JustMe2000

Now it's all covered up
In double-talk and lies
There's a stranger looking back
When I look in your eyes.

Oh-Canada

WHOAAA
That is my first reaction to this episode.

I don't really know where to start so here are some random thoughts
-totallllly didn't see the gun thing coming!! Sam did a great job though, and I love the little moment between KC and Clare in the hall right before KC goes to the locker room.
-I was kind of confused at the beginning of part 2. I couldn't figure out if anything actually happened between KC and the coach overnight. I thought maybe it did but Degrassi was too G rated to show it. But I guess not
-Declan/Fiona are adorable "I'm not happy if you're not happy"
-the KC/Jenna thing didn't bother me at all. I could see it from both sides. their scene at the end was sweet
-I think that KC's lack of parents means that he doesn't know how adults are supposed to behave. I guess that was why he kept hanging out with the coach for so long
-Marco's plot was surprisingly tolerable. As someone who hates seeing the old characters, I actually didn't mind this subplot. I guess they want Marco to be the new Snake?

MegaJ

D:

That was my face the entire episode. Okay, new kid haters and people who think Degrassi sucks now, GO TO THE LEFT. This was quite possibly the most intense episode of Degrassi ever (yes, even more than Time Stands Still because you could kinda guess what would happen). I have to commend the writers on this one, there were so many little red herrings, and a they left a big question mark to what (if anything) happened to KC while he slept.

Sam Earle definitely stepped it up this episode. KC's feelings of wanting a father figure definitely clouded his judgment; from dumping Claire for Jenna to staying in that hotel room. The hotel room scenes were uncomfortable to watch, good job to both the actors on that one. And the prostitute? Oh man. The final sequence had my heart leaping from my chest. I mean, I KNEW that KC wouldn't shoot the coach but I still felt the adrenaline in my veins.

I don't think KC/Claire is totally over, and the break-up scene was bittersweet. KC/Jenna, not feeling them so much. I think they're really building Jenna to be Claire's rival which will make it so much sweeter when that boyfriend-stealing jezebel gets taken down. Alli, being upset and angry on the part of Claire was so...Alli.

Subplots. Marco's was good, he wanted to be well liked by his students rather than respected and in the end it was a good lesson for him. Declan and Fiona's relationship actually wasn't creepy, just got the feeling that for all their lives they only had each other to depend on and to look out for.

Nekoshoujo

It kinda sucks that I'm such a diehard Klare fan because their breakup made it hard to get into some parts of the episode. Like the end shot with KC and Jenna, I kept thinking it should have been Clare that makes so much more sense.

I wasn't feeling the Jenna-KC chemistry because there wasn't really any. I think that they both too weak of actors to be together. They bring each other down.

That having been said, Sam killed this episode! It was like wow, when did he learn to act! When he had tears in his eyes, I had tears in my eyes.
Loved the scene with Clare and KC outside of the locker room, and the locker room scene. So powerful. I wasn't expecting the gun thing.

The coach was creep. When the prostitute came I was really nervous. Poor KC, lucky he got out of there.

Glad that the KC/Dave friendship survived, but I'll miss the Clare/Alli/Jenna trio. She's so much better with them than as KC's girlfriend. Also she has no friends now... I thought it was great when Alli called Jenna and KC out. I love the Clare/Alli friendship. It's good to know they still have each other's backs.

I love Declan and Fiona's relationship. Their scenes together are so sweet. I like him with Fiona more than Holly J...

JustMe2000

Yeah, Jenna had the perfect word to describe the whole main plot.....creepy. It's very late and I need to sleep so I'll post more later. I'll just say these were the best episodes of the season, imo.

bailamicorazon

I really liked these episodes.

Sam Earle did a great job in these episodes. His acting was really believable, and made the episode all the more intense. A lot of people speculated that this would be a molestation plot, I'm actually glad it wasn't (since we just had one last season). I think Degrassi having a sexual abuse storyline with a male victim is a good idea, it's just too soon. The plot itself was pretty disturbing though and I felt the actor who played his coach played his role really well.
I didn't really buy into Jenna/KC. I liked their scenes at the end of the episode, but they have zero chemistry together. I found their kissing scene pretty awkward to watch. Also, neither character was particularly likeable in this two-parter.
It was nice to see Alli stick up for her friend. I'm glad her friendship with Clare survived, I really like that duo.

I wasn't too crazy about either of the b-plots. The first b-plot... it was nice to see Marco again. Also, I'm glad Holly J. hasn't completely lost her edge. It's funny, Marco's not credited in the opening but already he's had more to do than Manny, Emma (though I guess with her plot coming next week, that'll change), Leia, Blue, etc.
The second b-plot was okay as well-- good for some Declan/Fiona development but besides that... eh.

JustMe2000

Okay, a little more.

First off, major props to both Sam Earle and Damon Runyan for those scenes in the hotel room. Great job by both actors. I also think the way that those were shot (often with an entirely silent soundtrack) and edited really helped contribute to the tension. Major credit to Phil Earnshaw and the editing crew on that. I was glad to see them go down this route with this storyline rather than the standard sexual abuse that we've already seen on this show. I agree that KC's lack of parental figures in his life played a part in him so easily accepting the way Creep Carson was acting. I felt so bad for him when that prostitute showed up and how everything just came crashing down at that point. I'm a fan of KC/Clare, but I thought the break-up scene was nicely done and that scene with him holding the gun in the bag broke my heart. I was more worried that KC do damage to himself than to anyone else, but yeah the tension there definitely had me on the edge of my seat. As for KC/Jenna, I was surprised with how much I liked them. But, I admit I've warmed up to her more quickly than I think a lot of others have. Their scene at the end was very sweet. BTW, loved the little moments of Alli sticking up for Clare. It's good to see how much relationship means to both of them. In the end, that's the one that will more so than anything with any boys.

As for the subplots, Marco as a student teacher makes total sense to me. Maybe not from an age standpoint (although I guess he's just about the same age as Oleander was in S4), but from a personality standpoint, absolutely. I think they had him work with Perino, because he's probably the most intimidating of the teachers and it offered a contrast to show Marco that he had to grow a backbone. Marco being friends with Holly J came out of nowhere, but of course we should expect that because he ends up being friends with everybody. As for Holly J, I too was glad to see she hadn't completely gone soft.

The other subplot, major props to Annie for her "singing." I'm assuming she can sing a little better than that, so to put yourself out there like there is impressive. I felt both bad for and pissed at Fiona in that plot. She really did act like a spoiled and conceited brat, but at the same time seeing her all alone eating hammered home just how much of a shell she's built around herself. With their lifestyle, it really just has been her and Declan and with him branching out, she's been left behind. I hope the end result of this plot leads to her being able to open herself up to some new relationships. She needs them.

Looking back at what I said about the main plot, I realized that even though I typed a lot, I'm not sure I said much. In the end, I think it's because that plot just....staggered me.

Well done, Degrassi.

Benji

So do you guys think the coach wanted to get into KC's pants or was just a weirdo?

LidelKewte

Best episode of the season so far. Great acting, great storyline. As mentioned, KC wanting to spend time with the coach made sense because of his lack of parents in his life. Also, it was nice to find out where his real parents are and I love KC because his background is so interesting. This whole storyline was creepy and I definitely thought KC was having thoughts of doing something to himself with that gun instead of turning it in.

As much as I felt bad for Claire, I also agree the break up was nicely done. And I may be in the minority, but I think Jenna/KC have a lot more chemistry, even though I still can't stand Jenna. But I liked most of the scenes with her and KC.

The subplots weren't bad. I loved seeing Marco again. And I still find Declan and Fiona's relationship to be a bit awkward, but I am glad we are getting to see more of them and I guess it makes sense that they are so close because of them not being able to keep any friends or stay in relationships. I would like to see more of their home life. They are definitely interesting.

Oh-Canada

I think he just wanted to watch KC (with that prostitute and with Jenna earlier). If he was going to sexually assault KC he would've done it. But that doesn't mean that what the coach was doing wasn't still sexual abuse.

MTG11687

okay this episode creeped me out, made me mad, and made me so not like the niners
My saving grace; Declan, Holly J., Marco & the little D/HJ moments.
Declan/Fiona i feel are a bit awkward too. But it was sweet.
I swear though, if they go incesty.... unless it's totally one-sided from Fiona, cause Declan love him some Holly Jeanette, i'll scream. haha

b/c honestly, Holly J. is what got me to watch Degrassi again after Ellie left... and D/HJ. are amazing.

Benji

Yea.. I also think he was trying to watch. He also had his hands on KC way too much.

copy/pasted from LJ:
I think the coach was into KC but in a very subtle way.
He had a job to keep and wasn't going to risk it.
So he used the prostitute instead as an excuse to see KC naked..I mean he had no plans of going anywhere "We'll give you pointers" lol
& he put on a porno and possibly touched himself next to KC, he was like 'too bad you're riled up' (horny) but here's some porn for you to hopefully jerk off with me to.. lol.
& why else would he force KC to stay at the hotel and spend the night?.. and get him drunk

So yea he was being careful with KC
when KC said everyones gonna find out
he was like "I never touched you" why would he say that? is that what he thought KC was going to tell them? He also clarified that he didn't touch him since he knew ahead of time that that crap could happen.



Also I think the coach might have been touching himself in this scene
I mean, he WAS watching porn, and just look at KC's reaction when he turns that way

Nekoshoujo

Yeah I think he was a vouyer, gets off on watching. Benji I think you're right, he wasn't stupid and when he told KC he nevered touched him you could tell he really thought about what would be too far. I think the fact he's always moving was suggesting that he's done this before. He probably goes from school to school and moves on.

Random Note: I loved Dave's reaction after touching KC's hand. Eww

Benji

When does he touch KC's hand?

vivalalove

I thought this two parter was very out there and very weird. Sam Earle has gotten just a bit better at acting, because most of his scenes were believable. I still don't like KC though. Although I couldn't stand him and Clare as a couple, what he did to her was wrong. You don't date a girl for a couple of months, break up with her, and then go out with one of her friends. I'm glad Alli stuck up for Clare when she needed it.

The basketball coach trying to befriend KC in a weird way was an interesting plotline, but does this stuff truly happen? I've never heard of anything like it, and I think it pushed the envelope a little too far. On the other hand, I was happy they featured a couple of issues that they'd never featured before. I think they're trying to make KC a combination of Craig/Sean, which isn't good, but I think I'll grow to like him more.

Who knew Marco wanted to be a teacher? Very random, but I like how he was kind of insta-friends with Holly J. She'll never replace Paige, but I guess she could pass for a fill-in. As usual, loved the Holly J./Declan interaction. Hopefully the writers don't screw them up. They have so much potential. I think Marco was always a little too nice, so it was cool to see him toughen up a bit, even if the person he got the advice from was Perino.

Aw, Declan and Fiona are so cute! They're close and they're in no way ashamed of it. I didn't really like the hint dropped at a possible Holly J./Fiona rivalry. It would make sense though, since Fiona is used to having Declan all to herself. They give each other great advice, and are always there for each other. I'm pretty sure Declan would want to take Riley's face off if he knew about what he said to her in the hallway in front of all those people. It was cute how they touched each other's faces playfully, but I still think the writers should leave those moments out so people don't start asking for them to happen. That would make the show really get real. lol

Overall decent episode. 7.5/10