TGI – Episode 703 “Angela’s Men”

Summary

Pod Meets World – TGI Rewatch: Season 7, Episode 3 “Angela’s Men”
Original Airdate: October 8, 1999
Podcast Release: January 22, 2026
Hosts: Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong, Will Friedle, Roy Panattoni

---

Episode Overview

This episode of Pod Meets World focuses on the season seven “Boy Meets World” episode, “Angela’s Men.” The hosts—Danielle, Rider, Will, and Roy—dissect the episode’s plotlines, explore character motivations, reminisce about behind-the-scenes antics, and reflect on the series’ approach to complex emotional topics. They offer both laughter and thoughtful critique, especially regarding the portrayal of Angela’s agency and the recurring theme of family trauma affecting relationships.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. General Impressions & Thematic Analysis

• The group gives immediate reactions, mostly agreeing the episode is fun and features standout comedic moments, especially in the B-story (Eric’s revenge on Topanga).
• However, there is significant discomfort expressed with the A-story (Angela’s father and her relationship arc), particularly the handling of Angela’s emotions and agency.

Notable Quotes:

• “As an episode of television, super fun and entertaining. But, you know... when I started thinking about what this was saying about Angela... I was like, geez, this is weird and I don’t like it.”
  —Rider Strong (13:16)

• “Angela cannot be trusted with her own thoughts, feelings, emotions, the men in her life. Both Sean and dad know better than she does and need to tell her what she really wants.”
  —Danielle Fishel (15:35)

2. Episode Placement & Character Arcs

• The hosts are surprised this episode aired so early in the season, mistakenly recalling it as one of the last.
• They discuss episode confusion (e.g., “Angela’s Men” vs. “Angela’s Ashes”), and reflect on how the season’s more outrageous comedic bits contrast with darker or less coherent storytelling.

Notable Quote:

• “This may be the season of really good bits, really good jokes, but the stories are not great.”
  —Will Friedle (32:23)

3. Angela’s Agency & Thematic Problems

• The group debates the episode’s problematic logic, specifically how Angela repeatedly says she doesn’t love Shawn but is dismissed or overridden by male characters—including her own father—who convince her of her feelings.
• The concept of “gaslighting” is strongly highlighted and becomes a running joke (see "Memorable Moments").

Notable Quotes:

• “Not only in this scene, but... later, she’s looking somebody in the eyes and saying 'I don’t love you. I don’t want to be in a relationship with you.' And like, nobody respects it.”
  —Rider Strong (53:55)

• “You just described Corey.”
  —Danielle Fishel, referencing Corey’s history of telling women how they feel (25:09)

Timestamp: 15:54–17:15 – Critical discussion of Angela’s story, agency, and the narrative pushing her toward the outcome the men want

4. Family Trauma as a Series Theme

• Danielle and Rider note that Boy Meets World started bringing real issues of family trauma and its impact on relationships to “kids’ TV” and wonder how rare that was in its era.
• There’s critique around the simplicity and "one-size-fits-all" logic the show sometimes applies to these themes.

Notable Quote:

• “I think that’s like a super positive, good way to think about this. ...But there’s sort of like an ironclad logic in ‘Boy Meets World’ that’s, obviously, now we’ve seen the way Topanga acts based on her parents and now the way Shawn acts and Angela, and it’s like, there’s a correct interpretation of the way to read people’s behavior via their parents that I hate.”
  —Rider Strong (23:05)

Timestamp: 21:19–24:09 – Family dynamics, trauma, and the series' thematic patterns

5. B-Story: Eric's Revenge & Physical Comedy

• The hosts praise Will Friedle’s slapstick and surreal performance as Eric, citing the tree, display case, and American Gothic gags.
• Will shares how director Jeff McCracken and sound/music choices amplified the absurdity, with Eric’s schemes escalating each act.

Notable Quotes:

• “Cannot go big enough in season seven, Eric. Which is... great.”
  —Will Friedle (48:11)

• “How do you make sitting in a garbage can work?... How do you make a walking tree funny? ...That’s like, crazy, to make that work. And you guys made it work so well.”
  —Rider Strong (46:54)

Timestamp: 45:19–48:26 – Physical comedy deep-dive and praise of Eric/Will’s antics

6. Behind the Scenes: Julius Carey & Guest Stars

• The cast reminisce about working with Julius Carey (Sergeant Moore), noting his previous appearance as a different character and his status as “Sho'Nuff” from The Last Dragon, which Will excitedly mentions.
• Commentary on physical casting and presence: Danielle and Rider agree Carey and Trina McGee looked strikingly like family, contributing to Angela’s credibility.

Timestamp: 30:47–34:49 – Guest star insight and on-set stories

7. Gags, Bloopers, and the Legendary Tag Scene

• The podcast closes with extensive talk about the famous “Eric in the Couch” tag scene and its many outtakes, which broke the fourth wall and showed the cast’s real camaraderie.
• They reflect on how airing these real moments planted the seed for future fan connection (and may have made Pod Meets World’s style possible).

Notable Quotes:

• “This is a glimpse for mainstream, like, a television show broke the fourth wall and for a moment, everybody that watched Boy Meets World got to see something that was not ever really... It was us being us together, laughing so hard.”
  —Rider Strong (96:14)

• “It’s the heart of an episode, and we literally don’t end the storyline. We just say, I mean, it’s so cool.”
  —Rider Strong (97:31)

Timestamp: 91:24–97:56 – Tag scene, giggles, and impact on fandom/podcast

---

Memorable Moments & Noteworthy Quotes

• Panettone Debate (02:48–09:15): Danielle, Will, and Ryder riff on Christmas gifts gone wrong, centering on Danielle’s dislike of a panettone she received (and Will’s household treating it “like cocaine”).
  • “We cut it up in lines and we flush the rest of it down the toilet... Got any panettone left?” – Will Friedle (08:02)
• “Gaslighting is Love” Bit (52:48–53:20): The hosts channel their discomfort with the show’s storyline into darkly comic banter, suggesting “gaslighting is love” as a satirical mug design.
  • “Gaslighting is love is maybe my favorite line. That is merch. Put it on a mug.” – Ryder Strong (52:58)
• Inside Jokes & Breaking on Set: Sharing memories of how often the cast broke in scenes, especially involving Ben Savage (“Ben comes to life when he has story pressure taken off of him...”) and the uncontrollable laughter during the “couch” tag.

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• Awkward Gift / Panettone Debate: 02:48–09:15
• Introduction of the Main Episode/Recap: 12:42
• Angela’s Agency Discussion: 15:35–17:15; 53:52–54:47
• Family Trauma & Series Themes: 21:19–24:09
• Physical Comedy & Eric’s Schemes: 45:19–48:26; 58:33–62:21
• Julius Carey Guest Star Segment: 30:47–34:49
• Bloopers and Tag Scene Analysis: 91:24–97:56

---

Tone and Style

• Conversational & Playful: The hosts are comfortable roasting their own plots and each other, spinning even critical moments into running gags.
• Self-Aware and Critical: They’re acutely conscious of 90s tropes and willing to challenge what doesn’t hold up, especially around gender, consent, and agency.
• Deeply Nostalgic: The podcast frequently detours into backstage memories, actor friendships, and what it meant to be on the set during the show’s original run.

---

Concluding Thoughts

This episode’s detailed breakdown offers equal parts laughter, critical reflection, and fond nostalgia for “Boy Meets World.” The hosts praise hilarious bits and notable performances while unflinchingly criticizing the dated and problematic elements of the storytelling—particularly the way the episode robs Angela of agency regarding her own emotions. The infectious fun of the show’s famous tag, and the insight into cast dynamics, underscores just why this rewatch podcast connects so strongly with long-time fans.

Next recap: Season 7, Episode 4 "No Such Thing as a Sure Thing."

Transcript

[Danielle Fishel]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Roy Panattoni]

Guaranteed Human Ever been at the pharmacy counter and your mind goes blank when the pharmacist asks any questions? That's why you need to listen to beyond the Script from CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia. Hosted by Dr. Jake Goodman, each episode features real conversations with CVS pharmacists, the health experts you see most, breaking down the questions you wish you'd asked, from which meds may not mix well to what vaccines you need before a big trip. They'll bust myths, decode trends, and share practical advice you can actually use. Listen to beyond the script on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Signature Hardware Announcer]

It's the hook you hang your robe on every morning. The vanity that gives everything a place. The faucet that fills your pot right on the stove. The air tub that pauses time itself when style meets function in every corner. That's the look of a space designed right. Finish your home with beauty in every detail@signature hardware.com Signature Hardware create your signature style.

[Danielle Fishel]

I'm Danielle Fishel, Ryder Strong and Will.

[Roy Panattoni]

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.

[Roy Panattoni]

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

[Ryder Strong]

O o Ozempic hi, I'm Michael from the War and Treaty. You know the jingle now Discover the facts about Ozempic. A Novo Nordisk makes FDA approved Ozempic. Learn about the real thing. Talk to your healthcare professional today.

[Danielle Fishel]

Call 1833 ozempic or visit oic.com to view the medication guide and to learn more about ozempic. Semaglutide injection 0.5mg, 1mg and 2mg. I have a question for you guys and it's a it's one of those like could be awkward questions, but who better to talk about awkward question situations.

[Ryder Strong]

Than with you two and all of America listening.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, well, I like their opinions too. 50 million people every single every single week to every single episode. It's unbelievable what reach we have 50 million. I don't know if you've noticed Ryder. But I'm wearing the Christmas gift you got me last year, which is a wonderful Huckberry Grateful Dead crew neck. I love it. It's wonderful. But I started thinking this past holiday season, have you ever received a gift from someone and you just do not like it? Yeah, you just do not like it. And, like, you know them so well that you know it's gonna come up at some point. Like, even right away, they might ask, do you. Do you like it? Do you like it? And you are tasked with what to do. And, like, sometimes you can do a white lie and they're maybe never gonna know. You can be like, I use it all the time and they're not in your house regularly. Like, they're never gonna know. And then other times you're like, they're gonna know and I'm a bad liar. What do you do when you receive a gift that you just don't like?

[Will Friedle]

I think it would depend on the gift.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, yeah?

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay.

[Will Friedle]

Because if it's something that's never it, like, all you have to do is white lie once, right. And then it's never gonna come up again.

[Roy Panattoni]

But if it's something that you should.

[Will Friedle]

Use on a regular basis, and then all of a sudden it's like, hey.

[Roy Panattoni]

Wait a minute, you're not wearing your galoshes.

[Will Friedle]

Like, something like that, that.

[Ryder Strong]

It's like galoshes for Christmas.

[Will Friedle]

Thank you.

[Ryder Strong]

I love my.

[Danielle Fishel]

I love my galosh. Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

I'm trying to think. I'm trying to think of a specific example. You know, I'm usually like. I'm usually so terrified that this is going to happen. Like, I don't like receiving gifts for this reason because I have anxiety about this.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Ryder Strong]

But actually, when it usually happens, when I actually get a gift, I'm mostly just so grateful and like, that's cool. And I'm trying to think of when I really didn't like something. I don't know if it's happened. I feel like most of the time it's like, oh, that's mildly cool. Like, maybe I'm. I don't love it, but I don't. Yeah, I'm trying to think. I mean, it was really.

[Roy Panattoni]

Where is this coming from?

[Ryder Strong]

Is it the sweatshirt that you're wearing right now, Danielle? No, no.

[Danielle Fishel]

It did come up because I recently received a very generous gift and I didn't love it.

[Will Friedle]

You hated it.

[Ryder Strong]

Diamond encrusted Air Jordans. But you didn't like them?

[Danielle Fishel]

No.

[Ryder Strong]

They didn't fit?

[Will Friedle]

No.

[Danielle Fishel]

It may have been the Panettone oh, my.

[Ryder Strong]

Delicious.

[Will Friedle]

Amazing. Roy's Panettone.

[Danielle Fishel]

And you normally. A gift like that, you could say, like, delicious, and then just hope to never have to hear about it again.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

But I worried that if I said I loved it, that it would become.

[Ryder Strong]

Will's new annual tradition.

[Danielle Fishel]

Annual tradition.

[Ryder Strong]

He would send another one, and he.

[Danielle Fishel]

Would send another one, and I never want it in my house again.

[Ryder Strong]

And that's what the funny thing is.

[Will Friedle]

Is that he's guaranteed to get one.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh. Now he's going to send it every year.

[Will Friedle]

Not only that, he has multiple flavors, so we're going to keep at this.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, gosh.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, God. Oh, gosh.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay, maybe that is.

[Ryder Strong]

You're just going to panatona bomb her whenever. Just like, it's like your version of swatting. She'll just wake up and there'll be one in her, like, on her chest. I wish I could.

[Roy Panattoni]

They only sell them three months a year because the man sat in a.

[Will Friedle]

Cave for 12 years and just mastered this one technique.

[Ryder Strong]

I thought it was delightful. I didn't. I mean, I couldn't eat more than, like, two bites because it's so rich. I had no idea what it would taste like. Like, I was like, what is this bread? And it's more chocolatey than I expected. But all I could do was, like, have, like, a little one or two bites. And then I was like, I need.

[Danielle Fishel]

I needed more chocolate and less orange. Mine was orange bread. It was orange and lemon bread.

[Roy Panattoni]

There's, like, an orangey.

[Danielle Fishel]

It was so citrusy. And I think citrus is only for spa water. Get your citrus off of my sweets.

[Roy Panattoni]

Wait, wait.

[Danielle Fishel]

Like a lemon pound cake?

[Roy Panattoni]

You don't want a lemon pound cake?

[Danielle Fishel]

Not really.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, God.

[Ryder Strong]

Really?

[Danielle Fishel]

Delightful. Not really, no.

[Roy Panattoni]

Well, so here's how much we love.

[Will Friedle]

Them in our house. When I went home, because I saw Danielle and I was like, how was you? And she's like, I didn't love it. And we have to talk about it on the podcast. I told Susan, and we love them so much. Her first response is, what did she do with the rest of it? She goes, I'll get in the car right now, and I will drive down. Because she and I will fight like feral cats. There'll be, like, one slice left, and.

[Danielle Fishel]

It'S like Ms. Delia took the rest of it to her holiday party that.

[Will Friedle]

She was going to need her address.

[Ryder Strong]

Because I do not love it that much.

[Will Friedle]

We love it.

[Ryder Strong]

And I couldn't eat much more than, like, I said, a little bit. So I definitely didn't Finish it.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, God, we love it. Just mail the rest back because we'll take it.

[Danielle Fishel]

You know, Will told me. He's like, we treat it like cocaine in our house. We have to. How much are you having? Hey, that's too much to put some of that back. And I was like, oh, my gosh.

[Will Friedle]

We cut it up in lines and.

[Ryder Strong]

We flush the rest of it down the toilet. Died from the cops. Got any panet Tony left?

[Will Friedle]

I'll suck you. So, yeah, it's. It is magical. So very rarely do I disagree with you to the point where, you know.

[Roy Panattoni]

Flavors, flavor, taste is taste.

[Will Friedle]

But you're wrong. You're absolutely wrong.

[Danielle Fishel]

Usually you and I are on the same team with most of our food likes, so I was pretty shocked, I'm going to be honest, that I. That I. And I tried it multiple times because I was like, something's wrong, right? Like, maybe. Maybe I just. This. My tongue's not working today. I don't know. And so I tried it again, and then I was like, no, no, no. But I didn't know they had multiple flavors. Do they have any without orange and lemon?

[Roy Panattoni]

I don't know.

[Danielle Fishel]

I haven't.

[Will Friedle]

It's the only one I tried.

[Roy Panattoni]

I couldn't get past this.

[Danielle Fishel]

I researched it, and I think those citrus, like the orange and lemon is like a part of panettone.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, I think so. Yeah. I think it's part of the recipe. But, God, it was like, doughy and.

[Roy Panattoni]

Chewy and chocolatey and.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, God, it was. And they had those crystal, whatever, sugar things on the outside that were.

[Danielle Fishel]

Those also taste like citrus. I ate those alone.

[Will Friedle]

We took those. Next time, just a separate little bag, and we just shake it over other things.

[Ryder Strong]

Just send her a Happy Meal from McDonald's. Such a.

[Will Friedle]

Send me the recipe, your panettone, if you can find it, because I will use it in my love play. It is absolutely amazing. I love play.

[Danielle Fishel]

I never want to hear that again.

[Ryder Strong]

Love play.

[Will Friedle]

You don't ever hear that. Hey, this is interesting. Let's try to use and I love ble.

[Danielle Fishel]

Welcome to Pod Meats World. I'm Danielle Fischl.

[Ryder Strong]

I'm Ryder Strong.

[Roy Panattoni]

And I'm Roy Panattoni.

[Will Friedle]

I'm Will Friedle.

[Roy Panattoni]

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. 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.

[Yamava Resort and Casino Announcer]

8 Jaguars 4 weeks Yamava Resort and Casino at San Manuel is giving away two Jaguars every Thursday, starting January 8th. Club Serrano members play to earn entries for your chance to win a new luxury crossover suv. Join for free today and don't miss your chance to drop drive off in a Jaguar. More cars, more chances to win only at Yamava Resort and casino, celebrating its 40th anniversary. You in [e-mail] must be 21 to enter. Please gamble responsibly.

[Signature Hardware Announcer]

It's the hook you hang your robe on every morning. The vanity that gives everything a place. The faucet that fills your pot right on the stove. The air tub that pauses time itself when style meets function in every corner. That's the look of a space designed right. Finish your home with beauty in every detail@signature hardware.com Signature Hardware create your signature style.

[Mornings Upgraded Announcer]

Some mornings feel like a marathon before your feet ever hit the floor. Which is why the little wins matter, guessing your password on the first try.

[Ryder Strong]

Win.

[Mornings Upgraded Announcer]

All green lights on the way to work. Win Finding your car keys in the first place you look. Miracle Win. And breakfast. It's got little wins of its own, like grabbing the new Oikos protein shake and getting 30 grams of complete protein without even trying. We call that a big little win. Or pouring silk almond milk for five essential nutrients and giving your cereal a little extra goodness. That's a sweet win. Give your coffee a swirl of international delight for a delicious mood booster, and let Activia Yogurt handle gut business with billions of probiotics. Win and win. And right now, another one. Get $5 when you spend $10 or more on participating breakfast favorites. Win. Win. Win. Get more [e-mail] mornings.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, today we are talking about season seven, episode three Angela's Men. It originally aired October 8, 1999. The synopsis Angela's father comes to visit and in the process hopes to help her reconcile with Sean. Meanwhile, Eric plots revenge on Topanga. It was Directed by Jeff McCracken and it was written by Jeff Mannell. He returns. Before I jump into our guest stars, do we want to share our overall thoughts?

[Ryder Strong]

Sure. I enjoyed the episode. I thought obviously the B story is hysterical and has so many great memories and just watching will do. I mean that's just super fun. And the A story really bothered me when I thought about it.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Ryder Strong]

But it was well performed and fun. So it's like. But it. But like when that final scene happened, I was like, what is going on? Thematically this is really kind of messed up, but I thought, yeah, I thought it was fun and everybody. And Ben was hysterical in this episode. He has like so much smaller part, but he's just in like cranked up character mode, but in a way that is just super funny. And yeah, so I enjoyed it a lot. It's just when I started thinking about like what this was saying about Angela and how it was treating her, you know, quote unquote issues or I was like, geez, this is weird and I don't like it. But you know, that's. That's the over analysis part of me as an. As an episode of television. Super fun and entertaining.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes.

[Roy Panattoni]

Yeah, I agree with everything you just said.

[Will Friedle]

First of all, the fir. I obviously a. A kind of a famous episode, something we talk about all the time, especially tag and everything like that. No, would.

[Roy Panattoni]

If you had told me this was.

[Will Friedle]

The third episode of the season, I had. No, I thought this was way down the line.

[Danielle Fishel]

So did I. I even thought the name Angela's Men. I thought it was like one of the third to last episode.

[Roy Panattoni]

Me too.

[Ryder Strong]

A hundred percent. Thought there's another one called like Angela's Ashes. Oh, that is I think like the third to last episode where it's the last time Trina's on the show.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Will Friedle]

Okay.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. So you might have been confusing that.

[Danielle Fishel]

I thought that was like a two parter.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, that is a two parter, I think. But no, I agree with everything that Ryder said. I think the.

[Roy Panattoni]

Everybody was good in it.

[Will Friedle]

The B story, super fun and funny. Of course none of it makes any sense, but who cares? It doesn't make any sense whatsoever that Angela and Sean after all these years have never talked about the fact that her mom has left when his mom did. I mean, none of that makes any sense. But I kind of. I'm to the don't really care point. And I just sat back and enjoyed it and it was again, watching us have fun.

[Roy Panattoni]

So yeah, I thought it was fun.

[Will Friedle]

Again, had no idea it was this close. To the start of the season. But yeah, it started. I was like, oh my God, is.

[Roy Panattoni]

This the couch episode already?

[Danielle Fishel]

I know.

[Will Friedle]

So yeah, it was good though.

[Ryder Strong]

I enjoyed it.

[Danielle Fishel]

I, I agree. I, I really enjoyed it. Writer. Couldn't agree more. As I was going and I was like, okay, so what we're saying is right. Angela cannot be trusted with her own thoughts, feelings, emotions, the men in her life. Both Sean and dad know better than she does and need to tell.

[Ryder Strong]

Like so weird. Like literally physically grab her and push her in a corner. Like that's what happens in that scene. It's like you love me. Oh my God.

[Will Friedle]

Well, that's what I'm going to do with Danielle in the panettone.

[Ryder Strong]

You look better. You're going to like this paneton. Chew it. You just don't know it. What?

[Danielle Fishel]

Try the middle.

[Ryder Strong]

Your mom threw away her panettone. Isn't it?

[Will Friedle]

Exactly.

[Ryder Strong]

That's what it is. You're stuck in a pattern because of your mom. Once your mom throws away a panettone, what are you going to do? What are you going to throw it away?

[Will Friedle]

Throw it away.

[Ryder Strong]

Everyone knows that. That's what happens.

[Will Friedle]

I don't mean to jump to the end, but I love the fact that you're doing it all in a military uniform knowing you're not going the army.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know. Yeah. It's like what do you also they tailored that army uniform.

[Ryder Strong]

You sign up and they just give.

[Danielle Fishel]

You perfectly fitted and perfectly to you. Even though you know you're not going. You went through so much effort for that. You looked spectacular.

[Will Friedle]

Welcome, private team on by the way. Yeah, you are.

[Ryder Strong]

Major Tiger. Oh my God.

[Danielle Fishel]

R O T. See you on the COVID Oh my.

[Ryder Strong]

So good. What is with the hat in the shoulder thing? Is that like a tradition?

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, it's called your cover. And you put your cover over in the. Okay. Yeah. When you're not doing it also, I.

[Danielle Fishel]

Thought it was a flare.

[Ryder Strong]

It basically is. I mean of military flare.

[Will Friedle]

You also obviously written by people not in the military. You don't call a sergeant major sir. That's for commissioned officers. It's yes, sergeant major, no sergeant major. And he said they messed that up.

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't think they messed it up. They just chose didn't care to do it.

[Ryder Strong]

Any change his rank, you can make it sensitive.

[Will Friedle]

It's perfect that he's a sergeant major, but that makes it even better. Cuz those are the people that in every other movie era is like, yes, sir. They go, don't call me sir.

[Ryder Strong]

I work for A living.

[Will Friedle]

They're like those people that's. The sergeant is the barking person. So when I was like, oh, that's already wrong. But he's. But Julius is so cool.

[Ryder Strong]

He is so amazing.

[Danielle Fishel]

So incredible.

[Will Friedle]

I remember this week unbelievably well because how much I was fanboying over him all week.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Plus all the costumes and stuff you had this week. This is a big week for you.

[Will Friedle]

This was.

[Ryder Strong]

And I have to say, like, you and McCracken did such a good job. Like, the direction and your performance make really crazy scenes super fun. Like, we'll talk about, like, why in detail, but, like, the two of you work together to make, you know, if. What on the page, I would have been like, this is insane. Like, how is this going to be funny? And yet it's hysterical.

[Roy Panattoni]

Again, McCracken.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know we didn't really have time for it because so much of the episode was obviously Will's hysterics and stunts in the B story and the A story demanded the majority of the airtime. But I really wish Topanga would have been an active participant in the situation with Eric instead of only just looking at him like, you're insane. In every single scene, every time it happened. I would have loved for her to be like, to. To Maitland, to Rachel, to be like, let's. He doesn't know that I know. You know what I mean? Like, just to have some sort of me tease, taunting him in some way.

[Ryder Strong]

Like, that does happen throughout the rest of the season. Right? Because he's in that kind of, what? Civil war. Civil war. I guess we're on the same side.

[Will Friedle]

Eric is the only one who doesn't pick a team.

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't remember those episodes at all. So I have just had to go off of what you guys say about them. I don't know. But I just, like, literally the only thing they gave Topanga to do in this episode is to look lovingly at Angela and Sean and to look disgusted at Eric.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, well, I mean, to the same sort of thing. He's constantly just like, he's crazy. Oh, my gosh, he's so dumb.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, my gosh, Eric is crazy. And it's like, yes, we get it, dude. Like, yeah, it's fine. But I. You know, and we talked about this last season, too. There's a lot of that. There's a lot of, like, just a character commenting on how ridiculous and out of. And it's like, okay, in some ways, I guess you need that, but it's a little boring.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, it is. Also, I love that Jack and Rachel are hanging out like they're great friends and we still know nothing about why their relationship ended. Just totally. They're sitting next to each other, talking, having coffee, and very, very healthy.

[Roy Panattoni]

It's like after all of Boy Meets.

[Will Friedle]

World is said and done, by far the healthiest relationship either dating or friendship is Jack and Rachel.

[Ryder Strong]

So true.

[Danielle Fishel]

You're absolutely right.

[Ryder Strong]

Don't they both go off to the Peace Corps at the end? Yep, sure do. They're going to help the world a better place.

[Danielle Fishel]

Their best friends.

[Ryder Strong]

Their best friends. They can manage like breakups without drama that doesn't involve everybody else and make it everybody else's problem.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Totally healthy people.

[Ryder Strong]

I bet you if their parents get divorced, it's not that big of a deal for them.

[Will Friedle]

Parents did. He's been through the same.

[Ryder Strong]

You have, right? Exactly. Because my dad died, I can no longer like women on Tuesdays. So obvious.

[Danielle Fishel]

Two things were hard days.

[Ryder Strong]

Doesn't. I don't understand. Don't understand.

[Danielle Fishel]

I will say thinking about the idea that for a quote unquote, kids show, although we're, you know, we're in college now, but still a family program.

[Will Friedle]

Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

How early in shows do you think the idea that your family history and dynamic and possibly trauma impacts the decisions you make in relationships today? Maybe without you even knowing, like that subject matter. That topic.

[Ryder Strong]

Interesting.

[Danielle Fishel]

Is an interesting idea. And considering we're posing it to teenagers who are watching and are maybe hearing that concept for the first time, like, oh, the things I see around me are gonna impact the people I meet, the choices I make. Sure. Like how I am in a relationship is gonna possibly be because my dad is this way or my mom is this way as a concept, whether it's done perfectly the way we would love it or not. I am thrilled. Yeah. That. That kind of.

[Roy Panattoni]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Topic was brought up for young people.

[Roy Panattoni]

We don't know. I don't think.

[Will Friedle]

Because none of us. Well, Ryder now has watched several episodes.

[Roy Panattoni]

Does the fact that the kids in.

[Will Friedle]

Full House lost their mom at an early age, does that ever factor into anything that happens in the show or is it just kind of like mom's not there.

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

I don't know.

[Danielle Fishel]

I wonder if that people who.

[Will Friedle]

If that's a thing where it's like, you know, eventually that comes back. I would.

[Ryder Strong]

I would say not.

[Danielle Fishel]

I think that was probably. Yeah.

[Roy Panattoni]

Oh, it does here and there. Okay.

[Ryder Strong]

There we go.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. Okay. I know they do episodes about like, you know, one of them's acting out. And then it's like, well, what, you know, what's going at the end of the episode? What's going on with you? I just really miss mom. Like, stuff like that. Like, you know, recognizing that, you know, you're maybe behaving in a certain way because you miss somebody. But in as. As far as framing it for romantic relationships and the choices you make and the people you end up with, I don't know how often that was being done.

[Ryder Strong]

I definitely, I totally agree with you, Danielle. And I think that's like a super positive, good way to think about this. I guess for me, it's like the, the, the one interpretation. The, like, the one. There's one reading of what happens when, you know, your mom runs out and how it affects your behavior as opposed to, like, it's like there's. There's sort of like an ironclad logic in Boy Meets World that is, you know, obviously, now we've seen the way Topanga acts based on her parents and now the way Shauna's acts and way Angela, and it's like, there's like a correct interpretation of the way to read people's behavior via their parents that I'm like, I just, I hate that. Like, wait, no, I had to disagree.

[Will Friedle]

Because, well, because grandma was a rolling stone. Rusty's mom kept leaving, and Rusty was still a solid guy. So Rusty's mom ran out. You know, Alan's mom ran out on him too. Like, we set that up early, and it was kind of him saying, hey, that's the way it is, man. You gotta, you gotta roll with it.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, no, this is definitely post season five logic.

[Roy Panattoni]

Yeah, exact.

[Will Friedle]

Right?

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

And that's. I think that, you know, when I see it being played out or I, I, I find it just a little ey. When it's actually being discussed and being played out. And then when it's really being pressured on Angela in a way where she's literally saying, I don't want this multiple times. And Sean doesn't care, doesn't stop and recruits his dad. Her dad, her dad. And her dad doesn't care, doesn't what she. It's like, it's complete erase. Erasing her agency in a way that really made me, like, unhappy. And like, I was like, this sucks, man. And it's. Yeah. And yeah, the worst part is, like, Trina's great. Like, her performance is. And so when she has her, like, breakdown, I love you moment and we hug, it's very emotional. Like, I was like, wow, this is cool, but the getting there and the fact that it works is, like, pretty troubling to me. Like, I don't think. I don't think. Not listening to a woman and telling her exactly what she thinks is, like, Corey. You just describe Corey.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, exactly.

[Ryder Strong]

Here it's played out by Sean and Angela's dad. It's like, we know better and we're going to tell you what to do. It's really, like, disturbing to me.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, that is. Yeah, I agree. I also don't love the fact that Sean did this first, Shawn broke up with her first and then dated somebody else. And this all started because of Shawn's doing, not her doing, but that is literally completely dropped, and now it's entirely on her.

[Ryder Strong]

Well, that's. I mean, that's going back. I was thinking about going back to the Topanga storyline in the first two episodes. The fun of drama is often discovering the truth behind people's behavior. Right. You see behavior that is, like, out of character or weird. And then, you know, one other character can say, you're doing this because of your mom or your history or whatever. Like, that is the discovery. Whereas on, like, in this show, Topanga's literally saying why she's doing it to Cory, explaining her behavior's roots. Whereas she could very easily say, corey, we're just a bad couple. You cheated on me. She could have really good reasons and, like, have a sort of surface explanation that then Cory and the audience, via Corey, could say, actually, you're not. That's not the truth. Topanga, the real reason you're doing this is because you're scared about your parents. And that revelation would have made for great drama, would have made for a great revelation as the thematics of, like, Topanga's history came to the forefront. Instead, the thematics are the story and that. They're being presented as the reason people do things. So we're sort of, like, inverting the process of storytelling. And it's like, what? You know, in this case, at least there is that structure in, like, you know, Angela, Angeline. It's other things. It's other things. But she doesn't say what those are. She doesn't say, like, sean, you do this or you don't do that. She's just saying, no, I'm not. I don't love you. I don't love you. I don't love you. And then it's just like, why, why, why? Why force you into a corner? Now you say it. Okay, cool.

[Roy Panattoni]

Well, doesn't the same thing happen with Topanga, isn't it? Her parents coming back and being like.

[Will Friedle]

You'Re not us, Topanga. You've got to be in love.

[Roy Panattoni]

I think it's the same kind of thing that happened really with Trina? I think so.

[Ryder Strong]

It's happening, like, soon?

[Roy Panattoni]

I believe so. And it's also, it's.

[Will Friedle]

It's interesting that Corey and Eric's family is still together. We don't know about Rachel, but Sean, Jack, Topanga, Angela, all the rest of the characters come from broken homes. There's nobody else that's in a. In a committed relationship.

[Roy Panattoni]

Are the Mat.

[Ryder Strong]

Well, yeah, I guess the Matthews.

[Will Friedle]

And we just don't know. And I'm not sure we ever heard about Rachel. Everybody else comes from a bad family or not bad family, but a family.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Broken apart.

[Ryder Strong]

That's super interesting.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, you're right.

[Roy Panattoni]

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. 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.

[Yamava Resort and Casino Announcer]

8 Jaguars 4 weeks Yamava Resort and Casino at San Manuel is giving away two Jaguars every Thursday starting January 8th. Club Serrano members play to earn entries for your chance to win a new luxury crossover suv. Join for free today and don't miss your chance to drive off in a Jaguar. More cars, more chances to win only at Yamava Resort and casino celebrating its 40th anniversary. You in [e-mail] must be 21 to enter. Please gamble responsibly.

[Signature Hardware Announcer]

It's the hook you hang your robe on every morning. The vanity that gives everything a place. The faucet that fills your pot right on the stove. The air tub that pauses time itself when style meets function in every corner. That's the look of a space designed right. Finish your home with beauty in every [e-mail] Signature Hardware create your signature style.

[Mornings Upgraded Announcer]

Some mornings feel like a marathon before your feet ever hit the floor, which is why the little wins matter. Guessing your password on the first try.

[Ryder Strong]

Win.

[Mornings Upgraded Announcer]

All green lights on the way to work. Win. Finding your car keys in the first place you look miracle win. And breakfast. It's got little wins of its own, like grabbing the new Oikos protein shake and getting 30 grams of complete protein without even trying. We call that a big little win. Or pouring silk almond milk for five essential nutrients and giving your cereal a little extra goodness. That's a sweet win. Give your coffee a swirl of international delight for a delicious mood booster, and let Activia yogurt handle gut business with billions of probiotics. Win. And win. And right now, another one. Get $5 when you spend $10 or more on participating breakfast favorites. Win. Win, win. Get more [e-mail] mornings upgraded.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, let's jump into our guest stars. Guest starring Julius Carey as Sergeant Moore, Angela's dad. His second appearance of three on Boy Meets World, but his first was for a different character, Professor Michaels, the teacher for the college class that Shawn was taking as a high schooler in season five. Julius is best known as Sho Nuff in Will's favorite movie, the Last Dragon, and appeared in films like the New Guy and the man with the one red shoe. But he has a stacked TV resume on the Jeffersons. Fame, 227, Murder, She Wrote and Murphy Brown, just to name a few. Julius passed away in 2008 at the very young age of 58. Darius L. Galden as Cadet Winston. Darius also appeared on Cousin Skeeter and Get Real, but appears to have stopped acting around the year 2000.

[Will Friedle]

I don't know what Cousin Skeeter is, but it's my new favorite. It's the best title, I think.

[Danielle Fishel]

The Last Dragon and Cousin Skeeter. Those are my two favorite two favorite things.

[Will Friedle]

Exactly.

[Ryder Strong]

That's what we're re watching next, guys. Pod meets Cousin Skeeter.

[Will Friedle]

Even know what it is?

[Ryder Strong]

It's a great title.

[Danielle Fishel]

It is a great title.

[Ryder Strong]

It's a great title.

[Danielle Fishel]

Jumping into our recap, we start in the girl's apartment. Topanga, Angela, and Rachel are eating breakfast when they're interrupted by incessant knocking at their door. Rachel thinks it's adorable that the guys are stalking them, but Angela yells to go away. Sean yells from the hallway milkman. A profession Angela reminds him no longer exists. Sean is quick on his toes and yells back, cow.

[Will Friedle]

Cow.

[Ryder Strong]

Pretty funny.

[Danielle Fishel]

So funny.

[Roy Panattoni]

Again.

[Will Friedle]

This may be the season of really good Bits really good jokes, but the story is not great.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, you're right, because the jokes are great.

[Roy Panattoni]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Rachel tells Angela she can't just leave Sean out there, but Angela disagrees. I'm gonna leave him out there, then I'm gonna kick his butt into the elevator. She opens the door to find Sean, who is smiling, and Corey, who sternly glares at Topanga. He assures his ex, I'm not here for you, so cool your jets. I'm only here to support my buddy when he gets killed. He urges Shawn to get on with it, and Angela tries to close the door on their faces, but Shawn blocks it. Can I just tell you one thing? She shrugs. You can say whatever you want, as long as it doesn't include the words I love or you. Shawn sighs in relief. I love or you, too, Angela. So good.

[Ryder Strong]

So funny.

[Danielle Fishel]

Angela slams the door in his face, this time successfully, but he promises he isn't leaving. He's just going to live in their doorway. Now, Rachel admires the persistence, and Topanga points out that he learned from the master. On cue, there's another knock at the door, and Angela shouts, can't you take no for an answer? If I say I don't want to see you, I don't want to see you. But this time, she opens the door to find an extremely tall soldier on the other side. And of course, Shawn is still sitting by the door, as promised, with Corey standing by for moral support. The soldier asks, why is this boy lying in your doorway? Angela shrieks, daddy. And gives the man a huge hug.

[Ryder Strong]

Throughout this episode. But pretty much right away, I was just. This is probably. Even though he's been recast because he was my philosophy professor, this is the most. The best casting on our show for a variety of reasons. But also, they physically look like father and daughter more than any other cast member of our show. Whatever. We had, I guess maybe, like, me and Chad, like, I guess Blake and I could. You can see our physical resemblance.

[Will Friedle]

Rusty and I. There's kind of. You can. Could kind of make it out, but.

[Ryder Strong]

The whole Matthews family doesn't.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

No, no. This is like. They literally have, like, a similar shape of their actual face. Like, the same shape. And their eyes. Their eyes have the same shape. So when. When they're on screen together, you're just like, oh, my gosh, they're clearly related. It was. Yeah. He's also just so good.

[Will Friedle]

And he commands the scene. Every second he steps in, you're like, oh, I can't look anywhere else.

[Ryder Strong]

I can't look anywhere else without being so aggressive or, like, you know, it's always funny. It's like, it's. You know, he's literally flipping you over, yelling, and yet you always like him.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

I was wondering, while it was going on, I was thinking, like, there's no Chet feeling with him, which is the sense of, like, why is this guy in and out, barely here to see his daughter, only here for the rotc, says he's here to see her, but then the minute he's done with the program is out.

[Ryder Strong]

You're right.

[Danielle Fishel]

But there's no, like, shame around it at all. It's just.

[Roy Panattoni]

I think it's because we know it's.

[Will Friedle]

For the military and we know it's for his job. So it's like with. With his character, you know, that if he could be with his daughter, he would.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Where Chet could have been with Sean and always chose not to be.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Also, they're older, you know, and we're talking about.

[Danielle Fishel]

She's in college.

[Ryder Strong]

Because when we first met Chet, Sean was only 14.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know.

[Ryder Strong]

You know, whatever. So we're talking. Yeah. It's a different story when she.

[Danielle Fishel]

Going back to what we were talking about before we started the recap. He's the one who initially left Sean, like, he's the one who was always off and gone. No, Verna left after dealing with Chet's nonsense for her entire marriage. Chet was the one who was in and out of his life all the time. Gone, you know, running another scheme.

[Ryder Strong]

Well, no, but when we. The episode we meet Chet was the episode Verna left and took the house. Right. That's an episode we met Chet. So her leaving was janitor dad.

[Danielle Fishel]

Janitor dad. He's.

[Ryder Strong]

That's when he comes back after he's gone looking for her. I believe the beginning of the chat storyline is he comes to the school for career day, and then while he's at school for career day, that's the microwave. You're welcome.

[Will Friedle]

That's the first time you meet him.

[Ryder Strong]

And then that day in the lunchroom, he comes in and says, your mom left and she took the trailer with her.

[Danielle Fishel]

You're right. Okay.

[Ryder Strong]

And then I'm gonna have to go get her. And then. So he leaves to chase Verna, but she's left.

[Will Friedle]

And then he stops. He watches a girl all girl band at his favorite place.

[Danielle Fishel]

Of course, the normal trajectory of Ch.

[Ryder Strong]

Gotcha.

[Danielle Fishel]

So Angela's dad jokingly asks if she's going to let him in or if he'll have to continue Standing on their human doormat, Sean admits, yeah, that about explains the relationship. No, it doesn't. You're not a human doormat in your relationship with her.

[Ryder Strong]

I don't understand that either.

[Danielle Fishel]

I mean, come on. Angela's dad finally asks, what are you? Sean calls himself boyfriend, but Angela clarifies it's ex boyfriend.

[Will Friedle]

Sean whines when he says, what are you? I wanted to say, you know, seventh season. I honestly don't know. I don't think they know anymore either. It's just kind of. It changes week by week.

[Ryder Strong]

Whatever we need for a joke, or.

[Will Friedle]

I'm just, you know, situation. Yeah, exactly.

[Danielle Fishel]

Sean whines to her dad. Do you see how she treats me? My girlfriend's father? The sergeant clarifies, My girlfriend's father, sir. Sean wonders why, and he sternly explains, because your girlfriend's father happens to be a master sergeant in the United States army who's here to recruit slackers like you to this university's ROTC program. Angela realizes he isn't in town to see her, and this mildly embarrasses the sergeant. Sean notes, welcome to the Angela doghouse, sir. Permission to get up? Sergeant Moore replies, permission denied, punk who broke my baby's heart. Corey tries to step in to explain that that's not the full truth, but Angela's dad just slams the door on the them. He asks through the door, did you just give me lip, boy? Shawn responds, wasn't me. That was Corey Matthews. Corey pipes in, how you doing, sir? But Shawn sees the writing on the wall and shouts, run. Just run. Angela insists she doesn't care about the reason for her dad's visit. She's just so happy to see him. The sergeant asks for the story behind the boy mat, and Angela explains, story's over. But her dad points out that he doesn't seem to know that. Angela pivots and introduces her roommates, Topanga and Rachel. The sergeant shakes their hands. You know the ROTC program is also for women.

[Will Friedle]

Angela tells them, did that Spike spike?

[Danielle Fishel]

Angela, Topangle and Rachel.

[Roy Panattoni]

And Rachel.

[Will Friedle]

Now we're starting to get all over because it's season seven. We have all the bloopers from season seven. I'm like, oh, that's topangle.

[Ryder Strong]

That's topangle. Yeah. It's so funny.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's exactly the way I heard it when she said it, even though she did not say it. In this take, I heard topangle and Rachel.

[Will Friedle]

Topangle and Rachel.

[Danielle Fishel]

Angela tells him to stop selling, which is a bummer because when you Think of the Army. You think of Topanga and Rachel. Rachel changes the subject. Is Mrs. Moore in the army, too? Topanga nudges her, but Rachel doesn't get the hint. Angela doesn't talk about her mom much, so she was just wondering. And she continues to ramble on. What does ROTC stand for anyway? Topanga jumps in. It stands for Rachel ought to chill. Rachel apologizes, and the sergeant reveals that he and Angela's mom are no longer together. Angela doesn't want to talk about it for Topanga's sake, since her parents are divorcing. Sergeant Moore gives his condolences, and Angela insists she's going to help her friend get over it, which seems like a bad thing to do. But who am I better help? However, Topanga likes the sentiment and confidently tells Angela, I'm going to help you get over Sean. Angela also puffs out her chest in response. I'm going to help you get over Corey. They jokingly bump chests and laugh. And then we're in the student union. Everyone is gathered for the ROTC assembly.

[Will Friedle]

Everyone in the college, all nine people.

[Danielle Fishel]

A real college must attend, apparently.

[Ryder Strong]

Did you look for the lobster at all?

[Will Friedle]

I did all episode. I haven't seen it. I think they pulled it. Wow. Like I haven't been able to find. It's not even hanging on the fridge in the apartment anymore.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, my God.

[Will Friedle]

So my guess is they someone in editing. Yeah. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Hmm. All our main characters are waiting patiently, but Eric is staring at Topanga with a fire in his eyes. She beat me up, Jack. Jack tells him to let it go, but Eric is focused. How can I let it go when it haunts my very thought?

[Will Friedle]

This is a fun episode.

[Danielle Fishel]

So fun. Man. Such a funny line. Yeah. He looks out into the distance and a thought bubble appears over his head. Replaying the highlights from their fight last episode, In a rare occurrence of Boy Meets World continuity, Eric declares Eric Matthews will not be beaten up by a woman. Not yet.

[Will Friedle]

Not yet.

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't understand that. But it is funny.

[Will Friedle]

He. He gets it in his head.

[Danielle Fishel]

Exactly. It makes sense.

[Will Friedle]

That's what it comes down with to.

[Ryder Strong]

With Eric.

[Will Friedle]

It's like, I understand what I'm saying.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, it makes sense to you. Jack begs him to get over it, but Eric refuses to do so until he gets his revenge. And he will get his revenge. Then Feeny calls for everyone's attention before introducing Angela's father, Master Sergeant Alvin Moore. Feeny proudly mentions that he served his country in the Navy. And Eric stands up and angrily declares, england doesn't have a navy, you liar. Feeny is rightfully confused. And Eric proudly sits back down.

[Will Friedle]

And there's no. It's such a non sequitur. It belongs nowhere. It's just standing up and saying something and then looking back, you said it. And sitting back down. Great. I love those.

[Danielle Fishel]

Corey and Sean are sitting next to each other. And like anyone watching, Corey doesn't understand why any of them are at this meeting in the first place. None of them are going to join the rotc. What could this guy possibly say that would interest us? On cue, the sergeant asks, anybody here unhappy with the way their life is going? And every single person in the audience raises their hands, Even Feeny.

[Ryder Strong]

Strange little end to the scene. I was like, I know. Where's this going? What is this? You know? But I guess it's just we got to get the information about. About Eric, get all the characters in a room together. But I don't know.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, I do think that the point of it was how do you convince anyone who doesn't already know they're interested in going to the Army? How do you convince them that the army might be for them? And so if somebody's opening line is about being discontent, and you go, oh, that's me. And you realize now all these people think, this is for me, maybe this is for me. And so I think it's kind of just to show, like.

[Ryder Strong]

And I guess to set up that Sean, yeah, we'll join the army, you know, actually have a reason, not just do it because of wanting Angela back.

[Danielle Fishel]

Exactly.

[Ryder Strong]

Which, I mean, I wish that could have been expanded a little bit more because, you know, not a bad idea for Sean.

[Will Friedle]

All I was thinking the entire episode is the. The military might be an amazing way for Sean to take his life.

[Roy Panattoni]

Yes.

[Ryder Strong]

And he says. He. He says it, you know, like Corey. And it's like, yeah, it's actually a pretty good argument. But I kind of, you know, it obviously just gets the rug pulled out from underneath it.

[Danielle Fishel]

And it would have been great if Sean had his own Yale situation where Angela says, I love you, and he says, I'm not going because I want to stay with you. Or, you know something, if you sign.

[Roy Panattoni]

The paperwork, you're going.

[Will Friedle]

So that was the other problem with.

[Danielle Fishel]

You can't change your mind.

[Roy Panattoni]

I don't know.

[Will Friedle]

I mean, there must be some kind of. I would imagine. But I think it's.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, I think you can break your contract. You just have to pay for. Pay your way out of it.

[Will Friedle]

I think maybe. I don't know. I honestly don't know what it is, but I think once you sign up, you're kind of.

[Ryder Strong]

You're going, yeah, most part they kidnap you.

[Roy Panattoni]

I don't think they kidnap you, but.

[Danielle Fishel]

I also take you out of your bed.

[Will Friedle]

It's a deal. Like, I'm. I'm making a deal with you.

[Ryder Strong]

I mean, yeah, you're a deserter if you actually leave the military.

[Danielle Fishel]

Well, yeah.

[Will Friedle]

Awol. That's bad.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's very bad.

[Ryder Strong]

It's very bad.

[Danielle Fishel]

Very bad. Very, very bad. Then we're in the university gym. Master Sergeant Moore, dressed in his combat uniform, jogs in with Sean keeping up right behind him. The sergeant chants, I don't know what I've been told. And a sweaty Sean repeats after him. Then the sergeant realizes, that's the Deedee's necklace.

[Ryder Strong]

Just, like, hide in my face. Why get into your shirt? The lobster's not there. But I represented her with the. It's like, just tuck it in, dude.

[Danielle Fishel]

Just tuck it in, tuck it in. Then the sergeant realizes no one else is with him. Where the hell is everybody? Sean jogs in place and chants again, where the hell is everybody? Angela's dad tells him to stop it. So Sean melodically repeats, stop it. Stop it. The sergeant gets up in Sean's face. You trying to be cute with me, boy? Sean ponders the question for a moment.

[Ryder Strong]

Maybe when this episode started, I was like, what's wrong with my voice? Like, it sounded like my voice was strained. And then I realized, like, oh, it's because I'm yelling in this scene. And then I'm yelling in the push up in the doorway. Yeah, this push up scene. But then also in the first scene I was yelling. So I think throughout the, like these two days of like, you know, pre tape and tape day, like, so I like, was losing my voice because I.

[Will Friedle]

Could hear vocal cord.

[Danielle Fishel]

You also had all that rehearsal and run through. So it's probably.

[Ryder Strong]

And I always overdo it with my voice. Like, I blow up my voice constantly, especially back then. Like, I just never thought about it.

[Danielle Fishel]

Got that little raspy voice so bad. Then the rest of the ROTC recruits, led by Corey, come waltzing in carrying food. Ben taking a giant bite of something right before he talks and then laughing his way through it.

[Will Friedle]

Did you watch Ryder? If you see Ryder, the side of Ryder's face, he. I'm losing. Losing it as Ben is, because he watched. Hey, what's going on?

[Ryder Strong]

So Benny, he comes to. Comes to life when he has like, story pressure taken off of him.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes, you Know what I mean?

[Ryder Strong]

When it's like, hey, you don't have to carry this whole show. You don't have to convince anybody of the intensity of your emotion. You could just be funny. He is the funniest human being. Like, he's the best.

[Roy Panattoni]

He's the best.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh my God, I was dying.

[Will Friedle]

Phenomenally good.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's so hysterical. Corey explains. We went to burgers and such. They brought him a burger. A f. They. A burger, a fish fillet and a finger puppet. On cue, a little army puppet appears on the sergeant's shoulder. A high pitched Eric voice is the character. I'm the sergeant of the whole army. Look at you. Sergeant Moore grabs Eric's finger and twists it. Eric shouts in protest and falls to the ground. We cut to later in the gym. All the boys are passed out on various machines. Eric is asleep in a garbage can holding a white flower.

[Ryder Strong]

So like, do you think that was just you?

[Will Friedle]

Like, no, that had to have been in the. My guess is that's in the. Because they mention it. Yeah, like he sees, like he's even. You got one of your. One of your friends is even surrendering.

[Ryder Strong]

In a garbage can.

[Will Friedle]

Like, yeah, yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

No, I mean, they must have had something for your butt to be resting on because, like, there's no way that was comfortable to be in for this episode.

[Ryder Strong]

That's what I mean. All of comedy and I have watch what it is. I'm watching this episode and the whole time I'm just like Jeff and Will killing it. Like, how do you make sitting in a garbage can work? Okay, you figure it out physically, you have to do it. How do you make a walking tree funny? How do you make a, you know, get in that glass display case? Like, that's like crazy to make that work. And you guys made it work so well. It's so much fun this week. And for me, the key to his directing is the sound design. The way he uses the like, boom. And the change in the music tone every time the scene needs to be. Whether you're like looking at Topango or not, that's brilliant. And that's not in the script. Like, that doesn't. You can't. You know, that's a director having to know, like, okay, the only way this is going to be funny is if we tell the audience it's over dramatic with the music, like, tune. Or like when you're in the display case, like, okay, that's kind of funny. But when you make the choice to put your nose like Hannibal Lecter, like you're just suddenly a psychopath. And it's way funnier. It's like 10 times funnier than it would have been if you were just there. Right. It's like just a small thing like that and it suddenly. It takes it over the edge, man. It's so good.

[Will Friedle]

This is why I remember loving season seven so much, is because I just got to do this stuff. Yeah. The whole season. I just get to play all season long.

[Ryder Strong]

You're literally just walking into a scene, have a ridiculous situation. You're like, how do I make this as funny as possible?

[Will Friedle]

Cannot go big enough in season seven, Eric. Which is.

[Ryder Strong]

Which is great.

[Will Friedle]

It's like, never once did I get to know, yeah, maybe you need to.

[Roy Panattoni]

Pull that back a little.

[Will Friedle]

Like that never happened. And that's the. That was why I remember going back at season seven. Like, I don't remember the episodes. I remember the beats. And the beats are so fun.

[Ryder Strong]

So fun that.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, it was. Oh, it was great.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right? But Shawn is still at it, doing push ups as the sergeant shouts at him, what are you trying to prove, Hunter? You're the one who dropped my daughter. Why are you working so hard to impress me? Why don't you impress your own father? Shawn shouts back, my father's dead, sir. The sergeant tells him to impress his mother. Then Sean yells back, my mother's gone too, sir. Sean explains that she abandoned them.

[Ryder Strong]

I just remembered. I completely forgotten about this. But I remember we were doing this scene and, you know, I had to do push ups. Like, I had to keep doing pushups. I remember, you know, just. Cause I hadn't even thought about it. You just, as an actor, you just do it and doing rehearsals and stuff. But then it was like on tape night when we were on like take three or whatever, you know, it was like. And I remember Michael coming over and, you know, at first being like, you know, this is a great. This is the best thing you can do for your body. Like, push ups are really, you know, he's like, I do push ups all the time. I can do a lot of pushups. And like, I remember me, and I feel like it was Matt Lawrence, but I don't even think he's in the scene. But I remember us being really. And he's like, you know, he's like, yeah, is this getting hard for you? Because, you know, push ups are. Push ups are easy. And so he kept doing this bit where he's like, I'll do. I'll do more push ups than you in a row right now. And I'D be like, oh, okay. And then the bell would ring and we'd have to go to do another thing. So he kept doing it throughout the night. He'd be like, okay, now I'll do it. Let's clear the floor. I'm gonna do. Oh, oh, we gotta go. He kept the bit going, like, take it. But he kept feeling like, no, I'll do it. It was a good bit, cuz, you know, it made me laugh and I was tired. Like, I had to keep doing pushups.

[Danielle Fishel]

You probably did 50 push ups.

[Ryder Strong]

So he just kept coming in and be like, you can't do this. I could do this right now. I'll do it right now. And then he'd be like, oh, wait, we gotta go. It was really good. Totally made me laugh. So funny. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Shawn explains that she abandoned them two times. Now a bit taken aback, Sergeant Moore commands Shawn to stop doing push ups so they can talk. Sean admits that his mother leaving really tore his father up and they never really recovered. In fact, he hasn't trusted a relationship since then. Until Angela. The sergeant breaks it to him. She doesn't seem to like you, son.

[Signature Hardware Announcer]

So good.

[Danielle Fishel]

The way he delivers it is perfect. I feel bad, but she doesn't like you. But Shawn argues, oh, she loves me, sir. Then we hear Angela. She's been standing at the gym door. Her dad forgot about their dinner. Dinner. The sergeant admits he didn't think any of these young men could last this long. Shawn returns to his push ups and shouts, hi, Angela. Angela stomps over and kicks him to the ground.

[Ryder Strong]

You're right. There is a low key, real storyline about him neglecting his daughter.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes.

[Ryder Strong]

Like it's there. Like he.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's totally show up for dinner.

[Ryder Strong]

He only cares about his work. He's leaving again.

[Danielle Fishel]

The minute it's over, the minute he's like, all right, all of you guys dropped out. I'm out of here. Angela, he doesn't like military life.

[Ryder Strong]

Military life. I know, but he isn't. And he's not judged for that at all.

[Will Friedle]

No.

[Ryder Strong]

Like, that's not part of her problem.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's not part of her problem at all.

[Ryder Strong]

Her problem is the mom walking out.

[Danielle Fishel]

Right.

[Will Friedle]

Well, you have to imagine, again, going to the backstory. You'd have to imagine she went with her dad from base to base to base. They moved everywhere together.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

So it was like that kind of.

[Ryder Strong]

Thing here for at least.

[Will Friedle]

And then she came.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

I mean, that's the thing.

[Roy Panattoni]

Do we ever know who she lives with in Philadelphia? We never find that out, do we?

[Will Friedle]

We.

[Ryder Strong]

Well, she now lives. She lives in the apartment, you're saying. No, no, I meant back when we.

[Roy Panattoni]

First met her in high school.

[Will Friedle]

No, I don't think we saw her bedroom once.

[Roy Panattoni]

Didn't we?

[Ryder Strong]

No, I don't think we saw.

[Danielle Fishel]

No, not until we were in college.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. Dorm room.

[Danielle Fishel]

The dorm room with Topanga. Never where she was.

[Roy Panattoni]

I'm sure we never.

[Ryder Strong]

Once.

[Will Friedle]

I think one time we saw Angela's.

[Danielle Fishel]

No, in the first episode where we meet her. The purse episode. All that, where we're still in the high school. There's never a house moment for her.

[Roy Panattoni]

What about prom? Where are they picked up for prom?

[Ryder Strong]

A house or Topanga's house.

[Will Friedle]

Is it okay?

[Yamava Resort and Casino Announcer]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Because the kid shows up. Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

At Topanga's house.

[Will Friedle]

Technically, three seasons and we literally know nothing about her character. You don't know anything about her home life at all. Even who her parents are, what they were. Nothing. Until now. That's pretty amazing for a regular on a show for three seasons.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes.

[Will Friedle]

Wow.

[Danielle Fishel]

She points a finger in his face and sternly explains. You can't get to me through him.

[Ryder Strong]

Him.

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't care. If you impress my father and he ends up liking you, it doesn't change how I feel.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. Pretty good. Pretty good logic there.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay.

[Roy Panattoni]

Gaslighting is love.

[Ryder Strong]

Sean says, do you see that flicker? That's love. The flicker of the lights is love.

[Will Friedle]

So love.

[Ryder Strong]

Gaslighting is love is maybe my favorite line. That is merch. Put it on a mug. No, no, honey. Gaslighting is love. Gaslighting is love. That's when you know you really love somebody. Is when you're gaslighting them the hardest.

[Will Friedle]

Exactly.

[Ryder Strong]

Most people don't gaslight hard enough. You gotta get in there and gaslight them.

[Will Friedle]

You only gaslit me to like you. Not enough. Not enough to love you.

[Danielle Fishel]

Gaslight. Love bomb me.

[Ryder Strong]

Gaslight.

[Danielle Fishel]

Sean says he knows how she feels. And her dad chimes in. He says that you love him. Angela shakes her head. Well, I don't.

[Roy Panattoni]

Seems pretty definitive.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes. Shawn is shocked, and Angela holds nothing back. I don't love you.

[Ryder Strong]

I mean, my God, dude, actually say.

[Will Friedle]

It out loud, yo.

[Ryder Strong]

Not only in this scene. The neck in the kitchen, in the apartment later, like, she's looking somebody in the eyes and saying, I don't love you. I don't want to be in a relationship with you. And, like, nobody respects it.

[Danielle Fishel]

To be fair, I want to point out that when she says the I don't love you part, it is delivered in a way A nuanced way where you can tell there's more under it. Sure.

[Will Friedle]

She says, so I'm sorry, Danielle. I want to make sure I have this right. No doesn't always mean no.

[Ryder Strong]

Is that.

[Will Friedle]

Is that what I'm getting from you, Danielle?

[Danielle Fishel]

Not what I'm saying. I just. When I read it, I'm not. I'm not performing the way Trina can do. And there was sometimes.

[Ryder Strong]

I love you, so her eyes were.

[Will Friedle]

Saying yes, is what Danielle is saying.

[Ryder Strong]

An episode of Pot Meets World.

[Danielle Fishel]

Okay, she says, I don't love you. The sergeant admits, I am extremely uncomfortable.

[Will Friedle]

That was another one of my favorite. He's just standing there, staring straight out. I am uncomfortable.

[Danielle Fishel]

But the conversation continues nonetheless. Shawn says he knows Angela loves him. He just doesn't know why. She stops herself. Angela repeats herself. I don't love you. I can't love you. Shawn asks, why not? And she just storms off. On her way out, she pushes Eric's trash can to the ground, placing his feet on the ground. And you look like you're in an even more uncomfortable position.

[Ryder Strong]

Do you remember how fun it was.

[Will Friedle]

To be in a scene with blocking where you didn't have to do anything?

[Danielle Fishel]

Pretend to sleep?

[Will Friedle]

Yes. Get in a bed. Sit in a chair the whole time. Sit in a trash can. Like, you get to sit here for the whole thing.

[Ryder Strong]

For rehearsal. You got to laugh. You got to be like, no responsibility. It was awesome, right? That is like, the greatest, greatest feeling in the world.

[Will Friedle]

So fun.

[Ryder Strong]

I remember that.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. The sergeant runs after her as Sean just watches on in shock.

[Ryder Strong]

I mean, especially with Ben, because Ben would be trying to make you laugh or, like, goofing off or, like, having, like, little side inside jokes about the scene that you were. That you were watching. Oh, my God.

[Will Friedle]

So much fun.

[Ryder Strong]

So much fun.

[Danielle Fishel]

Corey, Tango, Rachel and Jack are studying when Eric's head pops up from behind the couch. He's still creeping on Topanga, plotting revenge as eerie music plays in the background. Ground. Jack is disturbed. They should lock him up. Topanga gets up to grab a coffee and passes by a table of what appears to be. No, I'm not grabbing a coffee. I'm getting a muffin.

[Will Friedle]

You weren't getting a muffin.

[Danielle Fishel]

I was getting a muffin.

[Roy Panattoni]

You were.

[Danielle Fishel]

Topanga gets it. I thought so, too. With some crumble on top, perhaps.

[Will Friedle]

I saw that as well.

[Danielle Fishel]

Topanga.

[Ryder Strong]

Not a mini panettone. Nope.

[Will Friedle]

Nope. Oh, God.

[Roy Panattoni]

Do they make.

[Danielle Fishel]

That's what they should do. Like mini cupcakes.

[Will Friedle]

You only have to throw out a small that's great.

[Ryder Strong]

That would make sense to me because.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, I don't want.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, I had.

[Danielle Fishel]

I had to Google how to cut it. Did you have to Google how to cut it?

[Will Friedle]

Me?

[Mornings Upgraded Announcer]

No.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. Any of you. It's this giant odd. It was, like, shaped like a chef's hat. And so I was like, well, what part am I supposed to eat?

[Ryder Strong]

Slice. You take your shirt and pants off.

[Will Friedle]

You rub it on yourself, and you.

[Ryder Strong]

Shove it in your face.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, my gosh.

[Ryder Strong]

We just got more. More info on the left play. You put on Sounds of the Jungle. You rub it all over yourself.

[Will Friedle]

Oh, yes. I still have to wash my loincloth. It's awesome.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, my gosh.

[Ryder Strong]

Look at this. Panettone in the jungle.

[Will Friedle]

Who doesn't, is the question.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh.

[Danielle Fishel]

Topanga gets up to grab a muffin and passes by a table of what appears to be three girls. But one of the ladies slowly lifts her head and it's Eric.

[Roy Panattoni]

Now, either they stuffed my bra or.

[Will Friedle]

My cleavage is this. It's one or two of those things.

[Danielle Fishel]

Because you. You've always said you have pretty good cleavage.

[Roy Panattoni]

I have great cleavage, but, man, I.

[Danielle Fishel]

Think they put you in a bra and maybe added some. Some oomph.

[Ryder Strong]

God, this is funny, though. And this is where the sound design sells everything. Like, every time, like, the spy music is down. Oh, my God.

[Danielle Fishel]

So funny. And your eyebrow. How you are just.

[Ryder Strong]

I'm impressed that the. The background actors that you're working with could keep it together because, like, at one point, you're like, look over her shoulder. Like you're looking at something with her. I'm like, how did these. They kept it. It's so funny. So much fun.

[Danielle Fishel]

You were wearing a summer bonnet and floral dress. Topanga senses something is wrong, and the eerie music plays again. This disturbing version of Eric stares at her with a devilish grin. And every time Topanga turns her head to look at him, he's able to avoid detection. Jack and Rachel watch on in horror, and Topanga is now paranoid. Just then, Sean walks in wearing an army uniform and explains, I joined the army. Cory can't believe this. And Angela isn't impressed. Did you do this for me? When he can't answer, she disappointingly pushes past him. As she leaves, her dad enters, and she's angry with him, too. Corey tries to snap some sense back into his best friend. Okay, the plan backfired. Can you take off the uniform now? Now. Sean shrugs. Look, I don't have Angela anymore. I don't have a family at all. I've Got nothing really. This is the best thing for me. We get a little army horn and an intense commercial break.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. All our music was military inflicted this week. The little. You know. You know it's a military song. When you hear that drum roll, like the snare drum roll, like the Civil War backgrounds music. It's such a great.

[Will Friedle]

Cue that Civil War voice coming, like. And it was the Battle of the Student Union.

[Ryder Strong]

Little penny whistle. No, I mean, it's something that. Because I think I've talked about it before, like Indy and I play a game where we put on movie scores and then we try and describe. We try and guess if we can know the movie on random. On like Spotify or if we don't know it, we try and guess, like, what type of movie it is just based on how the music is being used. And without failing, you know, it's a military movie when you have that sound. And I'll be like, oh, no, no, this is about the military. And they'll turn out to be the Dirty Dozen soundtrack or whatever it is. And Indy's always like, how do you know? And I'm like, is that drum.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's the key.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, yeah. It plays the Captain America, you know, whenever there's like a slight military edge to a score, it's gotta. Have you seen the.

[Will Friedle]

Is it the meme or whatever where they just. They re cut the end of every movie? Because they say every movie is better if it ends with Born to Run.

[Ryder Strong]

So it's like it doesn't really believe they're cutting together all these movies.

[Will Friedle]

Like the end of Nightmare on Elm street and all this stuff where it just end. I was born with Broken Heroes.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, my God.

[Will Friedle]

Really funny.

[Ryder Strong]

No.

[Danielle Fishel]

Staying in the student union, Corey tells Sean, you're my best friend, so I'm going to support you. Now if you want me to join, I will sign up and go where you're going and fight right beside you. You and me, Corey and Sean. Let's go. Let's get on the tank.

[Ryder Strong]

Yes.

[Will Friedle]

But then anytime Topanga wants to do something, he. He has to tell her why she's wrong. Sean goes to do something crazy. He's like, you got to. I'm with you.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. It's so funny. You're right.

[Ryder Strong]

It's like, oh, my God, you're making.

[Will Friedle]

A horrible life choice decision right now. I'm with you.

[Ryder Strong]

We'll do it together. We'll do it together. Here's why you're wrong. Like, you can't possibly do this. Wow.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

That is a Crazy worldview difference.

[Danielle Fishel]

He is willing to give it all up for Sean instantly. Instantly.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

But then he quickly backtracks. Please don't make me go. Because the noises, they scare me so much. Sean says he doesn't have to join. But Corey tries to save face. Are you sure? Because I am a fighting machine. Sean shrugs. Well, on second thought. And Corey quickly begs.

[Will Friedle]

No, I don't want to go.

[Ryder Strong]

So good.

[Danielle Fishel]

So good. So funny. Sergeant Moore announces, I have received the following resignations from the ROTC class. Let me see if I got this right. Right. He pulls out a slip of paper and reads everybody. A few of the boys cheer, and Sergeant Moore continues. I hope some of you learned a little something from the chorus. Eric hops up on the pool table and puts the Sheridan in a chokehold. Sneak attack. Without flinching, he flips Eric onto the ground.

[Will Friedle]

So this was not in the script. And I remember going like, I was talking to Julius and I've talked to him about Last Dragon all week. Like, I just. He must have been so sick of me. I wanted everything.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh my gosh.

[Roy Panattoni]

So annoyed.

[Ryder Strong]

The memory of Boy Meets World. How do I get this kid away from it?

[Danielle Fishel]

Get off my back, sir.

[Will Friedle]

And he couldn't have been nicer about it. And I remember, like, looking at him like, I want you to flip me over. Because it's a martial arts movie. So I was like, I want him to do a martial arts movie. And I went to. To McCracken. I was like, I want him to flip me.

[Roy Panattoni]

And Jeff's like, all right, we can work it out.

[Will Friedle]

I was like. And I was like, I'm doing it. I'm doing it.

[Roy Panattoni]

And he's like, like, okay, calm down.

[Ryder Strong]

You can do it.

[Roy Panattoni]

We'll figure out how to do it.

[Will Friedle]

Cuz I was so excited about doing it.

[Ryder Strong]

I was like, I'm doing it, Jeff.

[Roy Panattoni]

He's like, all right.

[Ryder Strong]

And we do it. Didn't have like a stunt person on set, right? Like, I don't remember that at all. Gosh, that's crazy.

[Will Friedle]

Put a big mat down. And we just kept on.

[Ryder Strong]

Girl Meet World. At Disney, we would always have stunt people, like, for anything. If anybody's feet left the ground for more than a step, it was like we had to have a. But. But I don't remember it ever on. So they just put a mat down for you and put a mat down.

[Will Friedle]

And flip me up.

[Roy Panattoni]

Well, because he was a mar.

[Will Friedle]

He was actually a martial artist. Yeah, of course. We just did it all week. And I remember thinking to myself, show.

[Ryder Strong]

Enough slipping me over show. Enough slipping.

[Will Friedle]

It was the coolest thing.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, so do you get Whenever we had a wrestler on our show, you're the one that got gets flung around.

[Will Friedle]

I'll take it every time. I love it.

[Roy Panattoni]

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. 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.

[Yamava Resort and Casino Announcer]

One briefcase, one moment could change everything Yamava Resort and Casino at San Manuel is giving you a chance to own your destiny in 2026. Play throughout the month of January and on January 28, one Club Serrano member will win the case and with it a finale spot in any 2026 promotion, plus $400,000. Which Destiny will you choose? It's all happening at Yamaba Resort and casino, celebrating its 40th anniversary. You in [e-mail] must be 21 to exit. Please gamble responsibly.

[Signature Hardware Announcer]

It's the hook you hang your robe on every morning. The vanity that gives everything a place. The faucet that fills your pot right on the stove. The air tub that pauses time itself when style meets function in every corner. That's the look of a space designed right. Finish your home with beauty in every [e-mail] Signature Hardware create your signature style.

[Mornings Upgraded Announcer]

Some mornings feel like a marathon before your feet ever hit the floor. Which is why the little wins matter. Guessing your password on the first try.

[Danielle Fishel]

Win.

[Mornings Upgraded Announcer]

All green lights on the way to work. Win. Finding your car keys in the first place. You look miracle win. And breakfast? It's got little wins of its own, like grabbing the new Oicos protein shake and getting 30 grams of complete protein without even trying. We call that a big little win. Or pouring silk almond milk for five essential nutrients and giving giving your cereal a little extra goodness. That's a sweet win. Give your coffee A swirl of international delight for a delicious mood booster. And let Activia yogurt handle gut business with billions of probiotics. Win and win. And right now, another one get $5 when you spend $10 or more on participating. Breakfast favorites. Win, win, win. Get more [e-mail] mornings upgraded.

[Danielle Fishel]

Eric eventually pops back up and whispers, I learned how to sneak attack. Before the sergeant can respond, Eric continues, I learned that when a girl beats you up, I'm not gonna use any names. Oh, pangate. That's code. Shh. I learned that you never tell that girl exactly when you're gonna sneak attack her. He quickly disobeys his own rule and shouts at the nearby Topanga, I'm gonna get you tomorrow at 3:00'. Clock. I'm gonna sneak attack you. The sergeant's in disbelief. Matthews, you are a disgrace to this university, this country, and humanity in general. Eric can't help but laugh.

[Roy Panattoni]

Wow.

[Danielle Fishel]

The sergeant commands he drop and give him 20. Eric reluctantly falls to the floor and hands him a $20 bill. You better pay me back Jack's eyes. I'm telling you. A padded cell so he can't hurt himself. Sergeant Moore then approaches Mr. Feeny and Corey, who are seated nearby, and asks Corey where his friend is, which Was anyone else bumped by the fact that you were just previously in this scene.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah.

[Roy Panattoni]

And then right.

[Danielle Fishel]

You left. Yeah. You. Sean leaves, but we don't see him leave. He's just gone. We go to Eric, who has that whole moment and then it's because Will.

[Ryder Strong]

Wanted to be flipped so they had to write a whole awkward scene. Yeah, yeah. It's like a weird little interlude of the B storyline into the A storyline that really should have been separate scenes, I guess. But actually it didn't bump me, honestly, like I, you know, it's all.

[Will Friedle]

I didn't even notice it, to be honest with you. But now.

[Ryder Strong]

But now you point it out. It's like, yeah, why did Corey and walk away from Sean and Sean walk away from.

[Danielle Fishel]

He had. You were there. And so when he was like, where's Shawn? The of was like, he. He was right there by the couch. So now I'm like, so where is. Where actually is he? So that was. That bumped me a little bit. But when.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah. And by this scene, like once, once Mr. Feeny was weighing in on what Angela wants or does not want. I was like, my God, people. Your teacher, your dad, your ex boyfriend, your ex boyfriend's friend.

[Danielle Fishel]

Not even any girlfriends.

[Ryder Strong]

They're going to form a council and they're going to decide what's what, you know, and what's good for you and what's bad for you. And, and it's like, Jesus, like, is she not part of any of the.

[Danielle Fishel]

There's also something to be said for the idea that like we were talking about with this being right or where you were talking about. At least for Angela's storyline, the thematic elements are a reveal. It wouldn't probably bother us as much if the reveal now coming from the dad is totally fine. But like, it seems as though Topanga knows the story about Angela's mom. He's thinking the same thing because she's saying to Rachel the minute she brings up the mom, don't talk about. And you mean. So Topanga knows because Angela's probably shared that with her friend.

[Will Friedle]

Yep.

[Danielle Fishel]

And so I can also understand why they wouldn't want Topanga revealing that to Sean, because then you've just kind of betrayed your friend if you're, you know, you've kind of. But I don't know, it just feels like at some point going to your, your ex girlfriend's friend to talk about how you're feeling and why, and it's really bought because you. Maybe, maybe I'm wrong. I thought she loved me, but maybe I'm wrong. And for Topanga to say, you know, you, you should try to talk to her more. There's something else going on for it to, you know, I don't know, there. There's just something more there. And none of the women are acknowledged.

[Will Friedle]

In their women's life, in their own lives. Yes.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

No, I mean, it's a joke in the, in the apartment scene, right? Like we're gonna have. We don't need the men. It's just the three of us. And then they cave, like immediately. Cause.

[Danielle Fishel]

Ha ha. Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Dismissed.

[Danielle Fishel]

Corey reveals that Shawn needed some time alone, since he has a lot on his mind. The sergeant assumes Angela and Shawn have a volatile relationship. And Corey admits they don't really have a relationship anymore. Sergeant Moore asks why and Corey flips a switch to full angry mode. I'll tell you why. It's because of that Topanga. Just at the sound of her name, Eric approaches, now wearing a full blown tree costume.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh my God.

[Danielle Fishel]

The eerie music plays and he assures them not to worry about Topanga covering his face with a branch. Unfazed, Corey continues. She's nuts about me, sir. But ever since her parents split up, she's been. How can I put this gently? A horror. And for some reason, Angela is playing right into it. Sergeant Moore looks to Feeny. It's hard to come in the middle of the game and understand anything, isn't it? Feeny sighs. Trust me, it's worse when you're here all the time. The sergeant wants to know more about Shawn, and Feeny explains. I've seen Shawn overcome every obstacle that life has thrown at him and grow up to be one of the finest young men that I know know. Corey butts in what about Me? Tell him how much you like me.

[Ryder Strong]

Favorite line in the whole episode. Because he's so excited. He's just like, I would outdo me. Which also I was kind of like, yeah, he doesn't do Corey. Like, it's so funny because I was thinking about the. The scene at Feeny's cabin, you know, it was like, all about how Feeny loves and appreciates Shawn. Does he ever get to do this for Corey? Does Feeny ever give a speech?

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, Feeny doesn't feel like he has to because, of course he's good. He comes from a perfect family, perfectly quote unquote, normal family that's still together. So, of course he's a fine young man. It's only those in other circumstances who could ever. Who could ever go off the, you know, straight?

[Ryder Strong]

I just feel like I've seen Feeny be heartfelt about Eric. Yeah, I've seen him be heartfelt about Sean. But is he ever like, I guess to Corey, it's an interesting tension. In some ways. It would probably never feel right for him to give that lecture because that's the whole tension of the show. Right? Like Boy Meets World first episode. Yes, it's like, about Mr. Feeny not going to say I love you to.

[Danielle Fishel]

Cory or why is it emotional? As emotional as it is. So I'm actually glad they don't. Yeah. Feeny ignores him entirely and focuses on how sensitive and caring Shawn is. Feeny adds that he's never seen Shawn as happy as he is when he's in the company of Angela. And he always thought Angela felt the same way. Corey adds, until she ran away. And do you know why she ran away? The sergeant nods. Yeah, I think I do. Undeterred, Corey shouts, topanga, she's poison. But don't hate her, sir. She's my problem. I love her so much, but poison she is.

[Will Friedle]

Great.

[Danielle Fishel]

Then an angry Topanga approaches, but doesn't acknowledge his words. Instead, she grabs something from the coffee counter and leaves. Then the creepy music starts back up and we see Eric lying in the display case with his Nose pressed into the glass like Hannibal Lecter.

[Ryder Strong]

So good.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's so funny. Feeny offers some advice to the sergeant. Under no circumstances, however, let your daughter go anywhere near him. And then we're in Feeny's classroom, it's almost 3pm and we see the famous American Gothic painting hanging under the clock. Jack enters and when he passes the painting, we now notice that Eric has replaced the old farmer. Identically dressed, wearing a bald cap.

[Will Friedle]

I love the good bald cap.

[Ryder Strong]

Okay, so how did this work exactly? My brain was trying to figure out the three dimensionality and I couldn't like.

[Will Friedle]

I mean if I remember correctly, it was just a built out box with the background painting with you know, a standee of the. The wife next to me. So she's not.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, so she's, she's like, she's flat against the wall, isn't she?

[Will Friedle]

No, no, no. She was like a cutout right next to me.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

That. So I could climb back there and.

[Danielle Fishel]

Then there was a frame around.

[Will Friedle]

Everything was all. That was all ad lib.

[Ryder Strong]

Okay. Because the like what I was trying to figure out is that the way the, the depth worked, they actually the paint, the painting has to continue on the wall, moving in in the z axis. Does that make sense? So like.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

So it's like the paint. Yeah. So it like creates a fake flat effect. Correct. But then the frame also has to go in front of your legs, doesn't it?

[Will Friedle]

It was. And then there was a step up. So you see me like take a step up and then.

[Ryder Strong]

Gotcha. Okay.

[Will Friedle]

So yeah, so it was, I would step into it and then it was, you know, the frame.

[Ryder Strong]

Such a cool visual effect.

[Will Friedle]

It was great. It worked great. Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

How.

[Danielle Fishel]

What do you remember about the bald cap? And is. Do we care at all, Eric? Was there any logic to Eric having.

[Will Friedle]

A bald gap or having built this thing out? I mean apparently he rebuilt this painting but instantaneously after passing the actual painting.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

So exactly.

[Roy Panattoni]

You're right.

[Will Friedle]

It was great.

[Danielle Fishel]

Unless we're supposed to believe that the time we saw it just before it was also you. You know what I mean?

[Ryder Strong]

American Gothics just hanging in Feeney's class classroom for the first time ever. I mean think about the steps it takes to visualize this joke and then try and rationalize it and yet gets it pulls by the point of, of.

[Will Friedle]

Walking around as a tree and all that stuff that now you'll buy everything. Yeah, you'll just buy whatever we do. And it's, and it works because it's so Absurd. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Either way. The creepy music plays as Jack notices his roomie. He pleads with Eric. I begged you. I begged you to seek out. Eric lets out an evil giggle. Oh, this is gonna be so sweet. Bye, bye, Topanga. But Jack is insouled. Topanga is too smart for you. Anyone is. Eric demands he stays out of it. It's a one man mission. But then he quickly breaks character and begs for help. Jack says no and walks away alone. Once again, Eric is determined to do this himself. He then turns to the painted woman by his side. You have a very large head.

[Will Friedle]

This is all ad libbed so good.

[Danielle Fishel]

You have a very large head.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh my God.

[Will Friedle]

I don't know why I married you.

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't know why I married you. He then flinches like the woman has slapped his butt or benched him just in time. A very stressed Feeny walks in and instructs the class to open their books and read quietly. Uncle Feeny has had a trying day already. And I want uncle finish first time he's ever really.

[Ryder Strong]

I kind of like, like grumpy. Not ready to teach. Just having a bad day for you. We never, never get to see.

[Will Friedle]

There's bourbon in his coffee cup. Exactly.

[Danielle Fishel]

I love it. I want 40 minutes of tranquility starting now. And then right when Topanga enters, Eric jumps out of the painting screaming a kung fu grunt and missing Topanga by inches. What are you planting?

[Will Friedle]

Yaksai. And I don't even know where that came from.

[Ryder Strong]

I thought maybe it was a right because all your like sounds are often referential. So I was waiting for it to be like, oh, that's for me, you know, that's what? Sure enough says, no, this is just a noise.

[Danielle Fishel]

Face plants onto the floor. He is not moving. Feeny clutches his heart in response. I quit. I just do.

[Ryder Strong]

I just do.

[Danielle Fishel]

Then we're back at the girl's apartment. Rachel is impressed with their newly redecorated apartment. Topanga declares it finally feels like their place. Angela agrees and they relish in an all female apartment. This moment of girl power is disrupted by the buzz of their front door. Door. Angela opens it and is startled by her dad and Shawn. They are both dressed in army uniforms. Angela's dad says he asked Shawn to come with him to say goodbye and check that she's doing all right. Angela confidently tells her dad that she's doing better than all right. She's in her new apartment with her friends, looking forward to the next part of her life. Topanga nods. That's right, Sergeant Moore. Rachel adds three women together. In response, the drill sergeant shouts dismissed. And Topanga and Rachel quickly. Angela isn't moved, calling her dad impressionable by allowing Shawn to suck up to him. But Sergeant Moore tells her that Shawn's priority was to impress Angela, not him. In fact, the sergeant says he likes Shawn, which makes Angela even madder. She condescendingly wishes them good luck in the army together. But then Shawn breaks the news he won't be joining after all. Angela asks why, and the sergeant explains, because I like him. That I like my country more and I don't want this boy anywhere near the army, which doesn't make any sense considering how hard you just worked.

[Will Friedle]

And he's also perfect for the army. Yes, exactly what they're looking for. Smart, usually driven. Yeah, somebody who wants to do better in their life. It's like Sean is perfect for them.

[Ryder Strong]

Could. Could use some discipline, could use some structure, could use the life skills that he'd get from this experience.

[Will Friedle]

Obviously physically fit, as he just did 75 push ups in front of him. Like, yeah, he's perfect for the military, but nope.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know. Yeah, they had to. They had to come up with some reason.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah.

[Roy Panattoni]

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. 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.

[Yamava Resort and Casino Announcer]

One briefcase, one moment could change everything. Yamava Resort and Casino at San Manuel is giving you a chance to own your destiny in 2026. Play throughout the month of January and on January 28, one club Serrano member will win the case and with it, a finale spot in any 2026 promotion. Plus $400,000. Which Destiny will you choose?

[Ryder Strong]

Shoes.

[Yamava Resort and Casino Announcer]

It's all happening at Yamaba Resort and casino, celebrating its 40th anniversary. You in [e-mail] please gamble responsibly.

[Signature Hardware Announcer]

It's the hook you hang your robe on every morning. The vanity that gives everything a place. The faucet that fills your pot right on the stove. The air tub that pauses time itself when style meets function in every corner.

[Danielle Fishel]

Corner.

[Signature Hardware Announcer]

That's the look of a space designed right. Finish your home with beauty in every detail@signature hardware.com Signature Hardware create your signature style.

[Mornings Upgraded Announcer]

Some mornings feel like a marathon before your feet ever hit the floor. Which is why the little wins matter. Guessing your password on the first try.

[Ryder Strong]

Win.

[Mornings Upgraded Announcer]

All green lights on the way to work.

[Danielle Fishel]

Win.

[Mornings Upgraded Announcer]

Finding your car keys in the first place. You look miracle. Win. And breakfast. It's got little wins of its own. Like grabbing the new Hueco's protein shake and getting 30 grams of complete protein without even trying. We call that a big little win. Or pouring silk almond milk for five essential nutrients and giving your cereal a little extra goodness. That's a sweet win. Give your coffee a swirl of international delight for a delicious mood booster. And let Activia yogurt handle gut business with billions of probiotics. Win. And win. And right now, another one. Get $5 when you spend $10 or more on participating breakfast favorites. Win. Win. Win. Get more [e-mail] mornings upgraded.

[Danielle Fishel]

He tells his daughter, but I do want him near you. Just as Sean promises he has no longer crazy.

[Ryder Strong]

I'm just like, Sean doesn't decide to not go to the army. They just don't accept him. Like, well, no.

[Will Friedle]

Then why are you so then did you just go by the uniform on your own?

[Ryder Strong]

I don't know.

[Danielle Fishel]

So.

[Ryder Strong]

But I'm just trying to track. So Angela's dad is saying that I won't allow him.

[Will Friedle]

That's what it is. That's what it's gonna be. Yeah, because you have to stay and take care of his daughter.

[Ryder Strong]

Jesus.

[Will Friedle]

Because she doesn't know what she wants in her life until you tell her.

[Ryder Strong]

Wow. That's really okay. For some reason, in my mind, they both decided. But even that the oddity like, Sean and her dad got together and were like, you don't belong in the army. I know you were just doing this to get Angela. Okay, well, let's go get her.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah, and you can't get her if you're away from her. You gotta stay here.

[Will Friedle]

I mean, or in civvies. You gotta still be in the military uniform for some.

[Danielle Fishel]

Sergeant Sergeant Moore wants to talk to his daughter about her mother. Angela refuses, especially in front of Shawn. Shawn says he understands why she'd be afraid of their relationship. Because of her mother. But Angela is adamant there is no relationship. You don't know what you're talking about. But Sean calmly says, he told me. Angela can't believe her father did that. Then Shawn, making it all about himself, wonders, how could you not tell me? She clarifies.

[Roy Panattoni]

But I agree with that.

[Ryder Strong]

Because, well. But what? That, like, she's been lying to him since they met?

[Roy Panattoni]

Yes.

[Ryder Strong]

That her mom or.

[Danielle Fishel]

You've never asked.

[Ryder Strong]

That's more likely, especially as you.

[Roy Panattoni]

As she knows that your mom is taken off.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know.

[Ryder Strong]

It's loving each other if you don't know that somebody's mom left when, what, they were 12? Is that what they say? Like, yeah, that's.

[Roy Panattoni]

You went through the exact same thing.

[Will Friedle]

And she never brought it up.

[Ryder Strong]

So who she would help you or calm you down? I never met her dad.

[Danielle Fishel]

Dad. Nope. And her dad doesn't live.

[Roy Panattoni]

And if she's living with an aunt.

[Will Friedle]

Or an uncle or something like Topanga was, Sean's never going to be like.

[Roy Panattoni]

Hey, where's your mom?

[Will Friedle]

Like, that's never gonna happen.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Wow.

[Will Friedle]

No, it doesn't. Logistically, just makes no sense.

[Ryder Strong]

Huge holes.

[Will Friedle]

No sense. Yeah. Yeah. None whatsoever. It's also a bit of. And I'm not putting this on Manell. I'm. It's kind of the whole writing staff. It's a bit of a lazy cheat that. That both Topanga and Angela don't want to be with their men because they don't want to be the ones that end up hurting their men. It's, like, really?

[Danielle Fishel]

The same characters for the same reasons are poison.

[Will Friedle]

It is. I know. Why do we deal with you? But, yeah, it is.

[Ryder Strong]

It's like, best women are men.

[Danielle Fishel]

The best women are men. Sean. I'm all in on Sean, Cory and Sean. She clarifies that my mother walked out on me just like your mother. Shawn quickly responds, yes. Don't you think I would have understood? Don't you think it would have brought us closer together? Angela agrees. Yes. But continues. I don't want to be closer together. Shawn asks, why not? And her father wonders the same thing.

[Ryder Strong]

Which maybe makes sense now, but, like, to not tell Sean when they were 16 and in love and spending all their time together and supposedly really understanding the contents of each other's characters and.

[Danielle Fishel]

When it happened for Sean, for her to not be. To not be like, dude, I have been there.

[Ryder Strong]

Or when Sean's dad died, to not be like, I know. Oh, my God.

[Roy Panattoni]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

It doesn't make any sense.

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. No, none. None whatsoever.

[Danielle Fishel]

Finally, she Admits the truth. Because I don't want to hurt you. Sean can't help but ask, what are you talking about? You're already killing me. How are you going to hurt me more if you love me? Which is my point that I had about Topanga. You don't want to end up in divorce, so you're just going to break up with him now?

[Will Friedle]

Yeah. Divorce first. Yeah.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Will Friedle]

I don't want to hurt you by leaving you, so I'm leaving.

[Danielle Fishel]

Exactly.

[Ryder Strong]

Rand, in that scenario, does Topanga believe that she's going to find somebody else and get married and divorce, or is the idea that she's going to take.

[Danielle Fishel]

It's going to be nunnery to a nunnery. Get the.

[Ryder Strong]

That's the only option.

[Danielle Fishel]

A cat and a nunnery ancestor.

[Ryder Strong]

Topanga, the logic has to go there because there's no other. If she loves Corey, doesn't want to hurt him by partnering with him, so.

[Danielle Fishel]

She'S off the partnerships in general. Or she's gonna marry someone she doesn't love, that loves Evan.

[Ryder Strong]

Just be carried around by Buff Chad.

[Danielle Fishel]

Exactly. Angela shakes her head and cries, I can't love you because I'll leave you. She pushes past Sean, but her father grabs her, preventing her from walking out. Do not. Do not surrender to this. I did not raise a daughter to surrender. He takes a knee. You are not your mother. The difference between your mother and you is that she was not in love and you are. Angela tears up as she tells her dad she's sorry, I'm not in love. Several times he assures her, it's all right. This is about her. And he just wants her to be happy. But how can she be happy if she can't tell the man she loves that she loves him? Angela returns to Shawn and says, I love you. The crowd lets out a massive cheer as Angela hugs.

[Ryder Strong]

Made me very uncomfortable to hear the audience, like, cheer at that, because it was just like, well, again, if you.

[Roy Panattoni]

Track it, she told her dad a.

[Will Friedle]

Number of times, I don't love him.

[Danielle Fishel]

I don't love him.

[Will Friedle]

Sean told her dad, yes, she does.

[Danielle Fishel]

And he believes.

[Will Friedle]

And he sided with Sean.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. He's like, all right, well, and then.

[Ryder Strong]

We have to get her to agree to that.

[Will Friedle]

That. Right.

[Ryder Strong]

And then they're trying to cheers.

[Danielle Fishel]

No, before you get her to agree to that, you have to ask Feeny what he thinks.

[Roy Panattoni]

Right.

[Danielle Fishel]

He also says it. Corey says, yeah, yeah, she loves him.

[Roy Panattoni]

She's a liar. She actually loves him.

[Will Friedle]

We all know.

[Danielle Fishel]

He's like, all right.

[Ryder Strong]

So disturbing. To me, it Is.

[Will Friedle]

It is actually, now that you put it that way.

[Ryder Strong]

It's when the audience cheered that I was just like, look, I understand the desire to see Shaun and Angela together. That's what the audience wants. Right. But, like, the process of getting there is, like. It's really intense, and, like, I don't like it.

[Danielle Fishel]

I wonder if we could have had the exact same episode without her actually saying, I don't love you. I don't want to be in a relationship with you. If she just kept saying, I don't want to get back together, Sean. I don't want to. If, like. And if we would have felt differently about it, because, yes, it's literally saying.

[Ryder Strong]

I. I do not have this feeling. And, like, the tension of the story is just forcing her to say, I do have this feeling. Yeah, okay, fine, like, to acknowledge it. Whereas, yeah, if she was, you know, obfuscating and, like, coming up with all these love me.

[Danielle Fishel]

And she was like, stop it. Just stop. I'm not, you know, or there's another.

[Ryder Strong]

Guy that she's like, you know, and it's, like, obviously fake, and she's doing a whole, you know, like, it's. If there was clear that she's in denial in some way by her behavior and her.

[Danielle Fishel]

But.

[Ryder Strong]

And when she's, like, outright saying, like, very, very directly and, like, you say, no one's listening, and no one's, you know, they're just gaslighting her.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Roy Panattoni]

She should never actually.

[Will Friedle]

The character really should never, ever say the words, I don't. I don't love you.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, right on school right now. I'm so busy. It's finals week. What are you talking about, Sean? Like, let's talk about it next month. And Sean keeps the pressure campaign because he knows that. What that really means. But when she's, like, literally saying the opposite of what everyone else is saying.

[Will Friedle]

No. And he's not taking no for an answer.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, you're right. I think the story could have. Could have worked with a little bit more, like, nuanced writing.

[Danielle Fishel]

Sean grabs her tight and adds, I love you, too. Too. I always have. Topanga and Rachel watch on from their rooms as the happy ending unfolds. Sergeant Moore tells Shawn to take care of his daughter. Shawn salutes him. Sir. Yes, sir. The sergeant salutes him back, and he looks to Angela for a hug. She embraces him and thanks him for everything. He gives her a kiss on the head and thanks her, too. As he leaves, Rachel comments to Topanga. One down. Topanga asks, what's that? Supposed to mean. And Rachel tells her love is in the air and it won't be long before. Before Corey finds out they're together. And she's interrupted by a knock at the door.

[Will Friedle]

This drove me crazy because it.

[Danielle Fishel]

The.

[Will Friedle]

The Topanga's reaction was to stand there with her arms crossed, looking at the door with a big smile on her face, like. And it's like, yeah, eventually I'll let him back into my life, but I'm kind of gonna just hold it.

[Ryder Strong]

Where? And I was like, wait, I know what.

[Roy Panattoni]

She's just gonna be a jerk about it.

[Will Friedle]

Where what you should have done or they should have had Topanga do is she looks at Rachel, gets depressed again, turns, and walks out.

[Danielle Fishel]

Exactly.

[Will Friedle]

Instead of sitting there, like, looking at the door like, yeah, I am gonna.

[Ryder Strong]

Let him back into my life eventually.

[Will Friedle]

But he's gonna suffer a little more. I was like, wow.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know. Because it isn't. It was. So far, all up to this point, it hasn't seemed like Topanga's playing a joke. It seemed very much like, okay, she's.

[Ryder Strong]

Yeah, that's a really good point because.

[Danielle Fishel]

I was so bothered by that too. By like. And I was like, is that a performance thing? Is that some. Is. Was that a choice? Was that something they wanted? Like, Cuz. Yeah, it does end on a note of like. Like, oh, this boy, he won't stop.

[Will Friedle]

And I know it's going to happen.

[Ryder Strong]

Eventually, but he's not suffering enough yet.

[Will Friedle]

And it's like, yeah, that was weird to me.

[Danielle Fishel]

I know. I didn't like it either. And she's interrupted by a knock at the door. Topanga shakes her head as Rachel jokes. I wonder who that could be. The rapid knocking continues as the screen fades to black.

[Will Friedle]

Black.

[Danielle Fishel]

And then we're here at our infamous tag.

[Will Friedle]

Just the best. Just the best.

[Danielle Fishel]

We've talked about this before, that none of us could keep it together. As you see, you see multiple times. And this is a fraction of what was. What was going on. The only person who never breaks is Trina. And that's because Trina had a flight. She was desperate to get to the airport. And the last thing we had to do was get this scene done.

[Will Friedle]

And she told us, I think even before we started the scene, like, guys.

[Ryder Strong]

I think that was part of the tension, right? It was like it was the last scene of the show in front of the audience. She had a flight to catch. And yeah, you can see there's definitely one shot where you can see her face.

[Will Friedle]

She's pissed.

[Ryder Strong]

So not happy. I know.

[Will Friedle]

But then she does break at the end. She breaks when you gotta get off of me.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yeah. She smiles. But then I thought. Cause I saw the same thing. I thought I saw her kind of start to laugh. Then she turns and walks away from us and goes to the thing. I think she may have had her phone. She had something where she was like, phones back. No, you're right, 99.

[Ryder Strong]

She said, oh, my God. Yeah, My favorite blooper is not in here, though, which I always. I guess I never. I've never seen it. So I just knew that this happened. But I haven't watched this since it aired or whatever when we did it. But my favorite thing that happened is while we were kissing and the audience was. You started wooing from the couch. I remember that. I think that's. I just remember sitting there and I think that was maybe the first one that made me and TR. To laugh because we're sitting there and the audience goes. And then you just went. I remember that pillow under the pillow going, I know, it's so funny.

[Danielle Fishel]

And they didn't use that in the T. No.

[Ryder Strong]

And then, like, were you holding the pillow with your teeth? And then like, I think it was.

[Will Friedle]

Just laying on my.

[Ryder Strong]

How did you get it off you? Just.

[Will Friedle]

By popping up my head and everything. Yeah. Oh, that's right.

[Ryder Strong]

I was like waiting for it to happen. I was like, oh, it didn't make the cut. So there were. There were multiple other. Yeah, this is.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, multiple other takes. We. So many times.

[Will Friedle]

I remember it starting because I had never.

[Roy Panattoni]

I don't think we ever rehearsed with.

[Will Friedle]

The actual couch piece.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yep.

[Ryder Strong]

Right.

[Will Friedle]

So trying to stand up.

[Danielle Fishel]

Yes.

[Ryder Strong]

I just couldn't.

[Will Friedle]

And by the time I stood up, I had lost it.

[Ryder Strong]

Okay, but what. What was the. Of the scene? I would have gotten away for them. You say about me.

[Will Friedle]

And then I don't even know. I don't even know what the.

[Ryder Strong]

We don't know what the. Did we shoot it and they just didn't cut it.

[Danielle Fishel]

You know who might know? Manell.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh, yeah, we must. It must be in the script. Yeah, it must be in the script.

[Roy Panattoni]

He must have shot it, right?

[Will Friedle]

I mean, we must have gotten through at some point.

[Ryder Strong]

Yes. And they just decided it was funnier to show the outakes. But I'm pretty sure we.

[Will Friedle]

We.

[Ryder Strong]

We finished scene.

[Will Friedle]

We had.

[Ryder Strong]

I don't think we ever would have just been like, oh, no, let's get it at least once. And so I want to know what happens. Like, how does Topanga and how did Topanga and Eric resolve this or keep this storyline going. Like, I don't know. I'm so curious.

[Will Friedle]

One of my favorite sounds has always been Danielle going to the fridge and going, it's three. And then turning back, having to open the fridge again. That's always been one of my favorite parts of it. It's three.

[Ryder Strong]

Oh my God, it's so funny.

[Danielle Fishel]

So to recap what happens later in the girl's apartment, Angela and Shawn passionately make out on the couch trad saying good night to each other. But neither of them get up to move. Topanga walks by and mutters, he's never leaving, is he? Angela shakes her head. Never. Topanga adds, I'm only asking because it's 3 o' clock in the morning and you're crushing Eric. Sure enough, the couch cushions rise up and we see Eric's head awkwardly sticking out. Angela and Shawn quickly jump up off the couch and the eerie music plays out. Once again, he tries his hardest to get up, but the velcro on the cushions is making it impossible. After a struggle, he finally stands up to face them, but they burst into laughter, completely breaking the scene.

[Will Friedle]

Scene.

[Danielle Fishel]

We cut to another take of the same scene and this time I break before we even reveal Eric and the couch. Then another take. Couch cushion. Eric is standing before us and asks, how did you know? And then again, I immediately burst into laughter. Will announces he nailed it. We officially have the giggles. We get two more takes of Will saying his line, how did you know? But now he can't get through the scene without laughing thing. Will wonders if they have to do this line by line and writer says they have to love that.

[Ryder Strong]

Yes, I was we going to do this. I love you calling back.

[Danielle Fishel]

Oh, what?

[Ryder Strong]

We're just going to do a line by left something. Please get us. Yes, we have to.

[Danielle Fishel]

Finally we get one more take. Topanga reveals Eric is in the couch cushions. Trina and writers stare at him until he reminds them them, you gotta get off me. You gotta get off me. The two jump up and we all crack up one last time.

[Ryder Strong]

I mean, how much do you think that like this decision to include to break the fourth wall and to include these outtakes. How much do you think that this made like Podmate's world possible? Like, because think about it. This is a glimpse for mainstream. Like a television show broke the fourth wall. And for a moment, everybody that watched Boy Meets World got to see something that was not ever really. It was us being us together, laughing so hard. And I think that little glimpse went a long way in creating interest in, like, what was it like on that set? What were these people like? You know, and it's funny, I just never thought about it before, but, like, it's really kind of a crazy move. Like, it's, you know, it's. Everyone loves Saturday Night Live when they break, right? And that's about the live. And that's always created this, this mythology or this, this, this interest in what's going on behind the scenes and all that. You know, it's like, we know that there's a lot going on there, whereas your average sitcom, you don't get a glimpse like that. But because of this moment, I think people really saw. Yeah, it's. I don't know. It is.

[Roy Panattoni]

And it's also. People love.

[Will Friedle]

I mean, it's one of the things people love about the DVDs when, when they get DVDs of any, any show, commentary, office or any of that kind of stuff is they usually have a blooper reel.

[Ryder Strong]

Right. But this was all there.

[Will Friedle]

I know it's the heart of an.

[Ryder Strong]

Episode, and we literally don't end the storyline. We just say, I mean, it's so cool. I, you know, I would have been so happy that this happened at the time.

[Will Friedle]

Great.

[Ryder Strong]

But it's like, I'm even happier about it now because I really do feel like it's. There's like a direct line from that decision to our ability to connect with fans now, because I feel like it's created a relationship and an interest. It, like, planted that seed that, you know, I agree.

[Will Friedle]

I think it's cool.

[Danielle Fishel]

Join us for our next episode recap. Season 7, episode 4, no Such Thing as a sure Thing. It originally aired October 15th, 15th, 1999. That's our show, everybody. Thanks 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.

[Roy Panattoni]

Send a Roy's Panettone and everyone will thank you.

[Ryder Strong]

You're gonna love it. Unless your name Topanga. Merch. We love you all. Pod dismissed. Pod Meets World is an iHeart podcast produced and hosted by Danielle Fishel, Wilfred L. And Ryder Strong, 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, Superman east and Allen. Our theme song is by Kyle Morton of Typhoon. Follow us on Instagram odmeatsworldshow or email us at podmeatsworldshowmail.com.

[Danielle Fishel]

Who doesn't want more more care, more guidance and more expertise, especially when it really counts. That's what your members can count on from a CVS Caremark prescription plan. Like Rodney from Chicago who got personal support and and guidance from a CVS Caremark customer care rep when his glucose monitor needed to be replaced right away. And it was. That's why Rodney said it's an exhilarating.

[Mornings Upgraded Announcer]

Feeling knowing they really care.

[Danielle Fishel]

Want more support for your members so they can make more of their benefits? Go to CMK Co Stories to learn more. That's CMK Co Stories.

[Ryder Strong]

The new year brings new health goals and wealth goals Protecting your identity is an important step Step. Your info is in endless places that could expose you to identity theft leading to lost funds. LifeLock monitors millions of data points per second. If your identity is stolen, LifeLock's restoration specialist will fix it, guaranteed or your money back. Resolve to make identity, health and wealth part of your New year's goals with LifeLock, save up to 40% your first year. Visit lifelock.com iheart Terms apply. This is Julian Edelman from Dudes on.

[Will Friedle]

Dudes with Gronk and Jewels.

[Ryder Strong]

Sunday mornings I've got my Game Dated.

[Will Friedle]

Ritual Coffee, Lucky Socks and now New Morning Uncrustable Sandwiches.

[Ryder Strong]

It's all about that 12 gram protein boost with the new Uncrustables Bright Eyed Berry or Up and Apple Flavors. Bright Eye Berries got a feisty receiver Energy up an apple. Your classic Do it all tight end.

[Will Friedle]

Soft pillowy, packed with protein and easy enough enough for Gronk to grab from the freezer.

[Ryder Strong]

Whether you're on the couch, driving to the tailgate or heading to the locker room, new Morning Uncrustable Sandwiches are the MVP of snacks.

[Will Friedle]

Your new Sunday kickoff ritual starts here with New Morning Uncrustable sandwiches packed with.

[Ryder Strong]

12 grams of protein.

[Danielle Fishel]

Small businesses are the pulse of every community. They bring people together, create opportunities and drive growth. That's why Chase for Business helps small business owners like you by offering personalized guidance and digital tools that can help your business grow. With our guidance and your determination, you can take your business farther and help build a brighter future for your community. Learn [e-mail] business chase for business make more of what's Yours the Chase Mobile app is available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply. JP Morgan Chase Bank NA Member FDIC Copyright 2026 JPMorgan Chase Income Company this is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.