, but realistically? It makes more sense to just cut their losses and add the kids to the total death count than risk more lives to save just 6 children.

As much as I enjoy this series, I feel bad for these kids. The more seasons come out, the more I feel like they’re just actually going to keep the kids on the island for 2 years until the start of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. 

These kids are going to have serious trauma issues later in life, I guarantee it.

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what makes kenji kon interesting is that he isn't even the team jock. yaz is the team jock. kenji is just Some Guy and we love him for that

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so we got this absolute gem in the season 1 novelization and i thought we deserved to see it. so here we go: kenji kon, child menace, age 8

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Dinosaurs: *exist*

Kenji:

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SEASON 3!?

IN MAY

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Great detail: 

They leave the dark tunnels, come out onto a brightly-lit lagoon, and none of them can see.

Except Kenji, who remembers his sunglasses and puts them on, adjusting his eyes and allowing him to see properly and recognize where they are. 

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Season 2 Initial Thoughts

- ℂ𝔸𝕄ℙ ℂℝ𝔼𝕋𝔸ℂ𝔼𝕆𝕌𝕊 𝕊ℙ𝕆𝕀𝕃𝔼ℝ𝕊 𝔸ℍ𝔼𝔸𝔻-

Oh man, this season sure was a flippin’ doozy. I honestly wasn’t expecting half the things I saw in this season.

This season is definitely more action packed than the first one, but I also deeply enjoyed the quiet moments they gave the kids. The small moments we saw them just kick back and act their age was really heartwarming. I was so glad to see the kids eat food, I can’t imagine how genuinely hungry they are all just constantly. Also their base is awesome.

As a Kenji stan, I couldn’t help but look at my boy. He honestly has graduated so much from his first incarnation. The moment that struck out to me the most was when he stayed behind to ‘look after’ Yasmina. At first, I thought that he really was trying to shirk his work and stuff, but interpreted differently I wonder if he was just trying to manipulate Yasmina into resting. He’s been shown to do that kind of manipulation before (Kenji did it with Darius in the beginning of Season 1), but here he’s doing it with good intentions. I’m sorta sad that we still know very little about Kenji right now. We learned a bit more about Yasmina and Brooklyn, but nothing about Kenji’s mysterious estranged father situation. Also it’s okay Kenji, I was never good at math either LOL.

I have to say what complete assholes Mitch and Tiff were. I didn’t really trust them upon first seeing them, but I was sort of relieved that the kids finally found some adults willing to help them out. I’m so glad those bastards are dead tbh, but I can give them props for at least feeding these kids and offering them the bathroom to ‘freshen up’. It didn’t really cement how much of a jerk these two were until I saw Tiff straight up abandon her husband to Rexy. I mean I can understand why, but damn she’s the worst. I think Mitch would have stayed behind for her imo, but they’re both dead so that’s all matters.  Also RIP to Grim, rest in peace, hope Chaos and Limbo found Tiff tasty.

Big F in the chat for our boy Hap. My genre savvy self could tell that he was a Red Herring and that he was a good guy. I’m really sad that he died because he was like the first and only adult that genuinely wants to help these kids (besides the red shirt workers in the beginning, everyone else is straight up malicious) and he’s dead now. I am sort of lowkey hoping that he’s still alive and comes back in a future season to help the kids get off the island, but I’m not sure. But anyways mad respect for this guy. 

One thing for certain, I was not ready for a rambo!Ben with a full grown Bumpy to appear at the end of the episode like that, it just broke me (and my friends I was watching with), lol. Ben going rambo is both the funniest and badass thing I’ve ever seen. In a way, watching him crack was sort of sad and I can see why he ended up acting that way. This whole bit with Ben actually broke the immersion for me a bit because of how over the top it was. I know this is a kid’s show, but the first season did such a great job of keeping it real while also making it a fun adventure for kids, I got thrown off by Ben battling Toro rambo-style, that’s a bit too unrealistic, but I’ll give it a pass for how cool Bumpy is now. One thing I’m concerned about is what’s going to happen to Bumpy when the kids leave the island...She can’t, come with right? Maybe they run into Owen sometime and she gets put into a sanctuary?

Can’t wait for next season, whenever that is!

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Dino Nerd and Mr. VIP Chest Bump

I really enjoy the friendship between Darius and Kenji. It feels like just the most unlikely thing because they’re very different people, but I have a feeling these guys are just going to be best buds. Not only do they have an unique friendship, it was a combination of Darius’ leadership and Kenji’s know-how of the park that ultimately saved them all. 

The little chest bump thing is something I find pretty adorable. I am a sucker for characters sharing like gestures togethers. Also I like the parallels with these two. The season started with Kenji leading Darius through the tunnels and him giving a fist bump, the season ended with Kenji leading the campers through the tunnels and Darius giving a fist bump. 

I hope we get more moments like these between these two.

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Who is Candy?

One think that’s sort of tickled my mind a little ever since I first heard of it was... who is Candy?

On my first viewing, I didn’t really pay attention to this detail much because I have a good friend named Candy as well and just found it funny. Then, I thought that Candy was Kenji’s older sister. But then I realized that the dialogue sounded kinda weird if it was an older sister. If you were telling someone about your sibling whom you never mentioned to them before, wouldn’t you say something like ‘my sister’ and not her name (Sammy also mentioned her siblings in the show but did not name them). Plus the sentence structure seemed strange too, ‘Dad and Candy’ seem like one unit that goes on business trips together. Especially since it’s implied that these two seem to occupy the East Wing by themselves.

That’s when I realized, Candy is probably Kenji’s stepmom or at least his father’s current lover. It’s common for kids of stepparents to refer to them by their first name. This explains why Kenji called Candy by her first name in this manner and the why she’s also on business trips. Throughout the first season, the only parent he’s mentioned is his father, no mother mentioned. 

Now I don’t think Kenji’s biological mother is dead, otherwise I think he would have acted a bit differently when Darius mentioned that his father passed away; he didn’t say anything like, “Oh, my mother too..” or anything like that. My big guess is that Kenji’s father and biological mother separated a long time ago, maybe it even has something to do with Kenji’s words of wisdom. Cliché as it is, this might be why Kenji’s father doesn’t really care much about him, because maybe he looks or reminds him of Kenji’s biological mother. I think it’s also pretty weird that Kenji is not allowed from an entire section of his own home. I understand the concept of barring kids from certain rooms, but an entire section of a mansion? Is this just a rich person thing? Does that mean that Kenji occupies some other wing by himself? That’s why he’s so lonely...

There isn’t really any evidence I have to really back this up other than picking apart the initial sentence. Candy could end up being his sister, aunt, secretary, or even grandma, but it feels like I’m right on the money. Well, we won’t know until it’s confirmed canonically anyway. That’s just my look into it.