The crush, and the question of whether Brooklynn likes Kenji, too, becomes a frequently touched on theme over the course of the season (and leads to one of the best jokes in the season when Kenji calls Brooklynn his girlfriend to Darius—the doubletake from Darius is perfectly timed and provides some fantastic levity in an otherwise intense season finale). We also see some romantic responses from others. Ben mistakes attentiveness from Yaz as a romantic interest and indicates that he’s still figuring himself out—he’s in no place to get involved with anyone that way. There are also some hints (mostly in some sly eyebrows from Brooklynn) that Yaz and Sammy’s friendship could develop into something more. There’s a moment of the “there’s only one bed” trope between the two that, sadly for shippers, goes nowhere, which may mean the two will always just be besties.
And finally, Darius and Kenji’s bromance is restored in the season finale. Though the pair got off to a rough start, their friendship—and their acknowledgment of each other’s strengths—has helped them both grow as characters over the course of the series. After a rough start, it’s great that they’re back on track, especially as things may have gotten a lot worse.
The People (and Places) Left Behind
When the kids rescue the baby Spinoceratops, they have to find the right biosphere for them to live—leading the campers to have to leave them behind. It’s exactly the kind of thing Ben feared after having to leave Bumpy behind. When Brooklyn says, “Besides, we can always come back and visit,” it’s a jarring moment set against a narrative of campers trying so hard to get away from the island(s) holding them captive. The line is said and forgotten, with none of the other characters calling attention to it, but it may leave viewers wondering how the campers really view their fate—do they believe they’ll get home after all? Or have they given up?
As for Bumpy, the Ankylosaurus was sadly left behind on Isla Nublar, but her absence is a constant emotional ache for Ben. During season 4, when some new baby dinosaurs are introduced, Ben makes the comment that Bumpy’s probably forgotten all about him. In a tear-jerking episode-ending scene, viewers see Isla Nublar and the camp the kids had to leave behind—with Bumpy, wandering around, seemingly waiting for Ben to return.
Another character comes into play who the characters have left behind. In one brief moment, Darius has access to a cell phone and calls his brother, Brandon. Though it’s cut off, the call connected, and viewers see Brandon leaving home to go looking for Darius. This feels like a call back to season 1, when counselors Roxie and Dave try to convince the ferry to turn around to rescue the campers, or the moment in season 2 when viewers see that the emergency beacon’s distress call was received. There are people throughout this series who have tried to help the kids get home—and who have pledged to look for them—and when the series does come to a final conclusion, it would be nice to see some payoff for those moments of promised rescue.
Jurassic World: Dominion Crossover Potential
So will we likely see any crossover between the Camp Cretaceous cast and Jurassic World: Dominion? The longer the cartoon series seems to go on, the less likely that seems, given how much more quickly each season of the show can move the plot along—and that Jurassic World: Dominion was originally scheduled for 2021 and pushed back due to the pandemic. While the Camp Cretaceous writers have access to the live action information, where the series will end up is anyone’s guess. In the timeline, the campers are in 2016, still two years before the events of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, which means any crossover would require the series to zoom ahead.
