The Canadian show "Degrassi: The Next Generation" has proved to be one of the most progressive shows that we can view on television. It has recently ended it's many successful seasons, and will be renamed, with new episodes available for Netflix streaming at some point this year. With an audience geared towards young teens, "Degrassi" delves into themes that are often controversial, but nonetheless, important. This list details just ten of the times "Degrassi" has proved to be a progressive show.
1. Emma meets an online predator.
Emma has been talking to someone online who she thinks is the same age as her. When she meets him in person, she discovers that he is actually an adult. (Don't worry, her parents find her and "Jordan" is arrested.)
2. Craig is abused by his father
This is dealt with over the course of a few episodes. Craig's father has anger issues and often takes it out on Craig physically. Craig eventually moves in with his mother's ex, Joey, who is father to his half sister. Craig's father tries to come back into his life later in the season. Craig thinks he has changed, but one night his father snaps and pushes Craig to the ground after a dinner gone sour. When Craig gets home, he tells Joey he wants to go to child services and cut off all ties from his father. Before he can do that, he finds out that his father has died in a car accident on the way back from their last fight.
3. Paige is sexually assaulted.
Paige was at a party where she thought she would get to hang out with a cute older guy she had a crush on. Unfortunately, the night ended poorly when Dean took Paige upstairs. Paige said no, and Dean didn't listen. Paige is later haunted by thoughts of what happened, and struggles at first with telling anybody. She thinks, at first, that the assault was her fault. This is not the last time someone is sexually assaulted on Degrassi. It later happens to a character, Darcy, who is drugged at a party and remembers what happened piece by piece.
4. Marco comes out as gay.
Many characters in the Degrassi series are introduced as part of the LGBT community, but Marco is the first. First, he struggles with admitting to himself that he is gay. Then, he struggles with one of his friends not understanding. He is victim of an assault on his way to a hockey game. He struggles with his parents not accepting him for who he is. Marco's road is long and difficult, but it is one that many LGBT youth could identify with.
5. Snake is diagnosed with Leukemia.
Snake (Mr.Simpson,) finds out he has leukemia. The episodes where he is not feeling like himself are tough to watch, as is Emma's reaction to his diagnosis. Fortunately, Snake is found to be cancer free in a later season.
6. Manny has an abortion.
Fourteen year old Manny had unprotected sex with grade eleven Craig, and ends up pregnant. Even though at first she considers keeping the baby and raising it with Craig, she later decides to have an abortion because she thinks that is the best choice for everyone. The two episodes surrounding Manny's pregnancy were not aired in the US for several years because they were considered too controversial.
7. Jimmy gets shot.
Jimmy, who most of us know now as Drake, is shot by Rick. A season or so prior, Rick abuses Terry. The abuse escalates when Rick pushes Terry to the ground into a sharp concrete block, sending her to the hospital. Rick is suspended from school. When Rick comes back, there is a push to get him to leave. After Rick is humiliated on a quiz team, he comes to school with a gun. The shooting leaves Jimmy wheelchair bound.
8. People discover that Adam is transgender.
Adam is the first trans character introduced into the show- and many Degrassi students don't know how to handle it. We watch as Adam goes through his life: his parent's struggle to accept him, the difficulty he has fitting in, and his first relationships. In a devastating end, Adam gets into an accident while texting and driving at night, and passes away during surgery.
9. Eli is diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Eli is a creative character known for his great ability to write. He is later diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which he takes medication for.
10. Campbell commits suicide.
Cam's character was not in the series for long, but made a big impact on the characters in the show. Cam was known as a shy and sweet all-star hockey player- but what a lot of people didn't know is that Cam was really depressed. His suicide came as a shock to a lot of the Degrassi community, and they spent a lot of time thinking about how they could have helped him
