What I want from TPOT's merge.

Look, TPOT is finally in its final phase, and while I am leaning negative, I think this season still has a way to end strong, if they lock in.

So, I'm going to talk about 4 main things TPOT could do in the merge to bring this season up.

1) New (UNIQUE) rivalries/relationships

One major problem with the whole TPOT team-swap in general is that the new teams really didn't do anything to further the contestants relationships. Seriously, the swap did nothing for them.

BFDIA teams freaking define the season, along with BFB.

TPOT's first phase also has iconic teams with significant relationships(some good, some bland). You got:

Book and Price Tag (B-)

Fanny and BH (A-)

Puffball and GB (C)

Grassy and SB (A+)

Basketball and Robot Flower (C)

However, the team swap fails to build almost any new friendships, other than GB and Donut and Pen and Liy which are both dead post TPOT 19.

(I really don't get why Liy suddenly thinks she relies TOO reliant on Pen in TPOT 21, if anything it was the other way around.)

It was telling for me that in TPOT 21 TB calls Liy "weird" despite being on a team with her for like 7 episodes.

Or how Book and PT never acknowledge Grassy's existence.

Or how Fanny has not made a single new friendship since TPOT 10.

The problem is TPOT seems to build new relationships too slow and are way too positive.

BFDIA, a season where mean characters struggle to survive, managed to get a solid Pin vs Freesmart rivalry for 4-5 episodes. Even Book and Pin's 3 episode rivalry was amazing to watch.

We also had Needle vs TB from BFDIA 18-23. Along with Coiny and Needle being frenemies for practically all of the merge.

Rivalries keep the competition fresh. We do not need to see characters hug each other and use the power of friendship like the One trilogy pushed down our throats.

We need OBJECT WAR.

Here's an easy one. Fanny and GB. The most abrasive characters left. A solid dynamic could easily carry them mid merge if they actually fought each other(with Fanny NOT being a punching bag like she was with Pencil).

I could see Price Tag get up to some shenanigans if they finally let them have a more mischievous side again, and I could see them working well with the pacters. Even Black Hole has some stuff in him as shown in TPOT 2.

There is no outside One or ill-adjusted Pencil to carry the conflict. The contestants need to forge it themselves to make the merge interesting.

2) Character growth(not moments)

Phase 2 was dominated by strong individual character moments. While these were good, the problem is that one character would eat up significant focus while others collect scraps. We can't have that in the merge.

Everyone should be showing why they are in the game and their strategies. I DO NOT want Book and Price Tag aimlessly doing nothing in the challenges. I don't want Donut to be sidelined.

BFDIA 18 is one of the best BFDI episodes, and one reason for that is because it shows each contestants game strategy and/or development through that strategy.

Needle goes independent and tries to use her physical strength

Book tries to amicable and nice, using her ingenuity to go against the odds

Coiny tries to use prior connections and his competitive spirit to push through

TB uses his intelligence to outsmart the others

Pin uses her rage and mech suit to obliterate the competition

And Fries rolls with the punches, doing whatever is necessary to win.

Now this won't the same since there will be almost twice as many characters, but I want to see more compelling motivations.

So no more TPOT 16, 17, 19, or 21 type challenges where some contestants get scraps.

Like let's say the next challenge is underground and to reach a certain point.

Maybe GB and TB use their inventiveness to push through the challenge with a new and improved drill.

Donut, using his spirit perseveres as an underdog digs valiantly with help of the newly rejoined Barf Bag who's filled with warm water.

Book and Price Tag use PT's collection to help them dig down.

The pacters actually USE black hole to roll through the competition in new ways, using him as an auto digger and then, when it gets dark, remember that light ORBITS around him and can be a natural light source.

Grassy brute forces the challenge to prove his strength, now aided by the spirited Pen.

The competition grows the characters, and can force them to interact and work in different ways, expanding their characterization. Say Donut uses his anger at being dumped by GB to motivate him to win.

TB eventually realizes he never needed GB to win challenges anyway.

Price Tag becomes a useful collector, always having an item for the job.

Grassy and Pen become the new bro duo.

The pact establish a strong rivalry with the balls.

All of these are ways our currently lacklustre final 10 can find some pizzazz.

3) No focus on the eliminated contestants

Okay, a bit extreme, but I want as little focus on them as possible.

We need to develop the ones STILL IN THE GAME. WE DON'T NEED A LIGHTNING GUILT ARC!(Unless he actually rejoins)

Foldy should not be having an arc right now, only MARKER is in the game, and he barely interacted with Liy anyway.

Frankly, this is not the time to wrap up the TacoBook arc or establish Tree's disappointment in Marker.

Our competing contestants are underbaked, and that needs to be fixed in the next few episodes.

We have only 10 solid competition episodes left, we can't waste them.

Besides, we have season 7 for our early boots.

4) Get that token away from GB and establish what it does.

That stupid token.

I fully believe, that if they play their cards right, that token could be a great little thing in the merge. However, due to the fact the writers keep giving it to characters instead of explaining what it actually does, I don't have high hopes.

What needs to happen is twofold.

- GB must not use that token

- And it must give the contestant some cool advantage that is not just an immunity.

First, of all people who need that token it isn't GB. Marker, Tree, or Liy having that token is much more compelling as they actually have been at risk for elimination.

GB is just too popular to justify giving her an advantage. Plus she never really had it daily in the first place.

It was Pin's, who GAVE it to Tree, who GAVE it to Marker, who GAVE it(kind of) to Liy, and GB just stole it from her because she wanted it.

I don't like that, especially when several underbaked characters need it more.

Donut, Book, Price Tag, Marker, TB, and even Pen could do so much more with an advantage token. Even Fanny I could see using it.

Golf Ball is a strong character in her own right, she doesn't need that kind of plot.

Let's say the token can be made to steal a person and force them to help you win a challenge.

his could be good for TB as a change in power, Marker, Fanny, and PT for more interactions, and Black Hole since he can't interact with things normally.

Or what is the token gives a person special insight into a future challenge?

That could create some nice suspense.

The token has potential, but only if it's treated right, and not like that contract in BFDIA where it ultimately was lacklustre.

Anyways, those are the 4 main things I want TPOT's merge to have.

What would you guys want for the merge?