13x36/37 Believe

Another two parter which much like the 13c finale Sparks Fly aired in 2 parts however least you think because of that than this is the finale… nope…there is one more 2 part/hour long episode to go after this.

I just want to point out how much I love that the title of this mirrors Unbelievable from last arch as it gives a sense of closure to that episodes main plot and is a nice book end to things. Unlike that episode this aired in its original time slot however it did have a PSA warning about sexual content and darker subject matters.

Zig’s phone is buzzing as Grace shows up late for school. Zig is wondering where she was because they have an assignment to do and she comments about the media circus outside.

Winston is talking to Miles about Maya and whatever drama is going on as Maya looks at her phone (is she in a normal homeroom again or is this already a later period since it was established Grace was late…confused) Maya comments about how Zig just texted her and Miles makes a comment about how somebody always seems to be in trouble and Maya nods…’yea, Zoe.’

Zoe meanwhile is auditioning for Wicked and is singing Defying Gravity. Maya walks into the auditorium and Tristan tells her she’s still dead to him however she tells him it’s not the time and starts to talk to him about the media for Zoe. Zoe finishes and tells Maya while she loves her she needs to practice for her audition and they tell her about the press. Zoe heads outside to talk to the press and tells them the boys are guilty and she plans to prove it

WHATEVER IT TAKES

Becky is in class where they are being talked to about a camping trip that’s being taken and Becky asks if Simpson knows what’s going on outside and about what these people are saying about her brother. Clare asks if Becky is defending Luke for what he did. Becky doesn’t want to but he’s her brother and she has to.

Zoe and her mom are meeting with their lawyer about having the media keep quiet. He tells her that while there is doubt that they’ll die down she shouldn’t talk to the press because it may sway things and it’s going to come down between whose story is more believable.

Becky is getting questioned and they tell her that if she wasn’t there she can’t prove anything and that she can’t mention the video because it was expunged from evidence as it was taken from Luke’s phone without his consent. Speaking of the plan of attack is that they are saying yes they did have sex but Zoe consented (you know despite being shit faced)

Tristan asks Zoe if he’s missed anything and she says just the jury taking their seat. Tristan says its woman heavy so it could work in her favor..that or he watches too much Law and Order. The boys walk in and Zoe tells Tristan that she hasn’t seen them since the cops took them out of school. Luke takes the stand and answers the judges question. Luke says she had a reputation as a celeberty party girl so she didn’t question wanting to sleep with two guys and while she didn’t say yes she didn’t say no either.

Maya is back in class commenting to Miles and Winston if they can only imagine what Zoe is going through right now and she decides she wants to do something to show they support her.

Frankie is on the stand saying Zoe was at the party to have a good time and get over a breakup. She’s asked if Zoe said she wanted to hook up and Frankie says yes. The judge then asks Frankie about Zoe and Drew causing Zoe to snap. She wants a new lawyer however she can’t and is told to stay out of the court until it’s her time on the stand.

Tristan suggests retail therapy but Zoe says she’s beyond that. Tristan tells her she has more time to focus on her audition but Zoe doesn’t see the point. She thinks it’s too little too late and that people are just going to see her as a dumb slut. Tristan asks her what her alter Gatsby would do and Zoe says hire a hitman and take them all out. Tristan says he thought they decided to never speak of season eight which I swear was meta however what shant be spoken of in the Degrassi fandom or at least by me is the season nine finale movie (though aired at the start of season ten to jump start the new formatting) or at least a certain ship from it that shant be named. Zoe then says Gatsby would find a way to do some serious image rehab and Tristan suggests that they should hold a press conference so she can tell her own story.

Miles and Maya are working on their save Zoe campaign and Maya comments how when this is over she’d love to continue to spend more time with him. Winston tells Miles that he’s wasting his time because when Maya hears that he and Zoe kissed at the party when he was still with Maya then the blonde would never take him back.

Becky’s class is doing their trip and Mr. P is collecting cell phones. Imogen comments about how she didn’t see Becky on the bus. Becky comments how she was stuck up front  because she came right from court hence why she’s all dressed up and not in more comfortable attire. She hopes Imogen can be her partner however Clare already is and Drew is the only single and there is NO WAY Clare is going to be paired with him. Imogen comments saying she thought they kissed and made and how she wants to hear about the trial. Clare says there was no kissing involved and Becky says its okay she’ll go with Drew and promises no kissing will be involved (famous last words)

Zoe meets with a publicist to give her story. The reporter says she can get the details from the media she wants to know what Zoe was feeling inside…the whole story. Zoe nods.

Miles and Maya are getting ready to show support to Zoe when Maya sees Zig looking at his phone. She goes to him asking if it would be weird to him if she went back to Miles. He tells her it is possible for him to get over her giving him his blessing in a way. Vince (yea THAT Vince) asks if Maya is the reason he hasn’t been taking his calls before trying to get him to push pot again. Zig says he retired however Vince says there is no retiring and there is only one way to get out.

Zoe is on the stand being questioned about the night and is asked if the reason she said that the boys assaulted her to stop her classmates from calling her a slut.  After the court session the media is painting her as the Girl Who Cried Rape and Zoe is in hysterics about it. Frankie and Keisha comment about how Zoe is a bit boy crazy and she starts lashing out at them. Tristan says they don’t matter just the jury but it all matters to her.

Drew and Becky are lost in the woods. Drew thinks that they passed the same tree many times and haven’t seen any classmates. Becky snaps saying Drew never set the compass to true north and starts channeling her aggression at Drew. She says how if she’ll hate herself for saying what her family wants her to say and if she tells the truth they’ll hate her. She asks Drew what would Adam think about things and they have a heartfelt conversation. Drew says he wouldn’t judge someone for keeping their brother around and Becky says he’s a good guy.

That could have easily been the end to part one however we then get a really disturbing and graphic nightmare about the rape where Luke is hovered over Zoe as classmates and paparazzi are looking on and the reporter comments how it sure looks like consent. This whole sequence in itself was worthy of the parental disclaimer.

 Part two begins with Becky and Drew (see why I said part one should of ended on them) They are in the woods sitting by a fire and they hear a noise and they think it’s a bear and they start to run. It is a bear…a mama bear as its Mrs. (and Mr.) Baker. They were looking for Becky and she says she was sorry she just didn’t know what to say. Her mom knows what she should say…that Luke would never hurt a girl.

I KNOW I CAN MAKE IT THROUGH

Zoe (dressed in a witch costume) is glad Tristan is there to meet her. Tristan thinks she wants to vent after some TV segment on her and that she’s in disguise however she wants to prep for Wicked. Tristan says that today is her Victim impact statement and she should focus at it. She shakes her head saying she wants to move on before asking Tristan to show her the tabloid video which brings her down. Nobody will ever hire her again. Tristan tells her she should sue for defamation however the tabloids weren’t laying.

Miles is getting ready to go to court and Maya says she’ll be by his side the whole time. Miles pulls her aside telling her allot of things happened at the party before asking if she thinks he’s a good guy. Maya says she does and that he’s changed and she trusts him now. He admits he never stopped loving her.

Becky makes it to court sorry for skipping out the day before and asking to talk to Luke. She tells him he must be very scared about all this and he compares the trial to a time when they were six and he covered for her dropping their grandmas ring down the drain. He knows he can count on her.

Zoe is trying to plead with her agent however it seems like with all this drama she’s being told to take a break from acting and is dropped. Stripping out of her witch costume she runs across the hall asking Zig to give her drugs. Zig says he’s not dealing and she grabs his bag finding what Vince pushed on him and pops some of the pills.

Miles and Winston are trying to coordinate stories and while it will be purgery Miles doesn’t want Maya to know that he made out with Zoe.

Zoe meanwhile is in History class and it’s another scene that is right up there with Jesse Spanno’s ‘I’m So Excited’ breakdown and is the previously mentioned BEST RANDOM MUSICAL MOMENT this season as she starts to sing Defying Gravity in the middle of the classroom with no rhyme or reason as it flips from her singing all polished and professional (expectation) to her singing all strung out (reality)

Zig asks Grace if she’s seen Zoe since she has something of his…pills that he’s being forced to sell. Zoe heads out of the school trying to lash at the reporter. Zig tries to stop her however she pushes through and chews the woman out and smashes her computer.

Winston is on the stand and mentions the Miles/Zoe make out which royally pisses off Maya who tells him that she just can’t wait around for him to not screw up and that this is the last time she’s breaking up with him…they are never ever getting back together like ever.

Zoe is sitting in the back of an empty school bus crying as Zig tells her it will be okay. Zoe says no it’s not, everyone hates her and even her friends think she’s at fault. Zig says nobody should be a victim and Zoe admits she won’t be one for long as she’s planning to OD. Zig says he has problems too. Maya will kill him if she finds out he’s dealing and the gang will kill him if he stops.

Becky is now on the stand and follows her true heart instead of her families wishes saying Luke told her himself that Zoe never said yes.

Zoe finally shows up in court with Zig ready to give her speech. She tells her mom she’s sorry and that she just didn’t think she could go through with things. She admits she’s a mess and has made a few bad choices and probably will make more however she didn’t choose to be sexually assaulted and she didn’t deserve it. During deliberation Zoe and Zig share a moment and lord I hope they at the very least ship-tease some Zoemund in season 14. The result is in and the defendants are guilty on the distribution of child pornography and sexual assault. Zoe won and is met with a hug by Tristan while Becky is shunned by her parents.