‘Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty’ Recap – ‘Episode 13: A Turning Tide’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season finale of ‘Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty’.
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It is definitely safe to say, that the BBC America series, Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty, has taken us on quite the powerful ride. For what started out as a plucky and joyous return to the Kalahari to spend time with the always cute meerkat… has transformed into a harrowing lesson on the power and the chaos of mother nature. Since we’ve been privy to some tough moments in the back half of this season, the kind that have reminded us that a single moment can change everything for the animals of the world… as evidenced by last week’s stunning revelations and cliffhangers. But therein, lies the brilliance of this documentary series.
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Because it’s behind the scenes team, are fully aware of the fact that the natural world is a harsh place where good times come and go because of the chaos that permeates the universe and being honest about that and presenting it to us in the raw is the way to go. So that we are given an honest snapshot of what life is really like in the Kalahari and that was never more evident than it was during last night’s season finale. Since ‘Episode 13: A Turning Tide’ hammered home the ups and downs and sheer chaos of life in the wild, by presenting us with a healthy mix of joyous and wondrous moments, alongside some unsavory and unsettling ones, the kind that leave one wondering what the future will hold for one particular family in the Kalahari.

But before we discuss that, let’s talk about the joyous stuff. Because it was quite the relief to learn that the Ubuntu Tribe actually managed to get advance word that the flood was coming and they did the right thing and evacuated their burrow post haste, without a single loss of life. And while they aren’t exactly in the best position burrow wise because of their hastened exit, they’re alive and able to fight another day and you can’t ask for much more than that in the wild. Plus, this story also informed us that the Hakuna Matata Family was picking up the pieces and starting over after last week’s devastating loss. So, the family could put that sadness behind them and grow and prosper and it was quite beautiful to see them work together to move on from loss and forge a healthy path forward and give the remaining pups every chance to grow. 

Which are a pair of storylines that stand in stark contrast to what happened with the Whiskers family in this tale. Because Swift’s decision to let so many of her pregnant daughter’s sleep in the same burrow, brought about some serious strife. For Bell Hurricane got it in her head that someone needed to step up to the plate and take control of the future of so many pups, and that it needed to be her. Which in turn motivated her to murder a litter that wasn’t her own and take charge of the family. Leaving everyone to wonder what comes next for the Whiskers family, since they are now facing unprecedented times with there being an outright power struggle in the fam, thanks to so many competing mothers, including Swift, since she has another litter on the way.

But that really is the best way to point out that this is a series about natural life, and that there are no easy answers for wild animals when it comes to what tomorrow will bring. They can only do their best to survive and work together with one another to make that happen and well… that’s where we leave these cute little critters, with each of them trying to accomplish just that and hopefully, this isn’t the end of our journey through the Kalahari. For this season of storytelling was downright brilliant to say the least since it explored so much about the meerkat and told a compelling story through and through and this writer genuinely hopes that this chapter in the meerkat saga gets a another season. So that audiences everywhere can learn while being entertained and so we can see what comes next for the descendants of Flower as they continue to work to keep the family line alive for as long as chaos will allow. Until next time.

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