Content Warning: This list contains mentions of abuse, drug use, sexual assault, suicide, and violence
It is rare for a revival show to upstage the original, but Degrassi: The Next Generation did just that. Its extreme "after-school special" vibes and cast of memorable characters enthralled new viewers for multiple seasons, even after significant roster changes.
What made Degrassi so indelible was its ability to contextualize social problems and slights—topics other shows refused to touch—while still remaining entertaining. The moral lessons were there without ever sacrificing the pure magic that drew a devoted audience in the first place. Although it seemed like every episode was didactic, only a small chunk tackled truly deep issues.
Craig Is Abused By His Father
Audiences were not sure what to make of the mysterious Craig Manning when he first appeared in the second season. He was a young photographer who snapped photos of Joey Jeremiah's daughter Angela. As it turns out, Craig was really Angela's half-brother; they share a mother, the late Julia Manning-Jeremiah.
Life at home wasn't easy for Craig because his father was physically and emotionally abusive toward his son—no one knew but Angela. When Sean Cameron asked about it, Craig tried to take his own life by jumping in front of a m0ving train before his friend intervened; the train scene was cut from some international airings of "When Doves Cry, Part 2." In the end, Craig left his home and stayed with Joey.
Marco's Homophobic Attack
When Marco Del Rossi, the show's first LGBTQ+ main character, went to Dylan Michalchuk's hockey game in "Pride, Part 2," he was attacked by homophobic strangers en route. Jimmy Brooks showed up after and comforted his frightened and injured friend. The next day, Marco declared to best friend Ellie Nash he would not tell anyone else he is gay, and when potential love interest Dylan asked him about his injuries, Marco brushed him off out of fear.
Meanwhile, Spinner Mason continued to be insensitive about Marco's sexuality and attack; he had never been ive of Marco coming out and made light of his assault. Later, Marco confronted Mason in the restroom and told him he was no different than his attackers.
Peter Uses Crystal Meth
In the two-part episode "Just Can't Get Enough," Peter Stone was taken aback at the news of girlfriend Mia Jones leaving for for a modeling job. After then experimenting with crystal meth at a party, he developed a dependency that led to intervention from Mia, his friends, and eventually his then-absent mother.
Other characters in Degrassi also had issues with drugs: J.T. used Oxycodone, Riley Stavros used steroids, and Craig used cocaine. The list goes on and on.
Emma's Eating Disorder
When Emma Nelson helped best friend Manny Santos lose weight for an audition, she thought she should do the same. As a result, she acquired an eating disorder which no one knew about. For Emma, this was about finding control because Snake was gone and dating Peter was out of the question because doing so would just hurt Manny.
This plot lasted a short while before Emma eventually ed out due to a panic attack induced by starvation and had to be hospitalized. At the hospital, Emma accepted helped and talked to a counselor.
Hazel Denies Being Muslim
When the ninth grade's International Day came up, the students were asked to talk about their heritage. Rather than telling everyone she is Somalian and Muslim, Hazel Aden lied and said she was Jamaican.
Yet when a fellow Muslim student, Fareeza, inquired about Hazel's heritage, Hazel became aggressive and said to her:
"Why don't you mind your own business, Fareeza, before Jamaica declares war on Iraq."
This only pushed Hazel to the top of the list of suspects when Fareeza's presentation was vandalized. Ultimately, Hazel told the truth and apologized for her behavior.
Cam Dies Of Suicide
A sophomore student and athlete named Campbell "Cam" Saunders died of suicide in the second part of "Bitter Sweet Symphony." Up until then, it was clear to audiences Cam was quietly dealing with a lot in his personal life; this included anxiety, loneliness, and depression. Classmate Eli went to the school greenhouse and was the first to learn of Cam's death—audiences only ever saw Eli's reaction. Eventually, Cam's girlfriend Maya learned what happened, and the event left a lasting effect on her for multiple seasons.
Cam's ing was shocking because this was the first time The Next Generation had really addressed suicide so directly and frankly.
Paige's Rape
Paige Michalchuk was raped by a college student named Dean Walton in "Shout, Part 1." Paige did not tell anyone other than Hazel, but when estranged friend and bandmate Ashley Kerwin wanted to sing a song about rape, Paige had a visceral reaction. Upon learning about what happened to Paige, Ashley comforted her and said they did not have to perform the song at a showcase. However, upon seeing Dean in the audience at the concert, Paige confronted him by singing Ashley's lyrics.
This story lasted well into the fourth season when Paige's case went to trial. Because there were no eyewitnesses or hard evidence, Dean was found not guilty.
Later in "Standing In The Dark, Part 1," Darcy Edwards is drugged and raped by an unknown assailant.
Manny's Abortion
Manny and Craig wanted to keep and raise their unplanned baby in the 2-part episode "Accidents Will Happen," but after Craig's embittered ex Ashley told the school about the pregnancy, and the couple failed to even temporarily babysit Spike and Snake's baby, the teenagers realized they're not cut out to be parents yet.
In the end, Manny had an abortion after her mother found out. Rather than telling Manny's father, they secretly made an appointment at the clinic.
Terri's Abusive Relationship
Paige's best friend Terri MacGregor had low self-esteem issues because of her appearance, and this was largely why she got involved with school outcast Rick Murray. There was signs of him being abusive and manipulative, but Terri's friends did not speak up as much or when they should have.
Although Terri initially ended things with Rick, they got back together in "Don't Dream It's Over." Rick hadn't changed at all and attacked Terri. She fell, hit her head, and was hospitalized. Her father discovered Paige and Spinner knew about Rick's behavior and was furious. Later, Terri was transferred to another school after waking up from her coma and was never heard from again.
Degrassi's School Shooting
Rick was never a likable character—especially after what he did to Terri—but it was clear he was on the verge of a breakdown after all the non-stop ridicule and bullying he later endured from his Degrassi classmates. When he returned to the school in the fourth season after temporarily leaving, the students made sure to torment him for his past misdeed.
In the end, Rick took a gun to school after he was pranked by Spinner and Jay. Believing Jimmy was involved in the prank, he shot him in the back. The events of the shooting forever changed Degrassi Community School.
