[JustMe2000]

We're exactly half way through Showdown, so this seems like a good time to start up the season discussion thread.

So far......

-The uniforms disappeared, and everyone cheered. Well, maybe not Zig.
-Drew and Katie broke up, and she didn't take it so well.
-Drew gained a fan boy and collapsed after running down a thief. And we all laughed. Well, I did.
-We got another band. Rock on Mo and Maya and company.....
-Zig returned to Degrassi Junior High, or so it seemed to some of us.
-Dave and Tristan got the leads in the school play, leading us to discover that the new put down that kids are using on those who they think are gay to be "gaaaay!"
-Becky's been both perky and conniving.
-Cam's stressed.
-Alli's going to MIT.
-Clare's got an internship, and is the star of a new video that's all the rage in the Degrassi world.
-Drew and Fiona are moving in together.
-Jake got his garden on, after Radtich, I mean Snake, at a tomato.
-Oh and I think Dallas might have given advice a few times here and there.

So what's been your impressions of the season, so far? What things have you liked the most? What things have you not? Anything surprise you? What do you think of the new characters? Any other thoughts about the season so far (or even with what might happen next)?

You know the drill, let's discuss all things Season 12 here.....

[mellifluouscloud]

I really like this season so far. I think Degrassi is making a very strong effort to reinvent itself once again, like it did in season 10. But in some ways they're doing a much better job than they did in season 10, and they're definitely trying hard to undo some of the damage from season 11.

What I appreciate most about this season is the character development. So far, all of the new kids they've introduced have been well-rounded, multifaceted, fully-fleshed characters. (The exception being Luke, in my opinion. But I think this is part of a plan.) Dallas, Becky, and Cam all seem real. They have depth despite the brief amount of time that we've known them, and they're all very flawed but somehow endearing. Zig, Tristan, and Maya have also been developed well this season. I appreciate that Degrassi is making efforts to develop old and new characters through their interactions with a wide variety of other characters and without necessarily thrusting them headfirst into a romantic relationship. This is a huge improvement over the introductions of Jake and Imogen in season 11. Case in point, the fact that Jenna and Luke aren't a couple after last night's episode is proof to me that Degrassi is really stepping away from relationship drama this season.

Really the only thing that bothers me about this season are the mixed messages of the first 4 episodes. I really don't agree with how the show didn't question Katie's actions and kind of made her the victim. That really didn't sit right with me. At this point I know I'm never going to enjoy anything that involves Katie and I'm just wishing she'd somehow disappear from the show entirely. I also want more information on how exactly Drew is going to afford to pay rent with his mall kiosk job. This storyline is very young but seems incredibly unrealistic at the moment, so I hope Degrassi addresses the reality of supporting yourself financially.

The biggest surprise for me this season is Becky Baker. Everything about her is glorious.

I don't know what I want to happen next! I definitely want to know more about Tori and Imogen. Mainly, I hope they keep up with the quality of storylines they've given us lately.

[Shiny Shinx]

Originally Posted by mellifluouscloud (View Post) I really like this season so far. I think Degrassi is making a very strong effort to reinvent itself once again, like it did in season 10. But in some ways they're doing a much better job than they did in season 10, and they're definitely trying hard to undo some of the damage from season 11. What I appreciate most about this season is the character development. So far, all of the new kids they've introduced have been well-rounded, multifaceted, fully-fleshed characters. (The exception being Luke, in my opinion. But I think this is part of a plan.) Dallas, Becky, and Cam all seem real. They have depth despite the brief amount of time that we've known them, and they're all very flawed but somehow endearing. Zig, Tristan, and Maya have also been developed well this season. I appreciate that Degrassi is making efforts to develop old and new characters through their interactions with a wide variety of other characters and without necessarily thrusting them headfirst into a romantic relationship. This is a huge improvement over the introductions of Jake and Imogen in season 11. Case in point, the fact that Jenna and Luke aren't a couple after last night's episode is proof to me that Degrassi is really stepping away from relationship drama this season.

I agree with this. I want to say that the writers have learned from their past mistakes of poorly introducing characters (Danny, Derek, Jake, and Imogen) and making too many characters that end up being forgotten about (Chantay, Leia, Blue...), but I'm worried that I'll jinx it. But ignoring that, they've had the new characters included in lots of scenes, even if they aren't the main piece of the plot.

I don't like how Bianca still hasn't gotten her own plots that don't involve Drew. She was featured in the Cam plot last week, but I wish that we would see more of her.

I feel like Fiona is kind of just hanging around Degrassi awkwardly now. I guess that's realistic as she's a super senior who didn't have that many friends in the first case, but it doesn't make things any better. Her having Drew move in didn't make things that better, because it felt unrealistic and forced.

I like how Mrs. Bhandari is featured more because she's been a good voice of reason, although I don't like the random guy who works at the mall. And what happened to Ms. Oh?

[ihavealife2uknow]

Yes this season so far is definitely an improvement over season 11. I hope they keep it up in the second half since that's when the seasons usually drop in quality (or maybe it just seems that way because they aren't aired back to back 4 days in a row).

I'm actually liking the niners this season. Last season when they were introduced I saw no potential in them and thought they were a waste of time but they seem better now.

I'm also really happy that Eli & Clare are finally back together, not because I'm a hardcore shipper but because they are more tolerable when they are together and the angst isn't there between them. The whole Imogeli/Cake/Eclare square did a good job of getting on my nerves last season.

Drew's and Dave's storylines have probably been my favorite so far because they were the perfect stories for those characters.

[TRWP991]

Something I LOVE about this season so far is that we've been getting so much different character interraction! This is something that would have been very welcome for me in S10/11. Dave/Eli, Tristan/Eli, Connor/Adam, Maya/Mo, Drew/Fiona, KC/Bianca, the list could go on and on and on! Something I also have noticed is that we've been seeing main characters in the backgrounds of scenes more. FINALLY!!!

[JustMe2000]

Finally got around to starting my encore of the summer episodes. Who knew blocking off 90 minutes a night would be so damn hard? A few thoughts after the first four episodes:

-Seeing KC and Connor doing their imitation of a drunken Drew reinforced just how much I'm going to miss their relationship- and KC.

-Speaking of Drew, I know it's wrong, but I will never not laugh at his fall after he tackles the thief in the mall.

-They dropped the ball by not having the father involved in the Torres brothers' story lines. There's too much drama involved with those two to have just be about the mother.

-One final Adam/Drew thought, Adam was interested in two of the three girls that Drew has had a relationship with since he's been on the show. He might want to keep Becky away from him.

-I love the dynamics between Tori/Maya and Tristan/Maya and how they're different from one another as well as Tori/Tristan and Tori/Tristan/Maya as a group. The one combo we really haven't gotten yet among that group (including Zig) is Zig and Tristan. I'd like to see them together in a plot at some point.

-Finally, I wish they had kept Becky on board with the play. It would have been nice to see two characters work long term on a project together and the two of them had a great chemistry together. I realize this would have meant Becky would have gone a little different path to her gradual acceptance of "alternative lifestyles" but I think they could have figured out a way to do that.

Now on to Week 2. Let's just hope it doesn't take me a week to watch it.

[kaleidocat]

Originally Posted by JustMe2000 (View Post) -Finally, I wish they had kept Becky on board with the play. It would have been nice to see two characters work long term on a project together and the two of them had a great chemistry together. I realize this would have meant Becky would have gone a little different path to her gradual acceptance of "alternative lifestyles" but I think they could have figured out a way to do that. Now on to Week 2. Let's just hope it doesn't take me a week to watch it.

I'm really surprised that they didn't! I could have been on board with seeing a power struggle between her and Eli. There's also a part of me that is hurting for her because she wanted to be involved just as much. I also would have liked to see her be a more slow to come around to Adam. I'm really intrigued by whatever upcoming relationship they have together but I think that more of a rivalry and more of a realization from Becky could have made it all much sweeter. But I missed week 3 and 4 (I think?) so maybe more happened then? I'll watch when you rewatch.

[JustMe2000]

Week 2 thoughts:

-One thing that really came through when watching Got Your Money again was just how vulnerable and needy Tori is in her relationship with Zig, and looking back, that seems to have a consistent theme with her character.
-I really hope we see Zig's mother again. And his buddy, Damon.
-Speaking of things I hope we see again, I hope they don't drop the Dallas/Fiona relationship. I really liked those two together.
-I can't help but wonder how they're going to go about trying to redeem Luke's character, assuming they do? I think doing it through a relationship with Jenna is out, although maybe I'll change my mind on that after re-watching the week 3 episodes.
-The book Bianca was reading when Cam tried his ill fated pick up line on her is Tell Your Sister. If anyone is interested. Glad that it's a Canadian book. I miss the days of them using only Canadian music as their soundtrack.
-For someone who's gotten a lot plots devoted to him and has become one of the main characters on the show, they haven't really done much with Dave and his family. Yeah, we know his father is a cop at the school, but we haven't seen him at home or anything like that. Hopefully, that will change.
-Not much to say to about Jake & Katie, except that I was pretty much on board with them right away.
-Oh and everyone we don't ever see much specifically between the two of them, I like the little dynamic that Mo & Katie have. Yeah, sometimes I notice odd little things.

On to Week 3.......

[Forwood4Bamon]

I loved this season mostly because of Maybell aka Campbell/Maya. I love Campbell. He is my all time favorite character on the show. I love the tristan/tori/maya/zig friendship. I hope they keep going. I also love Tori. I used to hate her, but i think she's gotten better. Everything else is pretty ok. I love that Eli/clare are still together. I don't really care for too many of the other new characters, but I do like that Becky is getting A plots. I hope beckdam gets further developed.

[Shiny Shinx]

Originally Posted by loganandroryforever (View Post) I loved this season mostly because of Maybell aka Campbell/Maya. I love Campbell. He is my all time favorite character on the show. I love the tristan/tori/maya/zig friendship. I hope they keep going. I also love Tori. I used to hate her, but i think she's gotten better. Everything else is pretty ok. I love that Eli/clare are still together. I don't really care for too many of the other new characters, but I do like that Becky is getting A plots. I hope beckdam gets further developed.

I agree that Tori's character improved. Before, in New Beginnings, she was unnecessarily catty, which is somewhat realistic for a freshman, but it was still annoying. She's improved this season though, as she's mostly there as a friend, and not a source of conflict.

On a bad note, I didn't really like the last week of episodes. I felt like Degrassi went back to old habits by focusing on relationships and not the issues. For example, Clare's/Eli's plots weren't about sexual harassment/homophobia/having too much work. Their plots in the last week were more about each other, and how they could worry about their own issues while being there for each other. Drew's plot was about him feeling awkward with Bianca because he's not in high school anymore. It wasn't about his relationship with his (step?)mother after moving out of the house, which would have been nice, too. And then everything he bought was unrealistic as well. It felt like Season 8 again.

I don't have much to say about Dave and Alli, although I didn't really think the writers broke them up well. While it was a realistic reason, they could have developed it better.

I realize that this comment is late, but I also didn't like how all of the promotions and commercials for this season were getting us ready for the finale, and the worst thing that happened was Tristan got locked into a room but the play still turned out well. I'm not complaining that the finale was relatively low-key, but I wish the promos wouldn't be so misleading.

[JustMe2000]

Week 3.....

-One thing I appreciated about Jenna's plot is just how low key it was. From her reaction to Becky setting her up to her conversation with Mr. Baker to even the way things played out with Luke, it all felt dialed down a notch.
-Jenna & Becky's song? Still full of win.
-Drew's fan boy? Still needs to be punched.
-KC trying to set up his mother and his teacher is no less awkward the second time around. He even mentioned that Perino was single when it looked like things weren't working.
-Speaking of awkward, Townsend's British accent is still one of those "you've got to be kidding me" moments. And I still can't figure out why they felt the need to have the character be British. All that accomplished was showcasing the actor's horrible attempt at trying to do and keep an accent.
-The look on KC's face when he found out his father was coming back is devastating. Made all the more so by what we know is coming down the road.
-I like Cam and Maya together, but in some ways I think they're too cute for their own good.
-More plots with the Matlin sisters please. Katie's interrogation of Cam is one of my favorite moments of this run of episodes.
-In retrospect, Clare should have been worried about Asher when he pushed her to screw up that Geography assignment. Oh and will the show ever have a mentor who isn't related to someone on the show not be a creep?
-Lastly, the video with guys playing Clare? Still cruel. Still hilarious.

[fall into your smile]

Originally Posted by JustMe2000 (View Post) -More plots with the Matlin sisters please. Katie's interrogation of Cam is one of my favorite moments of this run of episodes.

Sometimes I wonder why they're sisters if we're not getting that many scenes with them together? I mean, I know that they're in different grades, but I find it hard to believe that they wouldn't be a tad bit more involved in each other's storylines. But, maybe that's just me?

Katie's interrogation of Cam will go down as a top 5 favorite Katie moment!

[JustMe2000]

Week 4:

-The Drew & Fiona...or Dumb & Dumber plot was no less annoying this time around, but I did enjoy the playful way Imogen was giving Fiona a hard time about not cleaning.
-Maya and Dallas are the two most important people in Cam's life at Degrassi, and in their own way they tried to be there for him in Rusty Cage. Yet at the end, I think he may have felt more alone than ever.
-I don't think we ever saw Cam after that plot and that's a mistake. I fear that the next time we see him will be when he's ready to get back into the hockey mode.
-Townsend: What is the answer, KC? KC?
KC: Vancouver
Watching that moment again and seeing KC's smile, I can't help but feel a little bit of that joy he was feeling when the idea hit him. That said......
-KC saying goodbye to Jenna and then later the group? Still kicks you in the gut.
-KC being edited out of the credits in the very next episode? Still way beyond tacky.
-I'm pretty convinced that we're going to find out that Dallas has never had a girlfriend, at least nothing serious. Just doesn't seem to be able to close the deal. He'll always make some hard headed mistake to screw things up.
-I think I could watch an episode of nothing but Marisol and Zig making faces and gestures in the background while other characters are talking.
-I'm glad they showed some Jenna/Becky friendship moments. Still not sure why Jenna's participation in the play was never discussed.
-I can't watch the scene with Volta. Once was enough. And I'll never understand why they felt the need to show his crushed head. Just awful.
-They waited a long (too long, imo) time to give Imogen a main plot, but they gave her a good one. I hope this isn't dropped as the season goes on, although I have confidence that it won't be.

This was my favorite week of the season.

One week to go.......

[Forwood4Bamon]

It sucks about KC leaving.

[kaleidocat]

I still need to watch week 4 episodes. But I don't want to see KC leave and the death of the dog scene still ticks me off even just hearing about it.

I had a weird reaction when watching Waterfalls. Being a lazy bum this season, I saw the aftermath of the sexual harassment in later episodes. And I kind of liked that I didn't know what happened. I probably should rewatch and try to pinpoint what that is. One thing I do appreciate is how arrogant Clare was prior to the incident with Asher. That wake up call and fall that a character takes when the story has that twist is usually satisfying on many emotional levels.