Can’t Hardly Wait
Season: 6
Episode: 4
The-N Airdate: 10/13/06
CTV Airdate: 12/5/06
PLOT A SUMMARY: Ashley is ready to have sex with Jimmy, but there’s just one problem: he can’t get an erection. He follows Spinner’s advice to relax, and randomly gets an erection during therapy. He’s pumped up to finally take things to the next level with Ashley, but finds himself unable to get it up during their romantic evening. Jimmy goes to the doctor and after providing several potential options, the doc gives Jimmy a prespriction viagra-like meds. Jimmy takes them, but they don’t work. He tells Ashley that they should break up because she’s going to eventually leave him if he can’t satisfy her needs. Ashley says it’s no big deal, but he’s frustrated because it makes him question whether or not he’ll be able to do all the things he wants to do in life.
On the surface it seems like a silly episode about a guy’s erection…and it is. And Spinner helps throw a little humor into the mix. But underneath it’s all about how Jimmy’s self esteem is tied to this one simple task. Guys need to be needed by a woman. The feeling is that if we can’t provide the basics (pleasure being one of them in this case), then what’s the point?
Since the shooting Jimmy seems to have accepted the hand life has dealt him, going with the flow and finding alternative ways to enjoy life and express himself. But in this episode we get to watch him lose confidence because he can’t do something that he should be able to do without thinking about it. JimAsh has never exactly been an interesting couple…heck even their “love scene” is one of worst things I have ever see. But at least we have Ashley being supportive without question. It’s easy to feel bad for Jimmy because there is no “quick fix,” and there’s no guarantees that any method used will help him. Jimmy Brooks: Crippled Virgin is not the way you wanna go out.
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PLOT B SUMMARY: Darcy begs Manny to forgive her for what happened between them last year and rejoin the Spirit Squad…Manny agrees. They hold tryouts, and the only person who is worthy in their eyes is the new girl named Mia. They invite Mia to The Dot for a meeting, but are surprised to learn Mia has a daughter. Darcy doesn’t like that at all, and excludes Mia from making the squad. Furious, Manny makes Mia suit up anyway and they confront Darcy at the basketball game. Darcy insults Mia, saying Mia having a baby was a big life mistake. Mia pushes Darcy, which ultimately leads to a large brawl between students from Degrassi and Lakehurst. Mia’s kicked off the squad and Manny wants to quit, but Mia tells her not to let Darcy have full control of the squad.
Welcome back judgmental Darcy!! While this plot ultimately sets up the huge Lakehurst rivalry, in the process it gives us an interesting little rivalry among the Spirit Squad leaders: Darcy and her bible-thumping ways vs. Manny’s lack of desire to take anyone’s crap. This pairing is weird because Darcy is similar to old-school Emma…she’s great when things are calm, but it’s nothing for her to turn on you if you disagree with her principles. Mia and her daughter work well as the catalyst fueling Darcy and Manny’s power struggle. The fact that we have two strong-willed characters who refuse to back down is what keeps this ultimately petty argument interesting.
Kary's Degrassi Blog 
I thought this was an amazing episode that deserved a higher grade than a B. Aubrey Graham is like a male Charlotte Arnold in terms of being one of the strongest actors to grace the show and his portrayal of Jimmy in this episode was heartbreaking. The last scene touched me as we see a guy who is not only insecure with himself but insecure dealing with other people including his relationship with Ashley. Jimash certainly wasn’t an interesting couple content wise, but aesthetically they look perfect together, which is why I enjoyed the love scene very much. This episode is one, if not my favourite episode of the whole series.
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For whatever reason, Ashley was my favourite character in the earliest seasons, and is still among my favourites. This episode in particular emphasizes her supportive, kind nature. That’s something we rarely got to see, sadly.
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I agree with Nina and g
Aubrey was literally was the Male Charlotte after the shooting because he became one with the role and just made the acting come out so effortlessly but great at the same time.
And Ashley is one of my favorite characters. I never really understood the hate that she gets. She was a pretty even and nice character outside her two moments of selfish-ness , the ecstasy and erasing Jimmy off the song. So yeah, I really don’t understand the hate towards her.
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Though I loved Jimash as a couple, because of how good they looked together… there’s no denying that Ashley is a bitch. Throughout the series she’s only ever thought about herself. I’ll admit she probably did love Jimmy more than she loved Craig, she just couldn’t handle getting dumped by him which is why she always tries to leave whenever she has a breakup or things aren’t going her way (I Want Candy, Bust a Move Part 2, Goin’ Down The Road Part 1).
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I think she loved Craig more. She wanted a solo career without Jimmy yet when Craig was all like “hey come on tour with me” she jumped like a little puppy.
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I think people hate Ashley because she was clingy at times, especially when it came to Craig. She did come off as a pest sometimes because of this but I don’t think she was all that selfish when she was on E.
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I hated Ashley with the passion of a thousand suns. She was the worst thing to ever come into Craig and Jimmy’s life. She was such a judgmental bitch who whined and complained whenever either of them didn’t bow down and lick her feet.
I didn’t find a reason for her to return during this season (I think it was this season), especially since she left in a similar manner as before.
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I don’t remember ever seeing this in Take a Bow. Was it in it? ..
http://www.muchmusic.com/tv/degrassi/photos/35056/episode-1127
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(The picture of Owen giving Anya flowers ^)
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I couldn’t take this episode seriously at ALL at the time. But I watched it again several months ago, and it really is so much more than having sex and getting an erection.
I also wonder if the current cast would ever get that close to naked.
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I sure as hell hope not. There are some great candidates but the writers would probably choose Clare and cause some barf-inducing incidents.
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Yeah, this episode is worth it just to see Aubrey Graham shirtless.
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