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chicafrom3I have complicated feelings about this episode.
So first: plotline one. Lucas fails to ask Riley to the semi-formal, because he assumed she would automatically be going with her, while she assumed that his not asking meant he wasn't interested. Seeing this, Charlie asks her, and she is conflicted.
So Charlie seems nice. I wish we'd had the chance to get to know him a little better (all we know about him, really, is that he likes Riley, he's willing to go all-out on an invitation, and both Cory and Lucas describe him as nice), but it's a 30-minute Disney kidcom, what are you gonna do.
And I like the followthrough on last week's episode, with Maya still struggling with what she learned about Lucas/Riley while pretending to be Riley, and Farkle adjusting his image to incorporate the parts of Donnie Barnes Regular Guy that he liked. (Speaking of which, it's amazing how different Corey Fogelmanis looks in the new clothing style as opposed to the turtlenecks and geekwear of before. It's actually very similar to Maya's Shawn-provided makeover, I guess, except I like it better and I'm not aware enough of Corey Fogelmanis outside of the show to know if this is how he personally prefers to dress. Although I do assume part of the reason for the makeover was Corey asking if he could get out of the turtlenecks once in a while. This is a long digression, I'm sorry.)
The thing is, though, I like Lucas/Riley. They're not OTP to me or whatever, but I like them, they're cute. And the "he's like your brother" thing doesn't really work for me because Riley and Lucas don't treat each other like siblings. They're stammery and blushy and hormone-y like mutual crushes, not "I like you like a brother". BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, I'm not opposed to Lucas/Riley getting put on the backburner and allowing the both of them to explore other relationships! (I'm not thrilled about the Lucas/Maya foreshadowing but that's just because I personally don't like their dynamic very much. It's a valid writing choice and they're definitely not writing this show for me. But Lucas should date Farkle. Or Zay. Or Smackle. There aren't enough recurring female characters of the right age. Maya and Riley should date each other. Disney would probably not go for this idea.) I mean even Cory and Topanga got to date people besides each other and I really don't see Lucas/Riley ever hitting Cory/Topanga OTP levels.
So, yeah, conflicted.
And then there's plotline two. Eric is in town to meet the evil executive of an evil company prepared to bribe him to side with them over a more environmentally-conscious company, and surprise surprise! said evil executive is Jack Hunter.
I'll admit it. I laughed at "he's the smartest senator I've ever worked with". But I do wish they'd tone down the 'idiot' part of Eric's 'idiot savant' characterization. I like the little glimpses that suggest it's obfuscating stupidity but still, he can be a functioning adult!
The choice between the two companies was pretty broad-strokes back-and-white but it's a 30-minute Disney kidcom and Eric likes seeing things in black and white, I'll accept it. Plus it's not like there aren't evil corporations going up against environmentally-friendly corporations in the real world.
Jack made me sad but his path rang true. He's pretty much always been easily led astray, and he's ambitious, and he values money; without Eric and Rachel around to keep reminding him of his moral core, I can see him learning to ignore that part of himself in order to climb the ladder. And he also doesn't like seeing himself that way, so with Eric standing there reminding him of who he used to be (and Riley asking for guidance), he can still drag himself back on the light side.
Also it's just great to see Will Friedle and Matthew Lawrence onscreen together again.
Jack's awe over Cory having a daughter, and his trying really hard to be a good role model, was really cute, too. I wonder if Jack and Shawn are still in touch at all? If so I find it hard to believe Shawn would never have told him that Cory and Topanga had kids, but I could see them just keeping in touch with Christmas cards and no real conversations which might explain it. Although that's also really sad.
In conclusion, this was a really good episode. I don't agree with all of the writing choices made and I'm conflicted about some of the reveals, but that doesn't mean they were the wrong choices, and there's a lot of paths opened up for the future.
So first: plotline one. Lucas fails to ask Riley to the semi-formal, because he assumed she would automatically be going with her, while she assumed that his not asking meant he wasn't interested. Seeing this, Charlie asks her, and she is conflicted.
So Charlie seems nice. I wish we'd had the chance to get to know him a little better (all we know about him, really, is that he likes Riley, he's willing to go all-out on an invitation, and both Cory and Lucas describe him as nice), but it's a 30-minute Disney kidcom, what are you gonna do.
And I like the followthrough on last week's episode, with Maya still struggling with what she learned about Lucas/Riley while pretending to be Riley, and Farkle adjusting his image to incorporate the parts of Donnie Barnes Regular Guy that he liked. (Speaking of which, it's amazing how different Corey Fogelmanis looks in the new clothing style as opposed to the turtlenecks and geekwear of before. It's actually very similar to Maya's Shawn-provided makeover, I guess, except I like it better and I'm not aware enough of Corey Fogelmanis outside of the show to know if this is how he personally prefers to dress. Although I do assume part of the reason for the makeover was Corey asking if he could get out of the turtlenecks once in a while. This is a long digression, I'm sorry.)
The thing is, though, I like Lucas/Riley. They're not OTP to me or whatever, but I like them, they're cute. And the "he's like your brother" thing doesn't really work for me because Riley and Lucas don't treat each other like siblings. They're stammery and blushy and hormone-y like mutual crushes, not "I like you like a brother". BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, I'm not opposed to Lucas/Riley getting put on the backburner and allowing the both of them to explore other relationships! (I'm not thrilled about the Lucas/Maya foreshadowing but that's just because I personally don't like their dynamic very much. It's a valid writing choice and they're definitely not writing this show for me. But Lucas should date Farkle. Or Zay. Or Smackle. There aren't enough recurring female characters of the right age. Maya and Riley should date each other. Disney would probably not go for this idea.) I mean even Cory and Topanga got to date people besides each other and I really don't see Lucas/Riley ever hitting Cory/Topanga OTP levels.
So, yeah, conflicted.
And then there's plotline two. Eric is in town to meet the evil executive of an evil company prepared to bribe him to side with them over a more environmentally-conscious company, and surprise surprise! said evil executive is Jack Hunter.
I'll admit it. I laughed at "he's the smartest senator I've ever worked with". But I do wish they'd tone down the 'idiot' part of Eric's 'idiot savant' characterization. I like the little glimpses that suggest it's obfuscating stupidity but still, he can be a functioning adult!
The choice between the two companies was pretty broad-strokes back-and-white but it's a 30-minute Disney kidcom and Eric likes seeing things in black and white, I'll accept it. Plus it's not like there aren't evil corporations going up against environmentally-friendly corporations in the real world.
Jack made me sad but his path rang true. He's pretty much always been easily led astray, and he's ambitious, and he values money; without Eric and Rachel around to keep reminding him of his moral core, I can see him learning to ignore that part of himself in order to climb the ladder. And he also doesn't like seeing himself that way, so with Eric standing there reminding him of who he used to be (and Riley asking for guidance), he can still drag himself back on the light side.
Also it's just great to see Will Friedle and Matthew Lawrence onscreen together again.
Jack's awe over Cory having a daughter, and his trying really hard to be a good role model, was really cute, too. I wonder if Jack and Shawn are still in touch at all? If so I find it hard to believe Shawn would never have told him that Cory and Topanga had kids, but I could see them just keeping in touch with Christmas cards and no real conversations which might explain it. Although that's also really sad.
In conclusion, this was a really good episode. I don't agree with all of the writing choices made and I'm conflicted about some of the reveals, but that doesn't mean they were the wrong choices, and there's a lot of paths opened up for the future.
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