Christian and Sean's Top 10 Boy Meets World Episodes

1. Security Guy
2. Raging Cory
3. Eric Hollywood
4. And Then There Was Shawn
5. You Can Go Home Again
6. B & B’s B ’n ‘B
7. Shallow Boy
8. Learning to Fly
9. Brother Brother
10. Torn Between Two Lovers (Feeling Like a Fool)

JUST MISSED THE LIST: Heartbreak Cory, Bee True, Prom-ises Prom-ises

OTHER HONORABLE MENTIONS: Uncle Daddy, Hair Today... Goon Tomorrow, Turkey Day, Ain't Gonna Spray Lettuce No More, We'll Have a Good Time Then, The Eskimo, Father Knows Less, Things Change, Graduation, Stormy Weather, Wheels, An Affair to Forget

1. Security Guy. I don't expect anyone to challenge this.
2. The Eskimo
3. An Affair to Forget
4. City Slackers
5. Eric Hollywood
6. Raging Cory
7. Brother Brother
8. And Then There Was Shawn
9. Brotherly Shove
10. B & B's B n B


I AGREE WITH CHRISTIAN: Shallow Boy, Heartbreak Cory, Torn Between, Bee True, Uncle Daddy, Turkey Day, Aint Gonna Spray, Chet's Curtain Call, Father Knows Less, Things Change, Stormy Weather, Learning to Fly (and Hair Today just for Good Looking Guy)

CHRISTIAN IS OUT OF HIS MIND: Prom-ises Prom-ises, Wheels

CHRISTIAN IS MISSING OUT: Turnaround, Pop Quiz, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, Janitor Dad, Chick Like Me


 

I'm going to kick off the debate portion of this post by talking about Affair to Forget. I'm just going to copy from BMWR's epilogue: This is the paragon showing of the Cory/Shawn bromance and every second of it is magic. It is abundantly clear that they love each other in a way we never see between Cory and Topanga. But that doesn't stop Topanga from helping Shawn (and the audience) understand that a girlfriend shouldn't keep you from your friends (a life lesson, you might say). What really sets this one apart from future bromance episodes is that Shawn isn't competing with Topanga. In the future, once Cory and Topanga have been soulmated™, it's presented as Shawn vs. Topanga, and littered with Topanga making frustrated faces to the sound of audience laughter. But in this episode it's not a competition. Topanga just wants to help. Meanwhile, Eric is putting on his one man show. He believes in himself, he dreams, and he tries. He fails, ultimately, but Feeny is there to help him pick up the pieces and he offers Eric some genuine, meaningful advice. This episode has everything. 

It is absolutely a top ten episode. The other differences can be chalked up to taste, but on this one, WAY more than any other, I think you're wrong.

I mean, it's a tricky one to make a compelling debate because... I like An Affair to Forget. It's in my Honorable Mentions, it's a really good episode, and very funny. I like the Cory/Shawn stuff, I like the Eric stuff, so it's hard to debate passionately because we're debating between "I think it's the third best episode" and "I think it's a really good episode, I just don't know about top 10."

So, if we can bear in mind that I do like this episode quite a bit I guess I will attempt to explain why I don't like it quite as much as you. For starters, while this kind of begins the vaguely romantic aspect of the Cory/Shawn relationship, Cory and Shawn is like... already kind of set in stone by this point. Episodes that are about Cory and Shawn specifically as a unit aren't ones I think of as critical because it kind of feels like almost every episode is about that. Frankly, I probably didn't find it all that believable that Shawn would have even agreed to ditch Cory in the first place, although it wasn't a problem. That always seemed a little odd to me. Plus, the ending was a little inevitable as well. 

As for Eric, it's a fun little storyline, but in this era of the series, you don't have to throw a stone very far to hit a Feeny/Eric mentor/mentree moment and there's better examples than this one. So, I don't know. Just think the other episodes were better! No offense meant to Affair to Forget. 

You know what's a better episode that you didn't include in your top 10? Torn Between Two Lovers (Feeling Like a Fool.) It features really good acting on Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel's parts, the lovely Lauren, Shawn used in a very good capacity, and if that wasn't enough, it's got Eric's citizenship teacher storyline. It's like "Oh, here's a really powerful episode about a dramatic story arc we're starting, and oh just for fun here's one of the best Feeny/Eric storylines of the entire series just for funzies as well." Great great episode. You cited it as an episode you'd like, but that's Top 10 material, sir.

And, whoa, where's "You Can Go Home Again" on your list of episodes you like? You don't say you agree or that you disagree about it. An oversight? It's a perfect encapsulation of Eric's journey to live up to his potential, a great episode for him in general, it features a really heartwarming little mini-romance between him and the diner girl, it's got lots of humor ("I'll be in that farm house... there...") and sets the stage for Alan's Season 4 story arc. I'm a sucker for the father/son (and surrogate father/son) relationships on this show, and Alan and Eric is my favorite one of all. Great episode for them. You should include this episode.

And jeez, what's your beef with Prom-ises, Prom-ises? Maybe my friend Mr. Washington can change your mind? How about a mystery bag? Maybe it's good? Maybe it's not? No, but seriously, I find it a very funny episode, I really like how Eric and Jack are used, and I also like the show having a frank and mature look at sex. For the only time in the series. 

Also, I'M out of my mind for having it as an honorable mention? When you've got Pop "Everyone Who Reads Our Blog Will Have To Google This Episode To Remember What The Plot Was" Quiz? Pshaw.

I feel like you and I have debated Wheels before. I like it a lot, it's one of the few instances where Alan/Cory is given the depth of Alan/Eric, I really like it. The fights felt like fights I've had with my dad. AND it's still really funny. Nothing to pshaw HERE.

Other than "Pop Quiz" which I don't think is in the upper 50th percentile of the series, I got no beef with your "missing out" episodes, but, nah, they just don't make my top 20. I like her, but I've never been as wound up about Dana as you and since that relationship ultimately didn't go anywhere it kinda feels like a let down in retrospect. I actually think "I Love You, Donna Karan" is better (JUST "I Love You, Donna Karan", Sean. Not "Chasing Angela" too. Just "I Love You, Donna Karan.")

A similar thing applies with "Janitor Dad" because the first thing that always comes to my mind is "Huh, and then we never see Chet as the janitor again." Also I always roll my eyes at how pointlessly hostile random-ass Crandall is for no reason. Remember that guy? What was that guy's problem!?

"Chick Like Me" I like.  Just has always felt like I didn't like it as much as everyone else did. It's good. I'm just not wound up about it. I mean, I'd give it like a B+, it's good. 

I'm actually pleasantly surprised you have Raging Cory on your list. I didn't think you would. You for sure should. 

Of course I have Raging Cory. I'm not a father smiter. 

You Can Go Home Again should have been under "AGREE", but I'll leave it out to preserve the writing. It's great, but there's a gigantic hole that keeps me from putting it in top 10. The whole reason Cory and Eric go on the trip is to reconnect as brothers. That's where Brother Brother ended. But there isn't one single mention of their rekindled brotherhood in YCGHA. Not once. In fact, the opening scene tells us that Cory's been thinking way more about Topanga than Eric for the entire trip. That was a massive disappointment for me.

I'm looking at Prom-ises the way you look at Pop Quiz. Mystery Bag is outrageously funny, but I can't think of anything else that would make me watch that episode in my free time.

I respect your opinion on Janitor Dad and Chick Like Me. 

I like Torn Between Two Lovers. I'd love to have Lauren in my top 10. Amy, Alan, and Shawn all saying "I like her" is fantastically compelling. But I hate the ending too much for it to be top 10, despite Ben's perfect delivery there at Chubbie's. 

Wheels doesn't do anything for me. I'm curious what other people have to say about that one. I'm totally receptive to being the minority on that episode.

On the other hand, you are almost certainly in the minority on City Slackers. I bet you think a moose can be a ranger.

I think if I was grading City Slackers, I'd give it a B. It's a good episode. William Daniels gets MVP. Actually that gives me an idea....

1. Security Guy
1. Episode Rating: A+
2. Episode MVP: Will Friedle (Runner-Up: William Russ)
2. Raging Cory
1. Episode Rating: A+
2. Episode MVP: William Russ (Runner-Up: Will Friedle)
3. Eric Hollywood
1. Episode Rating: A+
2. Episode MVP: Will Friedle (Runner-Up: Ben Savage)
4. And Then There Was Shawn
1. Episode Rating: A+
2. Episode MVP: Rider Strong (Runner-Up: Ben Savage. Will Friedle's great, but he loses points for his lame South Park shit)
5. You Can Go Home Again
1. Episode Rating: A+
2. Episode MVP: William Russ (Runner-Up: Will Friedle)
6. B & B’s B ’n ‘B
1. Episode Rating: A+
2. Episode MVP: William Daniels (Runner-Up: Will Friedle. Sorry Rider and Ben. And Danielle too, she was great. Coulda gone to any of 'em.)
7. Shallow Boy
1. Episode Rating: A+
2. Episode MVP: Will Friedle (Runner-Up: Leisha Hailey)
8. Learning to Fly
1. Episode Rating: A+
2. Episode MVP: Will Friedle (Runner-Up: Ben Savage)
9. Brother Brother
1. Episode Rating: A+
2. Episode MVP: Will Friedle (Runner-Up: Ben Savage)
10. Torn Between Two Lovers (Feeling Like a Fool)
1. Episode Rating: A+
2. Episode MVP: Ben Savage (Runner-Up: Will Friedle)

That would have been more fun if they weren't all A-plusses. But they are. I tried to make some A's for variety. But they're A-plusses. Also, I'm such a fucking Eric fanboy. Look at that shit. 

Anyway, when you come down to it, I say City Slackers is a mediocre episode with a few admittedly great moments but those moments are ultimately only a total of like 5 minutes of the episode. Most of it is just unremarkable Cory and Shawn shenanigans, and a very boring B-plot about all the supporting characters playing pool. Nothing about the rest of it is above 'okay.'  I agree those moments are enough to deem it a good episode, not just an okay one. But top 10? Fourth ever? Nah, not for me. 

You know what's so good about the Mystery Bag joke, while we're on it? It's not just that Eric carries around a mystery bag for no discernible reason just in case. Thats great in and of itself, but that's just surface level gold. The real gem is how enticed it makes the desk clerk. The brief look on his face as he contemplates what secrets that bag might hold killllls me. Anyway. 

I don't hate "Two Lovers"'s ending. It's really compelling. I mean, Topanga's crazy, but whatever, we're on Cory's side, and Cory's reaction is perfect. And Danielle does a pretty good job selling it, for how dumb it is. But like, it's not dumb in a "This is just dumb writing." way. It's actually something I could see a high school girl doing. This whole storyline was good, in my opinion, because it felt very high school. Relatively low stakes, but played as if the world is on the line and yet with enough moments like "And Then There Was Shawn" that poked fun at it and them. I think I used to be a detractor on the breakup storyline, but I think it's good. It's just that "Starry Night" sucks. 

I dunno, I'm done for now. 

You are quite the fanboy indeed. 

I give my top 3 the mythical letter that comes before A. I think they're in a class above the other 7, but yeah, 4 through 10 are all A+. I should note that my original review of B&B doesn't reflect that, it was far less passionate, but things change.

You don't need to tell me about the Mystery Bag.

Well, I think this is ready to post. Any final comments? I don't think I've got anything left to say.

I'm good.