User blog:Masta Shake1/Shake Talks: Team Analysis - Screaming Gophers

Shake here, with another installment of Shake Talks! Today, I'll be starting a little series in my Shake Talks blogs, called...Team Analysis, where I'll be studying the teams of Total Drama. Today, I'll be starting off with TDI, all the way to TDPI. For my first team analysis, I'll be examining the Screaming Gophers!

The Screaming Gophers are considered the 'superior' team in Total Drama Island, winning 7 of the 12 pre - merge challenges, and losing only 5. Heather, Gwen, Leshawna, Lindsay, Owen and Trent make the merge for the Screaming Gophers, with Izzy returning. Noah, Justin, Izzy, Cody, and Beth don't make the merge, but Izzy is still able to return. Izzy and Katie switch in Episode 1 as Katie wanted to be with Sadie.

The Screaming Gophers - Enjoyability
The Screaming Gophers had great skills when it came on whether or not they were enjoyable. Heather's schemes and Gwen and Trent really helped out, along with Owen being comic relief. There was even a heart - warming moment when Cody set Gwen up with Trent just so she could be happy. Gwen took a lot in TDI, from getting her diary stolen and revealed to the whole world, to drinking punch from the communal bathrooms. Beth also standing up to Heather was priceless. It was a joy to see what was next in store for the Gophers, what Heather was up to and seeing Gwen and Trent bond.

​The Screaming Gophers - Flaws
One thing that is I believe that is flawed about the Gophers is how Heather evaded elimination by pure luck. She got lucky when voting out Justin, Cody, and Beth. Heather was aggravating to the team, and thus was a target since Gwen's Diary fiasco.

​The Screaming Gophers - How Good Were They?
The Screaming Gophers won 7 challenges, so let's see how they did it.

In Not So Happy Campers, 10 / 11 jumped the cliff. They then used teamwork to finish the hot tub. I always loved this, as it now stays ironic to the bitterness that would then follow the Gophers.

In The Big Sleep, Gwen stuck it out the longest, thanks to Chris receiving the news of Duncan falling asleep right before her.

In The Sucky Outdoors, the Gophers got lucky when Sadie and Katie got lost by being distracted by blueberries.

In Phobia Factor, the Gophers dominated the Bass, and were victorious when Courtney failed to conquer her fear.

In Who Can You Trust?, the Gophers got lucky once again when DJ removed his blindfold to see his pet bunny.

In Basic Straining, Gwen pulled off another win when Geoff couldn't handle being upside down.

In X-Treme Torture, Heather distracts Harold into losing, whereas Lindsay is able to win. It is unknown whether or not Harold would have been able to win it for his team had he not failed, as Lindsay also did superb.

In the end, I'd say the Gophers truly were able to get 7 out of the 7 challenges that they won. WCYT I was skeptical was, but I then realized background forces were pulling DJ down and he wasn't doing his best. TSO is believable when Katie and Sadie could get distracted on blueberries.​

The Screaming Gophers - Best Elimination
The best elimination from the Gophers is hard to say, but in my opinion I will put Justin. We had no insight on Justin whatsoever and he was just a forgettable character.​

The Screaming Gophers - Worst Elimination
By far, the worst elimination is Cody. The one chance of eliminating Heather wasted when it was realized by Cody's team that he was not useful anymore. I get what they mean, but that does not compare to Heather when she was on the team's nerves. Cody could've lasted another day and THEN be eliminated, all in the name of beating Heather. In the end, though, Heather was kept so she could inevitably reach her downfall at the hands of Lindsay.

​The Screaming Gophers - My Take
In my book, I like the Gophers. What seemed like a team that could perfectly handle itself has shown that it was all but that. Heather's reign in the Gophers was lovely, and Gwen and Trent were endearing. Beth and Heather reached a boiling point, and Lindsay displayed a sheep role to Heather until her fabulous exit.

Anyway, that was Team Analysis, the Screaming Gophers! A superior team with great enjoyability and strengths! Now let's see how the Bass will compare...

The     Shake     Was Here