Ep 3. #YesMeansYes

In Degrassi: Next Class season 1 episode 3, entitled "#YesMeansYes," the students at Degrassi face the reality of sexual assault and the importance of consent.

The episode follows the aftermath of the school's sexual assault awareness campaign, which was launched after Zoe Rivas (Ana Golja) was assaulted by a peer at a school dance. The campaign has sparked a dialogue on campus about consent, but not everyone is on board with the message.

As Zoe tries to move on from her assault, she's reluctant to participate in the consent campaign. And when her boyfriend, Winston Chu (Andre Kim), pressures her into sex, she begins to question whether she really wants to be intimate with him or if she's only doing it to please him.

Meanwhile, Maya Matlin (Olivia Scriven) is struggling with her own relationship issues. She confides in her friend, Tristan Milligan (Lyle Lettau), that she's frustrated with her boyfriend, Zig Novak (Ricardo Hoyos), for pressuring her into sex. As they navigate their way through their own relationship issues, Maya and Zig also confront the importance of communicating and respecting each other's boundaries.

The students of Degrassi also become involved in a consent workshop, facilitated by a guest speaker named Jaeho. During the workshop, the students are given scenarios and asked to discuss what consent looks like in each situation. But tensions rise when a disagreement breaks out between teacher Mr. Simpson (Stefan Brogren) and Jaeho, highlighting the complexities of the issue and differing perspectives on consent.

As the students grapple with the complexities of consent, the episode ultimately underscores the importance of respecting boundaries and giving enthusiastic consent. It's a powerful message that's sure to resonate not only with the characters of Degrassi, but with viewers as well.