[WARNING: THIS EPISODE REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS]
Start Me Up joins Holiday Road as being the two episodes that could’ve ruined Degrassi’s season-long streak of pretty good episodes, but ultimately managed to be a decent episode.
Degrassi continues to impress me with its improved focus on continuity this season. Peter needs to get a job to help pay for college, and decides to open up a club above The Dot (and collectively everyone watching the show asks “The Dot has an upstairs?!?!”) Actually Peter opening a club wasn’t as random/contrived as I thought it’d be. It was basically going to be a venue where bands could play, and most importantly a place where people too young for real clubs could hang out…alcohol and drug free.
Well…until Victoria returns. Remember her, right? Fiona’s cousin and the girl who got Peter addicted to meth. And the storyline becomes pretty predictable as soon as she arrives: she’s sober now, but not really since Peter finds out she was snorting up in the club bathroom during a set by Frizzy Hair and the Creepers (lol).
Some people might be disappointed that Peter didn’t relapse, and fall back into a meth-induced path of self destruction…that’s probably because of rumors swirling around earlier in the season that Peter was going to die from an overdose. But he didn’t. And he kicked Victoria to the curb once he figured out she was still using.
This episode could’ve ended many ways, but for me I enjoyed the path they chose even if it wasn’t as dramatic. I loved the irony of Peter’s resolve to stay clean being stronger than the girl who attended a drug support group. The writers have always confused me with Peter because I’m never sure how they want us to perceive him. He’s gone from bad guy, to guy we feel sorry for, to good guy, etc. But it’s clear in Start Me Up that Peter is good guy looking to keep his life straight.
“START ME UP” MAIN PLOT GRADE: B-
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SUBPLOT
Clare’s life is boring, and she is a boring girl. So what does she do? She steals a story about one of Declan’s trips to Italy in order to sound more interesting for a class report. This was a good plot because it’s so easily relatable. I mean how many of us wish we were as interesting as s0-and-so?
Anyway, I personally enjoyed the Clare/KC undertones in this plot. KC *sorta* got a pass for his behavior because of what he was going through in Heart Like Mine, but he annoyed me in this episode. Seeing him and Jenna together in class made me feel as bad as Clare felt, and I wanted to punch him in the face when he talked to Clare in the library. NOW you all of a sudden want to care about her feelings post breakup? In the ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL words of Alex Nuñez while talking to Paige in Dont You Want Me: “You don’t get to break my heart and then comfort me too.”
My heart actually melted at the end when Alli was reading Clare’s notebook. Put it on pause, and take a moment to read what it says; it’s great knowing it comes straight from Clare’s heart. And I’m not so sure that I like the idea of a Clare/KC reunion (because I’m mad at KC now), but I’m loving the fact Clare is going to stand up and go after what she wants, which is him. Now if only she’d give Jenna a massive piece of her mind, life would be complete.
“START ME UP” SUBPLOT GRADE: B
Kary's Degrassi Blog 
Your review for the sub-plot doesn’t seem to be complete. You’re forgetting that at the end of that episode, Clare made it known that she was going to fight for her man. I’m excited for the next few episodes to see how it turns out.
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Yes, I completely agree. And the library scene is also a good one. :)
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Yeah, that scene too. For some reason, it looks like the review for the sub-plot was rushed. I hope it gets fixed later on.
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Yeah I rushed through it just to have something there…sorry about that! Added more today though :)
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yay thanks kary
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Yeah, thanks Kary. It’s complete now. :) And I totally agree with you on Alex’s saying. Man, I wish she never left Degrassi…
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The main plot upset me a bit because my favorite character !RILEY! wasn’t there!!! I know it was about Peter but in the premiere they showed how Riley was always around supporting Peter as much as Peter supported him. Now he just vanished! (I really can’t wait for the next Riley episodes!!!)
When I first saw the subplot I was like “Claire’s got a crush”(SONG)! But she’s after her man! Though I’m against her getting back with him. He broke up with her just cause he would rather hook-up with Jenna. Besides I didn’t feel like they really got each other.
Unlike power couple Holly J./Declan. I must comment about them! They are to perfect for each other!!! This is like nothing Degrassi has had before! Liberty and J.T. were great for each other but had a lot of drama of course. I don’t think Holly J. and Declan will have much drama besides when Declan has to, as he says, eventually leave. The only other big thing that I could imagine between them is Holly J. finally losing her V-card that she was so desperate to discard before.
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I just wanted to add on to your comment of the subplot, in the beginning of the library scene KC looks up and down Clare in a way that I think show he’s not 100% over her either.
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God i hope clare gets over KC..the boy is a total loser…i hope there was a spark between her and declan :) it wud be relly dramatic he leaves holly j for her
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clare needs an older more mature boyfriend like herself and if its not declan than hopefully its blue
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we need more riley episodes and did anyone catch how blue seemed to already know sam was gay what if blue and riley hooked up
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I totally agree with everyone that’s saying they don’t want Clare and KC to get back together. He ‘is’ kind of a loser, and not good enough for Clare. I hope this next stunt of hers to get him back will end up not working, so then she can start focusing on Declan. :D Move over Holly J, Clare’s coming through! Even though he probably won’t be into Clare like that…it’d be cool to see them “almost” hook-up. lol
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Yes! KC is sooooooo not good enough for Clare. Especially if he would dump her like that for that JENNA. Why would she need him back? She needs someone older and more mature.
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And to think I liked KC. I always had a bad feeling about since the start, to be honest. His random freak outs and his defensive personality was bound to break them up. My only problem is, Jenna hooked-up with him so easily… can we say, slut? God, Jenna, have some standards.
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