What started with The Kids of Degrassi Street in 1979 grew into Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High, The Next Generation, and Next Class. For over four decades, the franchise pushed boundaries—teen pregnancy, AIDS, suicide, bullying, mental health—long before anyone else on television dared.
In this High and Low Retrospective, we dive into:
How Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood created a uniquely Canadian series that became a global cultural export.
The continuity that set Degrassi apart - Spike’s pregnancy becoming Emma’s backstory, Snake growing into Principal Simpson, Joey Jeremiah’s evolution
How Degrassi launched careers for Nina Dobrev, Shenae Grimes, and Drake (Aubrey Graham)
Why its raw realism influenced later shows like Skins, Euphoria, and 13 Reasons Why
The delicate balance between realism and melodrama-and whether Degrassi’s honesty would still work in today’s streaming era
