Girl Meets World – GIrl Meets Permanent Record

By starrymag | June 20, 2016

By: Dustin Bradley

 

“Girl Meets World” es muy bueno este año (“Girl Meets World is very good this season!”) The show is getting better and better with each new episode this season. This week we tackled a subject that is all too familiar for most high school students…Spanish class. As you probably know, the older you get the harder it is to learn new things and retain it so this week’s struggle was all too real. Girl Meets Permanent Record was spot on with my experiences in high school Spanish. Let’s dive right in!

 

Roberta, Spanish only.

 

We start the episode with Riley (Rowan Blanchard) and Maya (Sabrina Carpenter) in Señora Feinstein-Chang’s Spanish class. They get their first test back and Maya receives an “A” while Riley gets a dreaded “D.” Señora Feinstein-Chang (Anahi Bustillos) was a very nice addition to the adult cast. She reminds me of my Spanish teachers in high school – both tough with no-nonsense, but also caring and sweet. I loved every scene with her this week. I hope we get more of her sometime.

 

D for Disgrace!

 

The gang is, of course, hanging out at Topanga’s Cafe after school. Riley is ashamed of her grade while Maya can’t help but celebrate. The topic turns to permanent records and Riley gets scared that this one bad grade will deter her from success.

I have to give a shoutout to two things that happened in this scene. Number one is precious cinnamon roll Zay (Amir Mitchell-Townes)! He has such a quick wit about him that he just makes me smile every time he speaks. I don’t want any harm to come to him ever. Also can we just make him a regular already?! Number two is Maya’s “phone” bit with her test. It was so hilarious! I had to rewind and watch it multiple times because it was too much, in a good way!

 

Welcome to the first ever in her life, Maya refrigerator ceremony!

 

That night at the family dinner, Maya presents them with her grade and Topanga (Danielle Fishel) puts it on the fridge. They talk about how Riley can do better because she is good student and she just needs to work harder. I have a question though. WHERE IS KATY?! Did Maya’s mom just disappear? I miss her! And while I value Maya’s relationship with the Matthews, I also value Maya’s relationship with her mom that blossomed so much over the past two seasons.

 

Welcome to high school, Mr. Matthews. I need you to understand that I know what I am doing.

 

Cory (Ben Savage) goes to talk to Señora Chang about Riley’s grade and explain to her that Riley is a good student. In the process, he learns that sometimes you can’t always nurture your students. The next few years will be tough on them and they need to be prepared. It’s also worth noting that Señora Chang knows that Riley can be a good student, but unfortunately right now she isn’t being one. I loved this interaction a lot. It was nice seeing Cory socialize with another teacher and for him to see that every teacher has a different style. I liked that this week he got to learn something too.

 

The worst thing of life is when someone is better than you in every way loves you anyway.

 

It seems that half of the gang is dealing with issues of not being good enough along with Riley. Lucas (Peyton Meyer) isn’t the baseball star he used to be. Farkle (Corey Fogelmanis) isn’t the smartest one in the room. Zay, Maya and Smackle (Cecilia Balagot) are doing great though! Zay shined at baseball tryouts and Smackle is working wonders in honors chemistry.

 

Zay and Maya shared an awesome secret handshake that showed us that they must have been spending some time together. Anybody shipping #Zaya yet?! Smackle also told us of her love triangle (well, quadrilateral) that we should care about a/k/a/ her, Zay, Lucas, and Farkle. I love Smackle.

 

I’m here to thank you.

 

Toanga gets an interaction with Señora Chang too and this one was so important. Topanga takes the chance to thank her for pushing her students so hard because it will ultimately help them in the long run. I loved this scene so much! It was beautiful and perfect. When Topanga returns home, she lets Riley in on an important lesson…Only she can attempt to fix this.

 

You know what test is more important to me? The test next week.

 

And fix this she tries. Riley goes to talk to Señora Chang by herself and lucky for her she doesn’t have to do much talking because Señora has already heard it all before. Riley isn’t going to get a make-up test or any extra credit because as Señora Chang explains, “The “D” is one grade on a weekly test. And that test tells me what you know this week. You know what test is more important to me? The test next week. That’s always the most important test because that’s the one that helps me determine your final grade. Because that tells me which direction you want to go.” Which direction does Riley want to go?

 

You’ve always been Riley. That’s your permanent record.

 

Riley contemplates that in the bay window when she gets a visit from someone that made all “Rilarkle” shippers go crazy! That’s right Farkle came to the rescue. He is conflicted because if he steps up his game so will Smackle. Riley tells him that he chose Smackle because he loves the challenge that she brings him, which rivalry does not a relationship make. Riley realizes something in that moment. She has to rise to the occasion, too. This is high school. So, once Farkle leaves, she picks up her Spanish book and studies away.

 

Buenos días, Señora Feinstein-Chang. Hoy es un nuevo día.

 

Riley learned a lot. I mean she got avocado and a grade switched up. She was saying something about a potato and a sailor. But all that is okay because she tried and now she knows that if she puts in the effort she can keep getting the “A-” or better that she receives on the next test.

 

Good teachers look down the road to someone’s possibilities.

 

Cory dispenses the lesson that he learned this week to the core six when they arrive in his classroom early. I love that Cory learned something too because it goes to show you that no matter how old you get, you always have something to learn!

 

Stupid ‘frigerator makes me wanna do a better job.

 

Auggie (August Maturo) got the gold star that he deserves. He screams, “Fridge me!” and that grade that made Maya so proud gets swept off the fridge to make room for Auggie’s. But it’s okay because we know Maya plans on doing better in this new chapter.

 

NEXT WEEK

 

Next week’s episode is titled, Girl Meets Triangle. The synopsis reads “Maya’s identity crisis kicks into full gear when her art teacher makes her realize her friendship with Riley may be affecting her artist’s voice.” So, if you are hoping to get closure on the triangle well I don’t think this will be it. Till next week!