Basic Straining

'''Chef Hatchet makes the teams go through several difficult obstacles designed to make people quit. Another camper is mysteriously voted off the island.'''

Recap
Harold emerges from the guys' cabin and demands to know who made s'mores with his underwear. Duncan and Geoff laugh in glee at this question and Courtney recoils in disgust when Harold throws the underwear near where she is standing. Moments later, Chef announces over the PA speakers that he wants all campers at the Dock of Shame at nine am promptly.

At the dock, Chef, acting as a tough talking Marine, tells the teams that the challenge will be difficult and the campers will drop out until the last remaining wins immunity for his or her team. Insisting that the contestants address him as "Master Chief", Chef tells them when someone wants to quit, they will go to the end of the dock and ring a bell. Chef goes on to say that the first day will not end until at least one person quits and with that, he orders everybody down to the beach.

On the beach, Chef orders the two teams to each hold a canoe over their heads and if he catches anyone removing their hands from a canoe, they will be eliminated. After noting that lunch will not be served until someone drops out, Chef orders the challenge to begin. With Chef and Chris perched atop the canoes, Chef goads the teams at the three hour point. At one point, Geoff uses a fishing line to rip away Harold's underwear, to Harold's consternation. The challenge goes into the night with Chef telling a story about his time in the army and Lindsay declares she can't go any longer. Lindsay heads to the end of the dock and rings the bell to eliminate herself. With that, that part of the challenge is ended and Chef tells the teams to head to the main lodge for food.

At the mess hall, Chef tells the teams they have ten minutes to eat before night training begins and says the food is the leftover garbage from the morning breakfast. Courtney and Heather, for different reasons, balk at eating garbage and Geoff and Duncan give Harold a glass of apple juice that Harold discovers is actually kitchen grease. Courtney chides them for what they did and hints that she thought Duncan was nice but Duncan flatly denies that is possible.

Later, with music blaring (a variation of Thriller), Chef leads the campers in a series of dance moves that go on for some time until Duncan unexpectedly turns off the music and Chef orders him to do twenty push-ups. Gwen requests to use the bathroom and moments later, she is in the bathroom with a mop and bucket.

Back at the mess hall, Chef tells the teams that their next challenge will be writing a three hundred word essay about how much they like Chef and anyone who falls asleep or fails to finish the essay will be eliminated. Two hours later, Chef gathers up the finished essays and sees that Duncan's essay has the word "very" repeating for five pages and Duncan says it is three hundred exactly. Chef notes Trent and DJ have fallen asleep and he declares them eliminated. Just after Chef tells the campers to go to bed and be ready for a 5 AM start, Duncan tries to verbally goad Chef once again and Courtney pulls him aside just as Chef threatens him with fifty laps around the camp.

At 5 AM, Chef tells the campers they will run an obstacle course repeatedly until everyone can complete it in less than one minute. The contestants set out and Harold is forced to drop out after swallowing too much mud and Chef sends him to the infirmary. The campers continue running the course with LeShawna being forced to drop out. Moments later, Chef gives Duncan twenty more pushups for his insolence and Duncan reacts by thanking Chef and kissing him on the nose. A moment or so later, it becomes apparent that Chef has been pushed too far and he orders Duncan to spend the night by himself in the boathouse. Duncan says the punishment is not that big a deal but regrets his words when he is sitting in the boathouse and observes the eerie surroundings.

At the mess hall, Courtney decides she is going to check on Duncan but denies that she likes him when asked by Geoff. At the boathouse, Courtney and Duncan talk for a bit before Duncan convinces Courtney to break rules and raid Chef's food supply. The two load up on food with Courtney leaving a large bass in the middle of the remaining desserts.

Later, the campers hungrily eat the stolen food and Harold finds a happy face made of peanut butter smeared in his bed. Courtney overeats to the point that she has to run outside and throw up. Duncan joins her moments later and Courtney admits that she enjoyed being bad for a change and the two kiss moments later. Geoff congratulates Duncan afterwards while Harold, watching from a nearby window, glowers. Seconds later, Chef announces over the speakers that the remaining campers will do their next challenge at seven o'clock the follow morning.

The next morning, the six contestants hang upside down from a tree branch and Chef tells them about the various things they will experience as time passes for them. Duncan is the first to drop out and Heather, citing Owen's farting, willingly drops out but Owen falls on her moments later when he falls off. Laughing uncontrollably, Courtney drops out and tells Chef to take a chill pill. Geoff and Gwen are the last two and with Geoff dropping out, Gwen wins the competition for the Gophers.

At the campfire ceremony, Duncan, DJ, Bridgette and Geoff get marshmallows. The final marshmallow, with Harold and a smug looking Courtney waiting, goes to Harold. Courtney, screaming that she does not concede and threatening to sue, is dragged to the dock and tossed on the Boat of Losers. Duncan argues with Chris, claiming that there were at least four of them who didn't vote her off, while Geoff, DJ, and Bridgette nod in agreement, but Chris doesn't change his mind. Before Courtney leaves, Duncan runs down and tosses her a small wooden skull he carved for her and though she thinks it is a little weird and creepy, Courtney says she loves it and will never forget him. Back at the bonfire, Harold recalls how he, with memories of the various torments he had endured, had secretly replaced the votes so Courtney would be voted off as a way of paying back Duncan for his actions.

Canoe Challenge
The contestants had to hold a canoe over their heads. People who were eliminated in this challenge
 * Lindsay: Her arms gave out and she had to ring the bell.


 * Harold and Geoff should have been eliminated, as they both let go of the canoe, but they were not caught, therefore they were not eliminated.

Writing Challenge
The contestants had to write a 300 word essay on how much you love Chef Hatchet. People who were eliminated in this challenge were:
 * DJ: He fell asleep during the challenge, which is prohibited.
 * Trent: He fell asleep also.
 * Bridgette: Unknown reason. She was not present in the next two challenges (she possibly failed to write 300 words).

Obstacle Course

 * Harold: He fell face first on a puddle of mud, regurgitating some of it back up, and had to go to the infirmary.
 * LeShawna: She sank into a mud puddle and could not continue.

Tree Challenge

 * Duncan: Fell out of the tree.
 * Heather: Gives up and jumps out of the tree, but is crushed by Owen.
 * Owen: Falls out of the tree and lands on Heather.
 * Courtney: Gets caught up in a giggle fit and falls out of the tree.
 * Geoff: Faints and slips off of the tree branch.

Winner

 * Gwen: She lasted throughout all of the challenges and was the last camper on the tree, making her the winner.

Quotes

 * Chef: (Over loudspeaker) Listen up, you little cockroaches. I want all campers to report to the Dock of Shame at 0900 hours! (A brief pause) That means now, soldiers, NOW!


 * Gwen: (In the confessional) Okay. Whoever's sick, twisted idea this was to put him in charge of this challenge, I have to say... I'm a little bit impressed.


 * Chef: Twenty-five of us went to the jungle that night, only five came back out. Gwen: (yawns) What war were you in anyway? Chef: Did I ask you to speak? Because I don't remember asking you to speak! Gwen: (rolls eyes) Whatever, (whispering) he so wasn't in a war.


 * Chef: (to Lindsay after she quits the challenge) Listen here, you have nothing to be ashamed of... (yells into megaphone) except being a little baby who let your team down!!


 * Duncan: Hey, Harold. We felt really bad about the whole underwear fishing incident thing. So, here, we found you some apple juice. Harold: Thanks. (he drinks it and then spits it out) That's not juice! Duncan: Oh, my mistake, dude! We must've confused it with the kitchen grease.


 * Duncan: (laughs) Okay look, I know you like me. He (Talking about Geoff) knows you like me. Everyone knows it. So here's a tip: if you wanna kiss me, I might let you. Courtney: And to think I actually thought you were nice! Duncan: (looks around nervously) Shhh! Me, nice? (laughs) Yeah, right. Geoff: Why'd ya think that? Courtney: Never mind, I was wrong. He's just as gross and annoying as he wants you to believe. Enjoy your garbage!


 * Chef: Anyone else got anything they want to say? Gwen: (to Chef) Uh, yeah, can I go to the bathroom? (Gwen is in the bathroom with a mop and bucket) Gwen: Not exactly what I had in mind.


 * Chef: This is just one sentence with five pages of 'verys' in-between! Duncan: It's three hundred words exactly. You can count them if you want.


 * Chef:Do you wanna run 50 laps around this camp right now?! Courtney: No, thanks. He's going straight to bed. Aren't you?! (at the other side of the kitchen) Courtney: What are you trying to do? Get eliminated? Duncan: I didn't know you cared. Courtney: I don't! I just don't wanna lose this challenge. So stop being such a screw-up, and do what you're told for once. Okay? (after Courtney walks away) Duncan: She wants me. Geoff: No doubt.


 * (after Harold falls over the wall) Harold: Ahhh! (he lands in mud and throws up) Duncan: Uhh, General Crazy, we've got a situation here. Harold: Too much... (coughs) ... mud. Chef: Ring the bell and report to the infirmary. Your tour of duty is finished. (after Harold leaves) Duncan: Wow, poor guy. Chef: Back on the course, soldiers. NOW! One false move and I'll be on you like stink on a poop wagon. Duncan: I look forward to it, sir!


 * Duncan: (as LeShawna sinks in the mud) Fallen solider, I salute you! Chef: You just bought yourself twenty more push ups! Duncan: Thank you! (kisses Chef's nose; Chef becomes enraged) Geoff: I think you may have pushed him over the edge, bro! Duncan: I think you're right... Chef: One night solitary confinement in the Boat House. (everyone except Duncan gasps) Duncan: Big deal. How scary can it be? (scene cuts to Duncan now in a building full of canoes, harpoons, and shark jaws) Duncan: I should've kept my big mouth shut.


 * Courtney: (talking about Duncan) I'm going to go check on him. Geoff: You like him. Courtney: I do not like him! Geoff: Yes, you do. Courtney: Not only do I not like him, I can't stand him. He's rude, he's rebellious and he's totally annoying. I'm gonna go check on him. (walks away) Geoff: (in confessional) She likes him.


 * Owen: Mmmm, I think I have jungle rot from that obstacle course. Lindsay: Ew, Owen, we're eating here.


 * Bridgette: Okay, I think you've had enough. Courtney: No, no, just one more. (shoves an ice cream sandwich in her mouth and gets a little queasy) Okay, that one was a mistake. (she runs off and pukes)


 * Duncan: So the Princess has a dark side! Courtney: Okay. That was so gross. But it was, like... once I did something bad, it was so much fun, I just wanted more! Duncan: Well, you could always give me that kiss. That'd be pretty bad. Courtney: (ruffles his hair) You're still not my type. Duncan: Fine. Enjoy a peanut butter-less life. Courtney: Thanks. Enjoy prison. Duncan: I will. (they kiss)


 * Chef: (Over loudspeaker) Attention remaining boot camper groups: the next evolution of your training begins tomorrow morning at 07:00 hours. And if I catch the sucker that took my dessert, your butt is mine!


 * Courtney: Master Chief? I have just have one thing to say to you. Chef: And what might that be? Courtney: You really need to take a chill pill. (Chef steams as she laughs)


 * Chef: I would go to war with you any day. Gwen: (nervously) I'll keep that im mind when...searching for a career. Chef: You do that, soldier. (gets teary-eyed) You do that.


 * Courtney: (being dragged to Boat of Losers) I do not concede! I do not concede!


 * Courtney: I was your only hope! I was a Counselor in Training!!


 * Duncan: Courtney, wait! I made this for you! (throws her a small object) Courtney: Duncan! (sees that it's a wooden skull) Okay, this is really weird and creepy, but I love it! I'll never forget you!


 * Harold: (while switching the votes) You guys think you're so funny. Let's see how you like it when someone messes with your love life.


 * (after getting revenge on Duncan) Harold: (with a sinister grin) Yess!

Trivia

 * This episode is mainly focused on Courtney, Duncan, Harold, and Chef Hatchet.
 * This episode aired on the Cartoon Network on August 21, 2008.


 * Unedited, the episode is rated TV-PG-D.


 * Goofs:
 * Throughout the episode (and the series) Duncan's head is the same size as Courtney's, however, in this episode during a close up in the Fish House Duncan's head is much bigger than Courtney's.
 * In this episode Duncan gives Harold grease and says it's apple juice. However, in Who Can You Trust?, Harold claims he is allergic to apples (though this may have been to get out of the challenge).
 * Bridgette is not seen with the other campers during the obstacle course challenge on. However, she was not eliminated in any of the preceding challenges.
 * Lindsay is seen dancing on the dock with the other campers during the second part of the challenge. However, she was eliminated in the first challenge.


 * When Chris is doing the recap, he never mentions that Sadie was voted off.


 * When Courtney and Duncan are stealing food from the fridge, Ezekiel's picture is seen on a milk carton (though it's mostly off screen). This may actually imply that Ezekiel's family wouldn't let him go to Total Drama Island, so he ran away to get on.


 * Strangely, Chef wouldn't let Duncan quit when he wanted to even though the rule was anyone can drop out when they want (though he may have not allowed it because he knew Duncan was just being lazy).


 * Running Gag: Duncan, Geoff, and DJ pulling pranks on Harold.


 * The order of campers who got marshmallows are:
 * Duncan
 * DJ
 * Bridgette
 * Geoff
 * Harold


 * Chef Hatchet says the first time when the campers were holding the boat "25 campers went into the forest that night; only 5 campers came out". Later, when Duncan and Courtney are stealing food, Chef changes it to "25 campers went into the forest that night; 25 campers came out".


 * Chris probably knew right away that someone had rigged the votes (as Harold had put in about nine or ten votes against Courtney and yet he didn't take any votes out, leading to about fifteen votes even though there are only six Bass), but still allowed it to go through (plus he revealed that he knew later in the series).


 * Harold was probably supposed to be the camper voted off before rigging the votes. Duncan, DJ and Geoff must have voted for him for sure; Courtney looked at him in a sinister way during the elimination, so she probably voted for him; and Bridgette must have voted for him, since she seemed to be friends with everyone else. Harold himself may have voted for either Courtney or Duncan.


 * It is strange that Harold rigged the votes and chose to get rid of Courtney, even though he could have gotten rid of Duncan who had tormented him for weeks (though he may have just wanted to make Duncan suffer rather than get him eliminated).


 * This marks the sixth loss for the Killer Bass team.


 * Chef Hatchet is seen to have an anchor tattoo on his left arm.


 * The campers in the Confessional stall for this episode were Gwen, Geoff, and Harold.


 * Here are the pranks that the guys pull on Harold in this episode:
 * 1) They made s'mores out of his underwear.
 * 2) They gave him a wedgie with a fishing pole.
 * 3) They gave him a glass of kitchen grease and told him it was apple juice.
 * 4) They made a smiley face out of peanut butter on his bed.


 * The campers address Chef as Master Chief, possibly a reference to the Halo video game series (it most likely relates to Chef having once been in the Navy; Master Chief Petty Officer is a United States military rank).


 * There was also a challenge where no one was eliminated where the campers had to dance to Michael Jackson's Thriller.


 * Even though Chef drag Courtney into the Boat of Losers, he was walking away and at the same time, the boat was driving and Chef was suppose to be driving.


 * Courtney's Audition Tape: Courtney is both auditioning for TDI and student body president, but she mixes up the lines and asks for a retake. The cameraman (Tom) says no because he has class to get to so she fights to get the video camera.


 * If you read Harold's lips after Chef took his essay, you can clearly see Cartoon Network's edit of him saying "Gosh!" instead of "Crap!".


 * Bridgette did not seem to be surprised when Courtney was voted off, this could have meant that she expected something like this would have happended or that she voted for Courtney to be eliminated.


 * The Screaming Gophers doing the upside down tree challenge are the final three of Total drama Island.


 * When Courtney went into the Boat House to find Duncan, Duncan for some reason was sweeping (though he may have been doing it to kill time or ease some of the frighting experience).


 * If you look closely at when the Screaming Gophers are lifting Gwen after her victory, Lindsay is in the same outfit she wore in Up the Creek.


 * This is the first time during the season that Duncan calls Courtney by her real name.


 * The final three Gopher contestants of the challenge were also the final three of the season.