Degrassi: Drop it Like it's Hot (Part 2)

"I'm all in"

Tonight was the conclusion of the episode named after a Snoop Dog song. We saw new sides to Alli, Wesley and Bianca in all of their stories. The episode was able to be intruiging without being overly intense the whole time.

Alli is doing well in school and things seem to be going great for her. She decides to fake being sick so she can blow off meeting Dave's parents and go meet people to play poker. The guys at poker are surprised to see how young Alli is but they allow her to play as she lets them think she's inexperienced in the game. The next day Alli brags to Jenna about winning hundreds of dollars from the game. When Dave stops to ask Alli if she enjoyed the soup her brought over, she nervously tries to come up with a response. He realizes she wasn't sick and questions her. Alli confesses that she was playing poker. Dave is upset and walks away from her. At lunch Principal Simpson brings Alli her $2000 scholarship money for the science program, but Alli is still upset about Dave. Jenna convinces Dave to talk with Alli because she was playing poker to earn money to have him visit her when she was away. Alli invites Dave to join her at the next poker game. During the game, Alli is down and she succumbs to gambling her scholarship money. Dave tries to stop her but it's too late. Alli wins the last hand but makes the mistake of bragging about her card counting skills and the table breaks out in a fight which is broken up by Dave's father who he called earlier. The awkward situation is the introduction of Alli to Dave's father. The next day Alli asks Dave for a second chance with his parents but he tells her it's not happening. Dave tells her that they'll wait and see where they are after the summer. She reminds him a lot can happen in two months.

Wesley, Hannah and Liam are working on their science project. Wesley is still pretending to have a licence and Liam suggest they all go to a museum to do some research. Wesley panics and agrees to drive them both there in his uncle's car. The next day Wesley tries to talk Hannah out of it but caves and the three go for a drive, which is stopped when the cops pulls Wesley over. When the cop comes over Wesley has to confess that he does not have a licence which upset Liam and Hannah. Wesley's uncle isn't happy and informs him that he won't be able to get his licence for three years now. He tells him that he needs to find other ways to impress Hannah. Hannah berates Wesley for lying and tells him that he had no reason to be jealous of Liam. Wesley informs them that he took Liam's advice and made the project less complicated. The three happily present the successful outcome. The next day the three find out they have won and get to represent the school. Hannah informs Wesley that he likes him for himself.

Bianca meets Vince in the ally again. She tells him that she's done selling for him at Degrassi. He puts his hand around her neck and asks if she still likes Drew. She shoves him off and he smacks her across the face. Vince threatens to break off their deal if she does not do what he asks. Imogen confronts Bianca about stealing her birthday money. Bianca assures her that she'll pay her back but Imogen gives up trying to be her friend. The next day Vince apologizes to Bianca for hitting her and gives her a gift. He reminds her that as long as she stays with him and stays away from Drew that the two of them will be safe from him. He also reminds her that once school gets out that Bianca will have lots of free time to spend with him. Later Bianca apologizes to Imogen and warns her to stay away from her for her own protection. Bianca gives Imogen the lingerie that Vince gave her as a peace offering. Imogen then shows her a flier recruiting students for Grade 9 orientation which would keep Bianca at school more often after exams.

This was a great episode that proves Degrassi can be good without weapons, drugs, and sex. Melinda Shankar gave one of her best performances with Alli's gambling addiction. We are left on a cliffhanger as to what the future holds for Dave and Alli. This episode gets the grade A- and hopefully the rest of Now or Never can keep up the A work.

Tomorrow: Don't Panic (Part 1)