With five days left, the Pioneer Journal tells the Town Council to go exploring. So they do, leaving Sheriff Sophia as the boss of everyone while they wander off to meet with some Pueblo people somewhere outside the town. Since Sophia kicked off the episode by more or less seceding, nobody is too thrilled at her getting so much power. But she ends up doing a good job, motivating everyone to get their work done in a half-hour so that they can get into the arcade. Meanwhile, the Council, still hanging with the Pueblos, hits on the idea of "investing in the future" by giving the Gold Star to someone smart. They"re still not back when it"s time for the Showdown, in which the Districts race to schlep miniature homesteads across the plains. Green gets to be upper class again, followed by Red and Blue, with Yellow finishing just in time to win the town its reward (supposedly). The first reward option is a giant stone monument, and the other is a hot air balloon ride. Sophia picks the balloons, preempting the rebellion the producers are clearly trying to foment. The Council returns to town just as the balloons are returning to earth. It"s looking like this week"s gold star contenders are the members of the Bonanza City think tank, Alex and Jared, although Migle"s also looking like a frontrunner as "most improved." Zach makes a case for himself during the nominations, and has a meltdown when he doesn"t get the reaction from the Council he"s expecting. At the Town Hall meeting, the arcade continues to be an issue, and under pressure from some of the kids, the Council decides to shut it down for good so that people can interact with each other instead. In the end, the Gold Star goes to Alex, and that night the town gathers around a campfire to bond and prep for next week"s season finale.