Kid Nation: We've All Decided To Go Mad!
After a short recap of the more memorable moments, day 38 of the Kid Nation finale began with a burn. Mike, who had magically awoken pre-dawn, roamed out of his bunk and into town to find the town's team board on fire. He stood in front of the fire just staring at it (and giving the producers good footage) before running off to wake everybody up. The kids tried to put the fire out with buckets of water (or tin cups in Jared's case) but it was to no avail. The grownup gathered the kids in front of the still burning board and told them that the fire was no accident. The town is about to change in a big way. After throwing the journal into the fire, he told them that there would be no more job classes, no more money, and they can do whatever they want these final days.
Wahoo! Let's go loot the store! And that's what most of the kids did. They were absolutely mad as they stole everything they could while leaving behind a complete mess. I wasn't surprised at some of the kids who were doing this (Taylor and Laila) but I was shocked at others who were looting. Sophia, Jared, Guylan, Michael, and Laurel? DK and Zach were two of the kids that weren't participating in the madness and even began cleaning up the dry goods store because they didn't want to leave Bonanza City with the store in that kind of shape. Later at dinner, Michael announced to everybody that they were all going to pitch in and clean the mess up the next day.
Sure enough, on day 39, they began cleaning after they woke up. After that, the grownup gathered the pioneers and told them that this is usually when they'd have a showdown. There would be no showdown but there would be a reward though. He told the town council that it was time for them to award the final gold star. After a short deliberation, a crying DK told everybody the council chose to award it to Zach. Of course, Zach was speechless and began crying.
Later that night, there was a little drama going on in the yellow girls' bunk. Taylor, Leila, and Kelsey had gathered their favorite brown chickens and brought them in to the bunk to spend the night with them. Emilie came over and asked to bunk with them that night but they told her they didn't want her there. They wanted it to just be them three for the final night. A huge fight broke out between the four girls but then Migle came over to handle the situation. She managed to smooth things over and all was right in Bonanza City once again.
On day 40, the final day, the grownup gathered the kids together once again and told them that it would be a big day for them and that gold may still be in their future. He pulled out a giant gold star worth $50,000. He then told them that there were two more just like it. Before these stars can be awarded though, they would have to prepare the town for the 1st Annual Bonanza City Bonanza. They would have one hour to accomplish three tasks. If they could do that, the council would be able to award the gold stars.
Of course, they accomplished the tasks (making spaghetti, assembling picnic tables, and burying the town's trash) so now they get three stars and one party. The grownup told them that there would be special guests coming to the party and that they hadn't seen them in 39 days. Yup. Their parents run into town and everybody begins crying and hugging and hugging and crying. After they recovered, the kids gave their parents a tour of the town. Then Taylor rang the lunch bell. It would be their last meal together as a town. While everybody was eating, the grownup came out and interrupted them saying that it was time for the final town hall meeting and that there were three gold stars to give away.
The council awarded the first $50,000 gold star to Sophia, the second to Morgan, and the final star to Migle. All of them were really shocked (Morgan and Migle especially). I found it interesting that the council made up of boys gave the stars to all girls. I was also a little sad that Mike didn't get a gold star. Speaking of Mike, I thought it was wonderful that his mother stood up and told all of the kids that she was proud of them and believed in all of them. I was this close to crying when the parents stood up and gave the kids a standing ovation.
Of course, there was tons of crying and hugging when it was time for everybody to say their goodbyes. Their final sentiments seemed to be that they're not just kids and that they feel they've really built something in Bonanza City. Well, they built enough that CBS is casting for a second season of Kid Nation.
What are your thoughts on the finale? How do you feel about the show overall? Will you watch a second season?
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During the Big Brother season you can also find me blogging over at Silly Hamsters.
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Hello, Its funny because I really thought it was the most produced(?) reality show ever. I really dont think there was very much reality in the show. That being said I actually liked it. I would like if the producers backed off a bit and let us watch the kids be kids. Yes I would watch it again I have a soft spot for kids lol
I enjoyed this season and will watch the next. I agree that it should be more Lord of the Flies and less Survivor Junior.
We thought the way previous reward choices helped of hindered the final challenge was interesting.
I'm also looking forward to Kid Nation All Stars. You KNOW it WILL happen. Who would be on it from this season? Jared, of course, plus Sofia, Greg, Laurel, Mike, Zach, and dare I say Taylor.
Now that I think about it, it is sad that Mike didn't get a star. He's probably the only one who didn't get one (of the kids we see) that deserved one.
I'm glad that Migle got recognized, she seemed to be a favorite of the other kids.
I will watch another season of kid nation. I agree it had alot of influence from the producers, but in away I was glad the kids had some order to the day. I was kind of upset that mike didn't get a star, but he never did get over his dislike of Greg and that probly hurt him. I wonder what the reward will be next time?
On a side note, If anyone hasnt seen Top Chef Christmas special I recomend watching it I loved the way they did it, and love who won!
Merry Christmas to HD and all other reality fans!
Rebecca
From what I hear, Migle was a major unofficial leader and 'mom' to many of the kids, but for some reason she got little screen time.
I have the Top Chef special still on my DVR and my computer from when I recorded it. I'll have to watch it this weekend then Rebecca! LOL
I was talking to another Kid Nation fan at work and she was disappointed that the viewers didn't get to vote on at least one of the $50K star recipients -- that would have made a nice twist. (Jared would have gotten my vote for his pure entertainment value!)
I couldn't wait to see Taylor's parents to see who spawned such a spoiled brat, but unfortunately we didn't get to see much of the parents.
And, yes, I would watch another season.
On another topic, I notice that Paradise Hotel 2 is coming. I swear the powers-that-be monitor this site and picked up on my worst all-time reality show! Why can't they bring back The Mole? Everyone here seemed to like that show.
I was kind of hoping they'd surprise all the kids with some kind of consolation prize.
I thought the finale was incredible boring in comparison to the rest of the season.
I really liked Kid Nation. My biggest beef is the whole gold star business. Especially when in every town hall, the grownup would say, "and now for the best part" when getting ready to award it. Why should the gold star be the best part? Why not the satisfaction of accomplishing what they set out to do? It was also a disincentive to be on the council, since they council wouldn't/couldn't award it to one of their own.
Aside from that, I liked it. Yes, it was "influenced" reality, but I think the kids' personalities were pretty real. I'd watch season 2 if they do one.
And yes, the Top Chef Holiday Competition was fun! I was surprised at some of the people they chose to be on it (Betty? Josie? Sandee?), but it was great seeing most of them again.
Yep, over-produced or not, Kid Nation may end up being my favorite reality show so far this year. Lawd knows, Amazing Race and Survivor haven't done the trick this time around. Over-produced or not, those kids survived 40 days away from their parents and many of them really impressed me with the things that came out of their mouths and minds. These were babies, and yet they often exhibited adulthood: Zachary! Michael! Sofia! Greg! Nathan! Morgan! Laurel! Hunter! DK! Blaine! Alex! Guylan! Migl! -- All, impressive. And on the reverse end, that little bratty out of control Taylor, who sure gave Omarosa a run for her money. (And sorry but before spanking becomes illegal, someone needs to give those two a good spankin!) Now, did the two kids who had already received $20K gold stars get to keep those gold stars too or did they just win the $50K stars at the end? I think it would have been great if the 2 kids who won the $50K stars got to choose who got their $20K stars. I would have also liked to see, at the end, all the kids vote on one town council person to receive a $50K star.
I kept wishing that they would give $10,000 gold stars to the other kids that hadn't won a gold star at the end of the show. Also wished they would have a live Kid Nation Reunion Wrap-up show with the kids and their parents in the next hour to see the kids as they are today after the show . . . . All and all, was good, can't wait for KN#2.
I wouldn't watch a second season. I couldn't even bring myself to watch the last half of this season.
I am not sure if I will watch a 2nd season if they have one. Too contrived for me I guess, and if they have another Taylor wanna be, I really won't want to sit through another season.
We really didn't get to know most of the kids that were there, more like, introducing us to the next Gold Star winner.
I agree with an earlier comment, it would have been interesting to have a reunion show afterward, to see what the kids have been up to since the show was taped, and to see more from the parents. Not much of a finale. Ah well!
OK, I know I'm really behind but I had a graduation to attend and TV watching got put on the back burner. I finally watched the KN finale last night!!
I too was surprised that there wasn't something awarded to the non-star winners. I was thinking maybe a scholarship fund for each?
Does anyone know what the compensation (stipend?) was for the kids?
I also wanted to see more of Taylor's parents!! Maybe they were embarassed to be shown?? I can see though why they had her go to Bonanza, maybe to teach her some work ethic they so sorely failed to teach her themselves? lol
Happy holidays to all!!!!