Blog | clare

In this week's Degrassi Fan Favorite poll, we asked fans to choose the best Eclare episode. The winner is... "In the Cold, Cold Night!" We put the full episode online for your viewing pleasure.

I want to personally thank all the fans who voted for this one, because I LOVE THE FROSTIVAL!!!! This episode fills my head and my heart with happiness. Enough typing. I just want to watch it. Here's part one:

And here's part two, which contains so much cuteness my heart might burst.

What's your favorite part of "In the Cold, Cold Night"? As much as I love the Eclare storyline, the scene where Fiona and Imogen ride the Ferris Wheel is one of my all-time favorite Degrassi moments.

We'll post a new Fan Favorite poll on the Degrassi Facebook page next week. In the meantime, let's just watch the Frostival over and over. :)

Eli and Clare are one of Degrassi's all-time hottest couples, but which of their storylines is your all-time favorite? Before you vote in this week's Fan Favorite poll, let's consider the options.

Our Twitter followers nominated the following Degrassi episodes for the Best Eclare Episode. (Want to help us choose the episodes for future polls? Follow @degrassinsider on Twitter!)

Umbrella. Clare finds out that Eli is a hoarder and tries to help him work through it.

Drop the World. When Clare pulls away, Eli crashes the hearse in a misguided attempt to please her.

In the Cold Cold Night. After working together to keep the Degrassi Daily alive, Clare and Eli share a kiss at the Frostival.

Come As You Are. After the break, Clare worries that Eli has forgotten the Frostival kiss. At the Torres party, she lets him know she's "all in."

Sabotage. Eli throws Clare a surprise birthday party that turns chaotic.

Scream. As Eli tries to make sure Romeo & Jules won't be shut down, Clare asks for his help getting revenge on Asher.

So many pretty Eclare pics! So much Eclare drama! Now... get your votes in! We'll put the winning episode online tomorrow, and we'll post a new Fan Favorite poll on the Degrassi Facebook page next week.

This week, we asked you to vote for your favorite Degrassi episode about friendship, and we posted the winner online for Fan Favorite Friday. "My Body Is a Cage" won by a ton of votes! Want to watch Eli and Clare support Adam as he comes out as transgender? We put the full episode online.

If you've never seen "My Body Is a Cage," this is the episode that won Degrassi a Peabody Award (which is a really big deal). It's also one of my all-time favorite Degrassi episodes, so I'm glad you guys voted for us to put it online.

Watching Adam struggle to make peace with his family, his friends, and his own body makes me teary-eyed, but one of my absolute favorite moments in this episode is when he tells Clare and Eli (two of his closest friends at Degrassi) about being transgender. Their response, which is basically, "OK, cool," makes me love THEM so much more, too.

Next week, we'll put up a new poll and post a different winner online, so go watch My Body Is a Cage now!

What did you think of "Zombie, pt. 2," a.k.a. the Degrassi spring finale? Let's talk. If you haven't seen the episode yet, watch it online before you read any further. *Spoilers below.*

I have to start with Maya, because she went through so much in this episode. I'm so not a fan of this Harry guy. When he tried to get her to blow off her audition and make out in the prop closet at school, I was like, "Really, dude?" When she told him about throwing her cello in the dumpster, and he said, "That's so proper," I wanted to take him to the prop closet myself and lock him in there forever. Don't even get me started on "Just go with it." I never want to see this guy again.

I DO want to see lots more of Maya. (Shoutout to Olivia Scriven, the actress who plays Maya, for making that breakdown scene so emotionally intense.) I'm so glad Katie and her mom came home when they did. I think we all knew Maya had been trying to block her feelings out instead of dealing with them, but seeing everything come out at once was so heartbreaking. I hope finally opening up makes it easier for her to move on.

Meanwhile, Zig seems like he wants to be there for Maya, but I was relieved when they had that talk about waiting until she was ready to date. Right now, Zig seems like the anti-Harry, so I'm starting to be OK with the idea of Zaya. Just take it slow, guys. Don't rush me.

The election results are in... Were you surprised that Drew won? I would've voted for Clare, but after the election, when Drew asked her to be his "veep," I realized I like them as a team. They sort of balance each other out, right? I thought one of the cutest moments in this episode was when Drew found Clare crying and tried to comfort her. So awkward! But he gets points for trying.

Connor's attempt to reunite Eli and Clare seems like a failure so far. It's strange to me that Clare was so worried about Eli a few weeks back, and now she feels like her own life is a total mess. I wonder if she would've been more likely to give Eli another chance if he'd had better timing? She was so upset about the election that she probably wasn't thinking clearly. When she told Eli, "We aren't a fairytale," I said "Whut?!?" Clare's always reading romantic fantasy novels, so I figured she'd be first in line for a happily ever after. (If you've seen the promo for the graduation special, I bet you're just as curious as I am about that shot of Eli and the carriage.)

I'm glad that Connor, Jenna, and Alli are getting along again. All it took was knowing how they like their coffee! I just remembered the fight between Connor and Alli back in season 8, when she broke his pencil and he spit on her. Our little gifted kids have grown up so fast. :)

OK. Now let's go watch the promo for "The Time of My Life" again. It gives me chills.

Doesn't Maya make a lovely zombie? Let's talk about the newest Degrassi. I have some questions for you. (If you missed it, watch the full episode online before you read any further. Spoilers below!)

Do you think Zig and Maya should date? I'm torn. I feel like Maya might just be trying to prove that's she's over Cam (But is she really? I'm not so sure). When she asked Zig out, I got the sense that he still feels really guilty and messed up about what happened with Cam. So one hand, I think they'd be a terrible couple, and that the relationship would be a constant reminder of Cam's death. On the other hand, Maya and Zig went through a deeply traumatic experience together, and if they dated, they might relate to each other in a way that other people can't. Either way, they'd probably be a very emotional couple, right?

When Zig rejected Maya, she literally grabbed the next guy she saw and decided to flirt with him instead. (I sigh every time I think about it.) It's understandable that she wants to move on with her life, but I wish she had taken a few days to think about who else she might like, instead of sneaking off to a "senior party." We don't know much about Harry yet, but so far, I feel like Maya is just using him. She seems so self-destructive right now. Don't you just know she's going to regret posting that trashy video on FaceRange? I'm glad Katie and Zig seem worried about her, because I am, too.

Do you think Drew should be student council president? My inner nerd girl thinks Clare would do a better job, but I also understand Dallas' argument that she's "way too serious." I love Clare, but when she said, "This is an important job and you're not smart enough to do it," she sounded so arrogant. No matter who gets elected, it's not like they have to do all the work on their own. They'll have help from the rest of the student council, and I'm sure there are all sorts of guidelines about what they are -- and aren't -- allowed to change. Drew could totally handle it. (Random side note: That scene where Drew accidentally swung Bianca into the wall? So funny.)

I loved Drew's line, "They don't call it a political party for nothing." Oh, Drew. He's definitely more popular than Clare, but do you think everyone who came to his party will vote for him? Or did they just show up for personal reasons, like Maya and Tristan with "Operation: Meet Cute Boys"? Everybody loves free snacks, but the real question is: Who gets your vote? I'm still leaning toward Clare, but she needs to stop insulting Drew. I feel like that kind of thing always backfires.

Meanwhile... Eli and Alli? Hahaha. Connor might be the worst matchmaker we've ever seen on Degrassi. I understand the impulse to set Alli up with someone (the last thing you want in a new relationship is someone else hanging around all the time), but Connor needs to get used to spending time with Alli. She and Jenna are practically sisters, given their current living situation. Alli is single, though, and I can't help wondering... If you could set Alli up with anyone at Degrassi, who would it be? I'm sure you're a better matchmaker than Connor.

And of course, I can't mention Jenna and Connor without saying something nice about them as a couple. I'm so glad that Jenna accepts that Connor is different, and that she likes him anyway. YAY for people who find love, against all odds!

"Zombie, pt. 2" airs next Friday at 9m et! Happy weekend, all. And here's a gif of Clare pushing Drew into a kiddie pool, just 'cause:

The next new Degrassi episode, "Zombie, pt. 1" airs Friday at 9pm et -- but you can peek at a few pics now:

Maya looks a little messed up. (Maybe she just needs to brush her hair.)

Dave and Eli look like they're posing for a dramatic selfie.

Maya and this guy are lyin' around wearin' leis. (I like to do that too, sometimes.)

It looks like Clare and Drew are taking life VERY seriously.

Or... maybe only Clare is?

See more sneak peek pics from "Zombie" here and tune in Friday at 9pm et to watch "Zombie, pt. 1" on TeenNick!

What did you think of the newest Degrassi episode, "Ray of Light, pt. 2"? If you missed it, watch it here before you read any further.

I feel like so much happened during this episode, and it made me cry at least three times. Below are my thoughts on the latest Degrassi storylines. Please share yours in the comments!

So much happened with Eli! I got all stressed out on his behalf during his NYU interview. (I went to NYU, but I never had to do an interview like that, because I transferred in.) When he talked to the interviewers about being bipolar, I was proud of him for being so honest -- and I loved when the interviewer lady complimented Romeo & Jules. I think Eli would like living in New York City as much as I did, so I'm going to be so disappointed if NYU finds out he took MDMA, showered in the girls' locker room, ran through the school naked, and hugged the principal (still naked).

The first time I cried was during the aftermath of that scene, in Simpson's office. I started tearing up when Mr. Simpson told Eli about the heartbreaking thing they have in common. And when Eli told Bullfrog, "Last year, it coulda been me in that greenhouse," I was a mess. It seems so unfair (and so realistic) that some people get help in time and some don't.

Later in the episode, when Eli told Clare, "Cam's not the problem. You are." I surprised myself by not crying. I think I was too shocked to cry. I never expected Eli to be so harsh to Clare. Yes, she was being pushy to get him to talk about his feelings, but I wish he could've found a nicer way to say that he needed time alone. Clare looked SO hurt when she was sitting in the window at the end of the episode. (I have a feeling I'm not the only one who felt a sudden urge to hug my TV.)

So much happened with Connor and Jenna. Jenna and Connor had plans for a second date, but then Becky tried to get Jenna to date Luke instead (What a terrible idea!!), and then Connor punched Luke, and it seemed like Connor and Jenna were probably over... until Jenna told Connor, "I had more fun on our one date than any other date I've ever been on." When I heard that line, I totally started crying again. I never in a million years thought I would like Connor and Jenna together as much as I do. They make me want to build a cardboard space capsule in my living room. : )

And so much happened with Katie and Jake. I am so glad that Katie decided to talk to the therapist, because it really seemed to help. I don't think trying to tear the garden blockade down was her smartest idea ever, but maybe all she and Jake really needed was detention together? It gave her a chance to really apologize, and it seemed like he was ready to hear it. When Katie said "You were the best boyfriend I ever had, and you didn't deserve what I did to you," I started crying AGAIN. And when Jake pulled out that flyer about the soccer coach job, I was so happy to realize that he'd been thinking about her, too.

I'm glad Katie decided to go for it, because the scene where she kicked a soccer ball around with Maya, a.k.a. "Chicken Little," was so cute.

This felt like such a life-changing episode for so many people. I really liked Ray of Light (except for the Eclare pain), even though it made me cry a whole bucket of tears. What did you think? Did you cry a lot at this one?

Hey, what happens when Eli and Clare are hanging out and Talia shows up? THIS. Watch the first scene of Friday's Degrassi here:

This scene makes me make cranky faces at Talia, but let's keep in mind that she probably has no idea Eli and Clare are even a couple. It didn't look like she and Eli did much talking at the paint party.

See the rest of "Ray of Light, pt. 2," Friday at 9pm et!

Need some new Degrassi, like NOW? Watch the first scene of Friday's episode here:

If anyone ever has something to apologize to me about, I hope they use the line, "I come in peace... with breakfast sandwiches." I think I love breakfast sandwiches about as much as EClare love each other. :)

See the rest of "Bitter Sweet Symphony, pt. 2" this Friday, 2/22 at 9pm et!

If you haven't seen the brand new Degrassi episode "Bitter Sweet Symphony, pt. 1," watch it online before you read any further! *Spoilers below*

Everyone seemed pretty happy to be back at Degrassi... right up until they got their Spirit Week bandanas. (That's not how Spirit Week is supposed to work, guys.) When Tristan warned Cam to watch out for Zig, I was like, "This is gonna get messy..." but I had no idea just how messy it would get. That hockey fight was brutal, and the stuff Zig said to Cam on the steps? So mean and so wrong.

A moment of peace, pre-pillow-fight. :)

Seeing Cam cry breaks my heart. I have lots of experience with depression and I wish I could protect everyone else in the world from feeling that kind of pain. I'm glad that when Cam ran into a random classroom to be alone, Alli was in there, willing to talk him through it. Alli seems to think flowers can fix anything. I'm not sure I buy that, but when Cam showed up at the Matlins' as a "bouquet with legs," I just wanted to hug him. I mean, I know he hurt Zig, but I also understand that he's going through some tough stuff, and I think he deserves another chance. The total cuteness of Cam and Maya (and Hoot) wrestling on the couch pretty much made my night. I lovelovelove those two (or three, if you count Hoot).

Meanwhile, Dallas seems really into Alli, but has he ruined his chances with her by bullying Cam? I can never quite decide how I feel about Dallas. I guess he's a good guy somewhere inside, but I wish he didn't care quite so much about hockey. Life isn't always about winning, Dallas! Sometimes, you've just gotta chill.

Dooon't do it, Eli!

As for Eli and Clare and the locker sharing, I have to point out how far Eli has come since the hoarding storyline. He has room in his locker for Clare's stuff, and he's willing to share it with her! And that line about how she'll have her own drawer in his NYU dorm room? *dreamy sigh* But after all the stuff Eli has been through, I was really disappointed that he decided to read Clare's journal. I mean, I know Dave kind of urged him into it, but... I think privacy is essential, and I don't ever, ever, ever, under any circumstances, think it's OK to read someone else's journal (or their texts or email, for that matter).

That said, I feel like Clare could've been a little more careful with her journal, because the temptation to peek at someone's private thoughts can be tough to resist. Maybe she should've kept the journal in her bag, or at home? Then again, if Helen or Glen found it, that could've caused an even bigger nightmare for her. Can you imagine how they would've reacted to her entries about Jake?!? Ohhhh, that would've been bad.

The questions in my head at the moment:
Will Clare forgive Eli for invading her privacy?
Does Dallas have any chance with Alli at this point?
Will Camaya stay together?
What is that adorable little owl up to?

Leave a comment if you have any thoughts! And don't miss Bitter Sweet Symphony, pt. 2, Friday at 9pm et.