So it turns out the Lumberjanes series has reached its conclusion with volume 20: “End of Summer Adventure”. This series has had ups and downs and I think the conclusion is a little mixed. On the one hand, the questions that really need answering are resolved. For example, what’s up with Rosie, what’s really going on in the forest around the camp, and what’s the spooky bad thing that got released a volume or two ago.
But then again, the actual reveals are kind of mundane and the pacing is really just rush to save everyone, and get help from the powers that be. That’s it; no real investigating, no working together (everyone’s split up into groups to get the word out to all their friends), no real departure either. The scurry to briefly bring back nearly every supernatural friend from across the series, along with an appreciate reference to a good opening gag from volume 1, is just a sequence of cameos without much real tension. One of the merfolk from about 9 volumes ago can’t get their sea serpents to safety? Seafarin’ Karen to the rescue! Don’t remember exactly who/what that is? Oh well, and on to the next replay of this same basic idea.
The overall explanation for the overall threat and the nature of the Lumberjane forest actually does work well, but the surprise reveal of what the evil thing is is also kind of dull. The main group of Lumberjanes also spends most of the the final episode doing their own thing; that doesn’t fit with a key part of the series, namely “Friendship to the max!” Sure, they’re all together in the end, after saving someone from trying to save everything by some self-sacrifice that’s already gotten one character, and threatens to take over another.
And there’s no group good-bye other than a reference to “I’m all hugged out”! What’s up with that? No parting of the ways really. Given the diverse family backgrounds, that was disappointing.
The end wasn’t a total loss though; afterwards, there was a brief series of small stories that probably took place near the end of the summer involving both the camp part of the setting, as well as the group. One of them was a total inside joke I am not quite in the knowing of, but most of them were cute camp group things like group craft, midnight (slightly illicit) hike, etc.
