Get ready for three times the Meerkat in one recap as we take you through the final episodes of the season!
Let’s begin with “The Rovers Return,” featuring everyone’s favorite meerkat ladies man, Wilson. This particular morning, he’s sauntering by the Commandos’ crib, but with Zorro now glued to his mother Nikita’s side, the welcome mat is not exactly out. Wilson not only needs a new place to call home, but a new group as well, hopefully one where he can take on the role of dominant male. With wingman Phillippe by his side, Wilson’s chances of succeeding are vastly improved.
It’s been a rainy summer in the Kalahari – rainy as in “torrential downpours” -- enough to make the Whiskers’ burrow look like an island rising among the tall manor grass. Whiskers’ leader Rocket Dog is in the final weeks of her pregnancy, but she’s not the only one expecting. She’s managed to evict most of her competition, with the exception of Rita as well as Wiley Kat, who is due very soon and needs to stay on Rocket Dog’s good side as long as possible. Of the other pregnant females already evicted,
only Sophie remains in the vicinity. Her hopes of giving birth within the Whiskers’ safe haven have all but disappeared, but she’s still lurking close by in case the tide should turn. For now, her efforts to get back in their good graces are put on hold as an eagle in the area sends everyone running for cover.
It’s a close call, but now the Whiskers have roving Wilson and his sidekick Phillippe nosing about. Wilson is certainly popular among the Whiskers’ girls – let’s be honest, he’s likely the baby daddy for all of them (now there’s a talk show interview waiting to happen!). But Mitch doesn’t have any intention of giving up his position as dominant male, at least not without a fight. Even though Wilson has Phillippe to watch his back, the duo is no match for Mitch and his lieutenants.
Sophie has been watching the attempted coup from the sidelines, but when Wilson and his buddy dart away, she takes advantage of the situation and heads after him, hoping to spark a reunion. She gets exactly what she wished for, thanks in part to Phillippe, who distracts the Whiskers long enough for Wilson to lead Sophie to a bolt hole for a little privacy.Though Sophie has spent the afternoon with her long lost love, it turns out she’s been creeping back into the Whiskers’ burrow at night to catch some zzz’s after everyone else has gone to bed. This time, she finds pregnant Wiley Kat blocking her path, and she’s all too happy to deny her sister Sophie entry, especially if it’s going to earn brownie points with Rocket Dog. Wiley Kat's pledge of allegiance doesn’t prove to be enough – the next morning, Rocket Dog gives her the boot and it couldn’t come at a worse time because Wiley Kat is due any minute. Now the only person Wiley Kat can turn to is the very same sister she refused just the night before, but Sophie knows what it’s like to be an outcast and quickly forgives and forgets. They head below ground, as Wiley Kat’s pups could easily arrive before nightfall.
Meanwhile, Wilson and Phillippe have set their sights on Maybelline and the Aztecs but first they will need to oust her father Zaphod. He may be more of a senior citizen meerkat when it comes to the manor, but that doesn’t mean he’s lost his fight. While Phillippe tries to take on Zaphod, Wilson attempts to woo Maybelline; however, both fail and it appears this dynamic duo may not be so dynamic after all.
As for Wiley Kat, her litter did indeed come during the night, but sadly none of them made it. The deaths may be a sign of things to come for Sophie as well, as pups born away from an established group rarely survive for long, if at all. Fortunately, Wilson and Phillippe return to make it a foursome, but whether or not they’ll become a force to be reckoned with remains to be seen.
In the next episode, “Home Alone,” we head back to the Whiskers’ burrow, where Rocket Dog has just given birth to four new pups. The new mom managed to evict nearly every other adult female that posed a threat prior to the pups’ arrival, with the exception of 1-year-old Rita who is expecting a litter of her own soon.
Rita is also well aware that her pups would have a much better chance of survival if Rocket Dog’s litter were to conveniently “disappear.” It would be the darkest of deeds, but it’s not out of the question, so it’s a bit surprising that Rocket Dog chooses to leave Rita in charge while the rest of the group heads out to forage.
Just down the road, Sophie, Wiley Kat, Wilson and Phillippe are still together a week after first joining forces, which bodes well for Sophie’s own forthcoming litter and their chance of survival. Their good luck is temporarily thrown off by the presence of a genet, a catlike predator that fancies the undergrowth as a resting place until nightfall when it becomes more active. The Kalahari kitty cat is not a serious threat, but the foursome play it safe and take refuge in their bolt hole for the rest of the day. Later, Sophie discovers the genet has finally wandered off for greener pastures, but unfortunately, so have Wilson and Phillippe. It looks like she’ll be facing life as a single parent after all.
Meanwhile, the Whiskers return from a successful outing. Their good fortune is marred, however, when Rocket Dog heads underground to feed her pups, and she makes a grizzly discovery. The blood around Rita’s mouth confirms her worst fears. The pups are gone. It’s a shocking move, and it may prove to be a fruitless one, as Rita ends up bearing just one pup of her own, Juno. Most of the Whiskers seem indifferent to his arrival, even his own mother. In the distance, Sophie and Wiley Kat keep an eye on the situation, looking for any opportunity to make their way back into the fold to give Sophie’s forthcoming litter a chance of survival.
It looks like Sophie's persistence has paid off – three weeks later, we discover that Sophie has not only been allowed to return, but put in charge of watching wee Juno. With her own litter of three new pups – Pickle, Chips and Flashman – Sophie has also beefed up the Whiskers’ strength in numbers. Their expanding brood is threatened by vultures lurking overhead. Normally, Rocket Dog would have moved her clan to a new burrow by now, but the births caused a delay and now they have no choice but to attempt the relocation under dangerous circumstances. In the chaos, Juno is left behind, but Rita’s maternal instincts finally kick in and she helps him to safety.
And so we head into the final episode of the season, and with a title like “The Darkest Day,” one can only imagine what trouble lies ahead. For the Whiskers, it looks like it’s come in the form of a puff adder that infiltrated the burrow the night before in search of a pup buffet. Juno and Sophie’s triplets cheat death, but Rocket Dog is severely wounded in the line of duty with a snake bite to the head. Her best chance of survival is to move as little as possible, but this is no time for R&R – it’s imperative to get the pups and the rest of the group to a new burrow as soon as possible. With Rocket Dog out of commission and fighting for her life, the move is painstakingly slow and interrupted by the presence of another group in the distance. The Whiskers are forced to take cover in the nearest bolt hole until the danger passes, while Rocket Dog fears she may meet the same fate as her beloved mother Flower.
Meanwhile, over at the Commandos, Miles has returned from life as an outcast – Zorro had thrown him
out earlier in the season – and he scans the group for any signs of his foe. Zorro is nowhere to be seen. Could the job of dominant male be up for grabs? Maybe, but Miles is not the only one interested in the position. Brother Baker has his eye on the prize as well, and the two soon get into a bloody battle. Nikita even gets involved for a bit, surprisingly helping Miles pin down Baker, but she eventually leaves the two males to hash it out mano-a-mano.
Back at the Whiskers’ bolt hole pit stop, things have gone from bad to worse. Not only is venom coursing through Rocket Dog’s veins and threatening to take her life, but now a mole snake is lying in wait to ambush the rest of the group as they try to make a move. Fortunately, Axel keeps the predator distracted long enough for Sophie to get the pups to safer digs. Mitch stays behind to keep vigil over his fallen sister.
The shot of a radio collar in a tree can only mean one thing: the manor has lost a leader … but who? In this case, it is not Flower’s daughter Rocket Dog, but rather her son Zorro, who not only lived by the claw, but died by it as well. Though it seems like Rocket Dog may not be far behind in meeting the same fate, she manages to muster up enough strength to catch up with her family at their new home. After three days, her swelling begins to subside and her status switches from severe to survivor. Though Sophie is waiting in the wings to take over the reins of leadership, Rocket Dog has clearly proven her power, strength and ability to overcome the odds.
An amazing end to an amazing season – be sure to share your thoughts, and come back next to week to sound off about your top moments from the entire season!
Over at the Commandos, Nikita’s pups are also eating solids but opt for something with a little more kick: scorpions. While a scorpion’s venom is powerful enough to kill a human, meerkats have built-in immunity. The Commandos have a thing or two to learn when it comes to sharing, though – stepdad Zorro has no intention of giving any part of his meal to the pups, while Nikita bullies Miles into giving up his grub.
Three may be a crowd, but in this case, sticking together is the best option if they want to survive.
Back on the other side of the manor, the Aztecs have managed to flee the Lazuli for now, taking temporary refuge at a riverside bolt hole. Problem is, it’s just that – temporary. Maybelline is stuck between a rock and a hard place – she can’t go across the river bed, as that’s where sister-turned-enemy Rocket Dog has claimed her spot, but going back the other way will bring more Lazuli trouble and could prove to be disastrous. However, being homeless and pregnant isn’t an option as well, so Maybelline gathers her troops, small as the numbers might be, and her courage, and marches everyone to battle.
Nugget and Beaker need some nourishment as well, but Sophie is not lactating and Rocket Dog could be away with the family for awhile. Simon decides the pups might enjoy something a bit heartier like a centipede, but Beaker claims the grub for herself before Nugget can get a bite. Thought the pups have yet to wander away from the safety of the burrow, Simon and Sophie decide a breakfast outing is in order.
During their foraging, the Whiskers come across one of their old stomping grounds that’s since been occupied by new tenants. The scent is familiar, and it doesn’t take long to figure out Maybelline and her Aztecs have been in residence. The Whiskers set about reclaiming the property, but making their mark isn’t the top priority. The discovery of the Aztecs’ presence in the burrow reveals just how closely the mob has nosed their way into Whiskers territory. If Rocket Dog doesn’t track them down before sister Maybelline discovers her newborns, their lives will be in grave danger.
The only drawback of the fertile land is a lack of camouflage – a brown meerkat stands out against the backdrop of green grass and spring flowers.
However, Mitch has Rocket Dog’s back, keeping an eye on things so she can feast with little worry of predators.
Speaking of returns, Wilson has come back but this time he’s brought a wing man, Phillipe, to distract Axel so he can get some quality time with Sophie. The plan seems to be working, as Axel heads off after Phillipe, but Wilson’s scheme is interrupted with the return of the Whiskers clan. Now that Axel has a little more muscle on his side, his courage flourishes. He runs off Phillipe, while Mitch decides to show Wilson who’s boss at this manor.
While Nikita’s pregnancy has apparently made her increasingly feisty, Rocket Dog’s has made her particularly nervous. She needs a safe place to give birth. Now that Zorro has switched sides, Mitch has taken over responsibilities as the Whiskers’ dominant male and is on protection watch. Good thing too, as they spot a group of mysterious meerkats in the distance. The last thing the Whiskers need right now is a scuffle, but with Rocket Dog pregnant, this is no time to back down. They successfully chase off the strangers, and in the process, discover a burrow that could serve as a potential delivery room. Young Axel helps Mitch tidy up the new digs, but when Rocket Dog discovers the local offerings are lacking, she’s forced to keep the family moving to find food.
Nikita has no intentions of stopping there. One by one, her initial group of 10 females dwindles, even though none of them are likely pregnant or any kind of true threat to Nikita’s status. Why takes chances, though? Zorro realizes it’s best to agree with the Mrs. and joins in on her kicking to the curb party. By the time she’s done, only Samba and Mash remain, and Nikita suddenly realizes she may have been a bit overzealous in her evictions, considering she’s going to need some baby-sitters very soon. It looks like Zorro may need to take on some Mr. Mom duties as well.
Guess Little Orphan Annie was right, because the sun does indeed come out tomorrow, and with it the revelation of Rocket Dog’s secret – if you guessed hers was of the plus sign on an EPT stick variety, you were right! Not everyone is psyched about this news – namely, Sophie, who may be with child (or actually, children) herself. Iif Rocket Dog perceives her as a threat, Sophie can count on one thing for sure: eviction.
Across the desert, Maybelline and her Aztecs have found a potential new home, though it needs a little sprucing up. Thankfully, meerkats have built-in Swiffers of sorts with their paws. Seacrest sounds the alarm bark in the middle of the repairs, but the others can’t get a clear look at the source behind his call, so they let it pass.
The Whiskers best be careful where they wander – the Commandos territory is less than a mile away, and fearless leader Nikita has made it crystal clear who’s boss. Thanks to their aggressive and intimidating stance, she and the Commandos have managed to carve out a large chunk of land rich with food, and they’ll do whatever it takes to keep it that way.
Maybelline is really in dire straits, as her posse of Aztecs now stands just seven strong, so it's even more important for her to find a partner who can give her pups. Little Murray begs to be noticed, but let's be honest — is anyone who is referred to as "little" really a contender for a dominant female meerkat? I think we all know the answer to that question, though props to Murray for ousting a mongoose to secure his family a new home.
At the Whiskers burrow, Rocket Dog has gotten rid of her dad, but she's got other threats cramping her style: namely, younger sisters Hawkeye and Sophie, who could potentially attract a mate first. Rocket Dog realizes it's vital for her to bear pups ASAP, or her status as leader could be MIA.
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