6/11/2023 0 Comments Degrassi the next generation![]() ![]() The show’s goal was always to shed light on a myriad of topics that young people are faced with, including but certainly not limited to child predators, rape, self-harm, LGBTQ+ issues, abortion, school shootings, eating disorders, mental health, teen pregnancy, and addiction. ![]() Unlike all of the glossy teen shows that typically cast adults in main roles, the actors in Degrassi were around the same age as their characters, and we witness them grow up alongside their characters, playing them up until they graduate high school and start the next chapter of their lives, sometimes remaining on the show as their characters go to college or pursue other post-high school plans before leaving the show and making way for a new class of characters to take center stage.ĭegrassi’s first tagline reads: “It Goes There,” and there wasn’t a single subject matter that was off-limits throughout the course of the series. Since it was a follow-up to 1989’s Degrassi High, some of the kids featured in this installment were the children of Degrassi’s alumni, who often make appearances throughout (Stefan Brogren, who plays Archie “Snake” Simpson, has been the franchise’s longest-running character, having been in every iteration since Junior High and playing Degrassi teacher-turned-principal in TNG). The most popular and beloved installment is The Next Generation, which aired from 2001 to 2015 on CTV in Canada and The N (Nickelodeon’s channel aimed at teens that eventually became TeenNick) in the U.S., and famously served as the launching pad for Drake, The Vampire Diaries’ Nina Dobrev, Shenae Grimes of the CW’s 90210 fame, and a handful of other cast members.Ĭreated by Linda Schuyler, who developed the franchise alongside Kit Hood, and Yan Moore, Degrassi follows a group of teenagers attending Degrassi Community School as they navigate the many complex issues that emerge throughout their youth. With five iterations dating back to 1979-starting off with The Kids of Degrassi Street followed by Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High, and Degrassi: The Next Generation and wrapping up with Degrassi: Next Class-the Canadian franchise has captured the lives of pre-teens and teens across nearly four decades, literally evolving parallel with the world, and incorporating new factors such as technology and the problems that arise as a result of its growing presence in the daily lives of young people. Long before remakes and revivals of teen dramas were being made left and right, there was the Degrassi universe. As a teen TV connoisseur, it’s safe to say that I certainly wasn’t disappointed. I had been toying with the idea of finally seeing what all the hype was about for a while, so when I discovered that the entire series-14 extensive seasons that total 385 episodes-had been added to HBO Max, I rushed to finally heal the part of my inner child that never got the chance to experience it in real-time. My relationship to the series, up until this year, came in the form of having the 2010 “ Shark in the Water” promotional video memorized by heart for over a decade, and spending a brief period of my adolescence obsessed with Netflix’s follow-up, Degrassi: Next Class. I was never allowed to watch Degrassi when I was younger, instead exclusively living off of other shows that aired on TeenNick during its later seasons. Come relive your TV past with us, or discover what should be your next binge watch below: ![]() Editor’s Note: Welcome to our TV Rewind column! The Paste writers are diving into the streaming catalogue to discuss some of our favorite classic series as well as great shows we’re watching for the first time. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |