in a perfect world..

follows likes replies etc from @blind-lemon

[shawnphunters]

cory matthews was clearly gay and his internalized homophobia and need for a perfectly normal life made him think he was in love with topanga lawrence when in reality he was in love with his best friend bisexual icon shawn hunter

[shawn-meets-world]

[bmw-incorrect-quotes]

cory, nervously: topanga… i’m bisexual

topanga, sighing in relief: oh thank god, i was so afraid that you didn’t know

[ooooooh]

I think interpreting Shawn Hunter as being in (ambiguously) unrequited romantic love with Cory, that he is repressing because he doesn’t want to get his “mess” all over Cory and his typical suburban perfect life, is a valid serious interpretation of Boy Meets World that you could support with textual evidence. I’m so dead serious about this.

[shorylovebot]

So, I don't like C0rpanga. In fact, they're probably one of my least favorite canon ships of all time. However, I think that in seasons 1-4 (s1 especially) they weren't that bad of a ship. This can, in my opinion, be attributed to one thing: they worked a lot better as narrative foils than as each other's perfect match. When weird, feminist, hippy s1 Topanga was on screen, challenging Cory's stagnant ways and showing him there was more to life than status or whatever else middle school society was obsessed with at the time, I was absolutely rooting for them. It was super compelling and would've made for a great opposites-attract slow-burn if they'd continued it into the later seasons. Instead, they decided that that was just too interesting. Which is how we ended up with: A) ultra-conservative-no-real-personality Topanga, B) annoying Cory who whines about his girlfriend not having sex with him so much you wish he'd lose the ability to have it at all, and C) an extremely boring relationship that reads more as heteronormative America's wet dream than, y'know, 2 people with actual romantic chemistry.

One thing I do think is interesting, though, (while still on the note of C0rpanga being better as opposites rather than love-at-first-sight) is the idea of Shawn assuming the role of Topanga as Cory's narrative foil. S1 Topanga came from an unconventional background, opposed Cory's standard middle-class lifestyle, etc. S1 Shawn, on the other hand, was middle class like Cory (albeit a little bit poorer) and held most of the same viewpoints that he did. But in the later seasons, Shawn became the one to serve as Cory's antithesis (poor/ considered trailer trash, somewhat "unorthodox" interests—such as poetry and photography, and generally holding different perspectives to things in life than he did)—all the while, Topanga became increasingly more normal and more conservative, until she didn't oppose Cory in any meaningful way anymore. (Which is also why I think s1 is Shory's weakest season, because while they're great there, I do still prefer the later seasons' dynamic).

Anyway, I have a few more thoughts. But this is disjointed enough already, so I'll just leave it on that for now. If anyone has anything else to add, please feel free to do! I am dying out here.

[cutecipher]

women love me because i am cute and only freak out badly sometimes

[importantpics]

[polymatthews]

Youtube recommending me this made my day actually

[shawnhunters-bangs]

I have caught the Jeric bug I’m afraid

[party-on-duuuudes]

“We already do that…”

This is an old drawing but I still like it! 💤

[butchdogs-md]

you need to understand that i have two sets of headcanons. there's the set of realistic headcanons based on my genuine reading of the show, and then there's me playing pretend with my dolls.

[crimsonprose]

yessss exactly

[polymatthews]

We need more modern Boy Meets World headcanons. I'll start with social media, namely instagram:

- i think Shawn would have like the most serious and sincere instagram ever. Like these artistic offguards, random photosets of so many cool niche things, and if any of the group need a really good non-selfie picture of themselves they go to shawns instagram bc he does EVERYONE justice. I just feel like his social media would be such an act of love. HES A POET after all. hed have one of those intimidating instagrams that people who dont know him assume hes like a super serious guy

- hed have one of those intimidating instagrams and then be so positive and kind and supportive in comments and messages. i think hed make it a thing to comment on EVERY post of his friends', even if its very dumb (usually corys posts are the dumb ones)

- CORY MATTHEWS would have one of those instagrams that you arent sure if its a main or a spam. He uses instagram like a diary and a collection of moments. He only takes selfies when absolutely necessary (like capturing himself somewhere) and theyre the most facebook aunt pictures on earthhhhh, Topanga would HATE the pictures cory chooses to post of her, everyone else is just resigned to the unflattering pictures, but shes always beggimg him to delete them, he never does and ALWAYS tags her... hes also a serial comment arguer. His block list is so long and hes always finding something to argue with someone about in a dumb ass ig reel, ESPECIALLY sports

- also his algorithm is something to be feared, never use instagram on corys phone., you cant be prepared for the onslaught of education, sports, brainrot, memes, and randomness youll be met with

- topanga has a carefully curated social media. she mainly posts herself, clothes or hair. She has a few pictures with shawn, but no one else has made it onto her feed thats not family. shes queen of selfies and aesthetic fit pictures. Her algorithm is tons of activism, education, fitness, hair inspo, and makeup

- erics instagram is like a mix of cory and shawn. He'll do a great photoset sprinkled with the occasional meme. His pictures are nice but theyre natural. He isnt a poser or much of a solo selfie guy. He posts lots of good eats and cool spots. He's definitely the one with the most videos on his feed, he loves capturing moments with friends and family. He also has the rare "prank" or challenge video, he loves participating in social media in that way

- i think jack is an underrated baddie on instagram without realizing it. He posts photos of himself months or even years apart. But theyre always so good. Like a random simple glasses selfie, is perfectly lit and composed. He has a few post workout pics that are dam near cinematic. And in between pics of himself hes got some pics of stuff he thought looked good, like his view in the bar, some cute off guards of eric, or things he sees on a walk. In total he has like 8 posts, He often forgets he has an instagram

- i feel like morgan runs a decently popular meme page and none of them know its her page except like shawn. But shes often in their likes and comments and they just accept the support from this random account with funny ass posts

[cronegloam]

ideal ship dynamic

[polymatthews]

Ok Im actually convinced Shawn knows he's in love with Cory, and he knows full well what he's doing when he does/says certain things..

For example, starting off with a CRAZY ONE. If we are going off of Girl Meets World canon. WHY did Shawn give Cory a RING?! And then they just have rings together??? The man has a WIFE Shawn. Like have some dam decorum.

Then bro the WEDDING EPISODE. Their breakup episodes. The episode where he was pissed at Cory about breaking his promise to take him to Vermont and everything.

When he tells Topanga she's one of the best people in his life. She asks who's first and he says "He is".

When he tells Cory "You think I don't know you better than anybody?" because WHAT ELSE

When he took Cory on that trip to tell him he's planning on leaving. Just to be happy with him again before he leaves. And he knew Cory would make a scene, but he took him anyway.

JUST THECWAY HE SPEAKS. HIS ACTIONS. YOU CANT TELL ME HE DOESNT KNOW HES IN LOVE WITH THAT BOY.

AND HE JUST BECOMES SO DISTRAUGHT IN MOMENTS WHERES HES REMINDED CORY 'DOESNT FEEL THE SAME WAY'.

[shawn-meets-world]

[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

[kat--writes]

I always talk about "An Affair to Forget" when it comes to the Cory/Shawn relationship and how it would have been a perfect place to start having the characters question their feelings, and I tend to forget about "It's Not You, It's Me," which is arguably even better.

There are MULTIPLE moments throughout the episode where both Cory's father and girlfriend question if he's straight, and while the audience laughs, it's not exactly played for only jokes -- ie, Topanga seems sincerely curious about if he's attracted to her or Shawn. "An Affair to Forget," i'd argue, leans on the comedy beats even more than "It's Not You, It's Me," because the core emotion is anger and betrayl there, instead of the more lighthearted tone of pining.

Shawn, for his part, is SO hurt over Cory's decision to apply to other schools and it's just a huge, gaping doorway that could have been used to have him confront his own emotions. It truly would take Mr. Feeny saying, "Ask yourself, why do you care so much?" to change that narrative. Dawson's dad did it for Pacey, Feeny could have done it for Shawn. Instead, the message becomes "we're from different worlds," a story they do, IDK, 100 times in the course of 7 seasons.

As usual, I will never be over this