YMMV / Despair Island

• Complete Monster:
  • Zolkoff is a Serbian mafia thug and Chris McLean's main helper. Helping Chris run the game, Zolkoff aids in most of the executions and takes pleasure in gruesomely killing and taunting his victims, from sawing Katie and Sadie in half to stuffing Cody in an Iron Maiden and burning Ezekiel to death, amongst others. When Duncan's policeman father shows up in a helicopter to rescue the campers, Zolkoff shoots the pilot and tries to burn the survivors before instead capturing them. In the ending, when he is arrested alongside Chris, Zolkoff strangles Chris to prevent him from exposing his boss, Jonathan Gavrilovic, then breaks out and is never seen again.
  • Jonathan Gavrilovic himself is a controversial Canadian politician who has ties to the Serbian mafia, and is the producer for Total Drama. After lying to Chris about the legality of the show in order to later set Chris up as a scapegoat, Jonathan gives Chris the island and all the equipment and people for the show, including Zolkoff, while he organizes the mass kidnapping of 22 teenagers while disguised as the Canadian government, and sends them to the island to compete for their lives while having Chris make an electric gallery of their corpses to serve as an incentive. Keeping himself distant from the show to prevent anyone from knowing his true intentions, Jonathan later throws everyone under the bus and gets them arrested, resulting in Chris's death by Zolkoff to silence him and relocates Chef to prevent the government from making him talk. A mastermind who was willing to have 19 children lose their lives to line his pockets, Jonathan manages to force the Canadian government not to investigate any further, leading Gavrilovic to receive no comeuppance, able to sell Total Drama to the Black Market for money while staying a respected member of the Canadian government.
• Heartwarming Moments:
  • Cody comforting Gwen while she dies.
  • Geoff using his own Life Idol on Bridgette. In the words of Courtney, "You're a noble guy, Geoff. God knows I'd never use a Life Idol on someone else."
  Geoff: It just seemed like the right thing to do. Believe me, I know what it means and I thought it through. And besides, if you think I'm not winning this thing when you're on the outside waiting for me, you're nuts.
  • When Bridgette arrives at Playa De Losers afterward, Noah (obviously the only other person there) ends up being the one to console her. In the finale, as the survivors are saying their goodbyes, she gives him a hug and thanks him for being there for her.
• Magnificent Bastard: Justin, the "Eye Candy", is significantly more cunning than in canon. A model born into the Serbian mafia, Justin aims to win Total Drama Island and reunite with his family by any means necessary. To that end, he cultivates the image of a dumb pretty boy obsessed with his looks to make the others underestimate him, charms several female contestants into doing what he wants, and manipulates events to get several contestants eliminated. Proceeding to lay low and slip beneath suspicion, Justin beats fellow manipulator Alejandro, forms friendships with other campers for his benefit, and eventually manages to win the competition. Despite this, he feels regret for his heinous deeds and forms genuine bonds with his allies, especially Geoff whom he apologizes to. When the Canadian military saves the remaining campers, Justin amiably parts with Geoff and the others and goes on the run from the Serbian mafia, remaining untouchable to the end.
• Tear Jerker:
  • DJ's Mercy Kill.
  • Sadie's death and Katie's breakdown that follows. What's worse, Sadie's last moments are spent pleading for Chris to let her say goodbye to Katie first. Chris, being an asshole, doesn't give her the chance.
  • Courtney's last words.
  "Mom, dad, I love you guys."
  • Though Noah makes it off the island alive, he's left feeling extremely lonely while on Playa De Losers. At least until Bridgette shows up, which leads to another tearjerker when her first instinct is to break down crying in his arms.

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