So, you grew up watching the Jurassic Park movies, did you? You’ve seen all three JP films and both Jurassic World movies, and you’re eagerly anticipating Jurassic World: Dominion. You are, like, a MEGA FAN, aren’t you? So, if that’s the case, then how come you’re not also watching Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous streaming on Netflix?
I know, I know. It’s a kid’s show, right? Well, yeah, but it’s also an extremely good kid’s show and maybe even a better sequel to the Jurassic Park series than even Jurassic World. Yes, you heard me right. Honestly, I’m pretty surprised myself. My kids love Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, and it looked harmless enough when I’d occasionally pass the screen while they were watching it. But then, one day, I stopped when I saw how scary it was and then reevaluated whether my kids should even be watching it. Turns out it’s okay to watch, but only with me present. That’s fine, too, because I love it, and I have five reasons why every Jurassic Park fan should be checking out this fantastic cartoon.
It Expands The Lore
If you’ve ever read the Michael Crichton books, you’ll know that there are a few differences from the Jurassic Park novels and the films. I don’t want to spoil anything here just in case you do want to read the two novels, but some characters die, an island gets destroyed, and some events happen that are entirely separate from the movies. So, reading the books isn’t always the best picture if you want to get the complete lore of the films.
But, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous definitely expands upon the world of JP/JW and even hints at events that might happen in future films. For example, throughout the show, there are breadcrumbs dropped about another company besides Ingen that might be trying to clone dinosaurs. This is something that we haven’t seen in the movies yet, and who knows? It might play a part in Jurassic World: Dominion. Only time will tell.
It Has A Great Cast Of Characters
The Jurassic Park series has always featured kids. From the first Jurassic Park with Tim and Lex Murphy (Played by Joseph Mazzello and Ariana Richards, respectively), to the first Jurassic World with Gary and Zack Mitchell (Played by Ty Simpkins and Nick Robinson, respectively), kids have always had a place on Isla Nublar, mostly to be chased by dinosaurs. Let’s be frank, though, it’s the adult characters that we all came to see. Dr. Grant, played by Sam Neill, Dr. Sattler, played by Laura Dern, Owen Grady, played by Chris Pratt, and of course, Dr. Ian Malcolm, played by Jeff Goldblum, are the real stars of the films.
Not so in Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, as we get six teenagers in Darius, Ben, Yasmina, Brooklynn, Kenji, and Sammy, instead. You might be thinking that you’d rather not spend all that much time with teenagers, but believe me when I say this—the teens on this show might be my favorite characters in the entire Jurassic Park franchise, second only to Dr. Ian Malcolm. They just have so much personality, and there’s that wonder but also that mixed sense of responsibility since they can’t rely on any of the adults. In fact, many of the adults on the show try to deceive them.
My two favorite characters are Darius, who’s obsessed with dinosaurs, and Sammy, whose spunkiness might get annoying if she weren't so earnest about it. All the characters are great, though, and you’re doing yourself a great disservice if you’re a JP/JW fan who hasn’t checked out this show yet.
Each Episode Is Like A Mini Movie
Here’s another big one. The movies often take a lot of time getting the viewer into the science of cloning. However, this is not so with Camp Cretaceous. Being a show for kids, the stories stay much closer to the characters, so the events that follow them are often super action-packed, with dinosaurs chasing them and everything.
And, the animation is top notch to boot. There are explosions, dinosaurs in every episode, stunts, car chases, you name it. Every story beat is meant to keep you engaged and just waiting for the next event to come on so you can hear that thunderous roar that precedes every episode.
It's Canon
Starting off just days before the events of the first Jurassic World, and then eventually merging with that story, the events in Camp Cretaceous are most definitely canon and essential viewing if you want the full Jurassic World experience. Dr. Grant and Dr. Sattler are mentioned on the show, the Indominus Rex in the movie makes an appearance in the series, and it just all feels super necessary now.
Think of it like this. You know how we didn’t think we needed Better Call Saul when it came to Breaking Bad, until we actually got it? Well, that’s what Jurassic Park: Camp Cretaceous feels like. Now that we have it, we need it. Especially since it’s considered canon and an essential part in the Jurassic Park/World franchise.
It's Additional Jurassic World. What More Could You Possibly Want As a Fan?
Most importantly, it’s just more Jurassic Park/World. I’m the kind of fan who debates whether The Lost World or Jurassic Park III is better, and it’s mostly because I love Jurassic Park and have a hard time waiting for each new movie to come out. Well, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom came out all the way back in 2018, and Jurassic World: Dominion isn’t scheduled to come out until 2022. So, what the hell am I supposed to do in between that time as a huge JP/JW fan?
Thankfully, I can just watch Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous. The first two seasons are available to stream right now on Netflix and Season 3 is supposed to be out on May 21st, so it’s not that far away! So, if there’s any reason to watch the cartoon, it’s that you can get more JP/JW right this instant! If that’s not reason enough to watch the show, then I don’t know what is.
Jurassic Park: Camp Cretaceous is just flat out amazing and you need to watch it if you love Jurassic Park. But, once you breeze through both seasons, check out what other 2021 Netflix TV series are available to watch.
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