There are some shows that are a hit because they are original, and some shows are a hit because they are tied into an existing franchise. Disney Channel's Girl Meets World is a little bit of both as it takes the original Boy Meets World show and grows its characters up, and then introduces new characters as well. Disney Channel programs are designed to be a hit with the tween crowd, and even those who aren't old enough to remember Boy Meets World can still enjoy Girl Meets World as it deals with issues facing tween boys and girls of this era in both a dramatic and comedic way. Girl Meets World Season 2 has about five more episodes left, and there are a lot of serious issues that it faces.
For those who are unaware of the Boy Meets World show, it focused on the adolescent Cory Matthews (Ben Savage), and several other characters in his school. Cory was mentored by a wise teacher named George Feeny (William Daniels) and fell for a girl named Topanga (Danielle Fishel). With Girl Meets World, Cory and Topanga have grown up, got married, and they have a daughter named Riley Matthews (Rowan Blanchard). Much of Girl Meets World stories deal with how Cory is now his daughter's teacher, as well as the relationship between Riley and her best friend Maya (Sabrina Carpenter).
There was an entire generation that grew up in 1993-2000 watching Boy Meets World, and now this generation can sit down and watch Girl Meets World with their kids. There may not be any other show that has attempted something like this before with its long-term continuity, but it is clear that the show is targeted to the tween demographic, even though it will occasionally reference its previous program that its main audience may never have seen.
The International Business Times had a chance to talk to August Maturo, the actor that Auggie Matthews, the little brother of Riley Matthews about the last few episodes left in Season 2. August says that "the best is yet to come" and "fans can expect lots of laughing, crying, feelings, and amazing acting from the whole cast".
Girl Meets World is a show that can get very serious at times. A recent episode known as "Girl Meets Rileytown" deals with an issue of Maya hurting Riley's feelings. The episode features a long conversation where the laugh-track is off for a few minutes, which is extremely rare for any Disney Channel situation comedy. There is a Halloween-themed episode happening on October 2nd, and according to imdb.com, there is an episode scheduled for November entitled "Girl Meets Forgiveness". This episode will focus on a "forgiveness project", which will have Maya having to decide whether or not to forgive her absent father.
Disney has a way of addressing serious issues even in its animated features, and it should be interesting to see them really deal with Maya and her absent father. Whatever the case, it appears that Girl Meets World Season 2 will end on a note that will send it to a Season 3 where many more issues will be addressed.
