life with derek season 4 part 2: the legacy of dasey & series wrap-up

We're wrapping up the end of a fantastic series, covering the last two episodes of season 4 - episode 17 (Surprise) and episode 18 (Futuritis) - as well as where the cast is now, our overall thoughts on the series, a quiz to see how well Jess paid attention, and how the show stacks up to the other classic NBN series we've watched thus far. 

We've loved Life with Derek and hope you've enjoyed our coverage of it! 

Please rate & review and reach out to us on socials with any thoughts you have to share. 

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Theme Song by Patrick Dunnevant, (https://www.youtube.com/c/AcappellaVGM)
Artwork by Dawn Wheeler (https://www.instagram.com/wool_and_stone)

Chapters

• 0:00 intro
• 7:23 surprise
• 29:23 futuritis
• 43:14 where are they now
• 53:24 final thoughts & impact
• 1:00:01 quiz
• 1:08:36 series ranking

Transcript

Get home from school turn on my TV who are these friends staring right back at me now that we're older why don't you come over and go back in time with me 90s babies nostalgia 

Hi, I'm Amanda.

And I'm Jessica.

And this is 90s Babies Nostalgia, where a couple of 90s babies rewatch and sometimes watch for the first time, tween entertainment from the early 2000s.

Just to be clear, we are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the channels, shows, actors, products that we talk about. We just really love talking about TV. And today we're talking about 

Life with Derek. Season four. We are finally, finally finishing kind of. it This is a joke finale because we're watching, we're recapping the last two episodes of season four and wrapping it up. But technically this show's finale was made for TV movie called Vacation with Derek and there was a reboot. So, or not reboot, but like spin-off movie so There's still more to come, potentially, with this series from us, but we're wrapping up the final of the episodes.

Correct. Yeah, I think we'll for sure we'll probably do all of it cover life with Luca and vacation with Derek We're just not sure when might be the next episode you listen to it might not be can't really tell you 

And isn't that the fun thing about having our own podcasts and making all of our own rules? 

Correct

Jess, before we get into it, what have you been enjoying lately?

So I'm annoyed because I know a while ago I started a note on my phone of like things that I've been watching or enjoying so I could reference later. And then like a week ago, I know at like 2am when I couldn't sleep, I like went through my phone and aggressively deleted all the notes because I was like, why do I have so many notes in here? And I definitely deleted that one. So I was very frustrated with myself this morning. But that long story to say I'm going to do a podcast, I have really been consuming a lot of media except for re-watching heartstopper.

I mean, and so valid. 

Yeah

I also have been rewatching Heartstopper and Grey's Anatomy.

Yeah, so um I have been enjoying a podcast called CD Burners. It's the two creators of Emo Night. and they have a podcast where they basically go through and listen to an entire album typically an album that's like 10 plus years old some that they're super familiar with some that they're not so familiar with and they kind of like just talk through the album their thoughts like if they think they missed like the peak of the album, they recently did an episode on the wonder years and they were like, how did we miss this album? It was so good. and then they normally bring on someone from the band in the latter half of the episode to discuss the album with one of the band members. Um, it's really, really great. It's all emo punk music. Like it's, we're not exploring other genres here, but it's, um, an awesome, awesome podcast.

That's cool. And emo night is the, it's an LA event, right? That is like emo club nights.

So I think it's, okay, I could be wrong, but I'm pretty positive it started on the East Coast, like a New York or a Chicago, but now it's across the country and they normally do like touring events. And yes, it's like club events where you go in, there's a DJ that plays like a bunch of different emo music. And a lot of times, band members of the songs the DJs are playing will also like pop out like they have a lot of good relationships like I know Demi Lovato has shown up to a couple of the emo nights in LA 

Yeah, that's how I know about them is cause Demi likes them.

yeah yeah yeah so but they're all across the country now but I want to say they started east coast but yeah it's the two creators

Very fun. So they are experts in their field.

Yeah, or at least have the relationships. I don't know if they're experts. I don't agree with all their takes, but that's what's fun about listening to it, right? That I'm like, that's not the best song on that album. Or they'll like diss certain songs that I'm like, you just were not there to experience the moment. um What have you been enjoying?

I fell off of reading for a while for a few good months there and I'm finally reading more again because I got really sad and went to the bookstore and emotionally bought books that directly reflected my mental state and one of them is one that I've wanted to read for years now because it's a bestseller that I've seen all over called I want to die but I want to eat teokbokki which is a Korean food if you don't know and it's a memoir but each chapter is like a different therapy session because this girl recorded all of her therapy sessions with her psychiatrist when she started going for depression And she has a lot of self esteem issues and childhood trauma. And it's like each chapter is a different theme of her therapy, where it's just straight up a conversation between her and her psychiatrist. And then afterwards, she writes a little like, kind of debrief or thoughts on it. it hits very close to home. And it is very candid and very good. And she also says in the intro, like, remember, if you're feeling like this is too personal to you it's not it's personal to me it's my memoir and the therapist or the psychiatrist doesn't know at the end of like these are imperfect conversations between two imperfect people trying to help someone so but yes it's um it's fun it's a good book I recommend it for anyone who I don't know likes that kind of stuff it's not all sad they make jokes

Yeah.

And she's very often like, this is so ridiculous, which is how I feel in therapy lately, is like, this is so ridiculous.

Yeah. Is it new or is it old?

So she recently came out with a sequel, which is the same exact concept, and it's called, I Want to Die, But I Still Want to Eat Teokbokki

Okay.

And I accidentally bought that one, not realizing it was the sequel, and then was like, now I have to go buy the original. And I think this one's like four years old in the English translation.

Okay.

Also, but for anyone watching or listen, anyone, it's ah it's a paperback book that I kept in pristine condition until I was near the end and I spilled an entire mug of hot tea on it and it's so warped and messed up now.

That's kind of why I asked because like, obviously my camera view of you is not as clear as what everyone who's watching on YouTube can see. But even for my view, I can tell that it's like, it looks well loved. So I was like, is that old?

it looks crunchy. No, I bought this like a month. No less than a month ago.

Okay, okay, that's funny. All right, we are getting into our final two episodes of season four. We already covered the bulk of season four in a previous episode. So if you haven't listened to that, go listen to it. But in this one, we're going to cover episodes 17 and 18 and then go into our wrap up and rankings. And episode 17 is surprise.

So this is our prom episode. Somehow we've gotten to the end of the series. Casey has broken up with Truman, if you don't remember. Derek and Sally are broken up because she went off to canada to Vancouver. And Emily starts off this this episode by breaking up with her boyfriend. And so now they all have to figure out who they're going to senior prom with. And Emily, of course, has a binder full of all of the available prom candidates to track so that they can ask people.

Yep.

Eventually, when like none of the friends are having luck, because everyone they ask has already asked someone else, like Kendra's going with Sam, which is so random. And Noel is going with some girl that Derek was going to ask. Emily and Casey decide that they're gonna go together as friends. So then, of course, immediately after, Derek finds out Emily's single and asks her to go. And if you've been listening to us, you know that this is like Emily's biggest dream come true, right? And you know what? Kudos to our girl Emily for holding it down and not freaking the fuck out when he did. She really was like, no, actually, I gotta ride with my girl Casey. but Derek doesn't make it easy for her because he admits that he wants to go with her because he actually likes her and he kisses her.

He kisses her inside the closet where everyone in this family just loves to have a conversation. All while this is happening Marti is upset because no one in this house tells her anything. And she's like, I'm little and no one cares to share anything with me because I'm little. And she can tell something's up. And then later on, they go back into the closet, Derek kisses Emily again, and Marti interrupts and catches them.

Mm. Marti tells Casey they're in there and Casey catches them.

Oh, yes, yes, that is what happens.

Yes.

um Marti just got a love her. while this is all happening, Derek is like, I have to go with Emily. So Casey needs to find a date. So Derek at school tells Truman that he should take Casey to the prom, even though this is a terrible idea. But Derek just really does this not want to go to prom alone. Casey then after all of this is happening you know is she kind of comes to terms with like okay Emily you should go to prom with Derek this is like your biggest dream come true I know you've like liked him for years and years and years even before I was in your life so you should go and I'll just stay at home and babysit And so she's like in her PJs, watching a movie on her bed when she learns that Emily and Derek are downstairs and are not gonna leave until Casey goes to prom.

Mmhmm.

And as she's upstairs getting ready, Truman shows up at the door and she agrees to go to go to prom with him, but very reluctantly.

Mmhmm.

And then they dance at prom. He goes in for a kiss, but she pulls away. And then he opens up to her about, you know, like before meeting her, his parents had gone through a divorce. He wasn't taking it easy like it was very hard for him. And so he pushed her away because he got scared and he asked for another chance. Do you want to get into the side plot? Because it's wild.

Yeah, so Casey agrees to give him another chance. They kiss. That's prom, right? And then after prom, we have some big family announcements, which come from the side plots, which is basically just that Nora's pregnant. We find out at the start of the episode that Nora is with child. New Venturi-McDonald collaboration is pending. And she tells George at the start of the episode, but keeps it to herself throughout the rest. And then at the end, they're like, whoa, so many big changes in the family tonight, like Emily and Derek, Truman and Casey. And also, there's a baby coming. And everyone's like, aren't you old?

Yeah.

Yeah. Yep, that's the episode!

Yeah, and the side plot gets into my first note, which was this entire episode was so focused on the stupid fucking prom and not on Nora's pregnancy. And I was like, guys, I need it flipped. I need 80% Nora's pregnancy, 20% prom. Like I did not need an 80% prom focus episode.

I don't need to Nora pregnancy episode. I don't. The only thing I could have taken was a little more hesitancy or surprise on George's behalf, but I think that maybe this is one of my least favorite tropes.

Mm.

of like the show is coming to an end let's throw another kid in which obviously this is the end end so we're not seeing the other kid the way that we did with like good luck charlie which they just randomly had another kid in the last like season and a half maybe yeah i don't know i don't care about it i'm like you already have five

Yeah, yeah, true, true.

This episode was so wild though that by the time the reveal came to the whole family, I had forgotten about it. like the Even though we as an audience knew she was pregnant, by the time that she told the kids, I had like forgotten that was even in the episode. So I get why you say that like you needed more of it.

yeah because i was like this is such a big thing whether you like the trope or not it was such a big thing for them to just like really spend no time and to kind of be like guess what we're pregnant and everyone like at first is like aren't you old and you can tell there's some hesitancy but then they're all excited and i would like to know more about like honest thoughts about it because it's like i'm sorry you're telling me that like lizzie and edwin who are already the middle middle children and already kind of just like lean on each other like and now we're about to be the oldest with Derek and Casey going off to college or to whatever they do in their future like they're gonna have thoughts and feelings on this and for everyone just to be like whoo another baby like what

Yeah, my friend was 13 when her mom had her little brother and that was a big adjustment for her and she loved her little brother but it was still like do I really want to help? Like, I'm basically helping raise this kid at this point. So I get what you're saying.

yeah

Also, this episode had a lot of comments about how Nora can't keep a secret. And she will tell everyone everyone's business. So we're not telling Nora certain things, which obviously is like a cheeky nod to the fact that she is keeping a secret from everyone in this episode. But I wish then we had seen her like, maybe I didn't need more information as just as much as her like struggling to not tell them.

Mm okay. Yeah. Yeah. That makes sense.

like almost letting it slip just throughout the episode so that I wouldn't forget that she was pregnant.

Yeah, ah yeah.
 
I could not believe, though, the big reveal of this episode, that Derek likes Emily and they kiss. I called this shit. I called this shit early on in our episodes. Roll the tapes, except I won't because I'm too lazy to go find it in the footage. 

[start of tape sound]

There is a weird moment before the kiss between Emily and Derek where he's like friend zoning her and he says maybe you can be my first real girl friend, friend who's a girl, that like pause so it ups that tension like I actually genuinely don't know what happens between them in the later seasons I kind of know what happens with Casey's love life part of me is like is this being set up is this long end game cause I could see a season 4 Emily and Derek somehow

Yeah yeah I could too 

And I don't I'm not saying that happens like I'd actually be a little surprised if that happens because this is like 2006 and a black girl and a white guy and also like the nerdy best friend who generally didn't get any action and he's like the cool guy but the way it's set up feels like foreshadowing for that

I called it. Did I not? Do you remember that, Jess?

I feel like from our first episode, which I could be wrong, but I feel like I knew just from the research that we did that they had a couple episodes where something happened.

Well, I didn't, okay? 

Okay

I said in an episode that the way they were setting up their friendship, I could see it being a long game, Derek and Emily, at the end, but I didn't think it was gonna happen because she's just the dorky girl next door and she's black and he's white and this is the mid aughts. And you were like, yeah, I could, oh yeah, I could see it. Like you didn't seem to know.

I feel like I just remember reading something on a Wikipedia that's like, oh, we get a Derek and Emily kiss and a couple episodes where there's like, cause I know I think it's season one, they go on a date or something.

Yeah, that's when I that's around the time that I said it felt like it was setting it up. What I needed though, was we had those moments that kind of set it up in like season one and season two. And then we really go hard into Kendra and Sally. And those are great relationships for Derek. And I didn't feel like there was any transition 

No

between that and this and

Yeah.

He doesn't even, like they have they have no chemistry at this point. They had more chemistry in season one.

Yeah, it felt weird to me. Also, he just like doesn't really say why he's liked her. Like to me, it feels very much like he is in it for prom only. And then the benefit of like, she's a cute girl who he already has a friendship with. So like, why not kiss her and turn it into more? But I don't really see anything like connecting the two of them in this episode where I'm like, oh, this makes sense. Where I can point to things in season one or season two that lead into it, but not in this season or even last season.

Yeah, when he first kisses her, I thought he didn't like her. He was just trying to manipulate her.

Yep, that's exactly how it feels.

Yeah, so for him to be like, no, like I really like you. I just didn't realize it before. But do you? They get along well. I think they're good friends and I do like their relationship as friends. I just didn't feel the romantic transition at all. It felt very shoehorned in. but I'm still not the maddest about it, I guess.

Yeah, it doesn't upset me, but I agree. It feels like they put it in to put it in for the fans probably, but it doesn't feel like they really like led the story up in previous episodes to get there.

No, it feels like in the writer's room, they were like, Oh yeah, we were gonna do that. Oh, do you want to still do that? I mean, we might as well.

Yeah, why not? We've got two more episodes. Kind of connected to this the closet that they kiss in. Amanda and I have had a lot of debate on if this closet has a lock or not, and I think this episode finally confirmed it for me that it doesn't have a lock, because you would have locked the door.

Well, he didn't anticipate kissing her.

Fair 
 
Guys, I told Jess that my therapist called me really stubborn. And she was like, I don't identify you as a stubborn person. And yet every time that I negate a point that Jess is making, she sighs in frustration because I am in fact, so stubborn.

Yeah, I feel like he did know he was gonna kiss her though

I guess if you it depends on if you think it's the manipulation thing or the the snuck up on him thing. I didn't i I don't read the scene as he intentionally planned it, but I think the way that Michael acted it felt like he planned it like The kiss doesn't feel like a natural lean-in, it feels like a slimy lean-in.

Yeah.

Yeah, um I agree though that the door probably doesn't have a lock. Also because it's a closet and why the fuck would you put a lock on a closet?

But there are episodes where seemingly someone is locked in there and they can't get to the person.

I agree and it is confusing and it's s Narnia. It's fine.

Yeah.

To me, this episode really drove home this idea that Derek Venturi is the same brand of boys, as Chad Dylan Cooper from Sonny with a Chance

yeah 

which is my favorite type of boy 

It is

in the way that I don't love myself enough. And I grew up loving these boys. Like I love Chad Dylan Cooper and he's so bad. Like he is not a good boyfriend to Sonny at all, but they're just like Bad in a charming way. 

I feel like they have small moments of great and so everything else you're like well one time they did this really nice thing so I can like get past all of the other like not so great things.

literally they're like i know you're a good person because you one time showed me that you can try but most of the time you put in zero effort and really piss me off and then you say sorry at the end

yeah 

but like you i know you have a good heart 

Yeah totally

and we fall for every time because we're conditioned to and we're so silly I don't know the context of this, but I do know there's a point where Derek is comparing him and Em to Casey and Truman. And I was like, this is a false equivalent because Casey and Truman have actual history 

Yes

and you two don't.

Do not.

oh you know what this is this is because emily is like do you really think having truman ask casey to prom is a good idea and he's like some guys just need like an extra push and i think he's actually a good guy and look how long it took me to realize i liked you it's like okay it took you this long to realize you liked emily supposedly like her Truman kissed Casey's cousin at a party after months of pursuing and dating her.

Correct. It's not the same.

That's the false equivalent. Yes.

Yes. Like, Truman actually fucked over Casey.
 
After aggressively pursuing her as well

Correct, yes

it's not like they were in a casual thing. He was like, I want to be your boyfriend. And then he finally earned that. And then he fucked it up bad. Derek just kissed his childhood best friend in a closet.

Yeah. I think you wrote this, but I completely agree with it. Lizzie has this line, or maybe I wrote it, I don't know. Lizzie has this line where she tells Casey, ah no, she tells Derek, you have two dates to prom, and one of them is Casey. Who let them get away with that in the writer's room?

And Casey goes, no, Em has two dates to prom, and one of them is Derek.

yes correct 

Because this is before Truman shows up. It felt very intentional in the writing.

yeah it did it did and the looks they all gave each other i was like they knew what they were doing even though they say like oh it wasn't written in and i agree it was not written in and this definitely is a fan theory but there are moments where you're like ah they leaned in

I definitely think these last few episodes they leaned in because we knew it was ending and they wanted to do a little fan service.

Yeah.

I was like, Lizzie, why are we saying the quiet part out loud?

Yeah. ah yeah

And on Lizzie, she, when Truman shows up shortly thereafter, she calls him a cad.

I don't know what that is.

I think it's like English slang for like a player like I think it's like an older term and he's like that's a big word for a little girl and she's like Casey taught me and it's just so out of place.

Mhmm

It's so weird.

it is an English slang term and it is a man who behaves badly or dishonestly, especially to women, which is true.

Yeah.

He is a cad

so English slang for a player.

Yeah, correct. also there's another side plot in this episode where Lizzie doesn't want to go to her track meet finals. She's made it to the finals and she doesn't want to go because it's too much pressure and everyone, she doesn't want to tell anyone that she's not going, but she ends up telling Nora and then Nora tells Casey because Nora can't keep a secret.

She doesn't tell Nora. One of the parents at school asks Nora if they're going to carpool to the finals.

oh

And she's like, so Lizzie, why did I have to pretend like I knew that there were finals?

Mm mhmm mhmm That is what happens because she knows that if she tells Nora, Nora is going to tell Casey. But she ends up going and she gets sixth place. That's what I wrote here, but I thought it was fifth when I rewatched it, but maybe it's sixth 

I think it's sixth place in all of London.

In al of London 

Good for her. And she's happy with sixth. It was a random ass little side plot.

yeah It was. I wrote what is this prom band? And I rewatched these episodes yesterday and I don't remember being or the day before and I don't remember being offended by the prom band this time around.

I've never had a thought on this prom band.

Hmm.

I don't think I realized there was a band.

It was a band. that I know that. Couldn't tell you any additional thoughts. Apparently my first time watching it, I was confused.

last note is there's a point where, uh, when Truman is explaining what happened, why he hurt Casey, she goes, you just realized that all right now. And he goes, my shrink helped and it's charming. Whatever. It's good. He's in therapy, but I don't know. Calling a psychiatrist, a shrink just felt very.

Yep.

Aughts to me.

Yep.

I don't even know why.

Uh, yep.

I just don't feel like people don't really use that term anymore.

No, it's definitely outdated. dasey scale okay i originally wrote for transparency two out of ten we were supposed to record this episode two months ago and life's been lifing both amanda and i pretty hard lately so that didn't happen and now here we are recording this two months later. And so I rewatched both these episodes a couple of nights ago um to make sure they were fresh in the brain. I was wrong. It's not a two out of 10. Don't know what I was thinking. I don't think I was thinking. It's definitely like, I don't think there's a lot of it. But the moment that line with Lizzie, there's a few looks throughout the episode between Derek and Casey, I would give it a solid six, seven out of 10.

Thank you i you. I had just written wrong under the two out of 10. And so I'm glad that you agree. I agree. I also kind of feel like the shoehorning in of Derek suddenly being into Emily is really kind of a manifestation. Could be read as a manifestation of him liking Casey because he's just going for Casey's best friend because he can't be with Casey.

Mhmm

I agree. It's like a six or a seven. Quotes, we have a lot of great quotes. And I'm starting off strong with the beginning part when Emily is explaining why she broke up with her boyfriend. And she says, I broke up with him with, ah the but sorry, restarting, rewind. I broke up with him last night. Something was just missing. Chemistry, my MP3 player. The chemistry thing was a problem too. Like her boyfriend saw her MP3 player.

Yep

And she was like, this is the final straw. You're out. 

Yep

That's so funny. Like, that's funny writing. No one needed to write that. That's hilarious. 10 out of 10.

Another quote, which is great, which is between Ralph and Derek. And Ralph goes, oh man, I forgot my locker combination again. And Derek's like, Ralph, it's your birthday. It's my birthday, but my grandma didn't call.

I love the implication that he only knows if it's his birthday, if his grandma calls to tell him that it's his birthday.

Yeah, which there probably are people where that's true.

When Emily is supposed to tell Casey that she's gonna go with Derek instead, but then she can't do it, and then they go end up back in the closet, Derek's like, how did it go? I didn't hear one Derek. When Derek and Emily are caught kissing by Casey, he very quickly, like, when they're pulling away, he very quickly says, and that concludes your CPR training for the day. Which is like, that's so funny and that he actually, like, 10 out of 10 improv.

Yeah.

Is Derek Venturi in improv classes?

Yeah, that's so good. That's funny. At the end, when George and Nora tell the kids that they're having a baby, but they don't really explicitly say it, like, kind of just based on like, what they're saying and people's reactions, like all the kids kind of get the older kids guess. And you can tell Marti is still a little confused. So George and Nora, like, I think Nora says it because Marti, we're gonna have a baby. She goes, aren't you too old?

Episode 18. Futuritis. This is our season finale series finale.

Casey is preparing for valedictorian speech by practicing it in front of Lizzie. But Lizzie really is not paying attention, nor does she really care. She is just upset about Casey moving away, nora's having a baby. She's gonna be the oldest girl in the house. She's gonna have to step in and help out. She's not gonna have Casey around, so she's kind of freaking out. We learn that Derek's plan is to take a gap year in Europe, and Casey has a scholarship to Queens, but she hasn't really decided if she's going to take it yet. And Edwin also is very nervous about starting high school. And at the start of the episode, Derek gets pulled into the principal's office and he is warned not to pull any graduation pranks. Which then he's like, pranks, I wasn't thinking of that until you've mentioned it, which I'm like lies. We all know that he's been planning something.

Casey and Truman are talking about the future in the hallway and her vision suddenly gets blurry and she almost passes out. And she's kind of like freaking out about the future and the unknown. She doesn't even realize she's freaking out the first part of this episode, but we can see her freaking out. And she decides that instead of going to Queens, she's going to stay home and go to Western, which is a different college university. And Derek says, you're not staying home for your family. You just have futuritis. You're just a scared baby. And she gets upset and rips up her entire speech that she's been planning and writes a new one with a bunch of boring ass quotes from dead old men, which then is bombing at graduation. So she rips up her speech yet again and tells everyone, hey, man, I'm scared.

you're probably scared too and they're all like so true sister 

Yeah

we are all scared and then Edwin runs through the graduation ceremony in a luchador outfit 

Yep

because Derek has passed on the reins to him and and if he's gonna start high school right he has to start as the prankster Venturi right so he he runs through pranks everyone after the speech is over the grads walk the stage in seemingly no order at all.

no 

And Derek, who wasn't going to show up to graduation supposedly, also pranks by having just like confetti and a giant banner of his face roll down when his name is called.

Yep.

And the principal is like, Derek Venturi. And he's like, hey, man. And then he's like, ah whatever. And then everyone just like dances around on the stage.

Yep

we see at the family table, a conversation about how Edwin has already been suspended from school that he has not yet started And Casey and Derek have both decided to go to Queens because also we found out that Derek got into Queens during this episode. They have both decided to go to Queens.

So they are not getting away from one another.

No.

there is one point in this episode I don't remember specifically when but George refers to the baby as it.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

It's like, George, you have five, you cannot refer to children as it.

But I kind of get it because especially in an early part of a pregnancy, you don't have like a sex to use a gendered pronoun. I know we would say they maybe, but this is 2007.

Fair.

Marti spends this whole episode acting like a brat because she's the little baby of the house and this kind of gives what you were asking for in the previous episode of the kids not adjusting well.

Mm-hmm. Yeah, it does. It does. But the only one we really see not, well, they're all not adjusting well with the idea of the future, but I would say Marnie is the one who having another baby in the house is hitting her the hardest, which kind of makes sense.

Mhmm She's speaking in baby talk. She's asking to sleep with people.

Yeah.

She's just being an absolute brat.

Mm-hmm.

But because she does this, Lizzie reacts in such a way that shows Casey that Lizzie is ready to be the biggest sister the eldest sister and take care of her. this is like completely unimportant, but I really need everyone to stop wearing shoes on Derek's bed. It happens a lot in this one. I believe it's that George is laying on Derek's bed because he's like, I've been thinking about your future and he's wearing shoes. I grew up in a house where we didn't wear shoes in the house at all. And also shoes are so dirty. It's so disrespectful to wear it on someone's bed.

Uh huh. 

Those shoes go outside. There's dog shit outside. Your shoes probably have dog shit on them. And now you're laying in someone's bed that they sleep in.

Mhmm This has continuously bothered you throughout um us watching this show. I feel like it bothers me less because I didn't grow up in a shoeless household, but I still agree it's inherently rude to wear shoes in bed in general, let alone on someone else's bed.

Yeah, if you're doing it in your own bed, I don't care. Like, it's disgusting, I'll judge you, but it's your own bed. This is someone else's bed. Disgusting!

Yeah, it is.

I thought it was strange that Casey has, like, two panic attacks in this episode, but it's never addressed. I get that she's scared, and that's the point of the episode, but there's, like, two times where she gets blurry-visioned and freaked out, and it's never addressed.

Yeah. Does she talk about it at all with Paul? I know she talks about her feelings about the future, but does she share? I don't think she does.

No, I think that's the second time that she gets blurry visioned, but doesn't mention it. I don't care that she's having a panic attack. I just think it's an odd writing choice to include 

And not mention it

that so visually and not address it.

Yeah. This also feels very 2007 though.

True, but you know what, also they do it in season two of Heartstopper with Nick, and it's never addressed. And I, in season three, was like, what happened to that?

Yeah, it's true.

I guess sometimes teenagers just have panic attacks and then are like, okay, I guess I'm fine now. 

Yeah

Which honestly, real.

Casey and Paul's final appointment was very cute and very wholesome and I'm glad they included it because we get a lot less Paul this season and it feels like the perfect inclusion to have this kind of final appointment moment in the final episode.

Yeah, and she's like, Paul, why are you talking to me like it's our last time? And he's like, because it is. It's sweet. And I wish he was in the season more, but that's okay. I enjoyed this little dasey moment to me where after Casey has ripped up her speech and Derek's like, are you okay with that? And she's like, yeah, totally calm. And then she walks into her bedroom and closes the door and immediately screams in terror at what she has just done. And Derek is just standing in his doorway looking just so chuffed with himself and so amused and charmed with the situation unimportant note, but I enjoyed it. Oh my god, another unimportant note that's like so dumb.

Yep.

At graduation, they're sat with Casey in between Emily and Max, and Emily is like, relax, pretend you're at the beach. And Truman next to her goes, whoosh.

Yeah. And she's like, this is not helping.

She's like, what are you doing? He's like, I'm making beach noises. And she's like, okay, well no offense, but it makes it's making me want to punch you in the face.

yeah Yeah.

I just love when men are um giving himbo energy, which Truman doesn't very often. I probably wrote that I kind of wish Max was in this finale.

yeah I didn't write that.

Oh, did you not care?

No.

I guess because Sam has been around this whole time and I know that's because he's Derek's friend. But since this is grad, I kind of would have liked if we just saw Max sitting at grad or get called up on stage or something.

Yeah, that's fair because he should be there.

You should. It's his graduation. Unless he's older than them, which was never established.

I don't think so. Yeah.

So, I'm glad that if they had to go to the same university, first of all, I like that they're going to the same university. I think it's funny because then they're like, well, the whole point is it's like with Derek and her life is going to continue being with Derek and you get to imagine like what kind of crap they're going to get up to in college together. I'm glad that if they were both between Western, which I don't think we mentioned this, Derek was waitlisted at Western. He hadn't heard back from Queens. So that's when he gets into Queens and he decides to go there. Queens, I believe is the better school. Also, full context, Western is in London. Queen's is like a three to five hour drive away. like It's not that far. They're all in Ontario. if they're going to the same school, I couldn't remember if they were both going to go to Queens or if they were both going to go to Western. And I am glad that they both went to Queens, because if they had both gone to Western, it would mean that they were staying home. And I just generally prefer a valid route for most people, but I felt like they should leave and go to the better school and branch out from their family a bit.

Yeah, I think it was a nice setup versus them staying at home. So it's still this next chapter. It's still the future, but there's a level of familiarity there because they both will be going to the same school.

And they will be going to the same school, but no longer be living with their family.

Yeah. At the end, there's this moment where they're like, McDonald's, group hug, Venturi, group hug. And then they're like, switch. And then they switch. And then they're like, big group hug. And they all come together. And it just like, it's these like wholesome blended family moments that make this show very sweet, very of the aughts, but very, very sweet. And so I really appreciated that.

It was really cute. I don't think I noticed until when I was rewatching this morning and it was sweet.

Yeah, it's cute.

I also really loved the way that this series wrapped it up with this episode showing that Edwin has grown into being the prankster that Derek is and Lizzie has grown into being the big sister mentor to Marti. And so they can handle their siblings moving away because they've like grown into the mentors that their older siblings were.

Yeah.

I thought that even though it was it was shown pretty well, but it was never explicitly stated, I just thought it was well done.

Yeah, yeah, me too. this episode felt like such a lovely transition into whatever is next for this family. Like, I feel like a lot of times we always cover the final episode of a series and a lot of times Amanda's and I's comments are it doesn't feel like a final episode where this really felt like a series wrap up.

Yeah, this feels like what do you mean there's a vacation with Derek?

Yeah.

I got what I needed out of a finale.

Yeah, it's true. At the end of this episode, at the end of all episodes, they do a little blooper montage. But at the end of this episode, it's like a compilation of all the times Casey goes, Derek. And it's really funny. I i appreciated that.

I think it's even some of the other cast members too.

Yeah, yeah, it's mostly Casey, but yes, I think there are a few. It's every time anyone has screamed, Derek, altogether.

It's very cute and very annoying.

Dasey Scale. I also gave this one a 7 out of 10, which Amanda doesn't agree with, but I still kind of stand by it because it's really the only moment. At the end, they have like a brother, step brother, same difference moment. And I was just like, the writers knew what they were doing.

I just disagree. This is a 10 out of 10. This is the Dasey moment. This is when we had pop capsule on and Evan was like, well, he goes around correcting her saying they're step siblings every other episode. No, they actually only do it I think this one time. I'm pretty sure it's just this one scene, but it's so iconic. This is the scene that everyone looks at. And like there's so much tension. It's such a weird, charged scene 

Yeah

where they're talking about how they're both going to go to Queens. And like Casey's the one that's like, pretend you don't know me, which is how this whole series started with Derek pretending he didn't know her at school. and he's like no no no no no we're gonna be best friends because i'm gonna know all of your your girlfriends and she's like well then i'm gonna all of your hockey friends and he's like no no no stay away from them and and the whole you know she calls him her brother, and he says step-brother, and she says same difference. But her face says not same difference. 

Yeah

And his face, he says, yeah, right. But his face says not right.

Yeah.

And it's just like, ah, are you kidding me? Ah, acting.

Yeah, yeah. It definitely is the moment. But for me to rate something above a seven, I need more than one moment in an episode. But this moment is a huge moment.

I think that there's a couple other moments like with the speech thing and them talking and going choosing the universities and stuff. But I hear what you're saying. I'm just going to say, personally, it's a 10 out of 10.

Quotes, I think you wrote this one. I didn't write it.

I wrote it this morning. It's our only quote and I only wrote it down because the delivery is really funny. So it's really not a great quote, but it's when Sam is called up to walk on stage. Not even Ralph. It's Sam. For some reason he says it like an Elvis impersonator. He goes, I'm outta here. I was like, why?

Yeah.

Oh my goodness. So that is life with Derek. I love this show. I love it so much.

So good, so good. before we get to our overall thoughts, we are gonna do a little bit of like actors' main characters, where are they now? Starting with Michael Seater, who played Derek Venturi, as we all know. Following the series, he starred in Degrassi Goes Hollywood movie, Murdoch Mysteries, and a few other movies as well. But in 2015, he ventured into filmmaking and did two independent feature films, but really has not done much since.

I think he directs commercials sometimes.

Yeah, it's like very like one off things, but not no like consistent work.

Ashley Leggett, who played Casey McDonald, starred in MTV's Made, the movie and Lifetime's The Perfect Roommate, also starred in People Hold On, which is one of the films that Michael Seater directed and just was like a guest feature in a lot of TV movies and shows. And she is married to a hockey player, Jeremy Williams, who was on the Toronto Maple Leafs and has three daughters. And fun fact, they were dating while she was on the show. She was in a long-term relationship while she was on the show, despite all of the the like chemistry and everything between her and Seater

Whoa!

And I always think about that, of like how weird that must have been for him, for her to just be like this, small Canadian actress who gets on a family channel show that then like is known for its tension. So much so that she and and Michael still play into it and post they posted photos in the last couple of years of them like that one time that Derek and Casey got married and it's them at a friend's wedding like pretending they're getting married but like she's been with someone else the whole time it was going on. Can you imagine that?

No, I didn't realize they were together that long. I just thought it was cute and important to mention, but that is, like, awesome that they were together while she was filming this. Also, like, I just can't even imagine... like Because she... They weren't that old when she first got casted to have to, like, navigate that with a partner while you're growing up and learning who you are, plus everything the fans think. Like, that sounds so challenging.

It's kind of similar, I guess, to Lana Condor and Noah Centineo's chemistry and how she was always with Anthony, I forget his last name, who they just got married. They just finally got married

yeah 

but they were together while and before filming to all the boys. And there was all that speculation about her and Noah because their chemistry was so good. And she was like, I am fully like living with my boyfriend. And I think that was a bit hard on their relationship. But yeah, it's a lot.

Yeah

And like for it to still be such a legacy that they had life with Luca a few years ago, it's just it fascinates me as a relationship dynamic.

Yeah, yeah All right, Jordan Todosey, Lizzie, starred in Degrassi as Adam Torres, which was the first transgendered character on Degrassi for over 130 episodes. Won the Peabody Award in 2011 as well for the two-part episode, My Body is a Cafe for Degrassi. and then had some like continued acting roles and some voice roles. I've listed some of the names, but I literally think I just picked out names that were hilarious and made me giggle. So they include Wishfart, Go Away, and Unicorn.

She also does Twitch streaming TikTok lives. She has been candid about the fact that she like teaches yoga and does a lot of like random stuff. And recently she's been releasing independent music.

Oh cool.

Yeah.

I did not know any of that.

And she and the next actor were not asked back for life with Luca and they milk it. And sometimes they, the film stuff together to release it to be like when the middle siblings aren't asked back for the family reunion, ah which is Danny mags who played Edwin Venturi. He retired as an actor and didn't really do much post life with Derek.

Joy Tanner, who played Nora, after Life with Derek, also joined Degrassi the Next Generation as a recurring role as Mrs. Laura Coyne. She also played Erin Voss in Lock and Key, and then has done a few TV films and has starred in so many shows, but mostly like one or two episode guest star sort of thing.

John Ralston, who played George. After Life With Derek, he starred in Bomb Girls, Degrassi The Next Generation, and Degrassi Don't Look Back, and Degrassi Next Class, as Miles Hollingsworth II, and the Lizzie Borden Chronicles, and Bitten. And I just have to mention, lots of people love to bring up the Life With Derek to Degrassi pipeline. And that is because there are very few shows in Canada, guys, and lots of working actors, and lots of film in Canada.

a ton of film.

He lives in Toronto and his son Stuart is known for being the OG voice of Rocky and Paw Patrol. Huh, ACAB

And then we have Ariel Waller, who played Mardi, who also retired from acting after life with Derek.

Which is so funny to me to think about when she was like 12 max.

Yeah. Honestly, I feel like that's the kind of, like, I'm sure you still have some like child star trauma, but that's kind of the time to do it. It's like, get in, don't play a huge role, be on a successful show, hopefully have parents who don't abuse the money you make, put it in savings so it continues to make money, you retire, have a normal life, but then have this like savings that you can fall back on. I feel like that's ideal.

Yeah, that is. You're right. Shadia? Shadia? 

I'm not sure. 

I really should have looked this up.

Simmons, who plays Emily, retired from acting following life with Derek. I didn't know that she retired from acting. That one's actually surprising, because if you listen to our very first episode introducing the cast, she had one of the more notable careers, especially of the children before life with Derek.

Yeah

She was in a number of DCOMs. So for her to retire following life with Derek is kind of surprising. And now she teaches high school and is a director at Star Acting Studios.

Then getting into some more of our like side roles, Paul, who's Arnold Pinnock plays Paul, he continued to act in film and TV. He recently created, produced, wrote and starred in The Porter, which was a, I wrote CBC. Is that a Canadian thing? It must be.

Canadian Broadcasting Company. It's the Canadian version of BBC.

Got it. CBC and BET series about the railway sleeping car porters who created north american's first black labor unit North America's first black labor union. 

Cool

It sounded really cool. But he hasn't like, yeah, he has like one off little roles, but this is his like most recent bigger project.

That's cool. Kit Wayman, who played Sam, some music video cinematographer and film director, debuted a short film, Ways to Water, which won at the 2017 Cannes Short Film Corner. What?

yeah, you know, cannes has all these crazy awards so that I feel like cannes is one of those things where you like enter a film into cannes to then like, you probably will win something but like, how notable is that award?

but not something anyone's...

Yeah. Then we have Robbie Arnell, who played Max.

Amell

Amell, not Arnell. Robbie Amell, who played Max. He continued to act after life with Derek, um played Fred Jones in two Scooby-Doo films. Jemmy Mannegan in True Jackson V.P., Stephen Jameson on The Tomorrow People. He also played Robbie Raymond Firestorm in the Flash series and Nathan Braun in the upload. So I would say of like our side characters and even of our main characters, one of the more like consistent follow up acting careers.

Yeah, I was gonna say he's like the most successful that I know of because also he was in the Duff.

Yep.

He was the the lead in the Duff alongside of Mae Whitman. Wasn't he in like... I thought he was in like the Vampire Diaries.

No, I would have wrote that.

he wasn't. But I really thought that he was. But he has that kind of face, like... 

He does have a face of someone who would be in that show.

yeah...That's fine. Shane Kipple, who played Ralph. Another one who went on to Degrassi and you know what he went on to do is play one of the most iconic characters of Degrassi next generation.

Huge.

Spinner. Yep. That spinner. The one that's like a bully and then a born again Christian and is with Paige but then he ends up fucking marrying Emma which is crazy and I've never seen a single episode of Degrassi and I know that that's crazy.

Yeah. Then we got Kate Todd, who played Sally, acted a little bit here and there until 2015, mainly in My Babysitter's a Vampire as Erica

The hot one 

yep, and then started her music career in 2012, releasing her debut album, followed by a Christmas album, but not really anything in the last like five years or so.

And then Lauren Collins, last but not least, who played Kendra. You want to talk about Spinner? You can't talk about Spinner without Paige.

No.

And that is who she played on Degrassi, which is just crazy to me. I don't know. like I think, obviously, not many shows in Canada. So I mentioned that life with Derek Degrassi, Pipeline, ha, ha, ha. Most of them went on and had some sort of role. But to think that we had Spinner, Paige, and also Adam Torres, who I've known is like not our Gen, but like more of a Gen Z character and is the first trans character on such an iconic show like to have three really big roles and Characters come out of actors that were on the on life with Derek is I don't know. It's fun. It's it's a coincidence. It's surprising It makes me realize I need to fix my rating a little bit actually

Okay, overall thoughts. i am going to start because i this was not a rewatch for me. So of our like classic Disney shows that we've done so far, I have previously seen all of them. As we get into the Hannahs and the Wizards and all of that, I have obviously watched all of those growing up. This is one that just like I missed. I was aware of it. So this was a first watch through for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think it was such a well done show. It should have been like way more popular.

It was pretty popular.

You think? i get I don't know how I missed it. It's just really, really, really good. It definitely holds up. There's a lot of really standout episodes. You kind of grow with the family, which is nice because they give you four seasons to do so. If you've never watched it, I would recommend watching it. But I would say that like this is up there with like one of my favorites that we've watched, probably.

I think this is my favorite.

Yeah, I really liked it. And everyone knows the state that That's So Raven season four put Amanda and I into. And, you know, this did not happen. I never felt burnt out on this show.

And that's I think part of why it's my favorite is that it It never felt hard to watch, not once. Not once was I like, ugh, we have more episodes to get through, or I'm really not enjoying this episode. like Some of the episodes had really good points to make and made it in such a way that it was still relevant and applicable to today. And some of the episodes were just fun, and I never got sick of it.

Yeah.

And I love That's So Raven. I do. And it's still going to rate higher. But this is, I think this is my personal favorite now.

Yeah. Yeah, I think so too. It's really good.

It's also just charming. I think, I think it's something about the writing that we don't really get with the like classic Disney Channel shows, the ones made and produced by Disney for Disney, tend to be so contrasting in their just like portrayals of characters. They're so loud. 

Yep

Every character, whether or not there's any nuance, which some of them, some of the main characters have, they still are characters at their core. They are people you would never meet because their personalities are so strong in one direction or the other. The colors are very vibrant. the situations they're put in are impossible. And life with Derek is like the opposite of that in that very, very rarely does anything happen that couldn't have happened to these kids. The colors look like a house you could live in more or less and clothes you would wear to school, aside from some hairstyles that Casey chooses. And the characters, even when they're annoying, they're charming, they're complex, like I understand them all. So I just find the whole show to be quite charming.

yeah, it feels very wholesome, where I don't know that I could use that word for any other show that we've watched.

Yeah, the other shows are quite polarizing. I think you either love them or you hate them.

mhmm 

And this doesn't have that kind of style to it.

No. And like, for the most part, I may be like missing a couple, but for the most part, the episodes feel intentional. Unlike a lot of the Disney shows that we've watched previously where it was like, oh, we made an episode because we needed to make an episode. But nothing feels like, like it feels like there's no plot 

Absolutely

where this, it feels like even the episodes that had less plot still felt intentional and like they served a purpose.

Absolutely. Like in, was it season three we had the filler episode? No, it was season four, I think. When we were like, guys, every episode is a fucking banger. Cause there were a couple filler episodes, but they were like, Casey and Derek dividing the house and pranking each other. And it was still so good. And it didn't, even though you could tell it was a filler episode, it didn't really feel like a, they just had to like use time, fill time.

Yeah

Right? 

Totally. Impact, we've kind of already touched on this, but I think the big impact that this show has, that Life of Derek has, is that like, obviously one of the most popular ships of all time, Daisy, as well as it did open up the door for additional shows to be put on Disney Channel, including Naturally Sadie.

I think naturally said it was on before this. They were very much like within the same year of each other. But what did come after this on the Disney channel that was also a family channel show was my babysitter's a vampire, which I remember being quite good.

Mm-hmm.

And I believe there is currently I learned about a Disney channel show or a family channel show that is being broadcast on Disney channel. So yeah, I agree. It probably strengthened the partnership, which surprisingly, I remember hearing recently that Family Channel finally lost its Disney Channel distribution rights to another station

woah 

another network in Canada. Yeah. But yes, ah Daisy is one of the most popular ships amongst millennials. It is still one of the most popular ships on AO3, which is so silly. I think that the lore of the show supersedes anything else about it. I think that Dasey is like a blessing and a curse because it's fun and it keeps the show relevant in a way that I'm sure none of the people making it at the time expected and I know the creator or showrunner of it has talked about like, you know, she really didn't get it until the last few years, like what it means to fans. But it does overshadow sometimes like how good of a show it is. like I do kind of wish the show was known for being really good instead of people being like, why was Disney Channel showing some incest show?

Yeah

Well, it wasn't that. But yeah, it's a double-edged sword and it's very good. And I think that...I don't know. I don't know. It's a very strange impact, isn't it? A very strange legacy.

Mm-hmm. Yeah, it's maybe not known for the things that it should be known for. But it's still known, so I guess that is a positive?

Yeah, the fact that it's still got life with Luca. 

Yeah

A lot of shows don't get that stuff.

Yeah. No, no, not at all. A

Okay, we are going to do the silliest little, simplest little quiz. You can play along at home if you'd like. I'm going to ask Jess questions about life with Derek, and I wrote these questions in a rush, so they are all questions that came off the top of my own pretty little head, so they're very, very easy to answer. Number one, what is the name of the Tomb Raider parody game?

Oh, babe raider.

Yep. So easy. Number two. What is the name of Marti's stuffed monkey?

Sir Monk's a lot.

2 b 

Oh no 2 b

which role did Sir Monksalot play in Marti's wedding to her friend?

Oh no, the officiant?

[buzzer]

The flower girl.

[buzzer]

Was Sir Monk's a lot the groom?

[buzzer]

It's her wedding to her friend. I put that in the question.

I have no idea.

He was a bridesmaid.

Oh, I did know that.

Number three slash four, because I said 2b, but it was really three. What are George and Nora's jobs?

Oh, George is a lawyer?

Mm-hmm. Do you know where? What kind of lawyer?

No, I don't know. Do he 

Okay

do they tell us?

Well, yes, they mentioned it throughout, but they really show it in an episode I i didn't assign.

Okay, yeah, I don't know.

But I did tell you about it. Because it was a shout out. It was a shout out episode.

I don't remember what type of law. Nora. Nora works?

I'm the one that was like, Nora has a job. And you were like, yeah, she does this. They talk about it all the time.

I don't know. I literally have no idea.

This is also the point of multiple episodes that I have not assigned to you. but it is But you did know it from season one because you were the one telling me what she did before those episodes came up.

I don't remember. It's not like a party planner or something like that.

No, it has to do, it's a very specific thing that has to do with interior.

But not an interior designer?

No.

I have I don't know.

She does window treatments.

Oh, okay. I do. I do remember this. But yeah, I feel like in the later seasons, it's not as much of a point.

And it actually is just in the episodes I didn't assign

Got it.

Particularly there's an episode where Casey It's like a bring your kid to work day episode, but they switch. So Casey goes with George and Derek works with Nora. And in that episode, Derek almost messes up Nora's job with a rich lady, but then ends up flipping it so she gets to do the whole interior design. Casey works with George at his firm, but he's not a big lawyer. He works at like a nonprofit that mostly does civil cases for people who can't afford lawyers.

Oh, I love that.

I know that's why I shouted it out because I was like, I knew this was a good man.

Yeah. Gotta love George.

Question number five.

Yeah.

What are the names of George and Nora's first spouses? Their ex-spouses.

I would not even have a guess. 

You've watched episodes with both of them.

Correct. I know I have, but i' like it whatever spot in my brain that those took up, it's filled with something else now. I don't..David?

Close, but not quite.

Does it start with a D?

It does, that's why I said close.

Daniel?

Nope.

I don't know.

That got closer. You got another letter.

I don't know.

Dennis.

Dennis I would have never gotten there.

See, Dennis is the one that i I think I would have forgotten if it wasn't written down, but I know Derek's mom's name.

I don't know. Susie. It's not Susie.

No, but you got the last sound right.

I don't know. Lucy. It's not Lucy. oh

I love you. It's like when I went bowling recently, it was like as soon as the ball left my hand, I knew if it was gonna be a gutter that' that when you say it and you immediately like, nope, that's not it.

Yeah, I don't know. What's her name?

Abby.

Oh, yeah. I'm telling you that nope would have never gotten those.

Abby and Dennis.

Yep.

Okay, well, I thought this quiz was easy, but someone wasn't paying attention.

It's also been months since we watched the show.

Okay, question number six. In the episode where don't ask me which episode or which season this is, probably season two, me answering that the question that I said don't ask me, When Kendra is trying to get Casey a boyfriend or a date, how does she get candidates to go to the party?

Oh, she posts a flyer. She like makes a flyer and like posts it around school.

What kind of flyer? What does the flyer say?

Oh, it's just something it's kind of mean. I don't remember what it says, but I remember that it was like inherently making Casey look desperate.

It is a help wanted flyer.

Okay okay

Yes. Half points. Not that I'm keeping score. Maybe editing Amanda will, but she'll probably be editing this at like midnight while falling asleep before work. So maybe not. Seven. Why does Casey initially seek advice from Paul the very first time that she goes to Paul? Why? Why does she think to go to the school counselor at all?

Because her mom tells her to.

Yep. Nora advises her to go to the counselor. 

Yep yep

Good job. I don't think I would have remembered that.

Number eight. This is a gimme. What is Marti's favorite color? I thought it was a gimme.

Marti has a specific favorite color?

Yes. And it is a subplot of multiple episodes, particularly the wedding episode where Vicki is first introduced.

I don't know. Yellow?

No. Marti is having a blank day and is only eating blank foods.

Oh, blue.

Close, but no.

ah Green?

Getting further from the point.

Purple

It is purple and so she eats marbles because they're purple and then they're freaking out or not marbles but no they're like little fake berries from something.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, I remember this now that you're saying but I didn't remember the purple of it all.

She's having a purple day and then she gets purple juice all over her white dress.

Yep.

What is the name of George's car that he got the day Derek was born?

Fuck. I don't...ugh

Do you want a hint?

Old Leroy or something like that.

No!

um That's not...

No!

Am I close? 

No!

wow Oh, I don't know, I don't know.

It's two words one the first word is the and the second so it's like a title and the second word is the the name of a famous pop star 

I don't know

Seriously? also a title and an honorific if you will 

Nope. I'm not answering. I need you to tell me.

Prince William is

Is it the prince?

Yes.

Oh.

If I, why did I say Prince William? I should have been like Diana's sons. Princess Diana's sons were anyway. Yes. The Prince, the Prince. I don't know why he called this car that, but he did.

This quiz is kind of hard. 

And oh my God, it's so easy if we didn't watch it six months ago.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

These are all points we have discussed also. The last one. This is a quote from, question number 10 is a quote from season one, episode one, and I want you to finish the quote.

Okay.

Casey to her mom, I guess is context that I should give you, even though I think that makes it way too easy, or Casey and then her mom. Casey says, I left a letter on your dresser since you don't reply to my emails. And Nora says, like the one with the subject line blank blank,

I know this, but I don't remember what she specifically said. Like the one with the...

It's two words.

Break up with George. Dump George.

Very close. George is correct.

It's not Dump George.

What's another word for dump when you're married?

Divorce George.

Yes, divorce George.

Yeah.

Good job. That is our quiz of such a silly, silly show. getting into our rankings. Okay, so if you don't know, with all of our classic NBN shows, so not our remix shows, Jess and I go through and individually give points out of five for five categories. Category number one is overall. What does that mean? It's really for us. how much we liked it. Number two, impact. Three, star power. Four, rewatchability. And five, does it hold up/relevance? Then we average them all out. We average our average scores and then we average the average score of the episode, right? And it gets ranked up against all of the other classic shows that we have watched. 

We can go like column by column and you can go first.

Great, overall I gave it a five, like I just said, I think this is my new favorite.

Yeah, I also gave it a five.

Slay. Which, for context guys, the only other show that either of us has given a five was Jess gave Even Stevens a five and then regretted it for the last three years.

Yeah.

For impact, I gave it a 2.5 because I think it had a pretty good impact, but it's not a raven 

Yeah

it's not a It's not a show people think of. I think if we were Canadian, it would be higher than a 2.5, for sure.

Agreed, agreed. I gave it a two because as we've discussed, I missed it. I was not really aware. So I feel like there is an impact there, but it's not as big as some of these other shows that we have previously watched.

we are referring to the cultural impact from the perspective of Americans, which is the only perspective Americans care about.

yeah

That's a joke if you don't know me. I lived abroad for seven years and Jess is married to a man from the UK, okay? However, we're ranking it from the only perspective that we can speak on.

Yup. Next up we have star power.

I initially gave it a 2.5 and then while we were discussing the cast and we got into all of the iconic Degrassi characters that would come out of these actors, I upped it to a 3.5. I gave it a whole extra point.

Yeah, I gave it a three, which I still stand by. I think like a lot of these actors retired. A lot of them have not gone on to do much, but there are a few of those side characters that have gone on to have like huge roles.

rewatchability, I gave it a five because as I said, I have enjoyed every episode and I have not ever thought, man, I gotta watch this again.

I gave it a three and Amanda was like, can't believe you did that.

Diabolical.

the reason I did it is because I can't really rate it on rewatchability. So either it's a zero because i I've never rewatched it. It was my first time watching it. So I decided it was better to go middle of the road, give it a three, call it what it is because I've never rewatched it.

So I counter this with, you rewatched the last two episodes.

Sure, but I can't. I still would say a three, which is on the high end of middle of the road.

I scoff, I scoff at you.

Then we have does it hold up?

I gave it a five because, like I said, in our overall thoughts, the episodes that have like messages to say, like the I will not get over how well done the Babe Raider episode was, and there's a lot of comments on issues within society in these episodes that are like really well done. 

yeah, I gave a four. I don't really know why I'm sure I had a reason when I wrote this, but I agree with Amanda. The episodes are very, very, very well done, especially the ones that are commenting on certain things like Babe Raider.

So the averages, my score averages to a 4.2 

And mine averages to a 3.4.

which gives our overall average a 3.8 which puts life with Derek on the higher middle end.

and Number three. Yeah.

first we have That's So Raven with an average of 4.5. Then we have Lizzie McGuire with an average of 4.25. And then we you have Life with Derek with a 3.8.

Followed closely by Even Stevens with a 3.7. Phil of the Future with a 3.6. and suite life with a 3.5 

Yeah

and initially this was a 3.7 until i upped my star power score and when i saw it was tied with even stevens i was looking for any reason to up my score 

Mm-hmm. 

and you know what i stand by it still i do 

Yeah. I feel like third makes sense. Because as we said, like it's probably the one we personally enjoyed the entire rewatch the most. But I feel like obviously having Lizzie and That's So Raven on the top, it makes sense. This is a good number three.

Yeah, I agree. I think Lizzie and Raven at the top make sense. But I do love it.

All right, anything other to say?

Just if you haven't seen life with Derek or if you're curious about a rewatch of it because you don't remember it and you're like Why do people talk about these step siblings wanting to fuck each other like? Watch it cuz it's a good show like I recommend rewatching it and it's on freevee Which is like the prime free with ads and the quality shit, but the ads aren't that often 

No

So it's it's free to watch. I think it's also on peacock. So yeah, I

I second that to go watch it. I really enjoyed it. And with that, follow us on all of our social media, 90s Babies Nostalgia, spell out the word nineties on Instagram and YouTube, but on TikTok, use the numbers there. Also rate and review on Spotify and Apple podcasts as it really, really helps us out. And with that, we will see you in the next one.

goodbye 

Bye!

90s babies nostalgia