On June 27, 2014, Disney Channel aired a spinoff of the hit 90’s show “Boy Meets World.” The spinoff centers around Riley Matthews (Rowan Blanchard) and opposite Maya Hart (Sabrina Carpenter), two best friends navigating their way through middle school and high school amid friendship struggles, teachers, and boys. Riley is the daughter of the “Boy Meets World” stars Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) and Topanga Lawrence-Matthews (Danielle Fishel). This sitcom has aired three seasons however Disney has not yet renewed it for the fourth season. The show has covered many topics that no other Disney Channel show has conquered before. Most Disney Channel shows get at least four seasons. With “Girl Meets World” rated as their highest viewed show, why wouldn’t they get renewed for a fourth season?
“Girl Meets World” has tackled so many topics that Disney has never dared to venture with. Most Disney Channel shows have a picture perfect family with two happily married parents and siblings that almost always get along, despite some comedic feuds. This barrier was crushed when we met Maya’s family. Maya’s family consists of one full time working mother with a diner job and an absent father who left when Maya was a mere child. Throughout the show Riley has a very close relationship with her father and in the episode “Girl Meets Father” there is a father-daughter dance at the end of the school dance and Riley’s father gives up his dance with his own daughter to dance with her friend because she has an absent father. This program also annihilates the controversial topic of money in “Girl Meets Crazy Hat” and “Girl Meets Money.” The show also massacres topics such as bullying in “Girl Meets Flaws” which is very important because 64% of students are bullied in school. “Girl Meets World” takes on the topic of death in “Girl Meets Gravity” when bakery owner and Auggie’s personal friend, Mrs. Svorski, dies.
The gang also learn about democracy in “Girl Meets Mr. Squirrels” and “Girl Meets Mr. Squirrels Goes to Washington” when Riley’s uncle decides to run for Congress because the current congressman doesn’t believe the future belongs to the children. Disney Channel has never been a channel to talk about religion but once again, “Girl Meets World” broke that barrier in “Girl Meets Belief” when they study on what really happened to Joan of Arc. Another topic that has never been discussed on this network is communism when the students learn the harsh realities of communism in “Girl Meets Communism.” One of the most important barrier that this show has broken is autism. In “Girl Meets I Am Farkle”, Farkle is being tested for having Asperger’s Syndrome. Asperger’s syndrome is when an affected individual has difficulty with social interactions and exhibit a restricted range of interests and/or repetitive behaviors. He goes to his opposed foe, Smackle, for help and consolation.
It is later revealed that he is not autistic but Smackle has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. She continues to show her symptoms throughout the show. The episode that had the most effect on me was “Girl Meets STEM.” In this episode, there is a science experiment and the teacher pairs up each boy with a girl and they boys insist on doing the science while the girls have the easy job of just dropping the ball in the container. When all the girls aimlessly drop the ball, Riley doesn’t drop her ball because she wants to do the science part. She realizes that the meaning of the lesson was to see that girls have to work harder because men dominate the STEM fields and that women can be successful in STEM subjects also. The theme of this episode is feminism which made actress Rowan Blanchard very happy because she is an outspoken teen intersectional feminist who has even spoken at the U.N. Women’s Conference.
Disney Channel is very blessed to have “Girl Meets World” as their highest rated show. Michael Jacobs and his writing team have conquered so many topics that most kid’s shows are terrified to discuss. “Girl Meets World” is educating the children and adults who watch the show with creative storylines. However, it has not yet been renewed for a fourth season. Disney Channel might renew it but its fans are not ones to take chances. Ever since signs appeared of season 3 being their final season, fans signed petitions and tried to contact Disney to let the show continue on Freeform or Netflix because they feel the writers need to cover more controversial topics that Disney would not allow such as sex, LGBT+ characters, or alcohol and drugs. This show has revolutionized Disney Channel and if Disney doesn’t renew it they will deeply regret it.
