Links
Season 6 First Impressions Part 1
by cerebral assassin
All new season all new impressions...
601 & 602: Here Comes Your Man Parts 1 & 2
Finally another season of Degrassi, which means it's once again time for my first impressions. I'm going to start off with my thoughts on the new opening credits. I really liked the new mix of the song, it's about time they dropped the childish lyrics for the new more "grown up" season, half the cast is in college for Christ sakes. The video itself I also think is a lot better, it seems more professional and more in-line with other TV shows. Overall the opening sequence seems a lot more grown up for what is a lot more grown up show.
As far as the main plot goes Sean is back and it's a real breath of fresh air, save for the minis, we haven't seen him in one and a half seasons and it seems just like the "old days" with him back. Daniel Clark hasn't missed a beat either, his acting has grown and he does a great job at the more dramatic scenes. In fact the whole casts' acting is good here. As usual Jamie's acting is great, some of his scenes with Daniel are the best in the episode. Cassie seemed to step it up here as well. Even on again off again Miriam who's acting seemed to struggle throughout season 4 and 5 is on par.
As far as the writing and story goes; as usual Degrassi starts off the season with an intense bang. I'd say it may even rival "When Doves Cry" as my favorite season premier yet. I love how Degrassi shows the good and bad side of people. We all have grown to like Peter as a character and then he goes and messes it up. Just like last year in "Venus" I love how much of a dick Peter can be, Jamie plays it up so well. The best part is he ends up the "winner" in the end, although we all know it's only a matter of time before that changes. Poor Sean, he returns to Degrassi to do something good for himself and in the first 72 hours he is screwed, although everyone knows this isn't the last we'll see of him. I'd have to say my favorite line goes to Peter, his line "You're on bitch" is one of the most suspenseful parts of the episode. The last seen of Sean getting dragged away in handcuffs and crying is heartbreaking, you feel so sorry for him at that point.
Onto the subplot for part 1, we get the setup for Marco and Dylan looking for a roommate, and Paige's last episode, at least for a while. While the Darcy/Paige scene was nice closure and Marco and Paige's last scene about fear of the future was quite good, the subplot's overall "party" storyline and Marco's dad showing up and ruining it is extremely weak. The story holds up just fine but it just seemed lacking.
Part two's subplot is actually much better, We get the setup of what everyone knows is Ellie's new relationship. The roommate from hell storyline is a bit clichéd, but it kept up as entertaining. And of course we get setup of another plot thread as Ellie moves in with Marco and Dylan after getting kicked out of her dorm.
Overall the episode was really good, and the whole show seems to have a lot more grown up feel to it this season, which I hope sticks around. I'd say it definitely has the possibility to be the best season premiere of Degrassi.
603: True Colours
With the exception of season 3, 3rd episodes of the season have been big letdowns for me, this season in no exception.
For those who don't know this was supposed to be the 4th episode of season 6 rather then the 3rd but the producers decided post production to switch them around. I feel that was a huge mistake. This is Degrassi, which has an ensemble cast and for 3 episodes now it has centered around the same 5 characters. Both the subplot and the main plot being the same story thread for 3 episodes I believe has desperately hurt the beginning of season 6. On it's own the main plot and subplot are completely necessary as both plots advance their respective stories quite nicely. The episode on it's own, while not the most exciting was a perfectly OK episode too, but this was just too much Sean/Emma/Peter at one time, added to the fact that we get Ellie/Jessie in the subplot again as well, plus the fact that this episode wasn't near as intense as the last two makes the episode seem quite lackluster.
With that said on it's own merits the main plot did deliver although it would have been better served as a subplot. The best scene of the episode was Peter and Emma in the hall arguing and I did actually enjoy finally seeing Peter get what was coming to him from both Emma, than his Mom. It was also nice to see more of Toby, his few scenes were the most screen time he's had in a long time. Seeing Jay in the halls of Degrassi threw me at first, it's just been so long since we have seen him there, legally. I absolutely loved how Snake wanted to help Sean, you could always tell over the years that he's had a special place in his heart for him, it's good to see him helping him. Perhaps Jay came to the right people, at least he's done something right for once. The acting was just as good all around as last episode and I think I would have liked this episode had it not been the 3rd episode. Maybe even if this was the subplot of a different episode with the Ellie subplot being moved elsewhere.
As for the subplot I do like how the story is going. It's nice to see Marco helping Ellie, nice change of pace for all that she's helped him, adds to the realism. I don't trust Jessie he seems like a jerk, I sense bad things to come for Ellie.
Overall I want to like this episode but really it just came off as overexposure of the characters and quite lackluster.
604: Can't Hardly Wait
I'm going to start right off with it this week, I thoroughly enjoyed this episode; both sub and main plots. It really had the "Degrassi" feel to it, just more grown up.
Starting off with the main plot and first Heather Sinclair reference this season. I loved the conversations between Jimmy and Spinner. It really felt like seasons 2 and 3 scenes; I can't believe how much I missed them being friends, they have a ton of onscreen chemistry, their scenes are always excellent. Jimmy's struggles this whole episode were heart breaking. Aubrey is such a good actor he plays his character so well and naturally. It's also great to see Ashley back, and looking better than ever I might add. When Jimmy "broke up" with Ashley I was on the edge of my seat the whole commercial break waiting to see what would happen. The end of the episode was perfect, it's awesome how supportive Ashley is, Jimmy really needs that.
And on to the subplot which was not only entertaining, but served two purposes; introducing Mia and setting up the Lakehurst/Degrassi school rivalry that we have all heard will play a big role later in the season. Great to see Toby gets lines in two episodes in a row, aside from not being in the credits, at least he's actually in some episodes finally. Nice introduction for Mia too, we get her character setup and a main plot thread for her character development that will obviously pan out later this season. The fight towards the end was a really entertaining and fun scene, reminded me of the food fight in season two. The Darcy and Manny feud over Mia was actually a great idea, with Manny not caring about Mia's baby, because she was pregnant herself before, and Darcy's beliefs getting in the way again, it was a very believable and good plot.
I'd say even though it's early this is definitely season 6's strongest episode yet. If this trend continues it has potential to be a great season. And in a final thought, I'm going to call it now; Jimmy will walk down the aisle at graduation.
605: Eyes Without A Face Part 1
This episode was really fun I really enjoyed it. The main plot and subplot seemed to flow well together.
Starting off with the main plot, I think I may really like a Peter/Darcy couple they have a lot of chemistry. Two characters you love to hate why not throw them together? The scene of Manny, Darcy, and Peter talking was excellent, it felt really natural and had a sense of realism. I loved the photo scene after that too, it was a really fun scene; Manny taking the camera from Peter was a nice touch too. Of course not a whole lot of closure in it all but it really has me waiting for part 2.
As far as the subplot goes; I felt really sorry for Liberty at the end, but she did kind of blow JT off in the beginning of the episode. I really like where this JT/Mia/Liberty plot seems to be going. Sarah plays the jealous role great, you can really read her facial expressions.
Not really a whole lot more to say, as this is a part one I'm going to reserve my final judgment until after I see part two.
606: Eyes Without A Face Part 2
It wasn't the best episode of the season but I enjoyed it. The main plot was pretty good, but the subplot was just kind of blah.
For that reason I'll start with the subplot. I did like the girl talk between Ashley and Ellie, but I felt like the plot really didn't accomplish anything except tell us how inexperienced Ellie is (we know her and Sean never had sex now.) Really it was a story I felt didn't help advance Ellie's plot and pretty much came back full circle, not really adding anything.
The main plot was pretty good. We see Peter still hasn't learned anything, he really is a great antagonist character, Jamie pulls the character off well. All I can say about the photo shoot is wow has Degrassi grown up. Peter's crack asking Darcy how naked she is going to be was classic knowing his past. Then of course Darcy learns the results of her actions too little too late. I can see how Spinner could be mad but come on... he had sex with someone else while he was with her that's a lot worse then just sexy poses, and she forgave him.
I actually laughed out loud when I saw Adams, he was the perfect 20-something loser/computer nerd/still lives in his Mom's basement creepy type, great casting.
Lastly even though I liked it at first I'm kind of glad we won't be seeing a Peter/Darcy plot, he makes a great evil genius type character, I wouldn't want to seem him with little miss perfect... again.
All in all not the greatest episode, the sub plot was just blah, but the main plot kept me entertained.
607: Working For The Weekend
Overall a decent episode of Degrassi. The subplot had some pretty good character development for Alex, and I absolutely loved the main plot, I'm so glad Jimmy and Spinner are friends again.
I'll start of with the subplot, I love how Alex's character has grown up so much since last year. The conversation between her and Paige was really good. Even though the girl's reasons for hating Alex were pretty lame I really like how even though we see how much Alex has changed she still can't fully escape her past.
The main plot was great, I like how they start off with the fallout from the end of Darcy and Spinner's relationship and I love the scene where Jimmy pulls Spinner out of his depression. All the scenes with Spinner and Jimmy remind me of Degrassi from a few years ago; I really like them as friends, their characters have a lot of onscreen chemistry. The scene where Spinner beats up the thief was really good, Spinner can kick some ass. Might I add Ashley and Jimmy are so cute together I love the couple.
All in all a decent fun episode without too much drama, the "epitome" of a Degrassi filler episode, yet a pretty good one at that.
608: Crazy Little Thing Called Love
I had high hopes for this episode and I have to admit I do feel kind of let down. The subplot was extremely sloppy and had a real awkward feeling to it. The main plot was ok, but I ask where is the drama?
I'm going to start off with the subplot, mainly because I don't have much to say. The teacher's actions were weird and the whole plot felt really "clunky." They could have done a much better plot with Derek and Danny. Not only was this plot not entertaining and lame, it was bordering on incoherent.
The main plot was decent but the drama was just not there. The best scene of the episode was the opening scene with Emma giving the picture to Sean after that the plot went downhill. Sean and Jay's fight scene was lame and Sean confronting Emma wasn't much better. The main problem was I just didn't feel the Degrassi drama. The closing scene of Sean and Emma making up was actually a good scene, and would have meant so much more had the episode itself been better. It wasn't that the plot was bad, I just had such high hopes for this episode, and a follow up to Secret could have been so much better.
With a drama-less main plot and an almost incoherent subplot, I'd have to say what I had hoped would be my favorite episode this season turned out to be, in my opinion, the worst episode yet. I can only hope when Degrassi returns in January it's better than this.
The above article was published by dTNGHO, please credit if cited or used
author contact info: lordlitwicki@msn.com
