Toby is tha man today.
What do you consider the most underrated episode of Degrassi? It doesn’t have to be your FAVORITE episode (mine isn’t even in my Top 10 faves)…it doesn’t even have to be an episode that people generally consider terrible, just an episode that you think is overlooked and doesn’t get the credit it deserves.
For me, it’s “Mirror In The Bathroom.” I can’t believe I found this, but below are some thoughts I wrote about the episode over at tv.com over 5 YEARS ago. They still sum up how I feel about this episode:
“Many people believe that the main issue of “Mirror in the Bathroom” deals with eating disorders. I beg to differ. Toby’s eating disorder is just a part (not the focal point) of the overall issue of this episode: the idea of ACCEPTANCE.
The number one desire of every human being on this planet is to be accepted; to be noticed and liked by their peers, parents, etc. I believe this desire is at its peak during adolescence, when teens are trying to “discover” themselves. This episode showed how far a person is willing to go to be noticed. Toby saw an excellent opportunity to become popular by joining the wrestling team. This presented a challenge in itself.
Toby was in the same weight class as Sean, the superstar of the team, and he had to beat Sean to make the team. If Toby didn’t have to wrestle Sean, it would’ve been end of story and Toby lives popularly ever after. However, it doesn’t end that way, and Toby finds himself searching for a way to drop out of Sean’s weight class.
Toby’s eating disorder, starting with the laxatives to starving himself to even binging and purging made the situation more complex. The theme of eating disorders eventually overshadowed the theme of acceptance. Hearing and reading many people’s opinions about this episode, many regard it as not really covering the issue of eating disorders because it was happening to a guy. What they forgot was that Toby was on the WRESTLING team, and as Snake pointed out in the episode many high school wrestlers today have issues involving “making weight”.
Now on the opposite end of the spectrum was the subplot of the episode, which focused on Terri who didn’t want people to know she was a model. We discover Terri is a plus-sized model for a national ad campaign called More Grrrl. She’s ashamed because as she puts it, “I’m fat.” She even goes as far as trying to cancel her upcoming photoshoots because of the comments Mohammed made about her size. Spinner then gives the best monologue of his life by telling her she’s pretty (I agree) and basically telling her to forget about what people will think about her.
This episode covered the greatest and most influential concept of human existence: acceptance and rejection. People will do anything to be accepted, and people will do anything to prevent being rejected. Though most will disagree, I give this episode a 10 because it’d be insane for me to rate it any lower.” (6/28/05)
Kary's Degrassi Blog 
I’m a little freaked out because I litterly JUST finished watching that episode (I’ve been in a watching old degrassi mood) but my favorite episode has to be Turned out..
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Dear Kary,
Could you put my website on your degrassi fan site list?
Sincerely me :)
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See, told u, u wer whoring out ur site lol
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if he called it whoring, he wouldn’t have a list in the first place
I believe the most underrated episode is coming of age because people really don’t mention it but the characters really shown through.
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I think Coming of Age is pretty underrated. The subplot wasn’t one of Jimmy’s best, but Emma’s plot definitly overshadowed any negative effects it would’ve had on the episode. Also Toby, Jt, and Sean’s faces in the classroom scene were priceless.
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That was definitely a good scene, with Emma pulling up her gym shorts trying to present. It was a funny episode but grounded in something that could happen to anyone and really suck.
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I loved that episode, some people think it dont like this episode but i deald wiyh growing up….and yes,the gyms shorts were amazing
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**some people dont like the episode…but it deals with growing up ..sorry for the mistakes
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Jane Says!
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I think a lot of episodes I consider underrated are the ones that made me laugh the most but sometimes aren’t recognized for being funny.
Jagged Little Pill (Season 1) and Rock this Town (Season 6, yes even though JT dies) were fun episodes for me because they involved parties where characters that normally don’t interact with each other are all in a room together and there a bunch of funny little moments.
Another would have to be the episode where Sean gets drunk in Season 2, Message in a Bottle.
These aren’t the best episodes Degrassi has produced but they’re among those that if they were on tv, I’d drop what I was doing to watch the episode because they’re fun.
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I couldn’t disagree with you more about Rock This Town and Message in a Bottle!! Every time I watch Rock This Town I cry like crazy! That said, it’s not underrated, its one of the best known episodes there is. Message in a Bottle was an episode that I find difficult to sit through. It’s awkward and I wish they’d never aired it.
Jagged Little Pill, though, is probably underrated just because of how old it is – but it was a turning point for Ashley and a well acted episode, conveying her turmoil well. (Also, it led to her friendship with Ellie, which was awesome. <3)
As for my most underrated: Take On Me (the well-crafted Breakfast Club episode) or Shout (Paige&Dean – I don't think Lauren Collins ever had a greater moment than Paige's worst one. It was unbelievably real while drawing viewers rather than repulsing them).
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Yeah, I think Jagged Little Pill goes unnoticed a lot because it’s older but like you said, it was a huge turning point for Ashley. I remember watching that when it first came out and thinking it was the best episode of the season and all that.
As for Rock this Town, I think I meant underrated in the sense of all the scenes leading up to JT’s death. It’s a well known episode for that aspect but for me that’s not why I enjoy it so much. I think for the first 20 minutes, it’s a pretty funny episode with Emma getting drunk, Manny setting Liberty up then pulling a Manny and getting with Damien anyway, Derek and Daddy hitting on Alex. It’s those dumber moments that made the episode for me.
Also, I totally agree with you on Shout. I think a lot of people forget that episode as well.
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Also, Kary, I loved your comments on the episode Mirror in the Bathroom not only because I too think the issue of acceptance was the main theme, especially as that was Toby’s main struggle for many years on the show, but also because of your comment about it being the best monologue of Spinner’s life. So true :)
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I thik Whisper To A Scream i quite underrated and is an issue that isn’t coverd too much cutting. I’d love to see degrassi do another cutting storyline.
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I meant think not thik and s not i
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I think that “Take On Me” Is the most uderrated episode ever, to me, it’s my favorite, and i’m not a big fan of Sellie…
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An episode I really enjoy, but I feel gets underrated is the one w/ Hazel’s only main plot, “Don’t believe the hype”. While she wasn’t the best actress I enjoy it for the theme and message of the episode (both in her plot as well as the JT/Liberty subplot)
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I believe “mirror in the bathroom” too, also “whisper to a scream” were the most underrated degrassi episodes.
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I agree Mirror in the bathroom was very underrated
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The episodes with Chantay as the main plot. She’s an amazing actress.
Uhmm actually I feel the series is overrated now :(
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What episodes has chantay as the main plot?
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That’s the point B8, lmfao.
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Why’s that Sarah?
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Lol I was just joking about Chantay but I don’t know, I feel like Degrassi can be a good show, but not all the time. I mean I obviously like it, I come to a block all the time and comment/talk about it but it really isn’t anything special or outstanding.
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For me an underrated episode would have to be “Don’t Believe the Hype”. Many people I think just overlook, or joke about it because it’s “The Hazel Episode”, but I believe it is a great episode and I think Andrea Lewis did a good job in it. I like the overall message of self-acceptance, and wish Hazel would have gotten more storyline’s.
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Gotta be Jane Says >.>
Oh and that episode when Clare bites Declan :O
Those two are good episodes no one really cared for lol
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Jane says was definitely an underrated episodes. I mean, Jane got raped by her own father and it was only covered in one episode.
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I really think “it’s tricky” is under rated. Ashley comes off as a bitch for wanting to live her dream. Its actually the only Ash episode I like, cuz I hated her when she was dating Craig. Oh, and all Craig episodes are the best. Lol
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I think Ellie’s whole original cutting storlyine is pretty underrated (and so is Sellie, for that matter), so that’s “Whisper to a Scream”, “Take on Me”, and “Anywhere I Lay my Head”. Those are three of my favorite episodes, but that might just because because teh concept of cutting has alwasy just kinda intrigued me.
also, “Karma Chameleon”, which establishes the aftermath of “Jagged Little Pill”. and its the first time we meet ellie, in one of my favorite degrassi moments: jimmy hates ashley and she slides down her locker to sit on the floor, where she finds ellie, just chillin, who says “that went well.”
and last, i think “Live to Tell” is pretty underrated. everyone alwasy acknowledges “Standing in the Dark” as the main point of Darcy’s rape storyline, but “Live to Tell” is where her mental breakdown lives, which is what made this storyline so fantastically intense.
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oh, and also “I Want Candy”, when Ashley FINALLY starts to get over Craig’s betrayal.
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From the more recent seasons, I’d say one of the underrated episodes is the one where we find out Connor has aspergers. I can’t remember the name of it though.
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Oh, I’m pretty sure it’s called Causing a Commotion.
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I think all of Season 7 is pretty underrated. It was a lot better than Season 6, imo. I can’t think of any individual episodes rn except maybe “Relax” or “Dressed in Black”
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I really enjoyed Danger Zone. The sort of season finale for season 8 if you don’t count the movie.
I thought Charolette Arnold did a great job. Holly J’s character had really been building towards that episode. I loved her friendship with Spinner and all of the similarities between their characters.
I feel like the show was finally seeing that CA as Holly J was a better focus than Mia.
I also liked the KC and Clare subplot. It was similar to the subplot in Jagged Little Pill with Sean and Emma both being invited to Toby’s, but still a cute scene.
There was a lot of excitement with them being held at gunpoint too.
The only stuff I’d dislike about it was Peter & Mia. But at least they were only a small part. Barely a C plot.
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I loved that episode!
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Here’s some of my favorites…..
Turned Out – Was really good! I like how intense J.T. was in this plot and how he spiral out of control so quickly. I was at the edge of my seat when he overdosed. kudos to Ryan!
When Doves Cry and Tears Are Not Enough – To be honest, I think that was my favorite Craig storylines. Sad at it was, I loved the scene with Joey and Craig and Terri…I was pretty much tired to see Craig dating half the school girls…So i was really pleased they changed it up. Very good acting as well.
Don’t Believe the Hype – Even though it made me dislike Hazel even more, It was such a realistic plot..
Karma Chameleon – I’m not an Ashley fan but this episode was one of her best plots she did. I kinda liked Ashley when she was goth for some reason it kinda worked for me.
Last and not least…..
I Against I – spinner to me, finally showed some maturity for standing up for Marco..
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so does anybody know where i can watch the first few seasons of TNG?
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http://www.teenick.com
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Or on DVD. But just our luck, they’re barely sold in the US anywhere but online, where they tend to be more expensive in the first place. And speaking of which, so far I have Season 2 on DVD, which I got from FYE, and Season 6, which I got 2 years ago as a birthday present from Best Buy before they completely shut them out. To make a long post short, after watching the Director’s Cut episodes, they’re ALL underrated in one way or another. From what I’ve seen of the unedited versions, Karma Chameleon, Weird Science, Drive, Mirror In The Bathroom, Take My Breath Away, Don’t Believe The Hype, Hot For Teacher, Message In A Bottle, Relax, DRESSED IN BLACK, Working For The Weekend, and Sunglasses At Night are all a bit underrated. Hey Kary, you should do a post on overrated episodes next Friday.
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Just found this article where Kary is quoted.
http://www.popeater.com/2010/12/05/degrassi-drake/
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Hunh, looks like I’m not alone when I say Jane says is an underrated episode.
That episode was truly sad, and Jane’s (idk actresses name) acting was incredible! It was one of the most realistic episodes just the same.
I loved that episode mainly because of the fact that I can relate. No, thank God I wasnt raped and trust me, I thank him everyday for that, but being molested by my father can help me see her story fully.
It was protrayed well, how traumatized she was by it, that she blocked out the memories. Then, in bits and pieces, it all began to fall together and she just emotionally lost it after she felt her brother was getting so close. It was sad. I wanted to cry with her when she fell asleep on that bench in the middle of the night.
I love this episode. It was emotionally rupturing. It should have panned out a liiiiittle bit longer. Like, we see what happens to the dad, SOMETHING!! But noo… a really good plot that should have been longer was cut to 30 minutes. They did well fitting it in that much of an episode, but other than that.. it was underrated.
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there were two parts to that episode
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Hunh, really? I thought the first episode was the dad coming back and the second episode where she began remembering things.
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I’ve never hated a degrassi episode. I always appreciated them for what they are. I’d be disappointed some times, but there has never been a down right terrible episode to me.
Man in the mirror was great! I think ppl didn’t like it cuz the “stars” or the usual people weren’t the center of attention (ashley, paige, emma, manny, spinner, jimmy, etc). Even tho toby’s an OG to the next generation, ppl really didn’t care for him which sucked. We even went forever with him not gettin any type of camera time!
Many episodes from the past are underrated for the fact they were rushed. I can’t think of the episode names off the top of my head, but I “disliked” many old degrassi episodes cuz they were rushed. Like emma’s eating disorder it started and ended in the same episode so it felt like she had the disorder for a day and was instantly in the hospital, when in degrassi time she had it for a while. Then it was cured and nearly lost and forgotten, not even a relapse or anything. That’s how Man in the Mirror bugged me. Toby’s disorder started and was done in the same episode. They never talked about terri’s modeling job again! Blahh. In the recent season I love that storylines are carried between all the episodes and past events r always referenced in newer ones. It makes the characters seem that much real!
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To ellaborate more on how old degrassi rushed things…..
like what Sam above said bout “Jane Says”, they started it and ended it in one episode (well for that storyline 2 or 3? Cuz there were parts. Idr how many parts, But outside of the “jane says” episodes there’s no signs of her abuse before or after they aired). I wished we wulda found out about what happened to her father after it all, or that the show would have forshadowed the event (I know she blocked it out, but she culd have subconsciously left hints of trauma for the audience, and the emo/punk look didn’t give much cuz a lotta high schoolers dress n act that way for no reason sometimes). It also bugs me they never elaborated on her brother and his relationship with Mia. I semi wish we were never introduced to her brother cuz he was as pointless as that annoying asian girl (was her name leia?) And blue. I get that the show gives u that high school idea where there r ppl ur gonna hear a bit of this n that about, but ultimately u don’t really know them…which explains the under developed characters, but it gets kinda annoying not knowing what’s up with them!! Lol
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I think the episode where Emma and Craig went off to find Shane, emmas dad, is underratd because the natural curioustity that comes with being abandoned or left by a biological parent is a hug issue for a lot of kids. I also love it because I watched degrassi in the old days and miss spike and Joey and the gang so it was cool for the old and new cast to interact. But anyway it was a simple issue but one that soooo many people deal with. Sometimes we don’t always have to have huge stuff like rape and death but simpler things. And that’s why I love degrassi. Variety :)
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I really like Coming of Age (season 1), mostly because of how it adds depth to Jimmy and his home life (which carries through his entire arc on the show). He was my favourite OG character before this episode, but this made me love him even more.
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