Alright, here we go. I'm doing this.
So, if you like Gwuncan or hate it; I'm pretty sure most of us can agree the way they got together was contrived and poorly written with the icing on top being Courtney.
So here I go; how I personally think Gwuncan SHOULD'VE gone. Or at least a better way of getting them together. This is also a minor analysis of them. Long post under the cut.
So let's begin. Starting with action and how it goes into world tour.
In action they have an established friendship. Whilst they were acquainted in Island, they never really had an actual friendship. They respected each other, had a few moments of banter and closeness but were otherwise not close friends. Action, however, lets them get closer. They have fun banter where they can riff at each other without it feeling like genuine hatred. Their shared common interests also giving them more to talk about. Their bonding is just way less toxic than him and Courtney's. Even if Duncan likes it, their relationship is doomed to fail.
And now we have the Courtney problem.
While Duncan, being attracted to Courtney physically; does really not seem to like her. He finds their bickering fun most of the time; but as it later goes on, it feels less like bickering for fun and bickering in an unhealthy way. I don't even HATE Courtney! I've warmed up to her
But like I said, their relationship was doomed to fail beyond Island. It was NEVER meant to work long term. Their mutual attraction gets them far, but it doesn't make them GOOD together. If they did not find the other attractive they would not even be friends, or even acquainted. At all.
Courtney likes being in control of her surroundings and the people ahead of her, she likes being a winner and being competitive. And her relationship with Duncan in action brings out the worst part of her, especially with this.
It's not a shocker that Duncan wouldn't like this. Let's skip to World Tour, though.
Courtney and Duncan are back together for some reason. But now we have the love triangle. Courtney and Gwen already have a mutual dislike of each other, Courtney's is especially strong considering her assumptions that Duncan cheated on her with Gwen in action.
The first challenge arrives and they've been bickering the ENTIRE time. Leading to Duncan's annoyance and him willingly getting himself off the show.
Now we're here without Duncan, what now? Well, Gwen & Courtney end up making a friendship. Personally; I don't like this decision. It feels forced and it's just the lead up the 'betrayal' of Courtney's trust with Gwen.
I think Gwen & Courtney would be much better as not friends, but bond over their hatred of Heather the same way they do, while still not being friends they can come to a mutual agreement on a person.
I See London would be essentially the same; but I have a few changes at the ending.
I think this scene should've led to them breaking up. Duncan is clearly frustrated with Courtney here, and even though Courtney says she's 'not mad', she clearly is, at least a little.
I feel like Duncan at this point should've snapped and broken up with her. Having Gwen walk in on Courtney getting angry over their breakup and seeing Duncan look at her.
The bathroom scene can still stay the same, yes, even Tyler.
Gwen's guilt would not be the fact that she kissed Duncan who's still dating Courtney, but that she feels kind of guilty about it BECAUSE they just broke up and is getting the guy on the so called rebound.
Courtney is still bitter about the break up; and hearing him move on so fast would hurt her ego a ton. So they decide to not tell anyone, except, well, Tyler saw it. Most of it is the same as well, Courtney still throws a fit but its about Gwen taking her sloppy seconds so soon after they broke up.
A lot of the show after this point can stay the same, just with the situation changing minorly to make it still true to the show and keep most of the plot points flowing in ways they already would've gone.
Duncan is still annoyed with Courtney, still throws a shoe at her, they still make out on the boat to ROTI, etc. All Stars doesn't exist either <3
