'Jon & Kate Plus Eight' recap: Starting Over

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The drama had all but dissipated in the second episode, “Camping Out,” which was as wholesome and harmless as the series has been in quite a while. In Kate’s “first official turn with the kids,” she granted their wish for a backyard campout. For longtime fans, it was pretty jarring to see the very indoors-y Kate put together a tent (even if a PA does help with the second one) and inform us that she installed her first window screen. Not a changed woman, but as What About Bob's Dr. Leo Marvin might suggest, she’s taking baby steps.

The newly self-proclaimed “good sport” Ma Gosselin didn’t get much love from her peanut gallery initially as Leah chirped to a struggling Kate that “Daddy knows everything about camping.” That cuts deep, Leah, real deep. But Kate still allowed the kids to do some real skewering, of the far more delicious s’mores variety.

Again, Kate struggled to get a fire going as she explained, “I don’t get the principles of fire because I’m not a pyromaniac.” Uh, Kate, knowing how to start a small bonfire does not a pyromaniac make. Either way, her kids finally got on Team Kate and cheered her on with a chorus of “You can do it, Mommy!” while Aaden surveyed the scene, noting, “The whole world’s gonna have smoke in it.”

But, the most pleasant surprise to come out of tonight’s episode wasn’t Kate’s transition to can-do Mom, it was the kids having actual, non-corporate sponsored fun (okay, so Coleman and Hershey may have gotten a little bump). Mady (yes, that Mady) and Cara were in uncharacteristically good spirits and rather than having to watch more painfully awkward couch confessionals from Jon and Kate, we watched the kids give us their loud, giggly commentary instead. My favorite moment was when Alexis bragged “I had this many (s’mores)” while holding up all ten fingers, while her sister Leah, without missing a beat, responded “I had too many!”

You’ve gotta admit, even if it was for the cameras, Kate seemed a whole lot less shrill without Jon around and despite all my reservations, she did throw an awfully cool backyard campout. While the twins shared their own tent, Kate slept with the sextuplets and told us it was “nice to be surrounded by my babies.” If this is the direction the show plans to go in, and not the way of “Renovations and Vacations” I may just be willing to stay on board.

What about you out there, TV Watchers? Did you prefer the second episode over the first, too? Or did both leave you with an uneasy feeling? Or you on Team Jon, Kate, or neither? Are you glad the show is back, and for the most part, focusing more on the kids? Will you watch next week? Let us know!