Danielle Fishel criticizes Girl Meets World for centering on Ben Savage's Cory Matthews. Learn what the Pod Meets World hosts revealed about the show.
Boy Meets World star Danielle Fishel has opened up about her frustrations regarding the Disney Channel spin-off series Girl Meets World, criticizing the show for focusing too heavily on Ben Savage's character, Cory Matthews, instead of its younger lead stars. Speaking alongside co-hosts Will Friedle and Rider Strong during a recent episode of their hit rewatch podcast Pod Meets World, Fishel revealed that the sequel series strayed far from its original creative promise when it aired on Disney Channel between 2014 and 2017.
Why Did Danielle Fishel Criticize Girl Meets World?
During the September 3 episode of Pod Meets World, Danielle Fishel explained that she originally expected her role as Topanga Lawrence to be relatively minor, as network executives promised that Girl Meets World would center around the new generation led by Rowan Blanchard (Riley Matthews) and Sabrina Carpenter (Maya Hart).
Instead, Fishel felt her character became practically insignificant because the scriptwriters continually gave main storylines to Ben Savage's Cory Matthews:
- Broken Creative Promises: Fishel recalled being told prior to filming that Girl Meets World would function as a brand-new show for a younger audience rather than a nostalgia-heavy reboot.
- Over-Reliance on Boy Meets World: Rather than letting the new characters stand on their own, writers constantly brought elements, storylines, and guest stars from the original 1990s series into the sequel.
- Diminished Character Arc: Because narrative focus drifted toward Cory's classroom lessons and personal development, Topanga's role was reduced to minor background beats.
What Did Will Friedle and Rider Strong Say About the Show?
Co-hosts Will Friedle (Eric Matthews) and Rider Strong (Shawn Hunter) shared similar views regarding the identity crisis that plagued Girl Meets World during its three-season run.
Friedle argued that the spinoff struggled early on because it tried too hard to bridge two completely different television eras:
- Identity Struggle: Friedle noted that the show should have fully embraced its lightweight Disney Channel identity and focused on the younger audience it was designed to target.
- The Core Strength: Strong added that the natural, genuine friendship between Rowan Blanchard and Sabrina Carpenter was easily the best element of the show, but it was frequently overshadowed by adult storylines.
Where Is the Girl Meets World Cast Now?
Despite ending in 2017 after 72 episodes, Girl Meets World served as a major launching pad for its young ensemble:
- Sabrina Carpenter: Went on to become a global pop superstar, dominating music charts with hit singles and sold-out arena tours.
- Rowan Blanchard: Transitioned into critically acclaimed film and television projects, including starring roles in Snowpiercer and indie feature films.
- The Original Trio: Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle, and Rider Strong continue to connect with millions of nostalgic fans weekly through their popular audio project Pod Meets World.
All three seasons of Girl Meets World along with all seven seasons of Boy Meets World are currently streaming globally on Disney+.