TGI – Episode 701 “Show Me The Love”

Summary

Pod Meets World: "TGI – Episode 701 'Show Me The Love'"

Release Date: January 8, 2026
Hosts: Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle, Ryder Strong
Episode Focus: Recap & deep-dive on Boy Meets World Season 7, Episode 1 – “Show Me The Love” (originally aired September 24, 1999)

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode marks a bittersweet milestone: the beginning of the seventh—and final—season of Boy Meets World. Danielle, Will, and Ryder revisit the season premiere “Show Me The Love,” reflecting on the challenges both the characters and real-life actors faced at this pivotal point. The episode alternates between scene-by-scene breakdowns, candid discussions about mental health and behind-the-scenes memories, and spirited critiques of the storytelling choices, offering fans both nostalgia and new insight.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Emotional State Entering Season 7

• Will Friedle opens up about a particularly difficult period, sharing for the first time how profoundly his mental health was struggling during this season (04:16–05:47).
  • He describes being newly medicated, secretly battling panic attacks, and feeling isolated:
    “I had a massive panic attack in the [wig-fitting] chair, which… was happening every 10 minutes in my life at this point… I was literally considering climbing out the window…” (04:42–05:15)
• Ryder Strong and Danielle express shock, stating they never knew the extent of Will’s struggles, highlighting the difference between public persona and private pain (05:47–06:05).

2. Collective Recollections of the Summer Before Season 7

• Danielle recalls traveling with family to Malta, inspired by her heritage (17:08–18:22).
• Will recounts a “hellish” summer, bedridden for weeks with panic attacks, new relationships, and preparing himself to return to set (18:26–20:54).
• Ryder describes a whirlwind of European travel and an adventurous trip to Thailand, expressing how he knew the coming season would be Boy Meets World’s last (12:51–16:56).

3. Viewing 'Show Me The Love': Mixed Reviews

• The hosts differ starkly in their take on the episode:
  • Will found the episode funnier than expected, focusing on sharp jokes and a relaxed cast:
    “The episode itself was great. It was just going back down the road [that was tough].” (09:11)
  • Ryder voices dissatisfaction with the storytelling:
    “I just felt like all the characters got thrown out of the window in that storyline. I was like, who are these people?” (10:32–10:58)
  • Danielle critiques Topanga’s storyline as “insufferable,” fearing that this self-destructive version of Topanga persists through much of the final season (10:04, 34:40).

4. Behind-the-Scenes & Series Context

• Season 7 was initially picked up for only 13 episodes, leading to speculation (and some tension) among the cast about whether the wedding would serve as the series finale (08:09–08:34).
• A more relaxed, self-aware energy is noted among the cast, now that renewal pressure is reduced—“We were actively making each other try to laugh and enjoy ourselves…” (08:34)
• The cast jokes about in-jokes, bloopers, and costume quirks—e.g., Danielle's "backpack continuity," Will's haircuts and wigs, and the “lobster” backstage joke (45:00, 55:09).

5. Plot Dissection & Character Critique

A Plot: Corey and Topanga Call Off Wedding

• The group points out the roundabout logic used to break up Corey and Topanga, calling it overly contrived and disconnected from prior seasons’ logic:
  • “I can't have us possibly end up like my parents. So I'm going to make us our parents now.” —Danielle (11:17)
• Discussion on how much the show shifted into self-referential humor and “characters spinning their wheels” rather than authentic conflict (11:54–12:31, 34:40).

Other Plots:

• Angela and Shawn break up in solidarity with their best friends—seen as another forced, trope-laden moment.
• Alan and Amy’s subplot (dealing with Morgan dating) is critiqued for making both characters unrecognizable and resorting to “name-calling in the most reductive way”: “Pig is like, is very, very harsh to me.” —Will (80:22)

Notable, Fun Moments:

• Commentary on “peak Matt Lawrence” (57:43), razor-sharp punchlines, and numerous references to previous seasons.
• Will’s hair transformation and the anticlimactic reveal on set: “I stand up at the thing and I pull off the wig, expecting a big response. Dead silence.” (59:47–60:42)

6. Noteworthy Quotes & Reflections

• Mental Health Openness:

  • “The best acting I've ever done in my life is not letting people know that I was literally dying.” —Will (05:59)
  • “The more I was holding [my anxiety] in, the worse it was getting. So you just had to [talk about it].” —Will (22:48)

• Critical but Comedic Observations:

  • “This is arguably the worst year of my life, just mental health wise. So a fun way to start the episode and the season.” —Will (07:20)
  • “The witty dialogue is there. And also, Ben is having so much fun.” —Ryder (53:07)

• On Nostalgia & Growth:

  • “Your life is everything you could have possibly wanted it to be. You're married and you're healthy… I hope that watching it, there's a sense of, like, seeing that young, struggling Will and there's... I hope there's some [peace].” —Danielle (21:16–21:38)

• On Character Consistency:

  • “We've entered the complete self-conscious zone where we're just commenting on our own storyline and our own characters, and that's the entirety. And that's what I'm nervous about [for] season seven.” —Ryder (11:54)

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Season 7, Episode 1 Recap: “Show Me The Love”

[28:42+]

• Synopsis: Topanga calls off her wedding to Corey after her parents’ divorce. Sean and Corey plot to reunite her parents, while family and friends' subplots unfold (Morgan’s first date, Alan & Amy's parenting differences).
• Guest Star: Jacob Chase (as Dominic), with a notable later career as a horror director.

Scene-by-Scene Dissection (Selected Timestamps)

• [44:18] College dorm reunion: “Feeny is every teacher” running gag.
• [47:23] Emotional confrontation: Topanga reveals her parents’ divorce and doubts about love.
• [58:02] Friendship dynamics shift as the cast’s relationships fall apart in rapid sequence.
• [62:14] Eric’s “hair reveal” gag—anticlimactic but meta, parodying past episodes' focus on appearances.
• [68:57] Matthews family subplot: “The Hell she is!”—Rusty’s comedic highlight.
• [73:59] Alan’s struggle with Morgan growing up, and meta commentary on how girls’ and boys’ clothing is treated/showcased.
• [75:12+ and 89:57] Corey & Shawn’s heartbreak, bluesy piano, and resolve to “fix” Topanga’s parents’ marriage.

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Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Will Friedle on acting through anxiety [05:59]:
  “The best acting I've ever done in my life is not letting people know that I was literally dying…”
• Danielle Fishel on the 'logic' behind Topanga’s actions [11:17]:
  “I can't have us possibly end up like my parents. So I'm going to make us our parents now.”
• Ryder Strong on character drift [11:54]:
  “We've entered the complete self-conscious zone where we're just commenting on our own storyline and our own characters, and that's the entirety.”
• Danielle on Topanga and Angela’s copycat breakups [36:50]:
  “I very much remember…being flat out said, 'when one woman breaks up with her boyfriend, all the other guys panic because her best friend is going to do it too.'”
• Will on momentary dissonance [80:22]:
  “Am I the only one who thought they…this is very harsh of Amy. Pig is like, is very, very harsh to me.”
• Ryder, on Season 7 storytelling [34:40]:
  “…I have a feeling the entire season is going to be us talking about our characters and not having motivation…”

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Memorable Moments & In-Jokes

• Backpack Fiasco: Danielle laughs about continuity errors with her backpack—on, off, on again in different shots [47:30–47:44].
• Eric’s Hair: Will’s much-ballyhooed haircut is a letdown on set, met with actual silence, not cheers [60:03–60:42].
• Lobster Gag: Long-running behind-the-scenes joke—“That's you just waiting for your cue outside” [55:09].
• Meta Scene Commentary: “They are not the stars of this episode. I loved that Corey does come up kind of with a scheme and we get to see Shawn say, 'I'm not doing that. Okay. Yeah, I am.'” —Danielle [35:53]

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Episode Structure & Timestamps

• [03:16] Hosts express anxiety, sadness, and nostalgia at reaching the final season.
• [04:42–07:20] Will details personal mental health struggles during Season 7.
• [12:51–18:22] Hosts share summer vacation stories pre-Season 7.
• [28:42+] Recap of the episode’s major beats, with ongoing dissection.
• [44:05+] Scene-by-scene comedic commentary & behind-the-scenes anecdotes.
• [91:04–92:43] Hosts discuss cast changes, or lack thereof, for Season 7 and reflect on favorite past seasons.

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Conclusion: Tone & Takeaways

This episode is marked by a frank, often hilarious tone—with the hosts toggling between sharp critique, good-natured ribbing, and genuine vulnerability. Listeners are treated to rare candor about mental health in show business, an honest look at the artistic (and sometimes frustrating) evolution of a long-running sitcom, and just enough nostalgia to relive their own TGIF childhoods. The atmosphere is one of camaraderie: the lingering affection between Will, Danielle, and Ryder is always front and center, even as they roast themselves, the writing, or each other.

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For First-Time Listeners

If you haven’t watched or rewatched “Show Me The Love,” this episode provides a detailed scene recap, a critical evaluation of character trajectories, and laugh-out-loud moments that illuminate both the highs and the weirdness of late-stage Boy Meets World. Above all, it’s a heartfelt glimpse into the personal journeys of three actors whose real lives evolved in tandem with their on-screen personas.

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Pod Meets World – Season 7, Episode 1 “Show Me The Love”: A must-listen for fans seeking nostalgia, behind-the-scenes insight, and a healthy dose of self-aware humor.

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Other Notable Timestamps

• [04:42] Will's anxiety and panic attacks begin
• [08:09] Season 7’s uncertain 13-episode pickup
• [45:00] "Backpack continuity" joke
• [57:43] “Peak Matt Lawrence”
• [59:47] Will’s anticlimactic wig reveal
• [80:22] Debate over “Pig” name-calling in Alan & Amy’s subplot

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Transcript

[Danielle Fishel]

This is an iHeart podcast guaranteed human.

[Will Friedle]

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[Danielle Fishel]

I'm Danielle Fishel Rider Strong and Will.

[Will Friedle]

Friedle from Pod Meets World.

[Danielle Fishel]

Whether you're a seasoned small business owner or thinking about getting started, check out season four of Mind the Business small business success stories from iHeartMedia's Ruby Studios and Intuit QuickBooks.

[Ryder Strong]

In this latest season, hosts Austin Hankwitz and Janice Torres are talking to self starters about the ins and outs of entrepreneurship and how QuickBooks helps you to get more done in less time. You won't want to miss it.

[Will Friedle]

Listen to Mind the Business Small business success Stories on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Katie Couric]

If you only listen to one thing to make sense of the news this year, make it this. The final episode of this season of Next Question pulls together the most important conversations of the year. You'll hear Dav Graham on Project 2025, Liz Oyer on the plethora of presidential pardons, Tina Brown on the year's biggest scandals here at home and across the pond, plus much, much more. It's a crash course in the last 12 months, how we made it through the year, and a look at what might be coming in 2026. Listen to next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

When you feel uncomfortable, what do you put on Biggie? You put on Biggie when you feel.

[Ryder Strong]

Uncomfortable because I want to get confident.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

This is DJ Hester Prynne's Music is Therapy, a new podcast from me, a DJ and licensed therapist. 12 months, 12 areas of your life Money, love, career, confidence. This isn't just a podcast, it's unconventional therapy for your entire year. Listen to DJ Hester Prynne's Music is Therapy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts. Wherever you get your podcasts, talking to.

[Will Friedle]

Your kids about the dangers of Vaping can be hard. Getting them to listen to hot gossip is easy. So here's some drama you could share with your kid. Dude, did you hear about Cassie and Jake?

[Katie Couric]

No.

[Will Friedle]

But did you hear that vaping can cause irreversible lung damage and nicotine affects brain development? Nuh. You don't need to gossip if you want to have an open conversation about vaping. So if you want to get tips on when and how to talk to.

[Ryder Strong]

Your kids, visit talkaboutvaping.org, brought to you by the American Lung association and the Ad Council.

[Danielle Fishel]

Guys, it's here. Yeah, the time has come. A moment we at one time felt like would never arrive. Yet we knew it would at some point, no matter how much we dreaded is time to recap the seventh and final season of Boy Meets World.

[Ryder Strong]

Dun, dun, dun.

[Will Friedle]

Are we here already? Are we here already?

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't know.

[Will Friedle]

We just started this journey.

[Danielle Fishel]

Seriously. A grouping of episodes that at least two thirds of performed in while out of body. So what would you say are your feelings going into this seventh and final season?

[Ryder Strong]

I'm nervous. Yeah. I'm not.

[Will Friedle]

I'm sad that the podcast, this. This aspect of the podcast is ending.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

I mean, again, we're like, we're starting the final chapter. I also. And we'll get into it. Obviously, watching the first episode of season seven was very difficult for us.

[Katie Couric]

Me.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Really?

[Will Friedle]

So this is. Oh, yeah, this is. This is the peak. Peak anxiety, the low part of my life. And this was a really, like, I didn't think I was going to be there. So this was a very. This was. This was a tough watch for me all the way through. So starting season seven, and I know it'll get better, but starting watching this was. Was rough for me. So. Yeah, this was a. This was. This was a. This was a tough year in my life. So. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

What do you. Can you explain it for our listeners a little more?

[Will Friedle]

Well, yeah, I mean, when I started the podcast, I had. I was maybe six weeks or started podcast, started the show. I was season seven. I was maybe six or eight weeks into anxiety, which I'd never experienced before in my life. So I still wasn't talking about it. I had just. I'd been on medication for maybe a month, which is why I'd put on so much weight. But I. My life was spiraling at this point. I mean, badly. So it was. I mean, that wig that we wear, I was gonna get into it, but I remember being called in to have the wig fitting and going to Laurie's house and Karen McCain was there and they were just talking, having a conversation. And I had a massive panic attack in the chair, which was just. Was happening every 10 minutes in my life at this point. It was just. It was awful. And so I just. Still not talking about it, put a smile on my face, excuse myself, and went to the bathroom and essentially had. It broke down in Laurie's bathroom. And I was like. Was literally considering climbing out the window where I was like, I can't do this. I can't go back to the show if I can't be in front of these two people that I know and love. I can't be in front of an audience. I can't do this. So it was. This was a horrific time.

[Ryder Strong]

What's crazy. The crazy. What's crazy about that for me is that, like, I had no idea.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, well, it's because I think back.

[Ryder Strong]

At this time, like, you were always Mr. Positive, super, like, funny and just on it is. Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

The best acting I've ever done in my life is. Is not letting people know that I was literally dying because you and I.

[Ryder Strong]

Spent a lot of time together. Season seven, like, that's my. Most of my memories of backstage are you and me. Because I don't remember any of the show. Like, when I saw this episode, I was like, I have no. I know we've said that about previous episodes and previous seasons. I have no idea what's coming in season seven because I can't remember a s. Oh, the Civil War. The Civil War episodes. I remember. I remember those. So. But other than that, I can't remember what happens to our characters. I don't know what happens to Sean, to Corey, to like all this stuff with Topanga's parents and this. I remember the wedding was like, you're.

[Will Friedle]

Never the wedding, right?

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, right, right. But, yeah, like. But I like break up the wedding or I like freak out at the wedding. I don't remember why. Why is Sean freaking out about the wedding?

[Will Friedle]

Like, I think it's. We do this. Did we do this at our live show? I think we had to look it up because I don't remember.

[Ryder Strong]

I know that I have like a speech at the wedding, but I don't remember why.

[Danielle Fishel]

Or.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, no, this was a heavily medicated both by a doctor and self medicated with alcohol year for me. And it was just. That's why I was putting on weight and just trying to get through my life at this point.

[Ryder Strong]

I was having so much fun with you.

[Will Friedle]

I know, I know.

[Ryder Strong]

We Were running around filming our behind the scenes stuff. We were laughing. I mean, I feel like you and I. And were we also going to. Because you had a place up in Arrowhead and I think it was on this year. We went.

[Will Friedle]

Several times we go up there. But I remember. Oh, man. There was. There were drives to Arrowhead where I had to pull over every 15 minutes because I was freaking. I was like, I shouldn't be in the car. I shouldn't be driving. No. This is a very. This is arguably the worst year of my life, just mental health wise. So a fun way to start the episode and the season.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Hey.

[Will Friedle]

Which is always great. But yeah. So this was just watching the episode and frankly, we'll get into it. I liked the episode.

[Danielle Fishel]

I was pleasantly surprised by the episode.

[Will Friedle]

But that's the episode. It was just personal.

[Katie Couric]

So.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Interesting.

[Katie Couric]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

By the way, Ryder.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

You're fantastic. So good in this episode.

[Ryder Strong]

What?

[Will Friedle]

So good.

[Danielle Fishel]

Really fantastic. You are the star of this episode and yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Really not feel that way.

[Danielle Fishel]

Really good.

[Will Friedle]

I thought it was great. I felt like we were all so by. By this point, I think. And I hope I'm not ruining everything that we were supposed to talk about later, but this was the first season since the first season that we had only been picked up for 13 episodes.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Oh.

[Will Friedle]

So we were not picked up for our full 22. We did not think we were going to be doing a full 22.

[Ryder Strong]

And to me, it's wedding was coming. Right. We knew the wedding was planned.

[Will Friedle]

I think we knew the wedding was coming up. There was a chance that was gonna be the end with like, we're gonna end with the wedding. And then. Cause remember, you and I were shooting our behind the scenes thing and then when we got picked up for our back nine, we put it down more time. Oh, we got more time to finish it. But we. So we were actively making each other try to laugh and enjoy ourselves while we were shooting this. I could tell Ben's putting on funny voices and doing different accents. Everybody's trying not to laugh. We're just being with each other. And it was almost tongue in cheek for ourselves and that I loved. So I mean, the episode itself was great. It was just going back down the road.

[Ryder Strong]

That's interesting. I really did not like the episode.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, you didn't.

[Ryder Strong]

But hearing you say that, I was like, yeah, I guess we were having like when I. I could feel that watching like, you know, the like. Yeah. But. But no, story wise and character wise. I was really not into this.

[Will Friedle]

But yeah, it didn't bother me.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

I didn't.

[Will Friedle]

I guess I just didn't care. I was too watching again just how big I was and how, like, dead behind the eyes I was. And then trying to hide it by being bigger with my comedy.

[Ryder Strong]

Right.

[Will Friedle]

So I was thinking that's one of the reasons people. I had a weird realization last night where people were like, why did Eric get so dumb and so big? And part of me is wondering if one of the reasons is because I was so dying inside that I was pushing it every week. Like, I'm fine. I'm fine. Of course I'm fine. Look how big the comedy is. And I was like, oh, my God, I wonder if that's why I was doing it.

[Danielle Fishel]

I mean, it definitely is true that the. I mean, my story, Topanga's storyline is so insufferable.

[Will Friedle]

It kind of is. Yeah. And played out. Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

I just didn't care.

[Will Friedle]

I don't. Why would we care?

[Danielle Fishel]

We don't barely know you, and we definitely don't know your parents.

[Ryder Strong]

And you guys were okay with the B story of Alan suddenly cracking down on Morgan? Like, what.

[Will Friedle]

What I was okay with is Rusty's performance because he was hysterical.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, he was funny.

[Will Friedle]

The kind of her calling him a pig and all that stuff was not great, but he was so funny.

[Ryder Strong]

I just felt like all the characters got thrown out of the window in that storyline. I was like, who are these people? Morgan is supposed to be, like, sassy, independent, always sort of sarcastic. She's not any of that. Alan is like, suddenly this, like, controlling, obsessive father. I was like, what? And like, I don't know, it just. It felt like all the characters got thrown out the window in that storyline. And then, yeah, I thought Corey being the Corey that we talked a lot.

[Will Friedle]

About, obsessive Corey is just red flag obsessive Corey. It was Topanga that threw me this episode because it was just kind of like the will they won't they of it after a while. And then there's just kind of Trina like, Angela's just two steps behind her, just kind of there the whole time, just agreeing with whatever Topanga says it was. It was strange, but I guess I.

[Danielle Fishel]

Just didn't care also, like, so I the make it make sense. I can't. I can't have us possibly end up like my parents. So I'm going to make us our parents now.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

We've already been together for supposedly 17 years or whatever it is. And so now I'm going to break up with you, which Makes us like my parents. With the exception of the fact that it's not technically a marriage yet. So it's just the divorce part of it versus the breakup part of it. Because it's. How is this helping anything?

[Ryder Strong]

It doesn't make any sense.

[Danielle Fishel]

It makes sense.

[Ryder Strong]

We've entered the complete self conscious zone where we're just commenting on our own storyline and our own characters, and that's the entirety. And that's what I'm nervous about season seven is that it's just characters spinning their wheels about themselves as characters and their habits. And I'm like, I find this so uninteresting story wise. It's just like, okay, we're just riffing. Sean's gonna talk about being Sean. Cory's gonna talk about being Corey. And what we always, you know, I'm like, what? This isn't. I don't know, it's not storytelling. Like, I want real conflict. I want real things to be happening. Instead, it's characters talking about what they do as characters. It's so weird.

[Danielle Fishel]

So, yeah, we. Before we jump into. We've kind of started with our thoughts about the episode. But before we jump in, do either of you remember the summer? Will you? Probably do, because it sounds like maybe it was brutal.

[Will Friedle]

Very well, yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

What did you do between the summer between seasons six and seven?

[Will Friedle]

Hmm.

[Ryder Strong]

I traveled a lot.

[Will Friedle]

Okay.

[Ryder Strong]

I went.

[Danielle Fishel]

Is this your road trip?

[Ryder Strong]

No, the road trip was the year before. So this was. Yeah, I guess I didn't send you a postcard saying, hey there, sexy.

[Danielle Fishel]

No, I didn't get one from Europe. No.

[Will Friedle]

No, I got my sexy postcard that year. Appreciate it. Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

No, I think the summer started or they.

[Danielle Fishel]

England.

[Ryder Strong]

They flew me over to England to do promos for Boy Meets World because I get. I don't know what was happening. Boy Meets World. You got a European trip? Yeah, I got a trip to. To London and I recorded. I did. I spent like a week. Disney brought me over to London. I did like, talk shows and I. I think it was. It was a nightmare.

[Will Friedle]

Something was happening. I did that tour too at one point. I think something was happening. I think.

[Ryder Strong]

I feel like they were releasing a new season or whatever. Anyway, they picked me to like represent all of Boy Meets World. So I went and did a bunch of talk shows and. And then recorded a series of promos. I spent like two days running around London with a film crew. With me, like now they would seem like influencer videos because it was like me talking to camera like, hey, it's Ryder Strong from Boy Meets World.

[Danielle Fishel]

Hey, this too.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. Okay. Yeah. And it was so funny because years later, I went and visited my buddy Sean in London, and he had a friend meet us at a bar. And he was. And the friend showed. He was like. You know, when Sean told me that his friend Ryder was visiting, the only thing that I could think of was Ryder Strong from Boy Meets. And he was able to quote my promos, and he's like, I saw that on the. On TV all the time. So it actually got out there.

[Will Friedle]

Disney Channel, right? It was Disney Channel uk.

[Ryder Strong]

And then I did, like, the morning. What was the big breakfast? Is that the morning talk show? Yes.

[Will Friedle]

They had us.

[Ryder Strong]

Anyway, I went with my buddy Sean, who now lives in England. He ended up going to school, and it was, I think, his first time going to London. So we were 19. We had a great time. We went to Dublin for a weekend, and that was my first experience in Dublin. Had the greatest time. Then I went to Italy. My parents happened to be in Italy with Judy Savage, my agent, her and Judy Savage, and Diane Harden, who's the great acting teacher. They were. They the three couples, my parents, Diane Harden and Judy, and their husbands. They all got a. Like a villa in Italy for the summer. So Sean and I met up with them, went to Rome, and then when I got home from that, I. My two best friends were in Thailand for the summer. And we started emailing, because back then they would only get every, like, three days. They would get to a, you know, Internet cafe.

[Danielle Fishel]

An Internet cafe, Exactly.

[Ryder Strong]

And they were like. They told me where they were in Thailand or where they were going to be. It was. It's a famous. It's a. It's a beach called Hadrin beach where they do a full moon party every month.

[Will Friedle]

Is Rayleigh Bay or is that a different place?

[Ryder Strong]

It's not. Koh Samui. Is the island. The bit. The main island. It's a smaller island. Anyway, they were like, we're gonna head to this full moon party. You should come. And I was like, okay, I'm getting on a plane. And I just flew out there, not knowing where they were exactly and where I was gonna meet them. It took me, you know, 18 hours of traveling because I had to, like, fly to Bangkok and then grab us pedal jumper flight that I didn't have in advance and then get on a ferry all night. And then I landed on this thing and ended up just finding a guy to take me on the back of his motorcycle, which I think of now. I think I've told this story because then he was offering me drugs while driving without a helmet on the back of this motorcycle. So you found the right guy driving through the streets and suddenly heard my name calling out. And my friends happened to be walking by on the street. I didn't even know where I was going to stay that night. I was just like, yeah. And Nathan and Matt were like, ryder. And I'm like, stop the bike. And we, like, you know, skid to a stop. And my two best friends, you know, after traveling, like, for 20 hours, I ran into them on the street. And then. Yeah, then I spent, like, three weeks in Thailand. It was a great summer. Yeah. I just traveled a bunch. I didn't. I don't think I worked at all. I think I was just like, yeah. And we knew that this was going to be the final season of Boy Beats World.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

And I was still. I was in college. So I went back to school at Oxy and started the season seven. Like, yeah, this was.

[Will Friedle]

But, yeah, very similar. I had very similar.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's why I said I did exactly the same thing.

[Will Friedle]

I did the same.

[Ryder Strong]

You went to Hawaii? Did you go to Hawaii? Did you get a tan?

[Danielle Fishel]

So this is this the summer 99.

[Will Friedle]

99.

[Danielle Fishel]

99 before 2. Right. Okay. So I graduated from high school, and I was so excited that I was not going to have to be in school for one season of the show. I was going to feel like an adult finally. And I actually, we. I took my family to Malta. My grandfather. My grandparents are from Malta. They came over here in, like, 1954 or 52, whatever year. The was the last trip the Queen Mary took my grandparents were on, and I had never been to Malta. And it was my grandfather's big dream. He played the lottery all the time because his big goal was that he was gonna win the lotto and then fly all of us to Malta. He's one of 12. A lot of them still lived in Malta. He's got a sister who's a nun and quite a few family members that still lived over there. And so when I graduated, I took my family to Malta, and it was so much fun and had a great time. We stayed there for. For a little while. And so we skipped Hawaii this year in favor of Malta.

[Will Friedle]

Nice.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, that's what I did. But, Will, what about you?

[Will Friedle]

H. Double hockey sticks. Panic attack in the middle of a scene, a scene that they used bedridden for three weeks. Oh, my God.

[Ryder Strong]

So that was you and Matt Lawrence, and you were shooting in Canada.

[Will Friedle]

We were shooting in Canada. I was in the middle of a scene with Gabrielle Union, the world flipped and my life had never been the same since. So just middle of a take, my whole life changed. Went to the only time I ever had a Sopranos style panic attack where I made it to my trailer, the whole trailer spun and I passed out. Wow. They called the doctor to the, to the set. The doctor's like, I think you're having a panic attack. I went, no, it's not that. That's obviously something horrible. He gave me four 1 milligram adavans for the next three weeks of shooting. And I was just struggling with my life. I remember, oh, God, it's so strange to talk about this. I'm. We finished the movie and I'm curled up in the seat on the plane to go home. And I was so in the middle of a panic attack that I almost jumped up and started screaming to open the door of the plane to let me get that. And so I just kept my eyes shut, curled into a ball on the seat because I wanted to just get home.

[Ryder Strong]

Right.

[Will Friedle]

Didn't you?

[Ryder Strong]

You, you. You fell in love, right? You met a girl.

[Will Friedle]

I did.

[Ryder Strong]

I met a girl. Because you came back with a girlfriend from Camptown.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, yeah. I just broken up with love. Our love. And I had broken up a little while before, and that kind of. She was my first love. So that like threw my life into a tailspin. And then she was a skater, right? Yeah. Then I. Then I met Keyla, who was the Canadian figure skater, and she. And I fell in love. But she met me, like at my. I think she met. I met her, I think a day or two before my first panic attack.

[Danielle Fishel]

Wow.

[Will Friedle]

And then we were together for a couple years, I think. A year, I think.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. The whole season. Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

So it was. Yeah, it was just. It was a very bad time. Then bedridden and then medicated and then just putting on all the weight and all that kind of stuff and then like, oh, my God, I have to go back to work. So. Yeah. The summer of 99, I will always remember. Yeah. So I'm sure it'll get better as the season goes on. Just. I mean, it doesn't for me as 23 year old Will, but for me now watching, it will get better. But this first episode was rough. Yeah, this brought back a lot of stuff. So this is a tough. This is arguably the worst time of my life right. Right here. And I get to. That's the thing about being on a television show is you, you're. It's all Filmed. So it's like I get to look at this and go, like, oh, God. Dying inside. Yeah. So it was.

[Danielle Fishel]

I hope, I hope that watching it there, and maybe it won't. Maybe it'll be really hard the first time, and maybe we need to watch it again, but, like, I hope there's a little bit of, like. I don't know how to say what I'm thinking, but, like, you, it, it. You still have anxiety, but it's so much more manageable now.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. Way more.

[Danielle Fishel]

Your life has. Your life is everything you could have possibly wanted it to be. You're married and you're healthy, and you. I mean, truly, you have such a great life. Everything, Everything you could have wanted. So I hope that watching it, there's a. A sense of, like, seeing that young, struggling will and there's like. I don't know. I hope there's some.

[Will Friedle]

I hope so, too. I think it will be. Because, again, everything you said is 100. Right. And I'm so blessed.

[Ryder Strong]

And you're so good in the show still. Like, that's what's amazing is, like, you're still so funny, and there's so many legendary Eric moments to come, you know, like, this is a great season for.

[Will Friedle]

This is this great squirrel.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. Plays with squirrels, of course. Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

No, I, I. Yeah, I'm sure you're gonna be right. I'm sure this is. But this is what I was dreading was not that. Not the. What the show is in season seven, but what my life was in season seven. Because, you know, luckily. And I knock wood as I say this, because I know a lot of people who deal with depression or anxiety do get to that point of, like, I'm not sure I can do this in my life anymore. Meaning, like, if there's an out, I was never there. So in that sense, I'm very grateful. But at the same time, it was. Yeah, it was. It was one foot in front of the other just for a good couple years there. And this is the start. I mean, this is like, literally six weeks after my first panic attack.

[Danielle Fishel]

I hope you can be really proud of Young Will and have. And have a lot of empathy for him and. And have it feel very much like, wow, look what I was able to get through. And. And that instead, I had great people.

[Will Friedle]

Around me to help. You two are tops of that list. My wife and friends that I was finally able to open up to, because that's the first thing I've told people who deal with, this is the best thing you can do. Is talk about it. Because the more I was holding it in, the worse it was getting. So you just had to. And I think I did this whole season without anybody really knowing. And it wasn't till years later that I started talking about it.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, I remember talking to you about, I think, anxiety for the first time I was in New York, so it would have been in the three or four years after Boy Meets World.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. I remember being on campus, like, where are you? Yeah, I disappeared.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know, right?

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's when it got started that you had agoraphobia.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. Like made papers and stuff that I was agoraphobic, which I didn't read because I wouldn't go outside to get the paper.

[Danielle Fishel]

You didn't have it, but I would not leave.

[Will Friedle]

I didn't get it, but I wouldn't leave the house. Yeah. So, yeah, a little rough. Ever been at the pharmacy counter and the pharmacist asks, do you have any questions? And suddenly your mind goes blank? That's exactly why you need to listen to beyond the script from CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia. Starting January 14th. Hosted by Dr. Jake Goodman, this podcast brings you real conversations with CVS pharmacists, the health experts you see most answering the questions you wish you'd asked, like which medications might not mix well, what vaccines should you consider before a big trip? And even those questions you were too embarrassed to say out loud. Each episode busts myths, decodes health trends, and gives you practical, trustworthy advice straight from the people behind the counter. No white coats, no lectures. Just real talk, real answers, and maybe a few laughs. Listen to beyond the script on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

When you feel uncomfortable, what do you put on Biggie? You put on Biggie when you feel uncomfortable.

[Ryder Strong]

Cause I wanna get confident.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

This is DJ Hester Prynne's Music Is Therapy, a new podcast from me, a DJ and licensed therapist that asks one simple who do you want to be? And what's the song that can take you there? Music changes what you feel, and what you feel changes what you do. Right that moment where a song shifts something inside you, that's where transformation starts. This year, I'm talking to experts across every area of life, like personal finance icon Gene Chaty, New York Times journalist David Gellis, relationship legend Dan Savage, human connection teacher Mark Groves, and the man who Shaped my Ear more than anyone, Questlove. They'll bring the strategies, I'll pair them with the right records, and we'll teach you how to use the music to make change stick. This isn't just a podcast, it's unconventional therapy for your entire year. Listen to DJ Hester Prune's Music is Therapy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Katie Couric]

As we head into 2026, it's safe to say that 2025 was a year like no other. So much news, so much disruption, and yes, so much division. That's why we're wrapping up this season of Next Question with a look back at everything that's happened. Things are coming at us with such a velocity, we thought it was important to take a moment, connect the dots and explore what it all means. We're summing up the first year of Trump's second term with David Graham on Project 2025 and how many of the goals have been implemented. Richard Ha, Foreign Policy and the Changing World Order. Jessica Valenti on reproductive rights and the terrifying consequences of abortion bans. Tina Brown on the year scandals here and across the pond. The President has upended everything from pardons to the press, so we're covering it all. Listen to Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ed Helms]

Hey everyone, it's Ed Helms and I'm.

[Will Friedle]

Kal Penn and we are the hosts of Hearsay, The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club.

[Ed Helms]

This week on the podcast I am talking to film and TV critic, radio and podcast host and Harry Potter super fan Rhianna Dillon to discuss Audible's full cast adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer. What moments in this audiobook capture the feeling of the magical world best for you or just stood out the most?

[Danielle Fishel]

I always loved reading about the Quidditch matches and I think the audio really gets it because it just plunges you right into the stands you have the crowd sounds like all around you is surround sound, especially if you're listening in headphones.

[Ed Helms]

Listen to Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audio Book Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

The moments that shape us often begin with a simple question. What do I want my life to look like now? I'm Dr. Joy Harden Bradford and on therapy for Black Girls we create space for honest conversations about identity, relationships, mental health and the choices that help us grow. As cybersecurity expert Camille Stewart Gloucester reminds.

[Danielle Fishel]

Us, we are in a divisive time where our comments are weaponized against us. And so what we find is a lot of black women are standing up and speaking out because they feel the brunt of the pain.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Each week we explore the tools and insights that help you move with purpose, whether you're navigating something new or returning to yourself. If you're ready for thoughtful guidance and grounded support, this is the place for you. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, let's jump into our season 7 episode 1 recap for Show Me the Love it originally aired September 24, 1990 the synopsis Sean and Corey Synopsis. Let me tell you Shannon Curry in the synopsis they traveled a Pittsburgh to persuade Topanga's parents to get back together after Topanga calls off her and Corey's wedding. It was directed by David Kendall. It was written by Bob Tischler and guest starring Jacob Chase as Dominic. Jacob had appeared on 7th Heaven and Babylon 5 the Beginning, but he stopped acting around 2001 and is now a writer slash director specializing in horror. He wrote and directed the 2020 movie Come Play and directed the TV show the Girl in the woods in 2021 for Peacock. But get ready for his next project, sure to be Jacob's breakout. He wrote and directed the next chapter of Insidious for Sony and Blumhouse.

[Ryder Strong]

You know what's so funny? I've known Jacob.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh really?

[Ryder Strong]

As an adult and never knew he was on Boy Meets World.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, that's so funny.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, I mean, he must have mentioned it maybe when we hung out. Like, because I met him, I want to say like eight, nine years ago, like before he, when he was just making short films and stuff. But I don't think I ever knew that he was on the show or he, I mean, he must have maybe mentioned and I just went, oh cool. But I had no idea. So yeah, it's so cool.

[Danielle Fishel]

He's so his chapter of Insidious will come out in August of 2026. We already kind of talked about it a little bit, so maybe very concisely, let's share our early thoughts. Ryder, you said you did not like it.

[Katie Couric]

What?

[Danielle Fishel]

What was the feeling?

[Ryder Strong]

No, it was just, I just, you know, this is kind of what I remember feeling about Boy Meets World when the show ended, which I'm realizing was that I just, I felt like, I felt like all the, everything became exposition. So all the dialogue, I'm saying, all the conversations with the court is like exposition about what's happening, not motivated by really playable impulses. As an actor, you want to have very direct things that Your character wants an objective in every scene. And these scenes are so objective. List. It's like literally just Corey freaking out or Topanga freaking out and then having to play in these scenes. I've just watching myself not know what to do. Just having to say the lines. And then I feel like all the characters have to sort of double down and create emotion around their expositional impulses. So, like, you think Rusty's performance was good? I'm like, yeah, because he's. But he has no motivation. He just has to, like, go big and like, you know, and Corey has to, like, have this crazy. And then everybody reacts to them being crazy or. I don't know. It's just a weird storytelling thing that I feel like Boy Meets World, I'm afraid, stays in for season seven. You know, I mean, I think about, like, the one episode I can remember, the Civil War. It's about us going to war with the new characters on our own TV show. Like, do you know what I mean? Like, it's like this self consciousness. And I feel like our writers. I mean, Michael in particular was just now at this point of like, reflecting on the show itself and the characters, and it's just. It's a bizarre mentality. I just. It doesn't really work for me story storytelling wise. I. I liked it.

[Will Friedle]

I felt like, frankly, for one of the reasons I did is. Cause I didn't read into any of that. I saw us as a company for the first time, realizing we didn't have to try to get picked up for another season.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, right.

[Ryder Strong]

You feel like we were relaxed.

[Will Friedle]

Freedom to it, where we were just like, let's see. I can see that.

[Ryder Strong]

And when you say that. Ye. You said that earlier. I was like, oh, right.

[Danielle Fishel]

Like, that must have been nice for those of you who got to play relaxed.

[Ryder Strong]

I know you're just never smiling this entire.

[Danielle Fishel]

Because. Oh, gosh, no.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. No, the Topanga was. What they did with Topanga was. Was a little insufferable. And it was one of those things where they didn't give you anything to play, but Insufferable. I don't think you had a joke or even the semblance of a joke the entire movie.

[Danielle Fishel]

Just say the same thing in every scene over and over again.

[Will Friedle]

So does Trina.

[Ryder Strong]

Yep. It's.

[Will Friedle]

It's. It's kind of a shame. And it's just like that was the thing where they also. If my major criticism about this was they weakened the Angela character so badly that it was just like, well, my friend, isn't in love anymore. So that means I can't be either. And it's like, really? You can't come up with an idea your own.

[Ryder Strong]

The only story point that like makes sense is or that is like, if. If this episode began with Topanga breaking up with Corey and Corey deciding to go to get her, that's like a cool, interesting motivation. But that's the end of this episode. We're just spinning wheels for the entire A storyline. It's like, but that. Why did we make this a two parter? The first, the first moment should be, oh, God, we. Cory's got a crazy scheme and Sean's got to go along. That is a story. But we spend the entire episode just getting there. It's weird.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, yeah, it was. It was. It was difficult in that way. However, I will say, outside of me finding my character insufferable and that whole storyline insufferable, I thought this episode, it pleasantly surprised me. Maybe because my expectations overall for season seven are so low. I do think that similar to Rider where you're thinking like, I have a feeling the entire season is going to be us talking about our characters and not having motivation, I have the fear. I don't think Topanga changes much from this. I think there's at least half a season where every single episode I'm playing this version of Topanga that's now no longer a. Like, apparently my. My parents marriage was the entire foundation of my personality and of my soul. And like I said, it makes sense. Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

14 pairs.

[Ryder Strong]

They keep morphing into different people.

[Danielle Fishel]

Different people.

[Ryder Strong]

So weird.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's been really hard on me, apparently. So I'm worried about. I'm like a little worried about that. But I. Overall, I thought I definitely picked up on the relaxed nature of. I mean, Ryder, you are doing. You're doing all the storytelling in the A storyline. And I was like, wow, here we are, season seven and Ryder and Will are still the two stars of the show. Just. Just be A storyline, B storyline, and sometimes they'll reverse. Sometimes Will will be the A storyline and Ryder will be the B storyline. But for the most part, even though really the synopsis of the episode is that Corey and Topanga are no longer going to get married, they are not. They are not the stars of this episode. I loved that that Corey does come up kind of with a scheme and we get to see Shawn say, I'm not doing that. Okay. Yeah, I am. That's cute writer. I love that idea. I wish the episode started there. I wish the episode started with I can't believe Topanga broke up with me because her parents are getting a divorce.

[Ryder Strong]

Let's go get them back together.

[Will Friedle]

You know what I would have done. This is a terrible thing to say for you, Danielle, because you wouldn't have been there, but Topanga. So it would have started in an airport. Topanga's parents were breaking up and they have. They've broken up already and Topanga needed just some time by herself. And Sean and Corey are there to pick her up at the airport and she doesn't.

[Danielle Fishel]

Doesn't get off the plane. Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

And so that's all about what the hell's going on. And the second episode is the scheme to go and get Topanga back. And so it would have just been like she just didn't show.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

You know, there's something there about it, but the kind of just walking in and saying, you know, we're. I don't think we should be together. With Trina following behind, two steps behind, going. And me either, like, popping out behind, like, I'm not. I'm not going to be with you either.

[Ryder Strong]

It was like, what, What.

[Will Friedle]

What is going on?

[Danielle Fishel]

You know, I do very much remember, though, during this season, and maybe it was just this episode, but I feel like the Topanga and Angela doing the same thing based on how one of them is feeling, relationship wise, is a.

[Ryder Strong]

Is a recurring trope.

[Danielle Fishel]

A recurring trope. Yeah. And I very much remember maybe it wasn't Michael, but I feel like it was Michael. But I'm gonna. I'm also gonna say my memory may be bad and it was someone else, but I do remember it just being flat out said, well, you know, because that is what happens whenever one woman breaks up with her boyfriend, all the other guys panic because most likely her best friend is going to do it too.

[Ryder Strong]

That's so weird logic. I can, like now, now that I'm middle aged, I can kind of see there, there. I have had conversations where it seems like divorce is catching.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, right.

[Ryder Strong]

You know, because people have a midlife crisis, you know, when they're 40 to 45 and they reevaluate their life and they say, you know what? I'm not happy with my partner. So I've had that conversation, which seems like maybe our writers were going through that and so they decided to put that into. But that's a different logic because like I said, that's not about the women getting the idea from other women. That's just about people being an age.

[Danielle Fishel]

It could be. Well, once one woman starts saying, oh, you know what? And then he does this and he does that, and I don't need that. And really, like, I'm feeling really good about being on my own, and I want to.

[Ryder Strong]

Empowered.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. And that someone else could be like, yeah, my husband does that too. That is annoying. Like, we're. And. And, yeah, you know, like, hey, we. We would have each other so we wouldn't be, like, totally alone. You know, Like, I could see how that could be a real fear. I'm not sure how realistic it is, but I. But I do remember that.

[Ryder Strong]

Let's write it into a kid's TV show. But I also. Why does Jack do Jack and Rachel break up? We never get an understanding that she.

[Will Friedle]

Says, we broke up.

[Ryder Strong]

I mean, literally, like, that's it right now.

[Danielle Fishel]

I kept waiting, sure, there's more. I'm sure we get more. Right?

[Will Friedle]

It'll have to come. They'll have to explain it in some way, shape or form, I would imagine.

[Ryder Strong]

But it's not connected to the rest of the story. It's just like, oh, yeah, we broke up. And then they both seem okay with it. It's a. Yeah, the show is weird, guys. I don't know.

[Will Friedle]

Ever been at the pharmacy counter and the pharmacist asks, do you have any questions? And suddenly your mind goes blank? That's exactly why you need to listen to beyond the script from CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia. Starting January 14th. Hosted by Dr. Jake Goodman, this podcast brings you real conversations with CVS pharmacists, the health experts you see most answering the questions you wish you'd asked, like which medications might not mix well, what vaccine should you consider before a big trip? And even those questions you were too embarrassed to say out loud. Each episode busts myths, decodes health trends, and gives you practical, trustworthy advice straight from the people behind the counter. No white coats, no lectures, just real talk, real answers, and maybe a few laughs. Listen to beyond the script on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

When you feel uncomfortable, what do you put on Biggie? You put on Biggie when you feel uncomfortable.

[Ryder Strong]

Cause I wanna get confident.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

This is DJ Hester Prynne's Music Is Therapy, a new podcast from me, a DJ and licensed therapist that asks one simple question. Who do you wanna be? And what's the song that can take you there? Music changes what you feel, and what you feel changes what you do, Right? That moment where a song shifts something inside you, that's where transformation starts. This year, I'm talking to experts across every area of life, like personal finance icon Gene Chatky, New York Times journalist David Gellis, relationship legend Dan Savage, human connection teacher Mark Groves, and the man who sheet my ear more than anyone, Questlove. They'll bring the strategies, I'll pair them with the right records, and we'll teach you how to use the music to make change stick. This isn't just a podcast. It's unconventional therapy for your entire year. Listen to DJ Hester Prin's Music is Therapy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Katie Couric]

As we head into 2026, it's safe to say that 2025 was a year like no other. So much news, so much disruption, and yes, so much division. That's why we're wrapping up this season of Next Question with a look back at everything that's happened. Things are coming at us with such a velocity, we thought it was important to take a moment, connect the dots and explore what it all means. We're summing up the first year of Trump's second term with David Graham on Project 2025 and how many of the goals have been implemented. Richard Haass on foreign policy and the changing world. Jessica Valenti on reproductive rights and the terrifying consequences of abortion bans. Tina Brown on the year scandals here and across the pond. The President has upended everything from pardons to the press, so we're covering it all. Listen to Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ed Helms]

Hey everyone, it's Ed Helms and I'm.

[Will Friedle]

Kal Penn and we are the hosts of Irsay, The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club.

[Ed Helms]

This week on the podcast I am talking to film and TV critic, radio and podcast host and Harry Potter super fan Rhianna Dillon to discuss Audible's full cast adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. What moments in this audiobook capture the feeling of the magical world best for you or just stood out the most?

[Danielle Fishel]

I always loved reading about the Quidditch matches and I think the audio really gets it because it just plunges you right into the stands. You have the crowd sounds all around you. It is surround sound, especially if you're listening in headphones.

[Ed Helms]

Listen to ears the Audible and iHeart Audio Book Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

The moments that shape us often begin with a simple question. What do I want my life to look like now? I'm Dr. Joy Hardin Bradford and on Therapy for Black Girls, we create space for honest conversations about identity, relationships, mental health and the choices that help us grow. As cybersecurity expert Camille Stewart Gloucester reminds.

[Danielle Fishel]

Us, we are in a divisive time where our comments are weaponized against us. And so what we find is a lot of black women are standing up and speaking out because they feel the brunt of the pain.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Each week we explore the tools and insights that help you move with purpose. Purpose. Whether you're navigating something new or returning to yourself, if you're ready for thoughtful guidance and grounded support, this is the place for you. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, we start with our season seven intro, which should look familiar because it is the exact same as our season six intro, which was a fictitious recreation of real moments seen in the season five intro. So I hope that clears that up.

[Ryder Strong]

Okay.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

And then we are in the college dorms. Corey and Sean are carrying backpacks in a boombox, walking through the hall when they realize they both got Feeny as a professor this year.

[Will Friedle]

Funny way to start.

[Ryder Strong]

Funny, funny way to start.

[Will Friedle]

Funny way to start.

[Danielle Fishel]

So funny.

[Will Friedle]

Great way to start.

[Danielle Fishel]

And actually he's teaching every class they're in, which is a fun self referential moment considering he has inexplicably been our teacher for the entire series. Corey notices a couple making out near their room and he sighs. He can't believe he made it the entire summer without Topanga. Shawn admits he feels bad about her parents splitting up and hating each other, but I mean, get over it. His mom walked out on his family when he was nine and he's fine.

[Will Friedle]

Then twitch.

[Danielle Fishel]

He twinches with a nervous tick and repeats himself. Fine. Corey slings an arm around his friend.

[Ryder Strong]

Here's what was written in the script.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know.

[Ryder Strong]

How did that happen?

[Danielle Fishel]

Like, was it just.

[Ryder Strong]

He flinches. He winces, repeats, I don't know.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, what did you. What did you read? And then what did I need to make into that?

[Ryder Strong]

I don't know. It's funny though.

[Danielle Fishel]

So funny. Before Will gave away all of his scripts, we should have made him make photocopies of them so that we could check. See if we have any of these.

[Will Friedle]

Damn it.

[Danielle Fishel]

Gosh. Go back in time. Make photocopies.

[Ryder Strong]

I know.

[Will Friedle]

Note to self.

[Danielle Fishel]

Note to self. One thing to do.

[Will Friedle]

One thing to do.

[Danielle Fishel]

Corey slings an arm around his friend and asks what's wrong. Sean admits he had a bad year And Corey responds with a shocking callback in a much too chipper tone. Buck Up, Bucker.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh.

[Danielle Fishel]

Corey goes on to reveal Angela's on her way here and everything's going to be okay.

[Ryder Strong]

So, yeah, what was the Buck Up, Bucker?

[Danielle Fishel]

That's Topanga saying that in the New Year's Eve episode. Buck Up, Buckers.

[Will Friedle]

That's right. Okay.

[Danielle Fishel]

So at least it's.

[Ryder Strong]

I knew he went way back, and I was like, where.

[Danielle Fishel]

Where he takes. Takes something that is something she had said, you know, like, at least that's some sort of cute little. He does listen occasionally. Sean confesses he asked Angela to be his girlfriend before summer vacation, and her response was just a kiss on the cheek. He took that as a sign that she's madly in love with him, but now worries he's reading too much into this. Corey encourages his bestie. These girls think they have them wrapped around their fingers. So his suggestion, they play it cool.

[Ryder Strong]

Set up.

[Danielle Fishel]

On cue, Topanga walks in like a burst of sunshine and says hi. Corey jumps up and screams at the top of his lungs, I can't believe it. Topanga, honey, I missed you so much.

[Will Friedle]

And did you hear the accent? Yes. The bed accent. He's doing.

[Danielle Fishel]

He does.

[Will Friedle]

This is it.

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't even know what it is.

[Will Friedle]

Is it?

[Ryder Strong]

Yes, it is.

[Will Friedle]

Housekeeper. It's a Latino. Oh, my God, Topanga. And he's just doing this. He would always do it off set. And then it just started to bleed into his performances.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes. Which. When you're. The person having to play depressed is. Is.

[Will Friedle]

Well, we still have one of our famous bloopers. Is his still saying, topanga, estu.

[Danielle Fishel]

Stop it.

[Ryder Strong]

Stop it.

[Danielle Fishel]

Topanga is.

[Ryder Strong]

Stop it.

[Will Friedle]

Stop it.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, man. He runs to her with a bear hug. When she doesn't hug back, he pulls away and looks concerned. She solemnly reveals her parents officially filed for divorce.

[Will Friedle]

And did you see what you did and then didn't do and then did again and then didn't do to where you were? Like, what? I had to rewind it three times ago. What the.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, my backpack. On.

[Will Friedle]

On.

[Danielle Fishel]

Backpack. On.

[Ryder Strong]

Backpack.

[Will Friedle]

No backpack.

[Danielle Fishel]

Not here. It's when I. I think when I cross. I am about ready to cross the room. And the backpack, I put it. I put it on the bed, and then the next thing you know, it's back on my shoulders.

[Ryder Strong]

I totally miss that.

[Danielle Fishel]

Terrible backpack continuity. Yeah, yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Can't act with a backpack.

[Danielle Fishel]

Can't act with a backpack or a jacket. Maybe I just can't act. It's not. It's not, not a wrong move you're backing. Corey stammers. That's not good. That's bad. I don't know what to say. She gives him a reassuring smile and tells him, that's okay. Sean says he's sorry, and Topanga shrugs. I'm sorry too. I've just accepted that my parents aren't going to spend the rest of their lives together. Corey praises her. It's good to face reality, and he's glad she's okay. He tries to lighten the mood. Now we can get back to planning our wedding. Sean looks to Topanga for a response, but she only gives Corey a nervous look. Corey says it again. Now a little louder. Now we can get back to planning our wedding. Sean looks to Topanga again, and she's obviously at a loss for words. Corey lets out a huge sigh and says, here we go.

[Will Friedle]

These are just two people that should not be together. I mean, it's just, it's like, come on, at this point, you've got to go, guys. This is really, really unhealthy. Yeah, this is really.

[Ryder Strong]

And it's just because her parents got, I know. Like, we knew that they were splitting, so it's that they officially got what?

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Love.

[Danielle Fishel]

I mean, oh God. I can totally, totally envision as somebody whose parents were married for 30 years and then got a divorce when I was an adult, and it still at first made me feel like I was five. I felt like I, I felt like I was gonna about ready to have a tantrum and I was like, this, My whole family is a lie. I, I did feel that way.

[Ryder Strong]

There's an emotional reaction that is just totally understandable.

[Danielle Fishel]

Totally understandable. And it makes perfectly good sense that someone might say, I want, I, I want to marry you. I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you. But I can't plan the wedding while my parents are going through this. I'm gonna need to be there to help them separate their houses. I'm gonna, I'm having my own emotional response. And I'm having a hard time find living in both places of an experience, extreme high, like getting married, and the extreme low of my family breaking apart that I'm going to want to just post, like, hold off on the wedding, which if anybody remembers the start of season six, the whole point was we weren't going to rush into a date, so why would that be a problem to just say, this has nothing to do with us. Our love is still our love. But I, I, I don't want to plan the wedding Right now.

[Will Friedle]

And you can have a super healthy Corey going, hey, I'm here. We don't have to do this right now. I'm here.

[Danielle Fishel]

We're super young. We don't have to do this right now. We're still in college.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, well, when you have a banker father who's also a luthier, you have.

[Ryder Strong]

To figure out how to separate. I would say the better story was that Corey overreacts to that. Right. That Cory. Like, you could have Topanga say something reasonable and then him overreacting, but instead, Topanga says something pretty intense and doesn't really make a lot of sense. So then Cory's overreaction to it. It's like, everybody doesn't make sense. If the point is that Corey overthinks things and takes things too seriously, that could be a story. You know, Topanga is just like, I can't even talk about the wedding right now, dude. Like, my parents are like, this is just rocking my world. And then Corey goes crazy. That would be. But in fact, she's saying, like, no, I'm calling off. I'm breaking up. I don't believe in love.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. We go to commercial. We're back at Corey and Sean's dorm. Topanga confidently explains to Corey, I've had nothing but time to think about this. I just don't want to get married anymore.

[Will Friedle]

All right? I mean, end of show.

[Katie Couric]

End.

[Danielle Fishel]

End of conversation. I have thought about it. I've actually done nothing but think about it. I don't wanna.

[Will Friedle]

Yep.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Will Friedle]

Didn't talk about it with her partner either. Just made the decision on.

[Danielle Fishel]

On my own.

[Will Friedle]

Came in, took off her backpack, put it back on. Took it off, Put it back.

[Danielle Fishel]

Put it back on.

[Will Friedle]

And then said, I don't want to be married.

[Danielle Fishel]

Married.

[Ryder Strong]

In front of Sean, in front of.

[Danielle Fishel]

Him, in front of everyone.

[Ryder Strong]

She's breaking up with, yeah, it's Romeo.

[Danielle Fishel]

And Juliet while still in a backpack.

[Will Friedle]

But it's Romeo and Juliet breaking up if Mercutio was sitting on the bed next to them watching the entire time. So it's like, wait.

[Danielle Fishel]

Corey is dumbfounded. Even though we love each other, she sighs. So did my parents. Then Angela loudly enters, and Topanga gives her a big hug. Corey's jaw drops. He points out to Sean, bigger, hello than me. Did you see that? Which I loved that. Very funny, by the way.

[Will Friedle]

Very funny.

[Danielle Fishel]

Shawn says hi to Angela, too, but no hugs. Corey pulls Topanga aside. They need to talk. Angela asks, what's going on? And Sean fills her in. Not much. She's calling off the wedding, Angela's surprised again. And Corey adds, even though we love each other, Topanga insists, I don't want to hear about the word love anymore. And Corey gets defensive. She put the word love in finger quotes. Topanga admits she did that because she doesn't think love exists anymore. And Corey says that's the craziest thing he's ever heard. Putting heard in finger quotes.

[Will Friedle]

Maybe that's what I liked about this episode, now that I'm thinking about it. Maybe the overall story isn't great, but some of the individual jokes are really sharp.

[Danielle Fishel]

You're right.

[Will Friedle]

So maybe that's what I'm liking is that the actual jokes were funny.

[Danielle Fishel]

There were an actual a couple laugh out loud moments. So you're right. There is some very sharp.

[Ryder Strong]

The witty dialogue is there.

[Will Friedle]

That's what I like.

[Ryder Strong]

And also, Ben is having so much fun.

[Will Friedle]

That's what I mean is.

[Danielle Fishel]

So are you writer?

[Ryder Strong]

I guess so. You know, also this would have been the one the first season that Ben was out of school.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes. Me too.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, yeah, you too. So maybe that's why he was having so much fun is like, you know, because I was in college, but he wasn't doing. He took a year off. So he had this entire year to just be working.

[Will Friedle]

Changes the entire way you work. When you don't have to spend three hours in school every day, it really just. Your whole life is different.

[Danielle Fishel]

Absolutely.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Meanwhile, Shawn turns his attention to Angela. Has she thought about what he asked her before the summer? She hesitates and directs her attention to Topanga. You don't think love exists? Shawn tells her to ignore Topanga. She's stressed out. He quickly compliments Angela's hair to change the subject. But Topanga is ready to answer Angela. If love exists, why do people hurt each other? Angela asks Shawn to answer and he shouts, they don't. Shawn turns back to Angela. She's only saying that because your hair looks better than hers, which is also a very funny, very funny line. Cory assures Topanga he would never hurt her, and Topanga asks, how do you know I wouldn't hurt you? Corey is sure, because I know you love me. And that's all Topanga needed to hear. She states, that's why I can't marry you, and walks away.

[Ryder Strong]

Twisted logic. No. Perfect sense. Perfect sense.

[Danielle Fishel]

Shawn nervously assures Angela she's nuts. Don't let her influence you. Trust your heart. Don't listen to your brain, because your heart and your brain are enemies. And your brain will. Angela shuts him down. Topanga makes sense and walks out, too. Sean sighs. Kill me dead. And then we're in the student union. Topanga, Angela, Corey and Sean enter. And Sean still has questions for Angela. What about their moment at Feeny's wedding when he put his hand on Angela's hand and she pulled away then.

[Will Friedle]

I'm sorry, but this is where Susan pointed out to me. She's like, that's. That's you just waiting for your cue outside in the standing room. And you just see this half of my shirt and part of my fake hair, like, just waiting to come in for the scene.

[Ryder Strong]

No.

[Will Friedle]

And then I disappear a little bit. And then I come back and then I disappear a little bit.

[Ryder Strong]

And she's like, you're just.

[Will Friedle]

That's you. You're just waiting there for you. Oh, God, that is me.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. You're like the lobster suddenly.

[Ed Helms]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

In the background. I'm just there.

[Will Friedle]

Well, it's because I was so big by this point. They couldn't hide behind the set.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, my God. I forgot about the lobster. I didn't see it in this episode.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

No.

[Will Friedle]

And I looked. I didn't find. My guess is somebody, maybe even Dee Dee, was like, okay. I was.

[Danielle Fishel]

I can't do it anymore.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. Flying too close to the sun.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

So I think she stopped. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Remember when he put his hand on her hand and then he put his hand on her hand again and she pulled it away and then he did it again and she pulled it away again.

[Ryder Strong]

Angela, the lobster was figured prominently in that shot, correct?

[Ed Helms]

Yes.

[Will Friedle]

Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Angela asks, so what? And Sean responds, you know you liked it. Even though it's about hands. I'm not sure that's a joke someone would write today.

[Ryder Strong]

No, probably not.

[Danielle Fishel]

Angela insists exists. They're friends. But Sean can't accept that. He can either hate her or love her for the rest of his life. And that's it. Sean shouts at Corey, she got this from Topanga. If you knew how to keep your girlfriend. Corey stops him.

[Ryder Strong]

This is where I was like, is this Sean?

[Danielle Fishel]

I know.

[Ryder Strong]

Sean is suddenly wanting a relationship.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yep.

[Ryder Strong]

And.

[Will Friedle]

And red flagging it and red.

[Ryder Strong]

And like, why? I just. It. I was like, the. The lot. This doesn't fit the character. Like, it just doesn't make any sense. It doesn't make any sense to me.

[Danielle Fishel]

No, it was definitely out of character saying stuff.

[Will Friedle]

Maybe that's what. That's what I think season seven is going to be us, not as our characters, doing funny things.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Right.

[Will Friedle]

I think that's what it's going to be. Because Eric's way more Eric. Sean is now this Sean. Topanga's depressed. Topanga, which we've never seen before. I think we're all going to be doing random stuff more as ourselves than we are as our characters, if that makes sense.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, yeah. And everyone knows I was depressed.

[Will Friedle]

You were Constantly.

[Ryder Strong]

All the time.

[Danielle Fishel]

Corey stops him. Happy, pleasant, quiet. I don't know how to do any of those things. Then we see Jack and Rachel getting coffee nearby. They all exchange pleasantries, seeing each other for the first time in season seven. And the boys are most excited to see the happy couple. Corey exclaims, you're just the people to tell these women how to keep themselves in line. Sean asks, will you please tell these two that being in love is the greatest thing? Corey commands, girls, listen. Listen. After a few seconds of silence, Rachel reveals, jack and I broke up. Corey and Sean's moods quickly change. Corey is furious. You morons.

[Will Friedle]

I have to say, Matt Lawrence is gorgeous.

[Danielle Fishel]

Just stunningly.

[Will Friedle]

And this is peak. Matt Lawrence. If we talked about peak. The rest of us, this is peak.

[Danielle Fishel]

Matt on screen.

[Will Friedle]

And I was like, oh, for the love of God. Like, like it's. He's an insanely good looking dude.

[Danielle Fishel]

Just gorgeous.

[Will Friedle]

This season. Yeah, Crazy. Crazy.

[Danielle Fishel]

Shawn jumps in. You killed us. Topanga storms off and Corey hurries after her. Angela turns to Sean and doesn't buckle. Friends. Okay. Sean loudly reiterates, hate you or love you. Then he turns on a French accent and know this. I hate as good as I love.

[Will Friedle]

Good as I love.

[Ryder Strong]

Is it French or is it.

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't know, Whatever it is.

[Ryder Strong]

Spanish, whatever.

[Will Friedle]

Maybe Spanish Spanish, but whatever it is.

[Ryder Strong]

Again, I wonder if that was in the script. I have no recollection of this. But like, it's funny.

[Danielle Fishel]

But you're having so much fun.

[Ryder Strong]

I'm having fun. And that's what I wonder if it wasn't in the script, it was just right. But know this. Or he says in intense voice, or if it said accent or what, I don't know.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Right.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's. It's beautiful. It's really beautiful.

[Ryder Strong]

It is.

[Danielle Fishel]

Without much emotion, Angela says goodbye. And Sean pretends he's unaffected. Fine, goodbye. You're gone. Fine, goodbye. But after a few seconds, he manically runs after her. Back at the coffee shop, Rachel and Jack are having their own big conversation. She reminds him that it's going to get uncomfortable living together now. Jack wanted to talk about that as well. But then an overjoyed and long haired Eric Matthews comes barging in, yelling at the top of his lungs. Everybody look at my head. Jack tells Rachel, no, I promise myself, I'm not going to look at his head all year. Eric, who's now standing on the pool table, announces, I think it was clear that my life needed examination and change. A change was needed so that Eric Matthews could reach the next plateau in his life, in my life, in all of our lives.

[Ryder Strong]

And this is a return to Hair Obsession on Boy Meets World completely. Who cares? Who cares that Eric cut his hair? Nobody.

[Will Friedle]

Out of it.

[Ryder Strong]

We had to make.

[Will Friedle]

So you.

[Ryder Strong]

Do you know why this happened? I mean, like, in real life, you cut your hair over the summer.

[Will Friedle]

I cut my hair before the summer. I remember I had my hair cut, like, at the end of the last season. I cut off. And they did it. Laurie did it, like, in the Boy Meets World room. Like, we cut off all my hair. So I don't know why they insisted on. Michael wanted to make it a thing.

[Ryder Strong]

Make a big scene. I mean, I guess I feel like it's a weird echo of, like, the Topanga haircutting being such a big episode and such a good episode. And I feel like they were like, well, we have to make an episode about it. It's like, you don't make an episode, everybody cutting their hair.

[Will Friedle]

I mean, do you remember what happened?

[Ryder Strong]

No.

[Will Friedle]

Is I stand up at the thing and I pull off the wig, expecting a big response. Dead silence.

[Ryder Strong]

Because no one cared.

[Will Friedle]

No one cared. Well, I think there's two reasons. One, I don't think anybody cared. And two, this is the first time people are seeing me since the last time they saw Eric. So the people in the audience. And I had put on, like, 30 pounds. I mean, I looked way different. That shirt was huge on me. It was not.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Not.

[Will Friedle]

Not good wardrobe for somebody who's put on weight. And so I looked enormous. And I think they were kind of shocked at what they were seeing. So couple that with now my long hair is gone as well, and it's short hair and that. So all the cheers you're hearing are the. All that stuff. Michael's like, yeah, don't worry, we'll put it in later. Because there was. And they even cut to Matt Lawrence, who has kind of a smile on his face because there was no reaction. Dead silence.

[Ryder Strong]

And rightly so, because no one cares.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, it was one of those things. Michael's like, it's going to be big way to end. Just. Just nothing. No, nothing. Yep.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. I mean, I mean, I remember this season, I cut my hair halfway through the season or partway And I remember it was series of meetings.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Having to ask if I could cut my hair. Cuz I just wanted to cut my hair. Maybe I was following your footsteps. I don't know. But it was a big deal.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Such a big deal.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

I mean, weird. It's so weird. Who cares?

[Will Friedle]

I know.

[Ryder Strong]

All right.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Well.

[Danielle Fishel]

He asks the gathered group of students, would you like to know what he did? What I did? What he all did. Everyone shouts back no. In unison, Rachel decides to help out. Okay, Eric, tell us what you did. He proudly responds, I did a little something called this. Then he takes the shoulder length wig off of his head to reveal he has short hair. We hear triumphant, almost Superman esque music as he swivels around so everyone can take a good look. But no one really cares.

[Will Friedle]

No one.

[Danielle Fishel]

But Rachel doesn't understand. He loved his long hair and he swore he'd never cut it. Eric argues that he didn't just cut it, he had a life changing religious experience. He casually adds, I also got a bikini wax. Check this out. And he goes to unzip his pants. As they beg him not to. He stops himself and dives deeper into the haircut. He was sitting on the pony and watching his beautiful locks fall to the floor. Sitting on the pony.

[Will Friedle]

Great, great, great joke.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, really very funny.

[Will Friedle]

It's a great joke.

[Danielle Fishel]

And that's when he realized this new haircut would symbolize the new and smarter Eric. Rachel wonders what he'll do when his hair grows back. And he scoffs at her. It's not gonna grow back. I've got my receipt. He proudly pulls it out of his shirt pocket and has never felt smarter. Now outside the student union, Cory and Topanga are in the middle of a deep conversation when Feeny arrives. Ah, my favorite couple. Back together. Hmm. Corey's relieved to see him. He's just the man who can talk some sense into Topanga. Feeny asks if she's all right, and Corey answers for her. She's so terrific. She's calling off the wedding. Topanga says hi, and Feeny acknowledges that this is none of his business. But Cory won't accept that. He reminds Feeny, you've been butting into my business my entire life. That is 19 years of budding, baby. Now when I actually need budding, why don't you butt. Corey has a point here. Feeny commands him to back off. He looks to Topanga and asks if she'd like to talk about this. She admits she just doesn't want to end up divorced like her parents. Feeny admits that divorce is devastating for everyone involved. Corey assures her they aren't going to get divorced. They love each other too much. But Topanga points out Corey thinks anything can be magically resolved with love. Once again doing the air quotes, Corey asks, how about I bite off those fingers right now? Topanga tells him that over half of all marriages fail, and it's even worse with people their age. Apparently she just now read that stat was true before her parents as well.

[Will Friedle]

Now that one year old kids in college getting married, now all of a sudden you're. You're doing the research. Yeah, well, the Internet's starting to pick up.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, true. So Corey says those statistics are about other people and the only people he cares about are the two of them.

[Ryder Strong]

But also, everyone's been saying to Topang and Cory, you're too young from. And so she could just be like, they're all right. Like, yeah, it's so weird.

[Will Friedle]

They also agreed to wait.

[Katie Couric]

Yes.

[Will Friedle]

That's one of the things was one.

[Ryder Strong]

Of the major points of the show.

[Will Friedle]

Was that they agreed to wait.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes.

[Ryder Strong]

So yeah, drama. For drama's sake.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

He persists. If every marriage failed except one, I guarantee you that one would be ours. Topanga has no argument left. Corey asks for Feeny's two cents, and he adds that Topanga has always been a practical thinker and she's going through a terrible time and it's affecting her. But this decision should only be about herself and Corey, no one else. Topanga thanks Feeny for his advice and walks away. Corey seems satisfied. He thinks they're going to be okay, but Feeny seems a little surprised by the assumption. Corey walks away, leaving Feeny alone to think about it until he's interrupted by Eric in a very loud Feeny call. Feeny shouts right back at him with his own call. Eric.

[Ryder Strong]

Eric, I didn't remember that.

[Will Friedle]

That's a funny.

[Danielle Fishel]

So cute. I love it. Is this the only time he does that? Or does he. Does he ever get like a big, big.

[Ryder Strong]

Eric always calls him Mr. Matthews, right? Yeah, it's so cool.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

But Eric grins. No, it's me. It's Eric. Which is also very funny. I don't blame you for not recognizing me. Feeny tells him he does recognize him, but Eric isn't hearing it. It's because I got my haircut. See, this new hair symbolizes the new, smarter Eric. Then he earnestly asks, is your head cold? Because mine's cold. Feeny attempts to leave, but Eric remembers some good news. He gladly exclaims I don't have to sleep in your car anymore. What? This is news to Feeny.

[Ryder Strong]

How long have you been sleeping in my car?

[Danielle Fishel]

Eric reveals since he got kicked out of the apartment. He'd just wait for Feeny and Dean. What's her head. To go to bed. And then he'd curl up in the back seat. Well, unless, of course, he had company over. Feeny's shocked. You had company in my car? Eric nods. Thursday, spaghetti night. Eric goes on to explain. Well, now that Jack and Rachel are splitsky, they asked me to move back into the apartment, so looks like everything's good for old Eric again. Again, Feeny's still processing things as Eric walks away. Eventually, Feeny shouts after him, I like spaghetti too, you know.

[Will Friedle]

And then I walk. I walk out and just stop. It's like I'm not on camera anymore. I don't think so. Scene's over and you just see me like, stop, bitch.

[Ryder Strong]

So funny.

[Will Friedle]

Going through the motions.

[Danielle Fishel]

And then we're in the Matthews kitchen. Alan insists to Amy that Morgan is still a baby. But she reminds him that their little girl is now 13 years old. Old. Allan wants to know about this boy. Amy explains it's someone she knows from school. And Allan is still concerned. Amy points out that he doesn't trust his daughter, but Alan tries to play it off cool. Then he just admits, you're right. He runs to the staircase and shouts up to Morgan, who is this boy? How old is he? Amy begs him to not spoil her first date. Morgan comes down the stairs and explains to her interrogating dad, his name is Dominic. He's in the eighth grade. Wait, if you embarrass me, I'll die. Lindsay looks so much older.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, my God, she does. And I'm so happy. They're giving her something.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know, like a real story with.

[Will Friedle]

His only daughter as opposed to the sons.

[Ryder Strong]

Like, I was like, oh, there.

[Will Friedle]

There's some stuff here they could mine.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

But then I also, like, halfway through the storyline, I was like, wait, where's the baby she mentioned?

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, he says. He says we have another one after this. No idea where that baby is.

[Ryder Strong]

Neglect. It's like we have. Now Morgan's finally getting attention that we can neglect the other character we introduced. Once the kids are a year old.

[Will Friedle]

They have to fend for themselves. Everyone knows that. But no, I was happy for Lindsay. I was like, okay, they're gonna. There's. And again, your only daughter, as opposed to sons. And she's 13. It's an interesting time. Like, oh, They're.

[Ryder Strong]

It would have been such a great storyline to have her meeting the world she's going through. Her Corey moment.

[Will Friedle]

Right.

[Danielle Fishel]

She mentioned something about this episode with the tankini. Right. There was like a whole backstory for her. We didn't know what it was. Remember, she was like, you don't remember? There was like a. It was a big deal, and I don't know if it was for her or if it was. If there was an argument with Disney. I don't know. I don't know what was going on. But we should have Lindsay back.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, we should.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Alan is disturbed. The eighth grade. What's wrong with the boys in fifth grade? Morgan reminds him she's in the seventh grade, but Alan tells her not to lie to him. Morgan tries to involve Amy, but Alan explains how hard this is for him. She's his only little girl, and he doesn't like the this. Morgan jokingly apologizes, she grew up. She won't do it again. Allan tells Morgan to go get dressed, and Morgan looks to Amy again. Mom. Amy breaks it to her husband. She is dressed. He looks at her denim shorts and laughs. The hell she is.

[Will Friedle]

That was one of my favorite reads of the whole episode was the Hell she Is.

[Danielle Fishel]

The Hell she Is.

[Will Friedle]

Just his. And again, it's big 80s ridiculous sitcom dad. But the reading was so good. Yeah, Rusty's always great. Rusty. He. To me, this entire rewatch is me wishing I knew how good Rusty was when I was there.

[Katie Couric]

Oh, yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Because I just. Episode after episode after. I don't think I've seen a single episode with that man where I've gone, wow, Rusty was really bad this episode. Like, not one. And it's. Even as the character changes. Now he's the dad of a little girl, which we've never seen before because basically, instead of walking down, you know, she'd walk down and say one line and leave. And now it's a whole. His daughter's growing up. It was. I just love watching him work. So. Man, his. That the hell she is. Oh, God, that made me laugh. I watched it twice. Yeah. Oh, I thought it was great.

[Danielle Fishel]

He says she's wearing hot pants, and Amy says they're just shorts, the same short she wears all the time. He explains that when she's on a date with a boy, they're hot pants.

[Will Friedle]

What are hot pants? Because aren't those a specific thing?

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, they're pants, first of all. And these are shorts.

[Will Friedle]

And aren't they, like, normally, like, pink and sparkly? Aren't they, like, 70s kind of things, too.

[Danielle Fishel]

Or booty shorts. I'll show you shorts.

[Will Friedle]

Or.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes, these are all hot pants. Where the bottom of the shorts are cut off and. And you can.

[Ryder Strong]

Pants were like, I'm with you, Will. For some reason, I have this image of like. Like 1970s. Like go go dancers. Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Like this picture here. So it is like that, but it's not about a color or color or a start with.

[Ryder Strong]

But they're not pants. So why would you call those pants?

[Will Friedle]

Those are shorts.

[Danielle Fishel]

Because they're hot shorts. They're hot. They're hot. And they're. They used to be pants.

[Will Friedle]

Didn't that. Didn't that? All right.

[Ryder Strong]

Because it's hot out. So you cut your pants.

[Danielle Fishel]

Cut your pants off to show your.

[Ryder Strong]

What's from.

[Will Friedle]

From the Dukes of Hazard.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes, exactly. There you go. Daisy D. Yeah, those are happening pants. Wow.

[Will Friedle]

Hot pants and Daisy Dukes are the same thing every day. Wow.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Okay.

[Will Friedle]

Glad you thought the same thing I did.

[Danielle Fishel]

Allan forces Morgan to go change, and Amy can't believe her husband Alan insists she's just too young to be dating. Amy reminds him Corey dated Topanga when he was four. Allan quickly explains that's because he's a boy. And so Amy quickly fires back, you're a pig. They continue to argue, and we move on to.

[Will Friedle]

But the scene, like, cuts.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know, right there.

[Will Friedle]

She's like, you're a pig. And he's like, excuse me. Scene over. And it was like.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, it's also not like a hard laugh.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, it was. I think there was more to it. Do you think there was. Do you think there was more to the scene? And they just decided to cut it.

[Will Friedle]

For timing maybe because it was a weird place to have from a writing standpoint, to just be like, we're done with the scene now. It was really jarring. Yeah, I thought the same thing. Like, what the hell?

[Danielle Fishel]

You know what's funny is that I feel like this episode could have made. There's a. Lots of conversation in the. For people who have small kids, like, I do. I don't have daughters, so I'm not like an active participant in the conversation. But I see it all the time that if you go to anywhere, if you go to any department store and they have the a boys section and a girl section, the exact same clothes. Like, shorts are different lengths. Like, boys shorts are three inches longer than the girl's shorts. And. And the girls are more expensive for the exact same pair of shorts. And there's a lot of conversation around, why.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Right.

[Danielle Fishel]

Is there such A difference between the way clothes are cut and made. Why does a six year old girl need to have on shorter shorts than a six year old, six year old boy?

[Will Friedle]

And why is there more material to make them? Why are they more expensive?

[Danielle Fishel]

Correct. Why would they be more expensive to have these shorts that have less material? And it is actually an interesting conversation to say, well, when Corey would go out on a date, Corey wore the same baggy shirt or whatever. Corey wore the same kind of stuff. Why are, why is my daughter wearing something that isn't? You know what I mean? Like there's a, there is a conversation to be had around the way clothes are marketed to girls versus boys.

[Ryder Strong]

It also reminds me of the stat like that I've heard before about how adults, when they meet kids, if they, if it's a little girl, they talk about her.

[Will Friedle]

Pretty.

[Danielle Fishel]

She is.

[Ryder Strong]

You're so cute. You're so pretty. And I've seen it happen in parent groups like where, you know, like no one will comment on my son. Like they'll talk about it maybe how tall he's getting. Right. They'll do like that. But like you're so strong, a little girl. It's always like, oh, you're so pretty. I love that dress or whatever. And it's like that's. Yeah, that's kind of a weird tendency.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. Corey and Sean's dorm room. Sean's contemplating things in their still unfurnished dorm room where Corey comes barging in. Sean shoots him a depressed glare. Nothing's ever going to be good again, is it? Corey grins. Wrong. Me and Feeny got it fixed up. He explained that Topanga's off realizing how much she loves him. Then she's going to tell Angela. And then Angela will say, you know what? I love Shawn too. Then they'll come over to the dorm, huggy, huggy, kissy kissy. Get your hand off that. And they're back to normal. On cue, someone knocks on the door. And Corey's overjoyed. Who could that be? Kanak. Knock knocking.

[Will Friedle]

Knock knock, knockin.

[Danielle Fishel]

Knock knock knocking. An impressed Sean opens it to reveal Topanga and Angela just wearing two backpacks.

[Will Friedle]

He should have just had a new backpack, like double backpack.

[Danielle Fishel]

A backpack for my backpack. Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Just adding one every time.

[Danielle Fishel]

Topanga admits that Corey was right to make her think about everything. And Angela reveals she's been thinking about things too. Topanga thinks they probably shouldn't be talking about this in front of Sean and Angela now. They should not now caught the wedding.

[Will Friedle]

In front of Sean, but he strongly.

[Danielle Fishel]

Disagrees, considering they are their best, best friends and they have no secrets with best friends. He continues with a huge smile, because whatever you're going to say is very, very good. So say what you're gonna say. Say it. And so Topanga says it. I don't think I can be with you anymore. Before she even finishes the sentence, Corey shushes her. Shawn and Angela can hear her, and now, panicked, Shawn quickly turns to Angela for damage control. One thing I've always respected is that you're an independent thinker and you won't be influenced by the crazy lady. Angela starts to say sorry, but he interrupts her. Shush. Corey follows suit to Topanga. Shush. Angela tells Sean that it would be better if they didn't see each other anymore. Then she walks out, and Topanga tells Corey that it's just too painful to think about them ending up like her parents, so their relationship has to be over. She apologizes and then also leaves the room. We get some sad music as Corey and Shawn are left to sit very close to each other in sadness.

[Will Friedle]

Sad piano music.

[Ryder Strong]

The second it kicks in, you're like.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, wow, they are sad. They are bracketing the sad.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, yeah, sad. In case you didn't know that.

[Will Friedle]

Case you didn't know this is sad.

[Danielle Fishel]

Corey says we don't need them, but even he doesn't believe that. And then there's another commercial break, and we return to Corey and Shawn's dorm room. Continuing, Corey is pacing the room and assuring Shawn that the girls love them despite what they say. Shawn's laying on his bed, shaking his head and repeating the words, another bad year, Another bad year. Corey tells him to lighten up. It's not like he's losing his crops, which is genius. Brilliant.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, God, I laugh so hard.

[Danielle Fishel]

Sneak.

[Will Friedle]

You're losing using your crops.

[Ryder Strong]

I know.

[Danielle Fishel]

It cracks me up. Such a funny line. He continues, I believe in love like I believe in God. You can't see it, you can't touch it, but you know it's there because you can feel its wrath. Another very funny line. Sean adds, and goodness. You can feel love's goodness. Corey admits, I wouldn't know, but I do know they love us.

[Ryder Strong]

Cleverer. Way to clever virgin joke. That's pretty funny.

[Danielle Fishel]

This is so funny. And because they love us, proximity is gonna be our weapon. They're gonna see the boys every day, then realize Corey and Sean are the most important people in their lives. Sean starts to buy into it, and then reality sinks in. They're probably moving out of the dorm right now.

[Katie Couric]

Why.

[Danielle Fishel]

Why would we move out of our dorm room? Because we're not dating you anymore.

[Will Friedle]

Because you're not dating them anymore. Anymore. So, like, leaving.

[Danielle Fishel]

But we have our own.

[Ryder Strong]

That's what I mean. And, like, we make this leap of logic, and it. The show, it's like, what?

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. No.

[Danielle Fishel]

Why? No. Why? Why. Why are we moving?

[Will Friedle]

Because they're trying to get all the girls.

[Danielle Fishel]

Because we don't want to see you. Right.

[Will Friedle]

Well, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But, yes, they don't want to see you. Don't want to be close to the guys. Because. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

So we want to pay probably a significant amount of money.

[Ryder Strong]

More. Right.

[Will Friedle]

Well, we're not even gonna get into the fact that. That, you know, Rachel gives away the apartment that wasn't hers.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's never hers. She was up the hall.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. And we took her in like a straight puppy. But then all of a sudden, she's like, oh, I'm sorry I gave away all the rooms. What?

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Wow.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay. Corey agrees. Yes, that's probably true. And then we're at Eric, Jack, and Rachel's apartment. Eric is moving back in. He's carrying a box of his things and beams while holding his old keys to the apartment.

[Will Friedle]

Apartment?

[Danielle Fishel]

Wait, Jack thought he gave back the key when he moved out. Eric admits he made a copy just in case he wanted to seek revenge. Eric lets out a tiny psychopathic laugh as they walk inside. Eric asks if Rachel will be okay with him moving back in. Jack says yes, joking. He's the one who has a problem with it. Then Jack notices a box of books on the table, and Eric starts reading off the titles. Native Son. I Know why the Caged Bird Sings the Autobiography of Malcolm X. She Must be Taking Arithmetic.

[Ryder Strong]

That's a funny joke again.

[Will Friedle]

They're good jokes.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know.

[Will Friedle]

There's a lot of really good jokes in this episode. I think maybe that's what I'm. I'm seeing.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's why I like. I liked it. Yeah, they're the. The punch lines. There's a lot other than the ending of that scene being you, pig. Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Hugh Pig. Wasn't. Wasn't. Wasn't a huge laugh.

[Danielle Fishel]

No. Then we hear, those are mine. It's Angela. She's with Rachel and Topanga. Jack and Topanga tell Rachel in perfect unison. He didn't tell me we were having guests for dinner. I love that Topanga's already.

[Ryder Strong]

Yep, I know. And I. It took me a second. Are there two people saying the same line? Why? This is not a Thing that happens.

[Danielle Fishel]

No, it's.

[Will Friedle]

No, in real life. Oh, I was trying to say this thing when you.

[Danielle Fishel]

Damn it.

[Ryder Strong]

This is not a thing that happens in real life.

[Danielle Fishel]

We did it. Eric jumps in. Wait a second. I know what's going on. No, I don't. And then we move from their confusion to the Matthews kitchen. Amy and Allan are still arguing for what we can only assume has been hours. Allan doesn't appreciate the word pig. He'd prefer loving father who's concerned about his only daughter. Amy counters, how about pig? Then Corey comes walking in.

[Will Friedle]

Am I the only one who thought they. That this is very harsh of Amy. Pig is like, is very, very harsh to me.

[Danielle Fishel]

They yell I hate you later.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, I mean, it's just.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

What?

[Ryder Strong]

I mean, it's just not supposed to.

[Will Friedle]

Be, supposed to be showing that even the worst fight in the world you get. I get what they're doing. But they weren't doing this in front of the kids. This was her, her wife looking at you saying you're a pig.

[Ryder Strong]

Also, she has. She could have a good argument.

[Will Friedle]

Like she's a legitimate. Absolutely.

[Ryder Strong]

Like, you're being sexist, dude. Because of xyz. And we've seen it. That's like a really. A real fight instead of just name calling in like the most reductive way. It's weird.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. It, it's. It's so, again, totally out of character.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

This is not, this is not how these people know.

[Will Friedle]

Occasional funny bits wrapped up with people that aren't the characters. We know.

[Danielle Fishel]

They did this storyline even with them one other time. Remember there was a storyline where they got into a huge fight about something and it was really off putting. And then it was like, wait, even at the end of a fight you guys can say I love you, right?

[Ryder Strong]

That's right. Right.

[Danielle Fishel]

And we were. And it was like it that we were like, this is just. This all feels so weird.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

So apparently someone liked it and decided to do it again.

[Will Friedle]

Well, Corey also says, I grew up my entire life watching you guys fight. So it's like how often did they fight in front of their kids where it's like, you know, I, I grew up watching you guys fight all the time. Like really? Was this a volatile house that we didn't get to see? Because. Yikes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. I guess there's a difference between this kind of fighting where people. They're name calling and like versus be in contact. Yeah. Disagree. Because that is really helpful and sure and healthy for children to see. Like, oh, look at those two. They Totally disagree. And then, oh, they work it out and we're still a family and everyone still loves each other.

[Will Friedle]

Stuff like that. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Then Corey comes walking in. She's packed her things and moved out on me. Amy wonders who and Corey scoffs.

[Will Friedle]

Who?

[Danielle Fishel]

Martina Navratilova. Allan is confused. Topanga moved. I know. Funny name though.

[Will Friedle]

It is. It's a funny name. Odd poll, but funny name.

[Danielle Fishel]

Topanga moved out on you. I didn't even know she was living with you. Smooth baby. Amy shoots him a look. Pig. The doorbell rings and Amy calls out to Morgan, her date is here. Corey asks, since when do you guys allow her to date? Allen blames his mom and she gets the door. Morgan comes running down the stairs and Alan starts to freak out on her. What are you wearing? She tells him it's a tankini. And her dad corrects her, that's a bra. That's a bra. He asks Corey if that's a bra and Corey admits, sadly, I wouldn't know. Morgan assures them it's a tankini. And Alan just doesn't want her wearing anything that ends in eenie. Go upstairs and put on some more of that unsexy crap your mother wears. Amy returns now introducing Morgan's date, Dominic. She adds, and I heard that. You pig. By the way, we've seen Amy Matthews wear some real sexy stuff.

[Will Friedle]

Super sexy. Absolutely.

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't know, maybe he just means her. Her day to day bras are not sexy. But I mean no one would think of Mrs. Matthews and think that. Unsexy hag. No. So this isn't working. Working. This wasn't working for me. Dominic takes a look at Morgan and grins. Wow, a bra. Alan takes a deep breath and clarifies it's a tankaret. I thought that was very. His turn into tankare is very funny to me now.

[Will Friedle]

I was trying to look at her face. I can't remember what she said. Was, was Lindsay super uncomfortable wearing that? Is what I'm guessing what it is.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes. I'm guessing that's what it is too, but I don't remember. I just know she's. She mentioned like well and then there was the whole tankini episode.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, that's pretty revealing for a 13 year old. I would say.

[Danielle Fishel]

I was, I was. Yes. It's way more revealing than the shorts she had on.

[Ryder Strong]

Agreed.

[Will Friedle]

She came down. I'd much rather have her in the shorts and you know, if I was her dad, like okay. God, if I have to pick one, I'd rather pick that.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Because yeah, the Tankini seemed a little.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know. So we should have her back and talk to her about it. Can we have a little sensitivity here? Amy declares, this is Morgan's first date. Morgan is embarrassed and disappointed. I didn't want him to know that, Mom. Corey breaks the silence. Well, now he does know. And it's good he knows, because this is where it all begins, guys. The pain, the torture. Be careful, Dominic. Dominic asks Morgan, is this really your first date? Date? Morgan lets out a smile and Dominic admits, it's my first date, too.

[Will Friedle]

This is very sweet.

[Danielle Fishel]

So cute. They take each other's hand and walk out of the house together. Corey yells after them. Fools. Now we're back at the apartment. Rachel asks Eric what he's doing there, and Eric responds by just giving her a big hug. Jack reveals Eric is moving back in with them. Rachel starts to panic. When you said you'd be uncomfortable living together, I assumed you were asking if it would be okay to move out. Jack insists that wasn't the case, and Rachel winces.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, of course it's not the case. This is my apartment. Why would I be moving out of my apartment?

[Danielle Fishel]

Absolutely. What?

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, I asked Topanga and Angela to move into the apartment. Eric lights up. Oh, wow. For us.

[Will Friedle]

You know what?

[Danielle Fishel]

I'm gonna have to take a rain check because she's my brother's booty. He gives Angela a little wink and a nod instead.

[Will Friedle]

The weirdest.

[Ryder Strong]

The weirdest.

[Will Friedle]

Like, I don't even know what that moment was.

[Ryder Strong]

You're happy with Angela?

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. And. And you think that she invited us there to give to you?

[Will Friedle]

Topanga, I'm sorry. It's a more. It's more reasonable than the idea that Rachel would just give away an apartment that isn't hers.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know.

[Will Friedle]

So it can't be.

[Danielle Fishel]

That definitely can't be. That. So crazy. Topanga points out the obvious misunderstanding and Angela says they'll leave. Rachel apologizes, says it's all her fault. She feels terrible. Eric shakes his head. I feel horrible. Just horrible.

[Ryder Strong]

Horrible.

[Danielle Fishel]

Now get out of my house before I throw you on the street. Rachel follows them out and profusely apologizes more. She was so looking forward to the three of them living together. All three girls let out a dramatic sigh, an attempt to make the boys feel bad. Eric couldn't care less, but Jack tells the girls to wait. Jack can't just throw them out on the street, and Eric insists they can. Still, Jack tells the girls that they will move out instead. The girls jump up and down in excitement, thanking Jack and calling him the greatest. Eric is shocked. No, no, no, don't fold. I don't want to sleep in Feeny's car anymore. The beaded seat cushions hurts my tushy. Rachel adds, and it's such a cute tushy, too. Eric melts. You really think so? He tries to look at his butt, spinning around in circles and laughing, trying to get a better view at it. And sorceled because of some size and wanting to live together. Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Jack sourceled by the sensitivity of the girls being sad. And then Eric isn't sorceled by Rachel his own butt.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, exactly.

[Will Friedle]

Which frankly, makes more sense for the character. Yeah, yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

He spins and spins until he's now in the apartment hallway. Eric notices that they're no longer in the apartment and asks Jack, what happened. Jack breaks it to him, they don't live there anymore. Eric needs to know, well, where do we live then? We're at the Matthews house. Amy and Alan are waving goodbye to Morgan and her date Dominic, telling them to have a great time. Time. Allan adds, bring her back at 10 minutes. Ha. Amy walks back into the house and makes a beeline for the stairs. When Allan asks where she's going, she barks, back away from you. Corey uses this opportunity to get advice from his dad. He needs to prove to Topanga that love never dies. On cue, Amy shouts down to her husband, I hate you. And Allan yells back, I hate you more. Corey wonders what they're fighting about and Alan responds, I don't know.

[Will Friedle]

Know.

[Danielle Fishel]

Very rarely do I know. Amy chimes in, we are fighting because your father and I had all these children and he doesn't get to keep them because they grow up. Allan pouts about being called a pig, and Amy says it was because he was acting like one. Allan doesn't get why Morgan has to grow up, and Amy argues, somebody has to. Allan calmly asks, we have another one after her, don't we? Amy smiles. Brand new one. Allan makes sure he's still the boss of him, and Amy nods. She takes a seat in his lap and kisses his head. Corey doesn't get it. That's it. The fighting's over. Allan wonders, you disappointed? Corey admits he's happy. He's seen them fight all his life. But no matter what, they always work it out. And they always work it out because we cut to Corey and Shawn's dorm and Corey finishes his sentence to Sean because they love each other. They just forgot that they do now. Somebody has to go to Pittsburgh and remind them. Sean sighs, oh no. And Corey grins. Oh, yes. Do you know what the difference is between my parents and Topanga's parents? Sean answers, yeah, your parents birthed an idiot. Which is funny. Corey shakes his head, no. My parents never forget that underneath all the horrible things they do to each other, they're still in love. That's just said straight. I'm not even sure that was supposed to be a joke.

[Will Friedle]

No, I don't. I don't think it was supposed to be a joke either. All the horrible things they say to each other.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, no, that's marriage they do to each other.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, but it's like, I know, it's such an insight into the people. Let's put it this way, to the people writing the show. That it's like no matter how much we hate each other or how badly I treat terrible things to each other, we'll still find our way back to each other as opposed to having a healthy relationship. Yeah, it's crazy.

[Danielle Fishel]

Topanga's parents forgot they're in love and we have to go and remind them. The whole thing should take take 15 minutes tops. Corey asks if Shawn is in and Shawn is insouled. We can't treat this like one of our little scams. We're talking about people's lives. We could ruin Topanga's parents lives and ours. Corey pauses for a second and admits, Yes, I know. He is unfazed. He again asks, are you with me? Shauna's defeated. Yeah. And then we see. To be continued at the bottom of the screen. We're in the tag. Feeny gets into his car and situates himself in the driver's seat when suddenly Eric and Jack pop up in the backseat. Eric has a bowl of spaghetti and Jack's eating a sandwich. Eric urges him to taste it and a disappointed Feeny asks if it's Thursday. Feeny eventually takes a bite of Eric's pasta and admits it is tasty. Eric looks at Jack and proudly states, see? I told you there was nothing wrong with eating a three week old meatball. Feeny starts gagging and he leans out of his car window as Eric examines the meatball. That's my hair, isn't it?

[Will Friedle]

I ad lib that. That.

[Ryder Strong]

Did you.

[Will Friedle]

Did you remember that specifically? That was one of the. Probably the five different ones that I gave that just to button the scene.

[Danielle Fishel]

So funny. It was cute. Well, that's our episode. Welcome in season seven.

[Ryder Strong]

Season seven. We're back.

[Danielle Fishel]

Season seven. Oh gosh. Oh gosh, oh gosh.

[Ryder Strong]

Not much drop shock though, for you guys, huh?

[Danielle Fishel]

No, no, no.

[Will Friedle]

There was for me. But for. For personal reasons, not for the show.

[Ryder Strong]

Show.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. I just. Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

So, yeah, we haven't changed our cast. This may be the first season ever where we just have the same cast as the last season.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yep.

[Ryder Strong]

Right. Because almost every season, we introduce a whole set of new characters to start.

[Will Friedle]

That's right. Well, let's see.

[Ryder Strong]

Well, let's see.

[Will Friedle]

Last season.

[Ryder Strong]

Last season began with the wedding. Yeah, I guess we did.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, no.

[Ryder Strong]

Got introduced last season.

[Will Friedle]

And before that it was Matt. Was the season before that with four, was Eli?

[Ryder Strong]

No, that was three.

[Will Friedle]

Maybe season four, we didn't add it. Add or subtract anybody?

[Ryder Strong]

Our best season, was it four or.

[Will Friedle]

Five we liked the best?

[Ryder Strong]

Was it four?

[Danielle Fishel]

Four. Yeah, four. When did Tony leave? Okay, five. Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

All right, four. No, no, we're Tony and Matt. Tony and Matt never. Never crossed paths. So he must have left.

[Danielle Fishel]

Matt came in season five.

[Will Friedle]

Right. So Tony must have left in season five.

[Danielle Fishel]

Was that the end of season four, then?

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Well, the cult fiction episode.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, no, wait. Matt. Did Matt and Tony cross? No, I'm thinking of. Oh, my God. I'm thinking of two different times. You were in a hospital room talking to people in their dinner.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right. One of them's Chet.

[Will Friedle]

So one's Chet and one's Tony. Okay. Yeah. So, no, there was no cross contamination. There you go. Yikes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, thank you all for joining us for this episode of Pod Meets World. As always, you can follow us on Instagram Pod Meets World show. You can send us your emails podmeetsworldshowmail.com and we've got merch.

[Will Friedle]

Everybody look at my merch.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, silence.

[Will Friedle]

Took Danielle a second there.

[Danielle Fishel]

I was like.

[Will Friedle]

I'm gonna tell you something. I came very close. I just couldn't pull it off in time to cutting off all of my hair and having a wig for this morning and then pulling it off to have the thing. I just. I couldn't get it done. But I think the hair is going pretty soon.

[Ryder Strong]

Soon.

[Danielle Fishel]

So really, you're gonna cut the long hair?

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, I think it's time.

[Danielle Fishel]

Why? It's time.

[Will Friedle]

I don't know. Just switch it up.

[Danielle Fishel]

Done with it.

[Katie Couric]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, we'll see. Podmeets worldshow.com Writer, send us out.

[Ryder Strong]

We love you all. We love you all. Pod dismissed.

[Will Friedle]

Dismissed.

[Ryder Strong]

Pod Meets World is an iHeart podcast produced and hosted by Danielle Fishel, Wilfred L. And Ryder Strah, executive producers Jensen Karp and Amy Sugarman, executive in charge of production, Danielle Romo, producer and editor Tara Sugbash, producer Matty Moore, engineer and Boy Meets World superban Easton Allen. Our theme song is by Kyle Morton of Typhoon. Follow us on Instagram odmeatsworld show or email us at podmeatsworldshowmail.com.

[Danielle Fishel]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.