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Some of you guys had been waning me to tell you about this and asked me what I thought. Well, it's time. This is something that I have been meaning to get to after my review of the new Total Drama franchise installment: The Ridonculous Race. And this is listing the teams from my most disliked to my more favorite teams. And I will have my reasons for doing so. So, what are we waiting for? Let's get started.

#18: Leonard and Tammy (LARPers)
Let's face it. There was no way they could place any higher than the place they did. I will admit...Leonard might have been more entertaining if he didn't stay so delusional in his little fantasy world after Pahkitew Island. And his partner Tammy was really no help either. The only thing we got to learn about them is that they got to know one another after getting shoved in the same locker at school. That's pretty much it. Everything else was just them trying to win via their LARPing know-how which, not surprisingly, got them booted off first. I'm sorry, but there was just nothing to salvage about them.

#17: Ellody and Mary (Geniuses)
Now...here's a team that might have gone a little farther than originally did. Never mind the fact that Ellody has the same voice actress as Courtney. That's probably the one thing fans will remember about her. It's just...we didn't see very much of her and Mary's brains in action. And Mary didn't even talk until the episode where they got eliminated. So, that was kind of a bad case of elimination fodder right there. And Ellody is not good at winging it, so I can understand her panic when their sandy calculations got washed away. They didn't even make it to the chill zone in the episode they got eliminated in, so that was a sign that they were characters that definitely could have been a lot more.

#16: Laurie and Miles (Vegans)
Another somewhat decent appearing team that was ruined due to a short lived time span in the race. Same problem with the Geniuses, we don't seem them that much until around their end point. What we do see of them tend to be of them seeming like nicer and more friendly versions of PETA. And that's saying something. They are the very first people who are protective of the Earth who actually had to eat meat that I have ever seen. Other vegans despise that stuff. They had to do it order to stay in the race, and it didn't matter because it was a non-elimination leg. And what happened to Laurie afterwards? Not good. Plus, some of their causes were a little...over-the-top for vegans and hippies from what I have seen, but I can tell their hearts were in the right place. Sadly, I just wish we could have seen more of them in action.

#15: Gerry and Pete (Tennis Rivals)
Okay, this is definitely a team I thought would have probably seemed like they would have fared well if they weren't so induced by their elderly nature. These two share a bit of a frenemy sort of vibe with one another, and they're trying to use the race as a way to catch a gig lining some sort of deal in advertising since they were once famous tennis players. And also, Pete kinda looks a bit like someone Chris would know, doesn't he? But I wish we could have seen some more of them. Instead, they got almost nothing that really left an impression on the viewers. And that's too bad. They got me to laugh a couple of times. Senior citizens are great for comedy. Take Statler and Waldorf for making fun of the Muppets' performances, or Cranky Kong berating you for seeking his help instead of trying to do things on your own. What would these two have done? I don't know. But I just have a feeling that I would have gotten to laugh from them if they stuck around just a little longer.

#14: Kelly and Taylor (Mother and Daughter)
Boy, is this one gonna be tough to talk about. You know that spoiled brat of a daughter cliche? Well, it's back. And it's in the form of a teen girl named Taylor who is teaming up with her mom so she can probably be a big shot. And her mother has spoiled her all her life and really showed signs of cowardice when trying to put her foot down. Taylor, from what I can gather, has not really shown much respect or regard to her own mother, and Kelly just can't help but sweet talk her just to be on her good side. She even has to bribe her in order to keep daughter her in the race. It's something that's been done to death that I don't think is all that great anymore. But eventually, Kelly decides to tell her enough is enough and that she will be putting some new rules when they get home after their elimination. The way she berated Dwayne for thinking her method of parenting was wrong may have seemed like nothing would change, but thankfully, after a shopping spree that got them eliminated, Kelly has decided to set those new rules to Taylor. If mother doesn't know best her, she don't know nothing. I give props to Kelly and just think Taylor needs an attitude adjustment.

#13: Stephanie and Ryan (Daters)
Another complicated one. Okay, Ryan is actually a pretty nice guy. He's a gentle giant like DJ from the original series. He wouldn't harm a fly. Just some jerk who hurts his girl. But as for Stephanie...well, she started off fine and dandy, but then came when things started to get a little on the competitive side after a couple of botches from her boyfriend. She was really not into losing and when she took the competition too far, Ryan decided to break up with her on national TV. I wouldn't wanna be with a girl who put competition before the relationship, either, buddy. And it was pretty much them making fun of each other and enjoying the other's expense whenever they could. I also liked how Carrie and Ryan started to befriend each other later on in the race without being forced into being a new couple themselves that Devin and Stephanie would have erupted from seeing. And it was clever of him to use false agreements just to mess with Steph. Of course, naturally, they got back together, but their proclaiming such got them booted off the show. However, they really overstayed their welcome before that happened. Yes, they're back together, but they did kind of overstay their welcome when it was almost nothing but the two of them getting on each other's nerves. Sorry you had to go through that, Ryan.

#12: Josee and Jacques (Ice Dancers)
Here are the main antagonists of the first season of the new installment. And if you thought I thought Stephanie was competitive? Just wait till you see Josee. She is...evil. She just can't help but break down whenever she places anywhere below first. Granted, neither can Jacques, but he didn't take it nearly as hard. They placed second at the Winter Olympics after an accident, and that caused them to enter the race and prove they're the best. And as to be expected, they would try to cheat to win. What is it with villains always doing that? I know that gives us the indication to root against them, but come on. Name one set of villains who didn't stop in the middle of a big competition to put a huge unfair handicap against the other players. Josee has also shown to be the greater of two evils by pushing Jacques around and Jacques just wants to make sure they win without getting into too much trouble. They do have some funny moments which is why they're not my most hated team, but they are still just right above the bottom row, as you can see in the template. And after all the dirty tricks they pulled on their rivals the Police Cadets and all the other teams, they deserve at least bronze. It's worse than silver. But hey, they should at least be happy that they made the podium. But they won't.

#11: Jay and Mickey (Adversity Twins)
It's really hard to say on why these two Cameron beta refreshing twins place here, but I can try. Well, for one thing, while they did have a lot of disturbing looking ailments that could have gotten them killed like severe allergies or fragility beyond that of the original Cameron, they still pulled through for a pair of scrawny boys. They got further than some people thought they did. And I will admit, those allergies and ailments really got me to laugh. It wasn't as bad as it looked and I did like a couple of moments that they had like when they proved not to sweat at all in a hot sauna with their clothes on while everyone else was roasting, or when they beat the Ice Dancers to the chill zone in Dubai because they took a normal cab while the dancers took the fancy golden one. Still, they lost due to a fear of germs and pain, and it was sad to see them go. But in a way, they didn't overstay their welcome like the Daters did. So, yeah. They were pretty good.

#10: Chet and Lorenzo (Stepbrothers)
This is definitely a very complex team to put in at the start of the top 10 teams. But I do have a good reason for it. Ever since Chet's mom and Lorenzo's dad got married, they became stepbrothers, but they didn't like each other that much. They were more often than not just fighting with one another and throwing verbal insults just to egg the other guy on. So, they were put on the race as a way to help them bond, and at first, that didn't seem to go anywhere as they were still just doing more of the same thing. But then came the time they got to Australia, and it was then and there that they found out they had a lot more in common than they thought. And they started to like each other and make peace. So, the bros are now gonna start getting along. They didn't like losing, but hey, as long as they're happy together, that's what makes it all worthwhile. Plus, it's nice to see some people getting along in the end. Remember how some friendships/relationships in Total Drama suddenly came to a dramatic halt through deception or Chris's bloodthirsty drive for drama? Well, this ending was a very nice change of pace for the two of them.

#9: Rock and Spud (Rockers)
I'll admit I did not know where to place these two. But I gotta hand it to them. They do seem to be pretty optimistic and able to take anything. Rock is a real go-getter who's doing his best to win the million so he can move out of his parents' basement while his buddy Spud is a little more laidback and casual and not really up for much of this kind of stuff. When Rock had to start doing more of the work on Spud's end, he started to tell him to get his act together so they could still compete in the race. He even had to go so far as to bribe him with snacks as if his buddy were a disobedient dog. That's pretty funny to see there. And while they seemed to have a poor placing record for the most part, they at least had a shining moment when Spud rocked the air guitar, their magnum opus to getting them to win one leg. Plus, Spud's delayed reactions to pain were more often than not comical in the timing. Sure, they weren't gonna make it all the way to the end, but I gotta give them props for making it as far as they could and for being one of the more entertaining teams. And they even made friends with the Stepbrothers who just became friends themselves. Now that's an ending to the end of their journey.

#8: Tom and Jen (Fashion Bloggers)
Oh, good night, were these two adorable and funny! I will say it right here. When I first heard that these two were avatars of the show's creators, I thought it wouldn't be fair for the other teams because they were gonna necessarily win basically being said avatars. But that didn't seem to be the case. These two have a big fashion blog and talk about all the fashion pros and cons that they have witnessed in their lives. Not to mention how they tend to worry a lot about their looks. Some of their moments got me to chuckle, and others just made me just think they were more than just a couple of friends. Sure, things hit a rocky road when they argued who was the true genius behind their blog, but they still made amends in the end. And sadly, they lost to the overbearing arguing warring couple of the Daters in the last leg even though they were ahead of them at first. But they still had a happy ending with Don claiming their new fashion trend to be in right there. So, I'm happy that they didn't win because of the whole avatar thing, but I'm also sad that they didn't go as far as expected. I would have loved to see more antics from these two.

#7: Crimson and Ennui (Goths)
Okay, I'll admit it. When the first episode was leaked and we didn't know who would be placing where, I wasn't sure I was gonna like these two. They at first gave me the impression that they'd be inferior copies of Gwen and Duncan, who started off as just good friends but then were forced into being a couple, but in a way, that wasn't the case. They seemed to be a little more stereotypical goths, but they were a bit of a breath of fresh air from those other two. And their deadpan tone was amusing for some moments. Plus, we even got to see what they looked like without all their goth attire. That was cute and hilarious at the same time. That would have also been a great way for them to be eliminated had it not been for the upgrade they got to save themselves from elimination. And I gotta give props to Ennui befriending a cute cuddly little bunny rabbit who then took on their lifestyle. Loki was one hot cross bunny, let me tell ya. Sure, they're number 7, but I do find them a little overrated as they're one of the teams that most fans seem to talk about. Not that that's a bad thing, but I do like a little variety. And just so you know, I'm not against all stereotypes. These two were fine the way they were and I wouldn't have them any other way.

#6: Dwayne and Junior (Father and Son)
A father and son duo that takes the Bumbling Dad trope and manages to have a great payoff for it in the end? Yes, please! I am really sad these two do not get much talk among the other fans. Like with the Goths, first impressions from the first episode made me think they wouldn't do very well. But honestly, things really seemed to take a turn for the better for these two. Yes, Junior was a little embarrassed to be going through some of this with his dad who wasn't the straightest arrow off the bow, but he still meant well and they both promised to go as far as they could. Plus, there were some great comedic moments like when Dwayne tried to blame Junior for them being late only for Junior to retort to that, and how they took the Vegans' fossil without knowing it and the fossil getting broke and hitting them with karma. And I kinda thought Dwayne was suffering from marital problems since he tried to pass their fossil off as an anniversary gift to his wife or how he flat out suggested calling someone other than her. I just wonder what was going on there. Then there was the safari episode. Dwayne and Junior got separated after the waterfall selfie part of the challenge and Dwayne looked for Junior while Junior headed for the next part. Yes, that seemed like a bad act to follow, but luckily, thanks to the huge handicap the Ice Dancers got, they were reunited and got to stay a little longer. And there was also that subplot where Junior had a crush on Carrie, but that never really went anywhere. But hey, in the end, despite Dwayne getting a female tattoo, they both showed that they had a lot of fun in the race and they were closer than ever. It was a sign that they were gonna get along just fine. As for Dwayne and his wife, I don't know.

#5: Devin and Carrie (Best Friends)
Hoo boy. These two are definitely gonna be a doozy. How many of you thought they were gonna be the winners based on them being the first new team to be leaked? Well, as we all know, that wasn't the case. At first, it seemed like they were gonna be a pretty boring generic pair. Carrie had a crush on her besty and Devin was yacking about his then girlfriend Shelly and saying that he and Carrie were just gonna stay as friends forever. And it did get old, but overtime, they really did seem to grow more toward each other. Like when Devin got dumped by Shelly and went into the five stages of agony. Not only was that something that most people go through, it was hilarious. And his obliviousness to Carrie's crush on him did get a little tiring after a while, but she managed to pull off some reasons as to why he should be with her and not Shelly. Then later on came the reversal where Carrie was over that and Devin wanted to be with Carrie. And Carrie befriended Ryan later on and they started to see their partners for they are and get together, or back together, depending on who we're talking about here, and all worked out well. But, dang...what happened to Devin near the end of it all? Ouch. But hey, as long as they're together, they'll be alright.

#4: Geoff and Brody (Surfers)
The most positive-attitude duo in the roster comes in at number 4! There is not a single thing to hate about these two. They're so cheerful, upbeat, and able to work together. Though, I do think that while Geoff wasn't the brightest Total Drama contestant, he seemed to have gotten hit with a couple of rocks that made him lose a couple more brain cells. And Brody...definitely denser than Dwayne. But what they lack in smarts, they more than make up in everything else. They're happy, they're friendly, they have proven to be worthy adversaries to even the Ice Dancers, I just can't think of any reason to hate these two in the slightest. Though I just found the whole thing with Brody having a thing for MacArthur just to be a little outta nowhere, but hey, choose who you like best. Still wish we could have seen a scene with Geoff and Bridgette. Oh well. Maybe next season. I guess if there's one problem I have with this team, it's how they got eliminated and brought back around the end game part of the race. They sacrificed their time in the race to give Devin and Carrie more time to sort things out on the show and that cost them the race. But after Devin's...accident, Carrie offered to let them come back in their place and share half the prize money with them should they win. It's not the vehicle that made these two just miss the podium, it's the road that they took. I just thought it'd have been more satisfying if there just all the way in the race from start to finish. Other than that, definitely a great friendly duo.

#3: Owen and Noah (Reality TV Pros)
About time these two showed up! How can I not place these two any lower than the podium rankings? These two have been big staples in the Total Drama franchise, Owen a bit bigger than Noah, but you get the point, and it was only natural that Owen team up with his best buddy. Noah is just as snarky as ever, Owen is gluttonous and naive like before, and the two of them just have that perfect dynamic that you can never get tired of. Plus, Owen doesn't seem to fart as much as he used to. He did it a few times, but compared to his moments in the few seasons he was in before, he really cut back on the gas. And Noah didn't seem like he'd have much of a story arc himself, but that came to pass when he noticed the grace and beauty that was Emma. He fell in love and made for an interesting love plot. And Owen and Kitty were gonna make sure that these two were gonna get together. While Noah wanted to win on a reality show for once since he has lost on all the ones he competed in up to the race, he still wanted to win the heart of Emma. And it wasn't easy. There were times when he lost his confidence when he was in fear that he would do something so embarrassing that would make Emma reject him or get so heartbroken when she declared that now was not the time for a relationship. But Owen was there to help motivate him to keep moving forward and put everything behind them. Owen showed to be more than the big lovable oaf we've known him for. He helped motivate Noah in his time of need. Whether it was through his own intent or no fault of his own, he was just looking out for his little buddy. And even though he and Noah ended up getting eliminated, it was still a happy ending for Noah as he got the girl after all and they were off to compete on a new season of another reality show. What it is, we'll never know. It was great to see them compete and really expand on their friendship together. Probably their best performance yet.

#2: Emma and Kitty (Sisters)
This is where you take the sister concept of Amy and Sammy/Samey from the last season/installment/etc. and do it right! Seriously, that twin plot in Pahkitew Island really had little to no development. But here, we can see a lot of that through these two. Emma starts off being all serious and stern wanting to win the race to pay for a tuition to get into law school so she can be a lawyer, and Kitty wants to tour the world and have a ball while seeing all the amazing sights she and her sister will get to see while taking as many selfies and pictures as she can. The two of them really show how they grow from being a little against one another with Emma wanting Kitty to stay serious and focus on the race while Kitty wants Emma to loosen up and take in all the sights they get to see. Overtime, they tend to get a little bit of each other's genes going through them. And it really shows. Then there's the aforementioned love plot with Emma and Noah. At first, Emma didn't seem that interested in Noah and thought he was a bit of a snarky dork, but soon, she started to get more inclined and attracted toward such a nature that she couldn't help but enjoy his little moments. However, she started to get a little obsessed with him that she started to lose focus on the race and Kitty had to tell her off about it. But thankfully, the two of them settled it and were back together in the end. And Emma did the one thing that I didn't think was possible. She pretty much made NoCo-Coah-Nody-whatever that crack pairing is called...OBSOLETE! Thank you, Emma. That was more than cathartic. These sisters were really happy to have spent the race together and prove that they can do just about anything as long as they put their minds to it. Emma loosened up and got a new boyfriend, Kitty showed to be quite determined and tough when it was called for, and the two of them probably would have won if it wasn't for that little slip-up at the Bahamas. And I know I'm not alone in that department when I say they definitely should have been one of the finalists.

And since there's only one team left, it's time to show you who I picked for my number 1 team of the Ridonculous Race.
#1 Sanders and MacArthur (Police Cadets)
What can I say? These two were the buddy cop dynamic done in a way so over-the-top that it just begged to be in at the top of my list. It was a perfect blind of seriousness, comedy, and development on a partnership. Sanders, a more law abiding good cop and MacArthur, a more reckless rule breaking bad cop, are working out some of their partnership issues in this race as they make their way while overcoming some obstacles. MacArthur tends to take charge most of the time while helping out her partner, thinking she is not much of an asset to the race, as if she had to do all the work. But Sanders was more than willing to prove her wrong. They were going all at it and even having fun with the race. Sure, they didn't prove of the other's behavior, but they still meant well when working as a team. Their biggest obstacle was the diabolical sneaky cheating duo that was the Ice Dancers. MacArthur was skeptical about them at first, but she had her reasons. And Sanders didn't believe her until the Ice Dancers showed their true colors to them. It was then that they would stop them at all costs. The jokes between these two are so good, I don't have time to list them all. And MacArthur was even more than willing to help her rival in the race, even if it did get rewarded with a rotten bean to the head from a coconut. And when Sanders broke her arm due to MacArthur's reckless nature, MacArthur, or should I say Valentina Escobar, showed remorse and decided that Sanders should lead the way and knew when she messed up sometimes. And just when all things seemed lost, they still pulled through, managed to save themselves at the last second, and beat the Ice Dancers once and for all. They were the team to beat the Ice Dancers to the punch while all others were defeated at the last second. This made them prove their worth as my favorite team in the Ridonculous Race. And I find their ending to be the canon one.

And while I'm at it, I will also talk a bit about Don. But what can I say that hasn't been already said in my review? Well, I like him for having more humanity in him that Chris had lost over time, he knows when someone goes too far, and he is strict on the rules unlike McLean who thought it was alright and it just added to the drama and suspense. Don didn't try to kill anyone. Sure, he laughed at some players' expense, but he at least showed some remorse when teams had lost. He was the perfect balance of a reality host. Not too soft in letting them compete in easy challenges, but not too hard in going over-the-top and above and beyond passed the moral event horizon like Chris did. In other words, Don is better than Chris.

And that concludes this chat about the Ridonculous Race. I hope you all enjoyed it and you can leave me your thoughts in the comments below. I am Dandy Andy. And this is...my Ridonculous Race team ranking template. Tootles.

The Ridonculous Race Team Rankings Template Original template by
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Description
Some of you guys had been waning me to tell you about this and asked me what I thought. Well, it's time. This is something that I have been meaning to get to after my review of the new Total Drama franchise installment: The Ridonculous Race. And this is listing the teams from my most disliked to my more favorite teams. And I will have my reasons for doing so. So, what are we waiting for? Let's get started.

#18: Leonard and Tammy (LARPers)
Let's face it. There was no way they could place any higher than the place they did. I will admit...Leonard might have been more entertaining if he didn't stay so delusional in his little fantasy world after Pahkitew Island. And his partner Tammy was really no help either. The only thing we got to learn about them is that they got to know one another after getting shoved in the same locker at school. That's pretty much it. Everything else was just them trying to win via their LARPing know-how which, not surprisingly, got them booted off first. I'm sorry, but there was just nothing to salvage about them.

#17: Ellody and Mary (Geniuses)
Now...here's a team that might have gone a little farther than originally did. Never mind the fact that Ellody has the same voice actress as Courtney. That's probably the one thing fans will remember about her. It's just...we didn't see very much of her and Mary's brains in action. And Mary didn't even talk until the episode where they got eliminated. So, that was kind of a bad case of elimination fodder right there. And Ellody is not good at winging it, so I can understand her panic when their sandy calculations got washed away. They didn't even make it to the chill zone in the episode they got eliminated in, so that was a sign that they were characters that definitely could have been a lot more.

#16: Laurie and Miles (Vegans)
Another somewhat decent appearing team that was ruined due to a short lived time span in the race. Same problem with the Geniuses, we don't seem them that much until around their end point. What we do see of them tend to be of them seeming like nicer and more friendly versions of PETA. And that's saying something. They are the very first people who are protective of the Earth who actually had to eat meat that I have ever seen. Other vegans despise that stuff. They had to do it order to stay in the race, and it didn't matter because it was a non-elimination leg. And what happened to Laurie afterwards? Not good. Plus, some of their causes were a little...over-the-top for vegans and hippies from what I have seen, but I can tell their hearts were in the right place. Sadly, I just wish we could have seen more of them in action.

#15: Gerry and Pete (Tennis Rivals)
Okay, this is definitely a team I thought would have probably seemed like they would have fared well if they weren't so induced by their elderly nature. These two share a bit of a frenemy sort of vibe with one another, and they're trying to use the race as a way to catch a gig lining some sort of deal in advertising since they were once famous tennis players. And also, Pete kinda looks a bit like someone Chris would know, doesn't he? But I wish we could have seen some more of them. Instead, they got almost nothing that really left an impression on the viewers. And that's too bad. They got me to laugh a couple of times. Senior citizens are great for comedy. Take Statler and Waldorf for making fun of the Muppets' performances, or Cranky Kong berating you for seeking his help instead of trying to do things on your own. What would these two have done? I don't know. But I just have a feeling that I would have gotten to laugh from them if they stuck around just a little longer.

#14: Kelly and Taylor (Mother and Daughter)
Boy, is this one gonna be tough to talk about. You know that spoiled brat of a daughter cliche? Well, it's back. And it's in the form of a teen girl named Taylor who is teaming up with her mom so she can probably be a big shot. And her mother has spoiled her all her life and really showed signs of cowardice when trying to put her foot down. Taylor, from what I can gather, has not really shown much respect or regard to her own mother, and Kelly just can't help but sweet talk her just to be on her good side. She even has to bribe her in order to keep daughter her in the race. It's something that's been done to death that I don't think is all that great anymore. But eventually, Kelly decides to tell her enough is enough and that she will be putting some new rules when they get home after their elimination. The way she berated Dwayne for thinking her method of parenting was wrong may have seemed like nothing would change, but thankfully, after a shopping spree that got them eliminated, Kelly has decided to set those new rules to Taylor. If mother doesn't know best her, she don't know nothing. I give props to Kelly and just think Taylor needs an attitude adjustment.

#13: Stephanie and Ryan (Daters)
Another complicated one. Okay, Ryan is actually a pretty nice guy. He's a gentle giant like DJ from the original series. He wouldn't harm a fly. Just some jerk who hurts his girl. But as for Stephanie...well, she started off fine and dandy, but then came when things started to get a little on the competitive side after a couple of botches from her boyfriend. She was really not into losing and when she took the competition too far, Ryan decided to break up with her on national TV. I wouldn't wanna be with a girl who put competition before the relationship, either, buddy. And it was pretty much them making fun of each other and enjoying the other's expense whenever they could. I also liked how Carrie and Ryan started to befriend each other later on in the race without being forced into being a new couple themselves that Devin and Stephanie would have erupted from seeing. And it was clever of him to use false agreements just to mess with Steph. Of course, naturally, they got back together, but their proclaiming such got them booted off the show. However, they really overstayed their welcome before that happened. Yes, they're back together, but they did kind of overstay their welcome when it was almost nothing but the two of them getting on each other's nerves. Sorry you had to go through that, Ryan.

#12: Josee and Jacques (Ice Dancers)
Here are the main antagonists of the first season of the new installment. And if you thought I thought Stephanie was competitive? Just wait till you see Josee. She is...evil. She just can't help but break down whenever she places anywhere below first. Granted, neither can Jacques, but he didn't take it nearly as hard. They placed second at the Winter Olympics after an accident, and that caused them to enter the race and prove they're the best. And as to be expected, they would try to cheat to win. What is it with villains always doing that? I know that gives us the indication to root against them, but come on. Name one set of villains who didn't stop in the middle of a big competition to put a huge unfair handicap against the other players. Josee has also shown to be the greater of two evils by pushing Jacques around and Jacques just wants to make sure they win without getting into too much trouble. They do have some funny moments which is why they're not my most hated team, but they are still just right above the bottom row, as you can see in the template. And after all the dirty tricks they pulled on their rivals the Police Cadets and all the other teams, they deserve at least bronze. It's worse than silver. But hey, they should at least be happy that they made the podium. But they won't.

#11: Jay and Mickey (Adversity Twins)
It's really hard to say on why these two Cameron beta refreshing twins place here, but I can try. Well, for one thing, while they did have a lot of disturbing looking ailments that could have gotten them killed like severe allergies or fragility beyond that of the original Cameron, they still pulled through for a pair of scrawny boys. They got further than some people thought they did. And I will admit, those allergies and ailments really got me to laugh. It wasn't as bad as it looked and I did like a couple of moments that they had like when they proved not to sweat at all in a hot sauna with their clothes on while everyone else was roasting, or when they beat the Ice Dancers to the chill zone in Dubai because they took a normal cab while the dancers took the fancy golden one. Still, they lost due to a fear of germs and pain, and it was sad to see them go. But in a way, they didn't overstay their welcome like the Daters did. So, yeah. They were pretty good.

#10: Chet and Lorenzo (Stepbrothers)
This is definitely a very complex team to put in at the start of the top 10 teams. But I do have a good reason for it. Ever since Chet's mom and Lorenzo's dad got married, they became stepbrothers, but they didn't like each other that much. They were more often than not just fighting with one another and throwing verbal insults just to egg the other guy on. So, they were put on the race as a way to help them bond, and at first, that didn't seem to go anywhere as they were still just doing more of the same thing. But then came the time they got to Australia, and it was then and there that they found out they had a lot more in common than they thought. And they started to like each other and make peace. So, the bros are now gonna start getting along. They didn't like losing, but hey, as long as they're happy together, that's what makes it all worthwhile. Plus, it's nice to see some people getting along in the end. Remember how some friendships/relationships in Total Drama suddenly came to a dramatic halt through deception or Chris's bloodthirsty drive for drama? Well, this ending was a very nice change of pace for the two of them.

#9: Rock and Spud (Rockers)
I'll admit I did not know where to place these two. But I gotta hand it to them. They do seem to be pretty optimistic and able to take anything. Rock is a real go-getter who's doing his best to win the million so he can move out of his parents' basement while his buddy Spud is a little more laidback and casual and not really up for much of this kind of stuff. When Rock had to start doing more of the work on Spud's end, he started to tell him to get his act together so they could still compete in the race. He even had to go so far as to bribe him with snacks as if his buddy were a disobedient dog. That's pretty funny to see there. And while they seemed to have a poor placing record for the most part, they at least had a shining moment when Spud rocked the air guitar, their magnum opus to getting them to win one leg. Plus, Spud's delayed reactions to pain were more often than not comical in the timing. Sure, they weren't gonna make it all the way to the end, but I gotta give them props for making it as far as they could and for being one of the more entertaining teams. And they even made friends with the Stepbrothers who just became friends themselves. Now that's an ending to the end of their journey.

#8: Tom and Jen (Fashion Bloggers)
Oh, good night, were these two adorable and funny! I will say it right here. When I first heard that these two were avatars of the show's creators, I thought it wouldn't be fair for the other teams because they were gonna necessarily win basically being said avatars. But that didn't seem to be the case. These two have a big fashion blog and talk about all the fashion pros and cons that they have witnessed in their lives. Not to mention how they tend to worry a lot about their looks. Some of their moments got me to chuckle, and others just made me just think they were more than just a couple of friends. Sure, things hit a rocky road when they argued who was the true genius behind their blog, but they still made amends in the end. And sadly, they lost to the overbearing arguing warring couple of the Daters in the last leg even though they were ahead of them at first. But they still had a happy ending with Don claiming their new fashion trend to be in right there. So, I'm happy that they didn't win because of the whole avatar thing, but I'm also sad that they didn't go as far as expected. I would have loved to see more antics from these two.

#7: Crimson and Ennui (Goths)
Okay, I'll admit it. When the first episode was leaked and we didn't know who would be placing where, I wasn't sure I was gonna like these two. They at first gave me the impression that they'd be inferior copies of Gwen and Duncan, who started off as just good friends but then were forced into being a couple, but in a way, that wasn't the case. They seemed to be a little more stereotypical goths, but they were a bit of a breath of fresh air from those other two. And their deadpan tone was amusing for some moments. Plus, we even got to see what they looked like without all their goth attire. That was cute and hilarious at the same time. That would have also been a great way for them to be eliminated had it not been for the upgrade they got to save themselves from elimination. And I gotta give props to Ennui befriending a cute cuddly little bunny rabbit who then took on their lifestyle. Loki was one hot cross bunny, let me tell ya. Sure, they're number 7, but I do find them a little overrated as they're one of the teams that most fans seem to talk about. Not that that's a bad thing, but I do like a little variety. And just so you know, I'm not against all stereotypes. These two were fine the way they were and I wouldn't have them any other way.

#6: Dwayne and Junior (Father and Son)
A father and son duo that takes the Bumbling Dad trope and manages to have a great payoff for it in the end? Yes, please! I am really sad these two do not get much talk among the other fans. Like with the Goths, first impressions from the first episode made me think they wouldn't do very well. But honestly, things really seemed to take a turn for the better for these two. Yes, Junior was a little embarrassed to be going through some of this with his dad who wasn't the straightest arrow off the bow, but he still meant well and they both promised to go as far as they could. Plus, there were some great comedic moments like when Dwayne tried to blame Junior for them being late only for Junior to retort to that, and how they took the Vegans' fossil without knowing it and the fossil getting broke and hitting them with karma. And I kinda thought Dwayne was suffering from marital problems since he tried to pass their fossil off as an anniversary gift to his wife or how he flat out suggested calling someone other than her. I just wonder what was going on there. Then there was the safari episode. Dwayne and Junior got separated after the waterfall selfie part of the challenge and Dwayne looked for Junior while Junior headed for the next part. Yes, that seemed like a bad act to follow, but luckily, thanks to the huge handicap the Ice Dancers got, they were reunited and got to stay a little longer. And there was also that subplot where Junior had a crush on Carrie, but that never really went anywhere. But hey, in the end, despite Dwayne getting a female tattoo, they both showed that they had a lot of fun in the race and they were closer than ever. It was a sign that they were gonna get along just fine. As for Dwayne and his wife, I don't know.

#5: Devin and Carrie (Best Friends)
Hoo boy. These two are definitely gonna be a doozy. How many of you thought they were gonna be the winners based on them being the first new team to be leaked? Well, as we all know, that wasn't the case. At first, it seemed like they were gonna be a pretty boring generic pair. Carrie had a crush on her besty and Devin was yacking about his then girlfriend Shelly and saying that he and Carrie were just gonna stay as friends forever. And it did get old, but overtime, they really did seem to grow more toward each other. Like when Devin got dumped by Shelly and went into the five stages of agony. Not only was that something that most people go through, it was hilarious. And his obliviousness to Carrie's crush on him did get a little tiring after a while, but she managed to pull off some reasons as to why he should be with her and not Shelly. Then later on came the reversal where Carrie was over that and Devin wanted to be with Carrie. And Carrie befriended Ryan later on and they started to see their partners for they are and get together, or back together, depending on who we're talking about here, and all worked out well. But, dang...what happened to Devin near the end of it all? Ouch. But hey, as long as they're together, they'll be alright.

#4: Geoff and Brody (Surfers)
The most positive-attitude duo in the roster comes in at number 4! There is not a single thing to hate about these two. They're so cheerful, upbeat, and able to work together. Though, I do think that while Geoff wasn't the brightest Total Drama contestant, he seemed to have gotten hit with a couple of rocks that made him lose a couple more brain cells. And Brody...definitely denser than Dwayne. But what they lack in smarts, they more than make up in everything else. They're happy, they're friendly, they have proven to be worthy adversaries to even the Ice Dancers, I just can't think of any reason to hate these two in the slightest. Though I just found the whole thing with Brody having a thing for MacArthur just to be a little outta nowhere, but hey, choose who you like best. Still wish we could have seen a scene with Geoff and Bridgette. Oh well. Maybe next season. I guess if there's one problem I have with this team, it's how they got eliminated and brought back around the end game part of the race. They sacrificed their time in the race to give Devin and Carrie more time to sort things out on the show and that cost them the race. But after Devin's...accident, Carrie offered to let them come back in their place and share half the prize money with them should they win. It's not the vehicle that made these two just miss the podium, it's the road that they took. I just thought it'd have been more satisfying if there just all the way in the race from start to finish. Other than that, definitely a great friendly duo.

#3: Owen and Noah (Reality TV Pros)
About time these two showed up! How can I not place these two any lower than the podium rankings? These two have been big staples in the Total Drama franchise, Owen a bit bigger than Noah, but you get the point, and it was only natural that Owen team up with his best buddy. Noah is just as snarky as ever, Owen is gluttonous and naive like before, and the two of them just have that perfect dynamic that you can never get tired of. Plus, Owen doesn't seem to fart as much as he used to. He did it a few times, but compared to his moments in the few seasons he was in before, he really cut back on the gas. And Noah didn't seem like he'd have much of a story arc himself, but that came to pass when he noticed the grace and beauty that was Emma. He fell in love and made for an interesting love plot. And Owen and Kitty were gonna make sure that these two were gonna get together. While Noah wanted to win on a reality show for once since he has lost on all the ones he competed in up to the race, he still wanted to win the heart of Emma. And it wasn't easy. There were times when he lost his confidence when he was in fear that he would do something so embarrassing that would make Emma reject him or get so heartbroken when she declared that now was not the time for a relationship. But Owen was there to help motivate him to keep moving forward and put everything behind them. Owen showed to be more than the big lovable oaf we've known him for. He helped motivate Noah in his time of need. Whether it was through his own intent or no fault of his own, he was just looking out for his little buddy. And even though he and Noah ended up getting eliminated, it was still a happy ending for Noah as he got the girl after all and they were off to compete on a new season of another reality show. What it is, we'll never know. It was great to see them compete and really expand on their friendship together. Probably their best performance yet.

#2: Emma and Kitty (Sisters)
This is where you take the sister concept of Amy and Sammy/Samey from the last season/installment/etc. and do it right! Seriously, that twin plot in Pahkitew Island really had little to no development. But here, we can see a lot of that through these two. Emma starts off being all serious and stern wanting to win the race to pay for a tuition to get into law school so she can be a lawyer, and Kitty wants to tour the world and have a ball while seeing all the amazing sights she and her sister will get to see while taking as many selfies and pictures as she can. The two of them really show how they grow from being a little against one another with Emma wanting Kitty to stay serious and focus on the race while Kitty wants Emma to loosen up and take in all the sights they get to see. Overtime, they tend to get a little bit of each other's genes going through them. And it really shows. Then there's the aforementioned love plot with Emma and Noah. At first, Emma didn't seem that interested in Noah and thought he was a bit of a snarky dork, but soon, she started to get more inclined and attracted toward such a nature that she couldn't help but enjoy his little moments. However, she started to get a little obsessed with him that she started to lose focus on the race and Kitty had to tell her off about it. But thankfully, the two of them settled it and were back together in the end. And Emma did the one thing that I didn't think was possible. She pretty much made NoCo-Coah-Nody-whatever that crack pairing is called...OBSOLETE! Thank you, Emma. That was more than cathartic. These sisters were really happy to have spent the race together and prove that they can do just about anything as long as they put their minds to it. Emma loosened up and got a new boyfriend, Kitty showed to be quite determined and tough when it was called for, and the two of them probably would have won if it wasn't for that little slip-up at the Bahamas. And I know I'm not alone in that department when I say they definitely should have been one of the finalists.

And since there's only one team left, it's time to show you who I picked for my number 1 team of the Ridonculous Race.
#1 Sanders and MacArthur (Police Cadets)
What can I say? These two were the buddy cop dynamic done in a way so over-the-top that it just begged to be in at the top of my list. It was a perfect blind of seriousness, comedy, and development on a partnership. Sanders, a more law abiding good cop and MacArthur, a more reckless rule breaking bad cop, are working out some of their partnership issues in this race as they make their way while overcoming some obstacles. MacArthur tends to take charge most of the time while helping out her partner, thinking she is not much of an asset to the race, as if she had to do all the work. But Sanders was more than willing to prove her wrong. They were going all at it and even having fun with the race. Sure, they didn't prove of the other's behavior, but they still meant well when working as a team. Their biggest obstacle was the diabolical sneaky cheating duo that was the Ice Dancers. MacArthur was skeptical about them at first, but she had her reasons. And Sanders didn't believe her until the Ice Dancers showed their true colors to them. It was then that they would stop them at all costs. The jokes between these two are so good, I don't have time to list them all. And MacArthur was even more than willing to help her rival in the race, even if it did get rewarded with a rotten bean to the head from a coconut. And when Sanders broke her arm due to MacArthur's reckless nature, MacArthur, or should I say Valentina Escobar, showed remorse and decided that Sanders should lead the way and knew when she messed up sometimes. And just when all things seemed lost, they still pulled through, managed to save themselves at the last second, and beat the Ice Dancers once and for all. They were the team to beat the Ice Dancers to the punch while all others were defeated at the last second. This made them prove their worth as my favorite team in the Ridonculous Race. And I find their ending to be the canon one.

And while I'm at it, I will also talk a bit about Don. But what can I say that hasn't been already said in my review? Well, I like him for having more humanity in him that Chris had lost over time, he knows when someone goes too far, and he is strict on the rules unlike McLean who thought it was alright and it just added to the drama and suspense. Don didn't try to kill anyone. Sure, he laughed at some players' expense, but he at least showed some remorse when teams had lost. He was the perfect balance of a reality host. Not too soft in letting them compete in easy challenges, but not too hard in going over-the-top and above and beyond passed the moral event horizon like Chris did. In other words, Don is better than Chris.

And that concludes this chat about the Ridonculous Race. I hope you all enjoyed it and you can leave me your thoughts in the comments below. I am Dandy Andy. And this is...my Ridonculous Race team ranking template. Tootles.

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