Jurassic World: Chaos Theory Addresses Two Huge Problems the Movies Avoided

Throughout Season 1 of Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, fans witness the evolution of the Nublar Six. These are the six teenagers from the Camp Cretaceous story who hid out on Isla Nublar after the dinosaurs overran the park. Years later, they are back in America, grateful they survived that ordeal.

However, they’re pulled into a scandal involving dinosaur smuggling. Unfortunately, the chaos involves the death of Brooklynn, which pushes the group into sleuth mode again. In the process, Chaos Theory addresses two major issues that the movies glossed over, adding more nuance to this CGI cartoon.

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory Dissects Animal Park Cruelty

The Camp Cretaceous heroes realize someone is hunting them in the Chaos Theory story. Brooklynn’s death was no accident as someone is covering loose ends based on what Brooklynn discovered. It takes them to Colorado, where they learn Brooklynn was trying to infiltrate a smuggling ring. The gang splits up, with Ben and Sammy taking his RV to find Yaz, only to end up at a mini-park. Here, dinosaurs are being kept for tourists to ride, play with and take pictures of.

The problem is, these creatures are tazed and abused. In fact, they look sick, dehydrated and like they’re dying. Ben and Sammy hate what they’re seeing. Despite running into dangerous dinosaurs in the past, they made many dinosaur friends on Isla Nublar. Bumpy is atop the list as the ankylosaurus is like Ben’s sibling. Sammy brought her to her estate and took care of her, so she also considers dinosaurs to be family. When Ben and Sammy talk about trying to leave, they know they can’t do so without setting things right.

They talk about how unfair it is to cage dinosaurs that aren’t aggressive, but they also tackle something on a deeper level: the very idea of parks and how safaris like this are cruel. It ties into the idea of man playing god, from Dr. John Hammond bringing the creatures back using his scientists in the Jurassic Park movies, as well as how companies like Biosyn and Mantah Corp. (a firm Sammy was employed by as a spy) don’t mind caging and experimenting on the creatures. Ben and Sammy admit it’s all animal cruelty, whether it be dodgy, dusty parks or high-tech facilities.

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The movies dodged this arc, focusing on the evil corporations, while painting the lush parks as sanctuaries. Even those with resources and sprawling nature spreads might not be fit to take care of these animals. It’s something viewers saw addressed in documentaries like Blackfish and Tiger King. These eco-documentaries address aqua-parks, safaris and exactly who is equipped to be these officials. Ben and Sammy speak about capitalists ruining the concept of havens, and that, no matter what, all parks exploit animals.

This kind of animal cruelty isn’t spoken of in the movies because the people who brought dinosaurs back or who act as custodians are considered scientific innovators or heroes, from Dr. Allan Grant to Ellie, to Claire to Owen. However, it cannot be denied that there is some form of punishment and control meted out with these heroes controlling, corralling and studying the creatures. Sure, they help save the day when the dinosaurs run loose, but they’re all culpable. Thankfully, Ben and Sammy free the creatures and shut the park down, but this mini-park leaves them wondering about the hypocrisy of all parties, including themselves.

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory Deals With PTSD From Dinosaur Attacks

It takes Ben and Sammy some time to get to Yaz to warn her about how they are being stalked and targeted. Notably, Yaz has stayed away from all the drama. She just hones her craft on an island connected via a bridge to the mainland. There are no dinosaurs around. Many survivors of dinosaur attacks go there for therapy to heal from the creatures who are in the wild after the end of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. The commune has been traumatized and mentally scarred in the past. Yaz is studying and mentoring others like her, as she is still petrified from being on Isla Nublar.

The colony has cameras, extra security measures, and holograms of dinosaurs to help people confront their fears. Yaz admits people prefer to stay here rather than integrate into society. Part of her is running from her problems to the point that Yaz and Sammy grow apart. It takes a toll on their relationship. Sammy does give Yaz the benefit of the doubt due to her PTSD, but it drives a wedge between them. Yaz won’t budge, however. They’re not haunted by stray dogs; T-Rexes are loose, for example. The fact an allosaurus killed Brooklynn justifies Yaz’s fears. The movies glossed over this, failing to recognize the pain and fright these heroes have been left with.

The protagonists just keep rolling with the punches, moving from sequel to sequel, or appearing in cameos. No one points out that there are people going through human arcs. Hammond’s grandchildren almost died in the first film, along with Ian, Ellie and others, who are always one bite away from death. Claire and Owen have their “daughter” in Maisie, who ran into monstrous jaws on so many occasions. However, it’s all idealistic. They’re mentally rigid, impervious and invulnerable. Yaz makes it clear this isn’t the case for everyone. Yaz did a lot as a hero in the Camp Cretaceous episodes, but she is a vulnerable victim who needs therapy and understandably so.

In a world where more families are being terrorized, it’s a welcome, relatable arc. In the end, the villains send the allosaurs to Yaz’s colony, leading to it killing some of the citizens. It’s very dark, ending all the good work that was done with the citizens. It extends the PTSD narrative regarding Yaz and her squad. It looks like these victims cannot avoid this scary new world or find a place to heal. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 1 addressed PTSD with Cate Randa after a Godzilla attack, so it is interesting to see Hollywood noting that these monsters can’t be celebrated with glamor all the time. Not at the expense of the human experience.

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory Brings Camp Cretaceous Full-Circle

This is a very mature approach. It shows kids growing up and becoming cognizant of the toxic systems they are a part of. Their parents spent money to send them to a camp where dinosaurs shouldn’t have been created or held. Now, they’re paying the consequences. At least, they’re acknowledging this mistake and steadfastly trying to conjure a solution where both species can co-exist. The first step is to stop the smuggling and ensure no more elite individuals get to run their parks of torture for fun and games in Chaos Theory Season 2.

It’s more than survival. The “Camp Fam” has a higher calling. Darius accepted this purpose when he joined the Department of Prehistoric Wildlife (DPW), only to learn they have corrupt agents selling dinosaurs to people like the Broker and Whistle Woman. Secondly, the time on the island and Yaz’s woes have the others wondering if they’ve been repressing their own terror. They were subject to living on their own and nearly dying for months on end, so there must have been some damage done to their minds.

This grounded approach makes the Netflix series feel like this is what would happen if dinosaurs did come into the real world. There would be victims with nightmares after the attacks, whether there were casualties or not, and there would be people trying to end the idea of all parks. Ultimately, the Nublar Six can reform as Brooklynn is alive. It’ll be up to them to unlock the conspiracy and ensure they break this vicious cycle where dinosaurs are viewed as pets, while helping find a way for them to occupy their own space away from humanity.

All 10 episodes of Jurassic World: Chaos Theory are now streaming on Netflix.

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory

In an adventurous continuation of a popular dinosaur saga, the delicate balance between humans and dinosaurs is once again disrupted. When a new, formidable hybrid dinosaur escapes containment, a seasoned team of experts must come together to prevent a catastrophe that threatens global safety.

Release Date

May 24, 2024

Cast

Paul-Mikél Williams , Sean Giambrone , Raini Rodriguez , Ryan Potter

Seasons

1

Story By

Michael Crichton

Showrunner

Scott Kreamer , Aaron Hammersley

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