User blog:TDIfanaric/Total Dramarama E01 - 'Venthalla' (A Review)

Hey, I'm Aaron and welcome to my blog! As many of you know, I love sharing my opinions and pretending they're fact. I, among many, was very quick to jump on the Dramarama hate train, and needless to say, the first episode leaked, and I was officially shut up for once. I thought it would be a neat-o idea to just have a kiki and discuss what I liked and disliked about the episode. Considering we wont be getting anymore Total Drama content for a while now, It'd be best to just make the most of what we have got. Also, that intro is kinda cute. And well, spoiler alert, duh.

Storyline and Plotpoints
So the episode begins with Owen barging through the daycare doors with his quote, unquote, "uber ball" that he won in a crane machine, to the excitement of the other children. However, in typical Noah fashion, the kids are reminded that Chef has a tendancy to take toys brought from home and lock them away in a safe. Owen then goes to put the ball away, only to be prompted by Duncan to bounce the ball just once. Chef then manages to catch the ball and locks it away. Duncan, in a coveted attempt to escape from the daycare, suggests that they make use of the vent system to retrive the ball. They, along with Courtney, Izzy, Jude and Harold, leaving Noah to keep watch and to distract Chef. Izzy manages to memorise the combination to the vault, whilst Duncan has one of Chef's eyes. Together, they unlock the vault. Meanwhile, Noah distracts Chef, and the two draw a chart of good, and bad, things that can be attributed to Noah. Using his chance, Duncan manages to escape to the roof of the daycare, leaving the others behind. With added help from Harold, the kids get lost in the ventilation system. However, Owen manages to catch a whiff of some pizza, and they follow the smell, only to become trapped in the vent. Using duct tape and an umbrella, Duncan whips up some sort of bungee contraption and scales down the wall, with the plan backfiring last minute, leaving him suspended in plain sight of Chef. Chef angrily retrieves Duncan, and at that moment, the vent containing the lost children gives way under their collective weight, and they land right on top of Chef. The ball then falls from the broken vent, cascading off of every surface and causing the eventual collapsing of the daycare, the episode then ends. As the credits role, Leshawna can be seen drawing a flip-book of Chef, with Owen overlooking.

Stars of the Episode

 * Owen
 * Owen was arguably the main character this episode to exactly nobodys surprise, but I found myself finding his (among others) child-ified form to be much more enjoyable than his teenage persona. I think a character like Owen works much better in a setting like a daycare, as he is allowed to be childish without being seen as annoying or immature. I was happy with the lack of fart jokes, as thats the writers go to comedic joke for Owen. Overall a positive episode with some great interactions


 * Favorite Moments: Owen with the claw machine, interactions with Duncan on the sofa confessional- "It was like Christmas in a closet! Only, It's not Christmas... and that's not a closet..." , "On the other hand- Hey! Where did that other hand come from?"


 * Duncan
 * One of my favourites this episode, and one of the contenders for the main character of the episode. Upon inital listening, the new voice his VA seemed to adopt was offputting, but I've grown to enjoy it. I really liked his interactions with Owen, Izzy, Courtney and Chef. Enjoyed the contrast between Duncan and Noah, playing the angel and devil trope, and his scheming plans.


 * Favorite Moments: In response to Owen and his ball, "Whenever there's a chance to cause anarchy, I'll take it".  Standing up for Owen and his ball. "And he wont know that it's gone, because I stuck a big marble in it's place that he can't see with the other eye!" - when stealing Chef's eye. "No Daddy's Princess, you'd sell us out first chance you get!" taunting Courtney.


 * Courtney
 * By far my favorite this episode (bias included), Courtney stayed so true to her original self, whilst being able to be funny in her speech. Enjoyed her contrasting nature in relation to the risky and daring friends. Manages to be enjoyable in a daycare setting, contrary to what I intially expected.


 * Favorite Moments: In response to Duncan saying that Courtney would tell Chef of the kid's antics, "I absolutely would." Courtney pinging back Harold's eyepatch, "For the last time Jude! Retinal is eyes, Rectal is-" 


 * Noah
 * Noah was MUCH more enjoyable than his canon counterpart. Whilst normally I can't stand a word he says, this Noah managed to be funny and likeable (Maybe in due part to the new VA- Seemingly Mike's?)


 * Favorite Moments: Noah making his chart with Chef - "This is r-really taking a chunk out of my self confidence". Noah distracting Chef with the game of hide-and-seek.


 * Izzy
 * Izzy was very fun as per usual, and stuck true to her canon counterpart, not really showing any change. I don't really have much to add, just a nice inclusion to the group
 * Favorite Moments: Devouring the gumballs, remembering the passcode combination.
 * Favorite Moments: Devouring the gumballs, remembering the passcode combination.

Overall Thoughts

 * 8/10

Like I said before, I was more than pleasantly surprised whilst watching this. It for sure is better than I could have anticipated and I'm actually feeling more hopeful about the future of the franchise. With all shows, there are a few problems (Such as some characters such as Cody, Leshawna, Bridgette and Beth having 0 screentime??) and missed oppourtunites (Characters like Heather and Lindsay, Tyler), I'm fairly confident that this season wont entirelt suck.

Thanks for reading :)