The Mating Game (D:TNG episode)
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| Degrassi: The Next Generation episode | |
|---|---|
| “The Mating Game” | |
 |
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| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 6 |
| Production no. | – |
| Original airdate | November 25th, 2001 |
| Guest star(s) | Mike Kinney (Coach Armstrong) Linlyn Lue |
| Writer(s) | Yan Moore Tassie Cameron |
| Director | Anthony Browne |
| Titular Song | None |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "Parents' Day" | "Basketball Diaries" |
"Parents' Day", is the sixth episode of the first season in the TV show Degrassi: The Next Generation.
Contents |
[edit] Plot synopsis
Ashley and Jimmy want to take their relationship to the next step, but they decide that they are not ready. Meanwhile, Toby develops a crush on Emma. He is heartbroken when she shows no signs of feeling the same way about him.
[edit] Expanded Overview
The episode starts out with Ashley consulting with Terri on the gift she is about to give Jimmy. Terri confirms that the gesture is romantic and masculine; like Jimmy. As Ashley and Jimmy smile at each other, Ms. Kwan walks by and assigns roles for their performance of Romeo and Juliet. Terri guesses that Ashley and Jimmy are Romeo and Juliet respectively. However, Jimmy is Romeo but Ashley is only to play a nurse while Juliet is to be played by the notorious Paige Michalchuk.
In their Media Immersion Class, J.T. finds Toby and tells him that Dr. Sally is coming to Degrassi that day. Misinterpreting the sexual education teacher for someone much different, they both issue their grievances regarding her only talking to the eighth graders. When Mr. Simpson assigns them to make a website on the animal of their choice, Emma asks if they could do it on a specific animal like "Mama Onu". Toby is staring at her and in a state of fantasy-like trance, all he sees is a charismatically bright and beautiful Emma.
Dr. Sally is giving her lesson on sexual education but the grade eight class can hardly keep from giggling and laughing. Suddenly, Spinner asks a question about how does his friend, who has been dating for eight months, know that he's ready to engage in sexual intercourse. With such a specific question raised only to refer to Jimmy and Ashley's relationship, they cannot help but embarrassed by his query. Dr. Sally then answers by telling them that anatomically and physically; they are ready right now. But emotionally and psychologically; not until they're ready themselves. Outside of the classroom, Terri, Paige, and Ashley discuss the lesson they just endured. Paige praises Dr. Sally's straightforward bluntness while Ashley is too busy wanting to strangle Spinner. With the subject brought up, Paige asks Ashley the situation with her and Jimmy, who responds by simply stating that their relationship is deep enough without sex. Ashley then shows the girls his crafted heart that Jimmy gave to her for their anniversary. With Ashley thinking its sweet, Terri believing it is romantic, and Paige saying that it is "a pile of ...", she points out that Ashley got Jimmy a $50 chain while he got her a "hunk of clay". As Paige departs, her comment leaves a deep impression on Ashley, who is left contemplating her relationship with Jimmy.
In the cafeteria, Spinner, who is suprisingly reading, informs Jimmy about the coolness of Shakespeare, as Juliet has sex with Romeo at age thirteen. Paige, passing by, interrupts the boys and tells her "Romeo" (Jimmy Brooks) that she has memorized her lines. Spinner remarks on Ashley's conservative nature, leaving Jimmy Brooks to consider some aspects of his relationship. At the other table, Emma, Manny, Toby, J.T., and Sean sit down together. Toby's infatuation with Emma becomes apparent as he has researched "Mama Onu" and chosen to do his Media Immersion assignment on green turtles. Toby explained Emma's inspiration for his project. Toby, clearly trying to get some time alone tihe Emma, suggests that they should see a DVD of a movie about endangered species he just rented. However, he does not end up getting any personal time with Emma as she ends up trying to invite Sean to come with them, a boy she still liked. In addition, Manny invites them to see it at her place as she wasn't allowed to be out on a school night anyways, and J.T. decides to tag along too. Sean, noticing Toby's frustration and perhaps his true feelings, politely declines.
Back in their English class, Jimmy and Paige are rehearsing for their scene. When the script calls for them to kiss, Paige slightly oversteps her bounds causing some friction between her and Ashley, in addition to static between Ashley and Jimmy. Quickly interrupting their kiss, Ashley is scolded by Ms. Kwan, who says that she came in too early and that Paige and Jimmy have good chemistry. In the hallways, Terri tries to calm down Ashley by reaffirming that it is only a homework assignment. Ashley remarks that even when they were little, everything she had, Paige had to have too. Deciding to draw the line at her boyfriend, she argues with Paige telling her to back off. Paige defends herself stating that it was only in the spirit of the role and implies that Jimmy was bored of Ashley, while warning her that she should make sure he wasn't before somebody with "a little more chemistry" comes along. Taking Paige's words to heart, Ashley finds Jimmy and delivers a long affectionate kiss. Caught off guard, Jimmy is invited to Ashley's house for the night, as they would be all alone, and that in accordance to what Dr. Sally said, she is "ready".
Outside school while walking home together, Spinner notices Jimmy's unease. Unable to grasp Jimmy's initial metaphor, Spinner finally realizes (quite loudly) what Jimmy means and informs him that he should be prepared with a condom (using a metaphor which is, then again, lost on Jimmy). Meanwhile, Terri is with Ashley, who is purchasing a pack of condoms off of the internet. Terri confers with Ashley as to whether she is making the right decision, and not one made in response to Paige.
The next day, Emma is in her Media Immersion class and unable to find information on her project. Toby jumps in and uses a different search engine, yielding vast results much to the satisfaction of Emma. Toby then yet again falls victim to his fantasy and imagination as he enters a trance-like state, to only be rudely awakened by Emma saying that if they were to work on this together, he should at least try to stay awake. Leaving their classroom to go and watch Toby's DVD at Manny's house, Liberty interrupts the four friends and calls on Emma's prior promise to help her with the Grapevine. Obliging, Emma leaves Toby, Manny, and J.T. but promises to meet them within an hour.
Jimmy goes to Ashley's house and it is quite obvious that they are both nervous. Going to her room, they first are just sitting beside each other, looking around. But later, they start making out. Ashley eventually stops and leaves saying that she is going to freshen up. When she comes back in, Jimmy is looking at both of the condoms that they bought and Ashley confesses that she can't go through with having sex. She then says that she's not as fulfilling as somebody like Paige and even recommends her to Jimmy as they would be more suitable as a couple. Jimmy reassures her that the Shakespeare related activities mean nothing and honestly remarks that he is not ready for sex either.
Working in the Media Immersion Lab late after school, Emma and Liberty are about to leave when Liberty asks if they should go grab a smoothie while walking home. Emma puts her off saying that she forgot that Sean asked her for help on his assignment after school. Emma sits beside Sean, who is looking about Springer Spaniels on the internet, and the two share a moment when Emma learns more about Sean's past and situation. At Manny's house after watching the DVD, Toby, Manny, and J.T. are sitting outside while Toby is extremely disappointed and hurt when Emma didn't show. J.T. jokes that Emma was lucky as the "boring DVD almost put him on the endangered species list". With Manny laughing, Toby angrily leaves saying that he rented it for her. Returning home, Toby enters Ashley's room and walks in on Ashley and Jimmy blowing up their condoms as balloons. They both try to explain that they were supposedly making decorations for a school dance. Toby, telling them that he was not a complete idiot, suggests that they should get condoms away before Jeff and Kate come home and also advising Jimmy that girls are not worth it.
The next day at school, Emma meets up with Manny and Toby. When Emma tells them that she couldn't make it because she ran into Sean, Toby angrily bashes the value of their friendship and leaves. The befuddled and oblivious Emma is then informed by Manny that Toby has a major crush on her. Spinner finds Jimmy and presses him to reveal the details of the previous night. Jimmy lies saying that they were close to having sex, but Toby came home early and ruined everything. At Terri's locker, Ashley tells her that she and Jimmy never had sex because they weren't quite ready yet.
[edit] Acting
[edit] Main cast
(As ordered in credits, alphabetically)
- Sarah Barrable-Tishauer as Liberty Van Zandt
- Stefan Brogren as Mr. Simpson
- Daniel Clark as Sean Cameron
- Lauren Collins as Paige Michalchuk
- Ryan Cooley as J.T. Yorke
- Jake Goldsbie as Toby Isaacs
- Shane Kippel as Spinner Mason
- Miriam McDonald as Emma Nelson
- Melissa McIntyre as Ashley Kerwin
- Christina Schmidt as Terri McGregor
- Cassie Steele as Manny Santos
- Aubrey Graham as Jimmy Brooks
[edit] with
- Mike Kinney as Coach Armstrong
- Linlyn Lue as Ms. Kwan
- Christian Potenza as Cashier
- Maria Ricossa as Kate Kerwin
- Adrian Roberto as Guy
[edit] and special guest star
- Sue Johanson as Dr. Sally
[edit] Trivia
- When Emma does her search for the endangered turtles, one of the suggestions on the web site is to ask Toby for help.
- When helping Emma with her project on endangered green turtles, Toby uses a search engine called "TobyTracks". In addition, the description for the first result is "All Emma could ever need to know about the Green Turtle"
- After school, Sean is working on his Media Immersion assignment in the school computer lab as he didn't have one at home. This has been established in "Parents' Day", where Emma and Tracker argued about the ethics of having NaK partially fund the computer lab in exchange for their broadcasts being shown
