Summer Camp Island Review: Light as a Feather / When Harry Met Barry

"Heh, my pits are hairy too."

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Alright, Summer Camp Island has been in slightly choppy water over the past few episodes. It's inevitable, of course; every show has an ebb and flow, and episodic series especially are prone to the occasional dry patches. SCI is just throwing me for a bit of a loop, because the extent that the past few entries haven't worked for me operates in spite of the tremendous growth that Season 2, in general, has been going through. The struggles of episodes like "Honeydew Hatch" or "Wild Hearts Can't Be Caboodled" feel completely arbitrary rather than systemic, and while that's not the greatest state for the show to be in, at least it reassures that a strong episode could come out of nowhere; the fate of the season is far from set. Today's set of episodes, "Light as a Feather" and "When Harry Met Barry," further assert that.

"Light as a Feather" starts with an interesting idea in the back of its mind, but a lot of those prospects get lost in the framework. The sort of revelations that could come with Hedgehog's first witch coven run wild—it's an excellent chance to shed some light on the back-story of the island, and we do get faint hints of that—but the fact that instead, "Light as a Feather" decides to take the unexpected angle of Hedgehog desperately needing to pee sort of... speaks for itself. That's the plot that the episode chose.

I feel like this is as good of a time as ever to get into SCI's dabbling in scatological humor. It's not a new development by any means, having emerged across the second half of the first season at a fairly noticeable rate and almost always feeling like an awkward diversion, though "Light as a Feather" is definitely the most an episode has been conceived with that humor being as crucial to its backbone. I honestly wonder what the intentions are behind those general choices; it comes across as near-incompatible with the other aspects of SCI's comic identity, built out of quiet character work and an eye for subtlety. "Light as a Feather" is neither of those things, leaping out with explicit development in mind of the strangest kind: Hedgehog needs to find the strength of character to operate without the assistance of Oscar, and by peeing in a haunted outhouse.

There's nothing  wrong with that prompt, but in light of the sort of opportunities that SCI chooses to close off in its pursuit, "Light as a Feather" feels disappointing at its core. As Hedgehog's first coven sleepover with the witches, this is (by her own words) a humongo deal that could affect her entire future as a witch, and that revelation makes for great theoretical set-up for an important, character-driven piece that develops Hedgehog's connection to Susie, Alice, and Betsy. There's also some interest in our setting for the episode, too, revealed to have been a schoolhouse from when Summer Camp Island used to be a witch camp.

There's also, even in spite of the premise, some interesting character work. I feel like, in the earlier portions of the episode, Susie actually comes across as pleasantly declawed from the patronizing tone she usually strikes with Hedgehog. The suggestion that their caustic relationship is developing a layer of unstated respect is a really good look for the show that hints at progression from where we left off in "Acorn Graduation," though unfortunately, as soon as "Light as a Feather" segues into its full-bladdered antics, the scope narrows entirely. Even the formerly-passive other witches end up becoming antagonistic hurdles to Hedgehog, laughing alongside Susie as she takes her nervous, climactic walk to the outhouse while disregarding their more open-minded disposition to her from earlier.

On the front of being an episode built around developing Hedgehog, "Light as a Feather" at least fulfills its goal. The scene of Hedgehog leaping into the haunted outhouse and confronting her fears, only to discover that everything was in her head while admiring some witch graffiti, makes for a surprisingly sweet moment amidst the tension that defines how the episode escalates. I also like the suggestion that although Oscar ultimately fumbles her triumph a little by scaring her in the outhouse, believing a remark she makes to herself to be a part of his protective secret code, Hedgehog's victory is still earned within herself and in spite of his attempts at help. I just wish that the episode was more defiant and decisive; "Light as a Feather" detours away from the potentials of this crucial moment in time by turning into a simple tale of Hedgehog conquering her fear, and that comes across as an odd waste of the circumstances.

Luckily, whereas "Light as a Feather" deviates early on, "When Harry Met Barry" is strong all the way through by the strength of its own merit. It's such a nice reversal from the doldrums of the past few episodes; as soon as it started with some exceptionally cute Oscar and Hedgehog antics, I felt an exciting freshness to everything going on that persevered all the way to the end.

A lot of that is indebted to how engaged SCI was with the legitimately novel idea it was playing with. It's the sort of premise that ensures everyone involved gets to be fun and be utilized to full effect. With the episode being centered around Barb's struggle to choose a bachelor to marry—torn between the confident adventurer, Harry, and the sensitive greeting card writer, Barry—there's a solid means for Oscar and Hedgehog to lay stakes and operate in full force, butting heads while still working towards the shared goal of helping their camp mom find happiness.

That's a bit of a threat to the episode's balance, splintering Oscar and Hedgehog into different camps—we saw that issue previously in "Sneeze Guard," though under the influence of a spell—but the fact that everything is done in good spirit allows the show to dial into the characters' competitive streaks and personal tastes without pushing them towards antagonism. It's also fun just watching them get behind both of the bachelors and vouching for their hand in Barb's marriage in ways that still feel true to the characters; Oscar manages to convert Barry's nervousness into unbridled confidence with the help of a drawn-on comb-over, while Hedgehog turns her rugged wannabe camp dad Harry into a tender poet. Barb, too, as the instigator of their various hubby tests, is great at quietly leading the episode until she makes her ultimate decision at the end, denying both suitors and inventing "the third option": herself. She'll marry herself. I reiterate: God bless Whoopi.

All of that also transitions into the surprisingly sweet ending of Harry and Barry revealing the extents of their personal history, having become closely acquainted after discovering they were both pursuing Barb and helping to better each other in the process. (It's even foreshadowed quietly but cutely in having both of them arrive at the Soundhouse aboard the same creature.) As adorable of an out as that is for the show, though, the conclusion of Harry proposing that Barry be his "first, second, and third option" gave me slight pause. It's a bit of an ambiguous scene to interpret in the first place—is this a marriage proposal, or some affirmation of their newly-established best friendship?—but considering how keenly SCI has been working to paint a loving portrait of platonic friendship through Oscar and Hedgehog, Harry and Barry's sudden, romantic implications undermine the series' overall messaging with a strange opacity. Even if it ends things on a bit of a question mark, though, the enthusiasm and sincerity of the show allow it to be a cute moment.

While "When Harry Met Barry" is a stronger episode than "Light as a Feather," and one more representative of the series, there's still something nice to be gleaned from both. Here's hoping that SCI is able to find stable footing with the remaining four episodes and end this half of the season on a good note.

FINAL GRADES:
"Light as a Feather": B-.

"When Harry Met Barry": B+.

Next Tuesday: Oscar and Hedgehog furlough a reckless intern, and Hedgehog's new Science Chat co-host causes problems.

For my review of the last two episodes, "The Later Pile" and "Honeydew Hatch," CLICK HERE.

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