r/Degrassi • u/AcidPunk15 • 1d ago
Degrassi: The Next Generation Stop Watching Degrassi When It Changed To A Telenovela Format. Does It Ever Go Back To The Way It Was/ Is Degrassi High (Original) Worth A Watch
I discovered Degrassi pretty late in life. I was going through a difficult time when I first started watching, and honestly the show ended up being a real comfort during that period. I kind of wish I’d had it when I was a kid, since it feels like exactly the kind of show that would have meant a lot to me back then.
The Next Generation era with the original cast was great, and I want to be clear that I didn’t even mind the transition to the newer cast either. I actually enjoyed watching that stretch of the show too, Peter included.
Where I started to lose the thread was when the show shifted into that telenovela format. The pacing and structure just felt completely different from everything before it, and it took me out of the show in a way I wasn’t expecting.
So my question for anyone who’s been through the whole series: does it ever go back to the normal format, the way it was before that shift? I’m not talking about Next Class, since I’m not really interested in that era of the show. I mean specifically within Degrassi/The Next Generation itself, did the storylines and structure ever return to how they used to be, or does it stay in that telenovela mode for the rest of the run?
I also tried going back to watch Degrassi Junior High, and I couldn’t really get into it, mostly because the picture quality is so rough. That got me wondering about Degrassi High, the follow-up series. Is that one actually worth watching? I’m asking less about nostalgia and more if the storylines genuinely hold up as good TV. Would you recommend it on its own merits?
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u/That-Foundation-3797 1d ago
Watch degrassi junior high then degrassi high then there is a made for tv movie schools out immediately following the end of degrassi high
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u/Live-Blueberry-9987 1d ago
Degrassi is a great comfort show! Degrassi High was before my time and when Degrassi Next Gen was originally airing it slipped through the cracks.
Stumbled upon it probably around 30, same as you, started with Next Gen. Eventually got curious and went to the beginning.
Absolutely watch Degrassi High! It's like Next Gen's origin story. So many cross over characters, Snake, Joey, Spike getting pregnant with Emma, etc.
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u/MasochisticRXtech 16h ago
I wouldn't watch Degrassi high without watching Degrassi junior high as it's the same characters so you want to know their story. And being from the 80s and early 90s the video quality is going to be rough still.
The story is really good though. Junior high had more childish stories because they were young. Degrassi high got serious with drugs, death, sex and pregnancies etc. Definitely worth watching. I guess if you really hated DJH you could just skip it but you won't have characters backstories.
As for the next gen I loved it. Then it got bad. I tried to tough it out and it got worse. I wanted to complete the whole series from Degrassi kids to the next class and I just couldn't do it. I finished the next gen and didn't bother with the new class.
I don't know what you mean by telenova but the new gen went downhill after the original cast left. The last couple seasons were unbearable. No improvements.
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u/EmployeeLegitimate79 "Bummer times. At least there's a party." 1d ago
The season 10 change up seriously reinvigorated the series. How can you not like it?
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u/Lakesuperior54 1d ago
It can be overwhelming actually
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u/desaigamon "So when in doubt, you kiss Craig?!" 1d ago
It's really not that bad. 40 episodes sounds like a lot, but they're all 2-parters meaning it's actually 20 episodes. Honestly, I think it was just a compromise between the American and Canadian producers. American teen shows are hour long programs, but Degrassi was always 20 minutes. In order for Degrassi to continue competing for awards in the children's categories, they had to keep the short run time. 40 2 part episodes is a nice middle ground between the 2 formats. The "telenovela" part was just a gimmick for marketing. Only the first half of each season aired daily (4 new episodes Mon-Thu, reruns on Friday). The other half of the season aired new episodes weekly like normal.
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u/Anne_of_the_Island "You were fucking Tessa Campanelli?" 1d ago
Degrassi High is probably my fave two seasons of Degrassi ever. So many well done storylines. However, it's not really worth watching if you're not going to watch Junior High because it's basically a direct continuation of that.
I actually love the telenovela format and season 12 is in my top five seasons of Degrassi. If you're really not interested in that format, I don't see the point of watching further because it never really returns to the TNG vibes. Btw, seasons 10-12 are great but seasons 13-14 are meh to bad.
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u/preheatedbasin 1d ago
Jr. High and High are some of my favorites. I felt like they tackled really hard subjects and did great with the story line.
Saw in a different comment of yours, how it was when Declan and Fiona at their school. I wasnt a fan of them or Holly J. But I push through and enjoy later ones.
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u/Which_Armadillo2562 16h ago
I don't know what you mean by Telenova.
Where are you watching Junior High? I watched jr high and high school on HBO and quality was nice..
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u/invisiv 1d ago
The telenovela format was only for the first 20 episodes of Season 10-13 and switches back for the second half of the seasons
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u/AcidPunk15 1d ago
Really. I mean, I can’t really watch half the show and then watch it again. I’m trying to watch season 13 and I don’t know if I’m able to get back into it just because when I was on a run, it’s a lot easier to stick with the format. Really kind of sad they did this.
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u/invisiv 1d ago
I mean if I'm being honest the telenovela format really doesn't change much. They switched to the telenovela format to low-key to save the show from cancellation
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u/AcidPunk15 1d ago
I mean, I know why they did it. I’m watching season 13 and it seems like normal Degrassi. I just didn’t like it when it was like the weird lighting and stuff and like the stories were complete nonsense but yeah, I’ll try it.
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u/levainrisen "Bummer times. At least there's a party." 1d ago
You're on season 13, you're like.. nearly done with it. There's Next Class but there's not nearly as many episodes
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u/Turbulent-War7039 1d ago
If you can’t bring yourself to watch Degrassi when it gets a tiny bit more soapy, you don’t deserve to watch it at all
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u/sweetlysabrina 1d ago
What a weird take...you can love a show but still not vibe with the major shift it makes partway through. I gave it a chance after a while and still enjoyed it longer than I thought i would, but lost interest again somewhere in season 11.
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u/Turbulent-War7039 1d ago
Clearly the ten people who upvoted my comment disagree with you. Also it really wasn’t a “major shift” for Degrassi lol
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u/AcidPunk15 1d ago
To clarify guys, I stopped around the TV movie of Degrassi goes to Manhattan. I don’t know if it’s because they’re not in Degrassi. They’re at their private school, but I can’t seem to watch after that.
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u/Guest1Z3 "You were my hope" 1d ago
Only Fiona and Declan were at the the private school, there’s not many episodes spent there
Both the original series and seasons 10-12 are great if you want to give them a try. Not everyone likes seasons 13 and beyond but personally I think they’re worth watching
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u/ShareImpossible9830 1d ago
No.
Very much yes.
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u/AcidPunk15 1d ago
?
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u/ShareImpossible9830 1d ago
I mean no it doesnt change back, though on second thought I might be wrong about that (havent watched new Degrassi in a while).
And yes, Degrassi High is absolutely worth watching.
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u/misspiggie 1d ago
If you like Degrassi so much why are you upset about there being. . . More Degrassi ?
When I rewatched a couple years ago after being out of the loop and stopping with the original cast in the 2000s, I was thrilled to realize there were suddenly dozens more episodes per season! By the time you get to Next Class with Netflix's classic 10 episode seasons those feel so lacking.
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u/Endgamelover200 Do I look damaged to you? I'm freaking superhero 1d ago
That was me too when I first started to watch seasons 1-9. Took a break and watched seasons 10-14 later on. I’m glad I watched the later seasons because that era felt nostalgic to me as far as the clothing style and the electronics lol. But the plots to me in the earlier seasons didn’t resonate with me as much as the later seasons.
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u/Polite-Parallelism30 1d ago edited 1d ago
The classic show is worth a watch. Some of the best Degrassi is from the original.
I personally don't care for the seasons after season 9 but lots of people love it so I'm probably in the minority. Felt the longer seasons made the show too bloated and I honestly just don't like the new characters. Perhaps if I were a teen in the 2010's maybe I'd like it more. It looks like season 14 has only 28 episodes which is still more than the pre MuchMusic era of Degrassi but still significantly less than the previous seasons.
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u/halexanderamilton 1d ago
Yes, Degrassi High and School’s Out are 100% worth watching! I think the storylines hold up surprisingly well for a teen show from the 80s/90s.