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Kid Nation: Election Day

I was starting to think it might never happen, but finally, tonight really is is the night.  The episode of Kid Nation I've been pining for since the very opening minutes of the series premiere.

Based on last week's preview, tonight's episode is all about politicking and electioneering as Bonanza City fixes to oust their do-nothing town council.  It'll be a nice change of pace from last week's pointlessly pot-stirring religious kerfuffle.

I'm definitely waving a "Michael for Council" penant, but I'm warming to Zach as well, who's been stepping it up in the leadership department lately (especially impressive, given that he's only 10).  I think Morgan stands a good shot at winning a seat, based on the afterglow of her diffusal of last week's holy war and her standing as the reigning gold star winner.  My favorite dark horse candidate has to be Alex, who's also beginning to fill some of the Golden Boy void left by Jimmy's Week 1 departure.  Depending on how many hoodlums he can round up to stuff ballot boxes and intimidate voters, I'd say Greg also has a decent shot at getting on the council tonight, depending on how many incumbents are actually up for recall.

Taylor's definitely on her way out (her admirable support of the President notwithstanding, bless her bossy heart).  Unclear, though, whether a recall of one councilmember (assuming that's how it goes down) in turn triggers elections for the three other seats.

Given how inexorably we've been careening toward this pivotal and overdue event,  there's been precious little discussion of Bonanza City election laws.  Maybe there's an appendix in that olden timey calligraphied time capsule/episode guide they consult once in a while.

Previously:
Kid Nation: Insurrection
Kid Nation: The Wrath of Greg
Kid Nation: Soldiering On Without Jimmy
Kid Nation: Begin the Splendor
Lord Of the Flies: The Reality Show!

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Update: They're touting Greg's highlights in the recap.   Looks like the producers may be trying to warm our opinion of him, which bodes poorly for the election outcome.

If only Taylor gets ousted, I think Zach is most likely to win her seat, as he's been her most rabble-rousing critic.  I'd really prefer to see a clean sweep though, with the possible exception of Laurel.

Update: Ah - it's district-by-district.  So Michael can only run for Laurel's seat.  Laurel seems to have popular support among the green district.

In the blue district, Sophia Olivia just delivered a great line to district councilman Anjay, meditating in the corner: "I'm running against you, just so you know."  His somewhat unstatesmanlike response: "Shut up!"

In the red district, Guylan just announced he's running against Mike and gave a serviceable, if uninspiring, speech to the crowd.

Sophia Olivia was fairly well received in her anti-Anjay speech.

And now to Taylor... "I'm not that lazy... please give me another chance."  And here's Zach, slinging a spitfiery tirade against the unpopular incumbent, using her "Deal with it" catch phrase against her and needling her laziness.  Zach seems to have won over the yellow district.

Updated predictions: Zach will oust Taylor, Sophia Olivia will oust Anjay, and Mike will hold onto his seat, as will Laurel (the only unopposed incumbent).

Update: The weekly challenge (collect pictures of Presidents from inside pinatas and turn them over to the district leaders to put them in chronological order) will be the last chance for the incumbents to curry favor with their constituents.  Taylor couldn't answer who the President was before George W. (I get it, Taylor, we're all trying to repress those years), so this doesn't bode well for her prospects.  In a confessional cut-in, Zach just announced he's had to lend Taylor his encyclopedic Presidential knowledge  during the challenge to keep the team's cards in order.  I think we're getting ready for a landslide in the yellow district.

Update: Well, yellow just won the challenge, but it's unclear how that will play for Taylor and Zach.

This week's town-wide prize options: a huge barbecue feast (a "political party") or four buckets of toiletries.  Every week, this council makes the wrong decision and goes for the seemingly more responsible option.  If they can't get it together in favor of Election Day magnanimity, they've earned their own ousters.

Update: *sigh*  Enjoy the dental floss, kids.  And Taylor was the one to announce the decision.  Forget the election - I think they may exile her to the desert.

Update: Zach and Taylor have the rest of the day to elecioneer.  Taylor's taking the opportunity to brood in the mess hall, announcing her confidence in her unanimous support among the girls.  Zach is out pressing the flesh.  Atta boy, Zach.

Update: Just realized I'd been referring to Olivia as Sophia.  My bad.  Olivia is the one challenging Anjay in the blue district.

Update: Wow. The Anti-Taylor Noise Machine has begun tearing down Taylor's posters.  Maybe she really does have fanatical support among the girls, as this caused one of them to break down and cry.

Update: The gold star ceremony is taking place before the elections in this week's town meeting.  The council had contemplated giving it to Zach, but wounding up giving it to Greg (who gave a surprisingly mature and sincere acceptance speech).  I have to suspect Taylor convinced the others not to give Zach the star, lest it boost his popularity even further, just minutes before the polls open.

Update: The results are in...

Green:  Laurel wins, unopposed.
Blue:  Anjay survives Olivia's challenge by a vote of 7-3.
Red:  Guylan topples Mike by an 8-1 landslide.  Mike: "That sucks!"  Indeed it does.  Mike hasn't been terribly impressive as a councilmember, but he's a far sight better than Anjay.
Yellow:  Zach narrowly ousts Taylor by a too close 5-4.  One of the ladies must've flipped.

We close with Greg calling the folks to report in on his probably-more-calculated-than-he-realizes star win.

All in all, that's a pretty satisfactory outcome.  I'm sorry to see Anjay hang on, but with Zach in and Taylor out, the town ought to start operating a little better.

Next week:  The obligatory environmental episode!  Well, won't that be a treat. Something tells me our resident vegan might feature prominently...

Comments

Kid Nation: Election Day

I was starting to think it might never happen, but finally, tonight really is is the night.  The episode of Kid Nation I've been pining for since the very opening minutes of the series premiere.

Based on last week's preview, tonight's episode is all about politicking and electioneering as Bonanza City fixes to oust their do-nothing town council.  It'll be a nice change of pace from last week's pointlessly pot-stirring religious kerfuffle.

I'm definitely waving a "Michael for Council" penant, but I'm warming to Zach as well, who's been stepping it up in the leadership department lately (especially impressive, given that he's only 10).  I think Morgan stands a good shot at winning a seat, based on the afterglow of her diffusal of last week's holy war and her standing as the reigning gold star winner.  My favorite dark horse candidate has to be Alex, who's also beginning to fill some of the Golden Boy void left by Jimmy's Week 1 departure.  Depending on how many hoodlums he can round up to stuff ballot boxes and intimidate voters, I'd say Greg also has a decent shot at getting on the council tonight, depending on how many incumbents are actually up for recall.

Taylor's definitely on her way out (her admirable support of the President notwithstanding, bless her bossy heart).  Unclear, though, whether a recall of one councilmember (assuming that's how it goes down) in turn triggers elections for the three other seats.

Given how inexorably we've been careening toward this pivotal and overdue event,  there's been precious little discussion of Bonanza City election laws.  Maybe there's an appendix in that olden timey calligraphied time capsule/episode guide they consult once in a while.

Previously:
Kid Nation: Insurrection
Kid Nation: The Wrath of Greg
Kid Nation: Soldiering On Without Jimmy
Kid Nation: Begin the Splendor
Lord Of the Flies: The Reality Show!

---

Update: They're touting Greg's highlights in the recap.   Looks like the producers may be trying to warm our opinion of him, which bodes poorly for the election outcome.

If only Taylor gets ousted, I think Zach is most likely to win her seat, as he's been her most rabble-rousing critic.  I'd really prefer to see a clean sweep though, with the possible exception of Laurel.

Update: Ah - it's district-by-district.  So Michael can only run for Laurel's seat.  Laurel seems to have popular support among the green district.

In the blue district, Sophia Olivia just delivered a great line to district councilman Anjay, meditating in the corner: "I'm running against you, just so you know."  His somewhat unstatesmanlike response: "Shut up!"

In the red district, Guylan just announced he's running against Mike and gave a serviceable, if uninspiring, speech to the crowd.

Sophia Olivia was fairly well received in her anti-Anjay speech.

And now to Taylor... "I'm not that lazy... please give me another chance."  And here's Zach, slinging a spitfiery tirade against the unpopular incumbent, using her "Deal with it" catch phrase against her and needling her laziness.  Zach seems to have won over the yellow district.

Updated predictions: Zach will oust Taylor, Sophia Olivia will oust Anjay, and Mike will hold onto his seat, as will Laurel (the only unopposed incumbent).

Update: The weekly challenge (collect pictures of Presidents from inside pinatas and turn them over to the district leaders to put them in chronological order) will be the last chance for the incumbents to curry favor with their constituents.  Taylor couldn't answer who the President was before George W. (I get it, Taylor, we're all trying to repress those years), so this doesn't bode well for her prospects.  In a confessional cut-in, Zach just announced he's had to lend Taylor his encyclopedic Presidential knowledge  during the challenge to keep the team's cards in order.  I think we're getting ready for a landslide in the yellow district.

Update: Well, yellow just won the challenge, but it's unclear how that will play for Taylor and Zach.

This week's town-wide prize options: a huge barbecue feast (a "political party") or four buckets of toiletries.  Every week, this council makes the wrong decision and goes for the seemingly more responsible option.  If they can't get it together in favor of Election Day magnanimity, they've earned their own ousters.

Update: *sigh*  Enjoy the dental floss, kids.  And Taylor was the one to announce the decision.  Forget the election - I think they may exile her to the desert.

Update: Zach and Taylor have the rest of the day to elecioneer.  Taylor's taking the opportunity to brood in the mess hall, announcing her confidence in her unanimous support among the girls.  Zach is out pressing the flesh.  Atta boy, Zach.

Update: Just realized I'd been referring to Olivia as Sophia.  My bad.  Olivia is the one challenging Anjay in the blue district.

Update: Wow. The Anti-Taylor Noise Machine has begun tearing down Taylor's posters.  Maybe she really does have fanatical support among the girls, as this caused one of them to break down and cry.

Update: The gold star ceremony is taking place before the elections in this week's town meeting.  The council had contemplated giving it to Zach, but wounding up giving it to Greg (who gave a surprisingly mature and sincere acceptance speech).  I have to suspect Taylor convinced the others not to give Zach the star, lest it boost his popularity even further, just minutes before the polls open.

Update: The results are in...

Green:  Laurel wins, unopposed.
Blue:  Anjay survives Olivia's challenge by a vote of 7-3.
Red:  Guylan topples Mike by an 8-1 landslide.  Mike: "That sucks!"  Indeed it does.  Mike hasn't been terribly impressive as a councilmember, but he's a far sight better than Anjay.
Yellow:  Zach narrowly ousts Taylor by a too close 5-4.  One of the ladies must've flipped.

We close with Greg calling the folks to report in on his probably-more-calculated-than-he-realizes star win.

All in all, that's a pretty satisfactory outcome.  I'm sorry to see Anjay hang on, but with Zach in and Taylor out, the town ought to start operating a little better.

Next week:  The obligatory environmental episode!  Well, won't that be a treat. Something tells me our resident vegan might feature prominently...