It's Not You, It's Me

SPECIAL NOTE: As was pointed out to me from yesterday's post, Matt Lawrence is the middle Lawrence brother, not the oldest as I had stated. My bad, you guys, it'll never happen again.

The relationship between Shawn and Cory is never fully explained throughout the series. I mean, they've been best friends all their lives, but Cory didn't know that Shawn had a brother? But they also have all sorts of crazy life plans together? Today's episode doesn't really going to explain any of that, because of course it doesn't, but at least we get a bit of an origin story here. Plus we get Lionel, who is just the best.

It's Not You, It's Me:

The episode starts with Mr. Feeny telling Cory specific details about his upconimg interview with Yale, so you already know this is going to be a non-stop suspension of disbelief. Shawn is upset by this, as they had promised to stay stupid together, but Cory is trying to make something better of himself. If he were thinking things through rationally, he would realize that a few episodes back (before I started taking notes), the two of them had an issue where they were on a quiz show but didn't actually KNOW anything, so he really had nothing to worry about anyway. But they have a big, overly dramatic fight anyway, and decide to make new friends instead of spending every damn minute together. Cory thinks this while blow over, but he goes to class and Shawn already has a new friend in Cory's usual seat! OH NO HE DIDN'T! So Cory decides to make friends with a fat nerd named Lionel, who is probably the best character in the show, and is greatly underused in his one appearance.

Basically, things go on as you might expect; they try to make new friends, get jealous of each other, Lionel has a great singing voice, the least masculine fight in television history, a confusing exchange of words, and the friendship is terminated. Basically, Shawn is being a huge drama queen here, talking about how they're totally different people and they never should have been friends anyway, all because Cory applied to a school that Shawn wouldn't be able to get into, without even considering that Cory ALSO wouldn't have been able to get in. Shawn should probably learn how to see the big picture.

So Cory goes to Shawn's apartment to get his stuff (what?), and he brings Lionel with him in case Shawn decides to assault him (WHAT?!), and Lionel is totally okay with that! Good for you, Lionel, backing your friend when he feels threatened by the same guy who proved in an earlier scene that he barely even knows what a fight is supposed to look like. But Shawn has already packed all of Cory's stuff, and he's even having a party! Even though it has been like 12 hours since he pretty much said he only has one friend, and so maybe he just paid people to come over? Who knows, Shawn is a bit of a mystery sometimes.

The next day, Cory and Shawn continue their boring argument for Mr. Feeny, leading to an INSANE flashback about how they met. Little Cory (who for some reason had glasses) fell into the llama pit at the world's most poorly designed zoo, where children can freely enter the animal enclosures that aren't even tall enough to keep the llamas from escaping. Llamas can jump, right? So Shawn went in and "saved" Cory, and they've been friends ever since. This confusing trip down memory lane makes them remember how much they love each other, Topanga is homophobic, and they all live happily ever after.

There was also a subplot involving Eric and Jack trying to get an extension on a paper that's not really worth mentioning, except in that it included Principal Vernon from The Breakfast Club who totally nails his role as hard-ass Dean. That was overshadowed, however, by Eric's rapid decline from suave womanizer to barely-functional simpleton. Oh well, it's still better than Rachel.

Quote Of The Episode:

Cory: "Let's end it now before it goes on any longer than it already did."

Shawn: "No, now! Come on, boys!"

Wait, what? Even if that response made any sense (it doesn't you're agreeing with what Cory said in a contradictory manner), why is he calling this group of hoodlums that he just met today "boys"? And why are they responding, as if acknowledging his right to lead them around and call them "boys"? I'm surprised they didn't take off their shirts and start dance-fighting.

NEW FEATURE!

Things Shawn Can't Do:
-Get Into Yale
-Put things into perspective

Alright, folks, have a good weekend, and I'll be back with more Boy Meets World goodness on Monday!