Search - Degrassi The Next Generation - Season 5 on DVD

Christian parenting / values and degrassi TNG season 5

A. Lew | Southeastern US | 07/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an edgy and quite realistic drama about high school and early college students. There are several plots and subplots this season, but the best one to discuss with your kids is probably the one related to teenage pregnancy. Liberty ("L") and JT are a typical teenage couple 15 and 16 years old. L is a very good student, and JT is a lovable joke telling geek. As the season opens they've been dating for about 5 or 6 mos. The topic of their "sex life" begins with JT pulling some condoms out and suggesing that he and L "celebrate" that she has learned to drive a car. This is more immature than crass coming from this character. L declines. He wonders what is wrong (the implication is that they have done this before but L is not longer interested - so JT is wondering if he has done something wrong). L blows him off. She treats JT like "a kid" for several days until he can't take it anymore. Then L finally reveals to him that she is pregnant (about 3-4 mos)! JT is stunned, and because he is driving when he tells her this news, he crashes his car. There are some good schenes when JT is worried and in disbelief at the pregnancy. L is very sick with morning sickness. JT tries to get her to go to the doctor, but she doesn't let him help with that. The two end up breaking up (very common in strained teen relationships), but then JT tells liberty that he won't abandon her or the baby. He is kind to her, and she is sympathetic to him as well. The next time we see this couple L is 6 mos pregnant and beginning to "show" - so JT tries to intervene again. He wants her to get some help with this and go to a doctor. L's brother finally puts two and two together to understand that L (and JT) are pregnant. He and JT get into a fight. Then they finally convince L to go to the doctor and talk to the guidence counselor at school. JT still wants to help so L lets him go with her to the ultrasound where he is amazed at the baby he can now see. He and Liberty decide that they want to raise the baby together and decide they must tell their parents (which the guidence counselor also wants them to do ASAP). The parents don't take the news well - JT's family says they are too young for all this (true - but it doesn't change anything), and L's parents want JT out of the picture (which is unacceptable to L b/c he has been helping her and the baby - her only support) - therefore, the two try to find a place to live on their own, and JT gets several jobs to make money. They never actually live together though. A desparate JT (who works at a pharmacy) finally sells some prescription drugs to a drug dealer (he's encouraged to do this by an old "friend" - who is a rotten influence). JT then tries to undo what he's done to make everything "right" again, but the drug dealer threatens him. L finds out about all this, and she's extremely angry. JT then brings the drug dealer more drugs (since he's threaten to beat him senseless if he doesn't). However, JT saves some of the pills and takes them in his despair. He collapses, and wakes up in the hospital. L is there along with both families. L asks JT if he was trying to kill himself -- he apologizes for everything and cries. The usually jovial JT says "this is no joke" about the situation he is living. L said she feels she has to give the baby up for adoption. JT is devastated. They also break-up (again). I feel this is a very realistic protrayal of teen pregnancy situation. These characters are not drop-dead gorgeous or independantly wealthy. There is a sense that "it can happen to anybody" if it can happen to these two. They want to do the right things, but they keep making mistakes. They got pregnant in the first place b/c they chose to have sex (first mistake) and didn't use the condom they used correctly (this is only discussed, not shown). I believe this show can really help a family discuss these issues. By the way, L does give up the baby, and JT gets to see the baby very briefly. It is (realistically) hard on both of them. The only down side to this portrayal is that JT is actually MORE mature than a lot of guys would really be --- this is something you should discuss with your daughters. There is other stuff in this season that you'll want to discuss (so watch everything before you watch it with your teen - so you can decide what is appropriate to show them - and plan what you might want to ask or say)."

Teen Angst Melodrama Cheese!

E. Arnold | KC Metro | 08/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love the cheesy escapism of this Canadian teen soap, in which every episode is A Very Special Episode. Watch Manny pursue acting, Emma struggle with anorexia, Liberty and J.T. deal with possible parenthood, Craig make it big in music, Spinner try to redeem himself, Jimmy struggle with his identity post-parapalegia, Paige explore a different aspect of her sexuality, and Marco come out to his Dad. And more. The stories seem a little better fleshed out this season, perhaps because of the back work done in season 4. In addition, the writing seems snappier and funnier, but I could have just been tired from being up all night with the baby;) Pure escapist fun. A guilty pleasure for those of us far past our high school days."

Another Great Season

Veda C. Washington | Alameda, Ca | 07/30/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is another great dvd box set of Degrassi! My daughter and I are still loving the characters on this show. It is very interesting to watch the trials and tribulations that this group of teenagers go through.
Highly recommended!"

I'm Gonna Be FAMOUS!!

A. J. Abel | 07/20/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I live for and have an odd obsession with Degrassi. I love it to death, and have even seen some of the actors in person twice!

That being said, although the episodes are phenomenal as EVER, the plotlines are a tad calmer compared to previous seasons. And I was really dissappointed that there were absolutely NO commentaries, because they were definately my favorite part of the Season 3 and Season 4 DVD sets. I honestly believe that if the leads and writers of the "Our Lips Are Sealed" episodes had done a commentary, it could have probably helped a lot of viewers who have struggled with their body image and/or an eating disorder.

On the other hand, the bloopers were hysterical with a lot of funny moments from Cassie Steele. And the deleted scenes seemed like they may have included some alternate plot twists. But one thing that I found odd about one of the deleted scenes is that Manny supposedly borrowed that "look at me" silver sequinned mini skirt from Emma, to wear to Craig's wedding gig in "Weddings, Parties, Anything."

The interview with Cassie Steele wasn't too revealing, and seemed almost repetitive. And the auditions of the new full-season cast members almost make one wonder how horrible the other people who auditioned must have been, or perhaps which acting school whipped the new additions into shape before shooting comenced. 0.0

Overall, I was happy with this DVD set, because it's an addition to my collection, but I wasn't thrilled by it. I personally enjoyed Degrassi The Next Generation - Season 3 DVD set the most because it included humorous and serious commentaries, hilarious bloopers, deleted scenes, and Degrassi Karoke!!! =)

Hope this helped!
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