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“Degrassi: Now or Never” recap: Week 2

At the high school I went to in the South, almost every book we read was about a) the South, b) women, or c) black people (preferably black Southern women). And while sometimes it felt as if my school was trying to make up for something, I definitely appreciated the uniqueness of our reading list and how much it allowed me and my classmates to avoid the writings of dead white men.

Every now and then we’d break the cycle and just read a good ole Southern writer, like William Faulkner or Flannery O’Connor. Now, if Flannery O’Connor taught me anything, it’s that good men are hard to find and that, when you find one, someone usually ends up dead, so it’s a damn good thing Degrassi isn’t a gothic Southern novel. Instead, this week’s Degrassi episodes have left us two good men richer than we were a week ago, and that, my friends, is a story that’s truly hard to find.

(There’s a lot to cover this week, so don’t worry, there’s some good Fiona stuff later in this recap — this week was almost an overload of LGBT storylines!)

The set-up for the week is that Adam and another guy, Dave, are competing for a gig on the student radio. After each submitting similar show proposals — “The Man Show with Adam Torres” vs. “Dave Turner Man Hour” — the student body president, Sav, informs them they’ll be duking it out on air. Let the best man win!

Dave, however, complains that he “can’t lose to Adam, of all people” because it would be weird for a transgender guy to host a man show. Dave’s girlfriend counters that Adam’s nice and funny, so Dave better bring his A-game if he wants to defeat him fair and square.

Sav warns them the principal is nervous about turning the airwaves over to students, so they better keep it clean. Which, of course, means that s–t’s about to go down, in three, two…

Adam — bless his heart — does not hear the warning bell that I’m hearing and, without having read the episode summary as I have, clearly has no idea what he’s stepping into. His perpetual innocence is both endearing and unnerving.

Sav turns the radio on as Adam excitedly claims he was born ready to do this show. “Oh, is that how you were born?” Dave asks, and Adam retorts, “How were you born? Short?”

Somehow, this on-air sparring wins them a joint show, “Mano-A-Mano with Dave and Adam.”

Afterward, they both stop off at the bathroom (Adam just to wash his hands), and as they’re standing there, Adam attempts to mimic Dave’s stance at the urinals. Dave notices him staring, freaks out, and practically trips out of the bathroom in his rush to leave.

Later, as Adam waits for Dave to show up to their brainstorming session, he explains to Eli that he only went into the men’s bathroom in hopes that it would help Dave see him as just another dude. In fact, he recently got a stand-to-pee device online and is planning to start using it. Hence, the stance-observing.

Adam also confesses that he doesn’t know how he should be acting after the earlier incident with Dave. Eli suggests ignoring the whole thing, an idea Adam immediately rejects. “If Dave can’t handle this, who can?” he says. “Give him some credit.”

Now this innocence I mentioned? I don’t think it’s just innocence anymore. Adam is willing to believe the best of everyone, even if it means willfully disregarding possible signs of danger and especially if it means giving himself a better chance of being a normal teenage boy. He starts by giving everyone the benefit of the doubt that they’re going to accept him. If you want to prove his belief in you wrong, you’ve got your work cut out for you. Which means Dave is about to get to work.

When Dave shows up, Adam tries to bring up the bathroom incident. Dave deflects, claiming they’re good and there’s nothing to discuss, before high-tailing it… back to the bathroom. Great. Foolish, wonderful, trusting Adam decides to follow. Brainstorm session in the bathroom!

This time, while Dave is washing his hands and Adam is at the urinal, Dave creeps over to try and figure out how Adam is able to stand to pee. Because, you know, Dave peeking at Adam is totally fair, right?

Now, I have two main thoughts on this bathroom storyline. On the one hand, it’s good to see that Degrassi isn’t shying away from the issues Adam is facing in his life, one of which is being able to safely use his bathroom of choice — the men’s room.

On the other hand, though, it’s frustrating to see the whole episode focus around Dave’s fear of sharing a bathroom with Adam, a fear that is most frequently employed by the conservative right as a political tool to make the public view trans people as freaks. Degrassi definitely handles this topic with as much finesse as I could ask for — Dave’s actions throughout the rest of the storyline result in the school’s student body viewing Dave as the unacceptable one. However, I still find myself wishing that they’d shown Adam dealing with some other issue — one that just has to do with Adam, not with the unfounded fears of the radical right — instead.

Back in the bathroom, Dave, unnerved by Adam and his stand-to-pee device, flips out and flees, yet again.

The next day, he barely shows up on time for their radio show. Adam tries to apologize for the day before, but Dave says they should just do the show. Right, Adam responds. “We’re both men, who needs to talk?”

And apparently, who needs to tell their co-host they’re changing the topic and ignoring their brainstorming session from the day before? Not Dave. What he wants to talk about are “bathroom rules.” “Not to get all politically incorrect,” he starts, “but should girls be allowed to use the guys’ bathroom at school?”

He manages to rant on-air for a couple sentences before his use of the slur “tranny” prompts Sav to cut the radio off and Adam to book it out of the recording studio and away from Dave. The rest of the school looks into the studio, horrified. “Not cool, Dave,” Sav says.

Despite his girlfriend’s (and pretty much everyone else’s) disapproval, Dave maintains that what he said on air felt “so right” to say. He continues to mouth off, voicing his surprise that Adam bailed — Dave “thought he could take it.”

When Adam walks up to confront Dave for attacking him on air instead of just talking to him, Dave claims he was simply expressing an opinion, but if it was “too intense” for him, Dave is happy to do the show solo. Adam, looking on the disappointed side of furious, explains that the school’s LGBT Club is now petitioning to get Dave kicked off, so maybe Adam will be the one doing the show solo.

In shock, Dave runs off to find Zane (apparently the leader of the LGBT Club? Who knew!) to ask about the protest. Zane explains that the word “tranny” is hateful language and Dave’s rant on the radio “made it clear… from a power position” that he’s against transgender guys being in the men’s bathroom. Dave, however, continues to insist he didn’t do anything wrong.

I was prepared to do so much more commentary on this episode, Degrassi, but Zane took the words right out of my mouth!

When Dave goes to beg Sav for help, Sav says there’s a fine line between controversial and offensive, so Dave’s off the show.

Feeling like he’s been silenced for “speaking the truth,” Dave decides to go into the women’s bathroom wearing a dress to “prove a point.” His friend Connor (underwear guy) is a blind follower who mutely starts to put on a dress, but their other friend, Wes, balks at the idea. Despite Dave’s insistence that he’s the one who has been wronged, Wes refuses to partake in the ploy, and underwear guy switches to follow Wes’ lead. I suddenly mind the blind following a bit less.

Back with Eli, Adam explains that the backlash about the radio incident has been mostly against Dave. He feels like he’s in the middle of the debate even though he hasn’t said a thing.

Just then, they run into Dave being thrown out of the women’s bathroom as he shouts, “Remember, if I’m dressed like you, it’s allowed!”

“You think dressing up is what this is about?” Adam says, offended. Dave rattles off some offensive statements before purposefully knocking into Adam as he walks past. Never one to shy away from a fight, Adam turns after him and morphs their verbal brawl into a physical one that the principal has to break up.

In the principal’s office, Adam seems to get off with a slap on the wrist and the principal’s vow of continued support for him. Meanwhile Dave’s dad says that he had thought his son wouldn’t do something like this, “but here you are in a skirt. So much for being a man.” Yeah, and so much for modeling respect for all genders. There are a lot of similarities and overlaps between transphobia and misogyny, and Dave’s father’s statement exemplifies that.

The principal explains that, while Dave has the right to free speech, “this school belongs to all of us. It has to be a safe and comfortable place for all of us.” Dave may have the right to free speech, but that ends where it encroaches upon Adam’s right to a safe learning environment. The radio ban is to remain in place.

As it turns out, Adam’s slap on the wrist is less carefree than Dave thought. The two of them sit in detention where Adam explains that, because of the bathroom incidents of late, he’s “back to the handicap crapper.”

When Dave mockingly pities him, Adam explains that using the men’s bathroom isn’t a special privilege. “How would you feel if it were you?” he pushes.

“I would just follow the sign on the door,” Dave says simply. Adam thinks for a moment before responding, “Yeah, well, 50 years ago that sign would have said ‘whites only.'” Dave counters that that’s different because it’s racism, but he seems shaken by the comparison nonetheless.

“Okay, maybe it’s not exactly the same,” Adam admits, “but still, you discriminate against me based on something I didn’t chose and can’t change.”

I don’t know whether Adam just wants to be another teenage boy so badly that he’s willing to give infinite second chances or whether he’s actually that nice a person — I suspect both — but either way, it’s pretty clear he’s a good man in a storm. He can hold his own, and, despite his anger, he’s willing to take a moment to explain things to Dave, to try to educate him in the hope that it will make him less transphobic.

Later in the episode, Dave walks past Adam waiting for the handicap bathroom. It seems someone’s mind is changing …

Dave sneaks into the recording studio and locks himself in. Despite the principal and Sav banging on the doors and windows for him to stop, he turns the signal on.

In front of the whole school, he admits that he “was freaked” and resorted to “stupid, hateful language” when he should have just “started a dialogue” with Adam. As he apologizes for causing offense, security arrives to unlock the studio door.

Adam, however, gestures everyone to stay back and let Dave finish. “If you let me keep doing the show, that’s what I’ll do,” Dave says, “talk about the tough stuff, ask questions, try and understand instead of judge. So, Adam Torres, you down for this?”

“Depends,” Adam responds, stepping forward. “You going to be pulling any other skeletons out of my closet?” Oooh, what other skeletons does Adam have? I want those storylines!

“Nope, I just want honest talk,” Dave says, as Adam takes the chair in front of the other microphone. “So the question here is: what makes you a guy exactly?”

“Nooo, the question is: what makes you a guy?” Adam returns. And unlike their initial jabs about who was born what way, Dave responds perfectly this time: “OK, I deserved that.”

It’s a well-earned reconciliation. Dave said some unacceptable things throughout the course of the week’s episodes, but he also came around in the end and admitted that he was wrong, which can be damn hard to do. Adam, for the most part, was kinder to Dave throughout the episode than Dave had any right to expect from him, understanding that Dave’s freak out was simply a result of his ignorance.

Adam’s other brief appearances this week involved pointing out how Eli is milking his limp for all it’s worth, complimenting Eli on his ability to converse civilly with Clare, and dedicating an on-air tribute to Dave on a day he was home sick. He declined to be the one off whom Eli bounced ideas for his play, he concluded that Eli’s new friend Imogen is crazy (I’m more than inclined to agree with this assessment), and when Eli tried to make Adam take away his anti-anxiety medications to see how he functioned without them, he refused.

Back on the U.S.S. Fiona, we find out she’s short a few credits and therefore won’t be graduating with the rest of her senior class. In the meanwhile, she’s been assigned to an 11th grade theater class to pick up an arts credit and doesn’t have anyone there with whom to hang out.

Bemoaning her friend troubles in the hallway, Holly J asks if Fiona’s “on the friend path” with Charlie (not that that would help with the theater class…), and she practically skips out the door to work on that “friendship.” She shows up unannounced at Charlie’s workplace, bearing a picnic lunch.

In the midst of a haltingly awkward conversation between Fiona and Charlie, another girl comes up to them and tries to flirt her way into a discount before Charlie interrupts to introduce the two of them. Fiona is introduced as someone Charlie met over Spring Break, while the other girl, Elise, is … not introduced as anything.

Charlie, have you not seen Bridget Jones? I need thoughtful details. Or at the very least, I need to know if this Elise girl used to run naked through your paddling pool.

Apparently Charlie shared some thoughtful details with Elise, though, because she says to Fiona, “I heard Charlie got you hooked on scooters, too.” Oh dear god. The scooter metaphor that never ends. Fiona responds, “Yeah, I’m still trying to get the hang of it,” and then rewards this abominable-scooter-double-entendre-telling friend with an invitation to join them for lunch. Oh Fiona, you make me want to revoke your learner’s permit…

Back at her apartment, Fiona lays out her fears of being alone at Degrassi next year when all her friends graduate. Charlie assures Fiona that she’ll still be around and invites her out bowling that evening. Unfortunately, Fiona’s mother happens to come home to catch her skipping school, and offers Fiona an ultimatum: attend school like she’s supposed to or be shipped back to New York.

After missing bowling the night before, Fiona is having trouble getting a hold of Charlie to apologize, so she decides to chase her down in person. When she pulls up outside the shop where Charlie works, she finds her fighting with Elise.

Fiona approaches after the argument ends to ask if she’s OK. Charlie deflects, sharply refusing Fiona’s offer of lunch and telling her to “just go back to high school.” Speaking of, how old is Charlie? What’s her deal anyway?

In light of Charlie’s “rejection,” Holly J encourages Fiona to find a project she can focus on. Luckily enough, back in her theater class, Eli asks her for a favor. Begrudgingly, she steps forward and proposes to the class that Eli write the play. Her speech convinces the teacher to nominate her for director, which means Fiona’s found her new project!

After school, Charlie finds Fiona to apologize for snapping at her. Fiona asks if she made up with her girlfriend, at which point Charlie explains that Elise was her roommate, not her girlfriend. Could have fooled me. Apparently Charlie has lots of school debt, has been struggling to make rent, and has now been kicked out by Elise. So again, how old is Charlie supposed to be?

Fiona, shocked to discover Charlie is now homeless, offers to take her out for coffee to talk about it — after all, that’s what friends are for!

Holly J comes outside as Fiona and Charlie are parting ways, and Fiona literally dances her way across the street. “That is a pretty crazy dance there, crazy legs,” Holly J says by way of greeting. She expresses her happiness that Fiona now has the play and won’t have to pine after Charlie from afar.

“Well, there’s no need for pining, and it won’t exactly being from afar,” Fiona teases. “Charlie’s losing her apartment, so I said she could move in with me. Friends don’t let friends be homeless!” Especially when a U-Haul is so conveniently located in your lesbian starter kit.  No, but seriously — I think I’ve discovered a new standard for U-Hauling. Fiona, you are gayer than I ever gave you credit for.

Holly J voices her concern that living platonically with one’s crush could be challenging, but I don’t think Fiona heard it over the glorious sound of a U-Haul pulling up in her daydreams …

In other brief drama class news, Fiona mentions some concerns about the play, pushes Eli to come up with a new concept, and, when Eli tries to resign, talks him back into it by threatening to get Clare to write the play instead.

These episodes are definitely worth catching up on (Riley and Zane also got an interesting and… frustratingly realistic storyline this past week), so hop on over to TeenNick.com to check them out! New episodes of Degrassi: Now or Never air Monday thru Thursday.

What did you all think of Adam and Dave’s storyline? Can you see Fiona and Charlie’s new living arrangement working out?

Degrassi: Now or Never airs Monday through Thursday on TeenNick. You can watch full episodes at TeenNick.com.

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