In the event you grew up within the ‘90s then you’re in all probability conversant in the ABC sitcom Boy Meets World, which aired between 1993 and 2000.
The present chronicled the lives of its central characters from the age of 11 till the tip of faculty. The collection ended with major character Cory, his spouse Topanga, greatest pal Shawn, and brother Eric shifting to New York Metropolis.
And in 2014, 14 years after the emotional finale, Boy Meets World was revived for the sequel collection Woman Meets World, which follows Cory and Topanga’s daughter Riley, performed by Rowan Blanchard.
This aired for 3 seasons till 2017, and identical to its predecessor it adopted Riley and her buddies as they realized helpful life classes whereas rising up.
Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel reprised their roles as Riley’s dad and mom and had been central to the present, whereas most different main forged members from Boy Meets World both had cameos or had been recurring characters within the collection.
However regardless of the large similarities between Boy Meets World and Woman Meets World, many viewers have argued that the latter struggled to achieve the excessive requirements that had been set by Boy.
And this has been highlighted in Season 2’s “Woman Meets Farkle,” which not too long ago resurfaced on TikTok after initially airing on the Disney Channel in September 2015.
Within the episode, Riley’s pal Farkle confides to her and their different buddies, Maya and Lucas, that he’s being examined for autism — which the TikTok person who shared the video stated is being handled “like a terminal illness.”
“They need to see if I’ve autism,” Farkle explains within the scene. To which Maya abruptly snaps: “You don’t.”
Riley echoes: “Let’s go inform them you don’t.”
“I might need a sort of autism referred to as Asperger’s syndrome,” Farkle continues. However Maya firmly repeats: “You don’t.”
Apparently, this episode aired two years after the time period “Asperger’s syndrome” was eradicated within the American Psychiatric Affiliation’s Diagnostic and Statistical Handbook of Psychological Problems (DSM-5), and it’s now not utilized by clinicians as a separate analysis to autism.
Riley sadly continues: “Farkle, after I stated you had been a bit Farkley-y, what I meant was…” Lucas interrupts: “You behave identical to a wonderfully regular Farkle.”
Farkle’s dad then explains that it was necessary to his son that his buddies had been “part of this,” and Riley replies: “As a result of he’s Farkle.”
Maya provides: “That’s who you’re, it doesn’t matter what anyone says.”
“BRUH I’M SORRY however do y’all bear in mind this???” social media person Jon wrote as he shared the clip. “Why’d they react like he had a terminal illness like WHAT.”
And viewers agreed that the scene was needlessly dramatic, with the TikTok shortly going viral because it racked up over 237,000 likes and 1000’s of feedback.
Within the feedback, folks expressed their shock at Maya and Riley’s response to Farkle having the checks, and autistic folks admitted that the episode had made them “really feel horrible” and left them “terrified” to inform their buddies about their very own analysis once they first watched it.
“Lowkey this episode upset me as a result of I’ve aspergers and their reactions made me really feel horrible. like they refused it. it truthfully messed me up,” one particular person wrote.
“Watching this episode in center faculty was the only real purpose i used to be terrified to inform my buddies about my autism 💀” another person agreed.
“I cherished this present and that i’m so glad i wasn’t identified but with autism when i watched this bc it could’ve destroyed me,” a 3rd particular person admitted.
“That is truly so incorrect and damaging for youths to observe😭,” another wrote. Another person commented: “They acted like he was gonna change after the analysis💀”
“Omg every little thing they stated to him was a complete trainwreck 😭” a person added. One other stated: “That they had me pondering he was gonna die.”
Another person echoed: “Nah trigger even after I first watched this I used to be like ‘why are they performing prefer it’s a horrible factor he’s gonna die.’”
Many individuals referenced how “aggressive” Maya and Riley had been once they repeated “you don’t,” and the unique poster replied to 1 remark: “Like that’s so poisonous to say to somebody who simply instructed u one thing critical.”
“This was so out of contact 😭😭😭” another agreed. Another person requested: “Why did they act prefer it was so horrible 💀💀”
“This was sick 😭😭 think about the children who had been truly autistic seeing this. that will destroy me,” one other wrote. To which one person concluded: “This is the reason GOOD autistic rep is required in media cos now what within the hell.”
Different viewers couldn’t assist however examine the scene to the storylines that they grew up having fun with in Boy Meets World, with one particular person writing: “Boy meets world was so good who allow them to make the spinoff so unhealthy omg.”
“Boy meets world handled quite a lot of points in a very great way,” another person agreed. “Woman meets world fumbled the bag.”
The episode ended with Farkle being instructed that he doesn’t have autism.
Whereas Boy Meets World has usually maintained excessive reward from followers within the almost-30 years because it aired, it has nonetheless been referred to as out for some critically problematic moments.
In truth, Danielle and her former costars, Rider Sturdy and Will Friedle, have instantly addressed these facets of the present on their podcast, Pod Meets World, which they launched over the summer time.
Simply final month, Rider recalled being “very upset with the adults on set” for his or her method to Cory and Topanga having intercourse in episodes that ended up being banned from the Disney Channel.
And he and Could have additionally spoken brazenly about their “horribly uncomfortable” expertise of getting to repeatedly make out with background actors as baby stars.