Degrassi Junior High

"Dog Days" is one of my favourite Degrassi Junior High episodes from season 2. I love this episode because it deals with depression and it's surprising how many teens suffer from depression. It was so intense how Steph was day dreaming about jumping off a bridge. It was so cute how Arthur found a dog. I love how he's having trouble dealing with his mom's new boyfriend. I love how Arthur running away awakes Stephanie from her depression. I give this episode a 10/10.

After her father decides to seek custody of her, Stephanie becomes depressed and begins having thoughts of suicide. This depression doesn't improve when her mother announces she plans to marry her new boyfriend. Arthur finds a stray dog and wants to keep him. His mother refuses this, but Stephanie tells Arthur she will cheer up and maybe this will make their mom change her mind about keeping the dog. this episode was about as good as it gets. showed stephs problems without going overboard and getting all teary eyed. very well acted by all. very good story and dialogue and didnt have a simple solution at the end.

Ahh, depression. I know it well. Like Stephanie, I also went through a severe depressive episode in my younger years. I guess that's why this is one of my favorite DJH episodes. Stephanie can't have Simon, and her dad is reopening the divorce case, wanting to get custody of her. Add to this that her mother is marrying some guy she's only known for two months...poor girl. I think her mom was really cold-hearted towards her (unintentionally). Ms. Kaye, just like my mom, didn't know how to handle her daughter's depression, thinking that is was only a "phase". Arthur's stinky pooch Phil causes problems at his mom's house, but Stephanie promises to clean up her act at home, stating that it may make her mom accept the dog. We really see some sibling love and cooperation in this episode. It's nice to see Stephanie and Arthur bonding.



I would have liked to have seen how Steph dealt with her depression. Did she get counseling? Who knows?

This episode is very sad. Seeing Heather and Erica's responses to Stephanie can make anyone think. There are people on both sides; who keep talking about it and then make an attempt, and also those who talk about it for the sake of manipulating people. So it's good to think about it. Kids of divorce often fantasize about their parents being back together, though neither Arthur nor Stephanie does this. But neither are really happy about Jerry, and what they really want is for them to stop fighting over custody. We never do see if it gets to court or not. But it's painful to see their mom still slamming the dad. If she plans to remarry, she really needs to let that go. Stephanie has a good point, that it hasn't been that long. And statistics on the success of remarriages following divorce are significantly lower. When considering it, one really needs to think about what one did wrong in the first marriage, to not repeat it in the second marriage. Jerry seems to be making a good effort, though, but it's not said if he's been married before. Also, I noticed that here, Stephanie keeps on her baggy clothes, hair undone, no makeup. None of her sexy image. Oh, and Phil is so cute!