Does a fantastic job of transitioning us to the new era of the series as the bright and spunky Corey of season 1 is dropped into an entirely new world he's wildly unprepared to meet, as he moves to a new junior high that's attached to the high school. It's a rougher, wilder place, separating him from Shawn with both crowds and the allure of girls, and keeping him under the tutelage of Mr Feeny as both a teacher and acting principle. So many iconic introductions. Frankie and Joey come in swinging with wildly unfortunate early-90s homophobic cracks, even if it results in an early hint at the more complex and conflicted character Frankie will become. Hurley instantly takes the stage as the feared greaser bully who instantly latches his claws into Corey. And Mr Turner smolders in as the kickboxing, motorcycle riding teacher who looks out for his kids and doesn't mind using comics to teach literature even if it builds a clashing dynamic between he and Feeny. Eric gets a nice arc of blowing off Corey before standing up for him, setting up their dynamic for the year. Topanga begins her metamorphosis away from the hippie girl of season 1, while sliding right into Minkus's sadly empty seat as the head of the class. It's so deftly handled, letting the clash of the new season hit the characters as hard as it does the audience, and forces Corey to Meet it head on as in his usual way. And I love the whole bit of the nerdy side kids who keep finding their first big day interrupted by Corey and Shawn, as if our leads have invaded the world of someone else's sitcom. And did you spot Marguerite Moreau!
Review by noelctBlockedParent2022-12-28T03:10:52Z
Does a fantastic job of transitioning us to the new era of the series as the bright and spunky Corey of season 1 is dropped into an entirely new world he's wildly unprepared to meet, as he moves to a new junior high that's attached to the high school. It's a rougher, wilder place, separating him from Shawn with both crowds and the allure of girls, and keeping him under the tutelage of Mr Feeny as both a teacher and acting principle. So many iconic introductions. Frankie and Joey come in swinging with wildly unfortunate early-90s homophobic cracks, even if it results in an early hint at the more complex and conflicted character Frankie will become. Hurley instantly takes the stage as the feared greaser bully who instantly latches his claws into Corey. And Mr Turner smolders in as the kickboxing, motorcycle riding teacher who looks out for his kids and doesn't mind using comics to teach literature even if it builds a clashing dynamic between he and Feeny. Eric gets a nice arc of blowing off Corey before standing up for him, setting up their dynamic for the year. Topanga begins her metamorphosis away from the hippie girl of season 1, while sliding right into Minkus's sadly empty seat as the head of the class. It's so deftly handled, letting the clash of the new season hit the characters as hard as it does the audience, and forces Corey to Meet it head on as in his usual way. And I love the whole bit of the nerdy side kids who keep finding their first big day interrupted by Corey and Shawn, as if our leads have invaded the world of someone else's sitcom. And did you spot Marguerite Moreau!