jfung79

I should really avoid this thread ... Just found out about three people leaving that I didn't want to find out about! I was going to post here to say I liked the story with Bianca's dilemma about what to do with Liam having gotten involved with a gang. Also Ian and Denise seem like an interesting idea, as well as poor Dot not knowing how to deal with the council perhaps repossessing her home. I am unable to watch the show but the online synposes are gripping. Seems like good stories with a connection to real problems that people face! Great news about Michael French. Yes, they need to bring back David Wicks!

Just watched Friday's ep. I think Dallas's ex has moved to Toronto, yes, but she didn't say anything about going to Degrassi, just "registering for school." The show has been all over the map with Dallas. They almost had him past the point of no return last season after he wrecked the garden, but then they shifted direction with how he tried to help Alli earlier this season. He was already humanized by that for me, before Cam's suicide. It is a good twist to have him be a dad, yeah, but I wish he would just tell Alli now instead of keeping it a secret. Zig's story was really good! My favorite of the episode. I like how affected he is by being the last person to talk to Cam. I also like the French teacher saying to him that this Zig who skipped class, talks back, doesn't do his homework, isn't the Zig she knew, and how that got to him. Liked her telling him Cam was ill and it wasn't Zig's fault. Good to see his friend Damon again too. Zig is a good kid, even if he can be flaky and selfish at times like when he kissed Maya. I hope we get to see more of his story next week. Will we him singing for the French Club event? Speaking of singing, I've never mentioned this here, I love WhisperHug's "Up, up in a cloud" song. And from a few years ago, I love that paisley jacket song Eli. Sav, and Adam liked. Degrassi often comes up with quite good original music. Fiona being attacked, possibly due to her posting her location on Twitter, was topical. I liked the #FormerRichGirlProblems hashtag. (Remember the show using Twitter well with the Stuff Clare Says hashtag or something like that, too?) I liked Imogen coming to support Fiona at the end. I also liked Fiona working with Dave at the juice place, and her audition for it. I liked the way Drew broke it to her that he was moving back home. But somehow with all these good individual elements, her story still didn't all gel together for me. I've never quite warmed to Fiona for some reason. It was better when her brother Declan was there for her to bounce off of. Mr. Vixen, that transgender student you saw is Adam, and he's still on the show. Also, the episodes are on the channel's website, but the channel is called "TeenNick" now, not The-N or Noggin. They keep rebranding, LOL. If Eric83 forgets to remind you to tune in this summer, I will LOL. Wow, you started watching at 8 and pretty much for your whole life after that ... It's like me with Doctor Who. I think you will still like the show after you hop back in, as you put it! It evolves and changes, with constant refreshment of characters, but it's still got that same blend of entertainment, instruction, and strong writing for character utilizing a great ensemble cast that has hooked me in and kept me watching all this time.

I can't believe Eli told Clare they needed time apart. After everything they've been through, I find it ungrateful and selfish. Nice use of history to have Mr. Simpson mention he was the student who found someone who committed suicide in the original Degrassi. The naked shower stuff was funny -- Degrassi knows how to mix light with dark well. Glad the students got the garden back. I cared about Jake and Katie for once. Funny how Luke conned his sister into thinking he had changed, and then right away he let Jenna know what his idea of a date was. Still liking Connor and Jenna. We *still* do not know what Becky's relationship is with her folks right now regarding Adam. When are they getting back to that story?

Degrassi last Friday was totally surreal at the end, but I loved the focus on Eli. Didn't like Mo and Jake's misogyny -- Katie didn't deserve that no matter what she did -- although it is sadly realistic. I bought Connor and Jenna. We finally saw Luke again but still have no idea how he has reacted to Adam and his sister dating.

I liked a lot of the minis! I don't remember them anymore though except for the one where Rick was haunting the school through Holly J or something like that.

I loved Yick Yu because he was Asian and that was representation for me. I liked his friendship with Arthur -- the original JT and Toby. I was sad when Yick became a pot smoker and wasn't friends with Arthur anymore though. Siluck Saysanasy (the actor) was involved with the early years of Degrassi: TNG in some behind the scenes role working with the young cast. Yick also did make a brief appearance on screen on TNG as well. It's a pity Pat Mastroianni never wants to return as Joey anymore. Guess he is sick of being associated with the iconic role and typecast for all time? That's the rumor I read. Glad there are no plans of ending the show! It's still as fresh and relevant as ever. It can run and run, just like Doctor Who and just like the soaps.

Watched yesterday's episode. It mostly fell flat for me except for Eli's reaction, Zig's guilt, and Maya and Tori making up at the end. I also appreciated Katie being there as supportive older sister. I'm glad they didn't lionize Cam since that might have encouraged real-life suicide. I liked Jimmy/Ashley back in the day and in their reunion. They are probably my all time favorite Degrassi couple. I liked Marco/Dylan. I just don't like how they would have Dylan cheating on Marco to end it. Remember this character Tim? I feel like Marco and Tim should have had something longer. I never stopped liking Ashley. She was a "real" character to me, not a stereotype. She, Emma, and Jimmy were the main reasons I liked Degrassi: TNG in the beginning (along with the reminders of Degrassi past like Joey -- the original Degrassi, distributed in America by PBS, was used in classrooms in America too for curriculum. not just Canada, although I actually watched it at home on my PBS station). Agree with the criticsim of Argiris Karras's acting as Riley. All the football stories have ben incredibly ugh on this show, actually. I'm glad this season they've switched to having a hockey team.

I like Becky/Adam too, Eric83, but I think they should show more of Becky's brother Luke's reaction. He has been MIA for awhile. The last we knew last season, Becky ran away from home to go with Adam to Fiona's party, and then we saw her smiling during the Vegas episode. What's going on with how her famiily is taking it? I agree the special epsiodes usually aren't that great, AllMyDaysatGH. I think the first time they did it when they went to a college over spring break was the most well written and unforced. The time they went to L.A. wasn't bad either. Eric83, the only one I think you forgot is Connor, and I guess he is a junior.

I did see the Vegas episode. I agree, it was underwhelming. The whole creepy Mark Zuckerberg-type guy thing with Katie was too weird. I'm glad Katie left before they had sex, but I know what you mean about Katie not having done very much. I wish Bianca and Drew had gotten married instead of waiting another few months. I'm ambivalent about both their characters but I do like how we've seen Bianca change over the seasons. I also agree with AllMyDaysatGh though it might have been interesting to see Alli and Drew explored again. I agree they could have done more with Owen, especially around his relationship with his brother, but I don't really care tor the character or how he looks. Too beefy and macho for me. The reason I like Eli is he is kind of a archetypal "trickster" eccentric character, and with layers underneath that too. I guess I should take that back about Munro Chambers's acting; there are a lot of good actors on the show. I should just stick to saying that Eli is the most interesting, charismatic character to me. I am kind of an Eclare fan, although I've been exasperated with Clare's exaggerated drama at times lately. I did think the sexual harassment story she had with Asher was a good one to do though. and I could understand where Clare was coming from even though she should have gone to someone earlier.

I've been watching. I'm really worried for Cam, I do think he is suicidal. At the same time, I also saw Zig and Dallas's POV. "She'll see what I see ... a psycho," was deserved after what Cam had done. I really don't want the show to go through with it, it's too depressing, but this is good writing all the same to tackle the subject, and I will still think it is good writing no matter the outcome. My favorite character is Eli, and I think Munro Chambers is easily the best actor Degrassi has had. I like that Eli seems to be on the right track again in his life, but I'm disappointed in his flipping out over Clare's diary. Most boring useless character right now is Jake Martin (lol at name too). He might have looked good on paper, but the actor has no charisma or presence, and the character does not seem to have much of a life of his own. He is there mainly as an appendage for Katie or Clare. Even when he is given story though, like the whole thing about whether he wanted to go to college, the actor does not do it justice or generate interest. All My Shadows, I agree with you about Tristan's dieting/heart attack story being realistic. Glad you are getting back into the show! Alli was established as being part of the gifted program along with Clare, KC, and Connor way back when she was first introduced, so it's not jarring to me. Agree with SFK that Prospect Park trying to emulate the Degrassi feel would be a great idea. Degrassi has been on a creative high ever since the first summer telenovela season a couple years ago, and I'm glad it has continued. The new characters they have been introducing these past few years are much more three-d than when they were trying to show college stuff. I still liked the show then too, though.

I like the business ideas! Eventually, the "Mark Fowler Jr is Grant's son" story needs to be told too ... even if Michelle is never coming back. If Ben sticks around, I think he and Ben could be rivals, or they could gang up to take down Phil. The show doesn't need to keep inventing new Mitchells and adding adopted Mitchells when there is a Mitchell out there just waiting to be discovered. Sharon could be coming back to warn Phil that Michelle let the secret slip and tell him Grant has a son before Mark Jr shows up. No one would believe Sharon that Michelle never told her either (even though as far as we know that is the case). Various people would be either mad at Sharon for keeping such a big secret or happy Sharon was back. It wouldn't just be the Mitchells who were mad. Ian could be mad too since he would feel left out of a family secret. Sharon would be the target of financial, emotional, and perhaps gangland attacks, but she would give back as good as she got and not be a victim. Then 3 months later Mark Jr gets there and hell really breaks loose. Michelle would have done a good job raising him but he would still be an angry young man. He would try to reach out to the Mitchells and they wouldn't know how to handle him so he would act out. Then they would need to lure Ross Kemp back for a few months soon after that for the story to develop further. It would also be good for Peggy to make an appearance for a couple weeks during this story, perhaps at the end of an arc to set things straight in her lay-down-the-law Peggy way. I don't think Barbara Windsor is entirely averse to a cameo return. I think Sharon coming back is the first step to Grant coming back again sooner or later anyway. When/if everyone is mad at Ben, Sharon could also be the one person who forgives him and reaches out to him, and whose help he accepts, starting him on a healing path, because she sees similarities between him and Dennis -- spent time in jail, angry at his dad, mother dead. It would be totally a motherly thing only though, obviously, no cougar relationship with Ben being gay (although the show did end up making Tony Hills bi after he was established as gay; Tony is Ben's cousin BTW, just realized)! I still wish they never killed off Kathy. You're probably right, Edward Skylover, that Derek will have to be involved. But it doesn't have to be that bad. He could offer Sharon and Mark Jr protection ... Perhaps his motivation would be that Bianca or one of her kids has a medical issue and would need Mark Jr's blood (although that is too American-soapy). We might see a softer side of him emerge. BTW Bianca is related to practically everyone on the show LOL. I don't think Sharon will be ruined, any more than she was ruined by Den's so-so return and Jack Dalton/Andy Hunter/Johnny Allen gangland blah blah. The character can outshine anything. The show does need to remember her fun side too though.

Interesting ... I have not been watching regularly, just reading synopses and catching little clips, so you are definitely more informed about the current state of the show. I definitely think it's more than Janine though that has been good. Bringing back old favorites like David (even if it was just for a couple weeks) and now Sharon are definite good things! I never thought I would see David Wicks in the Square again, never mind holding his mom's head as she died or running away while Carol chased after him and tripped, crying. Wow! There is a feeling of EastEnders truly using its 80s and 90s legacy now that I did not sense in the mid- to late-2000s when everything was Roxy and Ronnie Mitchell, tons of new Brannings, Stacey Slater, Sean Slater, writing out the Fowlers, etc. Also even if Kat and Alfie have not been written well, at least they are back -- they probably made the biggest splash of any new characters on the show from the 2000s so they need to be on the Square. They are EastEnders icons. Even with so much of the cast different from "the old days," I feel the EastEnders now "feels" EastEnders to me in a way that it hadn't for awhile. I do think some of the groundwork for this was laid while Santer was EP too though, like bringing back Carol and Bianca. Having said all that, I'm still not happy about the rumor about Heather's exit.

I read that Kat's last scene before her leave was at Pat's funeral. She left off-screen. Alfie said sometime last week that Charlie had had a stroke and Kat had left to tend to him, and that was the beginning of the leave.

Hmm, never mind, I just found out what has been reported about how Heather exits and the character responsible. Yuck. Maybe there is something to the bashing after all.

That was my reaction too (the OMG). What a coup! I don't get the Kirkwood bashing, the show seems to be doing much better than it has in years!

Yeah, I guess it wouldn't work ... Just saw the cliffhanger from last Friday on YouTube, because I was looking for Simon's appearance after the credits ... Carol tripping as David left the Square without her, how sad! David must return! These characters still have so much power. Are you still disappointed with EastEnders writing, Carl? Seems like all the clips I've seen lately have been amazing. Simon Ashdown is a veteran EastEnders writer and the show seems to be in good hands with him.

Wow, so SOD was actually substantive back in the day ... Hmmm, with fewer and fewer US soaps, it might not be a bad idea for SOD to start writing about British soaps.

I'm much more affected by Pat dying than any other departure ever! Glad EastEnders didn't kill off Peggy -- they have killed off Kathy, Pete, Pat, Arthur, Mark, Pauline (before Wendy Richard died) -- all core characters who could have come back later. Glad David Wicks is returning. I wish it was for good -- he was compelling, and he actually has a lot of connection to the characters on the show still. I wish I could still watch EastEnders! Keeping up on synopses, there are some moments that seem brilliant (love how they brought up Frank and Phil torching the car lot) and others that seem dumb with the show right now (Ricky and Mandy?; Ben turning out to be Phil's stalker; Lola being pregnant), but that's EastEnders for you.

I just found out about the massive cast culling that was announced a month or two ago ... I am depressed. Charlie Slater being fired seems vicious, a change just for a change. I'm still excited about Kat and Alfie coming back, probably the only EastEnders characters ever to be mentioned in an Oscar winner for Best Picture haha.

Please vote again for Donna. There is now an explicit choice at the end of today's Another World Today episode (which will be the "current episode" until Thursday) -- Is Donna *alive *dead? Vote at http://www.anotherworldtoday.com/aw_today.html Thank you.

Sorry, I seem to be only posting here lately when I'm down on AW Today ... The text story and the Twitter are actually very well written at times,and overall it has definitely brought Bay City back to life. Frankie coming back from the dead alone is probably worth it to many fans (although I started watching after Frankie). I also don't think the real intent is for Donna to die. They probably want her to suffer in order to redeem her after the things she is said to have done. But to put something like that up to a vote invites backfiring. All along I've felt that the writer didn't like Donna and this does nothing to dissuade me from that view. About Cecile, they wrote a nice funny little scene from her point of view from Heaven looking down after she died, you might want to check it out. It was a couple episodes ago. She felt her death was upstaged by Donna being arrested on suspicion of killing her (although at least we know Donna didn't do *that*). LOL.

Ben McKinnon is gay in our Twitter roleplay (which is TeleNext-sanctioned). Most of the other characters people are mentioning are being played on Twitter too. As for interracial romance, Alli is pregnant with GQ (Grant Quinn) Todd's baby, in the main Another World text story. Speaking of the main story, please vote for Felicia to save Donna's life rather than leave her to die in the latest episode even if you have not been following ... I can't believe they are even considering killing Donna off! OMG. She has been getting some good scenes the past few weeks with Matt and Marley where the writers have really nailed her voice, but her character has still been destroyed by all the kidnapping she is said to have done and now they have had her do a suicide attempt or something leaving her with slashed wrists. Valentine's Day 1998 is when Michael died, and this week should have had Donna reminiscing about Michael, not some abrupt, thrust-in, dumb cliffhanger where Donna could end up dying. Please vote today.

OMG I am jumping for joy at that casting spoiler!

In my memory, after the pilot, PC was actually pretty multi-generational and family-oriented at first -- the Scanlons and the Baldwins. Lee and Gail made quite a few appearances early on. Mary's relationship with her sons, and the interactions of the brothers, Joe and Frank Scanlon, were also important in my memory. It was nice to have that as well as the focus on the interns' problems at work. It was a nice balance. I loved the chemistry of the first Joe and Karen and the sweetness of their story. How are you watching the first few months of PC? I'd love to re-live them, those were good times (just the first few months, I don't care about after the Cullitons were fired, lol). But I guess I wouldn't have the time to watch them even if I could. Oh, but those were the days ...

There are some people hoping Cecile did it to herself and it's a fake death. But that's probably wishful thinking. Maybe if enough people write to complain, they will undo the story. I don't think they're really cashing in on anything since the only money they are getting seems to be from people clicking the clips on Hulu. The intention is good, the execution less so. I have had problems with how they've rewritten Donna's history too. It was revealed that Donna kept Lucas kidnapped and hidden for years after he was shot to hide her secret about Jenna being her and Carl's daughter. There are still lots of things I like though, so that's why I keep reading, and the Twitter roleplay is full of fans with great ideas, knowledge of the show, and good writing ability.