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Taking Off (1) is the eleventh episode of Season 3 of Degrassi Junior High, and the thirty-seventh episode overall. It aired on February 6, 1989.

Summary[]

Wheels runs away from home. While hitchhiking, he is accosted by a strange man. Meanwhile, Shane disappears after taking LSD at a rock concert.

Main Plot[]

Wheels comes home and lies to his grandmother, says he was at school, when he was really at the arcade. He gets a postcard from his biological father saying he'll be in Port Hope for a few weeks, then he grandmother threatens to put him in a group home if he doesn't start going to school. Wheels calls up Joey and Snake from the arcade, he tells them to bring as much money as they can to the arcade. They give their money to wheels, and a bus ticket that will at least get him to the highway. Wheels starts hitchhiking on the highway on his way to Port Hope, eventually he comes across a guy who is apparently a salesman that is going that way, but has to make a few pit stops. The salesman says the engine is acting funny and stops the car so he can look, but instead he attempts molesting Wheels, who runs off and gets a rock to threaten the guy. The salesman shoves Wheels bag out of the car and drives off.

Sub Plot[]

Shane is planning to do acid at the Gourmet Scum concert, so he buys some LSD before entering the concert, and both him and Luke take it. The next day, after Joey comes back from giving Wheels money, Mrs. McKay had called the Jeremiah's in search for her son. Evidently, everyone saw Shane at the concert, but no one knows where he went, even Luke, who also took LSD.

  • First instance of illegal Substance abuse in Degrassi History. The second time was in The All Nighter.
  • First instance of running away from home.
  • First instance of Hitchhiking.
  • Second instance of molesting attempt in a car. The first being in What a Night!
  • The character featured in the final freeze frame for this episode was Wheels.
  • Wheels' Grandparents' address is shown as 179 Degrassi Street in this episode.
  • The video game that Wheels plays in the arcade is The Main Event.
  • Diana Economopoulos appears as Diane in the credits.

"Everybody Wants Something" by The Zit Remedy -plays when Wheels is beginning to hitchhike

v - e - d

DJH Season 3 Episodes

Can't Live With 'Em ā€¢ A Big Girl Now ā€¢ Season's Greetings ā€¢ Loves Me, Loves Me Not ā€¢ He Ain't Heavy... ā€¢ The Whole Truth ā€¢ Star-Crossed ā€¢ Food for Thought ā€¢ Twenty Bucks ā€¢ Taking Off (1) ā€¢ Taking Off (2) ā€¢ Making Whoopee ā€¢ Black & White ā€¢ Pa-arty! ā€¢ Bye-Bye, Junior High

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