One of our amazing writers Gabby wrote an article titled “Walt Disney would be proud of Girl Meets World”. Scroll down to read it.
“You don’t need strength to let go of something. What you really need is understanding.”
It’s human nature to be scared of change. To doubt things that are new. We’ve all been there: I know I have. And it’s equally as hard to accept a continuation of a show that’s so beloved and dear to our hearts, like Boy Meets World.
Some of you guys may know me as that pesky girl on the internet, always writing up open letters to the fans and audience of Boy/Girl Meets World. But I feel so strongly about this new show, that it’s difficult not to take the criticism, personally. Especially when I know that the criticism has no merit. And it’s extremely unfair.
I was a child of the 90’s, like many of you. Life was much more innocent and relaxed during those years. I didn’t have an iPad at 5. I watched VHS tapes. And had to rewind them when I was done watching them. I didn’t have cable television for a long time. We had limited channels and programming. There was no computers, no internet and certainly: no cell phones. I was 17 when my parents finally allowed me to have a cell phone. True story. I played in the front yard with my friends and got my pants and shorts dirty from playing in the grass. I went to the library and opened up a book to do some research for my homework and school projects.
It was a different time back then.
And Boy Meets World resonated for us all because of it. Because that show connected with the audience at that time. Because it had enough diversity that not just one group of kids could relate to it. You had everything: comedy, drama, life lessons, sad and tender moments. Everything in a show you could possibly want.
What people keep forgetting: is that BMW wasn’t always like that. It was a kid’s show. I know because my parents allowed to watch that show at six. And my parents were strict on what I could and couldn’t watch. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air came way later for me. My mom would not let me watch it until later seasons.
When Boy Meets World began, they didn’t talk about abandonment, alcoholism or parental abuse. That came in later seasons. Ben Savage was a kid actor. The Cory Matthews we met in the beginning was not the same Cory that ended up marrying Topanga and moved to New York to start a life anew. He evolved as a character. He grew up. And we saw him growing up throughout the whole show.
And that’s what’s gonna happen to Riley Matthews as the show goes on. Let’s not forget: she’s 12. She’s a kid. The show is called “Girl Meets World.” When BMW ended, Ben Savage was 20. He wasn’t a boy anymore. He had already met the world. Riley is just beginning her journey through the world. She’s not there yet.
I started watching the Disney channel back in 2000-2001. Back when Lizzie McGuire was on. I loved that show. I was Hilary Duff’s age when it began and I loved watching it because I could relate to it. I watched Even Stevens, and then, That’s So Raven. Back then, Disney was a lot more relatable. Kids that watched those shows, got something out of it. They learned from them. Now somewhere between when That’s So Raven ended and now: shows began to take another route. The shows focused too much on entertainment. The shows got more comedic and less educational. Now, maybe there were a couple of life lessons being thrown here and there but there was no real value to them. They were rehashed. Recycled. And not what kids needed at that time. In fact, I’m willing to bet parents are having trouble supervising what their kids are watching today.
This new generation has so much access to the world. They have everything they need within a touch of their finger. Everything from iPhones, iPads, cable television, internet, Twitter, Instagram. No kids need an Instagram at 12 years old. I’m sorry.
Kids are growing up too fast. When I was 12, I was still thinking like a kid. Today’s 12 year olds…they think and act like 16 year olds. And that’s scary.
I strongly believe that Disney has realized that they need to focus more on a family show. And that’s where Michael Jacobs comes in.
Walt Disney made each and every single of his animation cartoons with so much care, love and enthusiasm. He always wanted each movie to have a central core and family values to them. He pushed for perfection. He pushed for family entertainment. And I strongly believe that if he was alive today, he would be so excited for Girl Meets World. I can almost see him walking around the set of the show. And giving the director some feedback and his personal critique. Because he would have wanted the best to be presented to the audience. He would have been so proud of his company for reaching out to Michael Jacobs and for creating this show.
For those of you were disappointed with the GMW pilot. It’s okay to feel that way. I may not share your opinion but I respect it. But please try to understand that it was just the pilot. Pilots are what gets the ball rolling in a show. I didn’t like the pilot for The Big Bang Theory and now I love that show. Because it has evolved. The characters have evolved.
That’s what’s going to happen with Girl Meets World. I guarantee it. I may not work for Disney or Michael Jacobs, but I have taken it upon myself to introduce this show to as many family members, friends and coworkers I can possibly get. And I’ve asked them to watch it and to give me some feedback. And the majority of them have loved it. Most of them have kids. And their kids were fascinated by the characters.
Yes, it’s a kid’s show. Absolutely. But only because the main characters are kids. I’ve been to tapings and I know that the pilot is nothing like the episodes to come. These characters evolve to a point where you start feeling overprotective of them. Riley and Maya, their characters blossom so beautifully. The life lessons get deeper. More emotional, more sensitive. It’s not a continuation of Boy Meets World, but it does bring both shows together. Full circle.
The Riley and Maya we meet in the pilot are not the same ones when the season ends. I won’t spoil much for you guys: but Farkle has an amazing episode where he is being bullied. You really feel for him and you realize that he’s not just there for comic relief. Likewise for Maya. Just like Shawn, she’s the cool kid who seems so confident on the outside, but on the inside: she’s hurting. Her mother’s absence from her life really takes a toll on her. And we see glimpses of that in that one special episode where Rider Strong costars in.
“You guys have it all wrong. I’m the one that was left,”-Shawn
“What is it with us?”-Maya
”Yeah. What is it with us?”-Shawn
Danielle Fishel recently tweeted that it was unfair to judge one episode based on the seven seasons of BMW. And she’s absolutely right. Not only is it unfair: it’s wrong. Here’s a life lesson for everyone reading this: watch the show with an open mind and an open heart. You guys might be surprised. I guarantee that if you guys stick with this show, you guys won’t regret it.
Michael Jacobs, the writers of this show, Ben and Danielle: they all care so deeply about this show. They wouldn’t have signed up for this if they knew it was going to be a train wreck.
You know a show is good when my cousin who has breast cancer, has watched both episodes of Girl Meets World and laughed. Something she has been doing less and less of. When a show makes you forget for a few minutes about your worries and brings you just a tiny bit of light into your life: you’ve done something right. And the show has.
“You’re dead if you aim only for kids. Adults are only kids grown up, anyway.”-Walt Disney
“We are not trying to entertain the critics. I’ll take my chances with the public.”-Walt Disney