Very well said, polyfootball08. I particularly liked this section...
I think the problem is not that Maya was rebellious, as Riley put it, but that she was outgoing. If they substituted rebellious with outgoing/outspoken, I don't think it will look as negative. Maya has always been outspoken. She's never been to say what is on her mind. She's assertive. She finds something she wants and go for it. That hasn't been the case recently. She's still snarky but that's about it. Riley is much more cautious with what she says in fear of upsetting people. That's why they work so well as best friends. Maya helps bring out the confidence in Riley to speak her mind. Riley understands when there's the need to tone it down and help reel in Maya.
Perhaps the core issue is in the terminology and how it's being portrayed. What was meant by "rebellious" was actually more so a matter of Maya being willing to not only say what's on her mid but go against what she's opposed to on instinct. It's not that she's an inherent rule breaker but she's an individual who's not afraid to speak up even when others feel they can't.
I likewise like how you brought it back to the synergistic relationship. Maya helps Riley express herself more while Riley keeps Maya from going too far. They compliment each other. I think my gripe was actually with this way of thinking, however. While I see what the show is trying to portray (they need one another), I feel like what Maya has grown to be is...well, something that CAN be independent of Riley. In taking on Riley's traits while also sustaining many of her own, Maya has become someone who can funtion without Riley. She doesn't need her to stay on the right path because Maya can do that by herself. To me, the means at which the "Maya's changed" topic is being portrayed is more "Riley still needs Maya even though Maya's growing to not need Riley."
I feel that in some episodes, change is embraced while in others it's demonized. In this situation, it's the latter. Yes, Maya is being influenced by someone she's admired. BUT, we're also told Riley is someone to be admired. She's a good girl with a good head on her shoulders. Maya is still Maya but not she's internalized the messages Riley and her father have been giving her....isn't that the point? Is the point to get Maya to a place where she's stronger AND doesn't need to rely on others for that strength?
I suppose the next phase of this is to see the issues others are taking with Maya's change. Is it simply that she's less outgoing or more that they feel she's being influenced by Riley too much. Because if it is the latter, I'm still a bit confused here. This is what Corey wanted. He was trying to teach his students how to be good people with good judgement. People who were still themselves but were also respectful of others. He knows Riley has been needed to "reel Maya in" at times but...well, THIS is exactly what's happening!! Maya's heard the lessons loud and clear and now she's reeling herself in.
Think of it this way. Imagine the roles were reversed. Imagine Riley has slowly been growing to be more like Maya once was. Would that be more or less serious than this? In my opinion, that scenario would be FAR worse. We'd have two rebellious, disrespectful, educationally lackluster girls. Self-destructive and with low-esteem. I feel THAT would warrant the characters concern. But this situation? It only seems positive in my eyes. The only concern I can see is Maya taking it too far and completely taking on Riley's traits (i.e. becoming overly whimsical, scatterbrained but still intelligent and lovable). So, if it's matter of "Maya's becoming a better person," I see no problem. BUT, if it's an issue of "Maya is becoming a better person AND sacrificing what she is and enjoys being" I could see an issue.
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polyfootball08
9 years ago
Great point. I've literally spent a week trying to figure out how to debate this. To be honest, I think the biggest problem this show and actually most kids/teens/family shows is writing. When it comes down to all media outlets geared towards kids, Hollywood has dumbed everything down. I think the media is selling kids short. You can see that they believe that they must throw everything in your face in order to understand. In the past, it felt like we were learning with the characters. Nothing was so clear cut.
In Boy Meets World case, the classroom is supplementary to the story. It helps further the lesson without it being banged over the audiences head, a la GMW, which spends at least a third of its airtime in the classroom.
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loui_b452
8 years ago
In Boy Meets World case, the classroom is supplementary to the story. It helps further the lesson without it being banged over the audiences head, a la GMW, which spends at least a third of its airtime in the classroom.
I agree. In BMW, it's more implied and the audience gets to the point themselves. We're meeting the world right along with Corey and Shawn. Meanwhile, in GMW, the lesson it outright told to us and we see how well the kids can implement it. They're meeting the world and we judge them based on how well they listened to Corey.
Also (though this is an old topic that's been dealt with somewhat in the most recent episodes), I think a good way of looking at it through the characters Riley and Maya are based on: Corey and Shawn. What if Shawn began to act more like Corey??
Well, in the show, we kinda see this effect. Shawn becomes MUCH more responsible but is unhappy. His life is finally together, he has direction, maintains his artistic nature and talent but feels he's missing something.
As a Devil's Advocate argument to my own point, I could see this being the case for Maya if she weren't reverted to her old self. Yes, the Maya we began to see was exactly what we'd THINK Corey and Riley would want of her. And, we'd see positive results!! But...perhaps in the college arc...we see Maya grow depressed. She'd look around and see her life in order but not feel she can take any responsibility for it. Being more like Riley is what got her into her nice sorority dorm room with her stable Lucas-like boyfriend and cushy academic scholarship. While these are things most should want, she got there by not being herself at every turn. Like Shawn, she wouldn't FEEL like a model person but a person modeling the ideal life.
I still don't think this would have been Maya's fate but I could see how it could easily happen.
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