Total Drama Action

This article is about the second season. For the entire series, see Total Drama.

Total Drama Action
The Total Drama Action logo.
Country of origin	Canada
No. of episodes	27 (including special)
Broadcast
Original channel	Teletoon (CAN) Cartoon Network (USA)
Original run	January 11, 2009 (2009-01-11) - June 10, 2010 (2010-06-10) (Canada) June 11, 2009 (2009-06-11) - April 6, 2010 (2010-04-06) (United States)
Season chronology
← Previous Total Drama Island Next → Total Drama World Tour
Second season of the Total Drama series. List of Total Drama episodes

Total Drama Action is a Canadian animated television series. It is the second season of the Total Drama series, which began with Total Drama Island. The show premiered in Teletoon at 6:30 pm ET/PT on January 11, 2009. This series was also created by the makers of 6teen, another Teletoon program. In the UK it aired on April 11, 2011 at 10:00 GMT as part of Disney XD's Easter Shows.

Format

Like the previous season, much of Total Drama Action chronicles the events of the eponymous fictional reality shows. The Total Drama series itself is an "animated reality television series", which stars the cast and crew of the fictional series, parodying many aspects of reality television in general. After last season's winner, Owen (Scott McCord), forgoes his prize money of C$100,000 for a challenge (open to all 22 of Total Drama Island's contestants) in which the winner would receive C$1,000,000, the money was left in limbo after a situation resulted in a 14-way tie. As such, show host Chris McLean (Christian Potenza) had no choice but to commission a second competition with all 14 tied contestants. The contestants are told to arrive at an abandoned movie studio lot in Toronto, Ontario, where the new competition, titled "Total Drama Action", would take place. Because of its location, Chris tells the contestants that the challenges would all be in the form of various movie genres. The accommodations of the contestants are handled by Chef Hatchet (Clé Bennett) in a similar manner to how it was handled in the previous season. The outhouse which was used as a confessional in Total Drama Island has been replaced with a makeup trailer for the cast to use, although Chris and Chef do use in various episodes during the TDA season.

After a quick elimination of two contestants, the couple Geoff (Dan Petronijevic) and Bridgette (Kristin Fairlie), a second challenge determined the team captains of the two competing teams: the Screaming Gaffers, headed by Gwen (Megan Fahlenbock), and the Killer Grips, headed by Trent (Scott McCord). From then on, challenges would alternate between "reward challenges" where winners would receive a special prize, and "elimination challenges" where the losing team would vote off one of its own in an elaborate "Gilded Chris Ceremony". The pattern of reducing the contestants down was briefly interrupted on two occasions: once when Izzy (Katie Crown) was reinstated following a voting irregularity where her alter-ego, "E-Scope", was voted off, and another time when Courtney (Emilie-Claire Barlow), a contestant who did not originally qualify for Total Drama Action, successfully sued the show. The players eliminated would make the "walk of shame" and into the "Lame-o-sine", where they leave the movie studio. Once seven contestants were left, the Screaming Gaffers and the Killer Grips were dissolved, and the challenges became individual-oriented in nature. Chris hired Owen as his ringer to sabotage the other contestants and to create drama. Eventually, two contestants were left standing: Beth (Sarah Gadon) and Duncan (Drew Nelson). The Total Drama Action winner was Duncan. Beth wins in the alternate ending. Beth also won over Duncan in the Australian and UK airings of Total Drama Action.

Characters

Main article: List of Total Drama characters

The main Total Drama Action cast consists of host Chris McLean, assistant Chef Hatchet, and the contestants that make up the castmates. The remaining contestants from Total Drama Island also appear in the show, but serving in lesser capacities as commentators on The Aftermath. Also, one other character in the show is Brady, Beth's boyfriend whom she talks about constantly throughout the show, but is only seen in the final episode.

Teams

There are two teams again this season but they are different now. They are the Screaming Gaffers and Killer Grips. Here are the members of each team:

• Screaming Gaffers: Gwen (Captain), Duncan, Leshawna, DJ, Heather and Harold.
• Killer Grips: Trent (Captain), Lindsay, Justin, Beth, Owen, Izzy and later on, Courtney.

Production

Like Total Drama Island, Total Drama Action was developed and produced by Fresh TV, targeting an age group of 10 to 16 year olds. Many of the show's settings, as well as the show's opening sequence, are deliberately made to be as close as to their Total Drama Island counterparts as possible; Camp Wawanakwa, the setting of Total Drama Island, was also revisited on several occasions, most notably as the site of some of the season's challenges. All of the cast of Total Drama Island return in the same roles as that of Total Drama Island, though some had their roles reduced as their characters were not as prominent in this season. As with Total Drama Island, two endings were commissioned for the series, one with each of the final two competitors winning; after the airing of the penultimate episode and prior to the season finale, viewers were prompted to the show's website (either at Teletoon for viewers in Canada or Cartoon Network for American viewers) to vote for the desired ending. Unlike Total Drama Island, however, the alternate ending was available as a webcast on the show's website immediately following its airing.

Episodes

Airdates

Season	Episodes	Country	Network	First Airdate	Last Airdate
2	27		Teletoon	January 11, 2009	June 10, 2010
			Cartoon Network	June 11, 2009	April 6, 2010
			Disney XD	April 11, 2011	May 17, 2011

Titles

#	Title	Original Airdate	Prod. Code
1	"Monster Cash"	January 11, 2009	201
After ending in a fourteen way tie for the million dollars, the fourteen contestants: Heather, Owen, Lindsay, Justin, Beth, DJ, Harold, Geoff, Bridgette, LeShawna, Izzy, Gwen, Trent and Duncan are brought to the new set of Total Drama Action, an old adbandoned film lot. The first challenge is to avoid being captured by a monster, which Owen manages to win.
2	"Alien Resurr-eggtion"	January 18, 2009	202
The fourteen castmates must retrieve "alien" eggs, then return them to the trailers without being caught by Mama Alien (who is actually Chef). However, finding the eggs is made quite difficult thanks to Geoff and Bridgette's constant making out and the alien's paintball skills. Nearly all of them get caught, but in the end Trent and Gwen win immunity and the chance to pick the new teams while Geoff and Bridgette are voted off in a double elimination.
3	"Riot on Set"	January 25, 2009	203
The teams are chosen by Gwen and Trent (the two winners of the previous challenge) and the castmates have to put on a play. While Izzy is chosen to play an old lady, the other team picks Duncan for the role of a rundown gangster. DJ's insecurity is discovered by Chef who decides to use it for his own illegal alliance. But when Chef gives them the wrong scripts, things start to get weird on the set. It all leads up to Izzy getting eliminated for her bad performance.
4	"Beach Blanket Bogus"	February 1, 2009	204
The teams participate in beach-related challenges. The first challenge is to go surfing, and then build sand castles back on Camp Wawanakwa (the location of Total Drama Island). Beth attempts to befriend the rest of her team, while Trent starts to have some problems with his relationship with Gwen. Meanwhile, Justin begins to show his true nature.
5	"3:10 to Crazytown"	February 8, 2009	205
The teams compete in Western-themed challenges. Trent continues to throw challenges for his true love Gwen, while she can't stand it anymore. Their relationship finally reaches its end and Justin blackmails Gwen as a result. It all ends with Trent getting the blame and being voted off, with Gwen owing the other team a favor.
6	"TDA Aftermath I: Trents Descent"	February 15, 2009	206
The first two eliminated castmates, Geoff and Bridgette are now hosting the first talk show in Total Drama. The campers from TDI that did not compete this season are back and Izzy and Trent are the guests of honor. However, the hosts start to have problems with each other as the show progresses.
7	"The Chefshank Redemption"	April 5, 2009	207
The ten remaining competitors start to heat up the competition when they face the prison movie theme. The Killer Grips are pretty confident, as they have a special deal with Gwen from the Screaming Gaffers, due to her past actions. The Grips finally win their first challenge and Izzy returns to the competition. Gwen is Voted off due to her previous actions, but earns some extra karma points.
8	"One Flu Over the Cuckoos"	April 12, 2009	208
The contestants take part in a medically themed challenge. Leshawna tries to make an alliance with Duncan and Harold, to counter their enemy. Then, when a deadly disease breaks out, things go critical on set. Though Leshawna and Duncan end up saving the cast, Leshawna's acting skills gets her the reward.
9	"The Sand Witch Project"	April 19, 2009	209
The cast mates compete in a horror-themed challenge. Lindsay takes over the leadership role of her team, and DJ's conscience begins to bother him about his previous actions, which leads to him removing himself from the competition, saving Lindsay from possible elimination.
10	"Masters of Disasters"	April 26, 2009	210
It's a disastrous time for the castmates, as they face their disaster movie challenges, including earthquakes, floods, and lava spills. The disasters get much worse as Owen gets seriously injured and the Screaming Gaffers find themselves in deep water - literally! LeShawna accidentally reveals her secret in front of her teammates, angering them.
11	"Full Metal Drama"	May 3, 2009	211
War comes to the set as tensions rise between castmates, as Duncan and Harold are at each other's throats about who is the better teammate. Justin's influential powers start to fail on Lindsay and Beth but Izzy's disinterest in him is still enough to get her eliminated... again.
12	"TDA Aftermath II: Forgive and For Gwen"	May 10, 2009	212
Total Drama Action Aftermath returns with Gwen and DJ as the guests of honor, but trouble starts when Geoff attempts to boost viewers with harsh segments and embarrassing clips of Gwen and Trent, which pushes apart him and Bridgette. Gwen's behavior on the show made her lose a lot of her friends from the previous season.
13	"Ocean's Eight - Or Nine"	June 24, 2009	213
The two teams compete in three bank heist themed challenges as LeShawna starts regretting her past actions. Then the action really heats up when Courtney returns to the show due to a lawsuit. This leads to the Killer Grips trying to send her home, but in the end, Owen is sent home instead.
14	"One Million Bucks B.C."	September 10, 2009	214
Chris turns back the clock to the stone age as the castmates engage in prehistoric challenges. Courtney alters the game with her personal digital assistant and own rules, making Beth adjust to her presence, as another goes to drastic measures in order to get what they want.
15	"Million Dollar Babies"	September 17, 2009	215
The final eight compete in sports-themed challenges. Duncan's infatuation with a mysterious love, combined with Courtney's new rules and conditions, causes a small problem to come about between LeShawna and the other seven, revealing a foreshadow. However, after an accepted apology, Heather gets sent home instead.
16	"Dial M for Merger"	September 24, 2009	216
The teams are dissolved as the cast faces off in a spy challenge filled with lasers, explosives, bombs, and bad accents! As Justin trusts their brains throughout the challenges, Leshawna (who still seems to be shunned) successfully makes an alliance with Duncan and Harold. After the blackmail plot of a schemer gets foiled, Courtney and Lindsay are declared winners and this earns them a trip to a cheese factory.
17	"Super Hero-Id"	October 8, 2009	217
It's a super time on set as the contestants participate in super hero based challenges. Lindsay forms a fierce rivalry with Courtney while Duncan and Leshawna maintain their old rivalry. Duncan, Harold and Justin form an alliance replacing an old one and it all ends with Leshawna being eliminated, and Harold breaking her heart.
18	"TDA Aftermath III: Owen or Lose"	October 22, 2009	218
It's another exclusive episode of Total Drama Action Aftermath, with not one, not two, but three former cast mates (Owen, Heather and LeShawna) taking the stage! However, trouble starts on set as Bridgette finally puts her foot down, tired of Geoff's new attitude.
19	"The Princess Pride"	November 5, 2009	219
Fairy tales come to the set of Total Drama Action as a princess is crowned (Courtney), causing her and Justin to form a fierce rivalry of love. Despite fighting his way through dragons and ogres, Justin finally meets his ultimate end in the game.
20	"Get a Clue"	November 12, 2009	220
It's crime solving time on set as the cast participates in three mystery-themed challenges. As Lindsay starts to apply herself, Courtney finally becomes fed up with her. As a result, these two find themselves up in each others' faces. To make matters worse, Chris is found dead on set and the murderer seems to be amongst them. In the end, Lindsay wins a reward and uses it to make Courtney jealous.
21	"Rock 'n Rule"	November 19, 2009	221
After Owen returns to the game, the final six compete in rock and roll themed challenges. Courtney wins invincibility again, so Lindsay plots for Duncan's downfall to weaken his chances. In the end, Lindsay eliminates herself due to an accident, leaving Beth sad.
22	"Crouching Courtney, Hidden Owen"	November 19, 2009	222
A kung-fu challenge comes to the set as the boys battle against the girls. Owen is not allowed to compete and must sabotage the teams instead for extra drama, but fails. Courtney desperately tries to form an alliance with Beth, while Duncan and Harold start to mend their conflict. However, the saboteur ruins the new friendship and the unlikely winner (Harold) earns himself a feast.
23	"2008: A Space Owen"	November 26, 2009	223
It's time for Total Drama Action to lift off as the cast competes in space themed challenges. Beth and Courtney start to feel a strain on their recently made alliance and Owen still can't shake off his guilt. After a number of calculations, Harold believes that there is a traitor among the cast, but he is unable to warn the remaining contestants before ending up eliminated.
24	"Top Dog"	November 26, 2009	224
The final four participate in an animal themed challenge. The drama intensifies when Owen is exposed for the mole he is. At the elimination ceremony, Courtney finally meets her end of the line and Owen is fired for being found out. This all leads up to the final two of Total Drama Action being revealed.
25	"Mutiny on the Soundstage"	December 3, 2009	225
Total Drama Action comes to a close as the final two (Duncan and Beth) competes in a pirate-themed challenge. However, total chaos breaks loose as Chris and Chef start a fight that threatens their friendship. The final two are pushed through a treasure hunt of knowledge and endure all of the elimination challenges in addition to one more, due to a choice. As the two finalists race to the end, something unexpected happens.
26	"TDA Aftermath IV: Who Wants to Pick a Millionaire?"	December 10, 2009	226
Total Drama Action finally reaches its epic conclusion, but with Chris missing, a winner has yet to be decided. As tensions rise, the two finalists, Duncan and Beth attempt to find a way to break the tie and eventually are asked various questions by the eliminated contestants, who then vote for the winner. In the end, Duncan is declared the winner and receives the money, as well as reuniting with Courtney, while Beth goes home with a "consolation prize" that shocks everyone.
Sp	"Celebrity Manhunt's TDA Reunion Show"	June 10, 2010	Special
Season two has come to an end and everyone is living the "big life" outside of the show. All twenty-two contestants gather for the awards for their show. However, their wonderful world comes crashing down when Chris announces a new reality show to replace them. In a desperate attempt to save their fame, all of the competitors join together in a full out race to New York City in a bus to beat out a team of dirtbags and their leader. But Chris soon reveals that the new reality show was just a scam to see if the old cast "still had it". Noah, Izzy, Owen, Gwen, Ezekiel, Harold, Lindsay, DJ, Courtney, Cody, Bridgette, Heather, Tyler, LeShawna and Duncan join Chris along with Alejandro (the dirtbags leader) and Sierra (the Celebrity Manhunt reporter) in the new season of Total Drama World Tour, while Geoff, Katie, Sadie, Trent, Justin, Beth and Eva are eliminated where they will watch from the sidelines.

Reception

Total Drama Action has received mostly positive reviews from critics.^{[citation needed]}

Media

DVD releases

Australia is the only country to release Total Drama Action on DVD. They released their Region 4 DVD on November 2, 2011. The DVD includes the Total Drama Island special, "Total Drama Drama Drama Drama Island".

External links

• Total Drama Action Interactive
• A TDA Podcast
• Total Drama Action.com