Degrassi Junior High Season 1, Episode 3: The Experiment
- Original Airdate: February 1, 1987
Written by: Avrum Jacobsen
Directed by: Clarke Mackey
Summary
Arthur and Yick are planning on trying out for the basketball team, but while discussing it in class Yick is publically humiliated by Mr. Raditch, who refers to him as "Mr. Yu the Disorganised", because of his poor grades. Yick believes Mr. Raditch has him "stereotyped", and won't give him a good grade no matter what he does. Arthur's basketball tryout goes badly, earning him mockery from the other kids for being a "brainer", whereas Yick's goes well, so Yick offers to tutor Arthur. After practicing, Yick complains about his problems with Raditch, and Arthur suggests getting Yick another paper from Stephanie to hand in to see if he gets the same marks - concealing the fact she's his sister. Arthur gets Yick the paper, and when Yick hands it in, he gets an A-, a higher grade than Stephanie, who got a B+. Yick believes this proves Raditch is an unfair marker, and he was so surprised Yick could do anything he gave him too good a mark. Yick asks Arthur to get him another paper: Arthur isn't sure, telling him him that once is an experiment, but twice is cheating, but Yick convinces him through his succcess at teaching Arthur basketball. Stephanie is reluctant to give Arthur another paper, but he blackmails her into it. Unfortunately for Yick, Mr. Raditch recognises this paper as Stephanie's. Arthur confesses to giving Yick the paper, and Yick publically accuses Mr. Raditch of always giving him bad marks, and points out that he got a different mark than Stephanie did on his last paper. Mr. Raditch gives them both detention and tells them to write a paper on why they cheated and why it was wrong. In detention, Yick blames Raditch for the situation, to which Arthur responds that they did cheat. Yick asks whose side he's on tells him he isn't going to help him with basketball anymore, and that he's the worst player in the world. Arthur replies that he's at least trying to play basketball, whereas Yick isn't trying with his schoolwork, just cheating. Yick takes this to heart, and writes a paper about the negative effects of stereotyping. Raditch reads out his paper in class, telling Yick it's a genuine A paper this time, and apologising for writing him off so quickly and so publicly. The both agree to start afresh.Meanwhile in the B-plot, grade seven Melanie discusses her desire to try drugs with her best friend Kathleen. Kathleen is less sure, but goes along with it. Joey overhears them, and offers to get them some. The next day at school Joey sells Melanie and Kathleen some pills, which his best friend Wheels gives him a What the Hell, Hero? for, only for Joey to reveal they're only vitamins. Melanie and Kathleen, unaware of this, take them and proceed to get Fake High. Later, they go to buy more, and bring a couple of extras along as well. Stephanie overhears this, and confronts Joey about the fact he's been selling drugs. Joey tells her they were only vitamin pills, which Melanie and Kathleen overhear. The next day at school, Melanie, Kathleen and their extra friends confront Joey, demanding their money back. Joey reveals he already spent it on new clothes, then runs for it, with them in hot pursuit.
In the final scene, Yick and Arthur agree to go play basketball after school, passing by Joey stuck in the broom closet. After opening the door to find him naked because "drug crazed homies... stole my clothes", they shut the door and leave him there, Arthur saying "what a broomhead."
Tropes specific to this episode
- Asian and Nerdy: inverted. Yick is convinced Mr. Raditch has him stereotyped as a dumb jock. This has led to confusion for viewers to whom the Asian and Nerdy stereotype is much more ingrained.
- Both Sides Have a Point: one of Degrassi's first examples of adults not being right all the time. Mr. Raditch acknowledges that while it was wrong of Yick to cheat, it was wrong of him to dismiss him so publicly, and agrees to try harder.
- Fake High: Melanie and Kathleen, along with their friends, under the effect of Joey's "drugs".
- Everyone Has Standards: Both Wheels and Stephanie are appalled by the thought of Joey selling drugs, while he's quick to reassure him he isn't really.
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First Appearance: Melanie and Kathleen were extras in the last couple of episodes, but they get their first plot line here. - Hidden Depths: Stephanie is apparently a good English student, since it's her papers Yick copies to get better grades.
- High-School Hustler: Joey is on fine form this episode, selling vitamin pills to his classmates under the guise of "drugs".
- Laser-Guided Karma: Arthur and Yick get their own back on Joey for leaving them in the broom closet, doing the same to him when they get the opportunity.
- Pet the Dog: A couple for Stephanie:
- She's appalled by the thought of Joey selling drugs, and even when he tells her otherwise, she's indignant that he cheated Melanie and Kathleen out of their money.
- She also appears concerned that Arthur might be taking her papers because he's in some sort of trouble, although she's quick to rebuke him when he tells her he isn't.
- Stuffed into a Locker: Or a broom closet - it's where Joey is at the end.
- Two Lines, No Waiting: the first instance of Degrassi's tradition of having a clearly delineated A and B plot. They only intersect in minor ways: Stephanie appears in a minor role in both, "stoned" Melanie and Kathleen laugh at Yick's troubles, and of course Arthur and Yick find Joey in the final scene.
