The latest installment of Girl Meets World opens with father-son matching bathrobes and shaving cream beards, both demanding a smooch from Topanga. She attempts to avoid the incoming mess because, oh hey, she’s supposed to get to work early for a big case! Pangy’s lawyer job might help explain their bangin’ New York City apartment, because it’s certainly not bankrolled by Cory’s teaching salary. Farkle and Maya arrive and have oatmeal thrust upon them at the breakfast table. Maya declines, but Topanga wasn’t asking a question. This makes it seem like Maya is another one of the Matthews’ kids, which I think makes more sense than some of the weird exchanges between Cory and Maya. Farkle also declines, listing out the giant breakfast his mother prepped for him. “I’M GOING TO THE FARKLES’, WHO’S WITH ME?” Auggie yells. Same, kid. I don’t do oatmeal either. He then drops a bomb: he’s no longer watching The Mr. Googly Show since he’s too old now.
Maya attempts to protect the happy, blossoming flower that is Riley from being destroyed by “the bulldozer in the pink sweater,” AKA Missy, the girl putting her flirting game full force in Lucas’s direction. Her “boop” on his nose proves to be too much for Riley, who jumps up to prove she can boop with the best of them. Her finger ends up in Lucas’s nose. She turns to Maya for help, her finger still lodged in the smiling boy’s nostril. “I’ve never seen anything like this before. I’m not sure what’s going to happen,” Maya responds. Farkle alleviates the situation by shoving his finger up Maya’s nose. This scene is fabulous, but Riley ends up hiding in her locker.
Riley worries about where Lucas is going to sit at lunch, despite Maya’s suggestion that she not worry about things that aren’t in her control. Maya is surprisingly mature. Lucas joins them, but allows himself to be swept off to Missy’s table. Farkle, shining his “Biggest Flirt” crown, declares he will go and get Lucas back by flirting himself since protégé Riley isn’t ready to take on Missy and her flash of leg. Farkle throws down the gauntlet (i.e., his leg on Missy’s table) and asks, “Why go with a boy when you can go with a MAN?” Missy digs it and declares him next.
Riley talks to Lucas herself, explaining her fear that his hanging out with Missy alone will change everything. In retaliation, Missy yells “FOOD FIGHT” and smashes mashed potatoes into Lucas’s and her own mouths. Cory gives both of them detention, thus giving Missy and Lucas alone time. No matter—Riley and Maya comically attack Cory and earn detention as well.
Auggie refuses to wear pajamas and kiss his parents goodnight—“Men shake hands,” he declares. “How can he be an adult? I’M not an adult!” Cory exclaims. In the event that I ever have children, I think I’m looking at my future. The next day, Auggie’s older woman Eva, a six-year-old from down the hall, shows up for a date. She explains to Topanga that she likes Auggie for his age, proudly explaining “This many [six] tells this many [five] what to do!” and demanding that he hand over his Mr. Googly stuffed animal. Topanga isn’t digging her bossy vibe, using her own age logic against her to send her packing.
In detention, Lucas invites Maya, Riley, and Farkle to join them at the movies. Missy balks, so Lucas turns her down—he doesn’t want to do something if his friends can’t be there. Lucas, I’m impressed. Riley delivers the lesson of the evening: “You know what the easiest thing about having friends is? Sometimes you just have to trust them.” This lesson-of-the-week was close to groan-worthy, but oh well.
At three episodes in, the strongest element of Girl Meets World is the friendship between the kids, especially when looking at Riley, Maya, and Farkle. The trio element makes the show stand on its own a bit more, rather than have Riley and Maya echo Cory and Shawn too closely. I’m glad we’ve been steadily folding in details about the Matthews’ life in addition to Cory’s unbelievable role as Riley’s history teacher. The only hang up I have is how bluntly stated the life lessons are. I hope they’ll be a bit lighter-handed with them in the future; for now, I’ll cut them some slack.
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