Degrassi: Season Twelve

Featuring 38 episodes (mostly two-parters), this 2012-13 12th season from the long-running Canadian series starts off with “Come As You Are,” in which the students of Degrassi Community School are thrilled after Principal Simpson (Stefan Brogren, a Degrassi alumni since 1987) decides they no longer have to wear uniforms. But that's about the most ordinary thing that happens this season, which features storylines incorporating love triangles, a gay school play version of Romeo and Juliet, cheating, health issues, inappropriate bosses, suicide, drugs, screwed up parents…and even schoolwork. This season also includes two hour-long specials: “Las Vegas,” where Drew and Bianca (Luke Bilyk and Alicia Josipovic) travel with pals to get married and are involved in a cheesy Elvis musical number; and the graduation finale “The Time of My Life.” Although this is sure to be popular with the target audience, as a longtime franchise fan I can't help but notice that the makers seem to be running out of realistic steam. Guest star Chaz Bono helps a transgendered student with girl trouble? Someone's dad with early onset dementia runs over the family dog? A top scholar who developed a breast cancer breathalyzer and earned a scholarship to MIT but can't remember to take birth control? Seven brunette males with the same haircut? Maybe it's me, or maybe it's time for class to be dismissed. DVD extras include an episode commentary, a 300th episode celebration, “making-of” featurettes, bloopers, and more. Recommended, overall. (J. Williams-Wood)