Emma Nelson

Emma Nelson (born June 1989) is a fictional high schooler on the Degrassi: The Next Generation television series. She is portrayed by Miriam McDonald.

Biography

Emma is the daughter of original Degrassi characters, Christine "Spike" Nelson and Shane McKay. She has always been a main focus of the series, her fiery personality and outspokenness making her allies and enemies throughout the school. Initially seen as a "cause girl" due to her love of nature, Emma began to care about the social aspect of school when she took an interest in Chris Sharpe, and especially in Season 4 when she began making older friends such as Jay and hanging out at the ravine, a drinking and hookup spot for Degrassi teens. Since then, she has come close to her friend Manny Santos on the "scandalous meter," although Emma once called her "the school slut" for abandoning her at a party to meet Craig Manning.

On "Degrassi Junior High"

Emma was already an existing character by the time "The Next Generation" came along. Back at the beginning of the first season of Degrassi Junior High, Spike had gotten pregnant after a night of unsafe sex with Shane McKay. At the end of the second season, Spike went into labour at the end of the year school dance. Emma was born prematurely and almost died. Spike became a teen mother and Emma became a semi-regular on the series with various on-and-off appearances. Emma gets much more attention on the new Degrassi series compared to the amount of screen time the writers gave Spike in the original series. When the writers came up with the idea for a reunion special, they realized Emma would be starting middle school.

Season 1

As a seventh grader, and first year student at Degrassi, Emma found herself in danger when she met someone she thought she knew on the Internet. Emma was known as a "cause girl" because of her care for the environment and nature. She experienced her first fight with Manny, her best friend, over sexism involving the Degrassi's cheerleading squad, Spirit Squad. She entered puberty, and had her period during school hours. She also had her first boyfriend, bad boy Sean Cameron.

An online pen pal

Emma was one of the only main characters of the series to appear in the two-part pilot, "Mother and Child Reunion." Serving both as a reunion special for the old Degrassi and a spin-off beginning, the plot in these two episodes alternated between the old cast's issues and Emma's meeting with her supposedly young online crush, Jordan. Jordan, whom Emma had been speaking to online for months, appeared to have the same interests as her and to be equally passionate about saving the environment. Unfortunately, Jordan turned out to be a man in his 40s who attempted to film the rape of Emma in a hotel room. Emma's mother, Spike, and her friend Snake came to her rescue at the last minute.

Hitting puberty

In Coming of Age, the 9th episode of the season 1, Emma had her first period, embarrassingly, at school. Luckily, Manny discovered the leak before anyone else did, dragging her best friend into the bathroom and tracking down a pair of oversized gym shorts for Emma to wear the rest of the day. Unfortunately, Emma was slated to present a book report in English in front of the entire class that day. While awkwardly trying to explain the book and hold up the large pants, JT makes a crack and asks if Emma wet her pants. Emma announces matter-of-factly that she got her period.

Relationship with Sean

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The First Date

At first, bad boy Sean Cameron, a year older than Emma, seemed a complete mismatch for her. The two quickly began talking, however. While their first date was disastrous, and was followed by a series of strange mishaps, the two decided they liked each other too much to stop dating each other. This began their infamous on-again, off-again relationship, one that had euphoric highs and abysmal lows.

Fearing he failed his midterms, Sean let his stress and anger get the better of him and got into a tussle outside of the school with Jimmy Brooks. Emma, trying to break up the fight, angered Sean even more, who pushed her to the ground to get her away from the fight. Shocked, Emma broke up with Sean.

Sean attended Ashley and Toby's disastrous party at the end of the year only because JT mentioned Emma would be there. Though he attempted to talk to her, Emma paid no attention, running to the arms of Toby, possibly to make Sean jealous. although she was dating sean what she did not know was that toby was in love with her. nuff said!

Activism

Emma championed feminism in particular at Degrassi Community School. She berated the Spirit Squad as "sexist," and chided Manny for wanting to try out. There is debate as to her motives, and if she really thought it was sexist or was just wary of Manny's potential rise in the social ladder. Emma also favored vegetarianism and encouraged kindness upon animals.

Season 2

As an eighth grader at Degrassi, Emma's year was fairly undramatic. She had a crush on a new ninth grader, Craig Manning. She also discovered her mother was dating her teacher, Mr. Simpson, which led to marriage, and a new addition to the family. While at the wedding of Spike and Snake, she rekindled her relationship with Sean. Toward the end of eight grade, Emma got herself suspended for protesting against the food in the cafeteria.

Dealing with Spike and Snake's relationship

Emma's mom, Spike, began dating Snake, Emma's teacher (Mr. Simpson). At first, Emma was annoyed, as she wanted it to be just her and Spike. However, she grew to tolerate and even appreciate Snake's presence, and was excited for the couple when they became engaged. As the wedding neared, however, trouble brewed. Snake revealed he wasn't ready for a child and, around the same time, Spike discovered she was pregnant. She told Emma she was considering an abortion, which upset Emma. Behind Spike's back, Emma told Snake that Spike was pregnant, almost destroying the relationship. The two made it to the altar, however, after a long talk to work things out.

Rekindling the flame with Sean

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Emma and Sean's first kiss.

At the wedding reception, Emma and Sean danced, kissed and began dating once again. The bump in the road wasn't far, though; Sean was invited to eat dinner over Emma's house and felt awkward because of his "low class" status. He drank some vodka at Emma's house, misinterpreted a comment by Spike,and left angrily. He then went to a party at Jimmy's house and consumed more alcohol, ruining the party. The next morning, Emma and Sean discussed what had happened and decided to stay together. Spike and Snake forgave Sean.

"Cause" girl

Emma protested the use of genetically modified food in the cafeteria, handing out fliers and information on why it was wrong. Taking her case to Mr. Raditch, he told her the school didn't have the money to change anything. Emma took her protest to a new platform: the morning announcements. Her ploy to "boycott the caf" backfired when the entire room lapsed into a food fight. For causing the fight, Emma was suspended for a day. Instead of backing down, however, Emma continued her tirade, getting her suspended for a week.

Season 3

As a freshman at Degrassi, Emma began her new life as a high school student with a search for her birth-father, Shane McKay. She also ended her troubled relationship with Sean. In her freshman year, she had a difficult relationship with her friend Manny Santos. She began a relationship with Chris Sharpe. She supported Snake, her stepfather, while he fought leukemia.

Finding Shane McKay

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Emma - Season 3

Emma was being mistaken for Snake's daughter at school. This launched her desire to meet her biological father. After asking Spike about him and getting nowhere, Emma decided to find him herself, using the internet to find listings for Shane McKay (her father's name). The next day, she skipped school, along with Craig, to search for him. After a series of missteps, Emma and Craig finally found him at a home for the mentally disabled. After falling (or jumping) off a bridge during the original Degrassi Junior High series, Shane landed on his head, causing permanent brain damage. His parents placed him in the home. After Emma and Shane's emotional reunion is cut short by a nurse, she gives him her address so he can write to her. Forced to call Joey for a ride home after missing the last train, Emma faces her irate mother. While Emma was angry at her mother for lying to her, she eventually came to see that Spike was just trying to protect her.

While Spike, nine months pregnant, was at home knitting a scarf for the baby, Shane unexpectedly arrived at the house. He pushed his way in and flew into a rage upon discovering that he wasn't a part of Spike and Emma's new family. Emma arrived home just as Shane was trashing the house and Spike went into labor. Emma calmed down Shane with an ultimatum ("If you hurt my mom, I'll never speak to you again") and then called Snake. Emma's half-brother, Jack, was born healthy and happy.

Strained relationship with Manny

Manny's new look and personality put Emma off; she thought Manny was cheapening herself for popularity and told her as much. Manny was appalled that Emma would refuse to support her the way Manny had always done for Emma. The two continued to be friends, however, until Emma walked in on Manny making out with Craig, who was dating Ashley Kerwin, on Emma's bed. The next day, as Manny tried to apologize, Emma wouldn't hear it. Manny called Emma a "prude princess" and Emma retorted that at least she wasn't "the school slut". Manny and Emma would mostly remain distant at best, and frictious at worst, until late in Season 4.

Ending it with Sean for the last time (or not?)

Emma, dealing with the revelation that Snake had cancer and the pressures of having to watch the baby, had little time for Sean anymore. Feeling neglected, Sean began taking up with Jay Hogart, his girlfriend Alex Nuńez, and Towerz. Emma was less than pleased with Sean's affiliation with this group of thugs, but wrote it off long enough to make out with Sean in the ravine while they were supposed to be clearing it of trash. The romantic moment was cut short by fellow volunteer Kendra Mason, who quickly ran off once discovering the two. Emma, however, was embarrassed, and got back to work, leaving Sean annoyed. Afterward, Sean confronted Emma about being too uptight, upon which Emma called Sean "pathetic" for hanging with people like Jay. Trying to reconcile the relationship, Emma was shot down by Sean and gave up on their relationship for good. To add insult to injury, Sean helped his new friends steal Snake's brand new laptop so that Jay could get an intake for his car. This was, once again, not the last time Sean and Emma would date. It wouldn't be until much later, following Sean's release from jail, that they got back together.

A crush on Chris

A new student named Chris Sharpe caught Emma's eye while she was rebounding from her relationship with Sean. She felt too nerdy to date him, but Manny helped sex up her image in time for a rave that Chris was DJing at. Though they had a private romantic moment and even kissed, Emma wouldn't date Chris because he was still with his girlfriend. Emma did eventually date Chris, however, over the summer between freshman and sophomore years.

Dealing with Snake's cancer

Snake's cancer took a toll on everyone in Emma's family. Once, while doing some work on the computers after school with JT, Emma discovered Snake's will. Convinced Snake's chemotherapy had failed, Emma buckled under the overwhelming stress. Alex, who had been tormenting Emma since her breakup with Sean, offended the younger student, causing the typically mild-mannered Emma to engage her tormentor in a violent catifght in the halls of Degrassi. Later, Emma discovers Snake's chemo had actually put his cancer in remission.

Season 4

As a sophomore at Degrassi, Emma had a lot of dramatic experiences. She ended her relationship with Chris Sharpe. She joined forces with Paige and the rest of the eleventh graders to protest Rick from returning to Degrassi. She also had a gun pointed at her by Rick, but was saved by Sean. Emma also faced the huge scandal at the Ravine where she contracted gonorrhea from Jay after oral sex.

The Chris-Emma-Liberty Triangle

Emma And Chris broke up over the summer, but he was still talking to her. Liberty had shown an interest in Chris, which resulted in Emma finding out. She decided to prevent Chris from going on a date with Liberty because she was too worried about what people would think of her if Chris went out with Liberty next. Liberty eventually figured out what Emma was trying to pull and told her, "It's easy for me, letting you go—straight to hell." But, it was apparent that Chris wasn't looking for anything big with Liberty.

Complicated friendships with Rick and Sean

After saving Rick from bullying, Emma, along with old friend Toby, became Rick's only pals in the school. Rick developed a crush on Emma, however, and she shot his advances down brutally. After being humiliated on live TV, Rick came to Degrassi with a gun. While he tried to shoot Emma for not accepting his crush on her, Sean stopped him and, in the struggle, Rick was shot and killed with his own gun.

On a particularly rough day, Emma ditched class with Sean, Sean's new girlfriend Ellie Nash and Jay to drive up to Wasaga Beach, where Sean's parents lived. Emma seemed to be reconnecting with Sean when he announced he was moving back home with his parents, leaving her angry and upset though he'd asked her to stay there with him, effectively ending his relationship with Ellie.

In the aftermath of the shooting and Sean's departure, Emma became melancholy and isolate, distancing herself from everything in her life (it could be inferred she was suffering a small case of post-traumatic stress disorder).

The scandal at the ravine

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Jay seemed to have taken a liking to Emma, even though he was still dating Alex. At the same time, the now-mischievous Emma discovered what Alex's best friend Amy's colorful bracelets meant. Girls "earned" bracelets for performing different sex acts down at the ravine. Emma, struggling with her identity after the tragic shooting, performed oral sex on Jay. (She used the "trauma" from the shooting as an excuse to keep her parents from reprimanding her when they'd found out she was sneaking out in the middle of the night; after successfully manipulating her parents, she would go to sleep with a smirk on her face as she proudly admired her new bracelets). She soon realizes she has contracted gonorrhea and is humiliated when Manny finds out and tells Emma's co-star in the school play not to kiss her or risk getting the disease. Word spread. Emma had a girl's night with Manny and her new friends Darcy Edwards and Chante Black to help herself get over it, and began an innocent flirtation with her new next door neighbor, Chester Bloom.

Problems with Chris

Chris was hurt by Emma's racy and ill-lived relationship with Jay and by her contracting gonorrhea, but covered for it by making rude and sly comments in Media Immersions class during the student-teacher Matt Oleander's lecture.

Season 5

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Emma - Season 5

As a junior at Degrassi, Emma had experienced her share of drama. Still working on her on-again, off-again friendship with Manny (which was usually divided by boys), Emma also found herself faced with the attention of a few different suitors. She began a relationship with Peter Stone. She witnessed her stepfather kiss the school principal. She was also diagnosed with an eating disorder. She went to rehab classes and began eating again.

Crush on Peter

At the beginning of season 5, Emma developed a crush on a new boy, Peter Stone. However, he seemed more attracted to Manny than Emma. At a party that he invited them to, Manny got drunk and flashed her breasts to Peter's camera, who emailed it to the entire school when she harshly rejected him. When Emma discovered this video, she knew who had taken it, and was furious at Manny for doing such a thing, and upset with Peter for taking advantage of Manny and humiliating her. After Manny's parents kicked her out, Emma took pity on her, and allowed her to move in with her.

Later, Peter began following Emma around, smooth-talking her. She initially rejected his advances, because of what he did to Manny, but could not help but enjoy how he made her feel special. Confused about her feelings toward him, and unable to tell Manny what was wrong, she planned a revenge with Manny, that would involve her seducing Peter at a party, stripping him, and taking embarrassing photos of him with her camera phone. However, the plan backfired when they made out in his room, and she discovered he had no private space. She could relate to this, since she had to live in the basement and doesn't have private space either. They start dating in secret.

Snake's Infidelity

After the premiere of Kevin Smith's movie, "Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh?," Peter and Emma snuck into the empty theater to make out. In there they discovered Snake and Ms. Hatzilakos making out. At home Emma confronts Snake, telling him that she didn't know if she would tell Spike or not.

The following day, after she arrived home from school, her mother became concerned that she was sick. When Snake arrived home, he had sold his motorcycle to buy tickets to Mexico. Spike was ecstatic, saying she didn't "deserve such a perfect husband." Emma angrily told them to stop it, and Snake was forced to confess. Spike and Snake went upstairs to argue, and Spike chewed Snake out for not considering Emma's feelings, and kicked him out of the house. Emma tried to convince him to stay, but he said he needed to stay at Joey's house for a while to figure out what had gone wrong.

Anorexia and Bulimia

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Emma having a panic attack.

After Snake left, Spike and Manny became more dependent on Emma to help around the house. After Manny begged Emma to help her lose weight, Emma put both of them on a strict diet. They successfully restrained themselves for two days, then gorged themselves on moussaka after Emma invited Snake over in an unsuccessful attempt to reunite her parents. Emma was upset that they had undone all their dieting so quickly, and convinced herself and Manny to get rid of it by vomiting.

After what was most likely 12 days, Emma catches Manny eating pizza. Emma drags her to the bathroom, and tells her to get rid of it by vomiting. Manny tells her that she has lost enough weight, and that it was just a piece of pizza, Emma tells her that if she eats a piece, she might as well "pour poison down her throat." Manny calls her crazy, having Emma run down the hallway. She gets dizzy and faints, and tells Ms. Hatzalatkos, who asked if she had eaten, that she is eating.

Later that week, Manny found Emma cutting out photos of thin models from magazines. Manny voiced her concerns about Emma's eating habits, considering she had fainted in the hall earlier that day, and found out that she hadn't eaten anything for a couple of days. Emma was convinced that she looked "gross" and "disgusting". When Snake brought over dinner again, Emma ate the food happily, but snuck off during the meal to purge herself.

It had been weeks and Emma was still continuing these eating habits, Manny found Emma's food diary and said she was going to show it to Emma's mom. To stop Manny from revealing her secret, Emma told Manny about her relationship with Peter, and then blames the secret and her concern for Manny's feelings as the reason for her bulimia. Manny discontinues her concern for Emma who responds with an equal amount of distaste for her former friend. The next day, Manny warns Peter about Emma's mysterious eating habits, right after they kissed in front of the front steps of Degrassi, going completely public with their relationship.

Emma had been seeing Peter more often before she told manny about them, and that gave Peter the chance to notice Emma's strange behaviour. Despite the animosity between Manny and Peter, the two team-up to tackle Emma's problem by informing Spike and Snake, who had since reconciled. When the four of them confront Emma with an intervention, she runs to the basement to gather Manny's belongings and throw them out.

At that point, Emma suddenly suffers from a starvation-induced panic attack, with cessation of breathing leading to unconsciousness. She awoke in the hospital and Spike told Emma she is going to a psychiatrist. Emma is diagnosed as anorexic.

Season 6

As a senior at Degrassi, Emma broke up with Peter, and began a new relationship with Sean Cameron after he came out of jail. Emma also dealt with issues such as sex and using birth control, and her biggest issues of all, is her shocking discovery of her pregnancy.

Sean's Back

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Sean Cameron returned to Degrassi after leaving because of the school shooting. After an illegal street race, Emma and Sean managed to escape the cops and made out for a short period of time. At school, drugs were found in Sean's locker. He accused Peter, but Emma was still in denial. Sean was later involved in a hit-and-run, which happened during a race between himself and Peter. When Sean went to Emma for help, she told him that she didn't and couldn't care about him. As a result, Sean turned himself in to the cops.

In the next episode Jay arrived at Degrassi to inform Snake, and then Emma, about Sean's troubles. After telling Emma about Sean's court date, she tried to raise money for a lawyer, then broke up with Peter after discovering he was the one that put the drugs in the locker. She failed to raise enough money, but told Sean that Snake was looking for a public defender that would have time to represent him.

Sex & Birth Control

Sean and Emma's relationship has been going perfect and they are starting to have sex. However, trouble comes when Snake runs into Emma and Sean buying birth control at a drug store. Emma tells her step-father that she and her mother had "the talk" already, but Snake gets angry because he is never included in these types of situations. At school, Emma tries to talk to her step-father, but he refuses to listen.

That same day, Emma delivers a presentation in Snake's class about women and sex and how men, when confronted with sex, can't handle it at all. After seeing her presentation, Snake admits that he was just trying to look out for her and was worried about her getting pregnant or catching a STD, and generally worried about not being able to protect her from everything in life anymore. Snake begins to get used to the idea of Emma having sex.

Pregnancy?

In Don't You Want Me, Part One, after finding out that Sean is joining the Canadian military, Emma lies that she's pregnant in an attemot to get him to stay. Sean foolishly believes her even though she went on the pill, used a condom while having sex and had a negative pregnancy test. In the Season Finale, she learns that Sean is still joining the military and she won't stop him, she decides to call off the false pregnancy and happily dismisses as a false alarm.

Relationships

• Chris Sharpe
  • Start Up: (This Charming Man) (313)
  • Broke Up: (Summer before Ghost in the Machine, Part 1) (401)
    • Reason: Unexplained. (It has been shown that she broke up with him)
• Peter Stone
  • Start Up: (Tell It To My Heart) (509)
  • Broke Up: (True Colours) (603)
    • Reason: Peter frames Sean for possession of marijuana.
• Sean Cameron
  • First Relatiosnhip:
    • Start Up: (Friday Night) (111)
    • Broke Up: (Under Pressure) (114)
      • Reason: Emma is shoved by Sean after attempting to interfere in his fight with Jimmy.
  • Second Relationship:
    • Start Up: (White Wedding, Part 2) (213)
    • Broke Up: (Gangsta Gangsta) (306)
      • Reason: Sean begins hanging out with Jay.
  • Third Relationship:
    • Start Up: (Crazy Little Thing Called Love) (608)

Trivia

• The writers named her character after the Emmy award. The episode of the original Degrassi series in which Spike told her mother that she was pregnant was nominated for, and won, the Emmy award for best children's programming. The writers named Spike's daughter Emma in honor of the award.

• While most of the Degrassi actors and actresses reprise their roles from the earlier Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High series, Miriam McDonald (the actress who plays Emma) is not the same person who portrayed baby Emma in Degrassi High. As a baby in Degrassi Junior High season 3 and Degrassi High season 1, Emma is played by Samantha Morrison. As a toddler in Degrassi High season 2, she is played by Ashlee Henricks.

• Emma Nelson is the only student attending Degrassi Community School who appeared in the original two series.

• At the beginning of season 6, Emma states that after fighting anorexia, she likes to knit because it calms her down. In Father Figure (season 3) when Emma meets Shane, when she leaves, Shane is seen knitting to calm himself, then when Emma comes back from Stouffville, Spike is seen knitting, also to calm herself.