you're my date aren't you

who's gonna tell him he's in the closet?

[lgbtshawn]

cory/shawn nda amv :)

[lgbtshawn]

thinking of listening to the full episode of pmw for it's not you it's me, cause i'm curious on hearing more thoughts and maybe context for some of things they said? looks like they didn't like the episode much cause it was the same joke over and over, but.. that's why i liked (i am a shipper...) and it's done in different ways and done sincerely though exaggerated. rider saying they could've done cory and shawn being in love with each other and dealing with that yessss, but then danielle chimed in and idk....

[eyretosnowdrop]

just spent the last 5 hours making a boy meets world edit to a boygenius song because im fucking normal about this gay 90s sitcom

[eyretosnowdrop]

here's the link to my magnum opus

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

You know, now that you're ta now that we're talking about it, I really do think that that is, that it's, it's pure homophobia because if it was played for reality, then you run the risk that Sean and Corey are actually gay, maybe kind of in love with each other and gay or like, and so I think they, they just pushed us to be like, no, no, no, let's just make a complete joke out of this. So that from the moment it starts, there's never any doubt. So then you can play Cory as gay as possible. Shawn as gay as possible and it's never gonna be threatening to like, actually, you know. You could even make the, like, does he like kissing Topanga jokes? But it's so obvious  like the audience, you know, it's like, there's like, there's this push to make sure it's like, well, this is so ridiculous.  Let's just make it all a big, like telegraph to the audience that it's a complete joke. And you know, that they didn't have that problem with an Affair to Forget because it was literally about being about a woman. That was the impetus for the where in this they have to push so hard because, you know, I think they were afraid that it would be. You know, and it's like, w why, why not? Like why not make that the part of the joke too.Liike, what if they are actually kind of maybe in love with each other and they need to deal with that or whatever. But you can't laugh at that, you know, in the nineties. -Rider

It could also just be, and I don't wanna say just as if I'm minimizing toxic masculinity, but this idea that, well, two platonic friends can't care about each other enough in order to make it...sure my best friend can move across the country. What do I care? I'm still gonna be, I we still, so I talked to him like there could still be this, this element of it that isn't, but yeah, the mixed, I, I don't know. I it's, it's one of the two that you're right, that's probably exactly the reason they had to take it so over the top to make sure there wasn't any questions about the sensitivity of two boys who are platonically in love with each other and, and what that looks like. Nobody wanted to actually just have that. -Danielle 

Think about the word bromance didn't exist yet. Right, right. Like the idea this was, they, they had to make it an over the top joke to to, to like make it palatable to straight America, you know? And to heteronormativity. Like, it's just the only way that they could sort of make it work because yeah otherwise it, it, I don't know. I, it's, it's, it's a bummer because you, I think the script is actually kind of funny. I think there is a version of this where there's nuance and where it builds, you know. -Rider

But we, we saw that version where there's nuance. We saw it. It was an Affair to Forget. -Will 

[shawn-meets-world]

[kat--writes]

Crazy to be a BMW fan yet against Corey and Topanga, the endgame of a lifetime. Media literacy ain't that hard.

Liking or disliking a romance does not immediately equate to media literacy? It’s clear the show wanted to make Cory and Topanga endgame, but my critique is that I don’t think the writers did enough to show WHY they were the perfect match beyond simply “telling” us they were and retconning their romance to make it seem like they’d been together forever.

In fact, I’d argue most of what we saw proves they weren’t right for each other. And I am happy to break that down for you, although a lot of it IS based on not developing Topanga as a character with agency enough. And if you juxtapose the time the show took to showcase why Shawn and Cory were such a wonderful duo, it’s pretty wild at the lack of effort it gives to Cory/Topanga.

I can write a list of reasons why Cory and Shawn are great together. I can even do that for Shawn and Angela. I cannot do that for Cory and Topanga. It’s all tell, no show.

So I don’t think it’s crazy to look back as an adult and say hey, the writers didn’t really have consistancy or depth here in places they could have, and they almost felt more obsessed with making it a big grandiose relationship then actually telling the story. This has been commented on not just by me, but by all three members of Pod Meets World, one of whom is half of that romance.

And, just to boot, Michael Jacobs said himself if he did the show now he would have explored Cory and Shawn’s queerness. It’s recognized across the board.

I don’t often say trust me I know what I’m talking about, but I feel pretty comfortable in saying media literacy isn’t something you can tell me I don’t understand.

[kat--writes]

I am once again disappointed in Pod Meets World not diving into the legions of fans who loved Cory and Shawn romantically and how certain episodes play into that!

They seem to have an issue with it all because of the “gay joke” and I get that, but for me, there’s a really complex conversation to be had there about subtext and analysis of how things were presented.

I love the podcast, I just don’t get why they refuse to acknowledge the Cory/Shawn romance angle?

[kat--writes]

Remember on Boy Meets World when Topanga got into Yale but Cory didn’t even hear her nor care because he was too distraught over Shawn and then even after finding out she was accepted still only cared about Shawn? Me too

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

Cory runs over. It's for him. He takes the phone from his confused brother, Shawn. Shawn scolds him. You're supposed to call me Dawn. Cory asks, why is Jennifer there? Shawn corrects him again. Dennifer. -Danielle

It's so ridiculous and outlandish and crazy. And I loved every second of it. -Will

And also so exactly what I think Shawn would do. It's exactly the way Shawn would handle it. I love it so much. -Danielle

These phone call scenes are just the best. They're some of the best scenes ever. -Rider 

...This is why this episode exists to see Shawn and Cory being Star Crossed lovers. It's so funny. And I love it now. So Cory asks, how could he just let some girl tell him he can't see his best friend? It's wrong. Just wrong. There's silence on the other line. And Cory asks if Shawn's still there. Shawn responds I was just listening to the sound of your voice and thinking about the old days. -Danielle

Your reads Rider, your reads on these things are so spot on good. I mean, it's just, you're like riding that line so perfectly. -Will

You just commit to it as as as a lover. You know? And, you play the the reality of it. I know, but it's, but that's, you know, that's..comedy when taken seriously...Characters take the serious and that's where, yeah, it was so fun. I remember just being like, this is so fun and funny....I just remember Ben And I loving this scene. Like, I remember loving doing this scene. And I was, I feel like I was able to see Ben somehow we coordinated when we like did our moves. And I'm not sure if they brought a monitor or if where they positioned me, I could see him. So we could do that. But I just remember discovering like, I mean, I think we already knew how funny it was, but I remember living the comedy and just having so much fun. Like, I just remember, you know, this is, this is, I feel like these last four episodes have been me and Ben. Having so much fun and like, it's just, we've clicked into this gear as actors, as, as co-actors that I remember. You know, we had a mind meld, we had a mind meld as actors and we were always having fun and we always had each other's backs. And there was just this complete sense of confidence and and comfort with each other. -Rider

I remember this killing at the run through. Like just crushing it at the run throughs. It was so good. -Will

So the audience is hootin and hollering and they love Coran or Shory. What would it be? What would your, what would your relationship name be? -Danielle

Probably Shory. Yeah. -Rider

[lgbtshawn]

SHORY NAME DROP ON THE POD???

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

That's why this episode does ultimately work. Is because the Cory/Shawn dynamic is amazing, but also just the storyline is great. -Rider 

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

So now sporting his mom's purse, Cory walks up to Shawn and quietly asks, how could you let this thing fall apart? -Danielle

Looking very trendy for today, by the way. Like guys are now all wearing fanny packs and like over the shoulder bags. I was like, oh, this is actually a good look for Cory. -Rider

He looks great with a murse. Shawn argues, it's bigger than me. It's bigger than both of us. Very well played. Great line. Bigger than me, bigger than both of us. Cory says they have to hold this thing together. -Daniellle 

Yes. Best performance in Boy Meets World history. I'll never get better. This is it...This is peak acting Rider. I think so. Because after this I take myself way too seriously. For whatever reason. I was like outta my head and just having fun this episode. Great. -Rider 

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

This the beginning of the like Cory Shawn bromance, like the real, like It is right? Like, 'cause we haven't self-consciously made jokes. Like, I didn't think it was appropriate, but I did do it. Like, have we done that yet? Like where where Cory and Shawn are acting like lovers, but... -Rider  

Yeah, I don't know. I, in some ways I feel like this is maybe the first one that's really on the nose. Like, I brought you flowers. But in the, but with that said, I also feel like that's kind of like, I, one of the things I remember that I loved so much is when you were telling Cory to hold your hand, the way he was holding Topanga's hand. -Danielle

Right. I'm like big hands. Right. -Rider

And then somebody walks in. And, you guys aren't embarrassed that you guys guys have been so in, in some sense, this feels like the very first. -Danielle

Yeah, it's been there. But this is the first like self-conscious, like we're kind of treating each other like we're in a relationship. But yeah, this is, and this is gonna be like an ongoing joke. Like this is the next three years. This Is gonna be a thing. -Rider

I do love it. As Topanga would say, my whole life. -Danielle

[shawn-meets-world]

[lgbtshawn]

cellophane [cory/shawn]

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

Cory smiles and asks, you are my friend, aren't you? and Shawn responds, of course I am. Cory asks. and that little thing with Topanga Shawn admits. I think the three of us can be very happy together. -Danielle

Hey! Throuple! -Rider

First Throuple! -Will

Come on spinoff -Rider 

[kat--writes]

I truly believe that Cory and Topanga were entirely mismatched, and that Boy Meets World does nothing to dispute this fact.

Forget that they retconneced their relationship to say that they’ve been together since they were 3 years old, there is never a moment where they understand each other in the midst of conflict.

And when that happens — and it does often — who usually fixes that for them? Shawn.

This happens when Cory kisses Lauren, when they break up after that kiss, when Cory’s baby brother is in the hospital … the list goes on.

Topanga does not understand Cory on a basic human level. At times, it’s almost as if she pitys him or thinks he’s a joke. I don’t think Cory is a perfect character by ANY STRETCH of the imagination, but he only recognizes these flaws through the help of Shawn. His growth — when not through a lesson from Feeny of course — is ALWAYS with Shawn. Honestly even Angela communicates with him more efficiently in the final seasons (not in a romantic way).

We are told to love Cory and Topanga. EVERY REASON we are told to love them is SHOWN in Cory’s relationship to Shawn. I cannot express this enough.

They made this same exact misstep on Girl Meets World — with forcing Riley/Lucas on us all when the natural chemistry AND narrative clearlyyyyyyy led to Riley/Farkle and Lucas/Maya — but that’s another post.