character ramblings / blog type thing... idk...
I don't know if to make a New page for every single character or to just have it all here??? but uhhhhh... I will just ramble about characters and then maybe at some point give each their own profiles I guess.
I am currently really fixated on characters that show OCD traits / codings, as traits like these are something I relate to. So I will talk about that first x3 but I love yapping about characters i like in general.
Trent Cooper // Total Drama Island
I think the topic of representation to be incredibly interesting and fun to talk about, what is dont well, what isn't, and why? and it is why Trent has been on my mind the past few days slightly, cause I've been compulsively counting and he is kind of known for his 9 related counting compulsion. so... for a character that represents this certain OCD-trait, how well does he represent it?
well.... not... great. But i am getting ahead of myself!
Setup (Trent in Season 1 vs Season 2)
In Season 1 he was rarely shown to having any semblance of OCD traits. By that i mean- None. no traits. In fact, he was quite literally archetyped as the "go with the flow" chill dude type, that gets along with everyone thanks to his easy going nature. Trent was this laid-back dude, with the guitar and 2000s haircut, half hiding his massive forehead (sorry I had to mention that his design is so funny haha-)
We only get shown Trent's obsessive compulsive traits in season 2, when the writers decided that Gwen x Trent wasn't cute anymore and they wanted to find a reason to ruin their relationship quickly (and albeit, lazily). Regardless, I think it can be fun to find narritive reasons for the writers' fumbles in the story.
[rewatch TDI 1, summarize traumatic events from S1 here]
[insert Trent's OCD trait moments.]
When Gwen gifted him the necklace that she saved for her (almost losing the challange for her), he clings onto it like it was saintly and filled with good luck, talking to it for luck in the challange directly after.... and getting called "crazy" and mocked by Izzy.
Possible in-universe explanation
Mentioning his season 1 characterization isn't to say that someone with OCD can't have these laid-back chill personality traits, In fact, if he has OCD, this could be seen as a really interesting portrayal: he had been taking a lot of care of himself before TDI, going to therapy and probably taking meds and probably had done a lot of self work. That the traumatic and life threatning events that took place in TDI are what made all of his symptoms re-emerge at the lack of emotional support and feeling in active danger. In the same breath, we acknowledge that in TDI he is 16 years old. OCD symptoms first appear during the late teens or early adulthood, with an average onset at around 18 or 19, It could simply be that these traits where only meant to show up later in his life, but TDI's dangerous challanges and near death experiences rushing this process, making the sudden appearance of Trent's traits in s2 seem even more unfortunate then they were...
We know that Trent really loves Gwen, he sees her as the most perfect girl of all, and in season 2, he is overjoyed to be in a relationship with this girl that keeps showing hot and cold behaviours (that can make ANY partner anxious by the way). Unfortunately, He and Gwen are set on opposing teams, and not only that, but Duncan (mr.Steal-yo-gurl) is getting WAY too chummy with Gwen for Trent's liking. The way Duncan teased and joked about trent to his expense, in front of his own girlfriend was sketchy at best, malicious at worst, and the way Gwen barely noticed most of the time, and kept getting closer and closer to duncan is also something that could worry any partner!
I know this is heated in the total drama fandom, but I don't believe trent was really being possesive for being as worried as he was. Trent and Gwen had already had a rocky relationship, Gwen showing hot and cold behaviours, and now suddenly being on opposite teams and not wanting to lose her and still be close to her while feeling scared that she might not want him as much as she may possibly like duncan is a LOT of little pressures that can bubble up pretty intensely! ...and that is exactly what happened.
The pattern of Trent being called wierd, delusional, crazy, strange or even creepy is actually quite persistent once his OCD trait's start showing more regularly. With the music almost always shifting to "dark" "creepy" or "unsettling" sounds to excentuate the fact that Trent is "wierd" and this behaviour is "crazy".
This is where my critique for bad representation arises. This isn't a good way of writing any character that is struggling with a disorder of any kind. Whether the writers knew that counting is a compulsion or not, it shouldn't really matter, because painting any person as a "wackjob" for a reaction in fear,... is not good. especially in a kids show. this isn't me saying we need the best rep either, In fact there are aspects of Trent's compulsive counting traits I can relate to (which i will get into), but actively having all the characters refer to someone as a wierdo, who they all really liked just because of his ocd traits, is REALLY bad actually. It tells people that such behaviours should be met with ridicule rather than understanding, and that you are more than welcome to insult and gossip about someone who was always quite nice and kind the SECOND they are not able to be "normal" anymore.
this is ableism.
The worst part of this writing of Trent, is that people associate "his character's downfall" WITH his OCD traits. Many who don't know better, simply say that he "went crazy", "is insane now" or, most egregiuosly "getting brain damage". When fans have rewitten Trent and Gwen's breakups, they consistently rid Trent of any semblance of OCD traits, making him completely Neurotypical and "back to normal". This. this right here is the LAST thing that should come out of representing ANYTHING in your character's EVER. it's quite literally... the worst way of representing any mental issue.... EVER.
I don't think the way they handled Trent'socd to be good. So what did i like of his characterization after all, and how would I fix the fumbles?
As much as i just shamed the way all the characters mock him, it is actually something I relate to. I know how it feels to be mortified of something and needing to find any way of calming onesself. I've been there, BUT, cut it down. Don't make it the automatic response, do not shame the behaviour every single time it presents itself. For example it would have been great if they had Trent look at Gwen and Duncan from a distance, laughing to each other, and imagine them kissing and shake his head. "No! no! Gwen loves me, she isn't a cheater. she wouldn't do that! right...? right? oh gosh... what if she doesn't love me anymore... wants to dump me for him. they get along so well. i need some good luck." he thinks to himself. they could then have him tapping his arm in the backgrounds of scenes, or sometimes have him quietly count in his head distreessed, without anyone ever making fun of him (cause its only in his head). If you show how his fear is related to the sudden surge of counting behaviours it hammers in how his compulsive trait is to CALM his anxeity and Gwen hating him.
Trent represents Counting OCD as well as Relationship OCD
which are both EXTREMELY common facets of OCD. Just being worried about your relationship doesn't automatically mean you have ocd btw, it's normal to worry, there's a distinct level of severity- and I do sincierly believe that Trent has ROCD, as he actively has sabotaged so many challanges of his own team while competing for ONE MILLION dollars, and getting voted off because of it. He is only shown to be extremely worried about losing her all of season 2, that is the ONLY thing on his mind and i think te way that his worry and fear got in the way of everything else in his life is a good show for ROCD. I also like that his counting compulsion is sort of unrelated to Gwen. he just seeing it as a way of getting luck.
How the show frames his behavior
Why that framing is harmful
What works / what you relate to
Your rewrite / improvement ideas