User blog:Rhonda the stalker fan!/Opinions: Why I Like Total Drama Fanfictions

Just a little opinion/analysis of Total Drama fanfictions and comparing them to canon, Survivor and other fanficitions.

Opinion: Why I Like Total Drama Fanfictions
I admit as a kid I loved Total Drama and praised it a lot more than it deserved, but the original concept is still a brilliant idea: make a reality show parody with parodies of stock teen characters. Total Drama was probably my first introduction to reality shows and I really love the idea of elimination reality shows.

Total Drama Fanfiction is in my eyes perhaps one of the last good things about the franchise; the current seasons have been less in quality and production care, except the most recent which was nicer than expected but very under-advertised, which didn’t help the show and generating the fan base.

But Total Drama Fanfiction has been something that has been generally wonderful; it takes the clever ideas and storytelling ways and created a lot of fun and interesting stories. I sometimes think it’s one of the best fanfiction avenues for OCs, or even playing with it's canon characters.

For one, it allows a writer to have a ‘scripted reality show; all the drama and suspense of reality show but with a planned story which allows a lot of flow with story moments then filmed elements can; better foreshadowing, easier to set up and execute comedy or romance and a great way to do character arcs.

That’s really one thing I love; everyone character has either two fates; being eliminated and losing or winning the finale. That means for a character they have an easy plan arc; here they are as we meet them, here’s them having experiences or doing what they is needed to further the plot, and here’s where they go and how they change from the experience. It’s a real genius idea.

Survivor vs. Total Drama
Of course you could write a fanfiction about another reality show like say Survivor, where Total Drama borrows most of it’s elements from. But while Survivor has it’s comedic moments, it’s all about the drama.

And it is kind of weird to think about certain characters (Chelsey, Catheryn, Twilight, etc.) in a show like that; they are stereotypes with big personalities that explore that, while Survivor contestants are more realistic. And while Total Drama is more character-focused, Survivor is focused on ‘the game’ of Survivor; big set piece challenges, surviving the elements, and most of all the strategy and gameplay of players to make it to the end.

That’s not to say there aren’t interesting characters in Survivor or that Total Drama fics shouldn’t have Survivor elements (Total Drama Amazon is a good example), but most Survivor contestants don’t get great focus or clear character arcs, that show how they change.

Most contestants in Survivor are there to be casualties of twists and blindsides or simple outs; Total Drama has the same but even then those characters have definable personalities and comedic moments. They aren’t all backdrops. I mean even of some of Total Drama’s early outs are interesting and get some focus (Dawn, Beth, Samey, Ella, etc.) and are recognizable. And that’s in-part of just the different ways the individual shows present their episodes; Survivor has a lot of editing and not everyone can be a Sandra Diaz-Twine or Pavarti.

Total Drama does feel a bit more personable too; characters are more comedic, friendships are emphasized, and a relationship forming is an expectation in Total Drama fics. Survivor doesn’t have that or give that as big a focus as Total Drama and more importantly Total Drama fanfictions.

Challenges and location are just another example; Survivor challenges aren’t bad but they only vary so much and not every one stands out. And we all know they have to be at a beach now. Canon has gotten real weak about this for awhile, but it’s challenges and locations are more flexible, especially in fanfiction.

I’m not saying Total Drama is superior to Survivor (I don’t believe it is) or that Survivor fanfictions are bad; I’m just simply saying Total Drama fanfictions have a lot more freedom and story telling potential. There have been Survivor fics on here before but sometimes they feel more like Total Drama.

The Drama in Total Drama
But I’m not opposed to serious or dramatic moments in Total Drama fics or even strategy in them. That may sound a little bias but I think it’s excusable; for the strategy there have been elements of it in canon, it can add to drama or characters and I wouldn’t say it’s as out-of place as certain elements in a Survivor fic.

As for more serious or dramatic moments I’d say it’s part because these fics don’t have the limitations of that the canon show does; they aren’t children’s cartoons, so they can have elements or moments that aren’t always kid-friendly or cartoons doubt kids are capable of dealing with (contrary to belief kids are capable of some deeper thought than networks believe but that’s another argument for another day).

And drama does feel at place for another element unique to Total Drama; most of the contestants are usually teens to young adults.

And that’s another element that adds something I think; teens are emotional, they are focused on making friends and romance at this age, and they are discovering themselves as people or trying to find that (another reason character growth works so easily). It's all those elements combined that make dramatic moments understable in Total Drama fanfictions, as they all make for good drama.

In Short
All in all, I’m just saying why I like Total Drama fics:


 * It’s got a simple and easy to use formula that yet has a lot of freedom to do what you want and play with things.


 * It allows for a cast ensemble of unique characters that usually each get a little moment of focus, even if it’s just for a joke.


 * It can have strategy, drama, humor, romance, suspense and character development all in one, nice package.

I could list or expand on those above elements, but I think it sums it up pretty nicely and why I enjoy this wiki and hope that even when the franchise dies, these fics can still exist and that the best thing to me that came out of Total Drama are the fanfictions :3

Conclusion
Whelp, there’s my two cents on a subject no one asked about, but something I realized I wanted to talk about.

Did you like this analysis and want more? Did you agree with my thoughts, or disagree? Why? Is there something I really messed up on and need a correction? Is there something I need to expand on upon to give information? Did I use ‘And’ to many times? Please comment with your thoughts, I'd love them <3