Few characters in the annals of television/fiction/life were as snake bitten as Derek "Wheels" Wheeler. The sullen mainstay of the Degrassi franchise endured trauma after trauma through his character's various story arches and was clearly the most victimized person ever. Yick Yu may have been christened Mr. Yu the Disorganized but if the man born Griff needed a new nickname, it'd be something like Derek "Hard Luck" Wheeler. Yeah!!
The fact his adoptive parents perished in a car wreck is horrible enough. But really, that was just the tip of the iceberg for Wheels. Who could forget his creepy run-in with an overly friendly "salesmen" in Port Hope? Or that frigid night spent on Snake's porch after his lame grandmother told him to hit the bricks? Oh yeah, and he drove drunk and killed a toddler. Seriously, the dude was a pariah.
However, The Reset Button would like to shine the light on some of the happier, fun-filled moments in Wheels' life. In the spirit of positivity if nothing else. Sure, Wheels ended up in, um, prison but man, he had some hellacious moments along the way. Here is a Top 10 list, in descending order.
10. Wheels gets a perm
Underrated subplot of School's Out. Wheels' hair is tremendous in the movie and looks pretty cool even when he's rocking the wet look. They never really explained how his hair got so curly and so considerable. But frankly, it's a good... no, a GREAT look for him.
9. Fries for everyone!!!
Sure, Wheels' ended up homeless and sleeping on a porch in the "Home Sweet Home" episode of Degrassi High. But the first half was pretty awesome, as Mrs. Jeremiah was (unknowingly) bankrolling a serious fries and video game habit.
8. The postcard (from hell)
Wheels was positively tickled when he received a postcard from his birth father, giving "Big Guy" a brief glimpse at life on the road, playing "rock". Things ended badly when Wheels hoofed it to Port Hope but the postcard made the kid crack a smile at least. Unrelated, I've always wondered where this scene was shot--I'm assuming Etobicoke somewhere off the QEW but I could be wrong. And lastly, a missed opportunity for a latter plot would've been Wheels' dad joining the Gourmet Scum and Wheels responding by throwing ALL his Scum cassettes into a garbage can.
7. Wheels: The Book
This breaks the fourth wall a bit but that's OK, because having a book named after you is a total power move, fake or otherwise. I really like how this book is just called Wheels and it's going for over $64 retail.
6. "Everybody Wants Something": The music video
Wheels probably never looked happier than when the Zit Remedy finally shot a music video for their epic smash "Everybody Wants Something". What was never discussed in detail is why Lucy shot the bloody thing on a security camera?!?
5. Wooed by Stephanie Kay
For ego if nothing else, Wheels must have felt pretty studly when former Degrassi prez Stephanie Kay aligned DW in her cross hairs. This exciting compilation video (note: WTF?!?) does a fine job of detailing her courtship, something that ultimately fell apart much like everything else in Wheels' life.
4. A slightly racist stomach dance
This is another underrated moment in Wheels' saga, since dancing on-stage with a Mexican face drawn on his stomach and a giant sombrero on his upper body was completely out-of-character for Wheels. This moment is made all the more remarkable in that it came in the wake of Claude's suicide. Wheels didn't seem to care in the slightest, as he was ready to party.
3. Wheels and Heather make out
I don't know what's more amazing about this slice of porch-based fun between Wheels and Heather: the fact that Wheels was able to score a little action while wearing such a puffy shirt (and painted-on jeans) or the fact half the school watched through the window as if they'd never seen something like this before.
2. Wheels gets wheels
Wheels inexplicably became a total gearhead in School's Out and accordingly, producers outfitted him with a sweet ride. This beast was supposed to take Wheels out west so he could connect with the mysterious "Karen" but of course, his ill-fated trip to "grab some chips" in cottage country threw a wrench in those plans. Whatever... she was an excellent car while she lasted.
1. The Zit Remedy rock the prom
This was a great moment all around. The kids of Degrassi were clearly into it (they all clapped along, after all). Snake did a little freestyle thing midway through the song. It was such a powerful performance, it even managed in induce labour. Sadly, Wheels' life went down the toilet from this point onwards but at least he'll always have the prom.
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