James Tiberius Yorke - Death In Degrassi

JT's death was senseless, needless, and meaningless, like so many in our world.
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[@ellewinnifred2449]

This was such an impactful death and a lesson to be learned for upcoming teens. This is real life. It's random, unpredictable, inexplicable, and ironic. No one is safe from the twists and turns that life deals us, so as painful as it was when I first watched these episodes, it was absolutely necessary to do in a series like Degrassi. I love how they're never afraid to take the drama up a notch.

[@Lol-ll5gh]

This was and always will be one of the hardest deaths for me

[@NotAVampyre]

I bet it was for most people. JT wss one of the originals. There since the beginning

[@seanmiguelbaez4503]

💔💔💔

[@Lol-ll5gh]

NotAVampyre yeah, I’ve watched the whole show. Even the OG Degrassi, JT and Liberty had so much potential :((

[@lindseydawes7260]

I think for all of us it was

[@Lol-ll5gh]

@@ro-fz1jt uh i was talking about one of the hardest deaths of the SHOW Shut the fuck up

[@pikachick222]

One thing that the show didn’t really explore was how did JT’s death affected the Lakehurst students. It would’ve been interesting to see how it was like for Johnny Holly J Anya Damian and Jane to have the Degrassi student body essentially hate them for something one student (Drake Lempky) did.

[@NotAVampyre]

We did see how Johnny was affected though. Albeit not a whole episode dedicated to it, but during his time on Degrassi, he did mention how he viewed the situation. I think it might've been after season 7 though. I'm not sure about the other characters though, since they weren't really affected by the vitriol towards Lakehurst, or if they were, we didn't see it. I can imagine the writing team wanting to get them established and help us grow to care about them before showing them react to emotional situations.

[@laurenfoulkes7944]

Drake is the name of the character that killed jt 😂 there not talking about jimmy/drake

[@MercenaryX84]

The worst part about JT's death is that it happened on Liberty's birthday. Imagine having that one day out of the year now associated with the day you also lost the love of your life

[@NotAVampyre]

Yep!

[@junie1017]

0:54 wtf I didn't know Rodrick from Diary of a wimpy kid was on Degrassi lol

[@ChrisJProductionz]

The hardest part about JT’s death was JT and Toby’s last conversation the Oatmeal.....

[@Shyyannek]

I believe the actual reason Ryan Cooley (JT’s actor) left the show was due to him perusing college. I guess the writers took this as an opportunity to really show viewers what death, especially violent ones, looks like; random, sad, confusion, etc. It’s best to distribute this lesson through a well loved main character VS. a reoccurring character since that’s what death is; loosing someone we care about. They weren’t going to have JT on the show anymore anyway; might as well use it as a teaching moment for young viewers. JT was my favorite character and his death really hurt me when I was younger but I honestly feel like him dying was the only way to write him off the show. There was no other logical reason for JT to leave that would fit his story line.

[@NotAVampyre]

This is exactly how I feel abput Adam's death as well

[@lindseydawes7260]

@@NotAVampyre Jordan’s contract was up that’s why Adam died I’m not a big fan of the newer seasons but Adam was such a great character

[@LE-zy2od]

​@@NotAVampyregracie. But Cams death was way more impactful

[@ChristineTheHippie]

My favourite scene with JT's death was what Jimmy told Ellie when Ellie was interviewing him and said how random JT's death was. Wise words and so true.

[@NotAVampyre]

Jimmy- most underrated character in Degrassi. He's just soooooo great of a person!!!

[@ChristineTheHippie]

He's probably my favourite. I especially loved him when Marco came out. And Spinner warning against the conflict really showed how much he had matured.

[@MegaAnifreak]

I still don't understand why JT was stabbed. They just peed on his car and he calls them out on it

[@NotAVampyre]

Exactly. There wasn't really a good reason. He didn't die for anything.

[@RashadSims-bh3zz]

@@NotAVampyre u do know he wanted to go to college that's why he got killed off the show

[@NotAVampyre]

That is so, but in universe there wasn't a reason for JT to die is what I mean.

[@chaosspy6723]

It's random. Sometimes this stuff happens for no reason at all.

[@ZavidWebster]

I love that quote: "How can anyone HEAL when they're making ALLIES into VILLAINS".

[@jackhageman9983]

The guy who played Nick also played Roderick in Diary of a Wimpy Kid, so I guess this was a warmup for that

[@thethrowawaythatstayed7055]

That flashback of Liberty calling for help made me tear up. Oh my gosh. :(

[@WhimsicalNessa]

Yoo. This episode/2-parter is one of the episodes I just finished rewatching today and only during this rewatch I saw how painful it was when Liberty found JT leaning against his car (?) . Sarah Barrable-Tishauer did a phenomenal job during that scene.

[@nostalgiaontheairmichaelch9932]

JT and Spinner are my favorite male characters on the show. My favorite female characters on the show are Paige and Holly J.

[@ChristineTheHippie]

Spinner had great character development after the shooting. He really matured. JT had a big heart. He always tried to do the right thing.

[@nostalgiaontheairmichaelch9932]

@@ro-fz1jt I never said it did.

[@nostalgiaontheairmichaelch9932]

@@ro-fz1jt besides, he's just an actor

[@Heyheyhaleyd]

JT's death was the one that impacted me the most. I almost didn't finish the show after his death. I was watching the episode after 4am. I was done getting ready for work and had some time to kill. So I watched the episode and I couldn't stop crying after that. I was crying for like 5 minutes and sending videos to my friends about how much his death affected me. I didn't grow up with the show. I started "Degrassi: The Next Generation" in May 2020 and finished the entire series in August 2021. Sadly I got spoiled for both Adam's and Campbell's deaths so when they died it wasn't as shocking and heartfelt. Their characters still meant a lot to me.

[@kelsey1467]

Do you think manny was wrong to participate in the event with lakehurst

[@Heyheyhaleyd]

@@kelsey1467 At the end of the day, Lakehurst didn't kill JT. However, I understand why all the Degrassi students hated the Lakehurst students and wanted them gone. I haven't watched that season in months, so I forgot what specific event you are talking about.

[@kelsey1467]

I do wonder if having the event at all was a good idea I think it was too soon forgiveness comes with time same with rick coming back to degrassi the might of forgiven rick in time but the wounds were still fresh and personally him being at another school would of been better for everyone

[@Heyheyhaleyd]

@@kelsey1467 He should’ve never came back to a school that hates him. I don’t know what he was trying to do, but he’s the reason why a beloved friend of theirs was in the hospital. He should’ve got help and went somewhere else.

[@kelsey1467]

@@Heyheyhaleyd was jimmy treatment of spinner right in your opinion

[@jjthepikazard212]

jt's death was probably my favourite because it cam out of absolutely nowhere. plus the actual scene is gut wrenching. how he slides down the side of a car mixed with liberty's screaming freaked me out

[@lindseydawes7260]

Omg Sarah did so damn good in his death scene

[@NotAVampyre]

Soo good

[@stephenoakleaf3647]

Degrassi most eposide i rember is when wheels lost his Parents. I am glad they picked up on that by conituing the stories in the new genertaion of the show. Long live DEGRASSI

[@NotAVampyre]

Long Live Degrassi

[@user-rk7sz2td9h]

i loved him so much, i will never get over his death

[@orangesimmer7928]

Rodrick from Diary of a Wimpy Kid had enough of Loaded Diaper. 😂

[@CutterHistorical]

Great video but I feel that Emma's anger was more deep rooted cause Manny went back to her parents house leaving Emma with reprecussions and also that Emma thought that Manny was not willing to help Emma out

[@NotAVampyre]

But her anger was already there before anything happened with Manny. Manny was just salt in the wound, and it's rather reductive of her grief to say that Manny was really a cause of Emma's anger. The episode makes it abundantly clear that what was going on with her best friend caused Emma to wrongly redirect her rath to Manny. Not create it.

[@pikachick222]

@@NotAVampyre Jt's death was the push for Manny to improve her relationship with her father.

[@sanchisan6997]

Know what i just realized? JT died sitting in a puddle of someone else's piss. That's a damn shame.

[@NotAVampyre]

Yeah....that's nasty

[@jacobbelow4136]

My sympathies go to Kiodo and all who died in the fire! I too feel how hard it is to process our desire and need to bring justice into the world, but without it deriding from a sense of revenge. As the phrase goes from Batman Begins, "Revenge is not the same as justice. One is about only making oneself feel better." And in fact, I think feelings are a very important factor to consider, because sometimes our feelings and get the better of us, blinding us to thinking rationally and leading us to making anecdotal assumptions. Sometimes it's out of a desire to bring justice into the world, but as they say, the road to ruin is paved with good intentions.

[@cambunneh]

The way I see it, it's important to validate and accept one's emotions, but it's how you deal with those emotions that is even more important.

[@davontekh]

can't wait for Cam's or Adam's turn. Really this is a good series on the topic of Degrassi and universal concept of death. Good work keep it up.

[@NotAVampyre]

Thanks!

[@LE-zy2od]

❤Cam and JT. Cried so hard

[@HieiDaHellSpawn94]

I am surprised Johnny had a change of heart later on

[@KolossalYouth]

Yoooo, I was 10 years old when they killed JT off and I'm still not fucking over it. I'm 24 now smh

[@NotAVampyre]

Totally understand. He's just someone you wouldn't think it could happen to

[@kelsey1467]

@@NotAVampyre If I was Emma in this situation I wouldn't blame Lakehurst but I'd be uncomfortable being around them but rather than yelling go home Lakehurst I just would stay home from the sprit squad finals period and also maybe it was too soon to have an event like that I believe we need time to heal and I don't know if having an event like that was a good idea.

[@davey_squires]

Nick is a discount Rodrick!

[@zoeywilliams2454]

the dude did play rodrick lmao

[@smileybits7833]

That IS rodrick😂😭

[@CutterHistorical]

6 months ago I did a video called "JT Yorke video" and I said I was waiting for NotAVampyre to make a better video than me... I was right ALTHOUGH I wouldve liked her to explain JT's path in first 6 seasons in case ppl dont know who this guy was

[@NotAVampyre]

I'm not really interested in that, especially because anything I didn't cover with JT wasn't related to his death or those affected by it. It's needles information that wouldn't be better than quick descriptions like "class clown" or the like. Really, I'm not interested in catering towards those who don't already know who JT is. This video is more for those interested in the deaths themselves or who are already familiar with the show. If you want to make that video, that's fine, but I'm not up for it.

[@ChristineTheHippie]

You brought up something people always either forget or ignore: JT and Liberty weren't on good terms. It's annoying that people act like by Mia came between them, even blame her for JT's death

[@lindseydawes7260]

Agree!! She didn’t come between them JT was just trying to move on which liberty basically told him to do

[@ChristineTheHippie]

@@lindseydawes7260 it's ridiculous that she gets blamed for what happened.

[@chaosspy6723]

If anything Mia just got caught in their storm. My only problem with her in this aspect is when she was in Liberty's face telling her how she and jt made fun of her.

[@CutterHistorical]

I agree with the fact Emma couldnt handle change but i still feel that with Manny "leaving" her, Lakehurst stepping into Degrassi for a competition AND Manny putting off Emma for Damien who was at Lakehurst, everything spiralled for Emma, i feel that if Manny made time with Emma (after all her house was where JT got stabbed), Emma wouldve cooled off

[@kelsey1467]

I just rewatched the episode and I have to say it does seem like manny didn't care as much as she should have even though snake is right you can't blame the school for what one person did

[@kalianafloyd5700]

Rodrick 🥰 lol

[@prisonmike4971]

No no no no no..if Jonny was gonna get redemption it should have been through a better story arc than cracking through his tough exterior via Ali. YES I'm still bitter about this.

[@NotAVampyre]

I'm not really sure Johnny was "redeemed" though. He was still a messy person and we just saw him try to move past what happened woth JT

[@prisonmike4971]

@@NotAVampyre They made a pretty solid attempt at it...remember when Ali showed up at his college and he called sav to come get her.

[@NotAVampyre]

That's not really a redemption arc though because we never saw him seek to make amends or actively get better. He's not really a Spinner and more of an Owen wherein he just sorta stopped being the worst

[@prisonmike4971]

@@NotAVampyre a redemption arc can be big or little..and in this case through another character. It has a pretty wide umbrella

[@NotAVampyre]

It's not the size of it that makes it not a redemption arc in my mind. It's that Johnny wasn't really redeemed. He just stopped acting horrible for the most part. If he had a redemption arc, we never saw it or only saw the before and after parts.

[@chelseymarshall7468]

So sad 😭

[@Theautisticoptimistic]

They did ent just beat up Toby the assaulted him they broke his neck and arm you could get serious jail time for that

[@conspiracyrealistmarvin2829]

I think JT should have listened to what Spinner, Jimmy, Toby, and Mia said. Maybe he wouldn't have died if he had just learned to let things go and he shouldn't have retaliated to those guys at Lakehurst. Sometimes it's best not to act to every reaction. It's not always good to get the word, because every action has a reaction.

[@the_juul_bug]

This is a very unpopular opinion but i think that if they were gonna kill off JT he should have died when he tried to OD or he could have had a completely different attempt where it did work instead of a random hate crime

[@NotAVampyre]

They likely didn't know at the time Ryan wanted to leave the show. Can't really plan for something you don't know.

[@the_juul_bug]

@NotAVampyre I understand that but when he got killed off it just felt so random that it was a hate crime since he didn't really do anything to anyone because that they could have had him attempt again like he showed up to the party and realized how much he screwed up and could have gone home and ended his life like how Darcy attempt or something (sorry that this doesn't make sense😭)

[@NotAVampyre]

I mean, that's the nature of hate crimes tho. It's not like the people affected did anything to cause it. There isn't a lead up or inciting incident. Although, what happened to JT wouldn't be called a hate crime by American definition at least because he wasn't targeted due to being part of a "minority identity "

[@kalianafloyd5700]

Why they kill him 😩😥

[@NotAVampyre]

From what I understand the actor wanted to leave the show.

[@GamingtheOtter]

JT death made me really upset. Unlike Rick where I was happy that Rick was gone.

[@michelleshipley3993]

Is james actually dead

[@NotAVampyre]

What?

[@ChrisJProductionz]

Nah in fact Drake had a music video called “Im Upset” and in the video their was a mini Degrassi TNG reunion. Drake invited Ryan Cooley (JT) to the music video but Ryan rejected it thinking that Drake’s invitation was a scam or a joke.

[@lindseydawes7260]

Did Mia hair annoy the crap out of anyone else at first lol

[@NotAVampyre]

Naw I loved it

[@bull705]

Mia in general annoyed me. Her blanket hatred of her former Lakehurst classmates got real old real quick. Then season 7 was her essentially her looking for a JT replacement.Then season 8 and her sleeping with that jerk athlete because she's too stupid to realize she got her modeling job on her own merits(not to mention blowing off Danny) and then her hitting on Peter literally hours after Darcy left for Africa and has the nerve to be mad they are still in contact.