"Up, Up and Away" is the sixteenth and final episode in Season 3 of Bunk'd and the fifty-eighth overall. It first aired on September 21, 2018, to 0.65 million viewers.
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Plot
When Emma, Zuri, and Ravi get new jobs, they learn that their mom plans to sell the camp. Fearing that Lou will be devastated, they decide to break the news to her on a hot air balloon ride.
Why It Rocks
- Emma, Ravi, and Zuri leave camp to pursue their own paths, marking a meaningful transition in the series. This allows their characters to have a satisfying conclusion as main protagonists.
- Although this episode marks Ravi and Zuri’s final appearances, Emma’s eventual return in the Season 5 premiere gives fans a nostalgic callback to the original characters.
- Destiny, Matteo and Finn are more likable than they we're for the majority of the season.
- The appearance of Doug, the Kikiwaka’s son, is a fun addition to the lore of Camp Kikiwaka and adds an element of whimsy to the episode.
- The storyline about Timmy giving up on entering Kikiwaka and finding a new family with the Kikiwaka and Doug is a sweet and heartwarming conclusion to his recurring arc.
- The ending of the Ross kids giving the ownership to Lou was heartwarming and emotional.
- It's improvement over the season as a whole.
- Despite being renewed for a season 4, this episode ends the Jessie spin-off on a good note.
Bad Qualities
- Karan Brar and Skai Jackson leaving the series permanently means fans never get to see Ravi and Zuri again which is a bittersweet loss.
- The introduction of the Kikiwaka’s son, Doug, could have been further explored in future episodes, but his appearance is limited to this one episode, leaving his character undeveloped.
- While his resolution is heartwarming, Timmy’s storyline ending here means fans won’t see further growth or interaction with the main cast.
- With the departure of the Ross siblings and the show’s increasing focus on new characters, longtime fans might feel alienated, as the series moves further away from its original roots, with the later seasons not being well-received by fans.
Reception
The reception of "Up, Up and Away," the Season 3 finale of Bunk'd, was generally positive among fans, especially compared to the rest of the season. Many viewers appreciated the emotional depth and sense of closure the episode brought, making it a highlight of an otherwise mixed season. However, some fans continued to express disappointment over the significant cast changes and tonal shifts introduced in Season 3. While the finale was seen as a step in the right direction, it couldn't fully reconcile the dissatisfaction some felt about the direction the series had taken since its earlier seasons.