‘Meerkat Manor: ‘Rise of the Dynasty’ Recap – ‘Chapter 10: Homecomings’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Ten of ‘Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty’.
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For the most part, documentary shows tend to gloss over mating season and its aftermath and understandably so. After all, documentaries tend to have a bevy of other topics and moments to share with their audience, so pointing out the fact that animal’s mate and have babies in a matter-of-fact manner, allows for the show to cover the life cycle quickly to maximize its running time. But there is one slight drawback in regard to that particular decision. In that, we truly don’t get the full picture of what the life cycle really looks for a particular species and that’s unfortunate since there are so many other habits and nuances and cycles that happen in between the moment they choose to take a mate and that is why we can be supremely thankful for shows such as Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty.

Because this particular show leaves nothing out and we are privy to every single moment of the meerkat life cycle and for proof, then look no further than last night’s tale. For ‘Chapter 10: Homecomings’ took us into the period of time after the meerkat opts to mate in a detailed fashion, by first informing us of the fact that shortly after the season ends… a different sense of renewal begins. For the rains hit around that time and make the world lush and lovely and that in turn allowed for several families to relocate and enjoy the bounties of the Kalahari and take on new responsibilities as well. Since Swift was forced to put on a bevy of hats to raise her new little ones, thanks to the fact that she kicked all of her help out at the height of her pregnancy. But with a little effort and care and help from Brea, she was able to keep things going with the family and thrive as they always do.

But starting over with young ones isn’t the only thing that meerkats take part in during this time of year. For this is also a season where meerkats that didn’t form a new family, are forced to return home for their own safety and survival and that tends to come with mixed results. Because sometimes, a meerkat is quickly welcomed home, like Gerk was. Since everyone greeted him warmly and had no problem with him going off to try and find romance and start his own family. But others, simply aren’t so lucky. The Native for instance, had concerns and worries about returning to the Ubuntu family… largely because she was aware of how pregnant Daisy was and how matriarchs respond to potential threats to their pups, and she was right to be concerned. Because despite her best efforts to sneak in and just blend back in with the family, Daisy wasn’t cool with her return and cast her out without giving it a second thought.

However, while all of those elements were intimate and fascinating, they paled in comparison to the most unique journey present in this tale. For we also caught up with Belphegor in this story and came to learn that he too was making the long journey home after his attempts at starting a family outright evaporated. But along the way, he ran into another lonesome meerkat named Pixie and well, it turns out that the kindred spirits they shared in failure, motivated them to become road brothers. The kind that watched one another’s backs and where they did as they pleased, and they were so enamored by their unexpected freedom… that they decided this was the life for them and they could enjoy the bounties of the world until the time came to forge a family and they simply headed off into the Kalahari to live their lives as they pleased.

Which really was quite the incredible surprise, since everything we’ve seen so far has indicated that meerkats hate living alone. Something that was reinforced here by The Native’s bold plan to get back in the burrow. But apparently, from time to time, a meerkat or two will enjoy living on the road and that really was quite amazing to learn, as was everything else in this tale. Since we really did get a quality follow up on what life is like in the Kalahari when mating season comes to a close and really, who knew that there was so much activity during this particular time of year? But thanks to this wonderful series, we are now fully aware of that and that in turn, will make the wait for next week’s episode quite difficult. Since we are once again, eager to see what other incredible moments we will be privy to, in the heart of the Kalahari. Until next time.

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