Why Olivia Scriven Is Great

Many will say that Olivia Scriven got tired of playing Maya by the end, but even if that's true, we must recognize the great performance she went out on.
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[@Fnukysknuk]

I think Maya's story arch was probably my favorite in all of Degrassi. The most consistent in the sense that things from her past keep affecting her. Cam influenced everything she did after he died. I really liked seeing her grow with her music and seeing her lose interest in it after all the buildup for it felt so real to me. Her being monotone and muted while nobody noticed felt so real to me and I REALLY appreciated seeing that on screen. I think Olivia did an amazing job with maya

[@michellesakura1]

Her and Munro Chambers were amazing

[@zannyell]

Maya has always been my fav character and Olivia portrayed her very well.

[@lisaa3070]

That's something I would never notice but since you mentioned it here, it's so obvious and the actress needs more credit for her acting skills

[@NotAVampyre]

Very much so. As @Lindsey Cassella put it (which I loved), in the later seasons she had this dead look in her eyes that just weren't there before and it replaced her typical spark.

[@drethethinker6418]

I realized this tone change when she song Last Exit. Prior to that point I HATED Maya, yet as New Class progressed I began to appreciate her character more. Not only that, but I also began to identify with the character which REALLY speaks to the actress and the writers. I am a 26 year old poor bisexual Black man, and I actually saw facets of my struggles in this straight middle-class blonde high school girl. It shows how depression transcends our social locations and the labels we identify with. If you had told me that by the end of Next Class that Maya would be my favorite female character, I would not have believed you.

[@drethethinker6418]

Oh, and one of the most frustrating things I have to deal with even now would be friends noticing this subtle change in personality. People expect you to remain the same and eventually be that upbeat person again. I recently fell out with a friend because I was having a hard day...I found myself feeling sad and lonely (and a bit angry) despite not being able to find the source of these feelings. Because I occasionally get like this my friend actually told me that she simply doesn't want to be around me when I am in one of my "moods". It reminded me of Maya and Grace. I totally get not wanting to have someone bring you down emotionally, but I feel like it comes with the territory of being friends with someone battling mental illness--not everyday is a fun one. Of course if I have to FORCE myself to be upbeat, it can come off as more monotone than usual for me, and you will notice this shift. I wish people could understand and stick around their depressed friends even in these low periods.

[@NotAVampyre]

True friends understand not everyday will be easy and lighthearted. True friends will not expect you to be eternally cheerful because it's easier on them.

[@ryanciani3324]

why would you hate maya? shes one of the best and most popular people on the show

[@nightjetts]

I agree 👏👍👏 I think Olivia was just trying to make Maya's character how it would be realistically. Great vid btw

[@NotAVampyre]

Thank you ^^

[@lindseycassella3015]

I liked this as soon as I saw the title. I think Olivia did an incredible job playing Maya. She was such a bubbly character but you can see her gradually change with everything that she goes through. She does have this dead look in her eyes replacing that spark that was once there(even more noticeable that the glasses are gone). I imagine she was actually grateful to have all this material to work with and she seems like someone who takes her craft seriously and would have wanted accurately portay depression and anxiety. Props to Olivia Scriven. On a side note has anyone seen her do anything since Degrassi?

[@NotAVampyre]

I haven't looked in to her post Degrassi work, but someone posted a music video she did with Lyle. I thought it was interesting and artistic, but many thought it cringey

[@raerae9526]

She’s in 2 things that came out in 2019. Blood Quantum and Black Conflux. I don’t know to what extent seeing as I only just looked it up lol

[@isavel.xo97]

That's so interesting, I NEVER felt that Olivia was bored of the role. I did notice that there was a drastic tonal shift in Mayas' character from TNG to Next Class but...I always gathered that that was entirely the point. She's still the same character but you could sense that her passions were no longer as "important" to her. I think we all can attribute her "changes" to the fact that she really never properly dealt with Cams death. But there's another thing, she specifically states that she feels like Tristans state throughout the final seasons of Next Class is HER FAULT. Would Tristan have been in the bus had it not been for Maya? Who knows, but she undoubtedly believes that she is somehow a death-magnet and that she's endangering those she cares about. But when we think of Maya this is something that really led her to spiral because her loyalty to her friends and family is one of her core values and characteristics. Not having her support system, while by choice, was something that I think caused her major internal strife. I'd venture to say that she felt like she really had nothing left to live for and thought she was doing everyone a service and somehow sparing them if she wasn't around to "attract death". Of course, these thoughts are completely irrational and a symptom of her depression but to Maya they were real, coherent and she understood them as fact. It's why she was so determined and made sure that everyone at least knew that she cared for them and that she wasn't trying to take her life to be selfish but rather selfless. Maya desperately needed help though and we as the outside spectators understand that but Maya does not. I think it was really cool to watch Olivia be able to take someone once so full of life and be able to portray them as the direct antithesis in the final seasons while still making her feel like the same character. Its why Maya is, and always will be, my favorite character of the franchise.

[@dragonflarefrog1424]

Maya is a great character for sure, the writers threw so much at her and that’s what made her strong in my opinion, just like why Clare was strong in my opinion. As for Olivia, it’s pretty clear that sometime after Season 1 of Degrassi Next Class she just snapped and lost interest in the show. Still she’s a great actor.

[@davontekh]

THB Maya was my favorite character from the most recent iteration of Degrassi.

[@ShonenJoe]

The second I saw this title I just had to click lol the moment I saw Olivia on screen I knew she was an ACTOR ACTOR. Her delivery was always on point, 10/10 performance. Her moments always felt the most realistic out of the entire cast

[@destroymarcy]

I hope you feel better Vamp! Also, Olivia is a great actor and I love her role and I personally think she is in the top 5 Degrassi actors

[@NotAVampyre]

Thank you, and I think I'd agree. Her skills are probably a big reason why she got to do so many things in her time on the show.

[@uhhswifty]

Hope u get better but I’m so happy u kno how much I love Olivia

[@Mareewashere]

Okay but, your vocabulary is outstanding.

[@NotAVampyre]

Really? Thanks! I've always felt it was a bit lacking and should be expanded, but remembering new words is hard XD

[@Mareewashere]

NotAVampyre lol

[@Dominicanshawtyy89]

It's like she was dead inside

[@NotAVampyre]

Yeah, she really played the part well

[@DeadSezSo]

Olivia, munro, aislin, Eric, esme(can't remember her name) were all genuinely great actors. Sav (can't remember his real name) had some great moments too. Sorry but none of the original degrassi characters outside of craig and elli were all that great of actors. I also thought dallas, alli, grace and ricardo were really good. Oh and drew and bianca had great chemistry in their scenes. Just a hodgepodge of opinions lol

[@dragonflarefrog1424]

You’re right many of the DTNG weren’t great actors, but that’s why many of us liked them. They seemed like teenagers with a camera following them. From Degrassi, and especially Next Class you could tell these were trained actors.

[@angoktac2411]

I disagree they just got to grow as the show went on and within there stories you got to see the actors and actress shine. We can’t forget jimmy and Marcos chemistry and moment when Marco gets jumped. Or Paige with her iconic scene were she calls out her rapist. Manny when she is crying out for help or the time emma and manny was on there diet and Emma developed an eating disorder and that scene alone of them trying to get her help and she calls them out. I think everyone did amazing on the show some people just shine more within there storyline or more screen time so we can watch them develop.

[@Call.Me.Brianna]

Maya has been and always will be my favorite degrassi character. Her storylines and portrayal were incredibly realistic and I’ve grown to identify with her the most over the years.

[@stankabutt2234]

Best actor of TNG : Cassie Steele, Munro Chambers, and Olivia Scriven

[@emillee-raine]

Dylan everett as Campbell as well even though he wasn't on the show for long

[@zachminder8084]

I didn't like her in season 12 and 13, but in season 14 and throughout Next Class; her character had a lot of development

[@ryanciani3324]

and you dont like nice people i guess if you dont like her

[@AmeliaPlayz]

As a character, I feel like I can relate to Maya SO MUCH! She and I have the same love and passion for music and we have both gone through depressive states and growing more mature afterwards. I will always love Maya as I see myself a lot in her.

[@khadraabeeb5007]

Omg I love how zig looking at maya in season 4

[@angoktac2411]

Maya carried next class and I loved the slow built up and how you can see her so numb even tho she showing so much different emotions. I wished they had Olivia getting into it a little more and really got a lil darker and show us the sad reality of depression and her talking about cam like she did when she broke down about how she doesn’t feel like she can ever love again. I think they did an amazing job but I agree with Olivia when she said she wished they went a little darker and deeper because she love play Maya and trying something different from her usually maya

[@krabs1248]

Also it was so sad how Maya wanted Zig back and tried to kiss him but he declined her cus he has a girlfriend Esme. Its Basically saying she forgave him for hooking up with zoe while they were still together. She regrets pushing zig away! Crazy how she went from I dont wanna be friends with you! To I miss you the way we were! Its sad. Anyone noticed that?

[@NotAVampyre]

It's really not crazy. She was looking for a time when she was happy. Trying to reclaim any joy she could find in an attempt to fight her dark thoughts. Zig cheating on her felt like old news by that point, especially because she was trying to be cool with him by the end of season 2 for Grace's sake.

[@michellesakura1]

Happy 2k subscribers!!

[@NotAVampyre]

Thanks!

[@qsoraww5229]

Maya has one of the best storylines of all of Degrassi and her music is only second to the great Jake Epstein

[@NotAVampyre]

I think I like her stuff over Craig's

[@qsoraww5229]

@@NotAVampyre I love her song last exit it gives me goosebumps every time I hear it

[@pikachick222]

5:39 we're in a cold snap where I'm from

[@NotAVampyre]

X( We had that a few weeks ago. Thankfully it was only a week, but I remember the arctic vortex thing from 2014, and keep thinking about how long that lasted...

[@NotAVampyre]

When it rains it pours. Or snows in this case I guess

[@Samia-2003]

I really disliked maya from season 13 to season 2 of next class but I grow some respect for her in season 3&4 cause of her character development

[@ryanciani3324]

go away hater

[@alonsog.7740]

Omg I didnt even know you were uploading for the past months. Great analysis though!

[@NotAVampyre]

Ugh. KZbin algorithm is the culprit I assume... thank you still!

[@LordJudgement1818]

RIght on the button! and kick ass dress!

[@NotAVampyre]

Thanks!

[@michellesakura1]

Random but Olivia has an instagram if anyone is interested

[@NotAVampyre]

I'd love to follow it...if Instagram wasn't owned by Facebook thereby keeping me off of it...

[@nikkijones4012]

What is it please?

[@jeromesplooshwilliams132]

Did she ever tell you what it was

[@nikkijones4012]

@@jeromesplooshwilliams132 it's bbygirl15_o

[@uhhswifty]

Hey but I also don’t like how u didn’t give us credits in the comments for correcting you ab the esme situation tht was kinda rude still love your vids tho

[@NotAVampyre]

I opted not to list specific names since multiple people pointed out Maya told Grell. It's easier to give specific shout outs when it's just one commentor than when it's more than one. I'm sorry if I hurt you by this decision.

[@uhhswifty]

no im not mad and I didn't mean me I meant us like I thought u wudda said but my subscribers made me re think and I realized Maya got help not zig and Esme @@NotAVampyre

[@NotAVampyre]

But I thought I did say that "as commenters pointed out". I can't check now, but I will when I can

[@uhhswifty]

its okay I still love ur vids@@NotAVampyre

[@NotAVampyre]

I intended on saying as mucb, but I guess it slipped my mind during writing. Regardless, I am sorry

[@sammitchell5908]

I love that shirt

[@NotAVampyre]

Thanks!

[@sammitchell5908]

@@NotAVampyre your welcome

[@ryanciani3324]

what do you mean no matter what you think of maya? everyone loves maya except you i guess

[@NotAVampyre]

What? What even? I adore Maya. But one minute in the fandom and you see that's not entirely popular.

[@ryanciani3324]

shes very popular

[@NotAVampyre]

Depends on the groups you're in. I've been making Degrassi videos for years now and I've seen many people love and hate her and only find her interesting in seasons 3 & 4 of NC

[@ryanciani3324]

i dont understand how anybody can not like her. shes one of the best in the show. olivia did an incredible job playing her. thats a very strong role she played