The Loud House Nickelodeon
I've seen this called season season 9's ending and the start of season 10, so that's a mess and thank you for that whomever decided that. I'm just going forego numbering here.
Also, another summer based story arc? Too much summer and too many arcs, yes 3 is too many. I'm getting that out of the way first. I will be taking a look and seeing what this set of episodes offers, hopefully it's at the very least alright.
Summer Camp: Ticked Off
This one sets up the summer camp trip. This one is a call back to the camp Mastodon that Gramps Loud owns. The older Louds have been set up as counselors, Lincoln and younger are going to be campers. I am glad these episodes also made the camp be real and have other campers around and not just something less entertaining. Clyde is here which makes for a change of pace to the last summer arcs and we are set in one location. Though, I think it would have been fun to have one different Lincoln friend be part of this to see that, but this show doesn't want to adventure out.
Lincoln and Clyde are put into a cabin and group called the Ticks. This gives them two different characters to work with named Iggy and Marshall. I think it's a fun idea to have Lincoln and Clyde with someone different for a story and gives a more camp feeling than if it was everyone Lincoln knows for some reason.
The rest of the Loud sisters are shunted off, except we get moments with Lana, mostly to show that she's doing alright and enjoying camp and others, and to contrast with Lola who has a story in this episode. The older Louds aren't really in this one, that's fine. Rita is here and apparently can take time off from newspapering to run the camp newspaper because sure. Lynn Sr. is here too and apparently can take time off from doing his thing. He gets a plot too.
Lincoln and Clyde are enjoying camp but find out there's a social thing that the adults don't know about. They find there's another group of kids (old kids) who have total domination of the camp where "The Tigers" (not the baseball team) lead by a boy named Jack, have control over ice cream, sunscreen- which seems dangerous- and bug spray. Lincoln was going to tell his grandpa but we need a plot so apparently no. He finally does snap when he can't get hot water in the shower and decides to challenge them in a towel. (Sorry, can't hear you. I'm wearing a towel)
So since the Mastodon marathon has been brought up, Lincoln has to compete with the campers from The Tigers in different feats. I do admire that Lincoln stepped up and the episode does make it somewhat a challenge for him. He loses that. Lincoln doesn't want to quit there (he's a glutton for punishment) he decides that they find a way to challenge the Tigers again in a survival competition. The other side says they want the cabin if they win. Patrick is a fun character, he keeps the rules and wants this to be fair, that came in to play later.
I'm cutting Lincoln's plot here, to talk about Lola's since there will be some overlap later. Lola doesn't like summer camp. She decides to not interact with anyone including Lana and instead decides to find ways to make camp more comfortable and her style. That means she orders stuff by drone, because apparently everyone writing shows thinks that's an actual thing. She ends up not getting her packages because the other plot interferes. More on her later too.
There's also.... yeah, the dumbest plot. Lynn Sr. apparently gets a re-tread on the idea of someone being critic of his food. The man seems to totally collapse at the concept of his food not being universally highly rated. It's an odd character trait they've given him. Here it's even stupider, because he apparently beefs with 7-year-old girl named Emily. Emily writes reviews for the camp paper (tying in with the Rita stuff) and she doesn't rate his food high. She's right about his naming puns, though. [You're mad because I speak the truth] It's funny the show used an actual child to voice the child here, so Lola and Lana are seven, but don't sound seven so it's even funnier to have a kid sound like a kid. Plus the words make her sound older. The man goes and even cries to his wife that he should get rid of Emily. He later goes to mess up the print machines to make sure no more papers could be made. This is a terrible plot. If anything this is the part that takes down the episode a few notches.
It's fun to the Ticks find ways to work against obstacles and make their teamwork... uh work. I like Marshall and Iggy they bring a different vibe to the thing. They end up losing after their boat sprung a leak and it sinks. This is where Lola's plot comes she finds out what happened to her drones and then finds out that Jack cheated. Therefore Lincoln's team wins. Lincoln goes with the French Revolution idea and says there's no more King of the Camp and everyone is equal. Jack apologizes and they are on good terms.
Lynn Sr. is very happy, he doesn't know what's going on but realizes he was an idiot and I'm glad he got over his beefing with a 7-year-old. Ok then.
This episode was mostly good. The Lincoln plot line is the most interesting part of it and worth having the majority of the screen time. I'm also happy the episode didn't over do it with plots and characters. The Lola plot was good and it fit in well without again over taking the main one. The only one that brings this episode down is Lynn Sr.'s his was not very good. The start was strong here, only that one problem with it makes it alright. I give it 7.4/10.
Summer Camp: The Grate Outdoors
Season 5 has some outstanding episodes that deserve more attention and love. One of those episodes was "Friday Night Fights". The concept of an episode with Lisa and Lynn is one that doesn't seem like it would work, but then it did. So here it's nice to see they do it again with my #1 Loud sister and #3 Loud sister.
It continues with the summer camp theme, but pairs things down to one plot. Lisa is part of a cabin of a few other girls and her counselor has decided to quit because wisdom teeth removal recovery. So that means Lynn is their new counselor.
Lynn in this episode is at strength. She's taken up the role in a good way with her wanting her campers to have fun, but not be over the top and pushy. When Lisa says she doesn't want to do the activities because camp is death trap, Lynn really encourages her without being pushy, and instead makes a deal to give her one day to show her that camp can be fun. This also reminds me of that episode from season 1, where the others try to show Lisa the snow day can be fun.
Lisa is a little strange this episode as much as the idea of being overly feared with danger, but it's not so over the top it feels out of character, it just feels a little off. She attempts things like using a big bubble to swim and other things to stop fear. Lynn helps her by popping the bubble and it seems to start nudging her out of her zone. It's kind of fun to see her having fun without going too over board and Lynn and her have had a nice time here.
Things do go wrong like Lisa getting stuck on the zip line and Lynn's idea is use butter to loosen it. Then Lynn decides to get on the zip line to save her, but cicada tornado shows up because of course it does. (You introduce one in the start you have to follow through) Lynn goes on the chase to get Lisa. That works but then a fish grabs Lisa because of course it does. Then an Eagle takes her because America. Thankfully, Lisa is fine. Lisa actually wants do more camp fun.
I think it was sweet to see this episode, Lisa and Lynn getting a second combo episode was a good direction. While the silly elements are there, the episode is strong and fun. It's a charming one and love the bond between these two and seeing Lisa having some different fun. A really good one. 8/10.
Summer Camp: Don't Lose Your Cool
In this episode Lori finds out she's going to have to learn that kids will think she's un cool. Lori is a camp counselor of random girls, there's no other sister for her to be looking after. What you get here is Lori using her eldest taking care of younger children skills and wanting to keep the rules and then her still youthful and teenage self wanting people -young kids- to think she is cool.
Lori is taking after 3 girls and she wants to stick to the rules, which is good. Though I question the rules of a place that allows Luan to use Mr. Coconuts to handle food, shut this place down. Anyway, she hears her camper say that they think she's un cool. These words got to her this is her Joker moment she will lose it. (oh the title heh)
She decides she wants to be seen as cool and she decides to start breaking some rules. The episode decides to show the danger of not following the rules pretty quickly. Again allowing food that was dropped on the floor to be served is also bad, shut that place down. Lori has traumatized the girls with the day, but she still wants to be seen as cool.
That's called appeasement. She went out and got the girls food off campus and they say she's cool. She let's the girls over power her and break the rules to get dessert and apparently wildness happens. To a point the girls do a food fight and Lori realizes that this is bad so she finally realizes she doesn't need to be cool. She orders them to clean up. The girls later realize they were wrong too and everything works out.
Episode is fine. The showcase of Lori trying to be mature, yet still wanting to be seen as cool -even with younger children- is an interesting story. I think the episode flowed well, I do think it was trying to say there can be a balance, but Lori wasn't being overly mean with her rule following so, it was more pushing the idea she was right the first time. I give it 7/10
Summer Camp: Treasure Haunt
This is another episode where the show is weird. Actual zombie pirate this time. Lincoln and Clyde, which is a nice break in these arcs to have Lincoln and Clyde plots, find a pirate flag and take it with them and a zombie pirate and sentient octopus show up. Lucy had to appear in this episode because she had to be right about the idea of something bad happening if the flag was moved.
This episode calls back to "Camped!" [season 5, Episode 18] where Leonard/Gramps uses the treasure of Captain Kit to buy the camp. So this is a nice tie in as the long dead captain shows up. Captain wants his booty (big booty) and it's not easy to get it back since Gramps spent all the treasure on camp upkeep. So they have to fake it, but fails too.
If someone was looking for a moment of Lynn defending her brother then you got that. The pirate is mad he was almost tricked and they have until sunset before he does something to them. Instead of right now because villain. Lucy says something about the flag and maybe if they got it down he'll go away. The boys sneak onto the ghost ship (don't ask) and try to steal the flag, but then they get captured and they have to fight, then finally get the flag down and pirate defeated. Episode ends with them not picking up a skull.
Like I said weird episode, but not bad. I like the call back to "Camped!" and liked episode's flow. This does have a Spongebob episode vibe, like the whole thing could be an episode of SpongeBob and it wouldn't be out of place, except it could have more body horror humor. It's not often an episode of this show evokes SpongeBob plot style in this way. Not saying a rip-off I'm saying the episode plot wouldn't be out of place on that show. Kind of wild. I give it 7/10.
Summer Camp: Brawl of the Wild
The episode retreads ground in one concept: a character finding romance. The episode retreads ground in once concept: Leni finding romance. I don't really mind if Leni is not linked to one person to be shipped or whatever. This series with the large amount of main characters does have the hard part of also deciding to have almost every single teen character linked to another partner like they are being rounded up for the ark. That can be fine, but it is a little off for teenagers in some cases- that yes, some teenagers could, but yeah it does mean they can't explore romance stories to dig from that well in the same way.
Leni has broken up with Gavin because he didn't have the sparkle, she means that literally. She needs someone who really sparkles to be her guy. They are still friends, though. Wait...
O-m-gosh, like, Leni totes broke up with Gavin ‘cause, duh, he didn’t even have the sparkle. And, like, she literally means sparkle-sparkle, okay? She, like, needs a guy who’s, y’know, actually glittery or whatever. But, like, don’t freak out, ‘cause they’re still totally friends ‘n stuff.”
The episode's main plot isn't Leni looking for a new guy it's doing her plot as a counselor at camp. It does set up wait...
Take a girl named Leni, and put her somewhere like a camp mess hall, along comes a boy... and that boy is named River. That's right he doesn't know it yet, but he will be the love interest of the episode, but it's not going to be one of those instant love at first sight stories that's boring.
Leni goes to get some food, creamed corn, but can't because River has taken the last bowl. [which to me is not a total loss but anyway]. We get to see their tension and contrast. Fun fact: you can wash sandals. Because TV show, Leni finds out she's going to have to take kids hiking with... River. I do like how they contrast but work with each other. Especially they both use their strengths to on the hike to make sure things work out, but their weaknesses trip things up. They up getting lost, thanks to Leni moving the yellow markers River put up, and it's another good showcase to show these two strengths off each other.
There's a lot of almost dying in this episode. Leonard finds them and they get back to the main camp. Leni realizes she likes River. I like that she goes to Lori to talk it out. Lori encourages her to talk to him. (Episode is too pro horoscope too) Leni does tell him and she finds out he likes her too, and he also leaves near by and happens to work at the same store Leni does. (how convenient)
The episode is pretty charming, it's a nice introduction to a love interest--- unless--- uh oh yeah you know this was a one time thing--- but yeah otherwise it was a nice introduction to River as a love interest. It's also fun since the episode isn't just focused on the romance angle as you kind of get to see Leni be irritated an feel human and the other guy doesn't feel perfect or a male Leni so it was a nice mix. It also doesn't have the same strange introduction Gavin had. It's a nice episode and pretty fun. I give it 7.3/10.
..And Finally
I will say that the series needs to calm down on the arcs, it's kind of a lot. Yes 3 is a lot here. I think this set of episodes were way better than the Europe Road Trip set, just way more enjoyable through out. They were a level of consistent and had some interesting plots.
I think weakest elements were: Lynn Sr.'s plot in the first episode. That was just silly, not terrible but not entertaining either. Thankfully, the rest of the episode is strong enough to not let that part drag it down. Of note, we mostly got older sister stories. Lola does have a part in "Ticked Off" and Lucy has a small part in "Treasure Haunt" but the closest to a longer story was Lisa but that was a little more focused on Lynn's side of things. It's something I noticed.
I like how episodes didn't try to glom the family this time. It was nice to let some breathing happen, even having the parents not be there much was a better touch. There were different stories to bring the environment in and these episodes did a good job of using the environment of the camp way better than the Europe road trip did anything. I liked seeing a mixture of Louds interacting outside of the family too.
Overall, this was an enjoyable set of episodes.
That's it for now, tune in next time when we contact a zombie pirate that owes us money.
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