"A Camp Camp Christmas or Whatever" is the first Christmas episode of Rooster Teeth's animated web show Camp Camp, released as the fourteenth episode of its second season.
Synopsis[]
The episode starts by following a snowflake down to the ground by Max’s feet and him screaming.
All of the campers gather in the Mess Hall to talk about how weird it is that it’s snowing, and Gwen says that it could probably be chalked up to Climate Change. Nikki pops in saying how it’s the most wonderful time of the year: Parent’s day. After being corrected, Max corrects Nikki saying that it’s nature trying to kill them before they kill it. Nikki convinces David to let them act like it’s Christmas anyway. Gwen tries to talk David out of it, but David it takes it as Gwen will do all of the work for him. After David leaves and some banter, Neil and Max ask Nikki why she likes Christmas so much. Nikki breaks out into song talking about Christmas, but not explaining why she loved it. After the whole production, Nikki reveals that she doesn’t know why she loves Christmas. Max and Neil groan, prompting Nikki to shove stockings in their mouths. She says that if she saw it, she would know it.
The action goes to David buying presents for everyone. He picks out a BB gun for Max and buys safety glasses. When asked if he’s afraid that Max will shoot his eyes out, David responds "No, these are for me!"
The campers are shown enjoying various Christmas activities like ice skating and ice hockey. Neil is hit with a puck and spits out a toy. Nikki tells him to stop being gross and that he’s missing all the Christmas. Max says all that he sees is JESUS CHRIST! Preston is shown wearing nothing but a diaper. He explains that he will put on a one-man show of the nativity story. Nikki exclaims that she loves the nativity scene because it always has a sheep. Preston responds to this by asking Dolph about the manger animals. Dolph is busy making a sheep when he’s asked this, and Nikki destroys it. Dolph, after getting upset, explains that it’s all made of gingerbread. This prompts everyone to start munching on it. Neil asks Nikki if the religious stuff the reason why she loves Christmas. She replies that she prefers the zombie version of Jesus. Max grabs a bit of gingerbread saying that they could cross that off the list. Preston chastises them for eating his manger and Max replies “Hey man, Jesus forgives or some shit.”
David finds the perfect tree. He cuts it down and it slams onto his car.
Harrison is building a snowman and Space Kid gives him a stick for the arm. After attaching the arm, Harrison lends the snowman his hat. The snowman comes to life and freaks out. After some back-and-forth, Harrison knocks the hat off the snowman, who returns to normal. The trio walks past and Nikki compliments the snowman. None of them make any mention of the living snowman. Max, once again, tries to figure out why Nikki loves Christmas only to get pelted with a snowball by Nurf. Neil is also pelted, but while being wished Happy Hanukkah. Nurf tells Nikki he’s trying to be good in case Santa comes by. Max asks if Nurf actually believes in Santa and Nikki and Nurf both say “obviously.” Nurf explains that he also has some snowballs full of marbles for the bad kids in order to help out Santa. Ered skates past the group and Nurf goes after her. Max accuses Nikki of loving Christmas for Santa’s presents. Nikki admits that even though she appreciates what Santa’s done, that isn’t it at all. Max is about to pull his hair out when a crash is heard.
The crash was caused by David. He’s freaking out trying to make the Holiday perfect. He slips and recalls that he forgot the cranberry sauce. Nikki says that she doesn’t believe you need any of the stuff David has for Christmas. Everyone is surprised at what Nikki said. Gwen screams as David for plowing through the snow. Space Kid gives Gwen a present for working so hard all the time. Nikki realizes that that’s why she loves Christmas because it’s about doing nice things for other people. Max gets angry at Nikki because being nice has nothing to do with Christmas. Nikki points out that it makes it better because anyone can do it.
The campers enter the newly decorated Mess Hall to open all of their presents. David gives Gwen a cup of hot cocoa. Max exclaims about his BB gun and David puts on his glasses just in time to avoid losing an eye. Neil and Max come to terms that you can still enjoy the holidays. Nikki adds that there is one more thing she loves about Christmas. She hugs the two and says it’s them.
After the heart-warming remark, everyone starts talking about an even more important topic: climate change.
Notes[]
- Neil is confirmed to be Jewish.
- This is the first time where Max is shown with his hoodie up (even though it appears too small for his head).
- At the end of the episode, Nikki finally reveals why she loves Christmas so much. It was not the usual reasons such as gift giving or even because of the religion, but because of the act of kindness as shown when Space Kid gifts Gwen a makeshift snow globe of the Mess Hall using his own helmet for all the hard work she's done.
- Space Kid is also one of the only (besides David) people to acknowledge Gwen's hard work and effort.
- Jordan Cwierz stated that the PSA on Global Warming at the end of the episode was meant to be two minutes longer with the other campers chiming in with other facts regarding climate change but this was cut due to time constraint.
- This was the last episode in which Georden Whitman voiced Preston before his departure from Rooster Teeth; his role was succeeded by Nicholaus Weindel.
- Nikki mistaking Christmas for Parents' Day and vice versa is a call-back to she did this was in the earlier episode "Parents' Day".
Cultural references[]
- Gwen quoting "Bah Humbug" is a reference to Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol.
- Harrison bringing a snowman to life is a reference to Frosty the Snowman.
- Harrison wears a yellow and black striped scarf, which resembles the Hufflepuff scarf from the Harry Potter franchise.
- The titular play is a remake of the classic Nativity Play, with Preston dressed up as Baby Jesus.
- The fact that it was snowing in the middle of July is referencing real-life events in which certain locations in America witnessed snowfall as early as July.
- The store clerk asking David if he's afraid that Max will shoot his eye out with the B.B. Gun is a reference to A Christmas Story.
- The cards that David got for Nerris resemble Pokémon trading cards.
- The crayons that David got for Dolph resemble Crayola crayons.
Cast[]
| Voice actor/actress | Character |
|---|---|
| Michael Jones | Max |
| Yuri Lowenthal | Neil |
| Elizabeth Maxwell | Nikki |
| Miles Luna | David |
| Lee Eddy | Gwen |
| Lindsay Jones | Space Kid |
| Blaine Gibson | Nurf Nurfington |
| Georden Whitman | Preston Goodplay |
| Yotam Perel | Harrison |
| Barbara Dunkleman | Nerris |
| Jen Brown | Ered Miller |
| James Willems | Dolph Houston |
| Shannon McCormick | Quartermaster |
| Christine Brent | Cashier |
| Jeremy Dooley | Snowman |