2008: A Space Owen

'''It's time for Total Drama Action to lift off as the cast compete in space themed challenges. Two castmates start to feel a strain on their alliance and another still can't shake his guilt. After a number of calculations, someone believes there to be a traitor amongst the cast, but he is eliminated before he is able to expose them to the others.'''

Plot
The episode opens with the contestants being woken up in the middle of the night by Chris, who greets them and tells everybody that they have all been sent something from the outside world, and gives them their packages. Owen gets a trophy for being a good citizen, which upsets him due to his exact opposite new role on the show. Courtney gets a photo of herself winning a team debate by herself, Harold gets nun-chucks, Beth gets a "promise" ring, made of candy from Brady, and Duncan gets his pet tarantula, Scruffy.

Next, Chris tells them to meet him at a different location for the next challenge. There, he tells them that they must spend the rest of the night riding in a space simulation roller coaster. The group goes inside the space ship, and they sleep in zero-gravity until they are woken up by an alarm. The alarm tells them that they need to fix the ship, so they decide that they must grab the joystick. To do so, Duncan throws Harold at it. Harold then stops the ship. Meanwhile, while the castmates compliment Harold, Owen is floating over by a window, trying to find a way to fulfill his duties as secret mole. He then notices Harold's nun-chucks floating by him and takes them, using them to break one of the spaceship's windows. The uncontrolled decompression starts sucking everything out of the spaceship, including their oxygen. Chris tells them that they have several minutes to fix or plug up the broken window or else they will run out of oxygen. They then use Owen to fill the hole.

The challenge is then over, and the cast members exit the ship. As Beth and Courtney, or the "Girl's Alliance," were the ones to use Owen as the solution, they got to choose the order for the next part of the challenge. Without consulting Beth, Courtney decided that she would choose the order: Harold, Owen, Duncan, Beth and then herself. They then find out that the next challenge is to ride the "Vomit Comet" and Courtney tries to take back her decision, but it is too late.

Harold rides first, but accidentally ends up with Scruffy being inside too. Harold then asks to leave the ride after only riding a few seconds, and loses the challenge. Duncan asks Harold where Scruffy is, Harold then turns around, and Duncan sees Scruffy crushed to death on his back. Heartbroken, he mourns his beloved pet's death, while Courtney comforts him. Owen rides next and ends up leaving early too, but not after farting inside the ride many times, due to Chef Hatchet's chili. He does not vomit, but Duncan is still disgusted as he enters because of the smell. Duncan ends up being the first one to vomit, and manages to stay in the longest so far (but gets ten seconds off for vomiting). Beth goes next, still upset that she is going so late and that the ride has already been soiled; yet, she refuses to stick with Courtney and not participate at all. Beth manages to stay in longest with thirty-six seconds. Beth exits the ride and kisses Harold, due to the fact that she assumes that Harold has feelings for her, which he does not. Harold is disgusted when she then dumps Brady and tells Harold that she wishes to date him. Meanwhile, Courtney is upset that Beth did not go along with her plan, and ends up forfeiting herself in the challenge. Beth then earns invincibility.

The scene then cuts to Duncan and Harold sitting outside the girl's trailer as they argue. Inside the trailer, Beth and Courtney break up their alliance, and each decide to fight alone for the rest of the game. Meanwhile, Harold finds Owen in the film lot. Harold then explains to Owen that he is suspicious of him, as Owen was the only castmate not accounted for when the window broke on the space ship. Harold tells Owen that he knows he is a traitor, but Owen denies the accusation made by Harold.

At the Gilded Chris Ceremony, the castmates are seen voting. Courtney is the only one who will not imply to the camera whom she is voting for. Courtney and Harold are the bottom two, with Harold being sent home. As he leaves, he pulls down Duncan's pants, which Duncan admits he had seen it coming, and shouts to the other castmates that Owen is a traitor and that they should watch him like a falcon, as it has better eyesight than a hawk. Beth also mentions that she will "wait for Harold," much to Harold's dismay. Chris then signs off the show.

Quotes
Beth: It's Bra-dy and he's totally real! Courtney: Let me see that! (takes it away; reading) 'Awarded to the most trusting, caring, honest student who always puts others before himself.' Owen: (teary-eyed) 'scuse me...(runs off crying) Duncan: What's his problem? Courtney: More importantly, why didn't I get one of these?! Harold: Dude, that's one small dog. Duncan: It's not a dog, it's a tarantula. (to Scruffy) Awww. I wuv you, Scruffy. (makes kissy faces at Scruffy) Yes I do! Duncan: Nope. Courtney: Not even remotely. Duncan: No can do, babe. Already gave it to Scruffy. Zero Gs can be tough on the little guy. Harold: Wasn't planning on it. Beth: (to herself, sighing) He so wants me. Chris: Uh, Chef, Those aren't pillows! (Chef is suddenly shocked) Owen: (laughing) Oh-ho-ho! Ooh, the breeze tickles. Stop it, I like it. (laughs, cut to confessional, where Chef is still shocked about touching Owen's butt) Harold: Awesome. I'd hate to be going last in something called a 'Vomit Comet.' Thanks for taking one for the team, Courtney. Courtney: Ah! No, no, no, no, wait, I've changed my mind. I want to go first. Chris: Too late, the order has been set. Beth: (to Courtney) Is this the part where I thank you? Courtney: (comes over and comforts Duncan) There, there. Scruffy's in a better place now. (in confessional) Yeah! Anywhere but here! Now maybe Duncan will focus on someone with slightly less hairy legs: me! Harold: Yes! I knew my mind powers would kick in when I needed them most! Duncan: It's not that, it's my mattress! I still have a stabbing pain in my back. Owen: Who stabbed you in the back? It wasn't me! I'm a good guy! Not some dirty back-stabber! I swear. You guys, you gotta believe me! (short pause) Uh..nothing to see here; carry on! Duncan: OH! (is repulsed by Owen's smell inside the Vomit Comet) Speaking of stinking, what is that smell? (Owen smiles nervously, cuts to Confessional) Owen: Hey, I'm no math whiz, but I'm pretty sure that one small space times chili farts to the power of 10 equals... Do not Enter At All Costs! Duncan: At least the ride snapped my spine back into place. No more pain. Courtney: (holds up fist) Wanna bet? Beth: (in confessional) If I can take the plunge and say yes to Brady, then surely I have the strength of will needed to get inside a smelly space suit and be hurled around like a rag doll for five minutes. They're practically the same thing, right? Beth: I'll do it! Beth: That's just the smell of victory. Harold: Victory smells a lot like vomit. Beth: (kisses Harold, who is repulsed by the kiss) You made your point, Harold. I'm calling it off with Brady and giving us a try! (Harold faints) Harold: Bye, bye, traitor. (votes) Owen: Harold's on to me! I know it! (votes) Beth: The girl's alliance is over! (votes) Courtney: (to camera) Back off. There's a reason this is called "secret voting" people. Harold: Fifth place?! But Owen's the traitor! You've gotta watch that guy like a hawk! (Chef tosses Harold into the Lame-O-Sine) No wait! A falcon! Their eyesight is way superior. Beth: Goodbye, Harold. I'll wait for you. Harold: Haven't I suffered enough? Chris: We'll see about that. (The Lame-O-Sine drives off, and vanishes in a flash of light, leaving behind two fiery trails, and a spinning license plate) And you'll see how our remaining contestants suffer, next time on Total, Drama, Action!
 * Harold: (in confessional) Maybe I filled Duncan's mattress with rocks, and maybe I didn't...but, yeah. (holds up two rocks) I totally did.
 * Courtney: Don't you get enough Science Fiction with that weird boyfriend of yours? What's his fake name, again? Brainy?
 * Owen: What did I get?! (opens box) A citizen of the school year trophy?
 * Courtney: (in confessional) When I was head of the school debating team, my partner walked out on me during the biggest debate of the year because she thought I wasn't being a "team player." So I went on to win it without her. Take that, Britney Reed! This photo serves as a reminder: If you want something done right, you do it yourself!
 * Duncan: Scruffy! Ha!
 * Duncan: (to Scruffy) Scruffy, no! Bad killer spider!
 * Beth: Look, guys! Brady gave me a promise ring! Can you believe it?!
 * Courtney: Duncan? Can I have your pillow? Mine floated off somewhere.
 * Courtney: (in confessional) As if I'm going to play second fiddle to a tarantula. Ugh! I hate that gross hairy creature... (grins) and his pet spider too.
 * Harold: (to Beth) I think you're making a mistake, being exclusive to one guy. Why tie yourself down when you can keep playing the field, like moi?
 * Beth: Harold? Aren't you going to help me down?
 * Chef: That was smart, sealing the breach with those two pillows. (pats Owen's butt)
 * Chris: Remember crew, Courtney and Beth have already picked the order. Harold you're up first.
 * Harold: (in confessional) If I was the last man alive in space, and Beth was the last woman, then maybe we'd have a chance. But here, on Earth? Puh-leez! Think about how disappointed LeShawna and Heather would be. I just can't do that to the ladies.
 * Duncan: Where's my Scruffy?! (sees him dead on Harold's back) No! Scruffy!
 * Duncan: (to Harold) Give me one good reason not to beat you to a pulp. (his back cracks) Aw!
 * Chris: 10.3 seconds. You people stink at this! (Owen crawls out in disgust) Duncan, you're next!
 * Courtney: (to Duncan) That was so disgusting! How could you do that to me?
 * Courtney: (to Beth) If we both refuse to do the challenge, then we'll have strength in numbers at the elimination ceremony. Are you with me Beth?
 * Courtney: The girl alliance sticks together, Chris. We're both refusing to participate.
 * Harold: You totally reek.
 * Harold: (to Duncan) I, too, love a good cat fight, but one with real cats, wearing tiny boxing gloves.
 * Courtney: (in confessional) Once again, I'm better off alone. There's no "team" in "I." From now on, it's the Courtney alliance. And I'm in it to win it.
 * Harold: (in confessional) Math never lies. But, apparently, Owen the traitor does! Hi-ya! (breaks Owen's trophy)
 * Duncan: This'll teach you to mess with my Scruffy! (votes)
 * Duncan: Get on with it, Doris! (Harold runs to Duncan, and pulls his pants down, Chef grabs Harold) I kinda had that coming.
 * Harold: (In the lame-o-sine) I suppose fifth place is better than sixth place. But it would of been sweet to place in the top four over that traitor Owen! I almost got third place in the school archery competition. Till I put an arrow through the principles Achilles tendon! I still have another two years of detention to look forward to when I get back. I get to hang with all the bad kids! They let me do their homework for them and stuff! You could say that I'm their leader! Man, just wait till they hear I have a sort-of girlfriend! Do I have to tell them it's Beth?

Trivia

 * This episode's title is a reference to Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey
 * The opening scene of the episode, with the giant black monolith and Chris and Chef dressed as cave men while the guys act like apes is a reference to the famous "Dawn Of Man" scene from 2001.
 * During the vomit comet ride, the music and the shots in the scene is very similar to the music in 2001: A Space Odyssey
 * This is the second episode in a row to feature Owen's name.
 * This is the third episode overall in Total Drama Action to feature Owen's name
 * This is the first (and last) time in Total Drama Action, that Harold has ever come in the bottom two. With his elimination, Beth is now the only castmate thus far to never come in the bottom two at all.
 * The final four are almost the same as they were in the last season, in the sense that three are from one team, while only one is left from the other team.
 * With Harold's elimination, Duncan is the last Gaffer in the season.
 * Ironically, he was also the last Bass on the show last season.
 * The cast members all get packages from home in this episode:
 * Owen: A Student-Of-The-Year Trophy
 * Courtney: A photo of herself winning a debate
 * Beth: A candy "promise" ring from Brady.
 * Duncan: His pet tarantula, Scruffy. (Note that Scruffy gets killed later in the episode.)
 * Harold: His Nun-Chucks
 * Interestingly, by the end of the episode, four of the presents could no longer be accounted for.
 * Owen threw Harold's Nun-Chuck out the window of the spaceship.
 * Scruffy was killed by Harold.
 * Owen's trophy was broken by Harold's karate chop.
 * Beth finished eating her candy ring, before returning it to Brady.
 * Courtney's debate winning picture is the only present that is still left intact throughout the episode.
 * This is the second time that Harold has been hit in the head by his nun-chucks, the first time is in Phobia Factor and the third time is in Walk Like An Egyptian - Part 1.
 * The scene in which the castmates slowly come out to dramatic music (right before they do the Vomit Comet challenge) is a parody of a famous scene from the movie Armageddon.
 * In the end when Harold goes off the Lame-o-sine, it parodies the movie Back to the Future.
 * The music playing during Harold's ride in the Lame-o-sine also resembles two songs by Huey Lewis and The News written for Back to the Future: The Power of Love and Back in Time.
 * Harold is the second person and first male in Total Drama Action to win a reward challenge then get eliminated in the next episode, the first being Lindsay.
 * This is the third time Duncan called Harold by his middle name, Doris.
 * The others are One Flu Over the Cuckoos and Rock n' Rule.
 * When they were voting:
 * Duncan voted off Harold for killing Scruffy.
 * Owen voted off Harold out of fear that Harold found out the truth about Owen's return.
 * Harold voted off Owen because he was suspicious of Owen's behavior.
 * Beth voted off Courtney due to her being annoyed by Courtney's personality.
 * Courtney's vote is not revealed in the episode although it can be reasoned down to Harold.
 * Even without Courtney's vote, Harold would still be voted off if everyone voted the way they implied, as long as Courtney did not vote for Owen or herself, although the latter is very unlikely.
 * Duncan didn't seem to hold a grudge against Harold for punching him in the previous episode.
 * Harold pulls two pranks on Duncan: putting rocks in his mattress and pantsing him at the end.
 * Beth develops a crush on Harold in this episode, and breaks up with Brady because of it. However, in The Aftermath: IV when Brady existed, she got back together with him.
 * This is the first episode of Total Drama Action in which Courtney did not win solo invincibility, making Beth the only other to do so. Reward challenges not counting as there is no "invincibility."
 * Strangely, the space set background shown in Monster Cash is not used on this episode.
 * The Vomit Comet is a reference to the roller coaster, the vomit comet, on 6teen. However, Vomit Comet is a real term used by NASA for crafts that have weightless environments, whether it be for training astronauts or anything else.
 * The candy "promise" ring that Beth receives from Brady resembles a Ring Pop.
 * After Harold's elimination, this is the second time that Owen and Duncan make it to the final four. This makes them the only competitors to reach the Final Four two times.
 * This the second time Chef had to escort Harold out of the competition.
 * This marks the last time in Total Drama Action in which a male contestant is voted off.
 * This also marks the last time in the series Harold is voted off, as he quits the competition in Total Drama World Tour.
 * A castle set from the episode The Princess Pride is seen in background of the scene showing the roller coaster.
 * This episode refers back to One Million Bucks, B.C. as Chris introduces the challenge in a loin cloth, and Harold also mentions that he thought they did a cavemen challenge before, to which Chris replied that they were on a budget.
 * Britney Reid may be a reference to Justin's voice actor, Adam Reid.
 * This is the first episode in Total Drama Action to not mention Courtney's PDA or her lawyers ever since her return.
 * This is the first episode written by Ken Cuperus.

Goofs

 * Contrary to the title, this episode aired in late 2009. This could mean, however, that the series takes place in the summer of 2008, or it's a reference to when the episode was written. Although the producers may have intended the series to air in 2008.
 * For the Space Ride, where the castmates experienced perpetual zero-gravity, would have actually been, if any, small bursts of zero-gravity followed by forces equal to two times Earth's gravity.
 * When the cast opens their packages from home Beth isn't wearing her night guard, but when she turns around to open her package from Brady you can see a glimpse of her wearing it.
 * When Chris shows the packages from home, there are six boxes, but only five contestants.
 * When Beth sees her gift, she screams, despite the claims that she made about not being able to scream in The Sand Witch Project.