BWW Recap: WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER, Episodes Three and Four

We continue on with the saga of the First Day of Camp in Waterville, Maine. There has already been one casualty on the battlefields of Camp Firewood. Oh and if you were worried that President Reagan wasn't going to make an appearance, rest assured.

Episode Three - Camp Activities

Mitch has fallen into the toxic waste and is dying. He begs Beth and Greg to "Get the code," before he drowns. In full panic mode, Beth realizes she has to reactivate Jonas' military past so he can recall a military code. Jonas digs deep with the encouragement of Mitch who has been reincarnated as , you guessed it, a can of vegetables, and is able to retrieve the secret code. With the help of computer nerd Steve (Kevin Sussman), they are easily able to hack into the government system and realize just how far this toxic waste conspiracy goes. Cut to the White House, where Ron (Judah Friedlander) informs President Reagan (Michael Showalter) that Greg and Beth have hacked in and know everything. Reagan orders Ron to activate, "The Falcon." The secret assassin receives his order in Argentina and heads to Maine.

Donna has apologized to Coop and gives him a special present. He is satisfied until he realizes she brought the same gift for literally everyone else in camp. She gives him a ridiculous hat and he forgives her yet again. Andy is still fruitlessly pursuing Katie to no avail. Katie's boyfriend, Blake, shows up in her bunk and threatens her that if she doesn't show up at the Camp Tiger Claw Formal that night and leave her worthless Firewood friends behind, they are OVER!

Lindsay finally learns from J.J. that a mysterious ex-camper lives in the cabin named Eric. Eric had the potential to be a rockstar at one time when a music executive showed up to see his band, "The Rockin' Knights of Summer," perform. They got signed, they recorded, but Eric lost his mind and became a recluse and no one ever heard the recordings. Lindsay reports back to her boss at Rock & Roll World that she has found her story.

Episode Four - Auditions

Why, hello, David Hyde Pierce. Yes, we are introduced to Professor Henry Neumann tirelessly working to get published and promoted by his boss, the Dean who clearly prefers his cocky colleague. After one final rejection, he flips out on the Dean and makes a scene. (A Dean scene, if you will... sorry). Anyway, Henry's friend encourages him to get away and gives him the name of a realtor who is renting out serene properties in Waterford, Maine. Upon first glance, Henry rents the house at Camp Firewood.

In the theatre world, Claude and Susie are so disgusted at the way rehearsals are going for Electro/City. Luckily, Abraham gets injured which gives them the opportunity to recast his role as well as Danny and Becky to their dismay. They hold auditions as Claude does his best Simon Cowell impersonation and destroys the dreams of, actually, quite good singers. Camper, Logan blows them away with his rendition of Corner of the Sky. And Katie impresses as well and is cast in the lead with Logan. And then Andy arrives deciding to audition when he finds out he would be kissing Katie at the end of the show. Precious, precious Andy and his audition wows the directors and the reconsider and put him in Logan's place, but keep Logan in the show and cast Ben to replace Abraham. Ben meets McKinley and the two immediately hit it off even though Ben wasn't aware that McKinley was, "creative."

Gail finally confronts Jonas about his past, but he assures her she has nothing to worry about. Gail goes to the Town Records office to investigate. Clerk, Jeff, helps her dig in and discover that Jonas is really dead and the man she is marrying is Gene Jenkinson, a Vietnam Vet who loves to cook and who is clearly, slowly, becoming unhinged.

Finally, Hypnotist Jackie Brazen shows up to perform a show for the campers. At the end, Beth catches him in a lie and he is revealed (ala Total Recall style mask) that he is, "The Falcon." And he has arrived to kill them.

We are heading into midday here at Camp Firewood and it is smooth sailing. It doesn't feel like they skipped a beat thus far. I mean, we even got to see the origin story of the talking can of vegetables. That's attention to detail, people! As you may have noticed, I'm a tad obsessed with Andy, nearly as much as J.J. is, but I'm not going to apologize. But let's not count out the incredible work of one, Christopher Meloni. But I will gush about him on another day, as I know that in this series? His best is yet to come...

Moment That Can't be Missed:

• Chris Meloni's trip into his subconscious.

New Faces:

• Jon Hamm as "The Falcon:

• Chris Pine as reclusive rock star, Eric

• Rob Heubel as Professor Brodford Gilroy

• Richard Schiff as Dean Fairchild

• Kerri Kenney-Silver as a Realtor

• Weird Al Yankovic as Jackie Brazen, Hypnotist

• Randall Park as Records Clerk, Jeff

• Kristen Wiig as Courtney

Epic Paul Rudd Moments:

• 'Massaging' Katie.

• Effort in a cool walk away only to run into a fence. Still makes it work.

• His rhythm solo in the middle of his audition song, "Champagne Eyes."

All episodes are currently streaming on Netflix.

Follow me on Twitter @eponineq and follow @BWWTVWorld for all the latest updates, scoops and recaps.

Photo Credit: Netflix

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