How Soon is Now?
Paige is still reeling from the aftermath of the sexual abuse she experienced in Shout. She's been seeking counceling to deal with the emotional impact that night had on her. The school guidance councelor, Miss Sauve, has helped Paige come to terms with her feelings. The episode begins with Paige reading one of her journal entries out loud during a therapy session with Miss Sauve. In her journal entry she acknowledges that the events that happened that night aren't her fault. She made a mistake by going upstairs with Dean, but Dean made more than a mistake, he made a choice by deciding to rape her. Miss Sauve applauds Paige for no longer blaming herself. Paige believes the therapy sessions are helping her deal, but she also thinks she doesn't need to continue going to them. She tells Miss Sauve that she's better now, but Miss Sauve encorages her to keep seeking counceling. Paige appears to be doing much better. She's slowly but surely getting over Dean and the pain that he caused her, or so it appears. All seems well, until Paige discovers that Degrassi is playing Bardell (Dean's school) in an upcoming basketball game. As head chearleader, Paige will have to be there, and Dean is a member of the opposing team, so he will be there too. Suddenly Paige realizes she's not ready to face him again, and the fear and anger she feels towards him resurfaces.
So Paige decides she wants to press charges against Dean for what he did to her. She goes to Miss Sauve's office and asks her about the process. Miss Sauve explains that Paige will have to testify in court and the police will get involved. She also warns Paige that these cases aren't always successful because there's usually a lack of evidence. Since Paige showed no signs of injury, STDs, or any physical damage from the assault, she has no proof against Dean in a court of law. This news discourages Paige: "I could go to court, tell the truth, and still lose?" she asks. As a result, she decides she no longer wants to do it.
JT and Spinner believe that Paige is upset because Dean dumped her. They don't know the serverity of the situation, or what really happened that night between Paige and Dean. JT casually tells Paige to get over it and move on. And Spinner is still heart-broken because he believes Paige and Dean's hookup was mutual and desired on both ends.
When Dean arrives for the game, he approaches Paige. She tries to turn away from him, telling him that she doesn't want to see or speak to him again, but he still continues to provoke her. He tells her that she wanted him, and goes on to say "everyone at the party that night saw a girl who wanted it badly, and she got it". Paige breaks down and begins to cry.
No one seems to understand what Paige is going through or how she's feeling. Not even her best friend Hazel.
Spinner still believes that Paige and Dean hooked up that night. However, Hazel tries to tell him that Paige didn't want to sleep with Dean that night, that she said "no". But Spinner doesn't believe her.
Paige becomes overwhelmed and decides to go home. Her anxiety is hightened even more when she sees Dean flirting with Manny outside of the school.
Later that day, during the game, JT finds Paige sitting outside of the school, sulking. He approaches her and tries to convince her to come back inside, but she resists. He asks her what's wrong and she confesses what really happened between her and Dean that night. When JT hears the truth, he takes it upon himself to storm into the gym in the middle of the basketball game and attack Dean. The two get into a fight in the middle of the court, and both are kicked out of the game by the coaches. Spinner sees what happens and approaches Paige outside of the gym. He realizes that something more happened that night between Paige and Dean, and he asks Paige to tell him the truth. But when she doesn't say a word, suddenly it all becomes clear to Spinner. He tries to comfort Paige but she is still fragile. When Spinner sees Dean leaving the school, he runs after him and slams him against the side of the school bus. Paige breaks up their fight and tells Dean that she's going to come after him, forreal this time. The next day Paige goes back to Miss Sauve's office and tells her that she's going to go through with pressing charges. She wants to make sure Dean never has the opportunity to hurt another girl.
The next day at school, Spinner approaches Paige. He offers her comfort and support, and he tells her that not all guys are like Dean. "Some of us are good guys", he says. Paige agrees and decides to ask Spinner to the school dance. The episode ends with the two of them sharing a moment together.
In the sub-plot Marco and Ellie work together to film a commercial for class, but Ellie's feelings for Marco grow stronger, even though she realizes that can't be together.
This was a good episode that offers some closure to Paige's storyline this season. Paige has always been a strong, abrasive, (albeit a bit bossy and demanding), character. So seeing her in such a vulnerable state shows her human side and makes us sympathize with her character. She wants to believe that she is over the assault, but coming face to face with Dean again makes her realize that she's not. I think a lot of important issues surrounding sexual assault cases are discussed in this episode. Many times the guilty party does get away with it beause of a lack of evidence. Somtimes pressing charges doesn't always work. It's important for the show to acknowledge this...not to discourage viewers who are experiencing similar situations, but to portray the truth of how these situations usually unravel. I also like how the show gave us a realistic depiction of how victims often respond to abuse. Many times they blame themselves or think that they deserved it or brought on the abuse somehow themselves. I enjoyed the first scene of the episode when Paige acknowledges that she is not the one to blame and that she did nothing wrong; an important realization that many rape victims should come to.
Overall I thought this episode was delt with in a very realistic and relatable way. Paige's storyline was portrayed honestly and I like that it didn't necessarily have cookie cutter ending.
Grade: B
So Paige decides she wants to press charges against Dean for what he did to her. She goes to Miss Sauve's office and asks her about the process. Miss Sauve explains that Paige will have to testify in court and the police will get involved. She also warns Paige that these cases aren't always successful because there's usually a lack of evidence. Since Paige showed no signs of injury, STDs, or any physical damage from the assault, she has no proof against Dean in a court of law. This news discourages Paige: "I could go to court, tell the truth, and still lose?" she asks. As a result, she decides she no longer wants to do it.
JT and Spinner believe that Paige is upset because Dean dumped her. They don't know the serverity of the situation, or what really happened that night between Paige and Dean. JT casually tells Paige to get over it and move on. And Spinner is still heart-broken because he believes Paige and Dean's hookup was mutual and desired on both ends.
When Dean arrives for the game, he approaches Paige. She tries to turn away from him, telling him that she doesn't want to see or speak to him again, but he still continues to provoke her. He tells her that she wanted him, and goes on to say "everyone at the party that night saw a girl who wanted it badly, and she got it". Paige breaks down and begins to cry.
No one seems to understand what Paige is going through or how she's feeling. Not even her best friend Hazel.
Spinner still believes that Paige and Dean hooked up that night. However, Hazel tries to tell him that Paige didn't want to sleep with Dean that night, that she said "no". But Spinner doesn't believe her.
Paige becomes overwhelmed and decides to go home. Her anxiety is hightened even more when she sees Dean flirting with Manny outside of the school.
Later that day, during the game, JT finds Paige sitting outside of the school, sulking. He approaches her and tries to convince her to come back inside, but she resists. He asks her what's wrong and she confesses what really happened between her and Dean that night. When JT hears the truth, he takes it upon himself to storm into the gym in the middle of the basketball game and attack Dean. The two get into a fight in the middle of the court, and both are kicked out of the game by the coaches. Spinner sees what happens and approaches Paige outside of the gym. He realizes that something more happened that night between Paige and Dean, and he asks Paige to tell him the truth. But when she doesn't say a word, suddenly it all becomes clear to Spinner. He tries to comfort Paige but she is still fragile. When Spinner sees Dean leaving the school, he runs after him and slams him against the side of the school bus. Paige breaks up their fight and tells Dean that she's going to come after him, forreal this time. The next day Paige goes back to Miss Sauve's office and tells her that she's going to go through with pressing charges. She wants to make sure Dean never has the opportunity to hurt another girl.
The next day at school, Spinner approaches Paige. He offers her comfort and support, and he tells her that not all guys are like Dean. "Some of us are good guys", he says. Paige agrees and decides to ask Spinner to the school dance. The episode ends with the two of them sharing a moment together.
In the sub-plot Marco and Ellie work together to film a commercial for class, but Ellie's feelings for Marco grow stronger, even though she realizes that can't be together.
This was a good episode that offers some closure to Paige's storyline this season. Paige has always been a strong, abrasive, (albeit a bit bossy and demanding), character. So seeing her in such a vulnerable state shows her human side and makes us sympathize with her character. She wants to believe that she is over the assault, but coming face to face with Dean again makes her realize that she's not. I think a lot of important issues surrounding sexual assault cases are discussed in this episode. Many times the guilty party does get away with it beause of a lack of evidence. Somtimes pressing charges doesn't always work. It's important for the show to acknowledge this...not to discourage viewers who are experiencing similar situations, but to portray the truth of how these situations usually unravel. I also like how the show gave us a realistic depiction of how victims often respond to abuse. Many times they blame themselves or think that they deserved it or brought on the abuse somehow themselves. I enjoyed the first scene of the episode when Paige acknowledges that she is not the one to blame and that she did nothing wrong; an important realization that many rape victims should come to.
Overall I thought this episode was delt with in a very realistic and relatable way. Paige's storyline was portrayed honestly and I like that it didn't necessarily have cookie cutter ending.
Grade: B