The first individual shot of the opening almost always includes one of the finalists of their generation's debut season underwater. Owen does this in the openings of the first three seasons, Cameron does this in the openings of Revenge of the Island and All-Starsnote (accompanied by Heather, Sam, Scott, and Sierra in the latter), and Priya does this in Island (2023)note (accompanied by Axel, Caleb, Nichelle, and Scary Girl). The only time it doesn't happen is in the opening of Pahkitew Island although Chris does push Tophernote (who's not a finalist, though) away, causing the latter to land in the water off-screen.
An eating challenge where the contestants must consume some sort of Masochist's Meal. Expect a lot of Vomit Indiscretion Shot to occur.note "Brunch of Disgustingness" in Island, "The Chefshank Redemption" in Action, "Chinese Fake-Out" in World Tour, "Eat, Puke, and Be Wary" in Revenge of the Island, "Food Fright" in All Stars, "Hurl and Go Seek" in Pahkitew Island, "The Wheel of Vomit" in Island (2023)
A horror-themed episode where the contestants are usually picked off one by one or have to deal with something unnatural going on. All of these challenges happen either in the middle of the night or in a very dark place (e.g. a cave).note "Hook, Line, and Screamer" in Island, "The Sand Witch Project" in Action, "I See London..." in World Tour, "Finders Creepers" in Revenge of the Island, "Zeek and Ye Shall Find" in All Stars, "Hurl and Go Seek" in Pahkitew Island, "Caved by the Bell" in Island (2023)
An aquatic episode taking near or in a body of water. Swimming might or might not be part of the challenge, but expect contestants to fall into the water nonetheless.note "Not So Happy Campers - Part 2" in Island, "Beach Blanket Bogus" in Action, "Jamaica Me Sweat" in World Tour, "Backstabbers Ahoy!" in Revenge of the Island, "Heroes vs. Villains" in All Stars, "A Blast from the Past" in Pahkitew Island, "Pirates of the Cabbagean" in Island (2023) part 1, "Taking It to the Rim Reaper" in Island (2023) part 2,
An episode where the contestants must traverse a forest and go from point A to point B to win the challenge.note "Are We There Yeti?" in Island, "Top Dog" in Action, "The Am-AH-Zon Race" in World Tour, "The Enchanted Franken-Forest" in Revenge of the Island, "Moon Madness" in All Stars, "Three Zones and a Baby" in Pahkitew Island, "Jurassic Fart" in Island (2023) part 1, "Your Poor Saps" in Island (2023) part 2
An animal-themed episode where part of the challenge involves either searching for or taming the creatures to win.note "Wawanakwa Gone Wild!" in Island, "Top Dog" in Action, "Picnic at Hanging Dork" in World Tour, "Runaway Model" in Revenge of the Island, "No One Egg-spects the Spanish Opposition" in All Stars, "Mo Monkey Mo Problems" in Pahkitew Island, "Tortoise Rigamortis" in Island (2023)
A contestant being eliminated after suffering an accident that leaves them so injured they must wear bandages all over their body. Note that said injuries aren't always the reason for their elimination, and this miraculously manages to be avoided in Pahkitew Island.note Cody in Island, Justin in Action, Tyler in World Tour, Scott in Revenge of the Island, Cameron in All Stars, Raj and Wayne in Island (2023)
One or more contestants returning to the competition after being eliminated, which stops in All Stars and subsequent seasons.note Eva and Izzy in Island, Izzy and Owen in Action, Duncan in World Tour, Dakota in Revenge of the Island
A double elimination occurring in the same episode, which becomes a staple afterIsland.note Bridgette and Geoff as well as Courtney and Owen in Action, Izzy and DJ, Blaineley and Courtney, as well as Cody and Alejandro/Heather in World Tour, Brick and Anne Maria in Revenge of the Island, Gwen and Scott in All Stars, Scarlett and Max in Pahkitew Island, Raj and Wayne in Island (2023) Part 1, Axel and Ripper as well as Julia and Caleb in "Island (2023) Part 2''
A contestant getting directly disqualified by Chris for something they did, resulting in a Non-Gameplay Elimination. Avoids occurring in Revenge of the Island and Island (2023).note DJ in Island (2007), Owen in Action, Sierra in World Tour, Duncan and Gwen in All Stars, Ella, Max, and Scarlett in Pahkitew Island.
Contestants switching to the opposing team for whatever reason. Happens in every season except Action and Island (2023).note Izzy and Katie in Island (2007), Izzy and Sierra in World Tour, Brick, Jo, Scott, and Dakota in Revenge of the Island, Cameron, Courtney, and Duncan in All Stars, Max and Sky in Pahkitew Island
Each season having a designated pain magnet who gets injured excessively for no apparent reason other than laughs.note Owen in Island, Harold in Action, Tyler in World Tour, Brick in Revenge of the Island, Scott in All Stars, Max in Pahkitew Island, Chase in Island (2023)
The end of each series' intro (except for World Tour and Island (2023)) having a couple preparing to kiss, only for something or someone kill the momentnote Gwen and Trent in Island, Bridgette and Geoff in Action, Mike and Zoey in both Revenge of the Island and All Stars, Jasmine and Shawn in Pahkitew Island
The two finalists are always a boy and a girl. The only two times in which this doesn't happen is in Revenge of the Island, in which both finalists are boys (Cameron and Lightning), and in Part 2 of Island (2023), where the final challenge is for three finalists rather than just two (Wayne, Julia and Caleb).note (spoilers!)Owen and Gwen in Island (2007), Duncan and Beth in Action, Heather and Alejandro in World Tour, Mike and Zoey in All-Stars, and Priya and Bowie in Island (2023) Part 1
With the only exception of Damien, everyone who finds the hidden immunity idol is one of the antagonistsnote (Scott and Heather). Furthermore, it's usually stolennote (All-Stars and Part 2 of Island (2023)) and it's always used to save one of the antagonists from elimination.note (Scott, Alejandro, Julia)
A contestant ending up bald, usually involving Bald of Evil or a Traumatic Haircut. Happens in every season except Action, All-Stars, and Part 1 of Island (2023).note While it doesn't happen in Action, Heather remains bald after the events of the penultimate episode of the first season and Chris is revealed to actually be bald in the finale (though this reveal seems to be retconned in later seasons). Part 2 of Island (2023), has Julia receive a Traumatic Haircut in the form of a raptor biting off a good chunk of her hair, but rather than ending up bald, she is just left with a mullet.
One team usually wins the first two challenges and this team will go on to be the superior one. It's only averted in All-Starsnote Vultures win only the first challenge before the pattern is broken and only have one more victory over Hamsters, Pahkitew Islandnote the team which wins the first two challenges is the inferior one and never wins again, Island (2023) Part 1note once again the pattern is broken after the first victory and both teams are equal this time, and Island (2023) Part 2note like in Pahkitew Island's case, the team which wins the first two challenges is inferior and never wins again.
With the only exception of Leshawna using the lavatory confessional first in World Tour, The Protagonist or a Decoy Protagonist is always the first contestant to use the confessional in a season.note Gwen in Island (2007), Lindsay in Action, Heather in the cockpit confessional in World Tour, Mike in Revenge of the Island, Courtney in All-Stars, Samey in Pahkitew Island, and Priya in Island (2023).
Someone involved in one of the romantic plotlines of the season is eliminated at the start of the merge. While Eva in Island (2007) is an exception, Trent, Bridgette, and Lindsay all follow suit. Leshawna is Amicable Exes with Harold and continues having Will They or Won't They? with him in Action, Owen has already broken up with Izzy but is also attracted to Blaineley in World Tour. Mike is involved in the main Official Couple of the season in Revenge of the Island. While Duncan is single by the time of the merge, he started All-Stars still dating Gwen. Dave is involved in a failed romance of Pahkitew Island. And while Wayne is single, Raj fits the pattern in Part 1 of Island (2023), and ironically his boyfriend Bowie does so in Part 2.
Speaking of which, there's a trend where couples that get together during the show would have their first kiss in weird, sometimes inappropriate places or situations:
Lindsay and Tyler think the best time to kiss was on the bathroom sink tangled up by yo-yo string while their teams are working on the challenge.
Owen and Izzy made out in a bush while on the run from a Serial Killer and almost got caught by them.
Gwen and Duncan end their unintentional joint bathroom confessional making out behind Courtney's back with Tyler accidentally barging in.
Alejandro and Heather had theirs on top of a Hawaiian volcano at the final challenge but that was the latter's ploy to distract the former as she immediately kneed him in the kiwis and send him sliding down the volcano on an ice block.
Dakota and Sam hook up after the former was turned into a gigantic mutant from the radiation, disgusting the rest of the contestants with their makeout session.
Mike sort of got his wish of having his first kiss with Zoey in the rain when they were both standing in a shark pool and right after Mal tried drowning her in it.
Shawn and Jasmine kissed in the middle of dodging lasers for a challenge which predictably tripped the security systems and sic a horde of wild robotic animals upon them. Chris called the pair out since they were supposed to be focused on preventing the now-haywire Pahkitew Island from blowing up.
Raj impulsively kisses Bowie in the shark-filled tapioca pudding pit the latter is saving him from. This also marks the second time a couple kissed while in shark-infested waters (The first being Mike and Zoey as mentioned above).
Although Emma and Chase were exes and had kissed plenty of times before, their first onscreen kiss after getting back together is when they're hiding from hyper-aggressive cassowaries inside a nest since Emma thought they were about to die.
Speaking of couples, the finalists are almost always involved in one of the romantic plots of the season, with the only exception of Revenge of the Island:
In Island (2007), Gwen is involved in one of the main couples of the season with Trent. Later in the season, Owen gets romantically involved with Izzy. In both cases, the couples make up in the finale.
In Action, Duncan is involved with Courtney in the main couple of the season. While Beth isn't in a relationship with another contestant (though she is attracted to both Justin and Harold), she is dating Brady outside of the competition, who ends up revealed as her not-so-imaginary boyfriend.
In World Tour, although they don't become an official couple until All-Stars, both Alejandro and Heather have a Will They or Won't They? which serves as one of the main romantic plots of the season.
In All-Stars, Mike and Zoey are the main couple of the season for the second time in a row.
In Pahkitew Island, both Shawn and Sky are involved in the only romantic pairings of the season (with Jasmine and Dave respectively), although it only ends well in Shawn's case. Sky is also revealed to have a boyfriend named Keith back home.
In Part 1 of Island (2023), Bowie is involved in the first official LGBT couple of the series with Raj.
In Part 2 of Island /2023), Caleb is involved in a romantic relationship with Priya.
As a part of their Laser-Guided Karma, the Big Bad of the season is usually eliminated right before the finale, partly in order to play on competitive contestants' Second Place Is for Losers mentality as the show's Multiple Endings mean that third place is the highest the main antagonist can reach without winning.
Island (2007): Heather is eliminated in the penultimate episode, ranking third.
Action: Courtney is eliminated alongside Owen right before the two-parter finale.
World Tour: Even though he is in the finale, Alejandro doesn't properly win as he either loses to Heather or wins because of a technicality she caused and is the only winner to date who never even got to touch his prize money.
Revenge of the Island: Scott is eliminated slightly earlier ranking fourth and thus allowing Lightning to replace him as the Big Bad for the last two episodes.
All-Stars: Mal's case is interesting as while he reaches the final two, he still gets defeated and disappears before the final challenge is over with Mike taking control of his body again.
Pahkitew Island: Sugar is the second-to-last of the rotating Big Bad in the season and has placement of third, the same as Heather's.
Part 1 of Island (2023): Julia ranks 4th just like Scott but she is eliminated right before the finale which features the final three contestants competing. Meanwhile Bowie ranks second, losing to Priya and being the first canonical runner-up of the series due to the show doing away with theMultiple Endings.note The following season reveals Owen was very first winner of Total Drama, meaning that the first actual canonical runner-up, chronologically speaking at least, is Gwen.
Part 2 of Island (2023) has Julia make it to the finale, but she ultimately loses the million dollars to Wayne, ending up as the Runner-Up of the season alongside Caleb, and much like Bowie, having no alternate ending where she wins.
There are several pairs of contestants who are always placed on the same team. Of particular note are those who compete together thrice or more.
Gwen and Heather are on the same team in all 4 seasons they compete in (meaning also all seasons of Total Drama proper featuring the first generation cast) and are always placed on the superior team. This extends to minor teams as well, as both were on the girls' team in "Brunch of Disgustingness" and "Are We There, Yeti?".
DJ and Harold are on the same team in all 3 seasons they compete in. So are Izzy and Owen although Izzy has to switch teams twice for this to happen. Noah and Owen are also on the same team all three times Noah competes, including in the spin-off.
There are also some competition-related examples:
Contestants who made it to the final four of their generation's debut season always make it to the final four once again in another season. Furthermore, the trend starts with two of them doing so in their second season:
Owen, Gwen, Heather, and Duncan made it to the final four of Island (2007). Duncan and Owen made it again in Action, Heather did so again in World Tour, and Gwen did so in All-Stars.
Cameron, Lightning, Zoey, and Scott made it to the final four of Revenge of the Island. Zoey and Scott did so again in All-Stars.
Priya, Bowie, Millie, and Julia made it to the final four of Island (2003) Part 1. Julia and Priya did so again in Part 2.
Island (2007): Gwen is the main protagonist, Heather is the main antagonist, and Owen is the comic relief underdog.
Action doesn't have a proper final three (although Owen is eliminated after Courtney), so it can be interpreted in a few ways: The Protagonist is either Beth or Duncan, the Big Bad is either Courtney or (excluding her from the final three) Duncan, and the underdog status fits both Beth and Owen again, with Owen getting the comic relief kind specifically.
World Tour: Alejandro is the main antagonist, Cody is the comic relief underdog, and Heather is the main protagonist.
Revenge of the Island: the roles remain, although they're mixed a little bit. Both Cameron and Zoey share the role of The Protagonist, with Cameron also having the underdog part, while Lightning goes on to become the True Final Boss following Scott's elimination after spending most of the season as the comic relief.
All-Stars: Mike is the main antagonist through his Enemy Within Mal, Scott is the comic relief underdog, and Zoey is once again the main protagonist.
Pahkitew Island: Shawn is the comic relief underdog, Sky is the main protagonist, and Sugar is the closest this season has to the main antagonist.
Ridonculous Race: Ice Dancers are the main antagonists, Police Cadets are the main protagonists, while the Surfer Dudes are the comic relief underdogs.
Part 1 of Island (2023): Bowie is the main antagonist (shared with Julia), Millie is the underdog, and Priya is the main protagonist.
Part 2 of Island (2023): Caleb is the main protagonist, Julia is the main antagonist again, and Wayne is the comic relief underdog.
With the only exception of World Tour, Courtney and Harold are eliminated back-to-back whenever Harold competes, doing so in Island (2007) and Action.
Damien and MK are always eliminated back-to-back, with only the order of who was eliminated first being switched around.
DJ is usually eliminated in a horror-themed episode, doing so in Island (2007) and Action; only barely avoiding doing so in World Tour after being eliminated one competition-related episode prior.
In addition, DJ is never eliminated in a regular manner (i.e. via votes) in any season: he gets directly eliminated by Chris for failing to complete the challenge in Island (2007), quits in Action, and is directly eliminated after losing due to being the last remaining member of his team in World Tour.
DJ and Izzy are always eliminated back-to-back: in Island (2007), DJ is eliminated in Episode 19 while Izzy is eliminated in Episode 20; in Action, DJ is eliminated in Episode 9 while Izzy is eliminated in Episode 11 (with Episode 10 being a reward challenge with no elimination); and in World Tour, both of them are eliminated in Episode 11, with Izzy going first followed by DJ.
Geoff and Izzy are also always eliminated back-to-back both times Geoff competes in the main series: in Island (2007), Izzy is eliminated in Episode 20 while Geoff is eliminated in Episode 21; and in Action, Geoff is eliminated in Episode 2 while Izzy is eliminated in Episode 3.
Duncan makes it to the merge in all four seasons he competes. In other words, in all four season of Total Drama proper which feature the first generation cast competing.note He has to return in World Tour to achieve that, though.
Other contestants who alwaysnote (meaning in all of their seasons and more than once) make it to the merge are: Alejandro, Bowie, Cameron, Julia, Mike, Owennote (although he has to return in Action to achieve that), Priya, Raj, Ripper, Scott, Wayne, Zee, and Zoey. Courtney also makes it to the merge 3 out of 4 times she's competing, tied with Owen and ahead of everyone else aside from Duncan.
Conversely, contestants who nevernote (as in more than once) make it to the merge are: Ezekiel, Nichelle, Noah, Sam, Scary Girl, and Tyler.
Both Ezekiel and Leonard are always eliminated in the second episode of a season. Furthermore, in almost each case it's a two-parter of the season's premiere.
Ezekiel is also always the lowest-ranking contestant of a season he competes in.
Gwen is either the lowest-ranking member of her teamnote (Action and World Tour) or the highest-ranking female membernote (Island (2007) and All-Stars).
Harold is always eliminated in an episode which number ends with 3: Episode 13 in Island (2007), Episode 23 in Action and Episode 3 in World Tour.
His association with number 3 also carries over to some of his rankings, ranking 13th in Island (2007) and being the third contestant eliminated in World Tour.
Another contestant with similar record is Millie, who was eliminated in Episode 13 of Part 1 of Island (2023), ranking 3rd place, and was the third contestant eliminated in Part 2, being voted out in Episode 3.
Heather is eliminated in episodes which numbers end with either 5 or 6: Episode 25 in Island (2007), Episode 15 in Action, Episode 26 in World Tour (in Alejandro's ending), and Episode 6 in All-Stars.
Izzy is usually eliminated for the final time in Episode 11, doing so in Action and World Tour.
Furthermore, Izzy usually returns to the game after her initial elimination, doing so in Island (2007) and Action.
She also usually switches teams, doing so in Island (2007) and World Tour. Additionally, it always happens in the second episode of the season.
Izzy is also always the first eliminated female member of her team, if not the first overall.
Leshawna is usually eliminated in an episode which number ends with 7: Episode 17 in Action and Episode 7 in World Tour.
Noah is always the first male member eliminated from his team, and also the first member from his team eliminated via votes.
Ripper and Zee are always eliminated next-to-next, with Ripper being the first one eliminated both times.
Counting Mike's ending, Scott and Zoey are always eliminated back-to-back, with Scott always being first followed by Zoey.
Sierra is always eliminated back-to-back with Duncan, with only the order of who was eliminated first being changed.
With the exception of Revenge of the Island (excluding Mal), any time there's a cast change there's always at least two people with a pre-existing relationship.note Katie and Sadie were Childhood Friends before Island (2007), Izzy and Sierra knew each other before World Tour and everyone met all three newcomers during the special, Duncan and Mal were in juvey together before All-Stars, Amy and Samey were twins before Pahkitew Island, Wayne and Raj were Childhood Friends and Emma and Chase were a former couple before Island (2023).
Certain types of character's will always be present no matter how many times the cast changes. Each generation cast has an Alpha Bitchnote Heather and Courtney for gen 1, Jo for gen 2, Amy for gen 3, Josee for RR, Julia for gen 4, with an Arch-Enemy or twonote Gwen and Leshawna for Heather, Anne Maria and Lightning for Jo, Jasmine for Amy, MacArthur for Josee, Bowie for Julia and an Unwitting Pawn/frequent punching bag who eventually betrays themnote Lindsay for Heather, Beth for Courtney, Cameron for Jo, Samey for Amy, Jacques for Josee, Julia didn't have one because social manipulation was her Fatal Flaw. Every era has a Gentle Giantwho takes a lot of abusenote DJ for gen 1, Brick for gen 2, Rodney for gen 3, Ryan for RR, and Caleb for gen 4. All casts but the second one have The Dividualnote Katie and Sadie, Amy and Samey, many of the teams in RR, Wayne and Raj. Generations 1, 2, and 4 all have a stereotypical bullynote Duncan, Scott, Ripper. Generation 1, the cast of RR, and gen 4 all have a Lovable Jock who can't stop getting hurtnote Tyler, Brody, Wayne and Raj, as well as a Gothnote Gwen, Crimson and Ennui, Scary Girl. Finally, all casts from the main series have an Ascended Fanboy/Girlnote Sierra, Zoey, Topher, Priya.
