Our family's heritage makes us who we are. For whether we adhere to our parent's teachings, customize them to what we are comfortable with, or rebel, our heritage sets our foundation. But with learning about your family's past can bring out some painful memories. Ones which remind the cast, and perhaps the viewers, that even with the various faults of American society, there are and were worse places to be.
Topic 1: Meet Raffi (Ava & Auggie)
Auggie makes a friend from Cuba who seems like a Cuban version of Auggie with a matching Ava back home. Leading to multiple instances of Raffi noting how much he likes America as well as how it is the land of opportunity.
{Commentary}
Later in the episode, a Cambodian woman speaks of how and why she had to emigrate from her home country and with Raffi I wished they would have done a child's version of that. Not in terms of him speaking of how scary and frightening Cuba was, since the last thing anyone needs is a ridiculous amount of American exceptionalism, but it would have been cool if he got to talk about Cuba's culture. That is, as opposed to Raffi just talking about how enamored he is by America, specifically New York City.
Topic 2: Know Your History (Riley, Maya, Farkle, Lucas and Zay)
With a cultural fair at the school coming up, Cory ties his lesson and assignment around that. He has everyone get to know their history and what he gets is appalling. Maya learns she is Irish so she throws around potatoes and Irish soap, Zay, and Lucas dress up as ridiculous Texans, and Farkle holds back his presentation for he needs more info.
Now, as for Riley, for some reason both Cory and Topanga say she is American and comes from Americans. Which leaves her lost and confused and for some reason Cory gets upset when that is all she has to offer.
{Commentary}
Honestly, the only thing worth talking about is how weird, if not stupid, Topanga and Cory saying Riley is solely American. Granted, they tried to clean it up with how their culture is influenced by the Chinese their grandparents interacted with in San Fransisco and the Dutch in PA, but it still seemed like such a cop-out. Though, who knows if perhaps Cory or Topanga know their own history and being American is all they know. Much less, and this is me being optimistic, maybe their past is as dark as the one Farkle is hiding and they don't think Riley is ready to hear it.
Topic 3: Where I'm From (Riley, Maya, Farkle, Lucas, and Zay)
For the most part, everyone cleans up their presentation. Riley goes into how her being American comes from her being raised in the melting pot which is New York, Maya talks about how beautiful Ireland is and how she wants to take her mom, and Zay gets the short end of the stick by not doing his presentation in front of the class. He does not get it as bad as Lucas though. Zay does learn his family is from Ghana, then went to Jamaica, transitioned to Texas and now is in New York. As for Lucas? Well, he gets skipped.
But the two things which are noteworthy is a student named Nigel having his Cambodian grandmother speak on how and why she emigrated to America and then Farkle revealing his grandfather was Jewish. Not only that but most of his family, his father's side that is, died in the holocaust leaving just his grandfather. A fact which is a bit devastating to him especially as he is trying to figure who he is as a person.
{Commentary}
It is sort of weird how the show hints to slavery and the holocaust but doesn't directly talk about it. In a way it is sort of a good thing for it allows parents to approach the subject as they see fit, yet at the same time considering Nigel's grandmother's story, and either Zay or Lucas noting how much cultures clash, either slavery or the holocaust would have been good for Cory's assignment wrap up. Especially since he is a history teacher and both have to come up sooner or later.
But while they skirt around those two major historic periods, at the very least Nigel's grandmother didn't have to water down her story. It isn't graphic or detailed, but it gets the point across. Which I was thankful for since when this show puts aside its silliness and allows their characters to be real, express their issues, and show them in the process of managing them, that is when Girl Meets World shines.
Highlights
Nigel's Grandmother story and how Farkle reacted to learning his grandfather was a holocaust survivor were something. But for Farkle specifically, I hope as he continues to try to figure out what it means to be him, what happens in this episode isn't forgotten. Especially as Riley has another tantrum, Maya's another moment of insecurity, or because of some romance plot.
Low Points
Maybe my expectations are too high, but the initial output the kids gave for their heritage presentations were beyond ridiculous. Be it the stereotypical Texan, Maya with the potatoes or Cory and Topanga masking their background and dwindling it down to being American, it all was so asinine and a insult to whatever development the characters have had thus far.
On The Fence
Whether Raffi is a one off character or reoccurring, I hope he doesn't become simply another comic relief character. With his different perspective and experience in another culture, I hope he opens Ava and Auggie's eyes to a different world one day. Especially as they come to meet the world.
Topic 1: Meet Raffi (Ava & Auggie)
Auggie makes a friend from Cuba who seems like a Cuban version of Auggie with a matching Ava back home. Leading to multiple instances of Raffi noting how much he likes America as well as how it is the land of opportunity.
{Commentary}
Later in the episode, a Cambodian woman speaks of how and why she had to emigrate from her home country and with Raffi I wished they would have done a child's version of that. Not in terms of him speaking of how scary and frightening Cuba was, since the last thing anyone needs is a ridiculous amount of American exceptionalism, but it would have been cool if he got to talk about Cuba's culture. That is, as opposed to Raffi just talking about how enamored he is by America, specifically New York City.
Topic 2: Know Your History (Riley, Maya, Farkle, Lucas and Zay)
With a cultural fair at the school coming up, Cory ties his lesson and assignment around that. He has everyone get to know their history and what he gets is appalling. Maya learns she is Irish so she throws around potatoes and Irish soap, Zay, and Lucas dress up as ridiculous Texans, and Farkle holds back his presentation for he needs more info.
Now, as for Riley, for some reason both Cory and Topanga say she is American and comes from Americans. Which leaves her lost and confused and for some reason Cory gets upset when that is all she has to offer.
{Commentary}
Honestly, the only thing worth talking about is how weird, if not stupid, Topanga and Cory saying Riley is solely American. Granted, they tried to clean it up with how their culture is influenced by the Chinese their grandparents interacted with in San Fransisco and the Dutch in PA, but it still seemed like such a cop-out. Though, who knows if perhaps Cory or Topanga know their own history and being American is all they know. Much less, and this is me being optimistic, maybe their past is as dark as the one Farkle is hiding and they don't think Riley is ready to hear it.
Topic 3: Where I'm From (Riley, Maya, Farkle, Lucas, and Zay)
For the most part, everyone cleans up their presentation. Riley goes into how her being American comes from her being raised in the melting pot which is New York, Maya talks about how beautiful Ireland is and how she wants to take her mom, and Zay gets the short end of the stick by not doing his presentation in front of the class. He does not get it as bad as Lucas though. Zay does learn his family is from Ghana, then went to Jamaica, transitioned to Texas and now is in New York. As for Lucas? Well, he gets skipped.
But the two things which are noteworthy is a student named Nigel having his Cambodian grandmother speak on how and why she emigrated to America and then Farkle revealing his grandfather was Jewish. Not only that but most of his family, his father's side that is, died in the holocaust leaving just his grandfather. A fact which is a bit devastating to him especially as he is trying to figure who he is as a person.
{Commentary}
It is sort of weird how the show hints to slavery and the holocaust but doesn't directly talk about it. In a way it is sort of a good thing for it allows parents to approach the subject as they see fit, yet at the same time considering Nigel's grandmother's story, and either Zay or Lucas noting how much cultures clash, either slavery or the holocaust would have been good for Cory's assignment wrap up. Especially since he is a history teacher and both have to come up sooner or later.
But while they skirt around those two major historic periods, at the very least Nigel's grandmother didn't have to water down her story. It isn't graphic or detailed, but it gets the point across. Which I was thankful for since when this show puts aside its silliness and allows their characters to be real, express their issues, and show them in the process of managing them, that is when Girl Meets World shines.
Highlights
Nigel's Grandmother story and how Farkle reacted to learning his grandfather was a holocaust survivor were something. But for Farkle specifically, I hope as he continues to try to figure out what it means to be him, what happens in this episode isn't forgotten. Especially as Riley has another tantrum, Maya's another moment of insecurity, or because of some romance plot.
Low Points
Maybe my expectations are too high, but the initial output the kids gave for their heritage presentations were beyond ridiculous. Be it the stereotypical Texan, Maya with the potatoes or Cory and Topanga masking their background and dwindling it down to being American, it all was so asinine and a insult to whatever development the characters have had thus far.
On The Fence
Whether Raffi is a one off character or reoccurring, I hope he doesn't become simply another comic relief character. With his different perspective and experience in another culture, I hope he opens Ava and Auggie's eyes to a different world one day. Especially as they come to meet the world.
