Edited sentence: In many ways, the show can be considered the opposite of more fluff high school shows such as Saved by the Bell.Much as in a real life, the adolescence of the characters is a mix of happiness and tragedy as they find themselves in very real situations where the stakes are higher than anyone ever seems to remember after exiting high school.The ever-changing dynamic between friends, significant others, and enemies on Degrassi: The Next Generation likens it to a teenage soap opera.The show has also been praised for having real teens playing the characters instead of actors in their early to mid 20's (something shows like Beverly Hills 90210, The OC, and Dawson`s Creek have been criticized for).The show has been compared to My So-Called Life for its ability to portray the real drama of life as a teenager without resorting to complete melodrama or pandering to its audience