User blog comment:LuluTDFan/Discussion: What Makes for an Interesting Contestant?/@comment-1527105-20150627155935

To me, I don't necesarilly care if TD reuses stereotypes. We can have as many jocks and nerds that the producers can pump out, juts give each of them their own unique traits/personality.

Antagonists need good strategy, but don't need it to still be a good character. Justin for example was a bad antag but still a great character. Alejandro and Heather are both. Scott was terrible in both during TDRI but he turned around for TDAS, so it's possible for characters like him to be redeemed.

Protagonists need to be able to be rooted for. Comic relief isn't a requirment, but it's a nice bonus. As much as I'm tired of complaining about them, Mike and Zoey DEFINITELY failed at this. It was impossible to care about Zoey when all of her choices were worse than what a pre schooler would have done.

Pure comic relief characters are usually great. I can't think of any characters supposed to be like that, but failed. TDRI Scott was half comic relief and not funny, so he sorta counts. Max is the best one we've ever gotten.

I sorta have a bias toward cuter looking characters. Thats most of the reason why I liked Topher and already most of my RR faves.