Manhattan has been taken! Degrassi is bigger and better than evah!

July 16th, 2010

Degrassi Takes Manhattan

The long awaited full feature film that is the kick-off to the amped up Season 10 of Degrassi is finally here! Oh, happy day! Soooo much dramz went down on Degrassi Takes Manhattan that it might take me all of Season 10 to digest. A cheating scandal, a wedding, a band break up, a relationship break up, gambling, and a pinch of incest all rolled into two hours. Oh Degrassi, how do you fit in all the goodies?

It’s time to break down Degrassi Takes Manhattan. Let’s look at the moments that made us lolz, made us cry and made us cringe (I was serious about the incest).

The milk has been left out too long – it’s spoiler time!

We haven’t even hit the first commercial and someone has already gotten punched! Jane announces to Spinner, while they’re getting matching tattoos (the relationship curse), that she has gotten into Stanford. Devastated that she’s leaving Toronto, Spinner tries to be positive and supports Jane during her valedictorian speech.

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Holly J and Declan are excited about spending the summer together in New York City while Holly J works as an intern at TVM. Fiona will also be there. No one is excited about that. With Holly J leaving for NY The Dot needs a new waitress. In breezes Emma, back from her bike trip across the country. Spinner hires her on the spot, freeing himself and Jane to go to Declan’s end of the year pool party. While at the party Spinner overhears Holly J and Jane discussing Jane’s affair with Declan. I’m sure you can guess where the punch landed.

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Spinner’s fists of fury find themselves on Declan’s face, Jane is left heartbroken and we all learn for the millionth time why getting matching tattoos is the kiss of death. In an attempt to console Jane, Holly J invites her bestie to NY for the summer.

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Spinner leaves the party and upon returning to The Dot finds that Emma has burned the place to the ground after using the faulty sandwich maker that Spinner warned her about. This is soooo not Spin’s day. He should be stepping in dog poo at any minute now.

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After arriving in NY Jane goes sightseeing with Declan and Holly J and it becomes apparent quite quickly that she is a third wheel to the summer of PDA. Jane decides to check out the buskers in Central Park and meets George, band member of Flashin’ Midnight and owner of a very intimidating rock ‘n roll puppy. George invites Jane to audition for his band the next day. They are in desperate need of a singer for their first TV performance on TVM later that week.

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Back at home Spinner gets the news that the chances of The Dot reopening this summer are…well, a dot. Big ‘ol zero. Bleh.

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Spinner decides that the best course of action for dealing with his craptastic week is to begin living in his bathrobe and putting everything that reminds him of Jane into a box. Good start, Spinner, but you’re missing chocolate, wine, tissues and stacks of really, really bad romantic comedy dvd’s.

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While on her way to her first day as a TVM intern Holly J runs into Jay Manuel on the street, who compliments her shoes. Werk it, gurl! That’s like Kanye telling you that your rap is dope. Schweet! After Holly J introduces herself to the funky-monkey banana loving TVM VJ Kristen (played perfectly by fierce ginger Jessi Cruickshank), Fiona walks in and takes over as head intern. Kristen knows Fiona from the socialite scene and as Fiona states, “The Coyne name opens a lot of doors.” I think it also makes you a bit of an ass.

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Jane arrives at her Flashin’ Midnight audition and nails the song, securing her a spot in the band and quite possibly in George’s naughty thoughts. In the T dot Manny, Emma and Jay decide that Spinner’s pity party of one is getting old and it’s time to kidnap him and take him to Niagara Falls.

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As Emma says, what happens in Niagara Falls stays in Niagara Falls. I think that may actually apply to a different city with casinos, but let’s not be picky. Emma turns out to be a master at Blackjack and after winning $2,500 Spinner rewards her with a kiss. And then another. Let the Jane-rebound commence!

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Back at TVM Fiona has been given the job of interviewing Flashin’ Midnight after telling Kristen that she is besties with the bands lead singer, Jane. Holly J is given the task of putting together research on the band. Fiona has made it very clear to Holly J that she wants her out of Declan’s life (srsly, it’s really clear, she literally said it). Holly J, never one to take anything sitting down, locks Fiona in a room right before she is supposed to interview Flashin’ Midnight. When Fiona doesn’t show up for the interview Kristen gives the spot to Holly J, who naturally rocks it. Fiona, finally free, calls Declan in hysterics. Declan screams at Holly J and then leaves with Fiona, attempting to console his (faking) sister.

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In the place where what happens there stays there Spinner and Emma wake up…married. Pretty sure that doesn’t just stay in Niagara Falls. They return to the scene of the crime to find a minister on the Hot Tamale train (So You Think You Can Dance’s Mary Murphy) and find out that their marriage is too legit to quit. Roh row.

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In NY Fiona promises to be nicer to Holly J and offers to throw a party and introduce the newbie to the socialite scene. Apparently that scene includes a ton of Declan’s ex-girlfriends, all who reveal to Holly J that Fiona pushed them away from Declan. Fed up, Holly J announces that she’s tired of competing with Fiona for Declan. Fiona’s response? She plants a big ol’ Jerry Springer incest kiss on Declan in front of everyone. Grossed out, Holly J runs out of the party. Jane has a little smoochy smooch herself at the party, but she did it legally with new band mate and non-relative George.

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The crazy virus has spread from the party all the way to Toronto where Emma and Spinner meet with divorce lawyer played by Who’s Line Is It Anyways alum Colin Mochrie (give him a funny hat and he’ll act out divorce!) and decide they want to stay together. Wha?!?!

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The lovebug has also hit Declan who finally realizes that his sister may be nutters and sends her to live with their mom for the summer and then apologizes to Holly J live on TVM.

Jane heads to band practice and finds out that the old Flashin’ Midnight singer (and George’s ex) has returned to both the band and George. Dissed and dismissed, Jane calls Spinner, only to be told that he’s marrying Emma. Bet she didn’t see that one coming! Jane, thrown for a loop (understatement) convinces Holly J and Declan to drive her back home to stop the wedding. Half way there the couple realize that Jane is setting herself up for a EUGE embarrassment and begin to stall the trip. Jane reacts sensibly to their plan…and steal’s Declan’s Porsche. Dang! She is sooo rock and roll!

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After a misunderstanding and possibly some cold feet, Spinner and Emma tell Snake and Spike about the wedding. Spike’s response to Emma? “How pregnant are you?” Appropriate and necessary question.

All the guests are gathered at the beach for what they think is a last-minute party when Jane arrives and storms into the tent that Spinner is getting ready inside. Once she sees how happy he is she realizes that they are not meant to be together. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on what you like) Manny walks in and misinterprets Jane kissing Spinner goodbye. Girl fight!

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The wedding celebration commences and Holly J and Declan arrive in time to find that Spinner and Emma are married and Jane hasn’t killed anyone. Bonus!

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The cameo’s were a-plenty in Degrassi Takes Manhattan, from Lainey Gossip to Jay Manuel, Kenny Hotz from Kenny vs. Spenny, Colin Mochrie and Mary Murphy. Degrassi references were thrown in for die-hard fans with my fave being Kristen’s announcement that she was interviewing “hot new hip hop artist Drake.” Of course fans remember him as Aubrey Graham playing Jimmy Brooks. When Spinner is kidnapped by Emma, Jay and Manny for the road trip and doesn’t cooperate Emma asks “Haven’t you ever been held hostage?” to which Spinner exclaims “Yes, I have!” of course referring to being shot at The Dot after being held hostage in Season 9.

Degrassi Takes Manhattan was a hilarious, dramatic, touching (don’t act like you didn’t cry when Emma asked Snake to walk her down the aisle) and original film. The amazing soundtrack includes music by the cast and can be heard on the MuchMusic site right here! Season 10 is gonna be bigger and better than ever with four episodes per week, amazing new characters and story lines that have never been done on Degrassi! The only place to see everything Degrassi is right here on MuchMusic!

Season 10 starts Monday July 19th at 9pm ET and airs four nights a week, only on MuchMusic!

Tags: Colin Mochrie, degrassi, Degrassi Takes Manhattan, Jay Manuel, Jessi Cruickshank, Kenny Hotz, Lainey Gossip, Mary Murphy