Degrassi: The Next Generation plot summary
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Degrassi: The Next Generation is the spin-off series spawning from Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High. In its first season, it featured 15 episodes and 22 episodes in the following seasons except for Season 5, where there was only 19. It's currently airing its sixth season.
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[edit] Season One
The first season begins about 10 years after the Degrassi: High film. Emma Nelson, the daughter of Christine "Spike" Nelson, is all grown up and ready to start her first year (grade 7) at the new Degrassi Community School. It is days before the start of the new school year and Degrassi is host to its 10 year anniversary for the graduates of 1991. With the previous main characters, Joey Jeremiah, Caitlin Ryan, Archie "Snake" Simpson, and Christine "Spike" Nelson debuting as adults, they all are planning to meet for their school reunion. The pilot episode was supposed to finish off and bring closure to the storylines of characters from the original series, a feat the movie attempted to accomplish, with the exception of Archie Simpson and Christine Nelson; who both became series regulars. Dan Raditch from the original series would go on to become the principal at the new school and thus, also becoming a regular.
Once the adults "pass the torch" to the new generation, the plot of each characters follow the endevours of new characters. Each new character would have their own centric episode, where they dealt with a particular issue and also be supported by secondary or tertiary plot advancements. In the first season, the backstories and personalities of the new main characters are established as they go through school at Degrassi. The characters are primarily separated by two age groups: Grade seven and eight.
One lasting plot advance occurred in the Season finale episode, where Ashley Kerwin took ecstacy. Her irrational behaviour while under the influence caused many of her friends to essentially ignore her and unfriend her in the second season.
[edit] Season Two
Degrassi had undergone a merge to become both a Junior High school and High School. This would make students, like Toby Isaacs and J.T. Yorke, share lockers.
Craig Manning, a kid who faced abuse from his father, is introduced. At the end of the first two-parter story arch, Craig leaves his father to live with Joey Jeremiah (the father of his half-sister). At the end of the season, Craig's father, Albert Manning, dies and Craig is left to cope with the loss. Some indications of Craig's mental disorder are hinted.
Another lasting plot advancement was Ashley dealing without really having any friends. Due to her behaviour under the influence of ecstacy, Paige Michalchuk, Hazel Aden, and basically everybody else (except Terri MacGregor), would ignore her and constantly insult and belittle her. This would lead her to undergo a change and become goth once she met the new character, Ellie Nash, who would be one of her only friends during most of the Season.
It also dealt with the topic of rape when a character, Paige Michalchuk was raped by a high school soccer player,
[edit] Season Three
The show began to grow to more important plot lines. Characters made a change in how they appeared, like Manny going from sweet and cute to hot and sexy or Sean going from Emma's pet to a thief. It was also the begin of an actual homosexual couple, with Marco and Paige's older brother Dylan. We even met new characters like Jay, Alex and Chris. And it was the first real love triangle between Ashley, Craig and Manny, leaving one girl with a reputation and almost a baby.
[edit] Season Four
This season tried to up all the others with even bigger themes. Now the Degrassi students dealt with the return of Terri's abusive boyfriend, which led to a school shooting, Craig being diagnosed bi-polar, and the beginning and end of relationships like the end of Manny and J.T., Paige and Spinner and Jay and Alex. And the rebirth and beginning of other relationships like J.T. and Liberty and Craig and Ashley
[edit] Season Five
Once more Degrassi dealt with high school themes as well as the first seen graduating class. New characters were introduced, mainly Peter, who supplied new drama for the Degrassi students. Also a new principal was intact for sure. Relationships were also formed again, as Manny and Craig re-united Jimmy and Hazel's relationship crumbled, even Marco got back together with Dylan. Also the first bi-sexual and lesbian characters arose in Paige and Alex.
[edit] Season Six
Themes went to an even higher level with returning characters coming back, Sean and Ashley. They eventually re-kindled their relaionships with their firsts, Ashley and Jimmy and Sean and Emma. But with beginning also comes the end, as Manny and Craig break-up. Also new characters were introduced once more with Mia, J.T.'s new love interest, while old characters died off, J.T. This was also the first time Degrassi showed the college life with most of the last year's graduating class. The show also shows people's dream and aspired job professions, like Craig and his rockstar life and Ellie with her writing. Also drug usage is brought up once more in cocaine.
