Heartwarming / Camp Camp

Warning: Spoilers Off applies to Moments pages. Proceed at your own risk.

Defrosting Ice King at its finest.

In General

• Nikki enjoying the camp activities during the opening. While Max looks absolutely miserable in every frame, and Neil has awful things happen to him, it's nice to see at least one camper having fun. Bonus points because at one moment in the opening, she's seen actively copying David.
• Max's Character Development into a more empathetic person, without losing his basic character traits of cynicism. "Nikki's Last Day On Earth" is a perfect example: he tells her that he doesn't believe that she's dying, but that's still no excuse for trivializing her feelings. "Dial M for Jasper" is a marked change from the first season, when he tries to kill David: he doesn't have the heart to tell him that his best friend is dead.

Season 1

Episode 1: Escape from Camp Campbell

• Despite being a major case of The Cynic, Max takes an immediate liking to Nikki and Neil and offers to let them in on his attempt to escape the camp. Sure, it fails, but they seem to now be a case of Fire-Forged Friends. Not bad for such a misanthrope as Max.
  Max: (to David) ...Until today, you only had one little bastard to deal with; now you've got three! C'mon, guys.

Episode 2: Mascot

• The Quartermaster is definitely a gruff and mysterious guy that Neil describes as "the murderer from every horror movie ever", but the man does seem to hold some affection for the campers and offered to show Max around the forest with no protest. He may not be David levels of chipper, but he does seem to care.

Episode 3: Scout's Dishonor

• Neil sticking up for Nikki in front of the Flower Scouts after The Reveal that she didn't leave of her own volition, but was forced out for being a Tomboy and liking the outdoors and bugs. Neil gave up the one shot he might have had to have a calm, peaceful, and air-conditioned time at camp, but stood by his friend and told those "ignorant, fucking cunts" off.
• A small moment, but when the Flower Scouts are insulting Nikki, and she has a sad expression on her face after lightly scratching the feathers on Timothy's belly, the eagle leans down and gives her two small bops on the head, like he's trying to comfort her.
• After being kidnapped and interrogated by the Wood Scouts, Max gets to meet their leader. He's a pimply teenager, and Max being Max says that his face is horrifying. After seeing that the Scout is sensitive about his appearance, Max immediately back pedals and apologizes, saying that it was mean and uncalled for. Nice Pet the Dog moment there, Max.

Episode 4: Camp Cool Kidz

• David and Gwen were planning a pizza party for all the kids as thanks for cleaning the camp in the beginning of the episode. Then Max started a rebellion.

Episode 7: Romeo & Juliet II: Love Resurrected

• A small one, but the Flower Scouts apologize for ruining Preston's play.

Episode 8: Into Town

• Gwen offering to take care of camp activities by herself so David can take a break for a day.

Episode 9: David Gets Hard

• Nurf claims he doesn't bully people on any holidays they celebrate. In a later episode he thanks David for showing him how hurtful his bullying is by slapping him and decides to go to his tent to think about his future, implying he'll straighten himself out.

Mind Freakers

• Crossing over with a Funny Moment, Gwen and David watching a nice, relaxing episode of The Joy of Painting. Sure, they're both unaware of Nikki choking to death, but it's nice to see them getting a break from all the insanity for once.

Episode 12: The Order of the Sparrow

• Also can be a Tearjerker with Max fixing the bonfire, David giving Max half of the broken spear, and Gwen singing the Camp Camp theme song. Until Max reveals that he used gasoline to start the fire up again.
• David's Armor-Piercing Response to Max's Breaking Speech in episode 12 firmly cements him as an Iron Woobie while also showing us the depths of his love for the camp.
  David: You're right... Times have changed, whether I like it or not. The campers don't care, Gwen doesn't care, even the founder of this place has better things to do. That's why I'll never stop trying... Because somebody fucking has to.
• Max getting the campers to actually do the bonfire.

Season 2

Episode 1: Cult Camp

• Max has enough faith in David that he willingly lets himself get brainwashed so that David can see what's wrong and set things right.

Episode 4: Jermy Fartz

• Max and Nikki get scolded by Gwen for making fun of Jermy Fartz, specifically because she thought he had special needs. She's okay with the kids making fun of each other, but she draws the line at them doing the same thing to him because of his (assumed) disability. He actually isn't, according to his doctor, but points for taking the precaution ahead of time.
• Neil attempting to befriend Jermy Fartz, as he knows what it's like to be the loser kid everyone laughed at. It doesn't work due to Jermy's bad hygiene and him describing how he would practice kissing with his dog, but points for making the effort.
• The way Space Kid happily proclaims "HE'S MY BEST FRIEND!" with no sense of lying when talking about Jermy Fartz when everyone else was was trying to get rid of him.

Episode 6: Quartermaster Appreciation Day

• Even if it all goes horribly wrong, David's heart was in the right place when he tried to get the kids to appreciate the Quartermaster. Seeing the Quartermaster smile and tear up over how happy he is, despite all the ways the circumstances surrounding it are completely horrible and disgusting, is oddly adorable.

Episode 7: Bonjour Bonquisha

• While Max was laughing his ass off over the fact that David was dating Bonquisha, the literal second she tells him it isn't working out Max stops in shock.
  • The campers, despite their otherwise poor treatment of David, are serious about attempting to get David back together with Bonquisha... even though it doesn't work.
• Gwen being understanding of David being depressed and consoling him with Ben & Jerry's.
  • Preston being the only camper to sympathize with David when everyone else was annoyed by his constant crying.
• David's entire speech about how relationships may not work out but that doesn't mean you stop caring about the person you're no longer with. You remember the good experiences and grow from the bad and in time you're able to heal. Granted, he undermines this by bashing Bonquisha's new boyfriend over the head with a chair, but still, the speech itself was beautiful. After all, healing takes time.

Episode 8: Gwen Gets a Job

• Gwen cries after David overhears she's looking for another job. But instead of being mad or firing her like she was afraid of, he tells her that he supports her job hunt and tells her that he just wants her to be happy and find her perfect place in life, just like he has. He ends up listing a bunch of strengths Gwen herself never realized she had and it gives her new confidence in herself for her next interview.
  • Max is a heartless little bastard for most of the episode, but when Gwen reveals that she's recovered his teddy bear, for a moment, he turns into a kid again.
    Max: Mr. Honeynuts! I thought I'd never see you again!
  • Gwen admits part of the reason she didn't want to tell David she was job-hunting was because she didn't want to hurt him.

Episode 12: Parents' Day

• While most of the campers' relationships with their families are dysfunctional at best, some of them do seem to love their parents/uncle/grandma.
  • Ered seems proud to be the daughter of two gay dads, and when they drag Campbell away to "Super Guantanamo", she has a grin on her face that says, "My parents are the coolest."
  • Nerris's dad is as passionate about role-playing as she is, and happily plays along with her LARPing. Her mom doesn't understand their interests so much, but she at least tries, and she actually shows concern over the safety of the camp. They all share a hug in their part of the big show.
    Nerris: I CAAAAST... "Hug Parent". Critical hit.
    Nerris' mom: Aw...okay. I guess you could say it's...super-effective.
    Nerris: Well, no, that's Pokémon. But I love you for trying.
  • Space Kid really looks up to his uncle Buzz Aldrin, calling him "the coolest guy in the galaxy". Buzz himself is very supportive of Space Kid's passion for space.
  • Surprisingly, Nurf and his mom are shown to be on good terms with each other. Unlike the way they treat others, they treat each other with civility and respect. He talks her out of lashing out against the Quartermaster, and she's touched by his words during their part of the show. They also hug each other (at least as much as they can when one of them is in handcuffs). Even the parole officer sheds a tear while witnessing their embrace.
  • Preston's grandmother is sweet and supportive of his interests, and it's clear he loves her too. In fact, the reason he yells so much is because he's used to talking loudly so she can hear him.
• Max may loathe Space Kid, but when he hears that Space Kid's parents couldn't make it to Parents Day either, Max almost shows genuine sympathy to him for a moment, and stops trying to light firecrackers in his cardboard rocket. It's only after Space Kid reveals his uncle is coming that Max goes back to laying on his usual abuse.
• Cameron Campbell needs Parents Day to be a success so his camp isn't revealed as a scam, and he's counting on David to make sure it happens. Despite the fact that it's a request from his hero, when David finds out how neglectful Max's parents really are, and how hurt Max is by it, he and Gwen blow Cameron off and take Max out to get pizza. David admits he was wrong, telling Max he shouldn't have to pretend that everything's okay when it isn't, and says that Max deserves to be happy, even if that doesn't happen today. When Gwen goes to get the car, Max hugs David for half a second before threatening him to never mention it to anyone.
  • There's something sweet about how even after the hellish day he's been having, Max is still concerned enough about David to ask if he's okay after ditching Parents' Day. Sure his tone is one of "Am I doing this right?" but that makes it even more heartwarming since he's concerned about comforting David properly.
  • The scene of David, Max and Gwen at the pizza place was even used as the menu for the Season 2 Blu-Ray. Gwen even puts her hand on Max's shoulder, d'aww.
• Despite the fact that Neil is less than pleased with his and Nikki’s parents getting together (in fact due to the debacle during Preston’s play, no one but Dolph’s father approves of them being together) Nikki immediately states excitedly that she’s always wanted a brother after talking about the prospect of their parents getting married with Neil. There’s something adorable about her willingness and desire to have a sibling.

Season 3

Episode 1: The Fun-Raiser

• Apart from nearly getting the camp closed due to David blowing off Cameron Campbell and getting him arrested, the glowing letters of approval he and Gwen receive from the campers' parents show that Parents' Day was a total success. A few of the letters include Nurf's mom thanking them for taking care of her son (even though she founds parts of the camp "real queer"), and Nerris's parents say they'll recommend them to their LARPing friends. What's better is that this comes after the revelation that kids tend to go missing there, but David's assurance that he'd take care of the children is all it took to earn him the parents' favor over Campbell.
• While the first part of the Millers' letter is to alert them of the foreclosure, the rest is just about their daughter and how much they love her.
• David and Gwen keep a bulletin board of "small victories", including the number of times they've made Max smile. It stands at 1.5 times^note one was a smirk.
• The campers have grown to love Camp Campbell so much that they're legitimately upset to learn it'll be closing down, and look incredibly happy when the camp is saved. How much of their happiness has to do with getting to see the Quartermaster beat up David and Gwen for lying and manipulating everyone in the process is anyone's guess, though.
  • While he mainly does it to screw David and Gwen over again, the fact that Max instantly turns over the entire wad of cash he's made from letting people see the two get pulverized for their extortion scheme could also show just how much he's come to care for what is essentially his home away from home. What's more is that although it was done at their complete expense, the two are genuinely proud of Max for what he's done.
  • On another note, Max encourages the crowd to help pitch in to Neil's struggling cryptocurrency.

Episode 2: Ered Gets Her Cool Back

• Although the campers mock Ered for humiliating herself, they do at least show that they're worried for her after she sprained her ankle...or rather, they're concerned about whether or not her image as the coolest kid at camp will recover, which is all Ered really cares about anyway.
• Even though Ered has been nothing but an apathetic and manipulative Jerkass to Nikki in the past (and pretty much everyone else), Nikki is the only one who doesn't point and laugh when Ered humiliates herself, and does her best to emulate her to keep her "coolness" alive in her honor.
• Nerris explains her positive and hopeful outlook on life to Ered despite no one wanting her around, Ered included.
  Ered: It doesn't bother you that nobody here likes what you like?
  Nerris: Sometimes. But if I just got sad about it, I'd miss out on so many quests. My dad says I'll find my party. One day.
• Later, when Ered is about to perform a death-defying stunt to prove her coolness that even she realizes is likely to get her killed—and is visibly freaked out about it—it's Nerris who talks her out of it in one of the show's most touching "You Are Better Than You Think You Are" speeches:
  Nerris: Ered, are you sure you want to go through with this?
  Ered: Obviously not! But I've tried everything else. None of it worked.
  Nerris: Well, maybe that's the problem.
  Ered: What do you mean?
  Nerris: I mean, you never used to try to be cool for other people before. You were so confident, you didn't even think about other people. You were just...you. And that was cool.
  Ered: Sooooo...you don't think this will make me cooler?
  Nerris: I'm saying...you shouldn't care about what I think.
• As a result of Nerris helping her realize what made her cool in the first place, Ered gladly concedes that Nerris was the coolest one at camp all along. This is especially poignant as Max had earlier said Nerris was as unlikely a candidate for "coolest" as Space Kid. She also appears to improve her attitude towards the other campers, demonstrated when she actually has this to say to Nikki for trying to copy her outfit:
  Ered: I liked your old digs better.
  Nikki: (tears up) She noticed me!

Episode 3: Foreign Exchange Campers

• Even though Neil and Nikki are resentful of Max for ditching them as his friends in favor of the foreign campers for the prize of ice cream, they care enough about him to try and fight the foreigners to get him back, though they hate him enough to lock him in a safe without any ice cream. Not to mention that they stopped the Foreign kids from committing suicide by instead offering them to join them for Ice Cream.

Episode 4: Nikki's Last Day on Earth

• The entire episode is about all the campers thinking Nikki is dying (except Max) and giving their damnedest effort in making sure her last day is a great one. Even Max, who has a legit Jerkass Realization when the campers bash him for being an uncaring prick the entire time who probably wouldn't care if she really did die, offers a sincere apology to Nikki and is the one to suggest all the campers do something she wants to do, even if that something is giving her a Viking funeral she asked for all the way back in season 1. And even when the truth is revealed in the end, they're all just happy she isn't dying after all.
• The way Gwen says “Our kids are growing up” near the end. Really goes to show how much the campers have grown on her.

Episode 5: Dial M for Jasper

• As it turns out, Jasper wasn't haunting David. He was trying to forgive David for what happened all those years ago, it's just that he can't actually leave Spooky Island.
• Max, Nikki, and Neil helping David come to terms with what happened between him and Jasper.
  • In season 1, Max would've loved nothing more than dropping a bombshell like Jasper's death on David. Here, he has the power to truly hurt David, and he looks very uncomfortable with the prospect of telling the truth. In fact, by lying, he actually went out of his way to avoid harming David for the first time.
  • Also, and this one you need to think about to get it, when David offers to take the three spelunking on Spooky Island, the three pointedly refuse.
• Before they leave after interrogating Cameron Campbell, Agents Miller plan to spy on people together. And the suggestion is prefaced with one of them saying 'come on honey'.

Episode 6: The Lake Lilac Summer Social

• Ered shows her Character Development from Episode 2 is sticking when she gives Neil some well-meaning advice about how to approach his crush.
• While none of them actually hook up, Neil, Erin, Snake and Tabii all end the episode in a better place than where they started. Neil and Snake have a nice bonding moment where each helps boost the other's confidence, and Erin and Tabii similarly help each other get over their hang-ups about their appearances.

Episode 7: Cameron Campbell the Camp Campbell Camper

• Max turns on Cameron Campbell's microphone so the Millers can listen to his plan to frame David for his (Campbell's) crimes and David won't get sent to Super Guantanamo.
• Max seems to actually enjoy being at Camp Campbell.
• Agents Miller continue to show off how loving their marriage is - after Campbell turns off his signal, they decide to have a contest to see how fast they can reload a gun. And there's nothing but praise between them.

  Agent Miller: This is why I married you!

Episode 8: Something Fishy

• Gwen's an even more cheerful, buoyant, and competent counselor than David when she's happy.
• Max and Gwen bonding over their mutual hatred of Camp Campbell. He even says that her hating the camp makes it more bearable. It's also the first time Max has outright admitted that he cares whether someone likes him.
  "I like camp-hating Gwen, not Max-hating Gwen!"
• David points out that as her friends, they must respect Gwen's wishes. This is typical David and isn't necessarily heartwarming. What is is how Max reacts—no mocking, no What If They Want To Jump Off A Cliff, he just accepts the lesson as intended and does a complete 180 of his previous lack of concern. Seeing him willing to accept morality without being horrible about it shows just how far he's come. That or he's realized by now that there's no use in arguing with David - which is heartwarming in itself, as Max has come to accept that David will always bring Max around to his optimistic point of view.

Episode 9: The Candy Kingpin

• Surprisingly enough, a minor one from Cameron Campbell, teaching Dolph about how there are in fact terrible people out there. Granted, he's also teaching Dolph how to be a terrible person, but he's actually being a genuine mentor.
• "I mean, I took the fall for you!" You'd think Max would say this in a blackmail manner... but instead, he's awkwardly apologetic for manipulating Dolph. Dolph is not initially accepting, but the two of them bury the hatchet by tossing the remaining candy off a cliff.
• The fact that Max, who has so far been thoroughly annoyed by Dolph's friendship, actually suggests starting over as friends. Max at the beginning of the summer could not have cared less if Dolph hated him.

Episode 11: City Survival

• David’s fear of the city seems to be fully realized when a gruff man in an alleyway pulls a knife on him. When the mugger sees several of the campers come around the corner behind David however, he immediately becomes very friendly. He says that it’s hard being a single Dad, and even gives David his knife because he thinks David needs it more than he does.
• Max slowly realizes he doesn’t actually love the city as much as he thought he did, and that his most enjoyable part of the day was relaxing in the park, literally the closest thing to nature in miles.

Episode 12: Camp Corp

• Max finally admits that he wants to spend summer at Camp Campbell. David is completely overjoyed, scooping him into a big hug and setting off his plan to celebrate the day with balloons, confetti, and doves...he expected the day to come a lot sooner, though.
• The three-person shoulder pat from Cameron to David and David to Max. It's a moment when the three of them, all enemies to each other at one point, seem to be genuinely proud of each other.
• Early on in the episode, Max acts like he isn't upset to leave Nikki and Neil as everyone leaves for new camps. He tells them they're only temporary friends, though it's clear through the episode that he misses them once they're gone. When he finally reunites with them at Camp Corp, and sees how rotten Cameron Campbell truly is, Max's gives a heartfelt apology to Nikki and Neil.
  Max: I'm...I'm sorry. I didn't go through all of this trouble for Camp Campbell. I did it...For you guys. Cause you're my friends, and I just didn't wanna admit it, cause once the time finally came for us to say goodbye, I'd have something to lose. But you know, going through life all on your own seems pretty fucking stupid now.
• After being attacked with water guns from Max, Neil, and Nikki, David seems like he's going to scold Max...before smiling warmly and telling him he's glad to see him having fun. It's a sweet callback to the finale of season 2, where David hoped Max would find his happiness at the camp someday.
  • And for the first time, when David uses his warning tone, Max actually stops what he's doing and looks concerned. As much of a little shit as he is, it looks like Max is finally starting to respect David, and is worried he's crossed a line.
• Just the fact that the Campbell campers need only minimal convincing to come back together, proving that the solid friendships they've developed mean more to them than what they originally were coming to camp for.

Season 4

New Adventure!

• Everything about the friendship between Nikki, Nerris, and Dolph. They regularly hang out offscreen, they wholeheartedly support each other, and they confide things to each other that they never tell the other campers. It's also clear that they don't care about finishing adventures as long as they have fun. It's especially sweet when you remember Dolph's desire for friends back in "The Candy Kingpin". At some point between that episode and this one, he finally got his wish!

The Quarter-Moon Convergence

• Quartermaster taking care of a sick David and Gwen is kinda sweet, at least until you realise he's probably the one who made them sick in the first place.
• Despite Harrison disappearing his brother by accident into an unknown realm and being unable to bring him back. The interdimensional octopus let Harrison know that his brother still wanted to say hi showing he was alive and he didn't accidentally zap him into a volcano or somewhere equally deadly.
• Harrison realising his worth and standing up for himself.

After Hours

• When Gwen and David are discussing the campers, Gwen refers to them as "the kids" in a manner that many fans have noted sounds like someone talking to their spouse about the children they're raising. Seems she's officially taken to her role as Team Mom.
• When Nerris ends up in the counselors' cabin because she's sick, Space Kid and Preston fuss over her.
• Late in the episode, Campbell rants about why each camper came into the cabin. Max's reason? He woke up alone in his tent and immediately went to find Neil. Also, the entire group of campers is engaged in a total Sleep Cute as he does this and they are absolutely precious.
• After David spent the whole night repairing the relay race course for the kids and getting caught up in Quartermaster's squirrel thing, David grabs a whistle to wake up the campers but Gwen stops him.
  Gwen: Are you sure you don't want to get some sleep first?
  David: Why would I? It's about to become the best part of the day.

Camp Loser Says What?

• When David is clearly and openly traumatized by Daniel's actions in "Torso Takers", everyone is clearly worried about him.
• Many fans have pointed out that David's reason for the above-mentioned trauma is heartwarming; Daniel tried to manipulate and murder Max and no one messes with David's kids.
• Gwen rather kindly reassures David that they'll get through the current mess just fine... and that he should run Daniel over with the bus at the first opportunity.

The Forest

• David's friendship with the wolf. Even after it tries to kill him, he can't bring himself to return the deed, instead taming it by patching up its wounds and feeding it. It returns the favour later by saving him from a bear, losing its life in the process. David buries it and later gives an emotional speech to the campers about how it pays to be kind to strangers, even if they aren't kind to you. The title of the credits song says it best: Sometimes, Karma Isn't a Bitch.

Party Pooper

• Missy the dog is immediately adored by Max who spends the entire episode happier than he's been for most of the series. Bonus points: Missy is based on Leigh's family dog of the same name and Leigh is ridiculously happy his dog got to shine in this episode.
  Max: [watching Missy perform tricks with tears in his eyes] I never thought I'd be this happy!
• Despite fan worries, Gwen's dad is shown to be at worst a mild case of Parents as People as while he doesn't understand Gwen and her behavior, it's clear he adores her.
• Child!Gwen is absolutely precious!

Time Crapsules

• When Gwen and the campers are panicking over fear of failure, Campbell of all people gets them to calm down. He bluntly tells them that failure is inevitable, but it's possible to grow from failures and make them better than they would have been had they not failed.
  • Also Max actually is upset that he started Gwen's spiral and while he doesn't do the best job, the fact that he tried to set her up on a nice date is actually pretty sweet.

Season 5

Welcome Back, Campers!

• Max admitting that even though he has to spend another horrifying summer at Camp Campbell, he’s actually a little excited to see everyone again.
  Max: This camp sucks. But you know what else sucks? Life out there. Family… school… a crumbling society… these assholes are way more fun!
  David: (happily) I’LL TAKE IT!

Specials

Halloween Special: Night of the Living Ill

• The fact that Max asks Ered if she is okay when she is attacked by the infected campers instead of getting out of there can be seen as one.
  • This also is heartwarming as a Call-Back. When Harrison's magic blast left Max vomiting up assorted props and miserable, Ered was worried about him...Max remembers this.
• Everyone cheering for Space Kid after he cures them all of their illness.

Christmas Special: A Camp Camp Christmas, or Whatever

• David buying Max a BB gun in the Christmas spirit, even knowing full well that Max is going to shoot David first with it. That's why he buys safety goggles for himself, too. When Max first fires it, he simply raises the goggles above his eyes with a fond smile as the bullet ricochets away.
  • Hell, his gifts for the kids in general. If you pay attention it's clear that he put a lot of thought in every single gift, getting all the kids things they're clearly enjoying. To wit, he gets Nerris some Pokemon cards, Harrison a wand to match his Hufflepuff scarf, Preston a king's cloak, Dolph arts and crafts materials, Space Kid a retro space ship, Nurf a fake knife (so he can continue to play with them without threat of seriously hurting anyone with it), Ered a keytar, Neil a dreidel, and Max the aforementioned BB gun. The only person whose gift we don't see is Nikki's, but she seems ecstatic just by seeing how happy everyone else is, which is rather cute.
  • Dolph is especially heart warming as he's using his new art materials to draw a winter scene... with absolutely no Nazi symbolism. It seems that his time at camp has not only helped him pursue his hobbies away from his meathead of a father, but also undo some of the conditioning he received at the "German army base."
• The reason David goes along with idea of celebrating Christmas in the middle of summer? He realizes that it'll be a reason for the kids to have some good fun.
• Space Kid using his fish-bowl-space-helmet to make Gwen a snowglobe to show how appreciative he is of all the hard work she does. Likewise, David brings her a cup of hot cocoa later on.
• No one forces Neil to participate in Christmas, and Nurf even says "Happy Hanukkah" at one point. Likewise, David (who's usually oblivious to cultural aspects) makes a note to himself that he should try to get some decorations that are inclusive, because he doesn't want Neil to be left out.
• Despite having no interest in Christmas itself (because he's Jewish), Neil is clearly interested in finding out why Nikki loves it so much. Considering he's rather introverted and tends to prefer being alone, it's pretty sweet to see him get invested in finding out why something makes one of his friends so happy.
• Nikki's reason for liking Christmas is basically the fact that it's a reminder to be kind to others.
• The group hug between the main trio at the end. Seeing yet another genuine smile from Max is also nice to see.
• The Quartermaster actually going out to hunt a "Christmas goose" for the campers. Given that it's... the Quartermaster, the fact that he went out of his way to do so is rather sweet.
• The fact that Nurf was going to pelt Ered with a snowball because Ered had earlier shoved Nerris while ice skating. Of course he was doing it to get on Santa's good side, but it's still nice to know that he, of all people, consider that behavior to be not OK.

Halloween Special: Arrival of the Torso Takers

• The utter dismay on Max's face when (Daniel disguised as) David asks if he hates him could be read as heartwarming. Of course, at this point, Max still isn't sure if David's been possessed by a body-snatching child-eating alien, so his dismay could have more to do with concern about how to "correctly" answer the question.
• Max's whole attitude about David's weird behavior is a big showcase of Character Development for him. S1!Max would have just shrugged, said David had finally snapped and gone about his business; in contrast, Max spends the whole episode either believing there's a perfectly rational explanation or he himself had gone crazy.
• David gets to show off his Papa Wolf side, tackling Daniel when he pulls a knife on Max.

Hanukkah Special

• During the heritage pride event, Ered has her booth decorated with pride flags in reference to her fathers, more proof that she adores them, and Dolph has normal German stuff with nary a Nazi symbol or reference to be seen!
• When the other campers start getting suspicious of the holes in Neil's Hanukkah stories, Max - who had warned him this would happen and was preparing to expose his lies out of spite after Neil dismissed his advice - instead chooses to back Neil up in a way that allows him to save face while also telling the real story. It's a nice sign that Max really did take to heart the lesson he learned in "Camp Corp," and is treating his friendships more seriously.

St. Campbell's Day

• After doing his best to undo Campbell's plans, David ends up trying to fix it himself after realizing how he's upset the kids. Gwen and Quartermaster even pitch in to help, despite their previous indifference to the holiday's success or failure.

With Friends Like These

• David is all but supportive for Gwen when she is offered a new job that she would be a fool to turn down, never once making her feel guilty or anything, further proving he wants what's best for her.
  • When David tells Max about it, he as well seems happy for her too.
• When David tells Max that eventually, the Camp will close for the last time, and if there is anything he is willing to do, is to give him and the rest of the kids memories they'll keep for a lifetime. This sentiment actually gets through to Max, who, after witnessing the likely last shenanigans the camp will ever go through that summer, takes a photo of everyone involved.
• Gwen and David's goodbye at the end after the latter makes it clear he'll be fine tying up loose ends for the winter, giving each other one final hug, and Gwen's last final F-U to the camp as well, but also thanking David for everything.
• After everything they have been through, all the campers got to leave as friends, having made a bond they won't soon forget, even going out with one final chant in the bus ride.
• Max and David's goodbye, with Max even admitting he had the "Best and Worst Time at Camp Camp", and even insinuating that he may comeback next summer too. With everyone gone, David heads back, content with Max's comments.