9/10
Superman Skip and wonderdog Crust keep the family safe
10 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
The last of the 3 episodes of the Robinson Wilderness family. There's Dad or Skip, Mom or Pat, Jenny,the teenage girl, pre-teen Toby, and the Labrador Crust(an odd name). Also, there's the mountain man Boomer and his mule, as an occasional visitor. Episode 2 ended with the beginning of spring, after a long winter. This episode takes place in late spring and summer, rather similar to the first episode.

A National Forest ranger arrives in a helicopter and tells them they are on property filed as a mining claim. They need to show the right papers and evidence of valuable minerals, or leave within 90 days. The ranger returns near the end of the film to sort things out. I won't reveal this episode, as the film ends with it.

As in the previous episodes, we have disasters or fights interspersed between joyous times: a good format. Among the disasters: A rain brings a flash flood that washes away the chicken house and shed, not to mention the vegie garden. This is the last straw for Pat, who leaves to visit her sick mother. It's unclear if she will ever return. Then, little Toby climbs a very steep cliff to find the nest of a raven that stole his pencil. He finds some other missing items in the nest, as well. But he is afraid to climb down. Skip to the rescue. We have several encounters with wolves, cougars and bad bears as well as good bears, as we had in the previous episodes.

The family tries panning for gold, but comes up empty. Boomer checks out an old mine shaft, gets into trouble, but finds something of possible importance. I will stop here.

Skip appears to have great previous experience with wilderness animals and living. He always brushes off any injuries or traumas as nothing to worry about, surviving various falls and fights with minimal apparent injury. In contrast, Pat often feels stressed out by such events, and sometimes cries.

I don't know what animals their 2' high stick fence around the garden is supposed to keep out. Deer seem like the most numerous herbivore around. I doubt it would discourage a determined rabbit or marmot.

Some reviewers describe the mountain man Boomer as a creep. I didn't get that impression at all. He seems like a knowledgeable grandfather.

Some reviewers complain that these episodes lack a significant plot, although this one has a bit more than the others. Well, there's enough interesting things happening so that a complicated plot isn't necessary. It seems like an adventurous vacation. The same is true of some raucous comedies and some musicals.
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