Degrassi: This show was on for awhile

I read the trope page for the series and I realized that this has been on for awhile. How it is that a high school show from the 80s lasted this long? I only watch new generation and the new season but the writing was good in those series. Is Degrassi one of the ver few long running shows that have quality writing?

Doctor Who. The Daily Show. Most Soap Operas. Star Gate. Star Trek. CSI. ... No?

edited 29th Dec '10 9:02:33 PM by Mukora

"It's so hard to be humble, knowing how great I am."

I guess lonng runners can still interesting if written well enough but it is almost rare to have that nowadays.

Degrassi the franchise has existed since the 80s, but the original series was only four or five years, so it hasn't really "been on" since the 80s and I wouldn't call it a Long Runner. The Next Generation is getting close to Long Runner status, though. I don't watch it, but it seems to have maintained a steady quality in writing and story— or as steady as Degrassi can. The original series is remembered in Canada for its heavy-handed writing and the weird balancing act it played between Very Special Episode and Some Anvils Need to Be Dropped. I loved old Degrassi, but I'm not sure I would call it a quality show.

Thanks for the all fish!

^ That clears up some matters, what are some examples of that "heavy handed" writing you speak of?

I watched the first five seasons TNG and then stopped. I've only recently started watching again. I've been watching youtube clips of the stuff I missed and one was the Libby Holly J trying to keep teen mother Mia off the cheerleading squad. She claimed that it was too much responsibility and questioned Mia's ability to make all the practices and games if there were problems with the kid. Yeah, Holly J was a bitch but I think she had a point there. It bothers me how the show makes it seem like Mia being a teen mother was so easy-she could cheerlead, model, have lots of boyfriends and basically live a relatively normal high school ife as far as I could see.

Basically, do you think this could qualify as "The Strawman has a point"?

I didn't find Holly J bitchy at all in that situation. Mia is clearly a Mary Sue within the universe. Anything that can go right for her, will.

I thought Emma was the Mary Sue.

More Buscemi at http://forum.reelsociety.com/

She might be consider the season.

Totally loss interest after season 7, when the Toby/Liberty/Manny/Emma class graduated.

Show really started having issues back in season 4 though, when Craig starting getting way too much screen time and the show started relying more on "the drama" ala 90210 then the cheesy Canadian slice of life stuff it was in the early years.

For anyone wondering if they should get back into, whatever you do, don't watch the new crap. Season 10 and after is extremely, visciously terrible. You think it started to have problems in season 4? That's NOTHING to compared to it is now (So Bad It's Horrible).

edited 6th Oct '11 7:19:37 PM by JaggedPrince23

So what's the age of its fanbase? Roughly 55?

I'm a skeptical squirrel

I don't think any of the people from the 80s show still watches it. The fans of the Old/Good Degrassi (pre season 10) who STILL continue to watch the show are mostly either late teens or 20 something, and they seem to be in the minority. I myself used to be part of this group. The ones who actually LIKE the new stuff, however, seem to be mostly 10-14 years old.

edited 6th Oct '11 10:07:44 PM by JaggedPrince23

I think it's alright. If you like Soap Opera-esque plots, then you'll like it, but if you don't then don't watch it. Honestly the way I feel is that, for better or worse, there's only so many plots they can use before they start to recycle some. Except for the transgender teen, they really have used all the plotlines before, more or less.

How about one where Degrassi turns into a zombie apocolypse?

I'm a skeptical squirrel

@Wuggles it's really like they're not even TRYING anymore though. I mean, they've got to be so LAZY lately. And it's more like they're prejudiced FOR Jerk Asses (Drew, Eli) whereas the nice people and fan favorites get screwed over.

@Johnnyfog Yep, back when the show was good.

Actually I think they have done transgenders. There's that one kid who used to be a girl. I think his name is Adam.

3DS FC: 1719-3694-1541

Yeah they have one transgender character. Not that they really do anything with him...

The saddest thing about the show is how good it used to be compared to how lousy it is now.I honestly feel like the show is shying away from the things that made it great and unlike other teen programing.It's awesome that the show has a trans character(it even won an award for the eppy My Body Is Cage)However the show has taken big steps back with the character and has refused to give him a love interest.The only seem to want to do plots where Adam is the "victim" of discrimination of some sort. It reminds me of alot of early gay films/tv where it was okay to show gay charactrs if they had AIDS or were gaybashed or something,but never showed them as happy,well adjusted or "normal". Really sad from a show that once pioneered progressive storylines. Now it's all just Twilight-lite teen romance bull and only then if you're the "right" kind of teen.The gay relationships have been non-exsistant compared to earlier seasons.

God Season 11 just blew it out of the water with it's first ep. But that may just be the Psycho Yuri Fanboy in me. MURDER AND LESBIANS YAY!!!!

And Adam has a lot done with him, he was a member of the Power Trio, a big part of Fiona's story arc, he was well used. He's just out of focus now; it happens in such a large cast, just look at Ms. Oh before she hooked up with Sav.

edited 14th Dec '11 3:46:47 PM by JusticeMan

Let's make a TCG!

Wow, someones a player hater. The Drew arc was one of the strongest of Gen II, seeing Clare's development was great and the only real irk I have with season 11 was Ms. Oh getting the shove, AGAIN! (OK the Sav arc was nice, but to little too late) IMHO, the Fiona, Anya and Drew arcs were top-notch, while all the other major arcs were well done. Your'e clearl just a GEEWUN lover.

Let's make a TCG!

Yeah, you seem just not to like the show. Nobody's making you watch it you know.

Moderator Speaking

No one here wants to listen to you talk about why you don't watch the show any more and why you think it is bad. That is not what this thread or this forum is about. You don't like it? Don't post. Go somewhere else to have this conversation.