Why does Maya have to forgive her father?
This is a complicated question for Girl Meets World, but it’s also a complicated issue. Kermit has a duty to Maya—one he’s failed to do for most of her life, one he’s chosen to fail to do because he didn’t feel ready. Is it morally upstanding of her to forgive him? Yes. Is it a good life goal to have? Yes. Is Maya entitled to her anger, her grief?
Also yes, I think, and while I have my problems with “Girl Meets Forgiveness Project,” I can only applaud the show in this. Allowing Kermit to have no good reason for what he’s done—as many who have done the same as him don’t—is not a kid-gloves decision. Allowing him to somewhat selfishly try and justify it, to downplay it with a focus on how far he’s come, is not either. When Maya take her stand, allowing her to realize that she doesn’t deserve to second-guess herself, to hate herself, for something that was done to her—we feel that, and it hits hard. The pacing in “Meets Forgiveness Project” might have wobbled compared to the past few episodes and the runner with Farkle/Lucas/Zay might never have fully run its course, but there’s real beauty to the family that has chosen Maya all coming together to support her in the face of the man who never tried.
Too bad “Meets Forgiveness Project” comes at a bad time. While other episodes have been shuffled out of original production order, never has it been so telling and unwelcome. Too much as happened in GMW for this kind of shift, and too many storylines are left hanging after last month’s three parter. Are Lucas and Maya still dating? Is Riley still upset over it? Is she still leading poor Charlie Gardner on? These are not questions I want to ask when there are more important things going on.
And yet, it is precisely because of the nature of tonight’s episode that it becomes impossible not to. An event this massive in Maya’s life should eclipse romantic strife, but you can’t eclipse what isn't there. Is Lucas the world’s best or worst boyfriend by not being involved in this? Given Maya, and her reaction to when he did step into things, I would argue best. He doesn’t know enough about the situation, and their relationship is still new. It’s a family matter, and when it counted, he was there for her, providing a small public display of affection that is much more in keeping with their relationship than last week’s struggle was. Except let’s be real, I’m making all that up. There’s nothing in the show to tell me otherwise, but it’s because there is visibly nothing to tell in this episode. What would have been a clue going forward that Lucas cares about her is now just a moment we have to guess at.
The shuffle also creates some plot holes. Let’s take Riley—how on earth is her forgiveness story about Auggie (even if I do enjoy their relationship) when she’s got actual legitimate friend difficulties to sort through? Or Lucas—shouldn’t he be tempted to forgive Riley, for the sudden 180 on him? While I can understand both parties choosing safer targets, the fact it’s not even a question feels like a logic breakdown, one that does the exact opposite of everything the arc tried to achieve.
I'll be fair. These aren’t questions the episode was designed to hold. They are questions that baffle, but only because of what (appears to be) the order shuffling, not because the show actually failed to address them. However, them’s the breaks, when your show is serialized. One change creates dramatic consequence. While it’s likely a network failure rather than a show one, it's a failure none the less, one that drags “Meets Forgiveness Project” way down.
