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With all of the news that’s been released about Degrassi season 13, two faces have notably been missing from it all: Craig Arnold and Jahmil French. For weeks we’ve been wondering, “Are Luke Baker and Dave Turner returning to Degrassi?”
On Sunday, Jahmil hosted a ustream where he answered fan questions; of course one of them was about his status for the upcoming season. I didn’t get a chance to watch the livestream, but fan reaction suggested that he probably won’t be. Heck, just casually browsing his twitter feed over the past couple of months suggests something is up. Then there was a cryptic tweet soon after:
https://twitter.com/JahmilTF/status/348949515253989376
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Jahmil then came out today with a direct response to the rumors and assumptions:
https://twitter.com/JahmilTF/status/349307705577578498
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All of this back and forth still comes after Jahmil flat-out said he’s still on Degrassi at the beginning of June:
https://twitter.com/JahmilTF/status/340927631451115520
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He has been filming another project this month. Who the hell knows what’s going on here, lol. However, things are far more clear in the case of Craig Arnold. Having tweeted nothing about Degrassi since season 13 started filming, he officially confirmed he’s back on the show today:
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If his character hasn’t made an appearance before now, then he’s appearing pretty late into the season.
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Kary's Degrassi Blog 
are they filming or having a readthrough today
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They were doing readthroughs ! They’re filiming next week
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Good to know they’re still on the show. Jahmil is the most underracted actor on the show, and the character of Luke could be fleshed out alot more.
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At the end of the day, Dave might as well be in the blackhole because they aren’t doing anything significant with his character anymore. So, Jahmil may have confirmed that he’s still on but I think he’s upset that he’s been pushed to the background in favor of the characters who keep the fangirls’ panties wet aka Drew and Eli, who has more than enough development not to return next season.
Bitches be like: “We’re not racist, we just didn’t give Hazel another main plot because Andrea’s acting performance was poor yet Jahmil’s acting performance was AMAZING but we’re never giving him another main plot either.”
The writers/producers are FULL OF IT.
As for Luke, I hate his character but he HAS potential for development and redemption and Craig deserves a chance at a good storyline.
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LMFAO. MESS.
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Oh but what about Jimmy and Liberty? Jimmy got shot yet never had the A-plot in any of the aftermath episodes in S4 and basically became the token disabled person the rest of the show. Liberty was pregnant, but the storyline was mostly about JT and her giving birth and giving the baby up for adoption was a B-plot. The guy she loved was murdered while on his way to tell her that he still loved her AND she was the one to find the body, yet doesn’t get any episodes from her perspective about it for the rest of her time on the show. But Maya is still affected by her boyfriend of half a season’s death into the next season (not that she shouldn’t be, but still). Don’t even get me started on the colorism aspect as well. Dave has actually fared better since he actually was the perspective character in his major plot.
I wonder if Kary has ever thought about writing about this,especially since Andrea Lewis wrote that tell all blog post? It is something that gets brought up regularly enough that it would be interesting to discuss here since this is the only Degrassi webspace where you can have intelligent discussion about the show.
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@DTNG
I don’t remember asking you a goddamn thing.
@Thad
Excellent points!
“It is something that gets brought up regularly enough that it would be interesting to discuss here since this is the only Degrassi webspace where you can have intelligent discussion about the show.”
No. There’s also the Degrassi Wiki. However, sites like tumblr, facebook, youtube etc. have the most IGNORANT little fangirls I’ve ever seen.
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These writers are a trip… Like I honestly don’t understand why they write off so many characters with potential while keeping ones with loads of development despite having certainly reached their prime – I love Imogen and I’m glad they held her back because there’s definitely more to be told with her, same with Dallas. Drew is not a favorite of mine and he’s definitely received a proper amount of development but it fits with his storyline so whatever. I do like Eli and it was clear to me he would return in SOME capacity in the event that Eclare survived the season but come on, there’s no way he’s going to play a major role with actual storylines of their own, like honestly. I will say, it’s ridiculous to give people star billing but yet do nothing significant with them, and if the Dave and Luke situation means they’re finally learning to distinguish between “regulars” and”prominently featured supporting characters” then perhaps it’s a sign of hope.
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I’m guessing that Craig Arnold won’t be used much this season. He wasn’t utilized much last season, and I’m guessing he will just remain a supporting character on the fringes of the main storylines.
I hope Jahmil gets at least a couple decent major plots through the season for his sendoff. I don’t know why he wasn’t used more last season, unless it had to do with the suicide storyline overlapping a bunch of episodes with a small number of characters. His shift from a main character to a supporting one was noticeable, but hopefully it was just because of all the other storylines the writers had going on that didn’t directly affect him. Either way, I look forward to seeing him again. He’s a good actor, and deserves a great sendoff this season.
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I liked Luke just like I liked Dallas…Both “Owen” type characters who you can’t really put your finger on. I guess with Dallas there, and probably taking on a big role in upcoming episodes with the losses to graduation, there’s not really much time for Luke. I’m excited for Dallas to get a lot of screentime, he did well with the plots he was given last year, in addition to being a great support character throughout.
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Dave was really the only one that I wanted to return and think Luke could have not returned. He doesn’t bring anything different to the show and I don’t even miss him. He’s like another Blue to me except I felt like they could have actually done something with Blue.
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I hope Dave returns-Still pulling for a Bhandurner reunion! In all seriousness, if there is going to be a “Simon/Alexa” of this Degrassi (not counting Spemma)-it should be Dave/Alli…Despite not getting as much hype as EClare. I think there the most
“real” couple on Degrassi.
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Man this sucks, jahmil is an amazing actor way above almost all of the guys and even girls on the show. He is actually the only supporting character that I wish they would use more. Geez lower drew’s epi count and give him something. As for Luke I don’t really care, the actor wasn’t that great (then of course he hasn’t had the chance) and the character is generic (then of course he hasn’t had the chance)
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I honestly think a good chunk of this season will be taking place over summer. Michael Kinney (Coach Armstrong) recently posted on Instagram that he was back on Degrassi for the first time this season, with a lot of familiar faces and some new ones. They’re preparing to shoot 21-24 so.. Have no idea what they’re up to at this point, it’s all so confusing.
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They have just written episode 21-24 they are working on filming 11-20! I’m pretty sure the film in 10 episode intervals over a couple weeks! So they are working on the fall episodes :)
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they didnt update daves character twitter profile.. i dont think he is returning
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Jamil r u coming back on degrassi? It’s boring with out u and Craig on the show we lost to ppl so far it be fun and nice to have u and Craig to join us on season 14 plz
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