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Revision as of 23:21, 25 November 2006
Emma Nelson 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 character, Christine "Spike" Nelson. She has always been a main focus of the series, her fiery personality and outspokenness made her allies and enemies throughout the school. Initially seen as a "cause" girl, 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 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."
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, but luckily didn't. 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 junior high.
Season 1
An online pen pal
Emma was one of the only main characters of the series to appear in the two-part pilot, "Mother & 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 online crush, Jordan. Jordan, whom Emma has been speaking to online for months, has all the same interests as she and is cute, to boot! Unfortunately, Jordan turns out to be a man in his 40s who attempts to rape Emma in a hotel room. Emma's mother, Spike, and her friend Snake come 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 way-too-big 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 gargantuan pants, JT makes a crack and asks if Emma wet her pants. Emma, feisty, announces matter-of-factly that she got her period, making JT look dumb. Sean was at first surprised and then he was amazed at how she stood up to JT and wasn't embarrassed.
Relationship with Sean
At first, bad boy Sean Cameron, a year older than Emma, seems a complete mismatch for her. The two quickly began talking, however, and went on their first date, which proved disastrous. Despite a series of annoying and potentially date-ruining mishaps, the two decided they liked each other too much to stop seeing each other. This began their tumultuous on-again, off-again relationship, one that had euphoric highs and abysmal lows.
Fearing he failed his midterms, Sean lets his stress and anger get the best of him by getting 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 wouldn't hear it, running to the arms of Toby, possibly to make Sean jealous.
Soon Emma and Sean got together again in the episode White Wedding ending the episode in a romantic kiss. Then Sean and Emma broke up again in the episode Gangsta Gangsta.
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 whether or not she did this because she really thought it was sexist or she was wary of Manny's potential rise in the social ladder.
Season 2
Dealing with Spike & Snake's relationship
Emma's mom, Spike, has begun dating Snake, Emma's teacher (Mr. Simpson). Emma is annoyed at first, wanting it to go back to the old days when it was just she and Spike. She grew to tolerate and even appreciate Snake's presence, and was excited for the couple when they got 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 made Emma upset. 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
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 and then, misinterpreting a comment by Spike, left angrily. He then went to a party at Jimmy's house and drank some more and ended up ruining the party. They talked the next morning and stayed together and Emma's parents forgave him.
"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
Finding Shane McKay
Emma was being mistaken for Snake's daughter at school, and it rubbed her the wrong way. This launched her desire to meet her biological father. After hitting a road block when asking Spike about him, Emma took matters into her own hands by finding a string of listings for Shane McKay, her father's name. The next day, she and Craig cut school to look for him. After a series of missteps, Emma finally found him--at a home for the mentally disabled. After falling or jumping off a bridge (reports vary) during the original Degrassi Junior High series, Shane landed on his head, causing permanent brain damage, and his parents placed him in the home. After their emotional reunion is cut short by a meddling nurse, Emma gives Shane her address so that he can write her. Meanwhile, Emma and Craig had missed the last train back home. Forced to call Joey for a ride, Emma faced an irate Spike at home. Emma, too, was angry, exploding on her mother for lying to her. Eventually, Emma saw Spike's reasoning in trying to protect her daughter from a rough truth.
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. All turned out well as Emma calmed down with an ultimatum for Shane ("If you hurt my mom, I'll never speak to you again") and then called Snake. Emma's baby 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 have her back 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 didn't become good friends again until late in Season 4.
Ending it with Sean for the last time
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 intake for his car.
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 would 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 broke down. Alex, who had been tormenting Emma since her breakup with Sean, pushed Emma's buttons and Emma beat her in the hall. Later, Emma discovers Snake's chemo had actually put his cancer in remission.
Season 4
A new group of friends
After putting Terri McGregor into a coma, Rick Murray returned to Degrassi to much opposition amongst Terri's friends. As usual, "cause girl" Emma also opposed his return, leading the campaign to have Rick expelled. For her moxie, Emma was rewarded with the friendship of the juniors, particularly Paige Michalchuk. When Jay nearly beat Rick in the alley, however, Emma stepped into protect Rick, which cost her all of her new friends.
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 with his own gun and killed.
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.
In the aftermath of the shooting and Sean's departure, Emma became melancholy and isolate, distancing herself from everything in her life.
The scandal at the ravine
Jay seemed to have taken a liking to Emma, even though he was still dating Alex. At the same time, Emma discovered what Alex's best friend Amy's colorful bracelets meant--girls "earned" bracelets for performing oral sex on others down at the ravine. Emma, struggling with her identity after the tragic shooting, earned a bracelet from Jay. Emma realized she contracted gonorrhea from Jay, 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. Once word spread, hateful talk started about Emma. 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. Liberty had shown an interest in Chris, which resulted in Emma finding out and being quite rude about it,ending their friendship. However, it was apparent that Chris wasn't looking for anything huge with Liberty. 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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As a junior, Emma has experienced her share of drama at Degrassi. Still working on her on-again, off-again friendship with Manny (which is usually divided by boys), Emma also finds herself the attention of a few different suitors.
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 got angry at 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 premier 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 mom 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.
Eating Disorders
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 with bulimia.
Later that night, Manny found Emma cutting out photos of thin models from magazines. Manny voices her concerns about Emma's eating habits and gets Emma to confess that she hasn't eaten in a couple days. Emma is convinced that she "looks disgusting" but agrees to eat some food that Snake was cooking after Spike finally forgave him. She eats the food happily, but sneaks off during the meal to purge herself.
After Peter noticed Emma's strange behaviour, he tells Manny. Even though Manny hates Peter, the two of them tell Spike and Snake, who had since moved back in. When the four of them confront Emma one afternoon, she runs to the basement and throws out all of Manny's clothes. Emma then has a panic attack from not eating and passes out. She awakes in the hospital and Spike tells Emma she is going to a psychiatrist and is diagnosed as anorexic and bulimic.
Season 6
Sean's Back
Sean Cameron returns to Degrassi after leaving because of the school shooting. After an illegal street race, Emma and Sean escape the cops and have a short makeout session. Soon after at school drugs are found in Sean's locker. He accuses Peter, but Emma is still in denial. Sean is 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 doesn't, or rather can't care about him. As a result, Sean turned himself in to the cops.
In the next episode Jay arrives at Degrassi to inform Snake, and then Emma about Sean's troubles. After telling Emma about Sean's court date, she tries to raise money for a lawyer, then she breaks up with Peter because she found out that he was the one that put the drugs in the locker. She fails to raise enough money, but tells Sean that Snake is looking for a public defender that will have time to represent him.
Trivia
- The writers loosely 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.
- Emma Nelson is the only student attending Degrassi Community School who appeared in the original two series.