Total Drama Review Week 33: The ChefShank Redemption

Izzy’s back! Izzy’s back! Izzy’s back! As you can tell, I’m quite excited about this. When I first saw this episode years ago I couldn’t stop screaming. I was absolutely stoked, and it still gets me hyped. Yes, it’s the second season in a row where they’ve done this, and who actually knows how Izzy got there, but I’m still excited.

So this week’s theme was prison movies, which I guess is okay. I’m not a huge fan, but it was fine. The challenges were average, nothing really special, more just the backdrop to the Grips exploiting Gwen. As far as storylines in one episode go though, the Gwen one was good. After seeing the Trent issues finished last episode, seeing it bite Gwen in the butt and her be eliminated so early on was shocking. Looking back, it seemed like Heather would go. Gwen going does take out a big power player though, and the final ten is really interesting now.

Owen, Justin, Lindsey, Beth, and Izzy taking on Duncan, DJ, Harold, Leshawna, and Heather. It’s the original teams minus the captains, which opens up a power vacuum. Justin has risen up to take the lead it seems on the Grips, but the Gaffers are in limbo now, and watching them figure out what to do makes for a good storyline.

I like to break this season down into four acts, based around the four aftermath episodes, meaning this episode begins the second act. I like to look at the first act as the rise of Justin, and now we begin to see him really run the game. It’s one of my favorite arcs in the franchise, and over these next few weeks we really see it kick into high gear.

Some last points from this episode: Lindsey. She really stole every scene she was in, especially pushing the cart and eating the slop. Speaking of slop, the DJ and Chef arc is getting good. It’s different from any other alliance we’ve seen so far, and it’s actually given us some good material. We’re only seven episodes in but a lot has changed for this show.

All in all, I give this episode a 7.5/10, for having lots of character work, but lacking in the challenge. See you all next week for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”

Tags: total drama