tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post4695058653289913165..comments2024-03-07T03:41:31.958-08:00Comments on Girl Meets World Reviewed: 20 Greatest Meets World Characters: #7. Topanga LawrenceChristianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15777511078966279437noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-65943069554452172702017-02-06T15:31:19.735-08:002017-02-06T15:31:19.735-08:00Yeah, Sean. I'm back. And here to stay.Yeah, Sean. I'm back. And here to stay. Cryptid456https://www.blogger.com/profile/09940615935399527753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-6084311359821208342017-02-06T14:45:23.632-08:002017-02-06T14:45:23.632-08:00By the same age? Yeah, I'm not too sure. Riley...By the same age? Yeah, I'm not too sure. Riley was I believe 14, maybe 15. So that's like season 3 of BMW. That was well before we started seeing serious make-out sessions; sure they kissed a fair bit and Riley doesn't but well... that's more because Cory and Topanga were more on the same page, mostly, with where their relationship was. The bigger issue is we don't see Farkle and Smackle kissing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06033285584106079567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-57311978873587003902017-02-06T12:58:57.874-08:002017-02-06T12:58:57.874-08:00Thanks for the comments :) I generally try to make...Thanks for the comments :) I generally try to make my fanfics more realistic and real world based on my experiences and, for the record, didn't even try to fanfic Riley.<br />In finishing just to clarify one issue more like comparision.<br />Kissing.<br />In BMW C/T were all over each other with some serious kissing. Riley, at the same age, nada.<br />Obviously Disney put the brakes on re kissing and most forms of physical intimate contact. I just found the comparison interesting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-3220003508390670562017-02-06T10:59:33.447-08:002017-02-06T10:59:33.447-08:00oh hey your actual account is alive againoh hey your actual account is alive againSeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773515281303659184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-29563896142056898512017-02-06T07:55:23.032-08:002017-02-06T07:55:23.032-08:00"I always thought it was the network laying d..."I always thought it was the network laying down the law about the whole no sex part in BMW but we saw way worse in GMW with Riley. I mean she never seriously kissed anyone (that I saw)"<br /><br />I actually think GMW's premature demise actually spared it from being too bad. The gang were Freshmen when the show ended, and I don't think it's uncommon to not get past chaste kisses and hand holding at that age. If she'd gone all the way through high school without any of that (or at least *talk* of it) that would have been more problematic for me. But considering Riley doesn't strike me as someone who'd be comfortable going anywhere physically at this point, I was fine with it. Christianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15777511078966279437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-48242936980523816312017-02-06T06:34:15.981-08:002017-02-06T06:34:15.981-08:00I agree with a lot of what you say there; and whil...I agree with a lot of what you say there; and whilst I do read fanfics a fair bit, especially if it goes an alternate route rather than just a new story that doesn't change the way the characters are viewed at all; I probably wouldn't have read that one. I think the divorce was terrible; and whilst I couldn't have blamed Cory if she couldn't lure him back, them getting back years later would make it feel like nothing was really achieved.<br /><br />The big disagreement I have is The huge mistake they made with GMW was that it was written for tweens and they should have made it a furtherance of C/T relationship instead of focusing on Riley." This was always going to be what it was. Disney wanted a coming-of-age show. They may have changed their minds about marketing at this age group; but that's what they wanted. This is not to say there couldn't have been some Cory/Topanga storylines, Alan and Amy had a fair few over the years; just that the focus -did- need to be on Riley. <br /><br />Even if they'd initially shopped around after Disney made their offer, the best that would have happened is something like Fuller House, where the adults have an equal importance. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06033285584106079567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-84603087210811508062017-02-06T05:49:26.563-08:002017-02-06T05:49:26.563-08:00I always thought it was the network laying down th...I always thought it was the network laying down the law about the whole no sex part in BMW but we saw way worse in GMW with Riley. I mean she never seriously kissed anyone (that I saw)<br />I took the opportunity to address some of those issues in Fanfic (now non existent online) but prom night C/T snuck back to A/A house and basically just fell asleep together in Cori's bed. I never actually touched the mechanics of sex with C/T but left it to the readers imagination what they did.<br /><br />S6 Topanga's parents divorce (thereabouts) where she moved out of the dorm and broke up with Cory. He dumped her, having had enough of her crap he decided to move on. <br />He left that college, went elsewhere and dated a whole lot. Several years later they did hook up and eventually marry but I left them apart in S6.<br />That's the beauty of Fanfic :)<br /><br />Topanga was awesome in GMW but her character was under utilized where it could have been so much better also Danielle wrote a couple of really good GMW eps. But her character was never fully explored.<br /><br />The huge mistake they made with GMW was that it was written for tweens and they should have made it a furtherance of C/T relationship instead of focusing on Riley. Writing it the way they did the series was pretty much doomed from the start.<br />A lot of potential in the GMW series that just evaporated. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-52006005514334151252017-02-05T16:38:14.906-08:002017-02-05T16:38:14.906-08:00As much as I enjoy Topanga in Boy Meets World, the...As much as I enjoy Topanga in Boy Meets World, the same cannot be said for her in the role she played in Girl Meets World. <br /><br />Part of this makes me angry, and part of it makes me sad. And I can't shake the notion that network executives had a hand in this--while I have seen very little of more recent Disney Channel shows the fact remains that Topanga, horribly used though she may be, is still one of the best mothers on the Disney Channel to my recollection.<br /><br />And I do think that this was a decision put on by the network. Topanga's role in the pilot was relatively small, but I still got the impression that she felt like the old Topanga. But it has been stated that there were "creative changes" that were undergone from the filming of the pilot and the production of the rest of the season.<br /><br />There's a special place in Hell for whomever decided that Topanga's role in this series was to babysit the Poster Child for the Campaign to Re-instate Corporal Punishment (And for the record, I oppose corporal punishment).<br /><br />I have long believed that the most important person in a little girl's life should, ideally, be her mother. There was so much potential to tell stories with Riley and Topanga. Imagine an episode where Riley develops unhealthy eating habits, and Topanga, recalling her own insecurities with her weight from "She's Having My Baby-back Ribs" is able to give her much needed advice. Or an episode where it's Take-Your-Daughter-To-Work-Day--we were asking for that for literally the entire time the show existed, and the entire year it was in pre-production.Cryptid456https://www.blogger.com/profile/09940615935399527753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-50833340882251398352017-02-05T15:18:07.095-08:002017-02-05T15:18:07.095-08:00Yeah, the living together and yet -still- being pr...Yeah, the living together and yet -still- being pro-abstinence was the time I most felt sympathy for Cory. I agree that Cory could be a little jerk about it sometimes; but that most likely mainly came from her behaviour earlier more than anything. It seems such a sudden turn-around, and then when they get married a couple of episodes suggest she's just as eager as he is, so it felt even weirder.<br /><br />I hated that storyline of her parents divorcing. And then it turned out it was not simply'falling out of love' as was suggested initially; but due to an affair made it even worse. And for them to hide that from Topanga when that was one major reason that it would easily end up differently for her and Cory? That even goes against every appearance for them we'd had prior to season 6.<br /><br />Topanga in seasons 1-5 of BMW was in some ways, almost a totally different character than in seasons 6 and 7. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06033285584106079567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-62154598474610793572017-02-05T14:30:44.131-08:002017-02-05T14:30:44.131-08:00I can't believe I forgot to comment for Topang...I can't believe I forgot to comment for Topanga.<br /><br />In Boy Meets World, she's awesome. And to elaborate on Sean's points, I love how her first appearance, when she says she's unsure of whether or not she'll shave her legs, is actually a nod to Danielle Fischel's previous appearance on Full House. <br /><br />[For point of reference, Fischer played a classmate of Stephanie's (who was maybe ten at the time) who had already started shaving her legs and had pierced ears]<br /><br />Topagna was simply awesome, giving the Power Trio a nice grounding foundation. And what.I love is that although the writers clearly had pairing her off with Cory in mind, in the second season she and Cory were friends first, eventual lovers second. This is in sharp contrast to Riley and Lucas's relationship (non-existent though it may be), where the question of them being a couple cast a shadow over each interaction they had. <br /><br />And I love Topanga's independence. <br />One great moment that Sean didn't mention was "Career Day." Topanga's father Jedidiah spoke to the class and at one point called her by the apparently babyish nickname "Tippy." Cory and Shawn laughed, and instead of being embarrassed and crying "Daddy!" Topanga turned in her seat, snarled at them, and got them to admit it was a great name. <br /><br />The abstinence issues came a little out of nowhere, I agree. Sean's not wrong that it seems inconsistent. Probably it was the network cracking the whip, but at the same time, it definitely doesn't make sense for Topanga to be so pro-abstinence, and then insist that she and Cory move in together so they can know everything about each other. In my experience, abstinence and non-co-habitation go hand in hand.<br /><br />I definitely think that Topanga's anxiety over her parents' divorcing was bad. It's like the writers had run out of ideas. It was not funny and it didn't feel emotionally earned, considering we spent so little time with Topanga's parents themselves. It was just annoying, and it took up far too much time. <br /><br />But on the whole, BMW had a very strong female character in Topanga Lawrence. Cryptid456https://www.blogger.com/profile/09940615935399527753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-8443362123148144182017-02-04T17:49:52.890-08:002017-02-04T17:49:52.890-08:00But as Topanga said, "We're going to do i...But as Topanga said, "We're going to do it when I DECIDE",<br /><br />To be fair, I had no problem with this. My problem was that prior to season 6, that didn't seem like a 'we're going to wait till marriage' deal. As pointed out in another comment, at the end of season 4 she admitted to struggling with waiting, it almost happened on prom night (though that did seem kinda forced in some respects, from both of them), and then at season 6.. nothing but kissing. And not small little kisses either. It's like their relationship took this gigantic step back from "I think I'm just about ready" to "marriage is required for that kind of step".Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06033285584106079567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-21701507358525663222017-02-04T17:18:01.271-08:002017-02-04T17:18:01.271-08:00yep I'd love to know what happened to Topanga ...yep I'd love to know what happened to Topanga where she went from totally free, new age T in BMW to we can only kiss typically type A control freak personality.. <br />And if memory serves Cory only saw her ass in S6 somewhere. Cory never saw her in a bikini or they never accidentally touched things while making out?<br />I thought the whole sexless thing, particularly as they were doing a lot of kissing, was unrealistic and frankly total BS.<br />But as Topanga said, "We're going to do it when I DECIDE", Revealing her for the total control freak she was. God bless Cory and his patience because if I was dating someone for years and no sex but loads of kissing I'd probably have dumped her ass.<br />GMW was infinitely worse I don't think Riley ever had a BF let alone a serious willing kiss aside from Farkles romeo Juliet chin kiss.<br />Welcome to Disney world I sposeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-61009608984933262382017-02-01T11:16:05.562-08:002017-02-01T11:16:05.562-08:00Topanga...the real linchpin of our beloved Trio. W...Topanga...the real linchpin of our beloved Trio. We know that Shawn and Cory are the two best friends anybody could have* but they really become a grounded duo when Topanga enters the mix. She makes the world they inhabit feel even more real. What impressed me with how she was presented, even when she was clearly being mishandled, was that she still felt like Topanga. When it came to overall 90s TV, she was one of the best written women characters out there.<br /><br />Yet, when it comes to GMW...she might as well not been there. Just a waste of such a dynamic character. And when she was used, it made us all want more, because we knew she could be more. Topanga is one of the real tragedies of GMW. pwfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05846753926134120983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-77537813756604193552017-02-01T04:13:47.900-08:002017-02-01T04:13:47.900-08:00Because nothing kills the mood like bringing up th...Because nothing kills the mood like bringing up the best friend that you've shown repeated insecurities about. She didn't look exactly -pleased- in "Learning to Fly" when in response to her saying she thought he was sexy he said "wait till I tell Shawn". <br /><br />I know that Topanga's insecurities about Shawn, in particular during Season 7, are a source of frustration, but in some respects I can't blame her. Whether talking about actual romance or something a bit more physical, Cory always seems to bring up Shawn at times when he really shouldn't be thinking about him; though that does die down after they're married.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06033285584106079567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-82293852801631755592017-02-01T02:49:00.977-08:002017-02-01T02:49:00.977-08:00Yeah, I agree with Will, the Dangerous Secrets ep ...Yeah, I agree with Will, the Dangerous Secrets ep wasn't really about Topanga not being ready - to be honest, she could have been interested in her own right, but a suggestion of 'Let's have sex, my best friend is!' would put most people off. Cory might as well have worn a sign saying *he* wasn't ready just by phrasing it the way he did, and Topanga's repeatedly suggested that a particular turnoff for her is him bringing up Shawn when discussing sex. slinkhardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17930786390099972534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-73187929507497858772017-01-31T21:33:00.176-08:002017-01-31T21:33:00.176-08:00Oh and thank you for reminding me of those Season ...Oh and thank you for reminding me of those Season 4 episodes. "Learning to Fly" is particularly the one I was thinking of; as Topanga rather heavily implies that if she'd gone, she was worried about -her- not jumping him. And to be fair, "Dangerous Secret" is more, I felt, because Cory was pushing at her to go further not because it's what he wanted, but it's because it's what he thought they 'should' do. <br /><br />And I'm pretty sure it was even implied that Alan and Amy didn't wait till they were married either. Which is why I think someone dropped the ball - Eric in particular, but even Shawn and Angela, didn't have the life-long commitment that they were selling us that Cory/Topanga had (leaving aside whether that was presented properly, or if it made sense); and yet -they- were the ones waiting. Which is why it feels like a Disney directive - a push for the 'marriage is all-important' climate that some groups were really pushing at during the late 90s.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06033285584106079567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-53321282728838866072017-01-31T16:09:41.686-08:002017-01-31T16:09:41.686-08:00Christian has a point--as good as "Her Monste...Christian has a point--as good as "Her Monster" is, it's pretty filler, with little dynamic plot or character development. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-40559006045340104512017-01-31T13:36:08.031-08:002017-01-31T13:36:08.031-08:00Yeah, as I said it's more my partner's arg...Yeah, as I said it's more my partner's argument than mine. The problem with Cory's dealing with her abstinence, the moment they mentioned they were abstaining, is he could only deal with it well if they actually wanted to do a storyline where they perhaps think about going further. And they didn't (whether it was a Disney call or not I don't know, but I suspect yes). <br /><br />And yeah, I know Beverly Hills was skewered at an older audience; but the comment in the initial blog didn't specify 'teenage girl in a show aimed at younger teens'. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06033285584106079567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-49522305889235417592017-01-31T13:30:48.484-08:002017-01-31T13:30:48.484-08:00I believe it was because Cory and Topanga were the...I believe it was because Cory and Topanga were the lead couple. It still makes it a mistake, and yes, a better way could have been to just not mention it. Topanga even has that mention of 'we have an elastic band...' or some such in a season 6 episode; and why even bring that up if all they were going to do is heavy making-out? They did -that- in public at least once or twice. You'd only bring that up if you were thinking of doing something you'd be embarrassed for your friends to see you doing. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06033285584106079567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-19875418950469836102017-01-31T09:15:27.429-08:002017-01-31T09:15:27.429-08:00Which, given that, really makes his retirement to ...Which, given that, really makes his retirement to a fishing community in Jackson Hole a big mistake. No wonder he hated it there.Christianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15777511078966279437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-14000066030053621312017-01-31T09:14:42.012-08:002017-01-31T09:14:42.012-08:00'I like camping. I don't fish. You do the ...'I like camping. I don't fish. You do the math.'Christianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15777511078966279437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-692090136062385382017-01-31T08:39:39.535-08:002017-01-31T08:39:39.535-08:00And as we all know, from attws, FEENY'S BANGIN...And as we all know, from attws, FEENY'S BANGIN IT OUT ON THE REG TOO, GO FEENYSeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773515281303659184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-22692121292756589032017-01-31T07:56:35.098-08:002017-01-31T07:56:35.098-08:00It's up there, but I'm not sure I'd pu...It's up there, but I'm not sure I'd put it ahead of Yearbook or Semi-Formal (which is excellent for reasons besides Eric and Jack, although that helps)Christianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15777511078966279437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-68671142557030319972017-01-31T07:33:26.682-08:002017-01-31T07:33:26.682-08:00Not Family Ties, Family Matters.Not Family Ties, Family Matters.Christianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15777511078966279437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-382001792347152845.post-18821364947166202752017-01-31T07:33:05.381-08:002017-01-31T07:33:05.381-08:00"For the record, Beverly Hills had a 'tee..."For the record, Beverly Hills had a 'teen sex before marriage' thing in their first season, which was way back in 1990. The 1990s was the start of storylines where premarital sex happened and not necessarily as a demonstration of 'bad girls'. By the time of their Graduation, it was almost at the point where couples abstaining till marriage was no longer the norm - which would be admirable, except that it doesn't really follow Topanga's character; which really suggested to me that whilst love would have been an absolute necessity, marriage not so much."<br /><br />Except that Beverly Hills 90210 was targeted toward older teens, while TGiF shows skewered younger. I can't recall any teens on Family Ties or Step by Step or Full House or Sabrina the Teenage Witch having sex either. I think most people who watched Boy Meets World were like me, quite a few years younger than the characters themselves. My sister is roughly Cory and Topanga's age, and she had already moved on to other shows - shows like Beverly Hills 90210.Christianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15777511078966279437noreply@blogger.com