Ship Poll

I'm one part curious and one part bored at work. Please take this poll if you are bored too. Or if you're passionate about GMW teen love. 

You are allowed to choose more than one ship. 

Happy Tuesday! 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6NXNFRT (my apologies, you'll have to copy and paste) 

Girl Meets World 3.8 Girl Meets Ski Lodge Part One

Girl Meets Ski Lodge Part 1

“I’ve been waiting for a day like this to come

Struck by lightning, my heart’s beating like a drum” - GMW theme song!

These lyrics were how I was feeling going into this episode; excited, eager and full of questions. I knew going in this would be a two parter. I knew that by the end of this episode the triangle would not be resolved, but maybe something would happen that would push it to it’s conclusion. What we got . . . well what we got was not bad by any means, but it just wasn’t what I’d expect for ski lodge. Let’s dive in!

First, we have all of these questions, none of which were answered, but nonetheless ever present: will the triangle be resolved at some point? Will we see grown up Lauren? Will we find out why, out of all the ski lodges in the world, do they go to the Mount Sun Lodge?

"Nature!" -Corey

We begin immediately in class (where one of my questions is answered) where Corey is kind of lecturing them on nature, but we learn this actually isn’t his normal history class, it’s Nature Club! (He’s more or less upset about the trip and the club just happens to be all of his students from middle school). Anyway, we learn this club of freshmen are going on a “hiking trip” to the dreaded Mount Sun Lodge, where, as Corey lectures them, he and Topanga were almost ended. His class most know way too much about his personal life and marriage. Then, just like in class, Corey directs what he really wants to say to his daughter Riley and her friends. The triangle must die! I couldn’t agree more. Also, Yogi and Darby are now known as Yoby.

"Yoby is foever" -Corey

Along for the trip are Topanga (and I totally get why she would be there) and Josh (other than for Maya, I can’t see the school being okay with a College freshman as chaperone).

He's only three years older . . .

When they get to lodge, Smackle is boy crazy over Josh, which is a fun aspect to see in her. Riley hurts her foot “falling off of the bus” ala Corey BMW, but it’s almost miraculously healed when she sees the bay window we have to have a stupid bay window) No sign of Lauren. The rest of the episode takes place here and because it is fall, Riley takes the hint that the leaves changing means it’s time for the triangle to die! They keep saying this, so they better stick to it.

Mount Sun Campground- I mean Lodge!

• I would have much rather watched the gang’s hike instead of Riley sitting in the bay window. Farkle almost died, Maya saved him and the whole time Smackle was faking being in danger so Lucas would save her- and he did, every time! Smackle is really making me laugh tonight. This is how they need to write her moving forward- play up her boy craziness.

  

  "Boys, boys, boys everywhere! Oh and Farkle!" -Smackle

Now we come to the fantasies. They’re funny, down right hilarious, but they and this whole “how would life be with us” sequences could have happened anywhere. Why did it need to happen at the ski lodge? The story and plot are going no where.

• I’d also like to point out, both Maya and Riley see Lucas as the dumb cowboy stereotype, which further illustrates my point that neither need him.
• These fantasies could have been an entire episode before ski lodge.

They are so going to kiss

And then the episode ends, kind of how it began. It is night now in the Mount Sun Lodge, and Riley is back in the bay window. A a new boy walked in, bought her hot chocolate (from seemingly nowhere), and she may or may not all of a sudden have feelings for him. To Be Continued . . .

"I can be your Lauren" -New Guy

Yes that’s how we leave part one of ski lodge. No Lauren, no plot changes, just Riley in the one place that I don’t think she will ever leave, the bay window.

*****Extra Tidbits*****

• No Farley (or as the rest of the world has dubbed them Riarkle) makes me sad.
• Auggie was once again used as he should be.
• They actually made great use of the other sets in the fantasies.
• I also loved the purple cat references.
• Yogi and Darby were quite funny and apparently they are very serious, lol.
• Should we be concerned that Maya would kill Riley off (and everyone else) over Lucas and or Josh?
• I still don’t buy that Josh is just three years older and if he and Maya start dating, it will be a major ick factor for me as he is now an adult and she is still a child. What college freshman dates a high school freshman?

IF I WROTE THE EPISODE

So, I kind of did this already in my preview for this episode where I broke down the previews and made predictions of what I hope this episode would be. For the record, none of what I wanted to see came true.

I hope we pick back up with the seriousness of getting all of this ridiculous triangle mess resolved. This is what, the fourth (out of five) episodes based on a triangle that the writers say don’t exist. I guess we’ll keep watching this non-existent thing play out.

Girl Meets Ski Lodge, Part One

I think it's pretty bad that they know exactly what they are doing to the viewers by dragging this ridiculous triangle out for this long. They are totally and completely aware and they let us know each week by joking about it in each and every episode. Rude.

I don't think I really know how to review this episode. My excitement for triangle resolution is too high and it's rendered me useless. The anticipation for part two has taken over my brain and I can't concentrate on the episode in front of us. I'll try.

For all of its flaws, this episode was really entertaining. It was really goofy and spoofy in the same way that "And Then There Was Shawn" was, wasn't it? I think so. I really enjoyed the Bond parody with Sabrina vocals and the Gone with the Wind performance Riley was putting out. And can I give a shout out to Isadora Smackle for being completely awesome in this first installment of Ski Lodge? She's still intelligent and slightly cooky with a bit of flirt mixed in and it all worked. How many times did she hit on Lucas? I think I counted three or four times and it only reassured me that they would make the perfect couple. Anyway, she was really clicking with the group and she was funny. She seems to be a little more down to earth and relatable each week that she's on the show. More of this! Please!

New Smackle:

Although she may be evolving into this: 

I probably like it. I really think I do. 

Other than the silliness during part one and the reintroduction of a missing Smackle, this episode was mainly made up of lines written to remind us that the creators are aware of what they are doing. It was mostly triangle nonsense but the Auggie one got me tickled. Riley says "and look, there's Auggie as Cupid because we had to get him in." 

Good stuff.

Oh, and Josh is back. Great. Yaaay. I'm not really excited about this, but I don't think I'm upset either. I could take or leave him right now because he doesn't really do anything for me and I don't care a thing about Joshaya. I don't even know how he will be incorporated into the main cast since he's in college and the rest of the cast is still in kindergarten, unless they start letting Riley and Maya embark on some adventures and do more mature things. And I'm not even trying to suggest anything inappropriate, I just wish they would do something other than hang out in Riley's bedroom and have serious talks with their parents. If that bay window in Riley's room could talk it'd probably say "You're wearing me out, girls! Get away from me; take a hike!" And then they did. Haha, oh I kill myself.  

There is still one thing that concerns me, though. The nature club attended this little field trip to go hiking, but what kind of shoes are these people wearing? I'm mostly talking to you, Maya, and your high heel boots. At first glance those things look like legit practical boots but when you look closer there is some sort of heel happening. Jesus. How does one hike in those? And Toppy was traipsing about in converse sneakers. I love converse, but I would not go hiking in a pair. And to top it off the head of the nature club, Mr. Matthews, was in some kind of chunky loafer. I'm not a fashionista, people, I care about safety and ankles. It seems pretty clear to me that no one in this group cares about ankle sprains and it's a shame. I guess it doesn't matter as long as everyone looked cute. 

Tisk tisk.

That's it and that's all, folks. We all know the thing that this episode is about and that thing is triangle. We'll see resolution this Friday, hopefully, and then we can all move on with our lives. 

Girl Meets World: Girl Meets Ski Lodge Preview Discussion

Girl Meets World: Girl Meets Ski Lodge

Preview Discussion

Okay, we have what should be and is being built up to be, a huge event this week on Girl Meets World. Eight episodes into season 3 and we are heading back to the ski lodge! That’s right, THAT ski lodge. Since this is so major, I wanted to discuss it the day before so we can prepare ourselves for what’s ahead. This post will be looking at the official Disney teaser and then the sneak peek that was released.

Now, let’s talk about some initial thoughts I’ve had based on just the fact that they are going back to the ski lodge:

We all know what happened at the ski lodge the first time around- Lauren (uhg!) She caused so much pain for Corey and Topanga and us as viewers. Corey is at fault too, but this was not a fun time in BMW history. Eventually, we know Corey and Topanga were able to move past this, marry and now have Riley!

Will this be awaiting Riley and her friends?

So, this brings up the question: why?! Why would Corey and/or Topanga even go back to a place that has so many bad memories and feelings attached to it and why would they let their daughter go if it is some sort of school trip?

Now we know what happened last time we saw this ski lodge, but what should be interesting is what is going to happen to all of our favorite couples. In Corey and Topanga’s time, it broke them up, but GMW has no real established couple (Farkle and Smackle don't count). It just has triangle that show refuses to acknowledge, but is totally make a punchline every week when Lucas says something to either Riley and Maya and sometimes Smackle, when she’s not MIA or most likely lying in the high school hall somewhere.

What will most likely happen, is that Lucas will break either Riley or Maya’s heart when he finally chooses, thus ending the triangle that doesn’t exist in the writer’s minds and force them to think of a new ongoing joke. Let’s go to the previews now:

First up, the official preview: It’s only 15 seconds, so this is going to be fast!

The first thing we see is Riley being helped in by Maya and Lucas- is she hurt, did she get hurt skiing? It doesn’t matter because, she sees the ski lodge’s bay window and promptly flies to plop herself down on it.

I am certain Riley would be happy spending the entire trip here!

I also noticed it is very clearly fall at the ski lodge, which makes sense, since the start of season three is back to school, so essentially fall. But there is no snow. What are they going to do at the ski lodge without snow to ski on? Ride the chairlift up and down the mountain? Go on a hike? Or are they just going to sit around in the bay window until something in the triangle gives?

"There's not even any snow!" Maya and Lucas to Riley.

The rest of the preview is devoted to a new guy who works at the ski lodge, ala Lauren, that catches Riley’s eye and sits with her in the bay window. That’s fine and all if she wasn’t suppose to be so head over heels in love with Lucas and would negate everything she said has said and done up to this point.

"I've noticed you been sitting here all day" new guy to Riley.
(Notice it is nighttime)

Now there is was a second, little longer sneak peek tells a little more. It’s the clip from E! news, but no a huge spoiling preview on the episode.

We see in class Corey begrudgingly talking about nature (or smacking the chalkboard really hard with a pointing stick) and that something is going to happen to them when they go to the ski lodge and he is going to prepare them for it!

The whole gang is back for this episode!

Now I have seen another preview that is really unofficial and shows Corey and Topanag’s arrival. An old woman is working the front desk when they arrive and Topanga comments that “Lauren did not age well, just saying.” LOL I love that she takes a shot at her. Further in the preview, while still sitting in the bay window, Riley announces that nature is telling them the triangle must die. Yes! It must! Please let it!

Now, I’m not sure about this new guy or why we are even meeting him at this point. He’s not Farkle, nor Charlie (who I think would be a better fit for this storyline), so unless he’s Lauren’s son, I don’t get why he’s there, other than to be a throwback to Lauren herself.

IF I WROTE THE EPISODE

This is what I’d hope to see and hope how it ends. The gang goes to the awful dreaded school lodge as school field trip. Corey protested a lot, but this is something all freshmen classes do every year. Upon arriving, Riley runs into Charlie, who is working at the ski lodge to help his family. He tells us that his mother moved to the mountain to take over the family business. Farkle and Smackle who are also on the trip also begin to have problems because Farkle realizes he is essentially dating himself. Lucas and Maya grow closer doing whatever they are doing on the mountain while Farkle turns to Riley for help. Riley must also fend off advances for Charlie. Katy and Sean have also come on the trip and Katy complains about a woman who will not leave Sean alone. At the end of the episode, Maya and Lucas kiss, Smackle sees Riley and Farkle having moment, while Charlie’s mother has thrown a dinner for everyone where Katy reveals to Corey and Topanga that Charlie’s mother is the one pestering Sean and it’s Lauren!

I leave you with one final image . . .

True Love (even if they don't know it yet)

Drop a comment and let me know what you think!

Girl Meets World 3.7 Girl Meets True Maya

Initial Thoughts and Reactions:

• Okay, first things first, so let’s get this out of the way; this was a total filler episode. I also believe this episode suffers from being the episode before Girl Meets Ski Lodge, a big a event we all know about and are anxiously waiting for.
• That said above, do we actually think Maya is going to do something where she get’s in actual legal trouble? Should she? Yes, it would differentiate her from the rest of the characters and give the show a little more depth. Does she need to go to jail? No, she’s still only 13. Will this episode live up to anyone’s expectations coming off of the Triangle madness and before the ski lodge madness? No.
• We begin with the bay window scene, because no GMW episode is complete without one and I honestly hope this is the last we see of it for this one. Maya announces she wants to do a “big bad thing,”. At school, Riley mistakes the fire alarm as Maya’s “Big bad thing” which kind of makes sense, if she wasn’t making good grades and kind of enjoying new classes like Spanish.
• Also, for some uncharacteristically reason, Lucas is using Farkle as his brain to answer the question Corey asked him. Why?!
• By the way, where is Marley? I know we will probably never see her again, but Zay and Smackle are also missing this week too . . . one of the major things that bugs me when Zay and Smackle are gone is that their desks are never empty in class. It’s like they are either filled by extras or the desk was taken away all together, like this week, when Lucas sat directly behind Farkle.
• In Topanga’s, the gang hang out and Farkle and Riley are sitting together, because you know, that’s what future couples do. Farkle gave Maya a little peck on the nose, and even though it was just that, it was weird and awkward. I never want to see it again.

  

  "I could have sat next to the guy I like or my BFF, but I chose you!" Riley to Farkle

• Then, Katy accuses everyone, but mostly Maya, of stealing her $100, which again Riley hopes is Maya and everyone pretty much assumes she did (because that’s what real friends do). It’s not like Katy misplaced it in the register . . . oh, wait she did. Volcano Maya is still going to explode.
• I would also like to point out that Lucas mentioned missing a whole year of school, finally admitting he’s at least a year older than the others. I never expected Disney to acknowledge this and even though he may not be actually older, he has always looked like the adult in the room.
• Corey’s lesson that sometimes we explode because that’s human nature seems like one of his better lessons. It’s true and they need to learn this. No one is perfect.
• Maya goes to a park, to vandalize it or break a window, I don’t know and run into two female bullies/ex-friends who have clearly lost their way, and suddenly she knows herself, despite spending the entire episode claiming she needs to find herself.

  

  "Meh"

• After “vandalizing” the park, Maya is brought home by Reginard Veljohnson, aka Carl Winslow, who really made this episode. I am just sad that he actually wasn’t Carl, thus tying the show Family Matters (huge missed opportunity GMW writers- it would’ve been a huge throwback to TGIF!)

  

  Lucas was concerned for Maya while Farkle made eye contact with his true love, Riley. Don't believe me? That's totally who is on the other side of those three.

• Some how, with three spray paint cans, a hammer and a brick, Maya painted two beautiful, multi-colored, murals and was let off quite easily by Mr. Winslow. She couldn’t do anything because Riley had changed her, blah ,blah and the four ugly statues were supposed to be her, Riley, Farkle and Lucas. Funny the statue wasn’t a triangle . . .

  

  "This can't be us, it's not a triangle," - Maya

***Extra Tidbits***

• For the love of God, why is Dewey back?! He should be a one and done, never to be seen again. Also, someone should call CPS for the poor little guy, wandering the streets alone in NYC and shoplifting apparently $300 worth of candy from a candy store?! Again, where are his parents and why did Carl Winslow not go to them first?
• Part of me really wanted Maya to something that she’d get into legit trouble for but nothing too major.
• I am glad Farkle (and seemingly Riley) have a list of things Lucas cannot do and I totally believe there are 500 some things on that list. Whatever he was trying to mimic was awful.
• I get those bullies were suppose to be reminiscent of Harley and Frankie but they fell flat for me. Maybe if had seen them before, I’d actually care.

IF I WROTE THE EPISODE

Maya would be acting out to find her true self a lot more than she actually did. She would have pulled the fire alarm, not stolen the cash, abandoned her friends for a bit to hang out with Carla and Renee, but stop short of vandalizing. Instead, I would have had Carla and Renee break the window, spray paint some things while Maya realized that what she has been doing all along is not her. Carla and Renee would have left Maya to take the fall when Carl Winslow (yes he’d actually be Carl Winslow) showed up to bust Maya. He’d take her home, scare her as if she was going to be be arrested and have a criminal record, but when they arrive, Riley and Farkle, who had been out hunting as a team, while Lucas searched with Katy, would also just be getting back. Carl would tell everyone he saw the whole incident and knows those two girls. He won’t give up on them and Maya and shouldn’t give up on herself. She found hope and needs to hold on to it. No triangle. No awkward kiss. No Dewey!


I remember being concerned when I thought there was too much Ava and Auggie because I thought the show would have a hard time maturing with the kiddie stories of these two characters. Welcome back, Dewey/Doy. I guess he's cute in an annoying kind of way? Please take him away, Carl Winslow, please. The bigger problem I have with the preschool trio is that they contribute too much to Topanga's existence on the show. Three seasons in and they still can't figure out what to do with Topanga? Unless this is exactly the way they want to use her. It would be nice to see Topanga more incorporated with the teens and/or Corey. Maybe in the future Riley or one of her friends will realize that they want to be a lawyer or they want to pursue some sort of career in the criminal justice field and Topanga can be a mentor or something. I'm just brainstorming here so it doesn't have to be this exactly. Ideas, anyone? 

They could hang out Topanga's more and she could actually be there to witness all the good times being had. Riley was having a fantastic time there last we saw her. Lucas was doing some impression of a personality he has named Mortimer and she could not get enough. Was it really that funny?

???

Maya knows what's up. 

Ok, so Maya met her true self this week. That stranger was a hairbrush throwing, spray painting fool! I just don't understand, throwing hairbrushes out of a window isn't bad, it's just obnoxious. Anyway, Maya really wants to do something bad because she's spent the past year in Riley's la la land riding ponies and skipping on rainbows. She's pretty vocal the entire episode that she wants to do something, she just doesn't know what she wants to do. So, at school the fire alarm is accidentally triggered and at Topanga's muffin shop (?) $100 goes missing from Katy's register. Which, by the way, they all think Maya took it and their reactions to this serious situation look like this...

I don't know. I thought stealing $100 from the muffin shop her best friend's mom owns would be more serious than painting a colorful picture on some old brick wall that really needed a fresh coat anyway. After making some big speech about what she was really capable of, she did not go and commit grand larceny or murder, she painted a wall. I still think stealing the money from the register would have been worse. But if Maya didn't go to the park to commit her crime, we would not have had the pleasure of meeting Carla and  Renee. I liked Renee more. Renee made me laugh more than once, unlike Carla who was just snake-ish and creepy. She hissed around Maya's head several times and it was weird.

Wasn't this whole scene just weird? There was a brick and a hammer and then a statue was broken and then Maya put someone in a headlock and said something about the brick and the hammer and then the bullies backed off because Maya told them she knew exactly who she was? And then that's when we find out that Maya was in trouble for vandalism. And then all the adults are mad at Maya for "finding herself" even though they just spent an episode telling her to find herself. Ugh. But then they all find out she painted "hope" on the brick wall and they agree that she didn't do anything bad. But I thought Carl Winslow was mad at her for painting on the wall? Or was he just acting? What is going on here? No, just rewatched it and he was mad but kind of not since he has hope for the park and now he is thanking Maya for painting the stuff on the walls. I don't really know what I'm watching here. 

This episode was really meh to me overall. There were several enjoyable moments throughout that made me laugh and I liked it for those instances, but looking at it all together it was not my favorite. I'm not super impressed with the way they have handled Maya and her identity crisis. The adults and friends in Maya's life have been really wishy washy while advising her and it doesn't really seem fair to Maya. And while I love Riley, her perfect routine is getting a little old. Riley should be making mistakes and freaking out a little too. Who goes into high school with everything figured out? It takes normal people years to figure life out and we're supposed to believe that these 15 year olds have mastered it? If Riley Matthews has life figured out at 15 and I'm still sitting here nearing 30 with a list of accomplishments I can count on one hand ( I don't even need all my fingers), I'll cry. And I'll never stop crying. 

So I guess that's where you can find me, in a hole crying, until Friday's episode. Ski Lodge, come and save me! I wanna see teen drama! I wanna see love triangle shake-ups! Just gimme all that awful stuff!

Girl Meets World 3.6 Girl Meets Upstate

Key: Shane Lee is Blue and Syd is Brown
Girl Meets Upstate

• Here it is you guys, the second part to girl meets Triangle which isn’t called Girl Meets Triangle part 2. The exciting conclusion to the triangle that the writers say doesn’t exist, but totally does. Anyway, do we actually think Lucas is going to choose one of them? I don’t really, but I would love to be proven wrong!
• So, we begin, not with Lucas who we left in mid sentence last week when he said “I choose . . .” Maya? Riley? You Pikachu? But instead with Riley and Maya on the subway where we learn they can be attracted to other boys. (They should, in my opinion)

  

  Um, does Shawn own two cars or did Riley &/or Maya drive sans a driver's license?

• I need more Maya and Shawn scenes. They work wonderfully as father and daughter.
• Please tell me they are not going to blame this on Shawn or Maya’s clothes- that’s exactly what they’re doing.
• When Lucas told Katy she’s a wonderful mother, I’m glad someone remembered how much Katy has actually grown.
• Isn’t it weird that they Lucas is just pondering away in the bay window. I mean, I know it has to be featured in the episode, but this is a stretch that he can just hang out there for hours.
• Oh hey, Shawn kept that picture from Maya’s birthday. Good job to the props department for not losing it.
• Well, it’s nice to know that Shawn and Katy’s first date went well. We never got to see it, or really hear about. I know it’s been hinted that it went well, but why do we have to accept that all of this was happening off screen? I totally was expecting an episode where maybe Maya wanted the date go well that she’d be worried she’d lose Shawn forever if it didn’t.
• I have an issue with the this is all the clothing’s fault- in a previous episode in season two I believe, Maya told Riley those clothes meant a lot to her because they were so nice and the nicest gift anyone gave her blah, blah, blah, now she's going to sell them, just like that.

  

  "Yes, Maya, that is still a variation of what Riley is wearing"
• Shawn has never been Corey, ever! His style is a little Feeny-esque in this episode though.
• I know Riley and Maya are the focus of the show, but i want more scenes just like the Katy and Topanga one we just got. It was short, but it was so nice to see that outside of their daughters, they actually are friends and have lives too.
• Question: Why does Corey have a key to the school? He’s a new teacher- do all teachers get keys to the school? I seriously don’t know. Also wouldn’t the school have an alarm system?
• On that note: Riley and Maya had no trouble getting to Shawn’s, which is apparently in the middle of nowhere, upstate NY. So, why are they asking for a ride now?
• Is it just me or is it slightly creepy that the art teacher is just hanging out in the school at night?

  

  "Oh, hey creeper!"

• Zay has really grown on me and continues to. I am glad someone pointed out how long we’ve all waited on Lucas’s decision.
• I knew it! No decision! Uhg! I hope the stupid triangle jokes stop now.
• Okay, onto the other big decision this episode. I genuinely love Shawn and Katy, but I need to see more and want to invest more in them. The last time they shared screen time was when he asked her out for the first time. This episode focus is more on the adults and every once in awhile, this is not a bad thing.

  

  This could've been another cliffhanger!

Extra Tidbits:

• Again, no Auggie and again, I am very happy about that.
• Also, Smackle was conspicuously absent again, with no mention of where she was.

  

  Riley and Maya walked right past Smackle that night!

• I feel like this show is more of a spinoff rather than a sequel. A sequel isn’t afraid to revolve around its predecessor's characters, and usually does more than update us on theirs  lives. They are the stars as well.This show, much like a spinoff, uses one or more characters as a jumping point, like Corey and Topenga, but then focuses on new ones, Riley and Maya, and sometimes give us updates like “oh yeah, Shawn has been seeing Katy and it has gone so well that he’s asking her to marry him. Watch our new starts celebrate with them.”
• I did like the paint fight, and all the throwbacks this episode gave us. It’s a good message that you and only you can decide who you are, but you have to do all of the work.  

IF I WROTE THE EPISODE

I’m not sure I can do one of these this week, simply because if I was writing the show, things would be drastically different up to this point, but I’ll try to do a synopsis.

Riley and Maya would deal with the fall out of Lucas choosing Maya over Riley. At first Riley would try to distance herself from them, but in class, the lesson would be about some pair of historical figures that had a good friend help them do something or I don’t know. Anyway, with her good friend;s Farkle’s help (yes I am planting Riarkle or Farley seeds), Riley would put her feelings aside, and be happy for her friends. Topanga would have a heart to heart with Riley about how every time something happens it happens for a reason and they can beat into our heads once again, that there are only one Corey and Topanga.

As far as Shawn and Katy go, I would have had their first date episode, where Riley, Maya, Farkle and Lucas follow, against the guy's wishes. I might have ended this one with Shawn telling Corey and Topanga and maybe Maya over hearing or something like that. I would give them their own focus and make it a little more special.

This episode was as much about Shawn and Katy as it was Maya and Riley, maybe a little more. At the end of our last episode we watched Riley storm out of the Matthews' home with Maya, seemingly on a mission to get the real Maya back. We picked up this week in the same spot only to find out that Riley is leading the pair to uncle Shawn's house, the house that's 40 miles past the end of the world. The girls arrive and, once again, Maya and Shawn discover they have things in common. 

We all know by now that Riley is to Maya what Corey is to Shawn. And vice versa. Riley and Corey are the good influence to their bad, the happy family to their broken ones, the ray of sunshine to their dark clouds. Riley has always wanted to be as cool and adventurous as Maya, but Maya has always wanted to have the things that Riley has had; the family, the consistency, and the stability. And we already know that Shawn has always wanted the relationships that Corey has had, particularly his relationship with Topanga. So a sizeable chunk of Girl Meets Upstate was devoted to Shawn and Maya (mostly Shawn) deciding what they want for themselves, and not just taking the Matthews' prescription and living life as Corey or Riley would. Alright, whatever, but why, why, why would they rush Shawn's relationships with both Maya and Katy for this? I'm all for it in a reasonable amount of time, but the time Shawn and Katy or Shawn and Maya have spent together in front of the viewers has been limited. It's just so hard to believe things when you don't see them and we have not seen these relationships grow. And sticking pictures of Maya and Katy on Shawn's "special" wall at his house isn't going to make up for anything.

I want Shawn to have his happy ending but this one isn't satisfying because I don't believe it. That's worse than Shawn spending the rest of his days alone. However, it is amusing that the teenagers decide to take things slow, "take a breath first and find out who we all are"  as Maya puts it because that's how adults would do it...No, Maya, not on this show. This situation is only amusing for that one single reason, otherwise it's super annoying. I'm starting to think the people responsible for this show have no idea which of the girls they want to pair with Lucas so they keep putting off the decision. THIS HAS GONE ON FOR SOOOO LONG! We all know this so I don't have to scream it, BUT IT'S SO HARD NOT TO!!!! For my own sanity, dear god, I just want it to stop. Lucas could be with one of the random kids from the back of the class and Maya could be with Yogi at this point and I would not care. Just make the triangle go away, and someone please go fetch Charlie Gardner for Riley so that I can be the happiest girl in the world. 

I guess asking for Charlie is too much. Sadness. We've even witnessed more dating action between Riley and Charlie than we have between Shawn and his new bride. I'm not entirely sure what that comment was about or what I'm trying to argue, I just want this dude back and I'm willing to mentally malfunction for it. BRING CHARLIE BACK. GIVE RILEY CHARLIE! CHARLIE! CHARLIE! CHARLIE! 

Anyway, so Shawn figures out what he really wants, which is a family with Katy and Maya, and he proposes to Katy. If this is going to be Shawn's story, I at least hope that they will incorporate Rider Strong into the show more as his character so that we can see Shawn grow with Maya and Katy. Let me know this is real or else I won't enjoy it. 

I think I've touched on almost everything that I've wanted to touch on. There was one thing I didn't mention above, and that thing was a thing about Zay and Farkle. They crawled in the bay window together! It's totally possible that they were hanging out together as friends all day! I hope so. I so badly want a Zay and Farkle bond to happen, onscreen would be cool too. Don't cheat us out of this one, people.  I want to see this relationship blossom. 

Alright, that's all folks. See you next week.