ThisDegrassi: Next ClassSeason 4 review contains spoilers.
What can I say aboutDegrassi: Next Classbesides that its one of the best shows on TV right now?
I dont just mean just teen TV.
I dont just mean soap operas.
What more can you ask from it?
Well, more Snake but Ive been saying that for the best ten years.
Talking about EACH AND EVERY SINGLE MAIN CHARACTER.
Wearing the wig, their hatred of all things makeup, etc.
We know Yael as a person so they arent solely defined by how they identify.
you’re able to see it all click together in their mind.
Everything makes sense now.
Major kudos to Jamie Bloch for that powerful performance.
I get why it was done.
Im not going to count this as a strike towardsDegrassithough.
Was it perfectly handled?
There will never be perfect representation.
Im already waiting for the blowback think pieces that slam this plotline.
Maybe Yaels story doesnt match someones exact experience.
Ill take that over not trying at all.
I guess that makes me pragmatic about the whole thing, which leads into our next character.
Saad is justifiably angry that everyone suspects hes not trustworthy.
Even some of our favorite characters, including Lola and Yael, suspect him at one time or another.
I love thatDegrassiis willing to make even our favorites flawed because its a very human reaction.
As is Saads outburst at the rally.
Hes not wrong when he points out people die everywhere so why are they just focused on Brussels?
Goldie tries to get him to be pragmatic but why should he?
Why does he have to censor himself just to make everyone feel comfortable?
Even when he tries to make things right hes afraid of retaliation.
The dude cant win and that would make anyone angry.
Im gladDegrassihas multiple Muslim characters this season so we can get these varying perspectives.
If Saad was the only one it might be too much but we also have Rasha and Goldi.
Sidenote, inDegrassiso many things are made better just by having sex or kissing.
Saad is super bummed at the end of the season but Lolas kiss makes everything better!
I mean Lola is magical so I totally buy it.
Her performance singlehandedly makes you feel sympathy for Esme, even as she plunges right into the deep end.
Clark nails every speech shes given.
Blows away every tirade.
Chelsea Clark is an actress to watch, people.
Esme clearly has something going on in her brain.
Look at her scene with the bike.
She doesnt want anyone to poke holes in her plans.
She needs to be right all the time.
(I also legit shouted at my TV, Yeah, you destroy that bike Esme!)
Esme wants people to be indebted to her.
She does all these outlandish things for others (like making pot brownies) and expects love in return.
It doesnt work that way.
With Esme not graduating I can only assume shell be sticking around next season which I cant wait for.
Redemption of Esme, c’mon!
Zig: #DumbPuppy
I love Zig.
I love his dumb faces.
I love how dumb he is.
I love how much he loves burgers.
Hes just your average guy but he keeps trying to do the right thing.
If I prove I have a future she wont break up with me!
Oh poor Zig, you need validation so bad but thats okay.
Hes grown up so much!
Theyre all such good friends!
I wasnt a super Zig/Maya shipper but Im totally fine with them ending up together.
Oh sure, itll never last but theyre good for each other right now and thats what matters.
Oh Zig, Ill probably miss you most of all.
yo keep making dumb faces forever.
Maya: #HeyHeyImNotOkay
I was worried how theyd deal with Maya this year.
After the end of last season where everyone was all, Oh shes not dead cool lets get food!
I wondered if they would gloss over her suicide attempt.
Thankfully that didnt happen but they also didnt hold up a magnifying glass to it.
Maya is struggling for sure and the depression is a near constant presence.
Things were tough but whatever it took she made it through.
But seriously, Im glad thatDegrassiportrayed a character recovering from a suicide so well.
Lola is legit a show stealer but can almost become overwhelming if they use her too much.
Here she came in at all the best times and her reaction to Yael kissing her was pitch perfect.
Okay, glad I could help.
Sadly my dream of a Yael/Hunter/Lola three-person relationship seems dashed but Ill hold out hope forever!
Come on, you know theyd all be adorable together.
Also, Lola loves farts.
Hunter: #WhyYouGottaBeADick?
Why were you the worst?!
Okay, hes not the worst and I totally get where he was coming from.
I can totally imagine Hunter coming around with time.
Hes just got to figure out that just because Yael changed doesnt mean that makes him any different.
Yeah, thats totally self-serving on Hunters part but hes a teenage boy.
It makes total sense.
I dont wanna blame the drugs.
DUDE, I AM ALL ABOUT THIS GUY.
He takes full responsibility for what he did.
He doesnt take a stab at blame anything else or hide it.
Hes just trying to be a better person and move on from it.
Thats so powerful yet super understated.
Okay yeah, it is a big deal but you know what she has now?
Friends who love and care about her!
Just goes to show that when you open up and people accept you for who you are?
Thats when youll be happiest.
Also she was the greatest friend to Maya this season, helping her deal with depression.
Man, this season did such a great job wrapping up the plotlines of all the graduating seniors.
Miles and his dad have finally come to a good place!
Miles and Tristan break up for totally legit reasons.
This never feels rushed and is totally organic to the overall storyline of the season.
While Miles was never my favorite his character growth has been solid.
Dude just rubbed me the wrong way.
This season though he was all right!
He mellowed out (for obvious reasons) and that suits him better.
Probably his defining moment was telling Miles they had to break up.
Not for any over the top dramatic reason but simply that Tristan needed to focus on his recovery.
He couldnt speed it along solely for Miles.
Thats really mature thinking and much like Miles, demonstrates just how much hes grown over the seasons.
My babies have all grown up!
Rasha: #CoolSeeYaLaterRashaByeeeeeeee
Dont read that hashtag as a slight against Rasha.
While Chelsea Clark was overall the best actress this season, Dalia Yegavian had my favorite line delivery.
In episode three Rasha and Goldi discover a plate of cookies and Winston wanting to apologize.
I cant do it justice.
Go back and rewatch that scene and youll see what Im talking about.
Rasha was just adorable this season.
She was pretty much there to support Zoe and I was fine with it.
Did it just come out of nowhere?
I finally came to the conclusion that I dont care.
It doesnt matter if the writers suddenly decided they were going to make Zoe a lesbian.
Ill take that over not having another LGBT character, thats for sure.
Not everyone knows theyre gay right away.
Some people dont figure it out until well into adulthood.
With that in mind Zoes story totally tracks for me.
It was a bold move on the writers part to resolve things with Zoes mom the way they did.
By that I mean they didnt resolve it at all.
Zoes mom doesnt have a sudden change of heart.
We arent left with any hope she might come around.
Zoe is truly cut off from her family.
Thats all right, shes found a new one.
Frankie: #PrivledgedAF
Oh, Frankie.
Theres just a throwaway line about the running season being over.
Oh well, I understand it.
Still, I hope Shay gets a longer running plot next season that is squarely focused on her.
Tiny: #GreatestBoyfriend
I love Tiny like you dont even know.
Its a bummer the dude never gets his own plotline but whatever!
Dude has such a great outlook on life.
When be wonders how hell pay for college he quickly shrugs it off.
Thats a problem for Future Tiny!
Hes so understanding of Shay being apprehensive about sex.
He organizes a giant dance number to ask her to prom!
If you and Shay dont work out give me a call.
Youre the best boyfriend!
Also, he has the funniest line in the whole season.
As Zig recounts sleeping over at Mayas…
We… cuddled.With the arm all the way around?
Did you use protection?
We all have people like that in our lives and Winston is that guy forDegrassi.
At least he was more than just white guys best friend this season.
His subplot of maybe sort of flirting with Goldi was adorable.
Little moments like that go a long way, especially for a supporting character.
Goldi: #WeHardleyKnewYou
Im legit bummed out Goldi is graduating.
It feels like we just met her!
Still, she rocked her prom outfit.
Did you see that?
Give that girl a best-dressed award!
Baaz: #WhatADick
So is Baaz there solely to be a dick?
I mean if so he does a really great job at it.
Maybe hes just a supporting character, which Im fine with, but wow… What a dick!
Vijay: #HatsForDays
Man, this dude had some great hats.
Yeah, thats all Ive got.
Mrs. Badger: #OurLordAndPunMasterHasReturned
My actual note when I spotted Mrs. Badger in episode five.
-YO WAS THAT MRS. BADGER?
She totally just laughed up a storm at that dumb Milky Way joke.
HER DUMB JOKES ARE BACK!
You all dont understand how excited I was to see her again.
Whats she been up to?Well, getting married apparently.
You see, in season one she was Ms. Badger.
Now the credits for this season has her listed as Mrs. Badger.
Im so glad she found someone!
Clearly they appreciate a good pun.
Oh Mrs. Badger, never leaveDegrassi.
I want you to be the new Coach Armstrong where you are literally onDegrassiforever.
The kids need your puns.
Craig: #SorryNotSorryActuallyImSorryImSorryImSorry
Hes still sorry.
(Okay but actually it was great to see him again.)
Snake: #WhereYouAt
Snake, where were you this season?
We need your wisdom or lack thereof!
This is the end of an era forDegrassi.
A huge chunk of the cast has graduated.
That may sound like a lot but for Degrassi its basically a clean slate.
Im really going to miss all the old characters.
Still, thats part of life as aDegrassifan and just life in general.
People move on but their stories will continue even if we dont get to see them.
Speaking of which, is season five ofNext Classgoing to happen?
It would be a shame if it doesnt.
I want to see Yael become comfortable with themselves.
I want Hunter to get over himself.
I want to see them all continue to grow as our graduating characters did.
It might even be a good time to keep the cast small like it was at the start ofTNG.
With only ten episodes a season we could do with a few less main characters.
Even ifDegrassidoesnt come back next year or anytime soon, thats okay (although not preferred).
The series has been running non-stop for eighteen years and is a franchise thats lasted for over thirty.
Itll never truly go away.
Until we get some news, at least we have this season.
It was a blast.
Extra Thoughts AKA Just A Bunch of Quotes I Loved
-Oh hell no, youre terrible.
-You have nothing to worry about
Except death.
-Wait, mom bought those?
-Just because youre dating Grace doesnt mean you get to talk.
-Are those orgy cakes?
-What do you think of farts?
-Lola, not everything calls for a makeover.
-Are you asking me to open for you?
Back at it again with the problematic crushes.
-Do you want to go to prom together?
-I was wrong… and probably racist.
Rating:
5 out of 5
