10x23/24 All Falls Down—RECAP

Here we are at the climax of the first of three ‘Summer Novella’s’ In case I didn’t mention what those were of if you simply forgot, from seasons 10-12 for 6,7, and 5 weeks respectively Degrassi aired new episodes nightly four days a week and story arcs became more serialized then episodic and even in the fall and spring arcs and into the present season where the summer format was changed back to a weekly one it has a more serialized ‘soapy’ feel at times then the seasons of yore…..anyway this episode marks a changing point at Degrassi and when it comes back in episode 25 you may not recognize the place which (Simpson even says that later on) But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Sav’s dressed as Elvis making a video PA announcement about the dance.

Alli is tutoring Drew who just knows he’s going to fail. They stop for a study break/make out session when Audra breaks them up. She comments how this is why he’s failing math and that if he focused on school and not girls maybe he’s be passing. She tells him how lucky he is because of the stink bomb and how he had an extra day for midterms. After Audra walks away Alli comments how Audra must think she’s some skank like Bianca. Drew says she just doesn’t like him sucking in school.

WHATEVER IT TAKES

Sav asks Holly J why she’s sad and Holly J says how Simpson is meeting with the lady from the school board and Sav wonders if the dance will be canceled. Audra meanwhile is telling Simpson that between the stink bomb messing up the exam schedule, the low standardized test scores in general and the hazing and bullying problems Degrassi is on thin ice and one more incident he could get fired. Simpson tells Holly J and Sav how the board wants them to cancel the dance but since they’ve already paid and set things up they can have it but chaperones have to be doubled and one sign of trouble and it’s over.

Clare’s hiding out in the library in hopes nobody finds out she was the culprit who set the bomb off. Eli knew it was her who did it and Clare is freaking out….Simpson is coming over and he’s sure that he’s onto her. Eli decides to throw him off Clare’s sent by telling Simpson that Fitz may have been the culprit. Eli wants a thanks for diverting Simpson away from her and they soon make out….pulling back Eli comments he’s got a French Exam and Clare informs him she thinks he’s already passed….and my heart flutters and my bias shows but I can’t help it.

KC’s now going over math with Drew instead of Alli as Bianca is looking on. The exam is in two hours and he’s toast. He doesn’t know why his mom insists on him taking university level math when he doesn’t even get long division. Um math isn’t my best subject either but even I can get long division it’s when things get all algebraic where you have to solve for X and find the present of Y that I get all anxious. Anyway Bianca decides to get her flirting on asking Drew rather seductively to help her with a stuck zipper. He helps and she flirtatiously asks how she can ever thank him.

Alli and Clare are heading into an exam and Alli asks how much tongue was between her and Eli because she needs to know all the details. Clare doesn’t want to kiss and tell she just wants to know if the make out means he’s over Julia. Alli says it’s hard to tell but in 24 hours Clare is leaving to spend winter break with her grandma and allot can change in two weeks’ time…..oh you girls have no idea what does and it’s not Eli’s interest in Miss Edwards by a long shot.

Holly J’s setting up for the dance as Fiona shows up at the school to say goodbye. She’s sorry she’s missing the dance but her mom thinks its best that she heads to New York with her for break now instead of waiting a few days. Holly J says she can’t believe she’s going to have two Coyne free weeks and Fiona says she’ll have Sav to keep her company. She knows they are together but hopes they don’t have too much fun as she fully expects Holly J to still be her sister in law one day. Before she leaves she gives Holly J a parting gift….the showgirl dress she wore to the proposal meeting.

Alli’s ready to give Drew last minute Math help when Drew’s cell beeps. Bianca is sending him sext photos and Alli is miffed. Drew says it’s nothing and the only thing Alli needs to worry about is helping him with quadratics.

Clare asks how the French Exam was and Eli tells her it was way too long. She says she guesses this means she has a date to the dance and he teases asking it this means he has to buy her a corsage however the flirtation is halted as Fitz shows up pissed about spending time in the office cause someone said he set off the bomb and Eli admits it was him. They scuffle and Fitz says it’s not over. Clare wants Eli to call a truce but Eli says he needs to keep Fitz scared to keep him in line. Clare says there is an alternative….spend time with his girlfriend. He smirks and acknowledges her as such.

Bianca asks Drew if he got her text and he says yea but he has a girlfriend. Bianca says it didn’t seem like he had one when he was flirting back and why should the biggest catch at the school be tied down. She tells him she’ll be in the boiler room at four and what Alli doesn’t know won’t hurt her. Drew is in the makeup exam and shows KC the dirty pics of Bianca. He tells him he likes Alli more than any other girl he’s ever dated but Bianca asked him to the boiler room. KC informs him that’s where people hook up….orally….and Drew comments how she said no strings but KC informs him there are ALWAYS strings.

Clare picks up two tickets and Fitz comments how Eli may not even make it to Vegas night. Clare tells him that Eli said he did it because she set off the bomb. He promises not to tell Simpson and he promises to stay away from Eli and Adam so long as they don’t instigate him so long as Clare goes to the dance with him….Clare agrees.

The test is over and Alli asks how Drew did. Drew says it was fine and Alli’s asking what he answered for various questions which he obviously never got to answer. He says enough about math and asks what she’s doing for the next two hours. She tells him she’s getting ready at Clare’s. Alli leaves and Drew and Bianca have an eye sex moment.

Adam asks Clare how she can go out with Fitz and asks how Eli reacted. Clare hasn’t told him yet because he’s in his History exam. She’s doing it for them….Eli then shows up asking if an Ostrich started World War One. Clare goes on a rambling rampage as Adam rips the proverbial band aid saying Clare is going to the dance with Fitz. Eli is waiting for the punch line and Clare says it’s a peace treaty but she still loves Eli and asks if he wants to go to coffee before she goes to Alli’s. He said rain check and walks off all deflated before going to Fitz saying he’s a big man going to Clare. Fitz comments that Clare just wants a guy with less eyeliner then her and that when he sleeps with her he’ll be gentle.

Alli and Jenna are getting ready and Jenna asks how pregnant she looks in the dress. She says it’s not fair KC helped make the baby but now he’s being a flake. Alli comments on how Clare’s dress is all so conservative and she comments how she doesn’t want Fitz to get the wrong idea. Jenna asks what about Eli and Clare tries to give them the reader’s digest version of the feud. Alli asks when her life became West Side Story which is modern musical take on Romeo and Juliette for those not in the know….Clare then comments she just has to do this tonight so she and Eli can go on a real date and hopefully get over his dead ex…..yea Alli Clare’s life is more Soap then Sondheim. The doorbell rings and its Eli. He wants to talk to Clare and they step outside while Alli and Jenna finish up.

Drew is leaving the school but turns around….

Eli gives Clare a bottle of ipecac and he wants Clare to slip it into Fitz’s drink because Fitz wants to have sex with her and he needs to keep him scared to stay a step ahead. Clare comments how terrorists also follow these scare tactics and she’s turned off. He asks whose side she’s on and she comments not the side of people who poison others and goes back into the house.

Drew shows up and tells Bianca again how he has a girlfriend and yet he still lets her take him into the boiler room to suck his dick though obviously being a show for teens this act is implied in a fade to black situation though it’s amusing to think that this is how one of the shows present ‘Super Couples’ got their start. Though I’m still under the assumption Drew’s going to flip or Bianca’s going to meet someone off screen in Waterloo and their engagement will be called off (or their wedding will be the season/series finale if Alicia comes back for another cameo)….

Part two begins and it’s Vegas night. Holly J and Sav announce the student with the most chips at the end of the night gets a flat screen.

Adam tells Drew he should man up and tell Alli about Bianca before she finds out. Drew tells Adam she never will and goes to Alli. Bianca approaches commenting the boiler room is free and after Drew says it was nothing Bianca comments how it wasn’t to her. Alli asks what happened and Drew says after exams he and Bianca….kissed….and he wishes he could take it back. The camera pans to Owen listening in on the lovers quarrel.

I KNOW I CAN MAKE IT THROUGH

Drew goes to follow Alli in the hall saying how it meant nothing and Alli says he can never see her again. She agrees to give him another chance and says they should try to salvage the night.

Fitz shows up to Clare with a corsage. He says his mom made him get it for her and she says she’s not sleeping with him….Eli said he was going to try to. Fitz comments how in theory all guys want to hook up with a cute girl like her…yea I can’t tell if that was supposed to be complimentary or creepy. He says he wouldn’t try anything unless she wanted. Clare comments how she wishes that the two of them could call a truce and that hopefully she can get Eli to apologize because really that’s all Fitz wants.

Cut back to the dance as Shark In The Water by VV Brown is playing. This song holds significance as it was the soundtrack to a rather foreshadowing teaser music video that came out about two months before the new format happened and lead to allot of speculation as to what was to come with the show. Drew tells Bianca that he doesn’t anyone to know what went on between them and gives her his chips as hush money so she can win the TV. As Alli sees him talking to Bianca whom he promised he wouldn’t do, Bianca informs her it wasn’t just kissing going on but that she went down on her precious Drew. Alli storms out.

Sav tells Holly J they have a problem…..he hasn’t kissed her yet. Holly J informs him that they need to crown king and queen. Sav sigs and heads out onstage and announce Drew and Alli are the king and queen of the dance. From the crowd Zane comments to Riley guess they’ll always have prom. Alli is MIA and while Sav waits for his sister to make her grand entrance he has an announcement or rather a song to sing….telling Holly J he loves her.

Clare comes to Eli who is pissed. Clare asks if he’s mad because she wouldn’t drug the drink but he’s madder that his girlfriend is on a date with his nemesis. Clare says it can all be over if Eli just says he’s sorry….even though FITZ was the one starting things by loitering in Eli’s space and ripping off his hood ornament.

Sav finishes his song to Holly J and asks her if the Elvis thing was too much. Holly J tells him to meet her in the theater in ten.

Clare brings Eli and Fitz together at the drink table for the apology. Eli says he’s sorry for everything and Fitz comments once more with feeling. Clare wants them to shake however Eli wants a toast. Clare comments saying they should trade cups….ancient custom and they do. Fitz takes a drink and pukes instantly and Clare asks Eli what he did. Eli comments it was Clare that made them switch and Clare tells him whatever Fitz does he deserves.

Alli is crying in the hall and Owen asks her if she’s seen Bianca. Alli comments she’s probably stealing someone else’s boyfriend. Owen comments how he doesn’t like seeing pretty girls cry. Alli tells him that Drew cheated on her and Owen calls him a jerk saying guys would pay a petty penny to hook up with her and offers her $50 saying it’d make Drew jealous……yea that’s right Alli thinks so little of herself that she’s whore herself out.

Drew is talking to Adam about how he blew it with Alli as Bianca comes over. He tells her it’s HER fault and Bianca informs him that Owen’s just paid Alli $50 bucks to hook up and they are in the boiler room as they speak.

Clare asks Fitz if he’s okay and how she’s sorry Eli pulled a stunt like that and how she can’t believe she liked him. She then see’s Fitz has a knife and she casually backs away back into the dance looking for Eli to warn him. She runs into Adam and asks where Eli is saying Fitz has a knife and she’s scared for his life.

Owen gives Alli the money but she tells him she doesn’t want it. He’s all ohh freebie however Alli comments she just wants to talk. Owen says no wonder Drew cheated Alli’s a tease and he starts grabbing her and would most likely of raped her if Drew didn’t show up.

Simpson comes on stage saying how from this moment on the school is in lockdown. Audra asks him what’s wrong and he says there is a student on campus with a knife. Audra sees Adam and asks where Drew is as Owen tells her he’s having Oral Sex in the boiler room. Audra turns to leave and as Simpson tells her she can’t she shakes her head commenting how NOW he’s going to enforce rules.

Oblivious to things in the theater are Sav and Holly J now in Fiona’s showgirl dress where she puts on a private Burlesque act for Sav.

Alli tells Drew how she loved him so much but he was treating her like dirt. Audra shows up in the boiler room and asks what Alli did to him.

Holly J is straddling Sav and making out when the cops come and bust them.

In the hall Clare finds Eli informing him Fitz has a knife but Eli thinks she’s bluffing. Fitz then shows up and Clare tells him to stop. He says back off bitch and even after Eli tells Fitz sorry Fitz won’t stop. Picking up his knife and in another brilliant cinematic sequence, Fitz stabs the wall though it gives a brief illusion that he stabbed Eli. Eli meanwhile slumps to the ground in shock as Fitz comments its okay….you can bleach out urine stains. The cops soon arrive and Fitz is apprehended.

Audra tells Drew she’s disappointed and she’s glad that she could stop things before Alli could do anything and she calls her a whore before telling Drew to go get Adam since the lockdown is over and so is the dance.

Eli comments how when he was nine there was this kid named Mike who always used to bully him and with the casting of a main character named Mike in a later season this like could have been a brilliant piece of foreshaddowment had they made Dallas said bully. Clare comments how Eli’s not nine anymore and he says neither are the bullies as we get a shot of Fitz being carted off.

Simpson wants to know what happened and Clare comments how Fitz was going to start a fight and how Clare set the bomb off and how they said Fitz did it and he have mad. Simpson says there will be consequences as the cop tells him how she caught Holly J stripping in an empty room. Holly J apologizes and he says how he trusted all of them but it’s too late…there are going to be changes and when they get back from break like I mentioned before….the won’t recognize the school at all. This is where the cliffhanger and the first part of the season ended.