Ep 5. Parents' Day

Parents' Day is the fifth episode of the first season of Degrassi: The Next Generation. The show follows a group of teenagers as they navigate high school and all of the challenges that come with it.

In this episode, it is Parents' Day at Degrassi Community School. All of the parents are invited to visit the school and see what their children have been up to. The episode focuses on several different storylines, each centered around a different student and their family.

One storyline follows Emma Nelson, whose parents are divorced. Her mother is dating a new man, and Emma is struggling to accept him. She feels like he is trying too hard to be her friend and it is making her uncomfortable. Emma's father is also there for Parents' Day, and it is clear that she is closer to him than she is to her mother. Throughout the episode, Emma tries to navigate her complicated family dynamic and figure out how to open up to her mother's new boyfriend.

Another storyline follows Liberty Van Zandt, who is excited for her father to visit but is disappointed when he doesn't show up. She learns that he was called into work unexpectedly, but she feels let down nonetheless. This storyline touches on the importance of communication between parents and children and the impact that absent parents can have.

Meanwhile, Paige Michalchuk is struggling to get her parents to pay attention to her. They are busy socializing with other parents and seem to be ignoring her. Paige feels forgotten and unimportant, which leads to her making some poor decisions later in the episode.

Finally, there is a storyline focused on J.T. Yorke, who is embarrassed by his mother's behavior. She is loud and over-the-top, and J.T. worries that she will embarrass him in front of his friends. This storyline tackles the idea of family pride and the importance of accepting and loving your family, even if they don't always fit in with your social circle.

All of these storylines come to a head during the episode's climax, when a group of students and their parents gather for a game of Degrassi Family Feud. The game ends up being a bit of a disaster, with tensions running high and secrets coming out. But in the end, all of the families come together to support their children and each other.

Overall, Parents' Day is a touching and realistic portrayal of family dynamics and the struggles that teens face when dealing with their parents. It tackles serious issues with sensitivity and nuance, and it is a standout episode in an already great season of television.