Ghost in the Machine (1)
A-Plot: Paige's court date is fast approaching, and of course, Dean tries to convince her to not testify. Paige promised Spinner that their relationship would go back to normal once the trial is over, but if she doesn't go, what does that mean for them? I totally get that Spinner is upset about this, but ultimately this is all up to Paige. If she feels like she needs to go or not, is her decision.As for the trial, it was intense. I hate how it's a real job to try to discredit young women so that they're attacker can go free. I found it especially hard to watch, since that person in this case is a woman.
B-Plot: It's Craig's 16th birthday and he just received $10,000 from his late father's estate.
Ghost in the Machine (2)
A-Plot: Paige is devastated after losing her case and doesn't know how to go back to being normal. Instead, she acts out. She wrecks Spinner car, gets her license suspended, has community service, and needs to get a job. New year, new look, new Paige.B-Plot: Of course Craig wants to go out and have fun while spending the money, but Joey was hoping for some help around the house. This makes Craig feel like Joey only keeps him around for the money, which adds to his feelings about not having a real family.
King of Pain
A-Plot: Marco is running for student president against Alex, and is still hiding Dylan from his parents. Dylan's been patient, but he's tired of being pushed back in the closet. Turns out that his mom is much more observant than he gave her credit for, as she suspected he was down because of Dylan. He comes out to her with much tears from everyone.B-Plot: Chris and Emma broke up over the summer, but there still might be feelings there. Liberty's also crushing on Chris, and as we know, that girl always goes for it. Emma gets a little cruel and goes after Chris just so that Liberty can't have him. She's embarrassed.
Mercy Street
A-Plot: Rick is back and no one wants him there. Getting rid of him has become Emma's new mission. But he's trying very hard to make amends. I felt like he was sincere, which makes the upcoming events that much more tragic. No one deserves to be treated this way.B-Plot: Manny is distancing herself from JT. He assumes it's because she didn't like what she saw when Danny pantsed him. Danny has a solution for him: a penis pump! But it's really because he's been behaving quite immaturely. I'm glad for this break-up, because I did not think these two go together. Yes, JT was sweet to Manny when other boys called her a slut, but they're better off as friends.
Anywhere I Lay My Head
A-Plot: Sean asks Ellie to move in!But she can't leave her alcoholic mother home alone. Particularly after she passes out with the stove on, nearly burning down their house. However, she uses the repairs as an excuse to give living with Sean a try, while he mother believes she's staying with Ashley.Ellie does confront her mother about how her drinking drives Ellie to cut. They both need help.
B-Plot: Downtown Sasquatch is back at it! Spinner thinks they need to do some small gigs and get out of Craig's garage. When in reality, Manny asked him to convince Craig to play at the spirit squad car wash to draw a crowd. But Spinner starts to see Manny in a new light...
Islands in the Stream
A-Plot: Paige needed a job to pay for Spinner's car damage, but she just got fired from The Dot. Now she has to work with Alex at the movie concession stand. While she's working her butt off, Spinner is getting closer to Manny and generally not being a great boyfriend, especially when he shows up at her job and fights with Craig over Manny.B-Plot: Toby and Rick are paired up for a trivia challenge, and then start a bet on who can get a kiss from Emma before the day ends. Having both accomplished that, they need something to break the tie, starting their friendship. While I like Toby and Rick as friends, this plot is pretty gross.
Time Stands Still (1)
A-plot: Rick's bullying has reached its peak. He wins the Quiz Bowl, only to have his moment ruined Carrie-style. He leaves and the episode ends with him getting a gun. I'm pretty sure this is the first/only episode where no music plays during the freeze frame and credits.Mr. Raditch had a huge role to play in what happened, and this episode is what gets him removed. He tells Rick that he can't make Jimmy or the other students like him. "It takes two," he tells Rick. He does not take the bullying seriously. All he was required to do was listen to Rick and address his concerns, not dismiss him. That boy needed help.
B-plot: Joey is selling the house. Craig calls Sydney for help. This plot is just filler to distract us from realizing how deadly the main plot is going to turn.
Time Stands Still (2)
A-Plot: Even 15 years later, I think this is the most impactful episode. Degrassi covers so many issues, even death, but nothing comes close to Rick's story. Yes, what he did to Terri was awful, but the severity of his bullying was also awful. Awful enough to push this kid over the edge, ruining lives, and ending his.I have to admit that during the premiere, I didn't think he was actually going to shoot someone. Maybe someone stopped him, or maybe he had a change of heart. Especially after that moment with Paige where they both apologize and he puts the gun away. But then...damn. I was sobbing.
B-Plot: Caitlyn returns and decides to buy Joey's house.
Back in Black
A-plot: After the shooting, Sean is being regarded as a hero, since he stopped Rick from shooting Emma, killing him the process. However, Sean doesn't want the attention and is acting like nothing happening. But after seeing an interview with his absent parents, he gets mad and heads off to confront them. Ultimately, deciding to stay with them. This was Sean's second super emotional moment for me.B-Plot: Toby is now being ostracized for being Rick's friend. Even JT wants nothing to do with him, but eventually does show up to the wake to support his friend. This might just be the beginning of a more mature JT.
Neutron Dance
A-Plot: Craig is trying to keep the bang going by adding Ashley since Jimmy is still in the hospital. But there's tension with Spinner and Marco who don't think Ashley should record with them, since she did lost the contest back in 318. They do have a point.B-Plot: Degrassi added a yoga class to help students de-stress. Paige decides to go because Mr. O, the hot student teacher, is also teaching the yoga class. She does not have the best luck when it come to older guys. Luckily, Mr. O isn't a creep, but he does have a girlfriend.
"Do not let the cult of yoga suck you in." --Paige Michalchuk
Voices Carry (1)
A-Plot: Craig and Ashley are back together. He'll be joining her at her father's wedding, but he's been acting strange lately. He's impulsive. First walking out of class. Then stealing Joey's credit card to get them a hotel room. And finally...proposing. Before destroying said hotel room.B-Plot: Liberty adapted Dracula into a play for the school to put on in an effort to get things back to normal. This is the beginning of another one of my favorite plot-threads. This play causes some very interesting events to occur and totally shook up my character rankings. But first, they need the play approved by Mr. Raditch who thinks it's too dark and gruesome after the shooting.
"You, study my butt leaving." --Craig Manning
Voices Carry (2)
A-Plot: Craig's behavior continues to become more aggressive as he crashes the wedding and attacks Joey. Turns out, he has bipolar disorder. The first time Degrassi has dealt with mental health issues that are chemical rather than behavioral. Another emotional episode that brings the tears.B-Plot: Liberty and JT continue pushing to get Dracula approved and continue to get closer. Looks like Liberty is finally going to get her man!
Bark at the Moon
A-Plot: Manny finally gets an apology from Craig, but he totally botches it. She's also been assigned to come up with ideas to raise school spirit by their new principal. And Spinner has made his intentions known, but Manny is hesitant. But new guy Chester is pretty cute...B-Plot: Paige is also offering apologies to Mr. O and finds out that he's newly single. She points out that their age difference isn't so bad, but he's still kind of her teacher. Until he isn't anymore. I love student-teacher affairs! They fascinate me!
Secret (1)
A-Plot: Emma is still struggling to return to normal after Rick came after her, which is leading her to act severely out of character. She's quiet and withdrawn, which worries those closest to her. However, she lands the lead in the school play after Darcy drops out. She also catches the attention of Jay. They're not strangers, as her reminds her about taking that trip with Sean in 409.Those stupid bracelets! I remember these from high school. A different color for each act you're willing to perform with a boy. So stupid. I wish Amy had been a regular character, so there'd be a real "school slut."
B-Plot: Craig starts going to a support group to deal with his bipolar disorder. Ellie goes to the same group for her cutting. The two become fast friends, as Craig finally feels like someone understands him.
"You're no weirder than the rest of us." --Jay Hogart
Secret (2)
A-Plot: It's almost time for Dracula to hit the stage, but students are getting sick. With gonorrhea. Including Emma. Turns out that hooking up with Jay in an old van was not a good idea.B-Plot: Jimmy is ready to go home, but his father is delaying his return in order to make sure the house is 100% accessible for him. Jimmy can get around fine, and he's going to prove it with the help of his friends. Marco and Craig break him out and take him to a concert where Jimmy has the time of his life, front row.
Eye of the Tiger
A-Plot: It's Jimmy's first day back at school and we find out that Spinner didn't visit him a single time at the hospital. What follows is an adorable montage of Spinner being extra helpful as Jimmy navigates the school. When Jimmy reveals all of his anger about the shooting to Spinner, Spinner confesses that he told Rick that Jimmy was the one to pour paint on him. This is the end of their friendship for awhile, as well as the beginning of Spinner becoming a pariah.And even though it's after the fact, Ms. Hatzilakos responded in the way that Raditch should have from the beginning. She got the story, she got the names, and punished accordingly.
Continuity issue: Jay shows up at The Dot to confront Spinner. Him and Sean got "banned for life" back in 306.
B-Plot: Danny sabotages JT and Liberty's relationship, since JT doesn't want to hang out with him anymore. Danny also doesn't think that JT is good enough for his sister and brings up the penis pump incident. What results is the worst fist fight ever, and with Liberty getting mad at JT for pushing her little brother.
Queen of Hearts
A-Plot: Ellie is still living in Sean's apartment. Alone. Her mother has been paying the rent, but now she wants her to come back home. Instead of accepting the offer, she tells her mom she doesn't want to come home and she doesn't want anymore money. Ellie starts playing Euchre for cash to earn rent money. This is the first (and only?) time Degrassi covers gambling. She doesn't become an addict, but it's not a reliable way to make money to live on.B-Plot: Revisiting Paige's relationship with Mr. O. They've been sneaking around with plenty of near missed, so she wants to come over. What's he hiding over there? This was an interesting one, because of course, everyone thinks he's cheating. When in actuality, he lives in an awful apartment.
Modern Love
A-Plot: Paige and Mr. O are still trying to date in public, but it's getting too risky when they're nearly caught by Mr. Simpson. Then Paige and Manny get into a fight in the halls, where Manny reveals the secret. However, Mr. O is looking out for Mr. O and tells Ms. Hatzilakos that she was stalking him.B-Plot: Emma is now facing the same slut-shaming that Manny faced.
Moonlight Desires
A-Plot: Marco isn't allowed to donate blood because he's had sex with Dylan, which is 100% unfair, and he's going to do something about it. This also leads him to discovering that Dylan has been cheating on him when he shows up at the door to talk to him about it. I was much more interested in the blood drive portion of the plot than Dylan and Marco trying an open relationship.B-Plot: Spinner talks to Ms. Hatzilakos about taking his exams, which she informs him he will not be doing. He doesn't want to lose his entire year, and storms out to plot his revenge. He teams up with Jay to steal the yearbooks and light them on fire. Luckily, Jay has some brains and stops him from committing arson.
West End Girls
A-Plot: Manny goes head-to-head with Paige...again. Paige takes credit for Manny's hard work on the spirit squad, and then Marco invites her to join their group for prom, then dumps her for Paige when she finds out Matt is leaving. Paige also makes Manny be the mascot instead of the flier, even though Paige can't do it. Resulting in a broken leg for Paige. Manny goes to prom with Toby. Worst prom ever.B-Plot: Craig gets Kevin Smith to check out Degrassi during prom, making the school the location for his upcoming movie. Craig and Ashley also get rejected for working on the soundtrack.
"Why do you always have to be more horrible?" --Hazel Aden
Goin' Down the Road (1)
A-Plot: Craig doesn't want to spend the summer alone, so he applies for a music program in England in order to follow Ashley there. She thinks he's acting impulsively, possibly off his medication, and wants space. Even without Craig's bipolar disorder, this plot covers something important but overlooked. Couples do not need to be attached at the hip. You are allowed to have interests outside of your partner!B-Plot: Caitlyn is getting close to Kevin Smith while she covers the filming of his new movie. He's been encouraging her to go back to her roots, but she wants to settle down with Joey. Or does she?
Goin' Down the Road (2)
A-Plot: Craig is living at the school, after supposedly leaving for England. And dumping his medication out so he can write more music. Thankfully, Spinner does the right thing for once, and calls Joey to get Craig. Unfortunately, Craig runs away and is living on the streets.B-Plot: Joey and Caitlyn are engaged again, which goes against everything that she really wants, despite her being the one to propose.
Degrassi Character Rankings
For this, I tried really hard to only use this Season and leave my future feelings out of it. Kendra and Terri are gone from this season, and we finally get to see more Alex!- Emma Nelson
- Rick Murray
- Craig Manning
- Marco del Rossi
- Sean Cameron
- Spinner Mason
- Jimmy Brooks
- Jay Hogart
- Alex Nunez
- Paige Michalchuk
- Manny Santos
- Ellie Nash
- Toby Isaacs
- Ashley Kerwin
- JT Yorke
- Liberty van Zandt
- Dylan Michalchuk
- Chris Sharpe
- Hazel Aden
- Darcy Edwards
- Danny van Zandt
- Shantay Black
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