Blog | adam
Did Dave Do That Right?
Posted on 08/04/2011 by MaryBEWARE! SPOILERS AHOY.
Time for a fun game of... "LET'S BOSS DAVE AROUND!" If you were the boss of Dave, how would you have told him to handle his Sadie/Allie conundrum?

Dave and Alli, thinkin' 'bout it.Obviously it's easy for us to play Armchair Love Quarterback now that we know how things turned out, but let's put ourselves at the crucial decision moment and take it from there:
- Dave had been harshly rejected by Alli more than once, but thought this time... maybe there was a vibe. Was it possible he was crazy and wishfully misinterpreting "signals"? Yes.
- Dave liked Sadie a lot. Sadie's a great girl and a great girlfriend. But he had a bigger heart-spark for Alli.So: dump a good, solid thing for an enticing question mark?
One way to look at it is: if he doesn't feel 100% about Sadie, maybe he shouldn't be with her anyway.
Another way to look at it is: being single when you had a decent thing and blew it... not as fun as the other kinds of being single.
What would you have bossed Dave into doing?
And on the Cake front: Well, well! Looks like Clare's not actually getting taken for a ride by Jake! I think he really likes her... I think he finds her refreshing. Plus, let's not discount the fact that they knew each other when they were little. The whole "throwing frogs" at her thing -- is there any surer sign of a youngster crush? What do you guys think of their long-term potential?
And: I'm really glad Adam and Drew aren't leaving Degrassi. That would have been the biggest bum out ever.
One Way to Change a Mind
Posted on 07/26/2011 by MarySo, here's what put these two shows on my list of Favorite Degrassi Eps Ever.
I love when Degrassi shows us not just a candy-coated version of high school foibles, but the ugliness that happens when people make mistakes because they just don't know any better yet.
"if there's one thing we can't count on Degrassi for it's showing us the good AND the bad." - GOODOLDDAYS
Totally, GoodOldDays.
So, the backlash against Dave -- the LGBT club petition, the disciplinary actions, Zane's lecture, the discomfort of his closest friends, and the angry glares he got from a trans-tolerant student body at Degrassi -- it's all understandable. When people say cruel, insensitive, harmful, and intolerant things, it pisses us off. And we say things like "I wanted to punch him" and "I hope Sadie and his friends completely dump him."

Adam gets through to Dave in Degrassi detention.But did anyone else think it was interesting that the thing that actually made Dave think was a frank explanation from Adam of what was at stake (civil rights) and what it's like to be him (frickin' not easy). In that conversation, Adam took Dave seriously, and tried his best to connect with him on a human level -- he didn't just write him off. And that's what made Dave step out of his defensiveness for a minute so he could really consider his actions... the scorn of his community didn't have quite the same effect -- it made him feel cornered and persecuted. Is it fair that Adam had to be preternaturally mature and able to handle this so calmly in order to get through to Dave? No. But it was so much better for the outcome that he was. And would all of the Daves of this world sit there and listen to Adam's sensitivity training? No. But that's why I give Dave credit for being a decent and open-minded human being (if slow on the open-mindedness uptake).
Remember: Dave doesn't watch Degrassi like the rest of us. He didn't know anything about what being transgender means (just like a lot of us didn't before we met Adam.) And if Sadie and his friends completely dumped him... there's a good chance some other students at Degrassi would have been more than happy to give Dave the pats on the back he wanted, and they would have formed an insular and potentially dangerous little crew of haters. (I don't know where Owen's at with his various phobias these days but... he's certainly a candidate.) And since the basis of their friendship would have been hate, it would have festered and festered... this is how you end up with, say, white power crews. You know?
Anyway. Big fat kudos to Adam for being the bigger man, and to Dave for catching up eventually. Big fat kudos to anyone out there who tries to educate those around them. And major sympathy to Adam for having to figure this stuff out on his own:
"Honestly...adam has NO help in all this as to how he should approach anything. he's lost. ... i think adam needs to hear some advice from someone who knows about transgender difficulties...and dave needs to grow up!" - BETHANY65
Seriously... I wish Adam could talk to TeenNick user RILEY:
"When I was watching Adam go into the bathroom I was cringing so hard! As an ftm myself I saw two things he did wrong going in there and I knew it wasn't going to end well. One he was making small talk which isn't the worst thing but then looking at Dave while he was doing his business was breaking the code of the mens room. I was sitting in bed waving my hands at the computer screen when Adam did this "like what are you thinking???" Although I see where Dave's coming from, he had no right to publicly humiliate Adam on the damn radio. That's probably the last thing Adam needs is to be openly singled out for being transgender and for making a mistake."Not cool, Dave.
Posted on 07/25/2011 by MaryHere's what the most surprising thing about tonight's Degrassi was, to me anyway.
It's that at Degrassi, in 2011 (or whatever year it is in Degrassiland), you could hear the figurative record skip when someone said something offensive about his trans classmate.
I know we'll see tomorrow how that record-skip vibe affects Dave -- spoiler alert, it doesn't change his mind. But for all of the hurt that his words caused Adam in that moment, the fact that a bunch of high school students -- of the "oh, kids can be so cruel, teenagers are heartless" variety -- that their immediate reaction was "that's not cool," makes me lickle heart sing. I know it wouldn't be like that in every school... but I know it's like that in a lot of schools. (Maybe even because of Degrassi. I get chills!)
I guess the question is: will Dave experience his classmates compassion for Adam as a lack of compassion for him?
There's a lot more to say but... we'll talk tomorrow after we've seen how this all plays out.
In the meantime: did you sympathize with Dave's discomfort? Are you angry at him? Giving him mental high fives? Cringing? How would you react to Dave's words if YOU went to Degrassi?
Degrassi: Chasing Pavements, pt. 2 - Let's Discuss.
Posted on 04/08/2011 by MaryTHERE ARE SPOILERS YONDER, 'NEATH FIONA'S FACE, but fear not, for you can watch all of Degrassi: In Too Deep - Chasing Pavements, pt. 2 online in HD right now by clicking on those words there. When yr done, let's talk:

Fiona on Degrassi: In Too Deep, Chasing Pavements pt. 21) Alli: "I don't know, how do you trick kids into studying?" Simpson: "You don't trick them! You just hope they're going to do it on their own accord. You always hope...." Haha poor Mr. Simpson. What are your true motivations for doing well in school? Your own personal growth? Not getting in trouble? Getting free tokens at Chuck E Cheese?
2) I know a lot of us were pulling for Fadam because, like @rediwings32 tweeted to us @teennick:
"I so want Adam to get the girl. He deserves it and Fiona deserves someone who will make her happy and treat her right."
I was totally with you on that, rediwings32. But now that we know what Fiona really wants is to be with a girl... I think things have turned out for the best. Adam wants someone who will like him not for "being stuck in a girl's body", but for being the funny, sensitive, loyal, and understanding guy that he is. He's really only begun the process of transitioning from F to M... and I have a lot of hope that someday, he'll find a girl who loves him for who he really is -- a guy. What do you guys think of how things turned out this week?Also, because I know there's some confusion out there (I saw some in the comments last week): Adam doesn't want a lesbian girlfriend (like Fiona), because Adam isn't a lesbian -- he's a guy. A straight guy. If he were gay, he'd be into other guys (as some transgender guys are). He was born in a girl's body, but that body feels, at the core of his being, completely wrong for him. So Adam is now living and will continue to live as a guy, and he wants to date a girl who's into guys, because that's what his gender identity is. He's a he.
3) Alli and Bianca giving each other a pound rather than a pounding... did you ever think you'd see the day?
4) OWEN! God! When Anya was lamenting to Chantay that maybe she was carrying a grudge about the way Owen treated Riley and Zane, all I could think was, "Uh... that's a valid grudge." I mean, he's never apologized for it and it offends Anya (and me) (not to mention offending and injuring Zane) (AND not to mention what he did to Adam) so... seems like a valid thing to hold against someone IMO!
So I guess I wasn't that surprised to see that Owen did not indeed "get it" that touching girls in a super-familiar way without their permission is gross, wrong, and gross. And wrong. Here's something I saw in the comments of last week's Degrassi Breakdown, from KayKay[:
"I had a similar yet more intense situation as Anya in 8th grade; I was too ashamed to tell my parents, much less any teacher. I got over it, but to this day, it's still something that haunts me. Girls who get sexually harassed shouldn't tolerate it, they should be straight up with the guy, and if he doesn't stop, then the girl should definitely tell a parent or teacher.We can't let creeps like them get away with it."5) "OK, why are there only two options for girls: either she likes you, or she's a bitch." - Anya MacPherson. YEAH ANYA! TELL HIM! How can someone -- girl or guy -- be like "I'm into you" and then if they're not interested be like, "Get over yourself"? I guess hurt feelings make people say nonsensical things sometimes.
Degrassi Sneak Peek Pictures - Time for Fadam?
Posted on 04/04/2011 by Mary
Fiona and Adam on Degrassi: In Too DeepWith Fiona back from rehab and back at Degrassi, is it time for her and Adam to finally make things work?
Or... are we looking at a Folly J future?
Congratulations to Degrassi on its Peabody Award!
Posted on 03/31/2011 by Mary
Adam and his family and friends say goodbye to his former identity, Gracie, in the Peabody Award-winning episode of Degrassi, "My Body Is a Cage"Degrassi won a PEABODY AWARD!
It's no KCA, but it IS a 70 year-old prestigious media award that's pretty hard to come by, and a HUGE honor. Stacking that on top of those GLAAD media awards, we are so, so proud of Degrassi right now.
The winning episodes were "My Body Is a Cage" (part 1 and 2) -- aka the first episodes where we learned about Adam being transgender. The Peabody people say, "True to its history, the durable high-school serial’s two-parter about a transgender teen neither trivializes nor overdramatizes its subject." WORD THAT. Degrassi: neither trivializing nor overdramatizing subjects since 2001, y'all. (Or 1979, depending on how you're counting.)
I took another look at them today and man... Degrassi was really, truly firing on all cylinders during those two eps. I mean obviously Jordan Todosey did an amazing job, but so did Luke Bilyk... and the B story was Anya's mom having lymphoma, which was another one of my favorite Degrassi stories because I love the rapport she and her mom have! Good God did I cry at these episodes.
Want to watch again? Click here for My Body Is a Cage, part 1 and here for My Body Is a Cage, part 2.
Degrassi OMG: Fiona and Adam, Truth or Dare
Posted on 02/12/2011 by MaryRemember that time Adam was all "Truth or dare" and Fiona was all "Truth" and then Adam was all "Dare" and then we were all "Omgomgomgomg, DANG Adam! Show her whatcha workin' with!"
Show of hands... who here has kissed someone during an actual game of truth or dare?
Adam's Degrassi V-Day Mini
Posted on 02/12/2011 by MaryAww, it's Adam before he knew that he and Fiona were going to end up with their faces mashed together on her couch! So hopeful... and so has no idea what he's in store for.
Did you see Degrassi: In Too Deep?
Posted on 02/11/2011 by MaryHOLD ON.
If you haven't watched the hour long premiere of Degrassi: In Too Deep.... one, what's wrong with you, and two, thank heavens you can watch the whole thing in HD on this site. What would you do without us?Here's part 1 and here's part 2.
SPOILERS BELOW UNLESS YOU'VE WATCHED MMKAY?
Sooo...
* FADAM! Orrr... not? What do you think of them as a couple? How angry do you think Fiona is about the whole intervention thing? How much better does he look in Declan's clothes than he did in the baggy stuff?
* Dr. Chris and Anya. Hrm. He's into LARPing! And Renaissance Faire! Match made in heaven. And also he's finished med school while she's not even out of high school. What do you think the prognosis is for their future? Does it creep you out that he's going to wait for her to be 18, or do you think it shows some dignity and respectability?
* Dave and Sadie. Aww, Dave! She's adorbs! We're so glad Dave finally met a girl and didn't completely permanently screw it up. What are your thoughts on taller girl/shorter guy couplings? (We here in TeenNick blog land are 100% pro, for what its worth.)
* "Everyone knows the rule is half your age plus seven." What are your personal limits for how much younger or older of a person you'd consider dating?
* "She'd kill me for giving this to you, but after all you've done..." Holly J!! You can't just go around handing out pages from people's journals to other people! Why were you even reading Fiona's journal in the first place?! Still... I'm glad Adam got to read that.
Watch the first scene of the Degrassi Premiere!
Posted on 02/10/2011 by MaryIt's here, it's here! The sneak peek for Degrassi: In Too Deep! SKUH-WEEEEEEEE!
So... looks like Fiona has an excuse for her flake-age at Adam's (and Clare's and Eli's) party. Is it me, though, or does something seem... off? What are your theories?
FRIDAY NIGHT AT 9p ET! On TeenNick, but of course.
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