Trapped on Isla Nublar, and mourning the loss of one of their own, the Camp Cretaceous kids struggle to tell people they need rescuing. But they aren’t alone on the island…

The second series of Camp Cretaceous revolves around three events: Ben’s apparent death, the kids attempting to let people know they’re trapped on the island and the arrival of Tiff, Mitch and Hap, eco tourists who are much more than they seem. They’re all vital events, but the loss of Ben is the most formative. Darius especially is haunted by his perceived failure to save his friend and one of the show’s most effective beats is a nightmare he has about Ben being alive and hating him. It allows the show’s writers to remember, and dig in, on the fact their leads are children, and it subtly reinforces the jeopardy of the situation and the increasing horror they feel at being left alone.

It also drives the kids’ attempts at survival and they make a lot of smart choices. Rebuilding the old Camp Cretaceous makes perfect sense, but what really works here is how Darius’ geekery, Brooklynn’s tech savvy and Kenji’s relentless wealth all combine to get them where they need to be. There’s some really fun problem solving here, and it gives the entire group a lot to do, as well as a lot to develop. There’s a great extended sequence where the girls, and Kenji, bond over their shared love of a Veronica Mars-esque detective show. There’s another where Kenji, all wallet and no backbone, sees the watering hole where a dozen species co-exist and is moved to tears. The kids are in danger, for sure, but the kids are alright.

Ironically, it’s Tiff, Mitch and Hap who let the show really show its teeth. We get three either heavily implied or actual deaths by dinosaur and a surprisingly dark set of reveals as we discover they’re big game hunters and don’t care if the kids live or die. It helps that Tiff is voiced by Stephanie Beatriz and Mitch by Bradley Whitford, both bringing their Rich Psychopath A Game. But it’s Angus Sampson, known in these parts for his work on the best of the Insidious movies, who registers hardest as Hap. The Stathamian wilderness guide is a bad man trying to be a better one and his interactions with the kids have surprising and very welcome emotional weight.

The fight against Tiff and Mitch gives the show a chance to show off how ludicrously tidily plotted it is.  A minor location in the first episode is a vital part of the last. Kenji, Darius and Sammy all have skills and character beats that become vital in the closing act. As does Ben whose flashback episode is a note perfect cliffhanger that sets up the final act beautifully and pulls no punches. His terror and determination are all on screen and in a cast that’s uniformly excellent Sean Giambrone is the real standout. Ben’s friendship with baby dinosaur Bumpy gets a major upgrade this season too, as does Bumpy herself.

Verdict: Tightly plotted, well-acted and animated this is a show breaking stride and taking off. An immensely rewarding experience which drives the story along and is intensely satisfying in its own right. 10/10

Alasdair Stuart

 

Highlights: The entire Mitch, Tiff and Hap arc, Ben’s flashback episode.