Farkle of Oz: A Girl Meets World Theory (possible spoilers)

Alright! I'm back, with a theory that I discussed with theowldectective. 

First, we know that the characters of Girl Meets World were nicknamed by Eric in Girl Meets Mr. Squirrels Goes to Washington. 

Lucas is Scarecrow

Farkle is Robot

Maya is Lion

Riley is Dorothy

(I know my previous theory was Maya as Dorothy- but now I know why) 

At the end of the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy delivers an important line to Scarecrow: 

She tells him, "I'm going to miss you most of all." 

This is the line that Eric gives Farkle, and it's no coincidence. 

So let's go back to that Purple curtain again: 

In the Wizard of Oz, the all powerful Wizard was just a facade made by a man behind the curtain. 

So who's the man behind this one? (Yes there's a bomb in the fantasy sequence- but someone is behind the entire fantasy that Riley believes the world is.)

So who's the wizard? Your first thought is Cory, right? Because he's the all powerful, wise teacher that helps them learn valuable life lessons. Well, we know there's a twist. And the writers have already hinted at many. Charlie Gardner's was my favorite ('She ends up with Farkle. How did we not see that coming?") 

So, is the Wizard Cory Matthews? 

I'm going to say no. 

I think the wizard is none other than . . . Farkle Minkus. 

Why? 

Do you remember Farkle's Choice? Where Farkle stepped back because he didn't want to cause a fight between Riley and Maya? The episode after that is Girl Meets Popular, where Riley is invited to a party, and Maya isn't. 

Cory apparently has no idea about who is behind this party. Odd, if he's the wizard . . . 

But who is the one behind Riley's moment of popularity? Farkle!

We know that Farkle looks up to Cory, but Cory literally allows Farkle to take over the class (the world) 

by giving him Farkle Time!

Farkle time always includes very important dialogue that is essential to the Long Game (The overall narrative of the show) 

One of the most important episodes is Girl Meets I am Farkle where some possible events in the season are foreshadowed. This is also the moment we get an answer to a question Farkle has asked himself for a long time. Is he a robot or a real boy? 

At the end of Girl Meets Legacy, Farkle asks Mr. Norton a very interesting question: 

"Is it possible that feelings are stronger than Science?" 

"Keep discovering Farkle." is Mr. Norton's reply. 

This is a very important moment in Farkle's character arc, because it brings up a common theme that relates to the way he is treated by the other characters. 

In Girl Meets Farkle's Choice, Farkle tells the girls, "I'm Canada, a little taken for granted, but I'm always there for you." 

He is repeatedly treated this way throughout the show, and most of his angry comments are ignored or made to be a joke. 

But don't underestimate Farkle Minkus! He is a genius, and he's proven as much to Riley and Maya. 

But this genius invented his most difficult obstacle with the purple curtain. 

We know from Girl Meets the Bay Window that Farkle promised to love Riley and Maya the same at a very young age. 

We also know from the first episode that Farkle calls Riley, day and Maya, night. And once you tell someone something over and over again, they start to believe it. 

Throughout the show, Riley and Maya act on these extremes, and they consider them to be part of their identities. This is where the Riley Commitee comes in: 

In Girl Meets Pluto, we learn about The Riley Commitee which exists to keep certain information away from Riley. Now, if Cory was behind this commitee, wouldn't he want to continue the facade? Instead, he tells the commitee that Riley is getting too smart and she'll have to face the world sometime. This commitee only exists for Riley, not Maya. Who would be smart enough to come up with such an idea: Farkle! 

So we know that Farkle cares for both of these girls, and he wants them to last forever. But, he was looking through a microscope. 

And, as Riley asks him, "Did you ever think that when you look through a microscope, you might miss the bigger picture?" 

The bigger picture here is fairly obvious in Girl Meets Stem ;)

So my theory is that because Farkle will do anything for Riley, he has kept up this facade, but the curtain will fall, because the truth is inevitable.  

Happy 15th Anniversary Final Fantasy X!

Happy Anniversary to the magical and epic video game Final Fantasy X!

This story inspired me to write my own epic fantasy tale that echoes the philosophy and creativity of this story.  (I'm currently in the process of heavily editing it, and getting ready to publish it by December ^_^)

From its unforgettable characters to the powerful messages Final Fantasy X will always hold a special place in my heart. 

One of my favorite elements of this game is the world where the story takes place. The country of Spira is a fascinating and exotic place. 

Not only the world, but the culture, folklore and the religion in this game are interesting and unique perspectives to view a story. 

The brave warriors who became the Aeons that aid Yuna on her journey each have their own history for why they made that choice. This adds depth to the spiritual journey that Tidus, Yuna, Khimari, Wakka, Lulu, Rikku and Auron take to save the world from evil and destruction. 

Their journey brings not only physical challenges but emotional and spiritual obstacles. The characters are tested by their very belief in the way of the world they live in. 

This is not an easy story to tell, but it leaves the observer with a powerful message that anything is possible as long as you stay true to what you believe you can do. 

The Purple Curtain: A Girl Meets World Theory

Very Interesting Storyline in the Ski Lodge part 1: 

Okay, so I finally saw Ski Lodge, and one thing in particular stood out to me and bothered me. 

Farkle's line in the Lucaya fantasy sequence: "Don't open that curtain!" 

Why would Farkle say this? What motive could he possibly have for stifling Riley and Maya's growth? 

In STEM, he wanted Riley to grow, right? 

Then I thought back to the previous episodes. 

Doesn't Farkle seem "on edge" lately? 

He has a blow up every episode now, but it's disregarded as a joke or ignored. 

Let's look at that curtain, and the signs on it. 

Doesn't this sound like Farkle's doing? Also, wasn't Farkle the one who wrote on the sign when they got to the ski lodge?

 I don't think that was a coincidence. 

Farkle is protecting that curtain. Why? 

More importantly, what's behind the curtain? 

A bomb! Why a bomb? What is the significance? 

Okay, here's my theory: Farkle's feelings are the bomb. Or at least the truth of how Farkle feels. 

I have two reasons for this. 

1. He's the host who welcomes Maya and Lucas to the Purple Cat (He's literally guarding the door!) 

2. He's on edge this whole episode! Even in Riley's fantasy. Do you think it's a mistake that he's tapping his foot the whole time Riley and Lucas act out their romance? I don't think so. 

He's angry, frustrated, and he clearly loves Riley. So why? Why hasn't he gone after her? Well, in Farkle's Choice he literally says that he doesn't want to cause a fight between them. Lucas says this too, but he eventually chooses. And it's been obvious who he chose at this point (Maya) 

Okay, so why didn't Lucas and Maya work out in the fantasy? Because they didn't "cut the red wire" - stop the bomb. Acknowledge Farkle's feelings.

Farkle's on a journey to discover who he is. He's grown and changed ( like the leaf that Riley catches from the window) 

Then when the company gets back, what happens? They tell Riley that Farkle nearly died! 

He "wandered off the trail" he "got distracted by the moth." 

Here's where Smackle comes in. She's the moth. She's the Trojan horse. Riley literally puts a bow on her, and she pushes Farkle toward her in seasons one and two. 

So what happens when Farkle grabs the moth? He falls, and then he's "hanging from a tree." 

Like a certain leaf we know, right? 

There's also a call back to Nature. Nature says this. Nature says that. Farkle has been saying these things. 

Farkle's been holding back his feelings THIS WHOLE TIME! 

They are going to destroy him. But he's not the only one. 

Riley is holding back her feelings too. This is proven by the "diagnosis" that Maya and Josh give her at the end of the Rilucas fantasy. 

They tell her, literally: "You're feeling things too much. You're hurting. You've been selfish. Not everyone is like you." 

Both of these "fantasies" are symbolic, not only of Riley and Maya's perception of love. Which is obvious, but the extent that their perspectives are warped. 

Now, before people say, "They've been leading to Lucaya this whole time, why didn't it work?" Because Lucas and Maya were fighting. Maya was season one Maya, mentally and emotionally- pulled back to where Riley needed her to be. (her words. Not bashing) So they could have saved the world by cutting the red wire. Stopping the anger. Diffusing it. But it's not just Maya's anger. It's Farkle's!

Time and time again, Farkle is portrayed as Canada, and he'll always be there. Time and time again, they take him for granted. His feelings are ignored or made to be a joke. That bomb has a timer, and that curtain is the only thing holding it together. 

But the problem is, Farkle wants the curtain there. Why? 

Farkle doesn't like feelings. We know this. He says this throughout the whole series. Now the bomb could represent just feelings in general, that would also make sense, but there is no question that Farkle is clinging on to that curtain for dear life! 

So this answers a lot of the questions that we have about Riley, Maya, and why they aren't growing. 

Bear with me here (pun intended.) That curtain might have to do with his promise to love both Riley and Maya the same. That curtain might be the one thing that Farkle is trying to control. But he won't be able to. You can't control feelings. You have to feel them. More importantly, you have to acknowledge them. Farkle isn't doing that. But maybe, just maybe Riley isn't doing that either. 

I've thought about this. She says a few things in this episode and others that reveal she knows more than she lets on. 

(That's why she's a coniving villain in Maya's fantasy. Maya's the bearer of bad news in hers. No accident.)

Besides the dialogue in True Maya where Riley literally says that she put Maya where she wants her to be, she has a line in STEM that stood out to me.

"Our guy friends are pretty great. Maybe it was easier before we looked at each other as boys and girls. Maybe it was easier to look at each other as friends." 

Okay, she could be talking about the guys in general here, but who was the main focus of her attention in this episode? Farkle!

Also, she has a line appearing out of nowhere when she's "in the hole" with Maya. 

"I hope Farkle remembers that science can't explain people and that he keeps himself open to love." 

Why would she say this? Maybe she is more aware of her feelings for Farkle than she lets on. She shows hints at it throughout the episode. We also know Riley likes to escape. What if Lucas is her escape? 

Riley's hurting. Really hurting. We know that from her fantasy. But she can't express it. She has "The Riley Commitee" to keep her in line. Riley invented "The Purple Cat" to keep Maya in check, because otherwise, she would be alone in her inability to grow. 

For any of this to move forward. For any of this to find resolution, the curtain must be destroyed. 

Mt. Farkle-uvious is gonna blow! 

Hang in there Farkle!  :( 

Girl Meets True Maya and Ski Lodge theories

This basically sums up the dynamics of the situation in this episode. 

Riley is convinced that she knows who Maya is, and she has an interesting line of dialogue that convinces me she might know slightly what she's doing to Maya. (This is not Riley bashing by the way- just an observation.) 

She tells Maya, "I only brought you back to exactly where I need you to be and I was very careful not to go too far." 

This dialogue communicates two things. One, Riley is aware that she influences Maya. Two, Riley is desperate to make things go back to how they were. 

We know from season one that Riley is not a fan of change. We also know in season 2 that she is only a fan of change if it works in her favor. Neither is true of this triangle, and Riley wants out of it (preview for Ski Lodge) 

The problem is, Riley doesn't see herself as a problematic influence. It might be a result of the "Riley Commitee" that Maya and Farkle invented for her long ago. 

But Maya is allowing this influence to change her identity- a very mentally unhealthy decision for all of them.  

Lucas knows this, because Lucas knows Maya and accepts her for who she is. Which is why we get that wonderful grin when he finishes Maya's sentence in the last scene. 

Lucas also has a past that we know very little about. But he brings it up in this episode, especially when Maya's identity is in question.

Let's not forget the best quote he had in the Volcano lecture: 

"Deep down Maya is beautiful." 

By this point it is very clear that Lucas chose Maya. He knows who she is, and while he calls Riley pretty, Maya is beautiful. A throwback to the moment Zay reveals Lucas's nickname for Maya is "Blonde Beauty". 

Okay, so the lesson of the episode is that a volcano's gonna blow. Riley is convinced that the volcano is Maya. 

Don't watch the birdie! (As owldectective says on tumblr ^_^)

A volcano does blow up. Farkle!

Once again the writers take this opportunity to divert your attention by making the scene comical, but the evidence is there. Lucas even says that Farkle's gonna blow. 

Haha right? Not quite. Farkle blows up about a specific thing. And this is not the first time: 

He calls Lucas a face, again. We see him do this in season 1 quite a few times, but it is most notable in Girl Meets Belief. Farkle makes it very clear that he is convinced Lucas exists to mock him. 

Why? How long has Farkle been in love with Riley again? (since first grade) 

But Riley still can't see that. Although she's beginning to stare at Farkle a lot more often than she used to, especially with a smile. 

It's also interesting to note that the scene where Maya grabs Farkle causes a reaction from both Lucas and Riley that is fairly obvious: 

But that's just stuff on the triangle that's not a triangle. 

The core of this episode is

Hope is the core of Maya that she is protecting. She thinks it's the part of her that's Riley, but it's actually just an aspect of her personality that she doesn't believe she has. 

And that's where Dorothy comes in. 

Back in Girl Meets Mr. Squirrels Goes to Washington, Eric names each one of the core four after the characters from The Wizard of Oz. 

Lucas is Scarecrow

Farkle is Robot (Tinman) 

Riley is the Cowardly Lion

Maya is Dorothy

 We know that now, even though we get both the girls in the shot when Eric says that. And, that's what makes this scene important: 

These four are on a journey together to discover who they are. 

But why is Maya Dorothy? Because she is looking for home, but she's had it all along. 

Ok on to . . .

I had to. Cory's face is gold! Anyway, we know (because it's been foreshadowed by Girl Meets Pluto) that the company is going to the infamous Ski Lodge where Cory nearly lost Topanga. 

Is Riley almost going to lose something like he did. Maybe . . . 

Judging from the leaf scene in the new sneak peak I have a guess that Riley might almost lose Farkle. Why? A leaf blows through the window. It's orange, and it's torn in two. 

Farkle is always there- he comes in through the window when Riley needs him most. He's struggling between logic and feelings. 

We know Riley's hung up on Lucas, and that's the whole core issue of the triangle. Farkle all the while has changed and grown. Riley is not bothered by this, and in Girl Meets Farkle, she made it clear that Farkle should "go figure out" love. 

So why Farkle? We've been focusing on Maya throughout the storyline right? 

Well we know that Maya isn't going anywhere. She's stepped back for Riley three times now, and she's made it clear nothing will change their friendship. 

Farkle on the other hand has been trying to solve the biggest mystery: Can feelings be stronger than science?

Throughout all three seasons we've seen him stare at Riley in a way he has never stared at Maya, yet he claims to love both girls the same. But now, Farkle has Smackle (he's stuck- her own wording. Not bashing) But he never looks at Smackle the way he looks at Riley. 

I also want to point out his face when Riley tells him her father kissed someone at the ski lodge. Something Cory wants to prevent. 

So, what are you thinking Farkle? ;)

One more interesting thing to note is Maya's comment on fantasy versus reality- this might be the lesson in this two episode arc. 

My theories- The triangle will be over- the writers said so. 

Lucas and Maya will be tested by the presence of Josh

Riley may see how valuable Farkle is

Farkle might kiss Riley

Lucas might kiss Maya

For now I'm just enjoying the ride :) 

Les Cirque Des Rêves

A Spotify playlist for Celia and Marco. 

Opponents and partners in a dangerous game.

https://open.spotify.com/user/sarahbelle6246/playlist/6i9u63gamkc6SmGDJP2td0

Girl Meets Triangle/Upstate: The Purple Cat: A Maya and Riley Character study

The first time we see the purple cat is Girl Meets Creativity. We know that purple is Riley's color, and the cat shows up during episodes that involve Maya and art. 

So what is the purple cat? And why does the art teacher say that Riley has painted the perfect purple cat at the end of Girl Meets Upstate? 

I have a theory. 

Purple is Riley's color, but the cat itself represents Maya. The purple cat stands for Riley's influence on Maya, but it's a little more than that. It's also the identity that Riley sees for Maya. Riley and Maya begin the show believing that Riley is day and Maya is night. 

Over the course of season 2, Maya develops different character traits. She has been influenced by Riley, but she also has made her own decision about hope and happiness. 

We know that Maya is an over the top and angry character at the beginning of season 1, and we watch her grow in season 2. Riley sees things very differently, which is why she thinks that Maya is gone in Girl Meets Triangle. 

Riley sees the world in black and white. Right and wrong are very clear to her, but she is also raised with the idea that she has to be happy all the time. This comes out in Girl Meets Yearbook. Riley decides to go in the opposite direction with her alias Morotia M Black. 

This is the first obvious clue that the writers give you on what Riley believes her identity to be. Maya is also thrown when Riley is, and she tries to be her as well: 

But Maya quickly reverts back because she discovers a secret about Riley, and she knows who she is. She accepts her flaws through season 2, and she even deals with her anger. So, Maya changes, but Riley doesn't see it that way. 

Riley is very insecure, and this comes up in several episodes. She has viewed herself to be the sun, always bright and happy, and she doesn't register negative emotions or accept them. Instead, she has an escapist approach. Instead of admiting that she's wrong, Riley has this habit of "fixing" everyone around her. We see this in several episodes, but it is most obvious (and represented through paint) in Girl Meets Maya's mother. 

When Riley decides to "fix" Maya's life, they have a paint fight. We see another fight like this in Girl Meets Upstate. And this is where the dialogue in Girl Meets Triangle comes to play. 

Riley is convinced that Maya is not herself anymore, and she hasn't been herself, but in reality, Maya has grown and changed. 

There are two obstacles that stand in Riley's way from progressing the way Maya has: her view of herself, and her ability to face reality. 

This show is called Girl Meets World after all. 

So both paintings in Girl Meets Triangle are representative of the way each girl views the world. 

Riley views the world as a simple place with night and day, dark and light, right and wrong. She's also denying the reality that Maya likes the same boy that she believes she likes as well. (more on that later) 

At the end of Girl Meets Upstate, Maya is covered in purple, and the art teacher tells Riley that she's made "the greatest purple cat". She has influenced Maya to the point that Maya believes that she isn't herself. 

But this was not done intentionally. Because Riley believes that she is doing the best thing she possibly can for her friend. Her influence is mirrored in Girl Meets Upstate by the influence that Cory has on Shawn. 

Shawn repeatedly states that Cory has influenced him, and now that Riley believes Maya lost herself, Shawn believes that he has lost himself as well. But there is a difference between the influence that Cory has on Shawn, and the influence that Riley has on Maya. 

Shawn says, "All my life I chased after Cory and Topanga, and what they had. But I don't want that anymore. I want what I'm supposed to have." 

Shawn makes the decision himself, but Maya has still allowed Riley's influence to dictate her life. This is understandable because Riley and Maya are still teenagers. Riley has a lot of growing to do, but Maya has grown. In order to make Riley and Maya stay on the same page, Maya has to step back. 

This is obvious in the art studio scene where Maya says specifically what is going on, and Riley doesn't acknowledge  it. We are told as Maya paints that it is her "voice". She is also "screaming". So what does she say? She mentions that she's angry, and she's always wanted what Riley had. 

There's one more purple cat that appears in Girl Meets Legacy: 

This purple cat is clear and everything is swirling around it. We know that the swirls represent when "the world swirls you all up" 

This picture is the exact opposite of Maya's painting: 

Maya's painting in Triangle is the exact opposite of the painting she makes in Legacy. This is no coincidence. 

Maya is seeing the world differently from Riley, and her identity has been changed by her growth. Her purple cat represents that the world is swirling around, blurring her vision and she doesn't know what to do. 

Riley, with the best intentions, is trying to simplify this process, and keep everything the same. Her growth is going to be letting go of her expectations of the world and accepting it for what it really is. Until Riley and Maya accept that they are different, and they will not always agree, neither will be able to grow at this point. Lucas is a big part of that, but it was clear from the pilot that the girls are trying to keep everything the same while the world changes around them. 

But Maya's step back isn't necessarily a bad thing. 

She still has hope, which is the small area of light in her painting, as the art teacher says. She is protecting that, and although she thinks that part of her is Riley, it's actually still Maya. 

We'll see how this plays out in Girl Meets True Maya. 

From the promo, Maya's rebellion is similar to Riley's. She goes too far and has to find balance between the dark and light aspects of her personality.