Back In Black

"Go on. Sucker punch me in the other ear and flee town. That's your move isn't it? Or do you kill and run these days? Cause a kid died this time, didn't he, hero?"
— Tyler talking to Sean on the beach

Back In Black is the ninth episode of Season 4 of the Canadian television series, Degrassi: The Next Generation. It originally aired on October 19, 2004 on CTV Television and on December 17, 2004 on The N. The episode shares its title with the song by AC/DC.

Plotline[]

Primary[]

Sean is now a local hero, for what he did during the school shooting. Emma is not doing well and latches on to Sean since he saved her life. After seeing an interview of his parents, Sean decides to pay them a visit with Jay, Emma and Ellie.

Secondary[]

Since Rick brought a gun to school, Toby is being iced out for being his friend. He tries to hang out with J.T. and Danny but they want nothing to do with him. Manny is there for Toby and scold J.T. for the way he's treating his oldest friend.

Overview[]

Sean is tired of being treated like a hero when he sees his mother on the news doing an interview.

He, Ellie Nash, Emma Nelson and Jay Hogart all go to visit Wasaga Beach so Sean can confront his mom about sending him away but being worried and crying in the interview on tv.

While there they see Tyler Bishop lifeguarding. They go up to ask about renting a jet ski, Jay makes fun of Tyler for being deaf in one ear. When Tyler sees Sean he lunges at him trying to get back at him for deafening him.

Unaware that Sean was saving Emma's life, Tyler says "Papers think he's some kind of hero, wrestling gun-slingers." Tyler throws the ski keys at Sean, saying its free for him and calling him a trailer park boy. He also implies that he's stolen Sean's lunch money before; maybe bullying him.

Sean and Ellie fight on the beach about his and Tyler's stories not matching up. Sean thinks this is an attack and says she doesn't believe him Ellie says she doesn't know what to believe because he doesn't talk to her. Sean reveals what it was like to kill Rick, implying that it was traumatizing. Sean takes off on the jet ski and crashes in the water, causing Tyler to save him from nearly drowning

Meanwhile, Toby is rejected by J.T. and Danny for being friends with Rick. Manny tells J.T. off, telling him that he "out-geeks them all" and that she dumped him because he "just can't be the bigger man." Manny walks away as J.T. lets her get away with dissing him to his face as he knew she was right.

Back at the beach Sean apologizes to Emma for his actions to her last year that leads their broke up. Emma says its ancient history.

The group head back to Sean's parents place, but when he shows up his father thinks he's in trouble again saying "so how long till the cops get here?" Sean turns away to leave but his mother says his father doesn't mean it, and that he should stay. Sean says he's just there with friends but his dad still thinks he's bringing trouble saying, "its been over four years, no calls, no nothing now here you are and, you expect us to believe its just for kicks?"

His mother says everything she told the reporter was true, and that she cant cry on command. She then says that she's made a lot of mistakes but sending him to Toronto was the best thing they've ever done, and that that's the only thing she could do to keep him out of jail. his father asks why he's back then, Sean confides in them, saying he thinks he might have killed Rick. his parents say that its okay now, now that he's home.

Manny and Toby are seen at Rick's funeral, Toby says he doesn't think he can do it, and many says its ok, and that they can leave. But when they turn to leave Ricks mother sees toby and comes up to hug him, telling him he was always such a good friend. J.T shows up, telling Mrs.Murray that he's sorry, but when she asks if he was a friend of Ricks, J.T avoids the question saying that what happened was a tragedy. Mrs.Murray hugs him as well, thanking him. J.T apologizes to Manny admits that she was in right about everything and it was his fault their relationship ended.

At Sean's parents house, again, Sean tells the group that he told his parents everything. Ellie tells him they should leave now, but Sean doesn't go, and Ellie asks if he's staying, saying that he should go with them and that she loves him. Jay tells him to get in the car, that's when he tells Jay and Emma that he's staying in Wasaga, saying that he needs to be there, with his parents, to deal with everything. Jay asks if he's sure about it, Sean nods his head, Jay says bye. Emma doesn't say goodbye, but stares at him through the window as they drive away.

Cast[]

Regular Cast (Ordered Alphabetically)

Supporting Cast

Absences

Sarah Barrable-Tishauer as Liberty Van Zandt
Aubrey Graham as Jimmy Brooks
Pat Mastroianni as Joey Jeremiah
Melissa McIntyre as Ashley Kerwin
Stacie Mistysyn as Caitlin Ryan
Amanda Stepto as Christine Nelson

Music[]

"Not So Useless" by Latefallen - Heard when Sean rides out into the water, and tries to drown himself.
"America U.S.A. Ok Allright" by Supergarage
"Do You Think Of Me" by Hey Stella
"Sometimes A Man's Gotta Do What A Man's Gotta Do (Too Late)" by Supergarage
"Sweet Confusion" by By Divine Right

Quotes[]

(Sean): "The gun went off and I was covered in a warm liquid. I thought I pissed myself until I realized that I was drenched in Rick's blood."

Trivia[]

Many flashbacks take place from the incident with Rick in this episode and from Season 4.
This is the last appearance of Sean until his return in episode Here Comes Your Man in Season 6.
Despite both Ellie and Sean declaring their love for each other in this episode, when Sean returns in Season 6, he does not pursue Ellie, but instead pursues a renewal of his relationship with Emma Nelson, who was dating Peter Stone at the time.
This episode is named after the song "Back in Black " by AC/DC.
The scene where Sean looks sad as his friends leave is one of the clips used in Daniel Clark's video montage in the Season 6 opening credits.
This episode marks the end of Ellie and Sean's relationship.

Gallery[]

Links[]

Watch Back In Black on YouTube

v - e - d

Season Four Episodes

Ghost in the Machine (1) • Ghost in the Machine (2) • King of Pain • Mercy Street • Anywhere I Lay My Head • Islands in the Stream • Time Stands Still (1) • Time Stands Still (2) • Back In Black • Neutron Dance • Voices Carry (1) • Voices Carry (2) • Bark at the Moon • Secret (1) • Secret (2) • Eye of the Tiger • Queen of Hearts • Modern Love • Moonlight Desires • West End Girls • Goin' Down the Road (1) • Goin' Down the Road (2)