Girl Meets World: The Key to Wholesome Stories

There are so many stories out there that fail to resonate. Every inch of these kind of stories are shallow and meaningless and give no lasting impact. These stories tend to be annoying, forgettable, or just plain horrible. Every writer wants to make a story that sticks with the reader for years to come. No one wants to be forgotten.

So how do you make your story unforgettable? How do you create enthralling characters and a plot? How do you make every aspect of your tale so wholesome and filling to your reader that they will find it impossible to get the story out of their head?

Who would’ve thought that the answer to all of these questions can be found in one of Disney’s most underrated TV shows?

Girl Meets World

If you’ve ever seen anything from Disney Channel, you’ll know that none of them are exact pieces of art. All of them consist of ‘unique’ and ‘original’ teens who get into trouble and then (instead of admitting they were wrong) get out of it with some funny antic and then everything is reset for the next episode. There’s zero consistency between episodes, the characters are the center of the universe, parents are never involved, and worst of all, nothing seems down to earth. Every time things get just a bit serious or emotional, a cheesy joke is thrown into the scene. Instead of lightening the mood, which I believe was the writer’s intent, these jokes bring an air of unbelievability and ridiculousness that basically trademarks all of Disney Channel. 

The only series that is the exception to this was Girl Meets World. Though it aired on Disney Channel, the content of the show itself was so wholesome and meaningful that it succeeded in standing out. 

Girl Meets World, the spinoff to the popular 90’s sitcom Boy Meets World, is about exactly what it sounds like. A girl meeting the world around her. It’s a coming of age story, just like many other Disney productions, but unlike those other series, they actually deal with the problems that come with growing up instead of dismissing them with a corny joke. The show follows Riley Matthews and her best friend Maya Heart as they go through their teen years struggling with things such as change, boy-drama, the fact that they aren’t the center of the universe and their relationship with their parents. Though there are certainly some hilarious jokes in there too, the series pushes to be more than that. 

A Message in Mind

Riley and Maya are girls with flaws and difficulties, and they learn that there are people other than themselves out there while all the other Disney Channel teens seem to do is talk about themselves and how perfect they are. Farkle (I know, I know, it’s a weird name but hear me out) and Lucas are in Riley’s school and become her close friends throughout the series. But instead of being traditional high school sit com stars with a perfect life, they constantly struggle with their identity and role in the world too. Even the parents, the main characters from the old show, continue to grow and learn.

And not only are these characters well-written and loveable, but there’s also something else that makes the show so wholesome. Something that every Disney Channel show has either forgotten, attempted (before ultimately failing), or tossed out the window altogether. And that something is a theme. 

A theme is a certain message you want your reader to walk away with by the end of the story. It’s a virtue or issue that your character struggles with throughout the story. It’s what gives your story meaning and fulfillment. 

When I had just started writing fantasy stories, I didn’t think that my novel needed a theme, message or even a real purpose in the world. I just wanted it to be entertaining and nothing more. However, as I began writing the story, things fell apart. The characters, having no moral struggles or internal difficulties, came off as boring and unbelievable. The plot was no more than a series of events. That old story had no theme to support it, so it crumbled.

Through the help of a mentor, I later learned that all stories exist to teach something. Jesus used stories to inform his students, Aesop wrote folk-tales to give valuable life-lessons, C.S. Lewis explored the complexities of good vs. evil, and even I just told you a story from my life two seconds ago to illustrate my point. It’s natural for humans to understand things better when they’re taught with stories. So you can’t just skip your stories theme. It’s unavoidable. 

Yet somehow, Disney Channel loves to keep avoiding a real message. They never provide any opportunity to teach something with their story, or include any sort of theme at all, because the whole series is treated as one big joke. They only exist to entertain, which doesn’t fulfill or help anyone. And I’m not saying that no piece of media should ever be entertaining because that’s nuts. In fact, including a message could keep the reader more invested and enthralled with the story than ever. But stories shouldn’t solely exist for entertainment, otherwise they’ll never make a lasting impact. 

Watching a 25 minute episode of Jessie or Wizards of Waverly Place can be enjoyable, sure. Some of you most likely grew up watching some of these shows and that’s fine. But I’m guessing none of these Disney Channel series ever fulfilled you or made you question the deeper themes that run through every life and story. They’ve never been more than just a half hour of entertainment.

Girl Meets World was wholesome because it defied Disney Channel stereotypes and had a message in mind. It tried to be more than entertainment and truly impacted those who were willing to listen. If you want to impact lives and create wonderful, wholesome stories, think intentionally about what message you want to share with the world before you even begin writing. Even if that message teaches some small theme such as bravery or kindness, it could make a lasting impact on readers around the world. Don’t tip-toe around a lesson that could one day help or inspire the next C.S. Lewis. Make your story unforgettable. 

What themes have really stood out to you? What stories have used their messages to change how you view the world? And how was this article? Too sweet? Too sour? Just right?