Degrassi Takes Manhattan RECAP

I don’t know if this set of episodes/movie had an alternative title or not for what for all intents and purposes would have been episodes 20-23 however it’s interesting to note that while it’s packaged with the season nine DVD (wrapping up the seniors plots by showing the graduation of Danny, Peter, Jane…) it also served as the launch of the first of three summer ‘Novella’s’ that Degrassi had (mainly setting up Fiona’s arch for the first few episodes of season ten) The movie also brings up the ship that shant be named in the Degrassi fandom though like I said looking back at ‘Holiday Road’ maybe it wasn’t so WTF that came out of nowhere after all. And speaking of the ship that shant be named this movie (so far) is the last appearance of any of the season one student cast sans a season eleven webisode appearance of Paige.

The film opens on a deserted and messy hallway, it’s the last day of school and the seniors are returning books and getting ready to blow the school forever. Spinner closes down the Dot for an hour and Jane, and Danny are pulling Sav out of his final class wile Peter is setting up equipment outside on a stage. The final bell rings and the band is playing an impromptu show.

Declan and Holly J meanwhile are in the lab counting down until New York and generally making out.

Clare comments asking how Alli could fit all her skimpy school cloths in her locker (which aren’t all that bad like I’ve noted in the past….though definitely not what her parental would approve of) she mentions someone is coming and Clare gets all blushy saying goodbye to Declan. Holly teases him asking if she’s going to stalk him to the city and he just laughs it off.

WHATEVER IT TAKES (well a title card comes up)

9x04 Close To Me—RECAP

Drama class… it’s not a bird class. Anya suggests Pippin while Declan suggests something sexy like Chicago. Jane comments on his choice and he asks what does she want Mama Mia? She calls him condescending. He asks if she has a passion for drama. She says onstage yes off stage not so much….well…it sucks for him

WHATEVER IT TAKES

Degrassi Goes Hollywood:Recap

While I am tagging the previous episode as the season finale this movie can alternately be known as 8x19-22 Paradise City though for arguments sake I’m just going to list Danger Zone as the finale…. Anyway since this is two hours (probably about an hour and a half ish on the DVD since it’s without ad breaks) this may be lengthy. Also this is the first and for Ellie, and Craig last time you’ll see some older characters which have been absent since season seven (Marco appears next season while Paige appeared in a webisode during the back end of season eleven)

Anyway the movie begins with some scenery porn of California (I don’t remember if its location shots or stock footage but it’s stunning) Paige is on the phone with Marco gushing about her life as a Hollywood Stylist. He wants to visit but she tells him she’s swamped with clients….. though by client she really means a Diva starlet named Hailey who’s a part of the show ‘The Shores’ which is an inverse take on the Hills (despite Anya implying that the Hills is an actual show in-verse) to whom Paige acts as a personal assistant AkA glorified maid to. Hailey asks how her ‘acting’ is on the show and Paige tells her its reality TV. Hailey asks if she can help her with an outfit for some party…..for her dog. Paige picks up her cell and tells Marco….yea totally not the best time for a visit as the dog ends up taking a piss on her.

WHATEVER IT TAKES

8x15 Touch of Grey—RECAP:

A now brunette Emma is telling Kelly that she wants some couple time. As they walk down the hall everyone calls out to talk to Kelly with the RA causally calling Emma ‘Blonde Emma’ even though like I said she’s no longer blonde. It’s time for the floor Olympics and apparently Liberty and Manny were asked to help in planning it. Emma wants to prove herself as an individual in the hall and get noticed since she’s been there for three months and she’s only known for her former hair color and hot boyfriend.

WHATEVER IT TAKES

8x06 With Or Without You recap

Some of the students are about to go off on a school sponsored camping trip as Sav tells Danny that he and Anya have been dating for six months and he’s ready to take it to the next step (cue the box of Trojans) On the other side of the parking lot Connor is excited about collecting moths but Johnny is not amused. Alli is giddy she gets to go cause it’s an educational opportunity though now this makes Sav her babysitter preventing his sexy times. Little does he know that she’s planning sexy times of her own….

WHATEVER IT TAKES

8x04 Didn’t We Almost Have It All recap

Liberty is worried about making a first impression for the sorority. Even though she’s a legacy since remember her mom went there…..she still needs to look good. It’s all about connections. She’s approached by a girl from another sorority who knows all about her. The dean of the university is an alum and she comments why settle for a safe bet when you can compete to be part of an elite group.

WHATEVER IT TAKES

8x01/02 Uptown Girls—Recap

As a new season begins Degrassi’s new football team and the newly rebranded Power Squad are practicing/holding tryouts during the last week of summer. Mia’s late and hopes she can still try out however Holly J is now in charge of everything cause the new Principal, Principal Shepard AKA ‘The Shep’ who ran a pre-fire Lakehurst is now in charge and he’s always had a sweet spot for Holly J. She tells Mia she’s not going to let her try out because she’s unreliable.

WHATEVER IT TAKES (so the titles are back to the seasons 3-5 format though the backtrack vocals are new. The opening includes 8 new characters, Clare (though she was technically introduced back in season 6), Alli, Connor, KC, Kelly, Blue, Leia, and Riley as well as three minor characters bumped up to titles (Bruce, Johnny, and Chantey) All the graduates  sans Emma, Liberty, Manny and Spinner are gone as well as Christine (Emma’s mom) and Darcy. It’s common in the fan communities to refer to any character introduced after this Generation 2 (and some even refer to Maya, Tristan, Tori, Zig, Campbell, Miles, Zoe, and Winston as Generation 3….)

SEASON 8 CHARACTERS

7x24 We Built This City recap

Toby comments she thought Liberty would be studying for finals however she tells him she’s been busy with Prom and Grad plans. Speaking of plans he asks if she’s up for a post grad rededication of the ‘JT Yorke Memorial Zen Garden’ Miss H approved that the two of them, Emma and Manny can have a private get together after graduation. Damian buys tickets for Prom for him and Emma however he and Liberty end up flirting. She gets a phone call the school just won a radio contest and Natasha Beddingfield is playing at prom (and que Pocket Full of Sunshine)

WHATEVER IT TAKES (bye bye instrumental opening it was nice knowing you….wish you returned in season thirteen instead of the dreck we have now)

7x23 If This Is It recap

Jimmy and Spinner are in science class and they have a choice do the written test or do a physical project. Spinner needs to ace the test or he won’t pass the class and graduate. Jimmy asks if they can do the project together so Spinner can pass and its green lit. Oh and Spinner is getting his final test results after school about his cancer.

WHAEVER IT TAKES

7x20 Ladies Night recap

Degrassi is hosting some kind of fast/lock in for Free The Children and if you listen closely you can hear the same African/Lion King-esque stalk music from season three. Anyway Anya is the one who has organized the event. She welcomes everyone to the event and tells them that Studz will be playing. The event coordinator tells them to finish with their pancakes because there are only seconds left before the twenty four hour fast begins. Now before you say that’s irrational and unhealthy just know that in many customs people fast for that long (sometimes even longer) for various religious celebrations. Anyway Anya is nervous about the event and wants it to go smoothly. Holly J comments that she isn’t going to boil everyone’s water because it’s already clean cause they aren’t actually in a third world country and she calls Anya a Diva and Attention Whore…..um Holly J….Anya is TRYING to do a good thing here. She tells Holly J how Sav rand this fast last year and she knows what she’s doing. Anya then suggests Sav help Holly J with the water to get to know her better

WHATEVER IT TAKES

7x16 Sweet Child O' Mine recap

The episode opens as Mia is re-auditioning for Spirit Squad. Manny is glad she’s finally back in her rightful place however Holly J is a bit skeptic because of Mia being a teen mom. Not because it’s a sin like Darcy had thought last go but because she’s worried that she’ll shirk on her squad obligations. She wants Mia to prove her worth. Lucas goes to Mia commenting how she has it all yet something is missing.

WHATEVER IT TAKES

7x15 Got My Mind Set on You--recap

This episode was all but grating to watch and once you hear the subplots you’ll understand why.

The episode opens as Mr. P is taking over teaching MI at least for the period since Simpson is still out and it was his free period. He looks at Simpson’s lesson plans and assigns a four person how to assignment. Peter asks Danny and Derek to work with them since Darcy is away for the week. I’m going to assume due to the timing she was out in Cali auditioning for the CW lets just be real here. They propose doing their how to about picking up chicks and Peter laughs. He bets that the boys can’t get past Hello with Rachel a Lakehurst transfer girl with no significance past this episode. They end up coaxing Rachel to be the fourth of her group.

WHATEVER IT TAKES

7x13/14-Bust A Move--recap

AkA Degrassi Spring Break.

Now we’re up to the part of the series where various episodes would be packaged/marketed as specials or movie events and at least stateside this episode is one of them.

Jay is at the garage filming an audition tape for Manny’s university interview. Jay wants to film a sex tape to tide him over while his ‘fiancé’ is off at university despite the fact that this little arrangement is supposed to be null and void the moment caps fly in the air…..or not…..

WHATEVER IT TAKES

7x12 Live to Tell--recap

Johnny, Bruce and Darcy are in detention. The boys are making comments about Miss H and Darcy comments oh they like older women that much be why they don’t have girlfriends to which the boys reply about how she still where’s her ring when she and Peter have ‘had sex’ since that’s the story the student body knows. Johnny and Bruce earn another week and Simpson gives Darcy time off for good behavior since it’s her last day. She gives Simpson a hug thanking him.

WHATEVER IT TAKES

7x11 Owner of a Lonely Heart--recap

Marco and Ellie are out at a bar and Ellie is bitching about Jesse, SERIOUSLY she is….I don’t know why I thought I liked her but she’s getting pretty annoying or maybe it’s just the ship that sucks. Anyway Marco is bitching about poor service and heads to the bar to order but not before bumming cash from Ellie. He meets a guy named Devin who tells him that he needs more than a ten to wave to get attention and foots the bill. He also invites Marco to a campus PRIDE event though tells him not to bring Ellie.

WHATEVER IT TAKES

7x09 Hungry Eyes-recap

First off I love this episode because it’s another bottle episode where the majority of the plot takes place at Degrassi and how the A and B plot both revolve around the same event (the intermural tournament)

 Emma and Manny are heading toward the school and Emma is commenting how she hasn’t heard from Sean in a while and that she’s been stuck on her admissions essays…..um I know I’ll comment about this when I get to season twelve too but timeline wise it’s most likely February or March not that you can tell from the weather outside or the wardrobe and by now letters would start coming out cause application deadlines were like December or January…..anyway rant aside the school is being taken over by Purple Dragons and not of the friendly little Figment variety no…. it’s a corporate sponsor for the school badminton tournament….. Seriously maybe it’s just a Canadian thing but I’ve never heard of people playing it intramural in school before. Liberty is set against this but Damian thinks it’s great and rally hopes Emma auditions to be one of the sample girls. Manny agrees and tells Emma she needs to spice up her boring life.

WHAEVER IT TAKES

7x07 We Got the Beat--recap

The episode opens with Manny (now back as a brunette) practicing dancing with her cousin. She’s practicing for her ‘Debut’ it’s a family tradition for her eighteenth birthday though she’d rather just hit up a karaoke club.  She’s told all the family will be there and that they give her money which will go to pay for university. Her dad says if she doesn’t want to waltz with her cousin he’d gladly step in and she shakes her head. Her cousin is fine.

WHATEVER IT TAKES

7x4 It’s Tricky—recap

I remember in a season one re-cap I’d gotten this episode title and season six’s Can’t Hardly Wait Confused. I think it’s because both had Jimmy/Ashley plots and to be honest with over 300 episodes sometimes titles just blur together.

Spinner is listening to Craig’s first album that dropped and I’m LOLing that the cover art is a season four gallery still. Toby comments how if Craig were still around the talent show line up wouldn’t suck and Emma points out how some of his songs are clearly about certain people. She’s The Ash (Ashley) Thong Girl Wrong Girl (Manny) Red Headed For Trouble (Ellie). He’d wrote all the songs in rehab except for My Window which Ashley says she wrote. Jimmy is giddy because he got a shout out in Craig’s liner notes….Ashley didn’t even though he used her music. Toby tells her he’s putting her up to play at the showcase.

WHATEVER IT TAKES

7x3 Love Is A Battlefield--recap

Paige is bloodying her hair. She’s got a busy day. Dropping Jimmy’s keys off, doing errands and having a job interview. She tells Alex she deserves a rest after landing a perfect GPA in her victory semester at Degrassi though a 4.0 wasn’t enough to sway her mom from dumping Chad and so long as he’s in the picture Alex isn’t.

Marco asks Paige how long is Alex going to freeload and Paige tells him they are lucky to have supporting parentals.

WHATEVER IT TAKES…..