i dont have much else to add to this post im just genuinely interested because i haven't heard a single person talk about degrassi in at least 15 years (aside from the occasional "remember that show drake was in lol") what drew you to start/continue watching? where should a new watcher start?
I'm a Degrassi the next generation connoisseur so I reccomend starting there. Season 1 episode 1 and getting to at least season 8 is good with to me. Immersion helps too, imagine you're around 13-15 and being introduced to very heavy topics for the first time. It's also between 2001 and 2011 so some of the topics are new for the time.
Each season follows 1 school year starting in 7th grade. You follow an ensemble cast, throught the series, with distinct personalities navigating the fun and nasty parts of growing up. Things don't always end on a good note either but as the theme song says "whatever it takes, I know I can make it through".
Although it's presented as an after-school special for teens, the show does not shy away from questionable characters making questionable choices. You don't watch for oscars level acting, you watch for content.
Topics covered also the content warning:
Self harm,removed, abuse, anorexia, mental illnees, jealousy, overachiecement, stress, eating disorder, cheating
Also I've been a degrassi fan since my teen years and drake is still unimportant to me.
it's a show that you watch with a weird blend of sincerity and irony. you find yourself laughing at how ridiculous it is but then you care about the characters, you have opinions, you are gossiping about middle school drama with other people online because it's so compelling. it truly is a one of a kind show and i haven't found anything quite like it since
i started watching it as a preteen and just never lost my fondness for it. went back and watched all of the next generation a few years ago and as an adult it still holds up. it's also really fun to go back and see all the technology and shit from when i was a kid. there are just so many great plots, characters, and stories. the world really feels lived in and real. even when it's corny or cringe since it's a 2000s canadian teen show it's still fun. plus you get to see Drake get sniped.
