Additionally, if you were as transfixed by this show as I was, you probably have heard of its spinoff 20 years later called “Girl Meets World” featuring Cory, Topanga, Shawn, and now… Cory and Topanga’s daughter Riley (played by Rowan Blanchard). The show airs on Friday nights on the Disney Channel and has already begun its second season.
Disney Channel has a reputation for making obsession-worthy shows for the pre-teen demographic. Lizzie McGuire taught young girls to remain quirky, Hannah Montana was living the dream of every teenager… but Girl Meets World speaks to something much deeper than any Disney show yet.
This past week’s episode discussed religion. In the context of the show, Mr. Matthews (Ben Savage) tells his class (including his daughter) that “We are all different people with different beliefs. Not everybody is going to believe what you do, but it is always worth listening to the people closest to you and learning their beliefs.” The show aired the evening of the Paris, France bombings on November 13th.
In another episode, Girl Meets World tackles Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. Saying, “It doesn’t matter to me what you’ve been labeled as… you are you and I love you for that.”
In yet ANOTHER episode, Riley (Blanchard) was being cyber bullied and did not know how to ask for help.
Disney Channel isn’t just in the business of making entertainment anymore and neither is Michael Jacobs (creator of both Boy Meets World and Girl Meets World.) In an admirable move, Disney took a show with an already existing fan base, expanded the horizons to entice the Boy Meets World’s generation’s children, and has taken their show as a platform for social issues in modern American society. With each episode comes a new conversation between parents and children. With each new obstacle the family meets, our families at home can examine how WE would deal with them.
It is a well written show Disney Channel, and I applaud the delicate balance you’ve struck between humor and modern social issues. Thank you for sharing Riley and the Matthews’ with us every week.