Kid Nation - Religion and Politics Never Mix...Even With Kids!

Religion and issues of faith are on the minds of many of Kids in Bonanza City. While Morgan poses the question of whether God brought the Kids to Bonanza City for a reason, Jared shares with Guylan how he has been called terrible things because he is Jewish. At breakfast, Colton, Eric, Zach, and some other Kids get into a heated discussion over Christianity and Judaism.After bringing a little law and order to Bonanza City in the form of a town curfew, Anjay, Laurel, Mike and Taylor are nervous to see what the Pioneer Journal says next.

Their next challenge presents itself in the form of a passage about the Pioneers’ problems with religion in the 1880s. The Journal suggests the Town hold religious services to feed the soul, but the Council must decide whether to hold one large service for all religions, or to split the services up by religion. The Council decides to hold just one service for all religions. But when they deliver their proposal to the Kids they meet with resistance. Sophia, Olivia and Divad in particular, strongly object to the Council’s plan, stating that any group service will only lead to conflict. The Council members refuse to take into account their opinions, telling everyone that there will be a group service no matter what. The Kids leave the Mess Hall for another day of work in Bonanza City frustrated and upset with their leaders. Nine-year-old Alex believes that there’s no reason for the Kids to be “yucky” about religion. Trying to be pro-active, Alex takes a poll of the different faiths in Bonanza City which seems to ease tensions somewhat. But when the Council calls everyone to their planned religious service not a single TownsKid chooses to attend. Upset that their plan was unsuccessful, Laurel comments, “People are being a little narrow-minded here.”But it turns out that most of the Kids are not entirely opposed to the idea of group worship. Instead, they simply object to the manner in which they were told they must have a group service. Morgan visits the District bunkhouses, casually inviting the Kids to attend an informal bonfire and share a few prayers. Most of the Kids are receptive to the idea and they gather together in common prayer. When Zach sings a prayer in Hebrew, young Pharaoh is moved to tears of happiness over the unity and goodwill displayed before him. The evening ends on a high note as Zach privately notes Morgan’s huge accomplishment and how she is worthy of the Gold Star.

Leading up to the Showdown, the kids are finishing up their District tasks. While the Yellow District, currently the Upper Class, enjoys their free time by having a seltzer fight, the Green District, as Cooks, is tired of the Yellow District’s laziness and refusal to help. Zach, however, defies the ways of his Yellow District and pitches in to help around the kitchen, much to the delight of Sophia and Morgan.

The Showdown has arrived and each District is more intent than ever to win the cushy Upper Class with its big paycheck and no assigned duties. More than anything else, the Kids from the Blue, Red and Green Districts would love for Taylor and the little kids in her Yellow District to land in the Laborers and finally be forced to do some dirty work. Jonathan greets the Kids and reveals that the Showdown is also religious-themed: the Kids must race to build a steeple puzzle and raise it to the sky. It seems as though Yellow will maintain its grip on the Upper Class as Kelsey and Zach lead their District to an early lead. But when the little Kids of Yellow can’t find one of their pieces, the members of the Blue District, led by Anjay, Nathan and Alex make up lost time and take over the Upper Class. The Red District follows and becomes the Merchants. Pharaoh uses his brawn to raise the Yellow steeple third, sending the Yellow District back to the kitchen, much to everyone’s disappointment. And while the Green District finishes in last place again, they complete the Showdown in the nick of time winning the town its rewad.

Jonathan reveals the two reward options: will the Council pick the miniature golf course for some much desired entertainment, or the library of religious texts to feed their souls? Faced with the prospect of choosing between the hole-in-one or the holy books, the Council members make the decision to hold a town vote. When the Kids raise their hands for their desired reward, the decision is highly in favor of the holy books. The holy books prove to be a great comfort in the face of their difficult pioneer lifestyle. The Kids gather in the Mess Hall, reading the different holy texts, teaching each other about their own religions and learning about religions that they’re unfamiliar with. Later the same day, Anjay teaches Kelsey, Taylor and Sophie a bit about Hinduism; the curious girls light incense and partake in a ceremony with the Blue District leader.

While religious studies prove to be comforting reminders of home to most of the Kids, young Cody only grows increasingly homesick. In an attempt to forget about his beloved family members and girlfriend Ashley in Ohio, Cody hits the Saloon for a few root beers and a little company, but sugary pop provides no solace and he winds up wandering the main drag in tears. In an attempt to cheer up his buddy, Campbell takes Cody to go look at cows, hoping a little adventure will help Cody get home off his mind.

The Kids head off to their new round of jobs, with the Yellow District back in the kitchen, much to the annoyance of the other Kids, because the Yellow Girls are once again hanging out in the Saloon shirking their duties. When a frustrated Morgan and Laurel confront Taylor, she just giggles and refuses to leave the Saloon.Zach is also tired of waiting for Taylor to do her job and takes matters into his own hands; he rallies Kids from across all of the Districts to wash the mountain of dirty dishes, even chasing after older Kids like Blaine to help out. The task is completed in no time and the TownsKids are overjoyed to once again have clean plates and silverware, even if they have to do additional work to feed themselves. Laurel takes note of Zach’s leadership, “I think Zach is a great leader for the Yellow District, maybe even a better leader than Taylor.”

While the rest of the Kids huddle in their bunks on a surprisingly snowy New Mexico morning, the four Town Council members gather in the Saloon to consider the nominees for the next Gold Star. Three contenders clearly emerge for the coveted trophy: Morgan, the town mother and peacemaker, Zach, the rising young leader, and teenage Greg, the hard worker whose attitude, the Council notes, is improving. The Council decides to wait until the Town Hall meeting to make their final decision.

When the Kids gather for their Town Hall meeting, the first topic at hand, as usual, is Taylor’s performance as a District leader. And this time it’s the boys of the Yellow District that take the lead in criticizing their leader: both Pharaoh and Zach complain about Taylor’s lack of work. When Taylor warns Zach that he’s heading for extra toilet scrubbing duties if he continues to criticize her, Zach refuses to back down, “Don’t threaten us Taylor… You’re not our authority!”

The Kids are once again at a stalemate with the Yellow Leader, as Taylor continues to ignore all criticism so they move on to other town business.

Jonathan asks the Kids if any of them wants to go home and nine-year-old Cody raises his hand. The spirited young adventurer is torn about leaving Bonanza City, admitting both feelings of relief at soon being reunited with his family and sorrow about leaving the other Kids, “I’m sorry for all of the people that supported me, but I can’t stay here any more.” He’ll miss the other Pioneers, especially Campbell, who gives Cody one last tearful hug goodbye. Morgan comforts Campbell as he watches his best friend in Bonanza City walk out of the Town Hall.

The Kids wipe away tears as they mourn Cody’s departure from Bonanza City, but the mood in the Town Hall quickly brightens when the Council selects Morgan as the fourth Gold Star Pioneer! Overwhelmed with gratitude, Morgan tells the other Kids, “I think that I have the best friends in the world and I’ll never leave you, I promise.” Everyone is happy for Morgan as all of the Kids applaud the success of the kind girl from the Green District.

Morgan excitedly calls her Mom and Dad with her wonderful news; her parents are proud of her accomplishment, but are mainly overjoyed just to hear her voice. Morgan’s Dad says, “I would think that Morgan got the Gold Star because of her helpfulness. That’s just who she is.”While Campbell glumly drinks a root beer in the Saloon he promises that despite being homesick and lonesome, “I just don’t want to go home. I’m gonna stick it out for Cody.”