You know, if you told me to combine a Boy Meets World rerun and a Wizards of Waverly Place rerun into a workable episode with minimal editing, it would probably look an awful lot like “Girl Meets Crazy Hat”.
Which is to say, “Girl Meets Crazy Hat” … well, works. After a few episodes of dangling promise, Girl Meets World delivers in a big way this episode. It may not be as interesting as “Girl Meets Maya’s Mother” or as ambitious as “Girl Meets 1961.” It’s not even the funniest episode of the series so far, with the jokes fairly standard and low key outside of some riskier drug metaphors. (Though, on that note—did they really give that blonde girl meth lips, or am I crazy?)
What “Girl Meets Crazy Hat” lacks in originality however, it more than makes up for with solid structure and a lot of heart. A class assignment on economics and consumerism dovetails nicely (albeit with a very needed suspension of disbelief) with our B Plot, as a woman very much the antithesis of the usual face of business helps land a lesson about meeting the actual hierarchy of needs, not society’s id. Even our runner ties in thematically, as Auggie attempts to buy love and Topanga balances the familiar but still delightful beats of utterly loathing Ava with an attempt to teach Auggie that sometimes people don’t know what they really want. As life lessons go, separating necessities from baubles might be a little easy, but if it takes the pressure off long enough to just focus on the writing, I’m down for a few standalone.
Particularly if it means playing around with the dynamics. For all that Farkle remains the least balanced part of the show, broadly and piercingly screeching Spanish and mobster talk all in the name of “humor,” him and Riley are as fun to watch together as commenters have speculated; and while we don’t get nearly enough from Maya and Lucas, there remains a spark and balance to their interactions that Riley and Lucas have yet to match. Sure, Carpenter may be the stand out, but they’re an energetic and likeable batch as Disney kids go. I’m glad the show is recognizing that, and playing around with the characters now the actors have settled in. A mix and match in interactions is a key part of any new show’s development, and it’ll be interesting to see how things develop moving forward as the group finds inner relationships beyond the always delightful Riley and Maya power duo.
Sure, there’s still improvement to be had. My kingdom for a story that actually brings Topanga into the main action, and I have to admit, that while I do think Cory tries his best, this week was the first to fill me with sympathy for everyone else in that class. Feeny might have shown favoritism, but it was always in a distant sort of way, where you had to root through the authority to find the genuine love and affection. Cory’s just chilling with his daughter and his friends. Surely this is not how you teach history. But this one was a solid one, and a real win for those who’ve stuck the show out to see how it improves. Here’s to many more.
Random Thoughts
- As a participant of a few crazy hat contests, I heartily approve of every single one of these hats.
- The whole umbrella exchange idea is a surprisingly good one, but wow, I am struggling to see it getting used with such fervor without a sanitizer stand right near by.
- No, but really, show: Riley/Farkle and Maya/Lucas. You see how that worked? I’m only saying.
Thoughts of your own? Let me know!
