Camping Review: Fishing Trip (Season 1 Episode 3)
On Camping Season 1 Episode 3, “Fishing Trip,” the men attempt to bond, and Walter discusses his marital problems.
Whatever journey of self-discovery this group is supposed to be embarking on during this forced march into the wilderness is progressing at an agonizingly slow pace. Usually, HBO’s half-hour comedies manage to move storylines forward while featuring well-developed characters.
Interactions aren’t always meaningful but, at the very least, relevant or memorable in some way. Camping suffers from an odd problem — plotlines are fractured and abrupt while each episode tries to take on too much.
“Fishing Trip” misses the opportunity to explore the interpersonal dynamics between old college pals Walter, George, and Miguel, and odd-man-out, Joe. But Konner and Dunham seem disinterested in exploring male friendships.
To most women, the bond forged between men is difficult to comprehend and bears no resemblance to female friendships which are assumed to be more complex. That seems unfair, but this stereotype is perpetuated over and over again.
Women go so much deeper (Walter, Miguel, George, and Joe are even standing in waist deep water).
Walter has no intimacy in his marriage, and this revelation doesn’t generate much of an empathetic response from the other men. Instead, Walter’s revelation results in a pissing contest of sorts, leaving Walter looking even more emasculated than he has so far.
More disturbingly, a frustrated Walter states, “But I can’t — you can’t pin a woman down. Those days are definitely over.”
So, Walter would consider sexually assaulting his wife if it weren’t for the Time’s Up and Me Too movements? Walter says this almost wistfully, as if marital rape has gone the way of wishing someone “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.”
Viewers finally see some vulnerability in Joe who confronts the others about being constantly dismissed and excluded (although with these guys you have to wonder why he cares). His legitimate grievances are tossed aside.
Camping Season 1 Episode 3 is all about the p###y. Who’s getting it, who’s not — its power as both a word, and as something that elicits pain and pleasure.
The word is thrown around so much on “Fishing Trip,” it feels intentionally provocative and crass. But it’s on everybody’s mind, particularly Walt’s.
He returns from fishing infused with a fresh dose of testosterone, and just the slightest promise of sexual access to Kathryn has him leaping on top of his wife, literally pinning her down. The end result is pathetic. A man with his pants around his ankles who is pushed aside.
It’s difficult to feel pity for either Kathryn or Walt which is one of the biggest problems with Camping. Kathryn’s been reduced to a series of physical ailments — the walking wounded. But she’s also cruel, self-absorbed, and critical.
She’s the worst female trope. The uptight, frigid bitch who’s reduced her husband to a metaphorical eunuch. Walter is so meek, he hides snacks Kathryn wouldn’t approve of, but he also flirts with the idea of physical aggression to fulfill his needs.
What did you think of this episode of Camping? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Camping airs Sundays at 8/7c on HBO.
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Jennifer Lind-Westbrook
Jennifer has been working as a freelance writer for six years, contributing to BuddyTV, Screen Rant, TVRage, Hidden Remote, Gossip On This, and PopMatters. She prefers binge-watching old episodes of The Office (British and American versions) to long walks on the beach. She's still holding out hope that Happy Endings will get a revival.