The Next Step (seasons 1-3, 6-present)
| The Next Step (Seasons 1-3, 6-present) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Next Step is a Canadian teen drama series. Created by Frank Van Keeken, the series follows the members of a troupe from the titular dance studio, as they train for and compete in various championships, and deal with rivalries with other dance schools and drama among the team itself. The series is presented in a style influenced by reality television.
The series originally premiered on Family Channel on March 8, 2013, and has spawned digital content, as well as live touring shows featuring its cast members, and a spinoff series, Lost & Found Music Studios. The series moved to CBC Television's streaming platform CBC Gem in 2020 for its seventh season. The series has also been sold internationally, with broadcasters such as CBBC in the United Kingdom, and Universal Kids in the United States—which became a production partner for its sixth season. In April 2022, an eighth series was announced by British broadcaster CBBC.
Why It Can Stand Up in These Seasons
- Many memorable characters like, Emily, Michelle, James, Riley, Tiffany, Stephanie, Amanda, Hunter, Thalia, Giselle, Chloe, Eldon, West, Daniel and many more.
- Original, fun and entertaining plot.
- Catchy theme song.
- Awesome set designs that look very realistic.
- Throughout the seasons, the adult studio owners of The Next Step relinquish most of the control to the teenaged dancers on the team which contributes to the massive amount of drama that takes place at the studio. Most notably seen in Season 2 with Kate, when she makes Amanda the dance captain of A-Troupe, oblivious to the fact that she's The Mole who's still on their rival team and trying to take the studio down from the inside.
- Good Drama.
- As the series progresses, the characters grow up and experience character development:
- Michelle starts off as the Naïve Everygirl and Shrinking Violet, but yet becomes more assertive and confident as time progresses.
- Eldon becomes less awkward and delusional about being with Emily. Eventually, Eldon enters a serious relationship with Thalia.
- There's also Emily, who Took a Level in Kindness towards Eldon, Riley, and even Michelle, and improves her own mindset based on advice given to her from Eldon so she can improve on her dancing as well as grow confident in herself.
- Stephanie starts off as a bossy, rude, and snarky girl who isn't very accepting of change, yet becomes nicer and friendlier towards the other dancers as the series goes on, while still retaining her snarkiness.
- Amanda starts off as a genuinely mean and Draconian dance captain, only to later become a mole with her sole intention to be to ensure that her rival team fails. Amanda eventually becomes aware of her vindictive nature and attempts to become a better individual, of which she ultimately does become. Amanda even references that she used to be very mean, but is now a "big old softie.".
- Many funny and memorable moments.
- Unlike the recent seasons, the first 3 seasons had good connection to one and other and that it doesn't drags out the story.
- Seasons 6-onwards is a big improvement over seasons 4-5.
Bad Qualities
- It went downhill in seasons 4 and 5.
- While Season 7-9 is good, the writing quality is weak compared to the seasons before it.
- A few characters are unlikable at times like Ms. Kate.
- Kate is portrayed as the well-meaning adult figure to the dancers, despite making many questionable decisions that she never has to atone for such as telling a room full of teenagers that Chloe stole from her despite not having concrete proof, and going out of her way to imply that Amanda, a teenaged girl, is a weak dancer.
Reception
TBA