Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous may not look like much. After all, turning Jurassic Park into an animated series on Netflix sounds like a stupid idea on paper. What's surprising is that it's actually a decent show with engaging characters working together to survive. That's not the only reason that fans should check it out, however.
It also makes intriguing contributions to the wider world of the Jurassic series. Doing so adds depth to the ideas and makes the setting feel more well-realized. That's why devotees--those who specialize in the nitty-gritty details--should watch Camp Cretaceous. Not only does it let them spend more time in this prehistoric playground, but it enriches that universe in the process.
7 More Of The Park
Spending more time in a theme park obviously lets you see more of it, and Camp Cretaceous takes full advantage of that. Frantically trying to get off Isla Nublar, the characters pass through numerous exhibits not seen in the movies. Most interesting is a river ride through a tunnel filled with bioluminescent herbivores. These all make the central idea even more enticing.
At its core, Camp Cretaceous is an alternate way to experience Jurassic World. It's a trial run for a program akin to a summer camp, and one can easily imagine sending kids here the same way. Instead of woodland tents or cabins, they simply stay in a luxurious island tree house. Countless children would jump at that chance.
6 Branching Out
Part of seeing more of the island is discovering how commercialized the concept has become. The series conveys this not only through the extra attractions but also with the merchandise. The first episode even starts with a Jurassic World VR game as a cold open.
This business mindset largely determines the kids chosen for Camp Cretaceous. Darius wins a contest through the aforementioned game. Yasmina is a track star sponsored by the park. Brooklyn is a social media influencer granted early access to the program. Kenji is a VIP guest thanks to his father owning condos on the island. These all demonstrate the reach of a successful business, and they're the same types of privileges that corporations would extend in real life. Spared no expense, indeed.
5 More Genetic Tampering
In the movie, Dr. Wu touts the Indominus rex as a milestone in genetic engineering. Rather than a cloned species, it's an entirely new creature created from the genes of existing dinosaurs. However, genetic engineering is a science, and science rarely gets the desired result in the first test.
Enter the Scorpios rex. It's essentially a smaller prototype for the Indominus, but arguably more dangerous. It can climb trees, shoot poisonous quills, and reproduce asexually. More importantly, its behavior is utterly erratic, which is exactly what one should expect from dabbling in genetic power without a roadmap. It's so uncontrollable that Dr. Wu put it on ice. For someone as proud as him, that means a lot.
4 Other Interested Parties
InGen seems to have the monopoly on creating dinosaurs in Jurassic Park. Rival company Biosyn tries to steal their secrets, but their attempts end in failure. Years later, the Masrani Corporation proves more successful, acquiring InGen and repurposing its assets into Jurassic World. However, another company has a vested interest in prehistoric profit.
The show introduces the mysterious Mantah Corp. This organization tries to blackmail Sammy to spy on the park facilities in Season 1. They later reveal their own research station, complete with several simulated biomes. As dinosaurs become commonplace, it makes sense for other companies to house and/or use them differently. It's just another way that they become akin to real animals.
3 Beyond Dinosaurs
This is one area where Mantah Core is ahead. Wandering the desert biome, the kids come across a Smilodon, otherwise known as a saber-toothed tiger. Viewers have never seen this animal in the films. In fact, the big-screen entries never branch beyond prehistoric reptiles. From a business standpoint, this makes little sense.
Mosquitos must have bitten mammals and other life forms in prehistoric times. As such, there's no reason to limit Jurassic Park's selection to dinosaurs and their scaled peers in the sea and sky. The Smilodon's presence here takes that original idea and expands on it in a simple yet effective way. Who knows what other extinct animals this world has cooked up?
2 Dinosaur Dimension
Though the human characters are obviously the focus, the show also gives some unexpected development to the dinosaurs. Their behavior in the movies tends to be whatever is the most cinematic. By that logic, the herbivores are all nice and friendly while the carnivores wreak constant carnage. Though this services the story, it simplifies the natural world.
Camp Cretaceous still has the thrills fans want, but it also looks beyond the first impression. Not all herbivores are cute and cuddly; they can be dangerous when threatened or territorial. On the other hand, the carnivores aren't always in a feeding frenzy, as they additionally spend time building nests and engaging in playful practice fights. These actions are more in-line with a nature documentary than a creature feature. They lend authenticity and nuance to supposed movie monsters, making them more believable in the process.
1 Dinosaur Exploitation
Bringing dinosaurs closer to everyday animals has an unfortunate side effect: exploitation. The human race always has those seeking to exploit nature, no matter how cruel the treatment. This is Biosyn's plan in the books, and the recent films make it a reality with dinosaurs in various underground venues.
Mantah Corp tries to privatize this unscrupulous market here. They use drones to control the animals in their "research" facility, conducting unethical tests and even forcing the dinosaurs to fight. It's cruel and unusual. Sadly, it's also nothing new. This behavior just reinforces Lewis Dodgson's mindset from the books: an extinct animal has no rights. If humans made it and patented it, then they own it and can do whatever they want with it.