User blog:DCT0473/Reviewing Literally Every Season of Total Drama Part 4: Total Drama: Revenge of the Island

Last time on Reviewing Literally Every Season of Total Drama…

We took the skies and went around the world as we reviewed Total Drama World Tour. There was good writing, new characters, and somewhat enjoyable songs, too! But some poorly thought out Love Triangle showed up uninvited and kept the trip from being prefect. Halfway through this series, we head back to where it started, on Camp Wawanaka, as we go over the fourth season, Revenge of the Island. Can it live up the first 3, or will it just sit in World Tour’s shadow? Find out this week on Reviewing. Literally. Every Season of Total Drama!

Total Drama: Revenge of the Island was definitely a return to form. For the first time in the series, we finally returned back to Camp Wawanaka, which had been turned into a nuclear dump sit some time during Action or World Tour. Along with the return of Wawanaka, there were some changes to the series. To start, the Aftermath Show and Reward Challenges were both dropped. But why? Well, it happened because of another factor: The new season length. TD: ROTI was the first season to have an episode length of 13 episodes, only half of the 26/27-episode length the first three seasons used.

While this new 13-episode length seems like it could lead to rushed character development and weaker writing, it surprisingly doesn’t. The writers took their time when writing TD: ROTI to avoid anything that seemed inherently rushed, and the final product still retains the writing and good character development the first three seasons used.

Speaking of the characters, the season’s arguably biggest change came in the form of the characters. Gone was the cast we had followed throughout season 1-3, and in their place came a new cast. At first, I was afraid this cast wouldn’t live up to the original, but to my surprise they did. Most of the new cast is just as good-if not better-than the original cast and many of them have very unique and colorful personalities. Heck, there are only two contestants from this season I don’t really like! That’s a huge accomplishment.

While it may seem like I have nothing but positive thoughts for TD: ROTI (And believe me, I do), there are a couple of issues I have with the season:
 * 1)  The OG Cast Making Guest Appearances: Throughout the season, many of the OG cast members make guest appearances, usually to “explain” or “demonstrate” the challenge, but some of them do affect the plot of the episode. While some of these guest appearances are funny and enjoyable to watch (i.e. Izzy’s, Heather’s, and Ezekiel’s), many of them feel incredibly forced and are sometimes just there just to make you think “Oh yeah! This character was on the show!” They aren’t too enjoyable, and just feel like a waste of the character.
 * 2)  The season plays it pretty safe: Aside from all the nuclear radiation and the introduction of Mike-a character with Multiple Personality Disorder-the season feels pretty safe compared to Action and World Tour.  It keeps it from sticking out from the seasons before it, and just makes it fall under World Tour’s shadow.

Final Verdict:

Total Drama: Revenge of the Island is a good season. It has all the great writing and character development that made seasons 1-3 as memorable as they were. That being said, the season plays it pretty safe, making it fall under World Tour’s shadow. As such, I can only give it a 4/5 stars.

Best Character of the Season: Cameron or Scott… Cameron or Scott… Cameron or Scott… uh… I’ll go with Scott. He’s such a different and unique antagonist (Compared to the ones before him) due to the fact he’s pretty dumb and cocky. Also, a lot of his scenes are freaking hilarious.

Worst Character of the Season: Staci. She never shuts up, and she gets more grating the longer she stays on screen. At least she was only in two episodes.

Best Episodes of the Season: I have a two-way tie for this category: Worst Episode of the Season: The Treasure Island of Dr. Mclean. More dehumanization… great. And unlike Ezekiel, Dakota didn’t do really anything to deserve it. Just makes the whole episode come off as unjust. I will admit watching Cameron help Mike control his personalities was fun to watch.
 * Brain vs. Brawn: The Ultimate Showdown: A great conclusion to Cameron’s arc that was intense and pretty entertaining.
 * Up, Up, and Away in my Pitiful Balloon: Probably the funniest episode of the season. Watching the contestants trying to make makeshift aircraft and use them was hilarious. Also, Heather’s guest appearance was one of the best because she actually affected the plot of the episode. Jo’s elimination was also pretty satisfying to watch.

So that is all for today. Will All-Stars not be awful? Can Pahkitew be competent for once? And what’s up with this “Ridonculous Race” guy I’m hearing about? Find out on the next exciting installment of Reviewing. Literally. Every Season of Total Drama!