For Degrassi: The Next Generation fans, we’ve all envisioned the moment where the entire cast of the hit Canadian teen drama would finally reunite. Perhaps we’ve thought about a reboot, or a vacation-based film featuring all of our favorites. Yet, it is likely that most of us never imagined that the highly anticipated reunion would happen through Drake’s “I’m Upset” music video, a song created solely to diss Pusha T. As we know, Drake hasn’t publicly reacted to Pusha T’s recent response, an allegedly “career-ending” diss, but we did get an ironically cheerful Degrassi reunion instead. So, who’s the real winner here? For the most part, we’re too distracted by the reunion to care much about the odd timing, which may be exactly what Drake was going for. We’re just glad that it happened.
The music video opens with Drake, or Jimmy, being alerted that it’s the night of his high school reunion. Instantly, we witness a medical miracle. Jimmy has apparently learned to walk again, and he’s doing quite well for himself. When best friends Spinner and Jimmy arrive at Degrassi in extravagant suits, there’s an overflow of nostalgia as multiple familiar faces make their appearance, including the longtime friend group consisting of Paige, Ellie, and Marco.
“End up gettin’ loose and gettin’ pictures from my ex,” says Drake/Jimmy as the camera focuses on Hazel and Ashley, Jimmy’s former girlfriends. Staying true to their character years later, we watch as sweet Emma helps to adjust her long-term BFF Manny’s top, as she was notoriously known for breaking the school’s dress code throughout the show. In arguably one of the best moments from the reunion, Jimmy’s infamous shooter, Rick, makes an appearance from beyond the grave, and is then chased through the hallways of Degrassi by an angry mob of Drake’s associates. Later, we discover that Jay and Silent Bob sell drugs regularly to the school’s principal, Archie “Snake” Simpson. We will ignore the cringe that occurs as Snake starts singing Drake’s “The Motto.”
Although these moments can be easily overlooked and even confusing for non-fans, the idiosyncrasies that are still present within each character become icing on the cake for Degrassi lovers. Of course, the reunion wouldn’t be authentic to Degrassi without it ending in flames. But true fans may not be fulfilled quite yet. Even with full appreciation for the six minutes of nostalgia, the video reads more as a teaser trailer with a lot happening at once. While this is clearly to be expected for a music video, the gates are not yet closed for my dreams of a full-length reunion.
