Degrassi: The Next Generation

[Spot's Meow]

This thread will include spoilers up to the most recently aired episode.

I decided to start this thread after seeing that a few other posters here listed Degrassi as a favorite current show. I had seen a few episodes here and there over the years as my sisters used to watch the show, but never got into it seriously because I didn't get the N where I was living. But as I have Netflix now, my boyfriend and I decided to catch up, so we watched the first 6 seasons on DVD this spring/summer. There was a season 7 marathon a couple of weeks ago that helped us get caught up with that, so now we are watching the currently airing episodes.

I just love the drama of this show. So much angst, so many bad decisions, it really makes one feel so much better about their own life.

My favorite characters have changed often over time...good people will become idiots (like Emma sometimes does), annoying people will become more bearable (like Paige). The only character I've consistently disliked is Manny. She's always been an idiot. I did like Mia at first, but the whole modeling thing was kind of (okay, really) creepy. Peter has always been pretty weird.

So, how do you think the show has changed over time? It's definitely gotten more outlandish. We now have an actress, a musician, and a model amongst the students, which is just kind of ridiculous. The show used to portray pretty normal high school kids. We never had so many famous people walking around my high school. The same school which supposedly had a school shooting, was the set of a movie, and dealt with a student molestation case.

Despite the show's faults, I still love it. It will be interesting to see where they go with the Emma, Liberty, and Manny college stuff. And by the way, in the season opener, I really did not understand why Manny and Liberty suddenly didn't want to room with Emma. Well, I understand the point they were trying to make, but I didn't think that it was done very realistically. They wanted to be with her so badly and then less than a day later hated the idea...didn't make a whole lot of sense.

Anyway...thoughts?

 

[ialfan]

Seasons 1-5 were great. The show was real then and they really should have stopped there with the original seniors graduating but they decided to milk it by splitting up the next school year into two seasons even though there’s at best a season worth of good episodes between them. This season so far has been horrible. I have zero interest in watching these new high school students an only keep watching for the little bit of Manny, Spinner, Emma and Liberty we get. Degrassi should have ended last season and if they wanted more done a true college spinoff this fall. If things don't shape up quickly maybe I can get the nerve to pretend the show did end after season 5.

I HATE Mia. She barely cared when JT died and she is basically Manny without any of the good traits or caring on my part. Darcy's sudden departure this season was beyond stupid and completely random. Yes we know she went off to do 90210: TNG but couldn't they have come up with something better?

I also HATE anything Lakehurst. That is when the show really jumped the shark with the Lakehurst rivalry storyline. I don't know what schools are like in Canada but here no one gives a crap about school spirit and stuff. The only Lakehurst characters I somewhat like are Sav, Anya and Holly J and those three might not even be from Lakehurst now that I think about it. Derek and Danny are awful as well.

Back during Seasons 3-5 the show was great. Some classic TV there. Now it's not even a pale shadow of itself.

 

[Spot's Meow]

Yeah, I really don't like the Lakehurst stuff either. My school had a rival in the next town over, and things could get pretty heated at football games, but nothing close to stabbings. If we had to suddenly share schools I am sure we would have gotten along.

Mia's reaction to JT's death was weird. Like I said, I liked Mia at first but not so much anymore. She doesn't remind me of Manny though...honestly as bad as it sounds all I think of when I think of Manny is how slutty she is and how she helped Craig cheat on Ashley and didn't even feel bad about it. I guess I'll never be able to "forgive" her for that. Mia was slutty with this modeling thing but before that she didn't seem to be that way (even though she has a kid). And she hasn't helped anyone cheat yet so I don't hate her too much.

Oh, and it sucks that there's no Marco. I always liked him a lot.

 

[JacksonArcher]

No Marco?! He's been there since like the beginning. His loss to the show is more detrimental than losing J.T., who while also there since the beginning has always been a sort of side character, at least after the first initial seasons.

 

[ialfan]

When I said she was like Manny I just meant she seems to get the same type of storylines and on paper sounds pretty similar. For example Manny got pregnant after having sex with Craig while he was dating Ashley and Mia had a child at a very young age and is in a relationship with Peter while he's still supposedly still with Darcy. I just don't think she has any redeeming qualities anymore like Manny had.

From what I've read pretty much all the old characters are gone this season except Spinner, Manny, Liberty and Emma. Apparently Paige, Craig, Sean, and others will return for the four part season finale set in Hollywood.

I actually like the new ninth graders and Kelly. I just don't feel like the quality is what it used to be nor do I feel like (at 18 and in college) I am in the show's intended audience anymore. When the scenes jump from Degrassi to the University it feels like two different shows. I can't help but feel at the very least they could have done a college spinoff while doing a "Third Generation" with these new characters.

 

[Spot's Meow]

Well I'm just assuming there's no more Marco since they haven't shown him yet (though it's only been two episodes) and he's not in the opening credits (the only originals that are in it are Emma, Manny, Liberty, Spinner, and Snake). I also read that he just signed on to be the host of some Canadian show.

 

[Spot's Meow]

When I said she was like Manny I just meant she seems to get the same type of storylines and on paper sounds pretty similar. For example Manny got pregnant after having sex with Craig while he was dating Ashley and Mia had a child at a very young age and is in a relationship with Peter while he's still supposedly still with Darcy. I just don't think she has any redeeming qualities anymore like Manny had.

Yeah, I guess she does get some of the same stories. You know, I think they should do an episode where Manny regrets or at least thinks about the decision she made to have an abortion. I don't have a problem with abortion, but I think it would be an interesting episode that would make sense since she's starting a new life now. A sort of "what if" kind of situation.

 

[JacksonArcher]

Well I'm just assuming there's no more Marco since they haven't shown him yet (though it's only been two episodes) and he's not in the opening credits (the only originals that are in it are Emma, Manny, Liberty, Spinner, and Snake). I also read that he just signed on to be the host of some Canadian show.

I haven't watched the show in ages, honestly since J.T.'s death. He was my favorite character, and I was very sad to see him go. However it's kind of startling to see so many regulars just...vanish? I mean I know Craig is a singer now, doing his thing, but what about Jimmy, Ashley, Jay, Tobey...and so on and so forth. I honestly never liked the Marco character, but still a bit of a surprise to see him go.

 

[ialfan]

Well I'm just assuming there's no more Marco since they haven't shown him yet (though it's only been two episodes) and he's not in the opening credits (the only originals that are in it are Emma, Manny, Liberty, Spinner, and Snake). I also read that he just signed on to be the host of some Canadian show.

I haven't watched the show in ages, honestly since J.T.'s death. He was my favorite character, and I was very sad to see him go. However it's kind of startling to see so many regulars just...vanish? I mean I know Craig is a singer now, doing his thing, but what about Jimmy, Ashley, Jay, Tobey...and so on and so forth. I honestly never liked the Marco character, but still a bit of a surprise to see him go.

Ashley just disappeared after performing with Craig last season at a concert. Guess she dropped out of high school again. Jimmy was supposed to be getting some kind of stem cell surgery over the summer to possibly regain use of his legs. Jay was dating Manny last we saw him but I think they might be over sadly (I really liked them together). Toby graduated at the end of last season and went to a different university. I think I read we will be seeing more of Jay later this season so hopefully they can give his character some resolution as well as resolving Paige's possible HIV storyline and Jimmy's Stem Cell one. It's the least they should do really.

 

[bigdaddy]

JT and Marco are the only reasons to watch the show, they are awesome!

However I thought this show ended last year?

The last episode I saw was when Marco graduated from HS.

 

[Lookingglassman]

I saw my first episode of the series last summer. It was the one where the bipolar guy ruined the wedding of his girlfriend's dad. I guess this nut trashed a hotel room after this chick turned him down and then he thinks she promised to marry him and he shows up at the wedding and totall acts a fool. He also gets into a fight with his stepdad over stealing his credit card.

I was pretty much hooked on it, but could never find a listing. I was able to catch a few episodes, but since I really didnt know the characters well I stopped watching because I was totally lost.

I plan on getting the dvds and watching them.

 

[Spot's Meow]

Anyone else see tonight's new episode? It was alright. What about the "Curse of Degrassi" Halloween special? That was...different. Entertaining to watch.

 

[ialfan]

I saw them both last weekend. So far (to me anyways) they were the best two shows of this season by far. Probably because there was a lot of focus on the old characters.