Mother and Child Reunion (Degrassi: The Next Generation)
"Mother and Child Reunion" | |
---|---|
Degrassi: The Next Generation episodes | |
Episode nos. | Season 1 Episodes 1 & 2 |
Directed by | Bruce McDonald |
Story by | Yan Moore Aaron Martin |
Teleplay by | Yan Moore |
Cinematography by | Gavin Smith |
Production codes | 101 102 |
Original air date | October 14, 2001 |
Running time | 44 minutes |
"Mother and Child Reunion" is the two-part
Degrassi: The Next Generation is the fourth series in the fictional
The episode received mixed reviews from the
| ||
---|---|---|
Main series
Television movies
Other series
Episodes
Characters
Novelizations
Creative personnel
Related
|
||
Plot
Part One
Spike's daughter,
Part Two
At the reunion party, Joey and Caitlin meet Alison Hunter (Sara Holmes), another Degrassi High attendee. As the evening progresses, Joey overhears Keith and Alison flirting with each other and Keith reveals he does not want to marry Caitlin. When Joey confronts Keith, their argument turns into a physical altercation, and Alison has to tell Caitlin about Keith's hesitance over getting married. Joey and Caitlin have a heart-to-heart discussion about their past and their relationships, and after ten years, finally make amends after she forgives him for his affair with Tessa Campanelli, while Wheels (Neil Hope) apologizes to Lucy for crippling her while driving drunk nine years ago for which she forgives as she realized how he's been through since the death of his adoptive parents.
While her mother attends the reunion, Emma visits Jordan at his hotel, where she meets his teacher, Mr. Nystrom (Jeff Gruich). He takes her up to Jordan's hotel room, but as they enter, Emma sees that it is completely empty except for a video camera which has been set up. She immediately becomes suspicious and tries to escape, but Nystrom blocks her access to the bedroom door. She locks herself in the bathroom, and comes to the startling realization that Nystrom is Jordan. Nystrom apologizes and tells Emma he will let her go, but when she comes out of the bathroom, he grabs and restrains her.
Unable to get in contact with Emma, Manny tells Toby and J. T. that she is afraid that Emma may have gone to meet Jordan. They hack into Emma's email account and realize that Jordan has told her a number of lies. After discovering which hotel Emma is meeting Jordan at, they rush to the school to inform Spike. As Nystrom attempts to rape Emma, Spike and Snake arrive just in time to save her. Emma manages to break free from Nystrom and rushes out of the hotel room. Snake restrains Nystrom until the police arrive to take him away.
Production
The new series was offered a place on a number of television networks, with CTV and CBC (the franchise's former network) vying as the top contenders. CTV won through, offering
In contrast to the previous Degrassi series, which were filmed on and around
Production on "Mother and Child Reunion" began earlier than expected, as CTV initially planned to launch the series in January 2002. At the eleventh hour the broadcaster decided to bring it forward to October 2001 to coincide with the
To appeal to Degrassi's established audience, a number of references to events which occurred in Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High and School's Out were written into the episode. Throughout those two series, Joey would frequently wear a fedora which became that character's trademark prop.[15] The fedora made a reappearance in this episode, and was worn by Manny, Spike, Snake, Caitlin and Lucy, but not Joey, and it appeared in every scene which featured a character from the old series.
Prior to the episode airing, a website was created with a "virtual school" in which fans could "enroll" in order to receive regular emails from their character "classmates" and discuss ongoing plots, in an effort to provide a complete viewing experience for the audience.[16] As the broadcast date of the episode neared, more content was added to the website to make it appear as if it were a true school reunion website.[17] The website was actually seen on screen when the characters Spike and Caitlin were reminiscing about their high school days.[16]
"Mother and Child Reunion" aired on the
References to the original series
The two-part episode would also follow up on plotlines of the original series. The accident in the telemovie School's Out when Wheels hit Lucy while drunk driving was discussed twice, first at the bar when the characters were discussing their lives, and a second time when Wheels came to the reunion to apologize to Lucy. Finally, Joey and Caitlin made amends; their relationship had ended when he cheated on her with Tessa Campanelli in School's Out. Snake, who had been dating a girl named Pam by the end of School's Out, is still angry at Wheels for the accident. Lucy's eyesight is restored (whether in one or both eyes is unclear) and, having completed extensive physical therapy, she is able to walk well with the use of a cane; at the same time, she has completed an honours bachelor's degree, a master's degree and most of the work for a Ph.D. Joey and Caitlin have gone their separate ways and not seen each other in many years (though it is unclear if Alexa and Simon's wedding was the last time). Joey is now a used car dealer and a widowed father of a young daughter. His prediction for Caitlin, however, has come true: she lives in Los Angeles and is famous as the host of an environmental-political television series. At the reunion, Caitlin breaks up with her new fiancé Keith; as she takes off her ring while sitting alone with Joey, she asks him, "Bring back any memories?" Alexa and Simon are still married, as evidenced by the characters sitting together and her actress Irene Courakos being credited as "Alexa Dexter" vice "Alexa Pappadopoulos."
An interview of original cast members done in-character was included as a bonus feature on the Season 1 DVD. In the interviews, Alison Hunter says she is a waitress and wants to become a star in Hollywood. Dwayne Myers says that while he is
Cast
"I was happy to hand the torch off to the new cast back in 2001. The old characters were originally going to be there for the one episode. I was very envious during the reunion special because I knew what was ahead for the new cast. I was looking at them, seeing myself, and thinking 'They're so green, they're so wide-eyed, and darn, I'm not going to be part of that'."
— Pat Mastroianni (Joey Jeremiah), 2005.[26]
Producers were able to bring back a number of actors from Degrassi High to guest star as their characters for the reunion storyline.
For the new generation of students, the producers chose from six hundred auditionees,
Film director
Reception
"When teens tune in, they're more likely to see actors who resemble their lab partner than the Holmes, Jacksons, and Van Der Beeks that people Dawson's Creek. They're going to see much more real kids. Remember the first season of Dawson's Creek? Where they were all saying, 'I may be 15', but in fact they were 18, 19, 20? But our kids are within a couple years of the characters they're playing. Degrassi is more of a reflection of what it's like to be a teen than Dawson's Creek, which have their place and everything, but you know, the kids on Dawson's Creek speak like they're PhD students compared to what normal kids speak."
— Yan Moore (co-creator/creative consultant), 2001.[8]
"Mother and Child Reunion" received mixed reviews from the media. Stephanie McGrath of
Tony Atherton of the Ottawa Citizen had mixed feelings of the new incarnation, saying it "has a cleaner, more polished look, has lost its edge [and offers] nothing new to viewers familiar with the groundbreaking preceding series, nor to anyone else who has watched the deluge of teen dramas since", adding that because there is "little ground left to break in teen drama there is a sense of déjà vu with regards to the plots and characters". He did, however, praise the show for having "the same simple narrative told from a kid's viewpoint, and the same regard for unvarnished reality [as Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High]. It is light years from far-fetched high-school melodramas like Boston Public and Dawson's Creek ... is every bit as good as its beloved predecessor. In fact, in some respects it is even better".[47]
When the series began in the U.S., The Seattle Times' Melanie McFarland was unsure whether its success and popularity in Canada would continue across the border. "As popular as Degrassi was, it was still a mere cult hit in the United States; the crowd that had access to it initially on
"Mother and Child Reunion" was nominated for two
Notes
- )
- ^ Ellis 2005, p. 12
- ^ a b "How It All Happened". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on October 21, 2007. Retrieved October 21, 2007.
- ^ Stohn, Stephen (July 11, 2003). "Shooting Season 3". Epitome Virtual Reality. Archived from the original (Requires registration) on July 29, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2008.
- ^ a b c Yaffe, Samantha (September 3, 2001). "Degrassi finds its place in the 21st century". Playback. Brunico Communications.
- ^ CTVglobemedia. p. R.3.
- ^ Ellis 2005, pp. 106–111
- ^ )
- ^ "Epitome Pictures Studios" (Flash). Epitome Pictures. Retrieved October 21, 2007.
- ^ Ellis 2005, pp. 116–117
- Funimation Entertainment. September 28, 2004.
- Spinner.com. Archived from the originalon September 14, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
- IndieWIRE. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
- ^ "Credits". Epitome Pictures. Archived from the original on October 16, 2004. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
- ^ Ellis 2005, p. 42
- ^ a b Ellis 2005, pp. 146–147
- ^ "Degrassi Reunion Roundup". Epitome Pictures. September 2001. Archived from the original on October 24, 2001. Retrieved August 11, 2008.
- ^ a b "CTV Press Release". CTV Television Network (Press release). Degrassi.tv. August 4, 2001. Archived from the original on August 17, 2002. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
- ^ "Listings for Monday July 1". TV Guide. 50 (2570). June 24, 2002.
- News Limited. August 1, 2002. p. M26.
- ^ "Degrassi: The Next Generation – Season 1 (Canadian)". TVShowsOnDVD.com. 2004. Archived from the original on September 23, 2008. Retrieved August 15, 2008.
- ^ "Degrassi: The Next Generation – Season 1 DVD Information". TVShowsOnDVD.com. 2004. Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. Retrieved August 15, 2008.
- ^ "Degrassi: The Next Generation – Series 1". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
- ^ Epitome Pictures. "Degrassi: The Next Generation" (Requires iTunes software to access). iTunes Store. Retrieved August 15, 2008.
- ^ "Mother & Child Reunion: Part 1". Microsoft. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
- ^ Ellis 2005, p. 43
- ^ a b Atherton, Tony (June 6, 2001). "Degrassi High Cast Set To Return This Fall". Ottawa Citizen. Canwest.
Some of the original teen cast, now in their late 20s, were on hand yesterday to offer advice to the 11 youngsters chosen from among 600 who auditioned for the series of half-hour shows.
- ^ Ellis 2005, pp. 42–51
- ^ Baldwin, Carol (September 14, 2001). "Local actor's role links new and old Degrassi". Oakville Beaver. Oakville, Ontario: Metroland Media Group.
- ^ Ellis 2005, pp. 74–75, 58–59, 66–67, 80–81
- Kitchener-Waterloo Record. Torstar. October 14, 2001.
- ^ Scapillato, Joan (October 14, 2001). "Port teen wins lead role in Degrassi's next generation". Welland Tribune. Osprey Media.
- ^ Ellis 2005, pp. 82, 76–77
- ^ Ellis 2005, p. 89
- ^ "When Doves Cry". Degrassi: The Next Generation. Season 2. Episode 1. September 22, 2002. CTV Television Network.
- ^ Ellis 2005, p. 6
- ^ "Actor/Writer/Director Kevin Smith guests stars on three-part season finale of The N's Degrassi: The Next Generation" (Press release). View Askew Productions. July 12, 2005. Retrieved September 24, 2007.
- ^ Kevin Smith (actor, writer, director); Scott Mosier (producer) (October 20, 1995). Mallrats (Motion picture). Gramercy Pictures.
- Miramax Films.
- )
- )
- ^ "West End Girls". Degrassi: The Next Generation. Season 4. Episode 20. January 31, 2005. CTV Television Network.
- ^ "Going Down The Road". Degrassi: The Next Generation. Season 4. Episode 21–22. February 7–14, 2005. CTV Television Network.
- ^ Sean Reycraft (story, teleplay); Kate Miles Melville (story); Phil Earnshaw (director) (November 28, 2005). "The Lexicon of Love Part One". Degrassi: The Next Generation. Season 5. Episode 11. CTV Television Network.
- ^ Salem, Rob (August 30, 2009). "Degrassi takes Tinseltown". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
- )
- CanWest. p. A12.
- ^ McFarland, Melanie (March 30, 2002). "'Degrassi' back in a new generation". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
- ^ "2002 Directors Guild of Canada Awards". Directors Guild of Canada. 2002. Archived from the original (Flash) on November 23, 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
- Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. 2007. Archived from the originalon September 3, 2009. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
References
- Ellis, Kathryn (September 2005). Degrassi: Generations - The Official 411. ISBN 978-1-4165-1680-4.
External links