Romeo and Juliet and Farkle: A Girl Meets World Theory

Romeo and Juliet have been referenced lately in Girl Meets World, so I watched Girl Meets Truth where it all seemed to begin. We know that Romeo and Juliet is supposedly the most romantic story in existence, but both Romeo and Juliet die. As theowldectective pointed out: they choose the scene right before both die to play out this episode. 

Farkle plays the spear carrier (Cory's role in Boy Meets World) and he interrupts the play right before Lucas kisses Riley. 

He tells Lucas that this isn't Romeo and Juliet, it's Romeo and Juliet and Farkle. This is no accident. It's very clear that Farkle believes he has no part in the story: a point that is brought up in multiple episodes. 

Farkle asks the audience, "Who thinks that the spear carrier should finally get to kiss Juliet?" 

The audience breaks into applause and Maya says, "You kiss that girl you crazy spear carrier!" 

It is then that Farkle calls Maya to the stage. I found this particularly interesting, because Maya imitates Juliet. This seems to foreshadow the triangle, and it also implies the overall narrative of the story. Also worth noting is Maya's cat T-shirt. Purple cat anyone?

This episode is all about telling the truth, which Riley doesn't. Instead of telling Farkle he killed the play, she tells him he's one of the best actors in middle school today. Very interesting, because Farkle's reaction to this is to change who he is. (Note he is wearing a bear shirt here)

Farkle changes his entire identity, "because Riley said so." This seems to foreshadow his transformation to Donnie Barnes. (note that he tells them Farkle is gone and they will never see him again in this scene.) 

One of the last shots of this episode is particularly interesting, because Farkle is wearing red, like Juliet and imitating the act of her death when Riley finds him. This is no accident. Riley's opinion has a huge impact on Farkle, but he has lost himself along the way. 

The dialogue of this scene is repeated by Lucas in Ski Lodge. Riley says she could never hurt Farkle. Lucas says that he could never hurt Maya, but that is exactly what they do. 

After Farkle tells Riley, "You made me believe in something unrealistic," he gets up from the slab, and kisses Riley, mimicking the famous kiss that Cory and Topanga have in Boy Meets World. 

But the show isn't over yet, because Lucas re-enters wearing orange. I don't think he has ever worn orange since- correct me if I'm wrong. He recites Romeo's lines, and then claims that his moment was stolen by Farkle, but his moment will be his moment. 

Riley mimics Juliet again, right before Juliet is supposed to die while Maya looks on. At the end of the scene, both girls mimic Juliet. 

So what does this have to do with the overall narrative? Well, Lucas claimed that his moment would be his moment, and he decides that his moment is Ski Lodge. Riley's dress in the Rilucas fantasy is very similar to Juliet's. Not to mention the fact that she dies at the end of her fantasy. 

This is a direct connection to Romeo and Juliet. And it's odd that Lucas is ready to leave Riley because Maya is with Josh. Josh also tells Lucas that no matter who he chooses, it's the end of the world. Just like the end of Romeo and Juliet. And according to Truth, the end of Farkle. Didn't Farkle tell Riley he was dead inside at the beginning of Ski Lodge?

And there's no question that the leaf (completely orange) represented Farkle in the Bay Window scene: 

But these are not the only parallels to Truth that I found. 

Farkle wears red, and a bear on his shirt in this episode, while Riley wears red too. Red was Juliet's color in the play. 

And then there's Lucas's moment, after Maya tells him to go to Riley. He literally tells Riley that this is their moment. Riley is wearing orange here, which calls back to the ending scene of the play. 

So what does all this mean? 

Well, Ski Lodge had a very Midsummer Night's Dream atmosphere. I would even argue that Evan was Puck, who messed around with everyone's feelings using his magic quiz book: 

He tells them all that conversation is the most important part of a relationship, which any Boy Meets World fan knows is a lie. Honesty was the correct answer. 

So all these characters are jumbled up again, and they're back in the square dance. 

But there's more. Shawn mentioned Romeo and Juliet in Upstate when he was talking about Cory and Topanga. He also said he chased after what they had. This is a reoccurring theme in the story, everyone wants to be like Cory and Topanga. (Romeo and Juliet?)

So these call backs to Girl Meets Truth are no accident. Especially since Shawn finally found happiness in Girl Meets I Do: 

So the story can finally move forward, but the characters themselves are in reset mode. Honestly there are connections to Truth, Yearbook and The Forgotten. 

If you watch Yearbook again, the parallels are uncanny! Farkle changes. Riley changes. Maya is considered to be Riley. Lucas gets upset. The major lesson is that you shouldn't let people tell you who you are. These characters are repeating history, because they haven't learned from it yet. Hopefully revealing what's behind the curtain (the illusion that Riley's world should be like Cory's) will help them acknowledge who they really are, and then they will be able to choose who they really care for. In terms of the triangle that is not a triangle, Girl Meets First Date is a good episode to watch. 

MJ said that the overall story of the show is "An attempt to explain, for this generation, what the perception of love is, versus what love may actually be, versus are we ready for that at all?”

What if Romeo and Juliet is the perception of love? The Cory and Topanga expectation? 

The reality is something very different. 

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 :)