Each of these shows all took place in the same universe, with the kids all attending Degrassi Junior High or High School. Many characters carried over from one series to another and references to past episodes and storylines would make their way into stories upwards of 20 years after they first debuted. It’s part of what earned the franchise such a devoted fan base. The press release for the HBO Max Degrassi series doesn’t make it clear whether this new series will function as a reboot or continue the continuity. It states that the series will be “a reprise of the original teen drama” and that it will be set in Toronto, keeping the franchises Canadian roots. Azzopardi and Cohen simply say that the show will be an “evolution” though this is most likely referring to the change in running time of the episodes. It would be an absolute shame if the new series abandoned the continuity of the older shows. While HBO Max is undoubtedly looking for a fresh start to the franchise, even a few small references would keep the shared universe of Degrassi alive. Main characters from older seasons could be brought back, much like what was done with Degrassi: The Next Generation, perhaps as teachers at the school. They could also pull what TNG did and have one of the babies born during that series become one of the new main characters. At the very least we need some sort of cameo by the longest running character in the franchise, Snake. He’s been there since the first episode of Degrassi Junior High as a student and when we last saw him he was principal of the school in Degrassi: Next Class.
