Girl Meets World: Delving into the Past with "Girl Meets 1961"
"I continued it. I am a continuation. That’s what history’s about.” This sentiment encapsulates the essence of history as a continuous narrative, a theme explored in the Girl Meets World episode "Girl Meets 1961." This episode, the ninth in the show's first season, ventures into the past, connecting the present-day characters with their great-grandparents in a whirlwind of events in 1960s New York. While not without its flaws, "Girl Meets 1961" attempts to highlight the importance of history and the impact of past decisions on the future.
Concept Episodes in "Girl Meets World"
Girl Meets World continues the legacy of concept episodes, which have a rich history in Boy Meets World. These episodes often deviate from the standard format, exploring themes and ideas in creative and engaging ways. One defining memory of the series is season five’s “And Then There Was Shawn”, a horror movie send-up pitting the gang against knives, masked murderers, and blood-scrawled threats as they wander the halls of John Adams High. These episodes often provide a unique perspective on the characters and their relationships, offering valuable lessons and insights.
The Premise of "Girl Meets 1961"
"Girl Meets 1961" centers around a history assignment given by Cory Matthews, who is their history teacher, to his students, including his daughter Riley. Cory tries to get the class excited about the 1960s, but they’re not interested. Riley and Maya explain that no one cares about history, Cory explains that history is everywhere, and everything the class did yesterday is history, and every decision they make will have an effects everyone they meet. The assignment: to explore the 1960s through the lens of their grandparents or great-grandparents, to discover what life was like for them back then. He encourages them to time travel to the 1960s by talking to their grandparents or great-grandparents.
The episode subverts the repeating history trope by having the group’s great-grandparents somehow meet in the whirlwind that was 1960s New York, but pointedly not knowing each other for more than a few hours on a single night. The story flashes back to December 14th 1961, a young woman that looks like Riley walks into Club Hey (pronounced Hehhh). This is Riley’s great-grandmother Rosie McGee, she meets a young beatnik, Farkle’s great-grandfather, Ginsburg. Ginsburg notices that she’s a new patron and Rosie tries to act hip, but Ginsburg catches on. They exchange names and Ginsburg takes her picture to remember the moment they met. After the intro, Ginsburg welcomes the patrons and proceeds to do a poetry slam. After that, Ginsburg notices Rosie writing in her journal, she tells him she writes observations, he likes them and calls her a deep chick, and she replies “down here I’m a chick” (callback to the pilot). Ginsburg asks her why she came to the club, she tell him she wants to make new friends. Ginsburg shows her two tables: one table with Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, the other mysterious blonde flower child. As Ginsburg leaves, Rosie goes to the table with the blonde. This is Maya’s great-grandmother, May Clutterbucket. Rosie asks if she’s as interesting as she looks, May asks Rosie if she’s as rude as she talks, and she proceeds to act hip again.
The Story Unfolds
Back in the present, the kids hang out at Svorski’s Bakery, Riley asks for updates on everyones presentations. Riley managed to obtain Rosie’s journal and guitar, Lucas states that his father is sending him some things on his great-grandfather, whom his father never talks about. He also says that his name is Merlin, which Farkle makes fun of, he then asks him what his great-grandfather’s name, he tells him, and he tells him that he makes no sense to him. Riley notices Maya reading an art book Ms. Kossal gave her, she says the paintings are both amazing and depressing, since she could never works of art. Farkle takes a picture of the kids, when asked why, he tells Riley, that they might be important to somebody someday. Back in 1961, Rosie tries to stop May from reading her journal. As she looks through it she notices a musing called “The Girl With The Long Blonde Hair”. Rosie gets the journal back and tells that this is her first time here, May reveals it’s her first time too, and her bus broke down and her way to California. Rosie asks her where she was going, May tells her she’s going to Topanga Canyon, Rosie comments that Topanga’s a beautiful name for something you want to love. After that, Ginsburg asks May to take the stage. May grabs her guitar and sings her song. While Rosie cheers her on, Ginsburg calls on Lucas’ great-grandfather Merlin Scoggins to take the stage.
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Back in the present, Lucas starts his presentation, even doing his great-grandfather’s intro. He explains how he always did the intro, and that the only record he ever made was a hit. Cory being amazed by this, asks Lucas why he never told the class about this, he tells him he didn’t want to give Maya more material to make fun of him with. Maya tells him she done making fun of him, only to make fun of him again. Riley starts her presentation, and describes Rosie as a wide-eyed weirdo who always sees the best in everybody, just like her.
Cuts back to 1961, after Merlin’s performance he sits with May and Rosie. May and Merlin compliment each others songs. Ginsburg walks up to “The Observer, the Singer, and The Mystery Man” and takes a picture, and says that it’s going to be worth someone to somebody someday. Merlin leaves stating he doesn’t like to stay in one place to long. May decides to give up on her singing career and gives Rosie her guitar. Back in the present, Riley tells the class how Rosie never saw May again, and the world’s never heard of her, save for a shifty-eyed Maya. Lucas tells the class that after his only record, Merlin made some bad decisions and served time in prison. When asked why, Lucas answers he needed better friends. “She said she’d be gone for a moment, I’m still waiting. We could have been friends, maybe in some other life. Cory compliments Rosie’s writing. “If you quiet your voice, if you stop, because you think other people are better, then you’re not being who you are. Maya figures out she wrote that part, Riley tells her she continued it, she’s a continuation and that’s what history’s about. She tells the class about Rosie having Rhiannon, Rhiannon having Topanga, and Rhiannon giving Cory his wife. Riley gives Maya the guitar to remind her that even though May gave up, she shouldn’t.
Later at the bakery, Maya asks one of the bakers if he’s seen the art book, he gives it to her and she sits at her booth, to look inside. When she opens the book she sees a drawing by Riley saying to “change the world!”. Much later at home, Riley drags Topanga into her room, and shows her the origin of her name. The next day, Farkle rushes to the classroom, and gives his presentation. He explains that history is a puzzle, and that each piece comes together to make a picture. He talks about Ginsburg’s time working at Club Hey, then asks Riley and Lucas what year their respective great-grandparents met, they both reply December 1961, which shocks them. He asks Maya what she knew about her great-grandmother, she tells him nothing, but he knows she’s lying, and that she went behind her mother’s back and did research, she still denies it. He asks what she she found out, and she reveals she comes frome “a long line of Clutterbuckets”, much to Lucas’ delight. Farkle reveals that all four of the kids’ great-grandparents met that night in December. Riley asks why Maya didn’t tell her, she points out that May ran away. Cory tells the girls that it was a missed opportunity and that the class to learn from the past so they can make a better future.
The episode ends the next morning in Cory's class; he comes in to set up and finds Riley, Maya, Lucas, and Farkle already there and waiting. Now showing an interest in history, they all want to know where they will be going next. Cory: The '60s, man! Influential musicians like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez! Playin' guitars and singin' like prophets! The times, they were a' changin'! Farkle: The class! They are a' sleepin'. Riley: I-it's not your fault, Dad. Maya: I don't want to be a Clutterbucket. Riley: You're not.
Balancing the Elements
One of the challenges GMW faces is balancing its parent characters with the younger generation. In “Girl Meets 1961,” Topanga is largely absent, and Cory's role feels more like a "Feeny!Cory" than an "Alan!Cory," lacking the familial connection that grounds the show. A simple fix would be to include more dinner table conversations or moments that tie the parents into the historical narrative. It would have been nice to get even one dinner table conversation about history and Rosie out of Topanga to help tie everything together.
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The Charm and the Missed Opportunities
Despite its flaws, “Girl Meets 1961” has a certain charm. When you see that photo of the real Rosie, Meg, and Merlin, it’s hard not to feel something. It’s hard not to nod at the power behind Riley’s realization, that we are all ourselves and so much more, the next step in a long series of steps before us. It just doesn’t work-but then maybe that’s the exciting part. “Girl Meets 1961” is just one step, and not even a fully terrible one.
Final Thoughts
"Girl Meets 1961" is a decent episode with fantastic performances from the young cast, who played their respective great-grandparents. The attention to detail used for the flashbacks were a nice touch. The ending scene with the children sitting in the classroom was a nice callback to my fourth favorite BMW episode “Quiz Show”. Sabrina Carpenter sung a beautiful song, it’s a song about giving up, but it was still a nice song.
Episode Highlights
- Sabrina Carpenter's performance as May Clutterbucket, showcasing her acting and singing talents. Her switch between Maya and Meg was actually insane.
- The visual callbacks to Audrey Hepburn and Johnny Cash through the characters of Rosie and Merlin, respectively.
- The subtle yet impactful message about not letting the fear of inadequacy stifle one's dreams, as seen through Maya's character arc.
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