Ep 18. Camping

In The Neighbors season 1 episode 18, titled "Camping," the Weavers plan a family camping trip in order to bond with their alien neighbors in a more natural setting. However, everyone's definition of "camping" is different, and tensions begin to rise as the two families try to navigate the great outdoors together.

Debbie Weaver is determined to make the trip a success, despite her husband Marty's reluctance and the aliens' complete ignorance about earthly camping traditions. Though Marty is convinced that things will go wrong from the start, Debbie insists that they need to learn how to coexist with their neighbors in a more relaxed environment. She envisions a weekend full of fun, games, and marshmallow-roasting.

The Zabvronians, however, have a vastly different interpretation of camping. When Jackie Joyner-Kersee explains that their idea of "roughing it" involves sleeping in mineral pools and foraging for food on an uninhabited planet, the Weavers are at a loss. They try to compromise by suggesting that they all sleep in tents and cook hotdogs over an open flame, but Larry Bird's snooty attitude and Reggie Jackson's fear of the dark throw a wrench into their plans.

As they set up camp, tensions continue to escalate. Jackie's insistence on digging a pit to roast meat leaves a giant hole in the ground that the Weavers are convinced is a danger to their children. Reggie's paranoia about bears leads him to buy a bear trap, which he then accidentally sets off on himself.

The Weavers are frustrated that the aliens don't seem to understand how to interact with nature, but the Zabvronians are equally bewildered by the human love of sleeping on uncomfortable surfaces and eating mediocre food. As night falls, a thunderstorm rolls in, and everyone is forced to huddle together in the Weavers' tent.

It's in this cramped setting that tensions finally boil over. Larry Bird and Jackie Joyner-Kersee get into a heated argument about who's the better athlete, while Reggie Jackson reveals that he's never actually slept outside before. Meanwhile, the Weavers bicker over the fact that Debbie's insistence on making the trip perfect has only made things worse.

In the end, the storm passes and everyone emerges from the tent exhausted and cranky. But as they pack up their gear, Debbie realizes that the trip wasn't a total disaster - they may not have bonded in the way she hoped, but they did learn a little bit more about each other. As they head back to their homes, both the Weavers and the Zabvronians have a newfound appreciation for the challenges of camping - and for each other.