Seth Meyers recently delivered a compelling critique on his show, Late Night with Seth Meyers, regarding a pivotal moment from the beloved series Boy Meets World. In his passionate monologue, Meyers argued that Topanga Lawrence made a significant blunder by choosing to propose to Cory Matthews during their high school graduation. The show, which aired on ABC for seven successful seasons from 1993 to 2000, traced Cory’s journey through adolescence, emphasizing his evolving relationship with Topanga, ultimately culminating in marriage.
During the show’s “A Closer Look”segment, Meyers reacted to a controversial social media post by Vivek Ramaswamy. Ramaswamy’s post drew parallels between iconic TV characters, stating, “A culture that venerates Cory from ‘Boy Meets World,’ or Zack & Slater over Screech in ‘Saved by the Bell,’ or ‘Stefan’ over Steve Urkel in ‘Family Matters,’ will not produce the best engineers.”While discussing the other two sitcoms mentioned, Meyers noted that Ramaswamy’s analysis overlooked Topanga, who stood out as the most cherished character in Boy Meets World.
Meyers went on to highlight Topanga’s remarkable academic achievements, pointing out that she graduated as the valedictorian and gained acceptance to Yale University. Yet, in a surprising twist, she decided to attend Pennbrook instead, solely to remain close to Cory. This decision sparked Meyers’ frustration, as he elaborated on Topanga’s sacrifices, having worked tirelessly to secure her dream college spot only to prioritize her relationship over her aspirations. The essence of Meyers’ critique can be summarized as follows:
Vivek clearly never saw ‘Boy Meets World,’ or he would know that the most beloved character on that show was Topanga, who beat Minkus for valedictorian, and got into Yale, but only decided to go to Pennbrook so she could be with Cory, over the advice of Mr. Feeny, who told her to go to Yale, and was obviously, Feeny was right.
I mean, she worked her whole life to get into the school of her dreams, only to prioritize the needs of a boy over her own ambitions. Although, ultimately it worked out because she did become a successful lawyer on ‘Girl Meets World,’ even though I feel like she probably regrets not going to Yale.
Implications of Meyers’ Rant on Boy Meets World
Topanga’s Sacrifices for Cory
Reflecting on the storyline of Boy Meets World, it becomes evident that Topanga made substantial sacrifices for Cory. Throughout the series, she demonstrated a dedication to her education that surpassed that of Cory and Shawn Hunter. However, she ultimately rejected the incredible opportunity at Yale to stay close to Cory—a choice she made earlier in the series when her parents moved, opting to live with her aunt to attend John Adams High School alongside him.
Over time, Topanga and Cory recognized that marrying immediately after high school may not have been the wisest decision and chose to postpone their wedding until the show’s final season. Notably, Cory reciprocated Topanga’s sacrifices in the series finale by agreeing to move with her to New York for her internship. While Topanga’s choices sparked debate, their mutual commitment clearly exemplifies the depth of their relationship and their willingness to make sacrifices for one another.
Analyzing Meyers’ Commentary on Boy Meets World
Meyers’ Perspective from an Adult’s Lens
Evaluating Topanga’s choices from an adult perspective reveals the potential loss of a significant opportunity. Meyers’ reference to Mr. Feeny’s viewpoint adds another layer of insight, as the character embodies the wisdom that comes with age and experience. One of the show’s true charms lies in illustrating how younger characters navigate their relationships and mistakes while learning valuable life lessons. The imperfections in Cory and Topanga’s choices render them more relatable and authentic to audiences.
To view Meyers’ complete commentary, you can check out the original segment on Late Night with Seth Meyers.
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