"A New Start" is a two-part episode that serves as the premiere of the Canadian teen drama series Degrassi High. Both parts aired on CBC in Canada on November 6, 1989, and on PBS in the United States on January 13, 1990. The episode was written by Yan Moore and directed by Kit Hood. It is the first of three episodes of Degrassi that depict abortion, followed by 2003's "Accidents Will Happen" from Degrassi: The Next Generation and 2017's "#IRegretNothing" from Degrassi: Next Class.
In the episode, which follows the cast of Degrassi Junior High as they begin high school, Erica Farrell (Angela Deiseach) discovers she is pregnant following a summer romance and contemplates an abortion, and her anti-abortion twin sister Heather (Maureen Deiseach) becomes torn on supporting her. In the sub-plot, Joey Jeremiah (Pat Mastroianni), Archie "Snake" Simpson (Stefan Brogren) and Derek "Wheels" Wheeler (Neil Hope) are hazed one-by-one by Joey's former enemy Dwayne Myers (Darrin Brown) and his cronies. The episode was made in reaction to the abortion debate of the late 1980s. The writers of Degrassi had thought of making an episode on abortion as early as Degrassi Junior High but ultimately avoided it due to the extremely polarizing nature of the topic. Angela Deiseach extensively prepared for the episode, including visiting a real abortion clinic where she was heckled.
The episode did not generate the level of backlash the showrunners expected and aired to a largely positive reception for its portrayal of both sides in the abortion debate, and Angela Deiseach's performance as Erica was singled out for praise by some critics. Several newspapers called Degrassi High "gutsy" in tackling the subject matter and not "copping out", and the episode generated commentary in the Canadian media. However, in the United States, PBS removed the final scene in which Erica and Heather fight through a crowd of anti-abortion picketers; a decision which drew pushback from the showrunners and led to Hood's name being removed from the credits at his request.
Plot
Part one
While getting prepared for their first day at Degrassi High School, Erica Farrell (Angela Deiseach) suddenly becomes sick and runs into a bathroom to vomit as her sister Heather (Maureen Deiseach) expresses her excitement at the new school. At Degrassi High, many of the students from junior high school reunite with each other. As Erica and Heather approach the school, they are met by Christine "Spike" Nelson (Amanda Stepto) and Liz O'Rourke (Cathy Keenan), the former of who is now taking her daughter Emma to a daycare nearby the high school. Although Heather is excited to see them, Erica looks on, emotionless. In school, Grade 10 students Dwayne Myers (Darrin Brown) and his friends Tabi (Michelle Johnson-Murray) and Nick (George Chaker) express their dismay at the influx of the younger students and they decide that "initiation" should be brought back "unofficially". Erica and Heather meet up with Lucy Fernandez (Anais Granofsky) and L.D. (Amanda Cook), where Heather tells them that Erica had a romance over the summer; a camp counselor named Jason. Erica, not amused, says Jason was a jerk and leaves. Heather explains that the two had a fight and broke up before they left the camp and then tells them that Erica lost her virginity to him, despite having only known him for two months. After Joey, Snake and Wheels meet their junior high teacher Ms. Avery (Michelle Goodeve), Dwayne bumps into Joey and then blames him, Snake and Wheels for burning down the school and explains his plans to initiate the three of them despite the school having banned initiation. After noticing Erica's behavior at school, she consoles her back at home and the two decide to buy a pregnancy test. Back at school, Snake is targeted in the initiation He later returns to Joey and Wheels covered in white powder as Joey and Wheels run away. As the twins wait for the pregnancy tests, Erica suggests having an abortion, which Heather disagrees with, telling her abortion is wrong. The results come back and she tests negative. Later at school, Erica says her period is still late and decides to buy another pregnancy test which Heather agrees with. In the halls, Wheels is next for initiation and returns to Joey and Snake in the cafeteria covered in shaving cream. Snake and Wheels tease Joey, who is next. Back at home, Erica awaits her test results.
