The show launches into orbit as the cast navigates a galaxy of space-themed challenges to win immunity. Two cast members start to feel a gravitational pull on their newly formed alliance, while another is still lost in the black hole of his guilt. After crunching the numbers, someone suspects there’s an imposter among the crew, but he’s ejected from the competition before he can send out a warning signal to the remaining castmates.
Plot
The episode opens during the middle of the night, with Chris abruptly waking up the castmates. Duncan complains about his back hurting because of his mattress.
 Harold |
“ | Maybe I filled Duncan's mattress with rocks, and maybe I didn't… But yeah, I totally did! | ” |
He greets them, and Chris hints to them about today's challenge: It may "start at the dawn of time, it quickly moves up, up and away," which Beth guesses is an outer-space movie challenge, so Courtney asks her what was her first clue, calling her genius sarcastically.
 Beth |
“ | I think splitting off from the guys and forming a girl alliance with Courtney is really paying off. I mean, you heard her, right? She called me a genius! | ” |
Beth gets excited since she loves sci-fi. Courtney mocks her by saying she gets enough science fiction with her fake boyfriend "Brany," and Beth corrects her by saying it's "Brady." Chris also tells them that they have all been sent something from the outside world, later giving a package to each castmate. Owen receives a trophy that he won for being a good citizen, which makes him feel guilty due to his new role of saboteur on the show.
 Owen |
“ | Ever since Chris brought me back to cause mischief and stir up trouble for cash, I feel like I'm living a lie. Well, because I am! Sabotaging my friends makes me feel so dirty, but my family needs the money! [farts] Anxiety gas. | ” |
Courtney receives a photo of her winning a debate all by herself because her partner on the debating team didn't want to work with her.
 Courtney |
“ | When I was head of the school debating team, my partner walked out on me during the biggest debate of the year because she felt I wasn't being a 'team player.' I went on to win it without her. Take that, Britney Reed! This photo is a reminder: If you want something done right, you do it yourself! | ” |
Duncan baby-talks to his pet tarantula, Scruffy.
Harold receives his nunchucks from the previous season; Duncan receives his pet tarantula, Scruffy; and Beth receives a "promise" cherry-flavored candy ring from Brady, which Courtney considers looks more like a break-up ring to her.
Beth |
“ | If it was lime green, then maybe Courtney would have a point, but this is cherry! And everyone knows that cherry is a flavor of love! [licks] | ” |
Next, Chris tells everyone to meet him at a different location for the next challenge. Once they get there, he tells them that they must spend the rest of the night riding in a space simulation roller coaster.
The group enters the "spaceship." Duncan shares his pillow with Scruffy, but not with Courtney.
Courtney |
“ | As if I'm going to play second fiddle to a tarantula. Ugh! I hate that gross hairy creature…And his pet spider, too. | ” |
Harold talking about Beth's love life.
Meanwhile, Owen tries to catch a floating sandwich and tells Beth that she's lucky that her snack is stuck to her finger. Beth says that's just one of the many pluses of being a "kept woman," but Harold disagrees by telling her that she doesn't need to tie down to one guy and could instead keep playing the field like he says he does.
Beth |
“ | O.M.G., Harold is so crushing on me! That's the power of a ring on the finger! All guys want what they know they can't have. | ” |
They sleep in zero gravity until they are woken up by an alarm. The alarm tells them that they need to fix the ship's navigation system, and to do so, they must reach a joystick. Unable to reach it himself, Duncan decides to throw Harold at it instead, and Harold manages to repair the system. Meanwhile, as the castmates compliment Harold's quick work, Owen floats near a window, trying to find a way to fulfill his duties as a secret mole. He then notices Harold's nunchucks floating by him and quickly grabs them, using them to break one of the spaceship's windows.
Owen |
“ | [sadly] Oh, I'm evil… Evil! | ” |
The uncontrolled decompression starts sucking everything out of the spaceship, including everyone's oxygen supply. Chris tells them that they have several minutes to fix or plug up the broken window, or else they will run out of oxygen, so Beth and Courtney come up with the idea to use Owen to fill the hole. When they safely depart the spaceship, Chef declares that their idea of filling the hole with two pillows is smart, then pats the "two pillows" happily. Chris informs him that the "pillows" are Owen's butt, and Chef is then seen in the confessional shaking in terror.
Since Beth and Courtney, the "Girls' Alliance," were the ones to use Owen as the solution, they got to choose the order for the next part of the challenge. Without consulting Beth on possible options, Courtney decides on the order: Harold, Owen, Duncan, Beth, and then herself.
Courtney |
“ | I'm going last so I can watch the others try the challenge and fail! That way I can learn from their mistakes! Mama didn't raise no sucker! | ” |
After they find out that the next challenge is to ride the "Vomit Comet," Courtney tries to take back her decision, but it is too late, which angers Beth.
Beth |
“ | This is exactly what I tried to warn Courtney about! But would she listen? Nooo! And now we're both in trouble. Our girl alliance is off to a very shaky start. [sucks on candy] | ” |
Harold accidentally kills Scruffy after his turn in the Vomit Comet.
Harold rides first, but accidentally ends up entering the ride with Scruffy attached to his shirt. Harold then asks to leave the ride after only riding for 5.6 seconds and loses the challenge. A dizzy Harold tries to stay up by holding on to Beth's shoulder, but she misinterprets it as flirting, telling him she's off the market.
Beth |
“ | Am I doing the right thing? I thought I was but now that I see the pain I'm putting Harold through, I just don't know anymore. He's like a little lovesick puppy. It's kind of pathetic but in an endearing way. [sucks on candy] | ” |
Harold |
“ | If I was the last man alive in space and Beth was the last woman, then maybe we'd have a chance, but here on Earth? Puh-lease! Think about how disappointed Leshawna and Heather would be! I just can't do that to the ladies. | ” |
Duncan asks Harold where Scruffy is, whereupon Harold then turns around, and Duncan sees Scruffy crushed to death on his back. Heartbroken, Duncan mourns his beloved pet's death, while Courtney comforts him, which makes them closer, telling him Scruffy's in a better place now.
Courtney |
“ | Yeah, anywhere but here! Now maybe Duncan will focus on someone with slightly less hairy legs — me! | ” |
 Duncan |
“ | Yeah, I'm pretty broken up, but in a way I'm relieved, too. It's not always easy knowing a cute little creature lying next to you at night could suddenly kill you in your sleep. Well, I guess I won't need to sleep with a baseball bat under my pillow anymore. | ” |
Duncan threatens Harold but is interrupted by pain, making Harold think it was his mind powers kicking in, but it's the mattress that Duncan says he still has a stabbing pain in his back, which makes Owen nervous, who says he's no backstabber.
Owen |
“ | I'm not cut out for a life of crime. The guilt is eating away at me faster than the chili through my stomach lining. I'd quit, but I need the cheddar; someone's gotta pay for all that family cheese. | ” |
Owen rides next and ends up leaving early as well, but not before farting inside the ride due to Chef Hatchet's chili. Duncan is disgusted as he enters the ride because of the horrible smell.
Owen |
“ | Hey, I'm not math whiz, but I'm pretty sure that one small space times chili parts to the power of ten equals… Do not enter at all costs! | ” |
He ends up being the first one to vomit the chili they ate for lunch, and he manages to stay in the longest so far (but gets ten seconds off his time for vomiting). Beth goes next, still upset that she is going so late and that the ride has already been soiled. Courtney tries to forfeit the challenge along with Beth as part of the girls' alliance, but Beth refuses to stick with Courtney and participates in the challenge.
Beth |
“ | If I can take the plunge and say yes to Brady, then surely I have the strength of will needed to climb into a vomit-coated space suit and get hurled around like a rag doll for five minutes. They're practically the same thing, right? | ” |
Beth manages to stay in the longest, with 36 seconds. Beth exits the ride and kisses Harold because she assumes that he has feelings for her when he does not.
Beth |
“ | Brady and I were never meant to be. I'd return the ring, but… | ” |
Harold is disgusted when she dumps Brady and tells Harold that she wishes to date him. Meanwhile, Courtney is upset that Beth did not go along with her plan and ends up forfeiting, allowing Beth to earn invincibility.
Beth and Courtney officially break up their short-lived alliance.
The scene then cuts to Duncan and Harold sitting outside the girls' trailer as Beth and Courtney argue. Inside the trailer, Beth and Courtney fight about Beth's choice in the immunity challenge, which leads them to break up their alliance and both decide to compete alone for the rest of the game.
Courtney |
“ | As usual, I'm better off on my own. There's no team in 'I'! So from now on it's the Courtney alliance, and I'm in it to win it! | ” |
Meanwhile, Harold finds Owen in the film lot. Harold then explains to Owen that he is suspicious of him, as Owen was the only castmate not accounted for when the window broke on the spaceship. Harold tells Owen that he knows he is a traitor, but Owen denies the accusation and repels Harold with his excessive farting.
Harold |
“ | Math never lies, but apparently Owen the traitor does! Hi-ya! | ” |
At the Gilded Chris Ceremony, the castmates are seen voting. It is revealed that Harold voted for Owen, Beth voted for Courtney, and Owen and Duncan voted for Harold. Courtney is the only one who does not imply to the camera whom she is voting for, saying that she should have the right to privacy. The first Gilded Chris goes to Beth, followed by Owen and Duncan. Courtney and Harold are the bottom two, with Harold being sent home. As he leaves, he pulls down Duncan's pants, which Duncan admits he had coming. Harold then shouts to the other castmates that Owen is a traitor and that they should watch him like a hawk. He quickly changes his mind and says that they need to watch him like a falcon, as they have better eyesight than a hawk. Beth mentions that she will "wait for Harold," much to his dismay. Chris then signs off the show, and Harold is driven away by the Lame-o-sine.
Exclusive clip
Harold in the Lame-o-sine.
 Harold |
“ | I suppose 5th place is better than 6th place, but it would've been sweet to place in the top four, over that traitor Owen. I almost got third place in the school archery competition, till I put an arrow through the principal's Achilles tendon. I still have another two years of detention to look forward to when I get back. I get to hang with all the bad kids; they let me do their homework for them and stuff, you could say I'm their leader. Man, just wait till they hear I have a sort of girlfriend now! Do I have to tell them it's Beth? | ” |
Cast
| Voice actor | Role(s) |
|---|---|
| Christian Potenza | Chris |
| Sarah Gadon | Beth |
| Clé Bennett | Chef Hatchet |
| Emilie-Claire Barlow | Courtney |
| Drew Nelson | Duncan |
| Brian Froud | Harold |
| Scott McCord | Owen |
Elimination Ceremony
| Elimination Ceremony 12 | |
|---|---|
| Status | Contestant |
| WIN |  Beth |
| IN |   Owen, Duncan |
| LOW |  Courtney |
| OUT |  Harold |
Voting Confessionals
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Still in the running
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Trivia
General
- Contrary to the title, this episode originally aired in the year 2009. This is due to the episode being produced in 2008.
- The final four at the end of the episode are almost the same as they were in the last season, in the sense that three are from one team, while only one is left from the other team. There are also two boys and two girls, once again.
- Also, Owen and Duncan are once again the final two male castmates remaining, in addition to them both making it to the final four again.
- Duncan is, once again, the only member of his team in the final four.
- This is the fourth episode in the series to reference a character's name in the title, with the others being:
- Action: "The Chefshank Redemption," "Super Hero-ld," and "Crouching Courtney, Hidden Owen."
- World Tour: "Aftermath: Bridgette Over Troubled Water."
- Revenge of the Island: "The Treasure Island of Dr. McLean," "Grand Chef Auto."
- All-Stars: "Zeek And Ye Shall Find,"
- Pahkitew Island: "Scarlett Fever," and "Sky Fall."
- In addition, this is the second episode to feature Owen's name, the first being the previous episode.
- With Harold's elimination, Duncan is the last Gaffer in the season.
- This is the second occasion where Duncan is the last member of his team left on the show.
- The cast members all get packages from home in this episode:
- Interestingly, by the end of the episode, four of the five gifts given to the cast could no longer be accounted for.
- Тhis is the first merged elimination episode in which Duncan is not in the bottom two.
- With Harold's elimination, Courtney becomes the second Killer Bass, and the only female Killer Bass, to make the final four of any season.
Continuity
- This is the first and only time in Total Drama Action that Harold has ever been in the bottom two. With this, Beth is the only castmate to never reach the bottom two at all in this season.
- Harold's elimination resembles Lindsay's as they are eliminated in an episode after winning the previous episode's reward challenge
- Interestingly, both were eliminated back-to-back.
- This is the first episode of Total Drama Action in which Courtney did not win solo invincibility, making Beth the only other contestant to do so.
- This is the second time Chef had to escort Harold out of the competition.
- When he sees Chris wearing his caveman outfit at the beginning of the episode, a confused Harold points out that they have already done a caveman challenge.
- This is the first episode in Total Drama Action since Courtney's return to not mention her PDA.
- The castle set from the episode "The Princess Pride" can be seen in the background scene with the roller coaster.
References
- This episode's title is a reference to Stanley Kubrick's movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey.
- The opening scene of the episode, with the giant black monolith and Chris and Chef dressed as cavemen while the guys act like apes is a reference to the famous "Dawn of Man" scene from the movie.
- During the vomit comet ride, the music and the shots in the scene are very similar to those from the movie.
- The scene in which the castmates slowly walk out while accompanied by dramatic music (right before they do the Vomit Comet challenge) is a parody of a famous scene from the 1998 disaster movie, Armageddon.
- The moment when Chef mistakes Owen's butt for pillows refers to a similar comedic mistake in the 1987 movie, Planes, Trains & Automobiles.
- The way Harold is driven away in the Lame-o-sine as it speeds off and leaves two trails of fire behind it is a parody of Robert Zemeckis's movie, Back to the Future.
- The music playing during Harold's ride in the Lame-o-sine also resembles two songs by Huey Lewis and The News written for Back to the Future; The Power of Love and Back in Time.
- The Vomit Comet could be a reference to the real term used by NASA for crafts that have weightless environments, whether it be for training astronauts or anything else.
- It can also be a reference to the roller coaster with the same name on the episode titled The Big Sickie on 6teen.
- The candy "promise" ring that Beth receives from Brady resembles a Ring Pop.
Goofs
- When the cast opens their packages from home, Beth isn't wearing her night guard, but when she turns around to open her package from Brady, you can see a glimpse of her wearing it.
- When Chris shows the packages from home, there are six boxes, but there are only five castmates.
- When Beth gets off the zero gravity simulator, her ring is missing. It finally reappears when she's in the confessional, talking about how her alliance with Courtney isn't starting well.
- Each time Beth sees her gift, she screams in excitement. However, she claims that in "The Sand Witch Project" she can not scream.
- When Duncan, Courtney, Harold, and Scruffy escape the spaceship roller coaster, Duncan's shirt is gray instead of black.
Gallery
See also
- "Monster Cash"
- "Alien Resurr-eggtion"
- "Riot on Set"
- "Beach Blanket Bogus"
- "3:10 to Crazytown"
- "The Aftermath: I"
- "The Chefshank Redemption"
- "One Flu Over the Cuckoos"
- "The Sand Witch Project"
- "Masters of Disasters"
- "Full Metal Drama"
- "The Aftermath: II"
- "Ocean's Eight—or Nine"
- "One Million Bucks, B.C."
- "Million Dollar Babies"
- "Dial M for Merger"
- "Super Hero-ld"
- "The Aftermath: III"
- "The Princess Pride"
- "Get a Clue"
- "Rock n' Rule"
- "Crouching Courtney, Hidden Owen"
- "2008: A Space Owen"
- "Top Dog"
- "Mutiny on the Soundstage"
- "The Aftermath: IV"
- "Celebrity Manhunt's Total Drama Action Reunion Special"