Degrassi is an awesome show. I just finished Season 6 and 7 of the show, which can be viewed on the CTV Broadband Network.

I weirdly have a urge to watch high school drama shows, I think mainly because of nostalgia. I remember watching so many teen shows during my adolescence. I religiously watched Saved by the Bell, Ready of Not, Beverly Hills 90210, and Degrassi High. I also watched a bit of Breaker High, Dawson’s Creek, Blossom, and Student Bodies.

Of course, the Degrassi franchise is very different from the other teen dramas/comedies because it really explored the serious issues facing high school life. While some critics have criticized the show for over-dramatizing teenage life, I feel that teenagers can still learn from the situations on the show.

For those who adored the original Degrassi as much as I did, you will realize that Spike, Snake, Joey and Cailtin are the existing characters that are carried forward in The Next Generation— although only Spike and Snake now remain as of Season 7. If you recall, Spike was the girl with the crazy 80’s rocker spiked blonde hair who got knocked up in Degrassi High. Spike’s child, Emma, is now featured in The Next Generation.

There hasn’t been that much difference between the original and The Next Generation, which I guess comes to show that teenagers have not changed and are going through the same issues as before. The only new issue that was discussed in The Next Generation is homosexuality. Perhaps that’s the reason why the show caught my eye.

In The Next Generation, Marco Del Rossi is the gay character who, who goes through the typical ups and downs of being a gay adolescent: denial, confusion, coming out to friends, dating, coming out to family, breaking up. Anyway, it’s a very weird dynamic in Degrassi. Everyone seems so okay with the fact that Marco’s openly gay. Is that representative of today’s Canadian high schools?

Also, I find it interesting watching a show that is not targeted to my age demographic. I remember watching Saved by the Bell, and thought how cool kids like Zack, Slater and Kelly were.

By the way, Slater looks hotter with age. Woof.

Anyway, I definitely view the show on a completely different level, now watching Degrassi as a person who has experienced high school. I guess that makes sense, but don’t you find that the cast of Degrassi looks way smaller physically compared to say Saved by the Bell? Or is that just my perception because I am older?