The usual cast is here: Cory Matthews, his older brother Eric, Cory’s girlfriend Topanga, Cory’s best friend Sean Hunter, and Cory’s neighbor and teacher Mr. Feeny. And in this season Sean Hunter’s older half-brother Jack played by Matthew Lawrence joins the crew.
The season kicks off with an episode that pits Eric against the harsh reality of having to grow up and find his own place when he attends college. For some reason, to a sociable young man the idea of moving away from his parents is a frightening ordeal, even if the move seems to suggest a short drive downtown. And college, as portrayed in this show, is extremely tough, especially when Eric and Jack, both of them college freshman, have to write short papers for their first English assignment. They find this to be such a daunting task they have to go to the dean of the college, butter him up, and convince him to give them an extension on the thousand-word paper to be written on anything they want. Yup, it’s that hard.
Cory, the show’s main boy-meeting-world, is here in full force, cracking his usual corny jokes with his head of macaroni hair and child-like looks. And as always he’s head over heels in love with his girlfriend Topanga…and his best friend Sean Hunter. An episode is actually devoted to their intense, albeit platonic, man-love relationship. But back to the boy-girl love affair. It seems every moment Cory is on screen with Topanga there has to be a sappy expression of their affection for each other. Topanga is like that girl you see around in restaurants or bars who clings to her boyfriend, wants him to kiss her every few seconds and tell her he loves her. And Cory is that guy who indulges her. She says, “kiss” and he kisses her. Lacking any real lives, they also seem devoted to mingling in the love lives of others as if they aren’t settled till the whole world is as happily in love as they are.
I like shows that can be described as having no rules, that push the boundaries of the imagination. But every show has to have its limits. Not this one though. As if college life lacks the possibilities for interesting storylines, the writers decide to introduce a coven of witches in one of the episodes. You’ll find an older Candace Cameron playing the head witch, dating Jack Hunter for his apartment, and even attempting to kill him to complete a spell that requires a human sacrifice. Of course, attempted murder hardly fazes him. He just realizes she’s not the girl for him.
I wonder where these characters would be without Mr. Feeny, the show’s designated life coach. In every episode, he’s there to give obvious answers to easy questions. He’s like Wilson in the series Home Improvement, always ready in the end to help others through their struggles. I’m almost convinced if Mr. Feeny weren’t around everyone would all be completely lost or dead. Cory constantly runs to him for advice on how to manage his relationship with Topanga. Eric wants to know if he’s worthy of college and runs to Feeny for an ego-boost. It’s surprising Mr. Feeny isn’t laying out their clothes for the day or telling them when to breathe.
Watching Boy Meets World, if anything, shows us that times change. What worked a decade ago, won’t necessarily entertain today. This show won’t even please young viewers today. They deserve better than what this show offers in cheap jokes and ridiculous storylines. And after screening this season, I’m confident they’re getting it.
NO DVD BONUS FEATURES
"Boy Meets World: The Complete Fifth Season" is on sale May 3, 2011 and is not rated. Comedy. Directed by Alan Myerson, David Kendall, F Gary Gray, William Russ. Written by Andy Guerdat, April Kelly, Barbara Feldman. Starring Ben Savage, Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong.
