Chapter Text
2-1 Back 2 School
Original Air Date: 1993-09-23
Writer: David Kendall
Director: David Trainer
Capsule Summary: Cory and Shawn attend their first day of high school and meet bullies.
Extendo Summary:
It's Cory and Shawn's first day of high school (seventh grade-- their high school supposedly covers six years). Shawn tries to make himself look older by gluing sideburns to his face, while Cory's plan is to make friends with the school bully, Harley Keiner. Eric, who is a junior, makes Cory sign a contract promising never to speak to him during school hours.
Upon entering John Adams High, Cory and Shawn are assaulted by Frankie and Joey, a pair of bullies. (Frankie is the big guy from Mall Rats, and Joey is the little, ratlike one.) While they escape unscathed, they are nervous and jumpy, and they jump and scream when Topanga walks up and taps them on the shoulder. She has long, wavy hair and a little pert bosom; Shawn notes that "summer was very good to [her]." Topanga exposits that it's time for homeroom and that they all have Mr. Turner in room 218.
When a long-haired man with an earring and a motorcycle jacket enters the now-familiar "school hallway" set, Cory pegs him as Harley. Cory immediately tries to ingratiate himself with the man, promising to be his friend, but the man just wants him to do his homework: "I want all my students to do my homework." It's Mr. Turner, the new English teacher.
English class. Mr. Turner spouts Cool Teacher Policy dialogue. Cory interrupts to say "Cool." Mr. Turner asks if he's a troublemaker, and Cory says that role belongs to Shawn. Turner identifies Shawn and asks him if he knows anything about The Odyssey, thus establishing the new Season 2 trend of literary tie-ins. Cory is reading an X-Men comic. Turner takes it, praises the X-Men to lame Cory's shock and delight, and assigns everyone to read the issue, even though it's a public school and those comic books cost money. He wants all the students to read it and The Odyssey for the next day (a weighty assignment I wouldn't even expect in college), when Cory will lead the discussion on similarities and differences. Cory decides that Turner is "Feeny with an earring."
Next period, cruel fate intervenes. Shawn is in Earth Science and Cory is in History. Devastated at their separation, Cory finds Eric to complain about his day. Eric denies knowing him. Cory then runs into Harley and tries to get in good with him. Harley wants Cory to change his name to "Johnny Baboon." A jittery hall monitor type bustles up and asks their names; when Cory says "Johnny Baboon," the hall monitor sends both Cory and Harley to the principal's office. The principal turns out to be none other than Mr. Feeny. Cory also discovers that Mr. Feeny is his next period history teacher. Just give up, Core--there's no getting away from that guy. Harley threatens to beat Cory up after school for getting him in trouble.
At lunch, Cory frets. Shawn asks Eric for help. Eric clandestinely meets Cory at a water fountain and tells him to fake illness, go to the nurse, and get their parents to pick him up. Cory thinks that's a coward's escape, but when Harley storms in on the warpath, Cory is convinces that the coward's escape is for him. Waiting for the nurse, Cory meets a pair of nerds who confide in him their plan of getting picked up from the nurse's office every day for the rest of high school. Cory changes his mind and decides to confront Harley. I don't know why he doesn't just go home.
Waiting for Harley in the hallway, Cory asks Turner if Odysseus ever makes it home. Turner confirms that he does instead of saying "Read the book" like a normal teacher. Cory thinks high school is harder than Odysseus's trials. Turner exits, and Harley shows; but before any violence happens, Eric comes leaping over the bannister like a white knight, ready to defend his brother. It does no good, however, and Harley is about to pound them both when Mr. Turner returns. Somehow, he intimidates Harley ("Could I take you?" Harley asks, and Mr. Turner says "No," even though I think Harley could totally take him). Cory is grateful. Turner says to read the book and Cory claims, "I lived it!", even though the parallels are tenuous at best. Shawn makes out with a girl in a locker.
Quotes:
"Mrs. Matthews. You just can't accept the fact that Cory and I are growing up. And we're old enough now to... buy our own hair." -- Shawn
Highlights:
-
Cory and Shawn exchange and elaborate secret handshake that involves a lot of synchronized dancing.
-
A pretty junior friend of Eric's notices Shawn and Shawn gets all giggly.
-
Cory says that Harley doesn't have to bully; Harley responds in mock seriousness, "Here I stand at the crossroads of my life."
Slashy Subtext: Frankie continually ceases mid-bully to wander off and contemplate his sexuality.
Episode Themes: Life Imitates Literature, The Bullies
Rating: 3. A big leap up from season 1, but pretty solidly average in the grand scheme of the Boy Meets World ouevre. A little low on comedy-- well, good comedy-- but necessarily busy as it sets up the high school and the new cast of characters.