History YMMV / DegrassiJuniorHigh

** Spike is singled out as one of the biggest culprits of this due to Amanda Stepto's line delivery, and it certainly isn't great by any stretch, you'd think she [[RonTheDeathEater committed the world's most heinous atrocities]] for having an awkward inflection.

** Spike is singled out as one of the biggest culprits of this due to Amanda Stepto's line delivery, although judging by some users in the fandom, you'd think she [[RonTheDeathEater committed the world's most heinous atrocities]] for having an awkward inflection.

* PopCultureIsolation: Popular as a prime-time show in Canada, marginally popular as a PBS show in the US, even with Creator/KevinSmith as a fan; while it did have a lot of fans south of the border, its tangible cultural impact was largely limited to its home country. This is rumoured to be part of why scenes of Wheels apologizing were removed from the US version of the ''Degrassi: The Next Generation'' premiere episode, because it was thought American viewers wouldn't understand the reference. A good example of the effects of this is [[https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0cLdAUxeO-/ this Instagram reel]] comparing ''Degrassi High'' and ''Saved By The Bell''s portrayals of caffeine pill use. Many of the comments were from perplexed Americans who were questioning why some show they never heard of was being compared to ''Saved By The Bell''.

* {{Narm}}: Because this is a kids show from TheEighties, and Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler wanted real kids instead of actors resulting in acting performances of varying degrees, some people see ''Degrassi Junior High'' as exuding this trope, and are unable to take it seriously at all. However, for many fans, the bad acting doesn't matter and actually [[NarmCharm gives the show a charm and sincerity]] that other shows of its type simply don't offer.

* BreakoutCharacter: Technically, the Big Four who made it to ''Degrassi: The Next Generation'' (Spike, Snake, Joey, & Caitlin), all for their individual reasons.

* PopCultureIsolation: Very popular in Canada (and to an extent Australia), but largely unknown in the US save for a small cult following and one Creator/KevinSmith. This may help explain why the SequelDisplacement that ''Series/DegrassiTheNextGeneration'' caused was so intense and disproportionate: the fact ''Next Generation'' was a reboot was lost on its [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff largely American audience]]. A good example of this trope at play is [[https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0cLdAUxeO-/ this Instagram reel comparing Degrassi High and Saved By The Bell's portrayals of caffeine use]]. A lot of the comments were from Americans who were completely unfamiliar with the original ''Degrassi''.

* TheScrappy: Liz is probably the only true example of this, not just of the original generation, but in ''Degrassi'''s entire history.[[labelnote:explanation]]Even widely-hated ''Degrassi: The Next Generation'' characters such as Emma and Clare have enough fans and defenders that [[BaseBreakingCharacter they're really just super controversial]] instead.[[/labelnote]] She has gained this status among fans, especially younger fans, for a multitude of reasons, including her dismissive attitude towards Caitlin's epilepsy because her medication [[AnimalWrongsGroup was tested on animals]], to her [=Jerkass=] attitude, to [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking her haircut]]. Fans feel that her FreudianExcuse explained in the high school series is not enough to justify her actions.

* PopCultureIsolation: Very popular in Canada (and to an extent Australia), but largely unknown in the US save for a small cult following and one Creator/KevinSmith. This may help explain why the SequelDisplacement that ''Series/DegrassiTheNextGeneration'' caused was so intense and disproportionate: the fact ''Next Generation'' was a reboot was lost on its [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff largely American audience]]. A good example of this trope at play is [[https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0cLdAUxeO-/ this Instagram reel comparing Degrassi High'' and Saved By The Bell's portrayals of caffeine use]]. A lot of the comments were from Americans who had never heard of it, or were flabbergasted that ''Degrassi'' existed before 2001.

* PopCultureIsolation: Very popular in Canada (and to an extent Australia), but largely unknown in the US save for a small cult following and one Creator/KevinSmith. This may help explain why the SequelDisplacement that ''Series/DegrassiTheNextGeneration'' caused was so intense and disproportionate: the fact ''Next Generation'' was a reboot was lost on its [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff largely American audience]]. A good example of this trope at play is [[https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0cLdAUxeO-/ this Instagram reel comparing ''Degrassi High'' and ''Saved By The Bell'''s portrayals of caffeine use]]. A lot of the comments were from Americans who had never heard of it, or were flabbergasted that ''Degrassi'' existed before 2001.

* PopCultureIsolation: Very popular in Canada (and to an extent Australia), but largely unknown in the US save for a small cult following and one Creator/KevinSmith. This may help explain why the SequelDisplacement that ''Series/DegrassiTheNextGeneration'' caused was so intense and disproportionate: the fact ''Next Generation'' was a reboot was lost on its [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff largely American audience]]. A good example of this trope at play is [[https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0cLdAUxeO-/ this Instagram reel comparing ''Degrassi High'' and ''Series/SavedByTheBell'''s portrayals of caffeine use]]. A lot of the comments were from Americans who had never heard of it, or were flabbergasted that ''Degrassi'' existed before 2001.

* PopCultureIsolation: Very popular in Canada (and to an extent Australia), but largely unknown in the US save for a small cult following and one Creator/KevinSmith. This may help explain why the SequelDisplacement that ''Series/DegrassiTheNextGeneration'' caused was so intense and disproportionate: the fact ''Next Generation'' was a reboot was largely lost on its [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff dominant American audience]].

* OnceOriginalNowCommon: The concept of this show was largely novel for the time, and the way it confronted controversial subjects was very unlike most programs of its day. The fact that contemporary reviews could only compare it to the family sitcoms of the period, and not any high school drama, speaks for itself. In the post-''90210'' landscape, it might be hard to see why this show was ever considered groundbreaking.

* OnceOriginalNowCommon: The concept of this show was largely novel for the time, and the way it confronted controversial subjects was very unlike most programs of its day. The fact that most contemporary reviews could only compare it to the family sitcoms of the period speaks for itself. In the post-''90210'' landscape, it might be hard to see why this show was ever considered groundbreaking.

* OnceOriginalNowCommon: The concept of this show was largely novel for the time - the only real contemporary point of reference for critics was American family sitcoms - and the way it confronted controversial subjects was very unlike most programs of its day. In the post-''90210'' landscape, it might be hard to see why this show was ever considered groundbreaking.

* CultClassic: An interesting example. While relatively successful critically and commercially during its time, it is retrospectively regarded as a Canadian cult classic, continuing to be adored by a small but very dedicated fanbase, and largely ignored by the mainstream.

** Was Shane a bit of a douche who wasn't interested enough in Emma, or did Spike treat him like garbage despite him trying to help and probably helped lead him to jump off the bridge?
** On a more meta note, the acting. Is it detestably, unwatchably atrocious, or is it [[NarmCharm part of the show's charm]]?

* HarsherInHindsight: The decline of Wheels after his parents' death.

* PopCultureIsolation: Very popular in Canada (and to an extent Australia), but largely unknown in the US save for a small cult following, and one Creator/KevinSmith. This may help explain why the SequelDisplacement that ''Series/DegrassiTheNextGeneration'' caused was so intense and disproportionate: the fact ''Next Generation'' was a reboot was largely lost on its [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff dominant American audience]].
* TheScrappy: Liz is probably the only true example of this, not just of the original generation, but in ''Degrassi'''s entire history.[[labelnote:explanation]]Even widely-hated ''Degrassi: The Next Generation'' characters such as Emma and Clare have enough fans and defenders that [[BaseBreakingCharacter they're really just super controversial]] instead [[/labelnote]] She has gained this status among fans, especially younger fans, for a multitude of reasons, including her dismissive attitude towards Caitlin's epilepsy because her medication [[AnimalWrongsGroup was tested on animals]], to her [=Jerkass=] attitude, to [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking her haircut]]. Fans feel that her FreudianExcuse explained in the high school series is not enough to justify her actions.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: Along with ''Degrassi High'', a signifcant part of Australian Gen X nostalgia. Wheels wearing a jumper for the Footscray Bulldogs (an Australian rules football team from regional Victoria), done intentionally as a shout-out to the Australian fanbase, also helped matters.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: Having aired on the ABC as part of the ''Afternoon Show'' kids block, Australians made up and continue to make up a large part of the fanbase. This may or may not have been aided by Wheels randomly wearing an Australian rules football geurnsey in the episode Spike gets pregnant. Although every version of ''Degrassi'' aired and has its fans down under, it could be argued that Australia is the only place where ''Degrassi'' doesn't automatically mean "Drake" to most people, at least to the extent it does in North America, thanks to the impact this incarnation made.

* CommonKnowledge: It is commonly pointed out that the cast wore their own clothes, but this is only partially true. A lot of the wardrobe was actually sourced from a Value Village across the road from the Playing With Time headquarters on Queen Street East, and each character had a dedicated rack of these acquired clothes on set. In addition, Pat Mastroianni and Amanda Stepto have said on separate occasions that they were instructed to wear specific outfits for technical reasons.

* CommonKnowledge: It is commonly pointed out that the cast wore their own clothes, but this is only partially true. A lot of the wardrobe was actually sourced from a Value Village across the road from the Playing With Time headquarters on Queen Street East, and each character had a dedicated rack of these acquired clothes on set.

* PopCultureIsolation: Very popular in Canada (and to an extent Australia), but largely unknown in the US save for a small cult following, and one Creator/KevinSmith. This mixed with SequelDisplacement is why extremely

* TheScrappy: Liz is probably the only true example of this, not just of the original generation, but in ''Degrassi'''s entire history.[[labelnote:explanation]]Even widely-hated ''Degrassi: The Next Generation'' characters such as Emma and Clare have enough fans and defenders that [[BaseBreakingCharacter they're really just super controversial]] instead [[/labelnote]] She has gained this status among fans, especially younger fans, for a multitude of reasons, including her dismissive attitude towards Caitlin's epilepsy because her medication [[AnimalWrongsGroup was tested on animals]], to her [=Jerkass=] attitude, to [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking her haircut]]. Fans feel that her FreudianExcuse explained in the high school series is not enough to justify her actions. The o

* PopCultureIsolation: Back home, the show was top dog. It was AdoredByTheNetwork, a prime-time hit, and the highest-rated show in the country. In the United States, it aired to relative obscurity on PBS, despite very glowing reviews from American critics and, in hindsight, the fandom of one Creator/KevinSmith. This might explain the SequelDisplacement brought about by ''Degrassi: The Next Generation'', the one that took off stateside: the majority of Americans were largely unaware of what came before, and the larger American success of ''The Next Generation'' has largely influenced the general perception of the franchise. The original series is still greatly remembered in Canada, but most versions of the ''Degrassi'' story are told from a US point of view, in which the original was all but a footnote.
* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: Apart from the Narm as mentioned above, people today may find the themes of ''Degrassi Junior High'' and ''Degrassi High'' rather quite tame, due to the amount of teen dramas that have constantly pushed the boundaries since, including its [[Series/DegrassiTheNextGeneration own successors]]. In reality, the original ''Degrassi'' was actually very revolutionary, because at the time the issues they were tackling weren't really talked about much, or portrayed sensibly enough.
* TheScrappy: Liz. Oh boy, Liz. The most despised character from the original generation, for reasons including her dismissive attitude towards Caitlin's epilepsy because her medication [[AnimalWrongsGroup was tested on animals]], to her [=Jerkass=] attitude, to [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking her haircut]]. Fans feel that her FreudianExcuse explained in the high school series is not enough to justify her actions.

** Spike is generally interpreted in one of two ways. Either she is a headstrong and compassionate person, or she is a total {{Jerkass}} who treated Shane coldly. No middle ground.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: This and ''Degrassi High'' were extremely popular in Australia and is still widely remembered by Aussies who originally watched it, to the point where ''Next Generation'', seen to have [[SequelDisplacement overshadowed the original]] in North America, didn't exactly do so down under.

** Depending on who you ask, Spike is a strong-willed girl who looked adversity in the eye and a legendary, influential character, or she is a horrible piece of garbage who was unnecessarily rude to the father of her child and partially contributed to his [[DownerEnding semi-demise]]. As TheNewTwenties rolled around, debate began to emerge about the merits of the latter criticism.

* AcceptableTargets: The only characters who mention religion are the two most rotten parents on the show.