I’ll never forget showrunner Sarah Glinski saying that they aim to get a reaction of out fans.  It’s rare for a Degrassi episode to “hit me in the feels” like Hero vs. Villain did.  This is one of those episodes where my jaw was on the floor the entire time, because the characters in this episode were so ruthless toward one another.  Hero vs. Villain will be burned in my memory for a while.

Power Cheer vs. Degrassi Nudes

Simpson questions Power Cheer about Degrassi Nudes, and Zoë asks to speak at the assembly.  The rest of the girls freak out on Zoë, but she tells them she’s going to give a speech about her sexual assault to throw Simpson off their scent.  As Zoë finally forgives Zig for treating her like a victim, she receives a text from the Degrassi Nudes stalker threatening to release evidence before cheer finals.  Zoë confronts Hunter assuming he’s the stalker, but he convinces her that he isn’t the one blackmailing the cheerleading squad.  Zoë now believes Frankie is the one behind the messages.

Zoë asks Frankie to rejoin the team, and while Frankie gets undressed Zoë snaps a picture of Frankie topless.  Zoë threatens to pin Degrassi Nudes on Frankie if she keeps sending the text messages, but Frankie insists she would never hurt anyone on the team.  Zoë delivers her speech at the assembly, and afterward she decides to delete the photo of Frankie.  At that point everyone in the gym, including Simpson, receives a message from the stalker outing the Power Cheer squad as the ones responsible for Degrassi Nudes.

GRADE:  A+
QUICK REVIEW: An overwhelming majority of the time I either lean positively or are neutral toward Degrassi characters.  In general, they’re good kids who make a bunch of stupid mistakes throughout their tenure on the show.  However, Zoë Rivas has taken things to a whole new level.  Her being sexually assaulted was horrible, and I understand her frustration as being constantly seen as a victim.  But that doesn’t excuse all of her reckless and vindictive behavior since.  We have legit villain on our hands, someone who’s willing to destroy anyone who stands in her way.  She has to be the first major character on this show I actively want to see get crushed for what she’s done, and the fact Degrassi’s made me actually dislike Zoë as a person is impressive.

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Clare vs. Drew and Eli

Clare finally tells Alli that Eli is the father of her baby, not Drew.  Alli suggests Clare tell them both the truth now, but Clare wants to wait to think things over.  Alli tells Dallas, who demands Clare tell Drew immediately.  Dallas ends up telling Drew, who lashes out at Clare for not knowing who the father of her baby is and ruining his life.

Clare decides to tell Eli the truth before he hears it elsewhere, but he refuses to talk to her.  He tells her not to come crying to him and calls her a whore before walking off.

GRADE: A
QUICK REVIEW:  Well…both of the guys in Clare’s life called her stupid.  I really liked the Drew scene because he angrily appeared out of nowhere, plus they were able to integrate Bhandallas relationship drama without it being too intrusive.  I know Eli can be a total jerk sometimes, but damn…I have no words for what he said to Clare, and I guess he needs to be placed on that list with Zoë now.  Is there not a 90’s song called “Everyone’s Being An Asshole?” because during this episode we’re getting punched in the kidneys left and right.

If you include last week’s verbal dagger from Miles to Dallas, new Degrassi writer Scott Oleszkowicz clearly knows how to make these characters unrelenting.  I’ve said before that this entire Clew/Eclare stuff is strongest when Degrassi zooms its focus in on the emotions of the individual characters and not the circus storyline they’re involved in.  And Eli Goldsworthy is still the king of providing the most intense emotion on Degrassi.

Continuity alert: Alli calling out Clare once again for Clare’s disinterest in discussing anything major happening in Alli’s life at the time.

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Triles vs. Themselves

Miles is still upset about the intervention, but Tristan wants them to reconcile.  Miles isn’t really interested, so Tristan thinks he needs to do a grand gesture to get Miles to forgive him.

Tristan sets up a sushi date in the gym for Miles, who doesn’t seem interested in it, but he joins Tris anyway.  Tristan knows Miles wasn’t interested and finally learns why:  Miles still has feelings for Maya.  After confronting Miles about his lingering feelings, Tristan finally walks away from their relationship for good.

GRADE: A
QUICK REVIEW: If you’re one of those fans who love to complain every day about Degrassi choosing “fanservice” over disposing of unhealthy couples, then you should be running over to twitter to praise the Degrassi Writers for ending Triles the right way fairly quickly.  Tristan and Miles were using each other for their own emotional agendas, and it became clear very quickly in season 14 that they were doomed based on the fact Tristan was barely used throughout this major Miles arch.  Tristan saw it wasn’t working, and instead of trying to force a relationship past its expiration date he wisely let Miles go.

It’s no surprise that Degrassi’s leading us to another Matlingsworth reunion.  However, Degrassi has a chance to do something different this time.  Perhaps they will take a broken couple, have them get their crap together individually, then try it again? Because there’d be no point in wasting viewers’ time slapping them back together in their current states.

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I miss the Every Episode Ever Marathon so much. :-/

Degrassi is taking over TeenNick’s primetime block tonight; the network is airing all 10 episodes of 14A starting at 7pm tonight (January 1st).   Here’s the full schedule (all times are EST):

7pm – 1401 (Smells Like Teen Spirit)
7:30 – 1402 (Wise Up)
8pm – 1403 (If You Could Only See)
8:30 – 1404 (Can’t Stop This Thing We Started)
9pm – 1405 (There’s Your Trouble)
9:30 – 1406 ([You Drive Me] Crazy)
10pm – 1407 (I’ll Be Missing You)
10:30 – 1408 (Hush)
11pm – 1409 (Something’s Got To Give)
11:30 – 1410 (Hero vs. Villain)

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This has been one of those weeks where I haven’t had time to go in depth with explaining why certain characters moved up or down.  Zoë’s #1 for obvious reasons: she’s a legit queen bee who throws her weight around, and now everything is about to come crashing down on her.  Miles and Drew stay put because they appeared in this ep; Drew’s scene made me feel bad for him, while I would like to think Maya’s “meddling” finally broke through to Miles to show him that someone cares about him, even if feelings come attached to that.

Alli jumps into the top 10 for her strong role in this ep.  She let Clare have it for her constant indifference, and let Dallas have it for not keeping a secret like she asked.  The Bhandallas situation is a really difficult one for me to choose a side on; given the gravity of the secret (Clare’s pregnancy) and how it would affect not only Clare’s life but Drew’s, Dallas felt like he had to tell him.  But from Alli’s POV, she trusted Dallas with a secret and he told someone else…to her it doesn’t matter what the secret is, she’s expecting someone she trusts to remain faithful under all circumstances.

Tristan moves up to his highest spot in a while because of how he handled things with Miles. That emotional slap in the face he received at Miles’ intervention along with Winston’s advice helped Tristan realize there’s no point in chasing after someone who’s no longer feeling it (it also frees Tristan up for a possible continuation of the Yates storyline…fingers crossed).

1) Zoë Rivas (Last Week: #7)

2) Miles Hollingsworth (–)

3) Drew Torres (–)

4) Maya Matlin  (#1)

5) Frankie Hollingsworth (#6)

6) Clare Edwards (#7)

7) Grace Cardinal (#5)

8) Becky Baker (#4)

9) Alli Bhandari (#11)

10) Mike Dallas (–)

11) Eli Goldsworthy (#13)

12) Hunter Hollingsworth (#9)

13) Zig Novak (#12)

14) Tristan Milligan (#19)

15) Jack (#16)

16) Imogen Moreno (#14)

17) Shay Powers (–)

18) Lola Pacini (–)

19) Winston Chu (#15)

20) Jonah Haak (–)

21) Arlene Takahashi (–)

22) Tiny King (–)

23) Connor DeLaurier (–)

24) Jenna Middleton (–)

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Firestarter Pt. 2 is the final episode before Degrassi goes on hiatus until April, 2015.  It airs on Tuesday, January 13th at 9pm EST on TeenNick and MTV Canada.

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Mr. Hollingsworth’s campaign is in its final stretch, and the stress has him even more tense than usual. Miles appeals to his family about his father’s behavior, but it seems like he’s the only one who realizes there needs to be a change. In the meantime, Zoë has used Frankie as a scapegoat for the Power Cheer debacle, but Frankie isn’t giving up. Along with Winston, she creates an elaborate plan to prove that Zoë is the one behind the scheme. Imogen reveals to Eli the truth about Clare’s situation.
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MTV Canada Promo

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TeenNick Promo

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Frankie Gets Thrown Under The Bus

Miles knows Frankie was involved in the Degrassi Nudes scandal, and tells her she needs to figure out how to pin it on someone else before their dad finds out.  Frankie decides to rally the rest of the cheerleaders to turn on Zoë; they want Zoë to confess and take full responsibility for Degrassi Nudes.  Zoë “agrees,” but later Frankie discovers Zoë created a Facerange page naming Frankie as the ringleader.  Frankie also learns Winston is the blackmailer and is upset because no one would’ve known the cheerleaders were responsible for Degrassi Nudes, and Frankie wouldn’t be facing her current situation.

Hunter advises Frankie to tell their dad before the press finds out, but it’s too late when a reporter brings it up during a press conference.  Frankie confesses to her dad in private that she sent one nude Oomfchat, but wasn’t the ringleader.  Furious, Mr. Hollingsworth demands that Frankie address the press and take responsibility for what she did.  However, when the time comes Frankie is nowhere to be found; she’s with Winston, upset with what’s happened and asking him for his help to make Zoë pay for what she’s done.

GRADE: A+
QUICK REVIEW: You can easily figure out a plot’s theme when multiple characters say the same thing in an episode.  In Frankie’s plot, she’s learning one of life’s hardest lessons: life isn’t fair.  Zoë flips the script so that Frankie looks like the ringleader of Degrassi Nudes, and now Frankie’s dad wants her to publicly take responsibility not just for her Oomfchat, but for the entire nude scandal.  It’s such a messed up 360 as Frankie gets thrown under the bus by both Zoë and her dad.  Zoë’s reasoning for doing so is because Frankie’s dad will clean up the mess if Frankie is responsible.  But instead of doing that, Mr. H and his assistant think it’s better for the campaign if Frankie takes blame instead of denying everything until they can fix it.

Since season 10 and their switch to nothing but two parters for multiple seasons, one of my biggest complaints about Degrassi was the weakness of Part 1 episodes, primarily in the weekly broadcast format.  So many of them didn’t feel strong enough on their own, as if the Part 1 and Part 2 episodes were going to air back to back…the Part 1 endings never got me really excited to see what happens in Part 2.

I feel like the episodes they’ve been churning out in season 14 are strong standalone episodes, despite many of the archs spanning consecutive episodes like they have in seasons 10-13.  I jokingly give Degrassi writer/Exec Producer Matty H a hard time about the first Degrassi episode he ever wrote, which I consider one of the worst episodes of all time (technically it was the A plot that was awful…the B plot was pretty good).  But as Frankie stands there crying, vowing revenge on Zoë, Matty H delivers a Part 1 cliffhanger that’s absolutely on point.  And bonus points to TeenNick for immediately airing an awesomely intense promo for Part 2 afterward.

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Zig And Tiny Make A Bet

Loving the influx of cheerleaders at Degrassi for Regionals, Zig makes a bet with Tiny:  $20 to the first person who can get a cheerleader’s phone number.  Grace interjects and says that instead of money, the loser has to dress up like a cheerleader and perform in public.  She also points out who they must try to get the number from:  Newman cheerleader Gloria Chin.

Tiny tries to flirt with Gloria, but she isn’t interested.  Zig “bumps” into her and she spills her drink on him.  She offers to clean his shirt, so Zig walks around shirtless.  Zig’s not-so-casual flirting works and she’s willing to give him her number, but Zig goes on the defensive when Gloria starts talking bad about Zoë and her sexual assault.  Zig tells Tiny and Maya that he decided not to get Gloria’s number, but Grace does it instead meaning Zig and Tiny have to dress up as cheerleaders together.  Later, Zig tells Zoë he knows she’s a good person and doesn’t care what anyone else thinks about her.  The two start talking again, and Zig’s happy that he has a chance with Zoë again.

GRADE: B+
QUICK REVIEW: Whether it was on purpose or pure coincidence, the generic structure of the plot vaguely reminded me of Joey and BLT’s plot in one of my all-time favorite Degrassi episodes in the franchise.  With everything that’s going on with Zoë vs. Frankie, this one requires viewing it through Zig’s strict filter.  All he knows is that the girl he likes feels as if she’s being judged by everyone, and that’s confirmed to Zig when a stranger (Gloria Chin) spouts off what she thinks about Zoë.  Gloria had no clue what Zoë went through, just what she saw in the news/tabloids.  Gloria is representative of a culture, especially online, that’s quick to form an opinion about everything without much thought or investigation.  Zig doesn’t know the horrible things Zoë has done to Frankie, but based on what he does know about Zoë and what she’s gone through I’ve gotta give it up to him for supporting her…Lord knows she’s gonna need his support even more after Firestarter, Part 2.

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Clare’s Secret Is Out

Everyone at Degrassi now knows that Clare’s pregnant.  After having a bad dream in which she marries Simpson and has a couple of kids with him, Clare decides she can’t put her future on hold.  She talks to her mom and decides that instead of not going to Columbia, Clare wants to go to Ryerson, which is close to home.

Helen says it’ll be difficult, especially while trying to raise the baby, but Clare’s willing to accept the challenge.

GRADE: B
QUICK REVIEW:  THAT is the Clare Edwards I know, coming up with a plan for her future despite all of the challenging circumstances.  She delivered a good quote that shows us where her head is at right now:  “I don’t want my son thinking that I gave up at the first challenge I faced.  I want him to think I did my best despite the challenges, despite what people thought of me.”

Also notice that she’s planning her future and didn’t mention Eli once.  From her condescending jab toward Jenna (Clare’s kind of a jerk when she’s distracted) to the amusing dream about Simpson, this was decent filler until Firestarter Pt. 2, when the real baby mama drama begins.

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1) Zoë Rivas (Last Week: #1)
Zoë’s been near the top for all of 14A because of the sheer amount of power she has and her willingness to use it freely.  She’s a master manipulator, and I can’t wait to go up against someone who feels forced to fight back because they have no choice (Frankie).

2) Frankie Hollingsworth (#5)
I loved the theme of Frankie’s plot in Firestarter, Pt. 1: life isn’t fair.  You can’t control the outcome of a lot of things, but you can control how you react to them.  I don’t believe revenge will transform Frankie into a bad person.  This is almost a necessary evil because of what’s at stake.  Both Zoë AND Frankie’s dad are willing to allow her to take full responsibility for their own personal gain.

3) Clare Edwards (#6)
Everyone in the Degrassi universe knows that Clare’s pregnant…except for Eli.  But I liked Clare re-planning her future instead of allowing a (baby) bump or boy’s stupid behavior derail life for her and the baby.

4) Miles Hollingsworth (#2)
A nice little tidbit of sibling advice from Miles to Frankie in this episode.  Can’t wait to see things come to a head with Mr. Hollingsworth in Firestarter, Pt. 2.

5) Drew Torres (#3)
Did you hear that Drew is the sexiest guy at Degrassi?

6) Maya Matlin  (#4)

7) Zig Novak (#13)
Take away all of the awful stuff we know about Zoë and strictly look at things from Zig’s POV.  I liked what I saw from him in this episode, as outlined in my recap.

8) Grace Cardinal (#7)

9) Winston Chu (#19)
He’s been kind of quiet all season and now we know why:  he’s been busy harassing the cheerleaders as the blackmailer.  He had the best of intentions, but at the same time I also think Winston is also smart enough to have found a way to take down the cheerleaders without endangering Frankie (I’m assuming that he would’ve made the safe assumption that Frankie had been involved in Degrassi Nudes).

10) Alli Bhandari (#9)

11) Hunter Hollingsworth (#12)
Same thought on Hunter’s brotherly advice as Miles’.  Loved the natural interaction between them.

12) Becky Baker (#8)

13) Mike Dallas (#10)

14) Eli Goldsworthy (#11)

15) Jack (–)

16) Tristan Milligan (#14)

17) Tiny King (#22)
Just like a lot of the other secondary characters, Tiny’s personality shines when given the chance.

18) Imogen Moreno (#16)

19) Shay Powers (#17)

20) Lola Pacini (#18)

21) Jenna Middleton (#24)
I still can’t believe what Clare said to her! Actually I can…Clare has a history of randomly being condescending toward her friends.  But regardless of what anyone says, I’m still kinda hoping her and Connor fly under the radar this season.  Contrary to the value fans place on screentime, exposure is BAD if you’re wanting your ship to survive to see endgame status.  #TeamJonnor

22) Jonah Haak (#20)

23) Arlene Takahashi (#21)
If you correctly predicted Winston was the blackmailer, congrats! But some of y’all were acting like you weren’t debating other options…lol

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24) Connor DeLaurier (#23)

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Degrassi’s going on hiatus and should return in April.  Below is TeenNick’s :15 teaser promo.  The network’s going to be pretty wrapped up in promoting its new series Open Heart, so I’m not really expecting a big promo for 14B anytime soon.

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Miles Confronts His Dad

Mr. Hollingsworth overhears Miles telling Hunter that he’s a crappy dad.  Frankie is still missing and Miles finally confronts his dad over his behavior, stating that Mr. Hollingsworth doesn’t love or care about anyone but himself.  In a rage, Mr. H throws his cup at Miles and it shatters against the wall, hitting Hunter, and he also slaps Miles.

Miles tries to tell his mom that Mr. H is a bully, but all she does is make excuses.  Miles decides to handle his dad on his own;  he confronts Mr. H and tells him to move out of the house.  Mr. H laughs at the threat and says Miles is the one who’s the problem.  Miles resists the urge to hit his father and heads to Degrassi to find Frankie to give her a goodbye letter.  He reveals his plan to drive as far away from town as possible to Maya; he also tells her how much he hates his father and wants to get rid of him.  Miles lights a campaign poster on fire in the hallway and accidentally sets fire to the entire display.  After the fire, Miles refuses to go home with his father and Hunter tells Frankie about their dad hitting Miles.  The trio stand united against their dad and want nothing to do with him.

GRADE: A+
QUICK REVIEW:  The great thing about having three siblings to work with here is the ability to weave a bunch of different emotional states together to tell a hauntingly human story.  I loved seeing Miles finally have the courage to stand up to his dad.  He’s limited in what he can do to solve the situation, but he seemed to know he had to do something, especially after Mr. H’s outburst directly affected Hunter.  Throughout this season the rest of the family has had a “head in the sand” mentality when it comes to Mr. Hollingsworth. Even in this episode, Miles’ mom refused to acknowledge how awful Mr. H is. Because of the Degrassi Nudes stuff, Frankie finally experienced her dad’s selfishness firsthand.

Hunter initially threw Miles under the bus because, like he’s always been, Hunter was afraid.  But we saw him have the courage the speak up when the Hollingsworth siblings were all together and united against their father.  The episode’s most powerful scene is when Miles confronts his dad for the second time.  Mr. H blames his own son and tells him that he’s the problem, and a tearful Miles holds back his fist, wanting to hit his dad.  When Craig Manning dealt with parental abuse in season 2, it was from the aspect of physical abuse.  Over the course of Miles’ arch, well over a decade later, we’ve seen how emotional abuse from a parent can create emotional scars just as deep as physical ones.

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Frankie Confronts Zoë

The Power Cheer squad is mad at Zoë for framing Frankie, but Zoë tells them she did it to protect them from getting in trouble.  While waiting for their turn to perform at regionals, Zoë receives a text from “Zig” wanting to meet up.  Zoë reaches the meeting place, an empty classroom, but is greeted by a masked character: the Degrassi Nudes blackmailer.  Winston and Frankie try to get Zoë to admit to Degrassi Nudes, but she doesn’t fall for it.  As she tries to leave, she grabs for the door handle which is hot to the touch.  There’s a fire outside the door, leaving the three trapped.  Frankie blames Zoë for their current situation and for forcing the Power Cheer girls into her Degrassi nudes scheme.  Frankie calls Zoë a bully, and says that none of the girls will want to be her friend if she doesn’t accept responsibility.

The three safely escape the fire and afterward Zoë approaches a police officer to confess her involvement with Degrassi Nudes.  Frankie’s upset with her dad when doesn’t show much concern for her well-being after she nearly died.  Miles and Hunter say the he only cares about himself, and tells Frankie about their dad’s violent outburst earlier.  Frankie stands with her brothers as they watch their father walk away.

GRADE B
QUICK REVIEW: My grade of this plot hinges primarily on the conversation between Frankie and Zoë as they were trapped by the fire.  Frankie calls Zoë out as a bully and as having created a false sense of friendship with her and the Power Cheer girls.  Understand that at the heart of everything, all Zoë has wanted since coming to Degrassi is to have real friends.  At the beginning of the episode she tries to convince her friends (Power Cheer) that she blackmailed Frankie to protect them.  When she apologizes to them for the Degrassi Nudes scandal after they freak out over the text sent by “Zig,” you can tell she’s being genuine in that moment.  In this episode and in at least one other this season she’s verbally told the squad she appreciates their friendship.  Zig is in Zoë’s corner, and that’s good for her.  However, I think the most hurtful thing that could happen to Zoë, worse than any punishment because of Degrassi Nudes, would be for the people she considered friends to not really be her friends at all.

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Eli Hopes For A Second Chance

Eli finds out from Imogen that he’s the father of Clare’s baby and rushes to Degrassi to talk to her.  He offers to help her, Clare doesn’t want his help because of his history of freaking out over little things.

Eli tries to show Clare he’s changed by signing over is paycheck to her for her to use for the baby.  He vows to earn Clare’s trust again, and she agrees that Eli should be a part of the baby’s life.

GRADE: B
QUICK REVIEW:  It won’t be long before these two are back to their complicated, romantic ways, but this was a nice change of pace for an Eclare plot.  It was not only quiet (because there was no relationship stuff), but you had these two characters actually COMMUNICATING with each other.  Clare said what needed to be said, and what we’ve been thinking about Eli for quite a while.  I knew Eli’s attitude would immediately change once he found out the baby is his, because there’s no way he’d get the girl of his dreams pregnant only to become a deadbeat dad.  I think he should be involved in the baby’s life, but at the same time he’s going to have to do more than pay lip service to his declarations of change and vowing to earn Clare’s trust.

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1) Miles Hollingsworth (#4)
I assumed a Hollingsworth would be #1 after this episode, but I expected it to be Frankie, not Miles.  He finally takes a stand against his father once things get explosive, especially in front of Hunter.  Miles asking his father to leave his own house is technically dumb. But this is also an extremely desperate situation for Miles, and last time I checked most human beings don’t exactly have a strong track record of making perfectly logical statements/choices under extreme circumstances. And Mr. Hollingsworth has proven himself to be extremely selfish and only caring about one thing:  winning the election, which STILL hasn’t happened yet.  He would laugh off Miles’ request for him to move out because Mr. H doesn’t take his son seriously.  But if ALL of his kids are united against him, and pose a threat to create controversy that could publicly tarnish his campaign, then Mr. H is far more willing to comply with crazy demands…for now.

2) Frankie Hollingsworth (–)
The feud between her and Zoë fizzled out in underwhelming fashion, but two important things happened in this episode.  1) She pointed out that she and the other girls felt forced into doing Degrassi Nudes.  While I’m not sure Jack falls into that category, Degrassi made it clear in the beginning that the younger characters (Shay/Lola) showed initial reluctance, and weren’t going to bow out because of what happened when Frankie “didn’t do her part.”  2) She admitted that she had to torture Zoë.  It was an awful position for Frankie to be in, but she did it out of necessity.  Zoë repeatedly said the Frankie should take the fall because “her dad will bail her out.”  Then Mr. H decides Frankie should take full responsibility because it would be the best strategy for his campaign.  Before the season started, I remember thinking how crucial the Hollingsworth kids are to this show.  Just like you have the Tenners and Seniors now, the Hollingsworth clan is its own core group.

3) Clare Edwards (–)
See what happens when Clare and Eli actually COMMUNICATE their feelings toward one another?  We all know where things will head, but I am glad they were able to have civil interaction that establishes what their priority should be: the baby.

4) Zoë Rivas (#1)
As “nicely wrapped up” as Zoë’s ending seems, the promos indicate that things aren’t finished, and I’m very curious to see what Zoë’s punishment will be.  I get it…it feels like everything concluded a little too neatly.  Hopefully one day I can get into how the weekly blocks are no different than the S10-212 telenovelas, which is why I wasn’t surprised this happened…this block had to end with Zoë coming clean. I haven’t been able to follow the cast/etc as closely as I used to, so I’m not sure how to predict any future punishment she may receive (Ana still doing other projects while working for Epitome could play a hand in any possible absence).

5) Hunter Hollingsworth (#11)
Anything I could possibly say to analyze Hunter Hollingsworth can be found in this tumblr post: http://welldeservedobscurity.tumblr.com/post/108216876898/i-saw-him-hit-miles

6) Maya Matlin  (–)
Thanks “Meddlin’ Maya,” for not giving up on Miles Hollingsworth.

7) Zig Novak (–)

8) Winston Chu (#9)

9) Eli Goldsworthy (#14)
See “Clare Edwards.” Eclare cycles between calm and storm.  After this episode we’re currently sitting in the eye as the whirlwind conclusion looms.

10) Alli Bhandari (–)

11) Grace Cardinal (#8)

12) Drew Torres (#5)

13) Jack (#15)

14) Shay Powers (#19)
I feel like out of the new characters in season 14, Shay has shown us the most so far.  I liked her at least speaking up for Frankie here.  I’m looking forward to seeing them (hopefully) hone in on her development in the future.

15) Becky Baker (#12)

16) Mike Dallas (#13)

17) Tiny King (–)

18) Lola Pacini (#20)
While Shay was yelling at Zoë about Frankie, I randomly found myself amused by Lola, who may or may not have been trying to look like she was angry.

19) Imogen Moreno (#18)

20) Tristan Milligan (#16)

21) Jenna Middleton (–)

22) Jonah Haak (–)

23) Arlene Takahashi (–)

24) Connor DeLaurier (–)

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NOTE: MTV released the first two webisodes on Tuesday night, but they’re geoblocked for American fans (unless you’re smart enough to know how to work around it). I’m sure someone will post copies of the minis on tumblr or something, but Degrassi plans to post the webisodes on their youtube channel on Wednesday, February 4th.

Also, I’m assuming this will happen every week since MTV will want to drive as much Canadian traffic to its site as possible on Tuesday nights, and Degrassi posting a YT link simultaneously could detract from that.

A cute and fluffy clue in this mystery!

FOR Canadian Fans…
Part 1: Miles –> http://www.mtv.ca/degrassi/webisode.jhtml?id=524376

Part 2: Jack –> http://www.mtv.ca/degrassi/webisode.jhtml?id=524378

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INTERNATIONAL VERSION

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REMINDER: the webisodes are being posted on MTV Canada’s website on Tuesday nights, and then the international version is posted on Degrassi’s youtube channel on Wednesdays.

MTV.ca —-> http://www.mtv.ca/degrassi/webisode.jhtml?id=524379

International Version

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Degrassi has released 13 songs from Degrassi 14A on iTunes, including the duet Becky and Jonah sang in “Hush” called Bring Back The Light.  You can purchase individual songs for 99 cents, or the entire album for $9.99.

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/degrassi-music-from-season/id960098018

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Some Degrassi Throwback stuff for you:

*Abby Ho interviewed Degrassi’s then Music Supervisor back in 2013.  The show’s current music supervisor is Dondrea Erauw.

*Lots and of TNG music stuff.  Opening things and band music.  I remember back in the day I would’ve KILLED to have an official album with all these songs, especially the Downtown Sasquatch and Hell Hath No Fury stuff.

*Yes, I’ve created Degrassi music of my own.  I’ve probably produced more Degrassi parody songs than anyone else in existence.  I don’t claim to have singing or rap skills, but it’s fun to poke fun at the show in musical form.

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In Part 4 of Champagne Supernova, Zig and Miles finally watch the drunken video they made and receive a clue as to who posted it.  The video itself is humorous, and because I think about everything through Degrassi lenses, it of course reminds me of a classic moment from season 3.

CANADIAN LINK: http://www.mtv.ca/degrassi/webisode.jhtml?id=524380

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International Version

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The Hollingsworth Rabbit Hole

How far do you think they’re going to take the Hollingsworth kids’ storyline? Also do you think Yates is going to come back at all? – Cyanoticfallacy

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The Hollingsworth stuff is kind of difficult to answer because at this point I don’t really know where they plan to go with it.  Structurally, there needed to be some kind of “conclusion” to the rivalry between Miles and his dad at the end of 14A, but that doesn’t mean the arch itself is over.  There’s essentially two ways things will go: either the Hollingsworth kids eventually resolve things with their dad, or they won’t.

WHAT I DON’T WANT TO HAPPEN: For the plot to completely disappear after 14A…in other words Mr. H moves out, the kids are satisfied and that’s that.  I also don’t necessarily want a quick resolution where Mr. H has a “lightbulb” moment, realizes he’s hurt his kids and they become one big, happy family.

WHAT I DO WANT TO HAPPEN:  I want us to see the gradual process of reconciliation or destruction.  The problem with that is the potential for storyline fatigue, because my vision for it expands over multiple seasons (it would require more quick hits/secondary coverage, because it can’t always be one of the major storylines of any given block).  Also, Degrassi fans are quite inconsistent: we’ll whine about the show wrapping up plots in 2 episodes, but if an arch like this were still happening in say season 15 or even season 16, we’ll turn right around and complain that the show is dragging things out.  The thing is though, family issues that have lingered as long as the Hollingsworths’ don’t just go away, and sometimes it takes months or years of work to re-establish a foundation…if they’re willing to start over at all.  Personally, I’d love to see a combination of resolution/non-resolution here:  by the time all is said and done and the Hollingsworth kids are ready to graduate, maybe Frankie and Hunter have been able to forgive their father, but Miles is just too hurt and resentful to accept his father’s love as he ventures into adulthood.

As far as Yates is concerned, I’m on the side of people desperately hoping that he returns.  They left his departure in season 13 wide open, so it could go either way.  The school year is nearly over, but what if he were to return the following school year (aka a season 15 return)?  Plus the show has set it up so that Tristan is basically on his own now.  He may still be friends with Zoë, but the show seems intent on pairing her up with Zig at the moment.  I would be quite disappointed if the show didn’t bring Yates back.

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Let’s take a quick trip to the DBT (image via Darcysscissors)

There’s many kids like Dave, Adam, K.C., Wesley who should be graduating in this season but aren’t. Do you wish any of them stuck around until the end? – Anon

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For those who don’t know, DBT stands for “Degrassi Bermuda Triangle.”  It’s also sometimes referred to as the “Degrassi Black Hole.”  It’s where Degrassi characters go when they randomly leave the show before their graduation, especially if they disappear without a sendoff or any kind of explanation as to where they went (the latest victim would be Keisha).  For years we’ve also joked about the DBT being somewhere in Africa, because that’s where they sent Darcy Edwards when they had to write off her character in season 8…we jokingly assume she’s still there because the show has mentioned her several times since, but never her whereabouts.

Wesley was quietly the king of subplots during his tenure on Degrassi.

As for the question, honestly I wish ALL of them had stayed! But this show doesn’t work where every character is seen as equal or is destined to remain on the show until they graduate for a variety of reasons, and that’s the way it goes.  Out of those four though, Wesley is the one I wish would’ve stayed the most; I really enjoyed some of the things they did with his character.  His awkward nerdiness was relatable as was his lighthearted plots, which is also an important thing to have to counterbalance all of the serious stuff.  I remember thinking one of the small, yet coolest things Degrassi’s ever did happened in Still Fighting It, when Wesley randomly appeared with broken wrists. Spencer Van Wyck had broken both wrists in real life, and I actually loved that the show just had him film anyway, writing a plot around his injury without creating a backstory behind it.

The show is always going to be generic and politically correct when explaining why a character/actor is no longer on the show, because there’s no reason for them to take shots at these kids on their way out, or call them out on private matters.  There’s also times where things happening behind the scenes have an impact.  Sometimes the show wants to phase out a certain character, and that’s their choice whether we like it or not. Other times the actor wants to leave. Either way, don’t get trapped into the mindset that Degrassi is the be-all, end-all of “celebrity stardom” in Canada for these actors, especially with this current generation. They’re far more involved in other projects while also on Degrassi than the TNG kids ever were.  For example, the current group of Tenners could be around for many years to come, but I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if say Ana Golja or Lyle Lettau left long before their character’s projected graduation to do other things.

Some other characters I wish wouldn’t have left “before their time”
*Kendra Mason
*Sean Cameron: I wish he hadn’t left in season 4…you don’t know pain until one half of your OTP just ups and leaves during the middle of a season.
*Oskar: I remember it being rumored that they might’ve been planning to make him the “Marco” character before Marco was created.
*Spike and Jack: poor Simpson, we’re not sure if his family/house even exist beyond Clare’s dreams anymore.

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Hated ships?

Do you have any other favorite ships not listed? Any ships you despise? – pocksuppet

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My favorite ships of all time can be found here…I don’t really have any others listed that I love except for Jonnor. It’s easy to ship a couple like Jonnor when they’re super entertaining in the limited amount of screentime they have.  Despite popular belief, you do NOT want your ship to have a lot of screentime on Degrassi.  Ship screentime = the show ripping said ship to shreds for fun as the writers laugh at your severe overreactions on social media.  You reacting like a crazed fan = they’ve done their job.

I’m a weirdo when it comes to shipping because I’m generally indifferent toward an overwhelming majority of Degrassi ships, while the average fan tend to be very black & white in their stance of any given ship; people either love a ship or they hate them.  Take the past 4 1/2 seasons for example..it doesn’t matter how much one fan loves Eclare and another fan hates Eclare, over the years both sides have shown they are no different from each other in terms of their passion and obsession with Eclare (and the entire fandom’s obsession with talking about Eclare is essentially the reason why Eclare is still on the show in 2015…but that’s entirely different discussion of its own).

Peter and Mia (Pia) is the only ship I’ve hated, excluding that other ship that shall not be named.  I remember being irritated about Pia’s relationship forming so quickly,  but it’s also been a very long time since I’ve watched season 8.  I really need to rewatch with analytical eyes and see if I still feel the same way.

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Kary, have you ever watched the new 90210? The show Shanae Grimes left Degrassi for? It aired for 5 seasons from 2008 – 2012 and during its time on the air I refused to watch it and passed it off as just another sudsy, love triangle-induced teen drama. But recently I started watching it during Degrassi’s hiatus and I can’t tell you how impressed I am. – dhrhtv

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I watched a few episodes, but it never ended up being a show that caught my interest.  Back then I didn’t watch as much TV as I do now, and never felt inclined to search for it on demand, etc.  Most people have no issues firing up a binge session of a bunch of recorded episodes or just watching an older series out of the blue, but for some reason I’m rarely ever motivated to do that.  Like certain older people who insists on doing certain things the “old way” (like landlines over cell phones), I’m all about watching episodes live. And if I can’t watch them live I have to watch them that same night, otherwise I’ll end up not watching them at all.

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MTV.CA Link: http://www.mtv.ca/degrassi/webisode.jhtml?id=524381

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Miles and Zig find Tristan to find out why he posted the video of them acting like fools.  You can vote on which character you think has the key here: http://news.mtv.ca/blogs/degrassi/degrassi-champagne-supernova-teaser-who-will-zig-and-miles-visit-next/

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An overwhelming majority of people assumed Maya had the key, but the problem is Degrassi wrote Champagne Supernova with the intent of making it a mystery, meaning Maya was TOO easy of a choice.  The comment about Zig going to check on Miles the night of the party would lead one to believe that one of them is the culprit, but honestly while saying it out loud the whole handcuffing thing sounds like a Grace move.  Out of the 5 potential people left, Frankie (not really her style) and Eli (the handcuffing would’ve probably happened at The Dot) are least likely, but you never know.  By default, Winston is in the middle.

I’m also liking the hints these minis are dropping, confirming Stephen Stohn’s comment that these minis were “canon-ish.”  We know for a fact Miles wants Maya, but if you ignore fandom speculation and strictly pay attention to what’s happening in the show, Maya has shown no romantic interest in Miles since breaking up with him (just like she showed no romantic interest in Zig during that faux “love triangle” in season 13).

We also learned that Miles’ dad won the election, which is bad for Miles, Frankie and Hunter.  Their lives will continue to be under a microscope, and it also means Mr. H might be too busy being mayor to work on repairing the damage within his family…but at the same time the kids will be expected to maintain the public image that their family is just sunshine and unicorns.

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SIDE NOTE:  We’ve reached that point in time where people start harassing the networks/everyone associated with Degrassi about when we’re getting a new promo.  Even though Stephen Stohn said there was going to be an 11-week hiatus which would put Degrassi returning on April 7th, things are always subject to change until a press release or promo confirm the date.

Promos tend to get released sometime within the range of about 2 1/2 weeks to 4 weeks before the premiere date.  If April 7th were the official date I’d be expecting a promo this week. However, I’m not because if it were me it would probably make more sense to announce Degrassi’s return sometime next week to coincide with the release of the final two Champagne Supernova minis on the 24th.

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I guess the moral of these webisodes is that Winston has no chill in season 14.  It looks like Frankie, Grace and Eli were all red herrings.  And the best part of this webisode series (the continuity and hint dropping) continued with us learning Miles actually got in trouble for the fire.  I mean he’d clearly claim that it was an accident (hence him only receiving 200 hours of community service), but this was a scenario where it’s been easy for us to assume that show would let him off the hook with this one.

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Kary I know this season is half over but do you think it’s a tad odd season 15 hasn’t been brought up? No brainstorming etc I’ve been following Degrassi since season 1 just curious. I know Linda mentioned season 15 in an interview in January but it wasn’t really discussed. – Rellyjsincalire

This question ties into the news about when we can expect word on 14B.  If they were going to have Degrassi’s return coincide with the ending of Champagne Supernova we should’ve received a promo last night or today.  However, last week MTV Canada announced they’re releasing a new Degrassi promo to coincide with the MTV Movie Awards on April 12th:

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My thought is that if April 12th is the first time we’re receiving a promo, then my initial guess is Degrassi returns the last Tuesday in April or early May.

Now in regards to the question above, Degrassi has become more secretive with each passing season.  There’s always leaks here and there, but for the most part they’re locking down a lot of info these days as opposed to being completely transparent like they were in the season 10/11 era. I believe it was season 13 when the Stohn stopped posting pictures from the readthroughs as they were happening, and his reasoning was that the current season (s12) was still being broadcast so they were under some type of embargo.  My belief is that we should always assume a new season will happen unless otherwise stated…I just don’t want to believe that, given the history and longevity of the Degrassi franchise, they’d cancel the show without giving Epitome enough time to create some kind of proper ending and being able to hype up Degrassi’s final season.

I’m not sure what to make of no brainstorming or open casting calls this year.  One thing to also remember is that Epitome Pictures is under new management, so that could also create a bunch of unknowns.  We don’t know what the show’s format or episode count might be, or whether or not the show will maintain its production schedule from last season (filming begins in April).  Pair that up with the fact a large chunk of the s14 cast is graduating (giving the show an opportunity to add more characters and/or essentially reboot the show in s15) and 14B will extend well into the heart of summertime, we could go quite a while without hearing or seeing anything significant about a 15th season.

Do you believe Degrassi has jumped the shark? If so name a moment or moments?  For me it was the demise of spinner and jane, and the marriage of the last standing single original dtng characters, spemma. – Mike

Let me preface this by saying that just because Degrassi has jumped the shark at times, it doesn’t mean everything beyond that moment is awful or nonsensical.  The show goes through phases where they’ll be on point, then they’ll suddenly hit a brick wall and vice versa.  Some examples of this:

*The first third of season 7 starting off the year with two strong two-parters (Standing in the Dark, Death or Glory), but then the season was hit or miss after that except for anything involving Darcy’s rape storyline.

*Season 8: a presumed rebuilding year with terrible ratings on CTV.  We saw an uptick in quality in season 9, but Degrassi regained its footing when it refreshed the franchise in season 10.

*Season 12: a pretty damn solid season from beginning to end.  But then our expectations of the show continuing its hot streak crashed and burned with the hot mess that was 13A.  I don’t know about anyone else, but I felt like they got back on track in 13C & D.  14A naturally carried over the momentum from 13D, and 14B will probably have the same carryover feel as this is the longest school year ever.  The next real test for Degrassi is season 15, when the current seniors have graduated and the show has its biggest “reset” since season 10.

Now as far as actual jump the shark moments….

SPEMMA

This one is obvious.  There’s no need to go into detail.  We know it’s ridiculous…Degrassi knows it’s ridiculous.  Stefan loves it anyway.

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Jay & Silent Bob

I like Kevin Smith.  There are parts of that season 4 storyline that were fun to watch and he and Jason Mewes delivered fine performances.  Kevin Smith is a hardcore Degrassi fan, so he’s one of us.  But at the same time it felt like the show decided to write an arc around a celebrity who loves the show and include the characters in it as opposed to writing for the characters and then incorporate the celebrity.

I’m not opposed to celebrity appearances on Degrassi.  Last year Lena Dunhum gushed about how much she loves Degrassi, and it’d be cool to see her on the show if done right.  I just want their appearances to make sense and for it to not seem like they’re on the show just to say there’s celebrity on the show.  The Degrassi Goes Hollywood cameos made sense.  Chaz Bono made sense (and even Lauren Toyota in that episode because they were part of celeb judge panel).  Keke Palmer’s character could’ve been played by any generic actress in what turned out to be the first of a couple shitty season 11 relationships for Sav because they ran out of things for him to do.

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Fiona Going Into An Alley to Buy A Gun In Karma Police Part 2

This may or may not qualify as jumping the shark, but for me it’s one of the most memorable moments of Degrassi…in the worst way possible. Every day I read stories about people and criminals who do the dumbest things, and I sit there wondering how it’s possible that these people can be so stupid.  But even with that said, there’s no way you’re convincing me that a normal person is just walking into a random alley by themselves AT NIGHT with a bunch of sketchy-looking guys they saw on the street and approached to purchase a gun, especially a female in this day and age.  Fiona literally got out of a cab, looked around, spotted a couple of thugs standing around on the street and apparently thought, “Hey these guys look like they might have guns!” before going into an alley with them without hesitation.  Not even Drew’s dumb ass would do something like this!

As much as I love Degrassi, stupid is the only word to describe this scene.  At least with Spemma there’s an understanding that Stefan and company were like “YOLO” since Spinner and Emma were on the way out.  But this Fiona moment makes my head hurt, and it’s one of those things where something far worse could’ve (and probably should’ve) happened to her in that alley; all Fiona wound up with is a bruised face and ego.  Yes, this show is based on characters making stupid choices.  If you’re looking at her character’s big picture, this story played on Fiona’s huge fear of being alone.  But that specific scene had Fiona jumping from desperation to nonsense, and it ruined what was a fantastic storyline up until that point.

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Mia The Model In Season 8

Mia Jones was one of the most frustrating characters in the history of Degrassi.  I can get on board with the concept that Mia was an irresponsible mother who was more concerned with wanting to be “a normal teenager” than being a parent.  But then in season 8, Degrassi completely lost its mind and decided she should fuck “Tom Brady” in order to advance her budding modeling career, before eventually leaving Degrassi to become a full-time model in Paris.

At times I’m not even sure why characters on Degrassi have kids.  I understand that they want to present the various angles of teen pregnancy and being a teen parent.  But then I also think about Spike back during Degrassi Junior High; Emma was her universe and wasn’t swept aside for the sake of freeing up her character to do frivolous things.  That’s the perception of what’s happened with characters and children in the TNG universe (excluding AWH).  Pregnancy happens to certain secondary characters (Liberty, Jenna), they become important for a while, give their baby up for adoption and then quietly slide back into their supporting roles.

If Mia was destined to be a crappy mom that’s okay, just focus on showing her be a crappy parent.  Intentional or not, a Bella (Mia) and Rocky (Dallas) of the current Degrassi universe feel like they’re brought in when it’s convenient, but are quickly sent back to the Degrassi black hole so their parents can do things like become a model or chase after the girl of their dreams for multiple seasons.  At least with Dallas there’s been small moments of continuity to remind us that Dallas is a father with a rocky relationship with his kid, no pun intended.  But the existence of Bella felt like it was just as big of a burden for the show to deal with as it was for Mia, hence the sudden act of Mia’s mom offering to take care of Bella starting in Uptown Girl.

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What aspect of 14A surprised you most? – Rakath

I’ve beat up on Degrassi enough for one day, so here’s some good news.  This might not be the answer anyone was expecting, but what surprised me the most in 14A is how strong the individual 30-minute episodes were on their own.

When Degrassi rebooted in season 10, it meant they also rebooted the way they’re telling the stories.  We know all of the episodes became two-parters, and episodes were filmed in blocks of four.  The two-parter system worked well during the summer telenovelas because you’re only waiting 24 hours to watch the next episode.  However, when the fall and spring blocks came around, the week-long break in between 30-minute episodes felt massive, especially in between Part 1 and Part 2 episodes.  For me a lot of the Part 1 episodes left you hanging at the end.  There was an issue with Part 1 episodes not really providing much suspense or making me excited to see what happens a week later in Part 2.

In season 13, individual 30-minute episodes might’ve all had their own episode titles, but that 2-parter system still existed. In season 14, however, we see yet another format change:  you’ve got the major storylines established for the entire block, and then they’re broken up and weaved in and out episodes and the A/B/C plot rotations (1401 Miles is the C plot, then becomes the A plot in 1402. And while he’s around and we see his behavior affecting others in 1403-1407, he doesn’t have another plot from his POV until 1408).  We also saw some of the storylines from the perspective of multiple characters (We see Clare’s pregnancy from her POV as well as Drew’s.  Miles’ behavior opened up the door for us to see the POV of Maya, Tristan and Winston.  Degrassi Nudes was seen through both Frankie and Zoe’s POV.).

I’m not really sure how to explain it, but the best way I can is by saying the 30-minute episodes in 14A felt more even week to week, and managed to be fulfilling on their own without needing the next part of an episode for a climax or clarification.

Oops! But not really…not when Stefan’s involved.

Stefan posted an image of some Degrassi and Open Heart cases on his Instagram with the caption, “I think I’ll watch these. #openheart #degrassi #mythumbsaretoolong“

Now I’ve got some questions about this (Are these test/final products or just fancy screener cases for in-house/network use only? Where in the hell is the s13 DVD, unless they decided to flip a switch and erase that season from their memory? Also, is Epitome now producing its own DVDs?).

But it’s pretty freakin’ clear that [SPOILER]Mr. Connor DeLaurier is Degrassi’s valedictorian.[/SPOILER]

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Sigh.

The assumption was that this promo would confirm a premiere date for Degrassi 14B, but unfortunately it doesn’t.  The networks wait until about 2 1/2 – 3 weeks at the latest to start promoting a new block of episodes, so unless TeenNick randomly drops a promo this week with a confirmed date, Degrassi’s chances at an April return are pretty much dead now.  Since the promo says “spring premiere,” just assume Degrassi is returning at some point in May.

This 14B promo doesn’t reveal too much new stuff, but the biggest change we’ve seen so far is the introduction of a new principal:

All we know is she isn’t playing games, and she’s about to crack down on the students at Degrassi (thankfully no school uniforms, a la season 10).  I jumped on tumblr for a hot minute to notice people shocked that Snake is no longer in charge, but let’s be real here:

1) He wasn’t all that good of a principal. I LOVE Snake, but a lot of crazy stuff has gone down since Snake’s tenure began in season 10 (hazing, the events of “All Falls Down,” Degrassi Nudes), and he doesn’t necessarily display strong leadership qualities (ex: watch his behavior when confronted by Becky’s mom at the PTA meeting in Firestarter, Pt. 1).

2) It’s not like we didn’t see this coming eventually.  Honestly, I expected this to happen much sooner.  Simpson’s onscreen role has gradually decreased as Stefan Brogren’s behind-the-scenes responsibilities have increased over the years.  Stefan started from the bottom, producing and directing the webisodes, and now he’s here producing and directing the actually Degrassi series.  He’s also in the same role for Epitome’s other series, Open Heart.  As iconic as Snake’s character is to the Degrassi universe, his generic appearances on the show are almost a waste of Stefan’s time.

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