Now that the kids" survival is ensured, that of Bonanza City"s chicken population is considerably less certain. Nine-year-old future PETA activist Emilie isn"t taking it well, going so far as to blockade herself in the chicken coop -- twice. Still, it"s decided that two of the little birdies will die for thirty-nine servings of delicious chicken noodle soup. Greg steps up to lead the slaughtering and butchering, in a naked play for this week"s Gold Star.
The next day"s issue is the literal freezing cold, which solidifies the water in the pump -- and the Yellow District in their bunkhouse, instead of in the kitchen where they belong. This will continue to be an issue throughout the episode, as will Emilie"s deliberation over whether she can stay in Bonanza City where all the chicken-killing is going on, or if she"ll simply have to return home to her parents" farm.
And we learn that the Districts will have a showdown every week, giving them a chance to swap classes. This week"s very complicated challenge involves a lot of pipe-laying and blowing, but not in any sense that shouldn"t involve eight-year-olds. When it"s over, Blue gets to take over as the Upper Class, with Red winning second and becoming the Merchant class. That means it"s once again a battle for last place between Yellow and Green, and once again Green flubs it. But unlike last week, this time they don"t even manage to win the town its reward -- a giant heated water slide and freeze-proof water pumps to be installed all over town. Yeah, that last thing would have been nice, especially for the Green team.
Greg"s campaign for a Gold Star is pretty transparent, and the Council is split between him and Michael, who continues to impress. Then it"s time for the Town Council meeting. Nobody goes home, not even Emilie, which means there are still thirty-nine kids. Sophia -- and almost everyone else -- calls out Taylor and the Yellow District for their sucky kitchen habits. And then the Gold Star goes to Michael. Greg doesn"t take well to being passed over, and threatens that he"s going to "do something about it." What that is, we won"t find out until next week. Although the previews for next week don"t put him in a very good light.