\"I don\'t think it\'s a coincidence that the most universally well-received seasons (Island, Revenge of the Island, and Pahkitew Island, at least by most people I\'ve run into) are seasons that featured brand-new characters, and the universally agreed-upon worse season (All Stars) used characters on their 2nd and 4th runs.\"
While I do agree that the better seasons are the ones with whole new casts, I think the fact World Tour is a very popular season and considered the best by many (personally, I think it\'s INCREDIBLY overrated) throws a significant wrench into that issue.
"Detecting trace amounts of mental activity. Possibly a dead weasel or a cartoon viewer"
This perfectly sums up my thoughts on the series. Most of the time, the cast start off being really well-written and likeable in their debut seasons, before suddenly getting flanderized or derailed hard, and it's pretty telling my favorite seasons are TDI, ROTI and RR (Ridonculous Race) because they start with mostly (though there are some stinkers) well-realized characters who don't get a chance to be derailed.
We must have ran into very different people in regards to Pahkitew Island. Most people I\'ve seen view it second to All-Stars for weakest season in the franchise. It\'s the opposite of universally well received. (Would hardly say Revenge was universally well received either, though it\'s not viewed with nearly as much contempt as All-Stars and Pahkitew)
I think World Tour still fits the pattern because it did add two new characters who gained pretty sizable fanbases. But I also see Revenge and Pahkitew as more heavily contested seasons. (I personally disliked Revenge though not as much as All Stars.)
I do some cleanup and then I enjoy shows you probably think are cringe.Leave a Comment:
Roulette of Good Seasons and Terrible Seasons
Total Drama is an entertaining series. It's not the most brilliantly written show, but it's pretty entertaining. Some seasons really deliver. They're funny, enjoyable, and can even get pretty emotional. But then there are the cringe-worthy disasters.
The decay isn't linear, so the problem isn't strictly Seasonal Rot. There are other factors at play. One problem the writers consistently have is that they Flanderize, and they Flanderize hard. I don't think it's a coincidence that the most universally well-received seasons (Island, Revenge of the Island, and Pahkitew Island, at least by most people I've run into) are seasons that featured brand-new characters, and the universally agreed-upon worse season (All Stars) used characters on their 2nd and 4th runs. The characters were a mess by then.
Until they learn to stop running characters straight into hell, they're going to need a new cast each season if they want the show to remain watchable.