This season depicts the lives of a group of high school freshmen, juniors, seniors, and graduates as they deal with some of the challenges and issues young adults face such as sex, sexism, sexual identity, financial difficulties, drug use, mental disorders, cyberbullying, child molestation, stress, hostage situations, racism, and psychological abuse.

The season focuses heavily on the new generation of students at Degrassi Community School, although it included storylines about those who have graduated and gone on to university.

In the United States, the season began on 10 October 2008 on The N, a cable channel spun off from Noggin's teen programming block of the same name.

Production for the season began in May 2008 at Epitome Pictures' studios in Toronto, Ontario, and were completed in late October 2008.

[6] The final episodes of the season were filmed in part in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, Beverly Hills, Venice Beach and Malibu[5] and were written and directed by Stefan Brogren, who plays Archie "Snake" Simpson.

[2] This is also the final season to feature (Drake) playing Jimmy Brooks, due to him wanting to focus on his music career.

[17] When reporting on the figures in his blog, Bill Brioux, the television columnist for The Canadian Press, was surprised that Degrassi: The Next Generation had reached its eighth season with such poor ratings, asking "What other show in the history of Canadian or American television has so consistently drawn so few viewers yet gets renewed year after year?

[20] The overall number of viewers rose slightly for the thirteenth episode, the first of a two-parter, when it was watched by 157,000 people, but the viewing figures for the key 18–34 demographics was at a low of 81,000.

The influx of new actors and characters was described as being "fresh",[24] a "chance to bring new energy into the show",[25] and "stir up the school right from its very heart",[2] although original cast member Aubrey Graham criticised the producers and the way it happened.

[25] Ryerson University's on-campus newspaper, The Eyeopener also praised Arnold for this achievement, as well as fellow cast members and students Raymond Ablack, Nina Dobrev and Evan Williams.

[27] Calgary Herald and National Post writer Michael Morrison said Paula Brancati "has become my favorite Canadian actress", admiring her ability to play two different characters on two different series – Jane Vaughn on Degrassi: The Next Generation and Jenny on Being Erica – with an age difference of about thirteen years, and in playing Jane, a character who is the victim of child molestation "[it] is never an easy thing for an actor to portray, but Brancati does it convincingly.

[29] Melinda Shankar's portrayal of a first-generation Canadian whose family comes from India was acknowledged, as her character struggles to deal with the culture clash of acting, dressing and dating who she likes, against her conservative parents' wishes.

[30] At AfterElton.com, a magazine a website that focuses on the portrayal of bisexual and homosexual men in the media, was critical that the sexuality of new character Riley, played by Argiris Karras, has so far been through the eyes of Peter Stone, Riley's unrequited love interest, and that the storyline served only to advance Peter's character.

[33] Leslie Ann Coles, director of the festival, said Schuyler is "one of the most successful, innovative and progressive women" in the TV industry.

However a two-hour movie aired as the season finale, which was four episodes combined, called Paradise City: Degrassi Goes Hollywood.

Spinner's life plans begin to fall apart when he doesn't get into police college, until he gets an unexpected visit from an old friend.

Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes return to Toronto with an exciting offer that forces Manny, Peter, Mia, Danny, and Jay an impromptu road trip to Hollywood to help her audition.

As well as every episode from the season, the DVD release features the Degrassi Goes Hollywood movie and is packed with bonus material including deleted scenes, bloopers and behind-the-scenes featurettes.