Cory’s Class: Cory has the class talking about life’s historical markers in response to Riley’s desire to have her sweet sixteen a year early. “Are you good with letting life surprise you?” Cory asks. Has he met these children? Since Riley is trying to accelerate her life clock, Cory wants them all to pretend that they’re juniors and figure out what life has in store for them next.
Topanga’s Cafe: the kids discuss their near futures with one another. Smackle and Farkle point out that Riley is very firm that her relationship with Maya won’t change, but hesitates when asked the same question about her and Lucas. They theorize that friendships are more stable than relationships. Riley worries that she and Maya may never like their boyfriends as much as they like each other, which is possible. But like, good on them. After further discussion about college plans, the girls realize that they might not end up in the same place.
The Apartment Matthews: Riley and Maya explain their feelings about not going to the same college. Topanga doesn’t understand, since Maya was doing better in school. When she explains she only got one A in Spanish, Topanga is upset. “You’re not getting into a good college with only one A in Spanish,” she says. “YOU LOVED ME ONCE,” Maya responds. When Riley offers to go to a different college for Maya, Topanga warns against it; according to her, you should never go to a worse college for someone else. Boy Meets World throwback–remember when Topanga gave up Yale to be with Cory? She does too. “You can make all the plans you want, truth it, you can’t know what’s going to happen,” Topanga says.
Outside the cafe, Farkle talks to Lucas. He offers to step aside in the event that Smackle has actual feelings for Lucas. In order to prove how ridiculous this is, Lucas flirts with Smackle until she admits that she makes all those Lucas comments because she’s concerned Farkle doesn’t actually like her that much. Farkle and Zay pop out, revealing this to be a setup. “I like you so much that when you’re sixteen I’ll tell you to go study in Sweden if you want to,” Farkle says. “Nah, I’ll go to Princeton with you,” Smackle responds. Everything is adorable, and I feel like this relationship is stronger than nearly every other one on the show.
Cory’s Class: Farkle and Smackle give their presentation to the class, in which they discuss Princeton. They close with, “Thank you, we are Smarkle!” and bow. Lucas and Zay present, which leads me to ask when this became a partner gig? Anyway, Zay says that Lucas peaks in sophomore year. “It’s Zay time, stop bringing me down,” he says. Their main point is that they stay friends. When Lucas asks when things go downhill, Zay responds, “The triangle took a lot out of you.” Probably the worst thing about losing Girl Meets World is that we won’t get to see this awesome cast play off of one another anymore. Even when the plot is lacking the actors have wonderful comedic timing and chemistry.
Riley’s and Maya’s presentation is a surrender to life. They admit that you can’t control what happens, but you can control the people you keep around you. They decide to nix the sweet sixteen, instead concerned with enjoying where they are now.
The Apartment Matthews: Topanga announces that she’s been named a partner in her law firm–and the new head of the London office. Auggie is openly distraught, while Riley and Maya fight through tears to congratulate her. When Topanga tells Cory how much of a raise she’d get, he has a fabulous reaction. “LONG LIVE THE QUEEN! ELTON JOHN! CHIMNEY SWEEP! CRUMPETS!” he shouts. Even so, Topanga claims that her decision will not be made on money alone.
The penultimate episode of Girl Meets World was fairly indicative of the current state of the show. The cast continues to shine, pulling off comedy and more emotional material well, while they all jump from place to place talking. Plot-wise, we face what we have for most of this season: nothing is really happening to propel the plot forward. Since the ski lodge episodes, we’ve been talking and talking without really getting anywhere or anyone actively doing things–besides kidnapping someone, of course.
Advertisement
Episode Rating: 7/10.
Advertisement