When we stop and think about it, Boy Meets World wasn’t this groundbreaking TV show that was created to change lives. It was about a “normal” family living outside of Philadelphia and how they handled the punches that come with growing up.
We watched the Matthews family go through their ups and downs with noble characters alongside them like Topanga, Shawn, Mr. Feeny, and even Minkus. As ’90s babies, we were all glued to the love story that was between Cory and Topanga and wished we had a teacher (and mentor) as awesome as Mr. Feeny.
However, throughout the seven seasons and 158 episodes, there were a few head-scratching moments about our favorite characters on screen. Although fans loved tuning in every week to watch the latest Boy Meets World plot, over time there were a few inconsistencies that never ironed themselves out. For starters, did the writers think fans wouldn’t notice that they changed Topanga’s mom’s name a few times? Or that Shawn had one too many siblings he just couldn’t keep track of? Keep reading for more things that make no sense about our favorite ’90s show.
WERE THEY THE CLASS OF 1998 OR 2000?
But seriously… Did you notice that the age of this group changed a few times during its seven-season run? Granted, the cast did start filming when they were young, making it the perfect scenario to watch this group of friends (and families) grow older and handle the complexities that come with teenagehood.
The writers didn’t handle their school years in the best way, though. In the 1993-1994 school year, our favorite group of kids were in the sixth grade. However, two years later in the show, this group was entering their junior year in high school! If that’s the timeline writers were hoping to go with then why did writers say they were set to graduate in 1998? Furthermore, in another flub, Mr. Feeny even called them the class of 2000. So…which is it?
ONE ACTOR — THREE CHARACTERS
If you’ve been watching reruns of this iconic family show, you may notice one re-appearing actor. The strange thing about this actor is that he doesn’t play one reoccurring role… he played three different roles. We’re assuming casting directors wouldn’t think fans would notice?
Willie Garson (Sex and the City’s Stanford Blatch) played a man named Leonard (who was an assistant manager), a Merrill Lynch employee named Mervyn, and—fast forward a couple of years—he’s the actual minister who marries our favorite couple: Cory and Topanga!
TOPANGA WALKED HOW FAR TO BE WITH CORY!?
If you’re as obsessed with Boy Meets World as the rest of us then you have to remember the iconic moment when Topanga moves away to Pittsburgh with her family but, somehow, shows up knocking on Cory’s door sopping wet. It was a tender moment between these sweethearts.
She tells Cory she ran away from home to see him. The part that doesn’t add up is Pittsburg is over 300 miles from Philly… Is she telling us she hitchhiked or walked over 300 miles to be with her high school sweetheart?! Even if she did drive, that’s a long car ride and there’s no way she could have gotten to Cory in the timeframe she gave him.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO MR. TURNER?
Mr. Turner was the flawless “bad boy” teacher at John Adams High School. Being the “cool” teacher, Cory and co. really bonded with him outside of the classroom — especially Shawn.
However, in the fourth season in an episode called “Cult Fiction,” Mr. Turner gets in a horrible accident where he’s bed-ridden in a hospital. And yet….that was it. Throughout the rest of the series, there was no mention of his treatment plan or anything. As an important character in the show, this blindsided fans. The spinoff, Girl Meets World, gives us more details on this flub but still!
REMEMBER WHEN TOPANGA HAD A SISTER?
In the first season, we’re introduced to Nebula Lawrence — Topanga’s older sister. She’s literally in one episode and makes an appearance at the Matthews’ front door.
After this, we never see or hear of Nebula again. Topanga is even referred to as an “only child” later in the series as well. Again, did writers think we wouldn’t notice? What’s even funnier is the actress who portrays Nebula—Krystee Clark—shows up in season two as an ice skater named Valorie!
ANGELA’S DAD WAS ALSO THEIR COLLEGE PROFESSOR?
Best friends with Topanga, Angela made a great addition to this group of friends. It was almost too good to be true when Shawn and Angela became lovers because it was best friends hanging out with best friends.
The more Angela appeared, the more we learned of her family. Her dad was a “revolutionist” who was always traveling; however, when we first meet him, he’s actually the same actor who portrayed one of Shawn’s college professors…
TOPANGA’S ‘FIRST’ PLANE RIDE
In season three’s “The Happiest Show on Earth” shows Topanga in Disney World on vacation after winning a trip. In an effort to win her back after a fight, Cory and Shawn grab a plane ticket to Disney. It was a magical episode considering we see our favorite group of friends running around Disney.
However, in season five’s “The Witches of Pennbrook,” Cory and Topanga are planning a trip when it’s said that this is Topanga’s first flight. Um… Did Topanga also walk to Florida from Pennsylvania as well?
HOW LONG HAVE SHAWN AND CORY BEEN FRIENDS?
The friendship between Cory and Shawn is truly one for the books. They are both so unique and different from one another yet mesh so perfectly. While watching the series, we hear that these two have been BFFs since they were little, but that doesn’t make sense because Mr. Feeny once said Shawn Hunter moved to the area when he was 12 years old…
In the show, we’ve definitely seen these two together plotting and scheming when they were under 12 years old.
WHO SHUT WHO OUT?
Do you remember when Cory was given the duty of cleaning out his garage and building a yard sale? Instead of asking his brother Eric to help him, he asks his best friend Shawn and girlfriend Topanga to help instead.
Upset that they’re looking through his family’s memories without him, Eric goes into a rant about Cory. Cory, apparently, always “shuts” Eric out but that doesn’t really make sense… As the older brother, Eric is always acting too cool to hang with Cory — especially when girls were around. This was not a Cory problem, it was an Eric problem.
ERIC & JACK GRADUATED COLLEGE EARLY, BUT THE SAME CAN’T BE SAID FOR HIGH SCHOOL
We meet Shawn’s half-brother, Jack, in season five. He’s similar to Shawn in a lot of ways and even becomes BFFs with Eric Matthew. Knowing his rough background, fans were proud when he got into college — the same college as Eric.
However, it appears both Eric and Jack graduated Pennbrook University in just three years — a year earlier than most undergraduates. This is incredibly surprising considering both of these hilarious characters weren’t the brightest bulbs in the room. We’ll blame this on another writing flub.
