Is there any hope that this mess of a “non-existent” triangle will be resolved or will this episode end with Riley, Maya, Lucas and Josh sitting in the bay window, all staring blankly at the camera, ala New Years?
We pick up right we left off. Riley and new guy (who’s name is apparently Evan) have talked all night. I was a little surprised that Corey and Topanga, who are suppose to be the best at everything in life, would let their freshmen daughter do this is a new place. Thankfully, they did not, they stayed up all night too and were right on the couch, all along! Soon, all of Riley’s friends discovered she stayed up all night chatting with some stranger and Lucas, who has been nonchalant about any supposed feelings towards anyone, all of sudden becomes jealous.
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| "We're perfect!" -Topanga |
So, Maya, being the best friend that she is, says she’ll handle Lucas and proceeds to mock him over how he acted in Texas, which was a great line. They discuss how when he previously tried to be “boyfriend and girlfriend” (are we still fifth graders?) that it failed. This should say something the stupid triangle. While this is happening, Riley decides to ask uncle Josh for advice; he creepily knows all that has been happening in her and Maya’s lives and convinces her that Maya doesn’t like Lucas and only thought she did as a way to protect Riley to make sure he was good enough for her . . . yeah I don’t buy this for a minute. No one does this!
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| "One could easily eavesdrop from up here" - Riley |
Then, the next scene (because we have to have a bay window I am pretty sure unconsciously plants seeds for a Riley and Maya pairing. You know, when Riley tells her, “you’re the only one good enough for me.” Later it’s when Josh says he’s noticed Maya has cared for Riley for so long”, and Maya admits that she “loves her”, and at the end when Riley tells her that she, Maya, is her extraordinary relationship. I don’t really buy into this, but if there was one episode people could point to to prove this theory, it would be this one.
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| Corey is right, they deserve what they get! |
Anyway, Evan decides they should play the ill-fated game, Who belongs with Who: the next generation. Corey tries to warn them and of course no one listens. Cue the entrance for Farkle, Smackle and Zay’s only interaction in the entire episode. The game goes awry and Farkle and Smackle (who I refuse to accept as a couple) discover Evan is just making up the game. Why? Because he wants to be a Sherpa and “help get people to where they never thought they could go” or because he likes Riley and realizes she’s hung up on some cowboy or something.
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| If Farkle and Zay hug, it will confirm they are friends! There was no hug! Awkward! |
Maya and Josh have a heart to heart where he basically admits to being a creeper and watching everyone. He also convinces her she only “liked” Lucas to to see if he was good enough for Maya, so she runs to Lucas and tells him, thus telling him to choose Riley. This leads to Josh admitting he returns Maya’s feelings that she has for him. Let that sink in, college freshman Josh like high school freshman Maya . . . not creepy at all!
Lucas returns to find Evan at the front desk (child labors laws, anyone?) and Riley in the one spot she never leaves, the bay window. The sort of confess their feelings for one another, because nothing says I like you like a jelly bean and a leaf that will rot or wither away, much like I expect their relationship to.
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| "I love you for as long as this jelly bean shall remain edible" - Lucas |
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| Evan aka Sherpa! aka Boy Lauren |
*****Extra Tidbits*****
- I so knew it! Evan is Lauren’s son!
- I knew these pairings were coming and the show insists cramming Farkle and Smakcle down our throats as perfect for one another, but I still hold out for a Riley and Farkle pairing.
- Do I dare say it, is it really possible . . . that the triangle is over. God, I hope so!
- I hope this move us forward to more serious and compelling episodes in the manner BMW set during their time.
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| The look on Topanga's face when she considers smacking Evan |
IF I WROTE THE EPISODE
Ski Lodge: Part 2
What a relief. The triangle is officially (hopefully) over for good. I'm not totally happy about the outcome and the fact that Riarkle is seemingly dead, but I'm glad this three sided nightmare is over, even if it means Joshaya is a potential thing. It's (Joshaya) really weird and it doesn't really feel right, but whatever. At least the writers are aware enough to keep these two apart presently while this relationship is still kind of icky. Speaking of icky...
Evan. Evan you little twit, why are you here? And why are you working the overnight shift? I just don't understand why the wannabe sherpa was working such long and late hours. Aren't there labor laws for minors that restrict against this kind of thing? Does Lauren own the lodge now and is she exploiting her teenage son? Who knows. But we do know one thing, Evan preys on young high school girls that visit the lodge. He came creeping out of his dimly lit corner from behind the desk with a couple of hot chocolates to share with Riley the first night she was there. I say "share" but I think bait is more appropriate. Ugh, Evan.
Why do we only ever see the right side of your face, Evan?
Anyway, the two stay up all night talking about Riley, Riley's friends and Riley, and I imagine Evan got a few more sherpa comments in before the sun came up. Once morning broke, the rest of the nature club made their way downstairs to find Riley and Evan in their evening clothes and they all had questions. Lucas was extremely jealous, a mood that lasted almost the entire episode for him. Soon after, Evan would gather the gang around the fireplace for a nice healthy game of Who Belongs With Who, against Corey's advice. It didn't really matter though, because Evan was the host and he decided to change the questions to fit his own agenda.
Whatever he was trying to do, it worked for Maya. She jumped up, grabbed Josh, and pulled him immediately in the directions of the bay window to have a bay window conversation, The Ski Lodge Edition. While there, Josh convinced Maya that she never liked Lucas, she was just trying to be really extra protective of her best friend and she made herself like Lucas to find out if he was good enough for Riley. Whatever. Whatever times 100. This is the dumbest thing I've ever had to comprehend. I don't like that it was Josh's idea either. He hasn't even been around Maya and Riley enough to know this. He was absent the majority of the time that Maya was being Riley anyway, so how the hell would he know any of this? It's a terrible idea coming from anyone, but it would have been easier to digest coming from Corey or Topanga. It makes me question Josh's character too, and I don't want to question him, I like Josh. Well, I like him better when he isn't a love interest of Maya's, but then what other way could they incorporate him into the show? They struggle enough with Topanga and she's Topanga. It's just sad. This whole story was a major disappointment.
Moving on. After Maya and Josh had their little talk, it was only a matter of time before Rucas wrapped up part 2. I'm not a huge fan of this, but I will say that I enjoyed the innocence of Lucas and Riley during their bay window conversation. They're supposed to be 15 or so, right? This is their first real relationship, it was cute. Corny, of course, but cute.
Part 2 is over. We can all move on to what will hopefully be better stories for the remainder of season 3. This was not one of my favorite episodes, but it did kill the triangle so I must praise it for that. I'm anxious to see where all of this goes and I am especially anxious to see Feeny at the wedding next week. See you then.
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