The Kids of Degrassi Street

This was the last series of the Degrassi franchise that I watched (including up to season 11.5 of Next Generation) and I just finished the last episode today.

Off to a slow start with pilot "Ida makes a movie". Whilst it contain a lesson about white lies, it was a bit hard to watch as it was aimed at such a young audience. The episode after this "Cookie goes to hospital" was a bit easier to watch, and with each new episode it got easier to watch. By about episode 4 or 5, I was thoroughly enjoying the show!

As a long time Degrassi fan (been watching for 12 years, since I was about 10 when my mum showed me it!), it was also really entertaining to see a lot of Degrassi Junior High actors as youngsters! They play completely different characters, but it was interesting to see anyway! Some of the cast are Stacie Mistysyn (Caitlin Ryan), Neil Hope (Wheels) are the main two that we see, but some of the less main characters actually played a pretty big part in Kids Of such as Sarah Charlesworth (Suzy, Caitlin's friend), Danah-Jean Brown (Trish, on newspaper staff), John Ioannou (Alex, who goes out with Tessa), Christopher Charlesworth (Scooter), Tyson Talbot (Jason, his main appearance is in The Great Race as captain of the swimming team), Arelene Lott (Nancy, editor of newspaper) and Anais Granofsky (Lucy) also makes an appearance towards the end of the show! Funnily enough, Dave James plays Neil Hope (Wheels)'s brother, and then in junior high plays Mike, Wheel's biological father.

Though aimed at younger audiences, the show still held true to the rest of the series. Each episode dealt with an issue, often friendship- related, and had a realistic take on it. It usually did end with a happy ending, unlike Junior High and High; I guess this is because it was aimed at a younger audience. The issues go from little quarrels in friendships, to bigger things like being the only girl in sixth grade with a boyfriend and not letting that get in the way of your friendship, to raising money for school activities and making the right friends. Always a lesson, always entertaining!

Give it a go, just make sure you watch more than the first episode please, because it does get better, I promise!!!

But this one doesn't do it for me. I tried, I tried to like it. Just can't.

Degrassi JR and High makes up for such a shady beginning.

Growing up in Australia I discovered Degrassi Junior High on the ABC after school and was immediately hooked. This was a show about kids struggling through issues that were relatable and educational.

As I got older I heard about this show but it was never something I was able to get my hands on until recently when it popped up on Amazon Prime.

My excitement was short lived as it really is not great. The filming is amateurish, the acting is almost non-existent and although I am sure the writers meant well, the issues covered are really a stretch at best.

I gave it a 6 for nostalgia reasons only. It's really only for the die hard fans that want to see where it all began.

And a humble beginning, for sure. Very low budget, very low key, and very Canadian are three ways to describe this show, the first of the 'Degrassi' ventures. The cast is made up of regular kids, not professional actors (though they did of course get paid for their work here). The slickness and professionalism of the current 'Degrassi' series (see 'Degrassi: The Next Generation') is non-existent here, instead replaced with an earnestness and realism missing from most TV shows, past and present. So realistic at times that it gets a bit boring, but overall the show is fun, mainly because of the appealing cast. The actors/actresses have always been the heart and soul of the 'Degrassi' shows, and this is no exception.

Zoe Newman, Dawn Harrison and Allan Melusi starred in the pilot, a short film from 1979 called 'Ida Makes a Movie,' and all three returned two years later when that short was turned into 'The Kids of Degrassi Street.' Some later regulars include Neil Hope, Staci Mistysyn, John Ioannou, Christopher Charlesworth and Anais Granofsky went on to star in the second 'Degrassi' series, 'Degrassi (Junior) High.' Another latter day regular, Rachel Blanchard, is now a budding film actress. The rest of the kids have been relegated to "Where are they Now?" status, but live on in immortality in TKODS, which is available for purchase on video (two to three shows per video). If you're a fan of the current series, or were a fan of the show from the late 80's/early 90's, then this show is a must for your 'Degrassi' collection. It all stated here, folks.

The kids of degrassi street was an innocent, low budget program that set out to show kids in their natural habitat from home life to the playground.

Actors consisting of regular kids dealing with staying at the hospital over night by themselves, a new marriage, losing a young sibling And trying to impress the opposite sex.

Showing many regulars like Neil Hope who would become a fan favorite and perfect their trade before junior high began.

Different from other installments in the series, the kids version was more realistic, touchy feely and at times slow in pacing. I appreciate those qualities myself since most programming today flies by so quickly you never get to know the characters or care about the problem at hand.

In a way I found the latter eps drawing me in wishing that it could last for a few more seasons or at least keep the characters the same instead of changing who they are and their backgrounds for the new series on the horizon.

For degrassi fans its a must to own as this is where it all started and without the humble beginnings their would be no current show.

While the other is more well known in terms of popularity I find this simple series to be a relaxing slice of life that helps recapture your youth and won an award for children's programming.

Anyone who buys a copy even helps donate cash to PBS or so it claims on the box and helps the likes of Arthur, sesame street and Mr. Rogers live on forever.

So head out to the street and remember what being a kid is all about.