Riley has trouble with her debate assignment when she must argue if people are naturally good or evil. (imdb.com)

One of the many traits that sets RIley Matthews apart is her positive view of the world.  One of the many traits that sets Girl Meets World apart is the show’s willingness to dig deep into characters, in a way I don’t has ever been done on a tween or Dcom series before.

Here, at the opening, Riley and Farkle are debating if the sun shines day or night.  (Note: Smackle’s heated response to Farkle’s debate statements is a riot – please give these two their own show).  Riley struggles mightily with the concept of seeing the other side of the situation.  I found this rather surprising given many of her bay window conversations with Maya.  As Cory notes, “many wars have started as a result of not seeing the other side.”  So he throws down a challenge to Riley: to debate if people are good or evil (see the parallel between day and night).

Here’s what I found troubling about this episode.  Maya shows Riley the web and Riley seems surprised – or disturbed – that there is poverty, war, and climate change.  My question: what planet has she been on?  She lives in New York City for one.  Does she not pay attention to what is going on around her?  Two Shoes Louis is mentioned (and he’s seen at the end in one of the corniest scenes on the show).  Why not have her react to the fact he needs to beg for money to have to two matching shoes?  What kind of world would let that happen?

Instead, Riley turns “evil” when she eats Zay’s sole cookie from his grandmother.  This is probably not the most evil thing Riley could have done.  However, the evil act had to be something that impacted her group of friends so that the resolution could involve her group of friends.  Riley mentions that she didn’t give Two Shoes Louis $2 because it was spaghetti and hot dogs day.  It might have been interesting for Riley’s evil act to follow this arc.

After hearing a story from Maya about how dirty the beaches are (and how people can’t feel the sand between their toes), Augie begs Topanga to go to the beach to clean it up.  Here’s our parallel good story.  They are only able to clean a small portion of the beach (and actually, NYC beaches are pretty clean).  Augie is worried that his action’s wont make a difference and that they have wasted their time.  Topanga shares the famous starfish story – that the actions of one man makes a difference for one starfish (and isn’t that what teaching is all about.)

Note: The Matthews kitchen table seems to have shrunk.

Back in class, Farkle mentions that they have noticed a change in Riley.  Moreover, Riley’s goodness brings out the natural goodness in her friends.  That’s what they look to her for.  But Zay can’t forgive her for eating the cookie – and it will take time to forgive her.”

Riley then offers the following analysis: “This is a world of poverty, hunger and climate change. And we know it. And we tolerate it. And we have not changed it. So if the world creates opportunities for us to do something good or something evil every day… And that world is full of poverty, hunger and war… Then doesn’t the state of the world answer the question? Doesn’t it prove that the world is evil? That we are evil?”

The key message is this: it’s not that the world asks us to make a decision between good and evil.  The world asks us to do our part, to work to a common good.  After Riley tells Zay she has written a cookie song, he quickly accepts her apology.  At first, she thinks it is just because he doesn’t want to hear the song, but, in reality, Zay knows Riley’s apology is coming from a good place.

The final scene involves Two Shoes Louis.  Apparently, he has reached his goal of being able to buy matching shoes.  But he wanted the last $2 to come from Riley, not a stranger.  So he gives Riley the $2 so she can give it back to him.  Again, Riley’s actions come from a good place.

This episode was an interesting exploration of good and evil, albeit a little too saccharine for me.