Review: Camp Camp “Parents Day”

Meet the parents.

Spoilers Below:

David announces Parents’ Day, where all the parents arrive to see how their kids are doing at camp. Campbell arrives, and upon hearing that, panics, because the camp is a scam and he doesn’t want people finding out. Before he can tell David to postpone it, the bus shows up with the parents on board. Each child reunites with their parents, all except for Max, who says it’s not surprising that his parents didn’t show up. Under pressure, especially by Ered’s fathers, who are both government agents, Campbell reluctantly agrees to showcase how the camp has tailored itself to each children’s talents. Since Max doesn’t have anyone accompanying him, Campbell assigns David and Gwen to be his makeshift parents.

As the kids show off to their parents, it’s revealed that Space Kid’s uncle is Buzz Aldrin, who knows that the camp faked the moon landing footage. Nikki’s mother, upon hearing that Neil’s parents have insurance, flirts heavily with him, much to Neil’s disgust. To finish off the day, the parents and kids work together to show off what the kids have learned.

The performances all go well, much to Max’s surprise. The positivity is disrupted midway through during the theater performance when the props fall away to reveal Nikki and Neil’s parents having sex. In a panic, Campbell sends out David and Gwen to salvage the whole thing. Max continues to be negative, and David scolds him for it, asking him why he’s so bitter all the time. Gwen comes with the form that Max’s parents signed showing which kind of camp they wanted him to be in and it turns up– blank. David realizes that Max was telling the truth, that his parents don’t want him, and feels terrible. When it’s their turn to come on stage, they’re nowhere to be found.

David and Gwen drive Max to a diner. David admits that he tries to be cheery, but being falsely positive doesn’t help. He says he’s sorry that Max’s parents never came, but he wants Max to be happy. Gwen says life sucks, but at least there’s pizza, and they treat Max to a pizza party. Max is touched by the gesture and hugs David before demanding that he never tell anyone about this. Campbell is arrested, and Nikki says that’s the camp.

Overview:

While it’s interesting to see the other kids’ parents, this episode largely hinges on Max. Max’s repetitive cynicism is something that’s been compounded for both seasons, and now we finally see why. He always cites the camp as a dumping ground for kids who aren’t wanted by their parents, and it’s confirmed that he’s just speaking of his own experience. His parents don’t care for him, they don’t want to bother with him during the summer, and Max feels very hurt and abandoned. David and Gwen being considerate to his feelings, without pushing their interpretations on him, touched him a lot. He’s still bitter and foul-mouthed, but he lets his harsh exterior down enough to momentarily show his gratitude. Seeing something nice, truly nice happen to Max is a good way to end before hiatus.