Forwood4Bamon

Thanks for the title. the c and d plot weren't necessary imo. aw asya I know how you feel about zaya. poor zig I know.

kaleidocat

This image just got me so excited for tonight's episode!

Astroman129

Is it just me, or does it look like she's holding onto a camera in that screenshot? My guess is that she's filming her suicide attempt or something.

kaleidocat

That was my first reaction. But in the MTV promo there is a shot of her at her locker so it might just be that the cameraman is filming the actress from the other side. On the other hand I could see Zoe filming her attempt because this situation has an emphasis on social media so I'm not sure.

Less than 30 minutes to go!

Astroman129

I really liked this part (not as much as part 1 though) but the ending made my heart break for Becky.

Nekoshoujo

I'm starting to see a pattern with the second part of these paired episodes feeling a little rushed. :\ But I still found this episode very enjoyable.

1. The Verdict: I'm happy with the outcome of the trial for two reasons. One, as I said earlier we really haven't seen a sexual predator on this show brought to justice in awhile so it was nice to actually hear the word "guilty" and two, the video being brought back into the trial opened the door for the distribution of child pornography charge which I like that they threw that in there due to that being an issue that's actually getting some kids in legal trouble these days.

2. I didn't catch any of the previews or anything for this episode so I had no idea they were introducing this Zig/Zoe ~friendship. And I'm glad because the surprise of it left me without expectations and I ended up really enjoying their scenes. The scene in the bus was really good. The camera work - especially the angle work gave the moment a bit of the throwback feel that made me think of what high school was actually like. That was helped greatly by the dialog that I thought felt pretty authentic for 15-year-olds. These two have spent the last few episodes surrounded by people trying to "help" or "understand" their individual situations so it was refreshing to see them find each other when they needed someone to understand their feelings of being in those situations. I also like Zoe giving Zig his own advice at the end. I dunno if the writers are actually willing to explore something here. But this could be a very unique friendship for both characters.

3. The Miles/Maya breakup (?) scene also won points for authenticity with me. There were some lines that stood out to me (namely "You left. I was drunk.") as having actually heard those words at some point in my life.

4. I liked Winston in this plot a lot. I think I have a particular affection for characters that often show up just for a line or two and make the scene all their own which I think he did here. It was nice that we had the Winston/Miles friendship tied into Zoe's trial plot. It worked for me.

5. Some things I'm not totally sure about....

- I can't tell if I liked the Defying Gravity scene or not. It worked but it didn't? I will say points for showing the reality of that situation. And Perino was the perfect teacher to use in that scene -he's making a comeback this season, no? I think it helped contribute to the picture that the press was painting of Zoe-the-crazy-chick. I dunno, I'll have to rewatch before I decide how I feel about this one.

- WTF to Zoe/Zig just waving their drugs around in the hallway. And didn't they install cameras at this school in season 10? hmmm...

- Drew/Becky. I think I could like this just as easily as I could dislike it. Time will tell. I think girls with B-names have to go for the two-for-one Torres brother special.

- Dramatic back-of-the-court-room-call-out followed by a "let me speak!" and totally not sworn in standing of the middle of the court impassioned speech. Even Ana bringing her A-game wasn't enough to make this anything more than a soap stunt. I'm disappointed because had they just played that a bit more realistically it would have been a major gut punch.

That said one line I really liked from Zoe's speech was "you'll be saying to other girls and boys that they'll deserve it too." Original? Not really but I'm not sure the last time I heard that line delivered with the word boy in it. So props to Degrassi for that. Maybe it's because they just did that Tristan storyline or their smart enough to realize how important it is not to marginalize male victims of rape and sexual assault- whatever I just loved that line.

6. Tid Bits:
- "I'm like the biggest west drive super fan" Oh Tris! He's getting me with these one liners this season.
- Becky looked super good in the opening campfire scene. Just like whoa!
- Becky in the back of the court room crying? It got me. Sarah's good that's what it is.
- Becky's mom... ouch. This family drama is far from over.
- Zoe/Zig tho....

MegaJ

Goddamn, after Dean got away with it and Darcy was just left to deal with her rape, it feels GOOD to see someone win one finally. I mean, I had a feeling Zoe would, especially after Becky's testimony but that moment before the verdict had me on pins and needles.

Ana Golja was the MVP. I'm still deciding on whether or not the Defying Gravity scene was stupid or a good way of portraying a high, but in any case Ana sold it. It was very easy for anyone to see what she was going through, and I really hope this opens eyes about the trauma of sexual assault and how the scrutiny can break a person (speaking of which, I wish Zoe slapped that reporter). A victim impact statement before the verdict...yeah that was pure Degrassi-meets-actual real world-ness right there but it was played out good and sent a strong message (and good for the show for including boys!).

Zig was good here too, I wouldn't mind Zig/Zoe while Maya figures her stuff out. I don't think he's quite done with the gang but I really hope he is, it has run it's course and they had to trot out Vince again to drag it further.

Speaking of Maya, yeah it was contrived that she would start feeling feelings towards Miles again, but the purpose was the take the Mollingsworth ship and sink it for good so I'm not mad. I didn't like Miles here, but I really liked Chewy and how he appreciated the seriousness of the situation more than Miles who just wanted to protect his neck.

Poor Becky. On the one hand I hate her mother, but on the same page I get where she's coming from, it's a lot of her to swallow and growing up around really Christan families it is totally realistic that she and Mr. Baker were in complete denial about Luke. Speaking of Luke, don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya.

Also the direction and editing was superb. I can appreciate the editing of the Defying Gravity scene, and the school bus scene was ace. Almost looked like another show...

All and all a good episode, one of season 13's best. Just do your legal research next time, writers.

Forwood4Bamon

zoe and zig were the best part of the episode. this was one of the best ones of the season. I also loved becky's plot. this was nicely done like paiges.

JustMe2000

I'm happy that we got a guilty verdict, but I have to admit that there was just so much wrong with the trial sequences that the impact of that verdict got a bit undermined, imo.

Oh and since this is Degrassi time when school years last over multiple seasons we also should realize that the trial probably took place about a month or two at most after the assault.

There was really good stuff, though.

The scene with Zig and Zoe in the bus was terrific, with great direction, acting and dialogue.

I'm not sure if the song moment completely worked, but one thing I do like is that by having it in Perino's class it brings us back to the moment on her first day of school and in a way serves as wrap to her journey during the school year, at least what we saw of it during this season.

Oh and I realize Degrassi's all about the kids facing their battles without the adults, but I really wanted one, her mother, Snake, hell, even Perino, to just lay into that reporter for all the crap she's been pulling the past couple episodes.

I also liked the one little sequence with Becky and Luke outside the court room, and the way things played out in the end with her mother hugging her but still letting her know that things are not alright and may never be was kinda perfect given what we've seen prior to that. I can't wait to see more of how that plays out in the future. Sarah was wonderful during her scenes, the best she's ever been on the show, imo.

I do agree that the break up scene between Maya and Miles came off as pretty authentic, and I was glad to see Winston had some sense as to how serious this whole thing was.

So..a 15-year-old getting assaulted at a party featuring underage drinking taking place at the house of, and being thrown by the son of Not Rob Ford. Sounds like something that could be a pretty big campaign issue to me. A pretty big campaign issue that will likely be ignored by these writers.

Next week is the finale...and I suspect I'll be rolling my eyes a few times.

Maple Crunch

I just watched the episode now because mtv wouldn't fix the video. I was kind of annoyed with every single court room scene, both with how inconsistent it was with it's own logic as well as apparently not knowing how the actual court system works.

I don't typically see sexual assault cases, are there typically moments where the victim says how it impacted them? Because as far as from a straight courtroom standpoint, that wouldn't matter at all. That isn't evidence, it contributes nothing tangible to convincing the jury of the guilt of the offenders, it seems like it's playing to the emotions of the jury, but any worthwhile juror will dismiss that because it's based on evidence, not emotion.

Also with the court room, what was it that the woman lawyer said about the videos? That they weren't able to be used in court because they were obtained without a warrant? If they were inadmissable as evidence, what were they convicted on? The video was the thing that really showed that they were guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt. Let's pretend like that line of thinking exists - Becky saw the videos and reported the assault, is that being obtained without a warrant? Also, Why were Miles and Winston there to testify? Weren't the pictures that incriminated them also obtained without a warrant? Legitimately this time, because super hacker wiz kid leetzors grace got those pictures off of a video camera feed. They existed to get Miles and Maya to fight. How stupid.

I guess Zig and Zoe's interaction at the beginning of 13B was supposed to be far more significant, because of Zoe's pill problem (which was stupid and a totally not worth it reveal because they mentioned it once and i regularly forget that she was on west drive) and Zig selling pills. That connection was made one single time and never addressed again, but apparently, it meant a lot, because that connection was revived here. When you don't mention something while the episodes are airing in real time, they are forgotten about. I forgot Zig even existed, I forgot Zoe bought pills, I regularly forget Zoe was on West Drive. Why pills? I guess to contribute to the "she bought pills from zig way back then", but she didn't buy them for herself, no, that would imply she had a problem and that would have to be addressed. She bought them for Drew, it was never implied she had any problems with drugs from what I remember (which is nonsense, because I feel like i remember more than I should). Everything in this episode was stupid and dumb just based on every single hole that can be poked in the logic of the episode. It was ambitious what Degrassi tried to do, it really was. They tried to have an arching story over an entire season of Zoe Rivas. It is one of the most ambitious projects that Degrassi has ever tried because it's been a year, but it didn't do it for me.

Becky rules. She was the only good part of the episode, and while that was a bit of a letdown, her crying after being on the stand and her last scene made up for it. It showed the conflict and how she felt nailing her brother to the wall. Sarah Fisher is still the best actress on the show right now. Ana Golja is good as well, but she just doesn't do it for me like Becky.

Needed 100% less Maya and Miles. They had no place in part 1 and less of a place in part 2.

Holland Fan Forever

I think it was good to see Zig on screen with someone who isn't named Maya who seems to be determined to fix everything for Zig but at the same time Zig would never grow up and learn anything as long as Maya is involved because she would try to fix everything for him. I also think that at least Zig and Zoe were honest about their own problems which is something that we will never see from Zig when he's in a storyline with Maya because Zig knows if Maya knew the truth, Maya and her family would want nothing to do with him ever again. It's hard to like much less root for a couple when one of them thinks that the other is "sloppy seconds" and to me the Zig/Maya relationship is and always has been toxic and built on the idea of Maya having her blinders on. I also think that yes, Miles did make a mistake and is paying for it but I would like to see Zig have to deal with the consequences on his actions because there seems to always be someone there to clean up his mess and this time it was Grace. I also liked how Zoe's plotline was dealt with in the end even if anyone who even casually watches any shows like the "Law and Order" franchise seems to more than the writers did about gag orders and court proceedings. I also think that this show has a way of getting a couple back together like it or not as well and I think that I could deal with Tristan more if he wasn't written like a stereotype without much substance, just my opinion.

lasha4god

I'm still confused how the whole matter of the gag order was not addressed by the court. How that little exploitation television tell-all even made it to air confounded me. Do they not know what a gag order is?

Interesting episode from what I saw of it - something happened where just as Becky was testifying it cut out, so I never saw the end.

Some strong performances, and I actually liked the tie in with Miles and Maya. One of their better scenes frankly. Miles is an idiot, to be sure -but the tension here was fully justified. I believe he really does love her - but needs her more as a security blanket than an actual partner.

Hopefully now that the final nail in the coffin has happened with these two we can see Maya on her own for a little and start to navigate who she is without the man drama.

The buzz kill for me was that flirty smile Drew threw towards Becky. Like, WTF? The dynamic was amazing otherwise, and I value him firsthand witnessing Becky's torment and the dynamics with her family. But keep it in check Drew. You do not have to flirt. and. or kiss every woman who comes into your path. Any romantic inklings for these two is completely inappropriate and unnecessary in my view.

I was with you in the first part, but the context here was in the very fabrics of the trial. This made sense to me.


ETA: I would have liked the musical bit if it was 100% grounded in the reality - her loosing grip with herself and just bursting into out of tune song obviously disoriented and high. The whole Glee-like juxtaposing was actually kind of confusing because I started to wonder if the song was meant to a part of her POV or something.

ETAA: I missed having the perspective of his other teammates and the popular jocks, cheerleaders, teammates parents, who might have rallied behind Luke. Those who stood with Luke, and I'd believe there to be some where lost in all of this.

Holland Fan Forever

Perhaps if they were older meaning that they were seniors than this would be more plausible because I think that the seniors are often the ones who get ignored but I don't think that this Miles and Maya relationship is over but over for the moment and I think that Maya is going to be extremely angry with Zig once she finds out that he's still dealing pills especially after all that she's done to try and help him, but, I don't think that storyline is done yet either. I think that Miles really does love her and even says so but, Zig just doesn't and it shows time after time with his actions. I don't think it was an accident that the one time when Maya isn't around or involved that Zig actually helps someone else and is honest about the problems that he's causing.

Forwood4Bamon

I wish this was the finale. I saw the early leak. I'm not too excited for next season tbh considering what happened in the finale. this season has really bored me and I keep defending drew for everything and considering what happened in the courtroom with drew and becky, I can not believe what is going to happen that drew would do that. I cant stand him anymore.