User blog comment:LuluTDFan/Discussion: What Makes for an Interesting Contestant?/@comment-22317052-20150627073704

In my opinion, it is all about personality. There has to be perfect balance between sticking to the stereotype and being a deep character with different traits. Let's take Heather as an example. This girl is probably the show's most popular character, and for good reason. She participated in every season with first generation characters and was different each time, while still recognizable as the Queen Bee. She went from the main antagonist in Island to a protagonist in World Tour. And in Action while she was not quite as relevant, she still had a role as someone who isn't trusted by anyone, because of her previous evil deeds. Heather still puts the "drama" in Total Drama every time she is on screen.

Though the character doesn't have to be a villain, look at Harold, Jasmine and Brick. They prove that nice doesn't equal boring. Design and voice certainly matter to some degree, but it's more about them fitting the character, and that's what TD never really had a problem with.

Another thing that I'd like to mention is how well characters portray their roles i.e. protagonist, antagonist, comic relief. If you're a protagonist, you better go through some major development, have many interactions, prove that you're the good guy, while, yet again, sticking to the stereotype. If you're an antagonist, orchestrate eliminations, have an interesting and effective strategy, prove that you are the villain here. If you are a comic relief, there's really just one thing you should do - be funny!

While there are still a few more points to make a great character, I don't want you to fall asleep from boredom.