WHY MAYA HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAYA (AND THEREFORE RILEY HAS ALWAYS BEEN RILEY) 

from the pilot of “girl meets world” -> true maya of “girl meets world” (examples)

Above you see the important segment of the pilot episode of Girl Meets World. I’ve been rewatching episodes, and have noticed a few more things that go along with my previous post from a couple years ago. Anyhow, this scene is one of them. It’s not even so much about how Maya is the first one to “go out with” Lucas (as she’s the one to first approach him on the subway) – but what was said leading up to that moment. In the pilot episode, a main plot point is that Riley wants to shed her good girl image and be more rebellious like Maya as they begin a new school year. Even Riley’s father, Cory (also her teacher) tells her that just by rebelling against homework, that does not make her like Maya. (Remember this for later). But Riley is still convinced that by following exactly what Maya does that she will somehow become her. She rides the subway because Maya does, wears lip gloss to be cooler, and is even ready to talk to boys just like Maya knows how to do (apparently). Of course, Maya debates that last part with her in the scene above, asking Riley how much like her she can be when she “looks at him” (referring to Lucas, as seen above). So, even though we all know that Riley can only be Riley, Maya (being the good friend that she is) gives Riley a literal (and figurative) push towards Lucas, landing Riley right in his line of sight - even though Maya was the first one to make an impression on him. 

The next time we have an identity crisis amongst Riley is in “Girl Meets Yearbook” – when, after seeing how others think of them, Riley (and Farkle) decide to change themselves completely. This change becomes further complicated when Riley finds out that the class has voted Maya and Lucas as “Favorite Couple.” After seeing how much Riley has changed, Maya decides to make another sacrifice for her friend by changing to be her (aka: Maya becomes Riley because she knows how important it is for the world to have a Riley in it). When Maya takes this upon herself, she seeks out advice from her mother, Katy, on how to act like another person...to take on a character, if you will. Katy reveals to her daughter an important sentiment, saying that “once you assume the identity of someone else, you may learn secrets even they didn’t know about themselves” {i’m paraphrasing here}. Maya even gives Riley one more chance to assume her own identity before changing herself into Riley’s persona. Riley even demures “It’s impossible for someone to become someone else.” Remember this too. 

The observations in “Yearbook” don’t just stop there though. Another very intriguing thing happens later in the episode, involving Lucas, Maya, Riley, and Farkle. Below you’ll see Riley in the classroom in her new persona, Moresha M. Black, and Lucas’ reaction to this. 

“Life is what we do between nothings.” -Moresha M. Black (Riley Matthews)

“Is this a New York thing, or what is this?” -Lucas Friar, to Riley about her look.

Now, watch what happens when Maya (as Riley) comes into the room. 

He’s smiling at Maya as Riley like that. And Maya as Riley is smiling back.

But after a second, it sets in to Lucas’ mind what is really happening. He utters a strict “NO!” at Maya’s appearance, and displays some pretty shocked expressions. 

He even asks in disbelief: “This is your solution, Maya?” 

While Riley and Maya are in their new identities, Lucas becomes the ‘voice of reason’ and tries to snap everybody out of it. He tells Farkle how unique he is, how Riley is a ray of sunshine, and how Maya is not. While you may be thinking, why is this important? Just wait. It is, I promise. Because he then goes on to CONTINUE TO DEFEND MAYA TO THE WHOLE CLASS, after the whole class doesn’t regard the loss of Maya. We like Riley, we don’t care who plays her. Look at how shocked Maya is to that: 

Lucas was the only one to tell her that she’s the most secure person in the room, and how despite her sometimes crummy life, they need her back. He needs her back. Maya’s best friend, Riley doesn’t recognize this (to be fair though, she was going through her own stuff...but Maya went through a whole heck of lot this episode too!)...but LUCAS RECOGNIZES IT. HE RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF MAYA, AND HOW DEVASTATING IT WOULD BE TO LOSE THE REAL HER. 

The final, and perhaps most telling time we see an identity crisis is not in Riley, but in Maya. In two episodes “Girl Meets Triangle” and “Girl Meets True Maya”, we see everyone around Maya telling her that she’s changed (into Riley, essentially) - even though Maya insists she’s the same. Riley is perhaps the most aggressive about it, telling Maya she needs to “go home” and asking her “where she’s gone.” I get that it’s not supposed to mean that much, but if they’re such good friends, I would have thought she would’ve been a little more gentle towards Maya in the scene below. I mean, look at how passive Maya is: 

If, as Riley said back in season 2, “it’s impossible to become someone else” – then how is Maya suddenly turned into Riley? The answer? SHE’S NOT. MAYA IS STILL MAYA. NOT RILEY...NEVER WAS RILEY. MAYA HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAYA. And you know who knew that all along? LUCAS. LUCAS FREAKING FRIAR. “Because that’s who Maya is.” 

Then, in “Girl Meets True Maya”, we see Maya struggling to find herself again. She’s torn between who she’s been, and who she needs to be. She’s trying to find her place within the group...and who comes to her aide yet again with advice? Lucas. 

Lucas has been there before...struggling to fit in. He knows it doesn’t help to waste your time trying to be something, or in Maya’s case, someone you’re not. He knows this. He’s the one to help Maya here. 

So when Maya goes off the rails a little bit, who’s the one that’s the happiest to have her back? Lucas. See the proof above. Look at how happy he is that she’s back to being her true self. That’s because he thinks of her as beautiful, just the way she is. And he knows who she’s always been: Maya - spunky, creative, a rebel with a really great heart. 

Lucas and Maya have always known who they are. Riley and Farkle eventually found their ways, yes...but it’s not the same. Yet Riley kept accusing Maya of being like her, when in reality, all Riley has seemed to want since the beginning, was to be like Maya. So who’s right? Who’s wrong? There’s no exact answer other than to end on what Cory said is the secret of life: PEOPLE CHANGE PEOPLE. Riley changed into Maya...Maya helped get her back. When Riley became Moresha M. Black...Maya helped get her back. Maya changed Riley, and changed for Riley. But when it came down to Maya...Riley accused Maya of changing, instead of helping her to get back to herself. Who did change Maya? LUCAS. LUCAS DID. 

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk. Lucaya forever. PS: I do not hate Riley or Rucas...I’m just simply pointing out what I’ve noticed within rewatching the show. I just seriously don’t understand how everyone’s saying Lucas and Riley are meant to be when clearly Lucas cares about Maya so much. And Maya was never Riley, so that’s not the reason she liked him (in Ski Lodge). Maya liked him because Maya liked him. Maya liked Lucas. That’s it. And Lucas liked Maya, for who she really is, was, and always has been. 

Rowan Blanchard as Riley Matthews appreciation post 👩🏻🖤

Girl Meets Maya [Who Is Riley?]

Ever since I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be you.” -Riley to Maya

“Why?” -Maya to Riley [and the convo continues back & forth like this]

“Because you’ve always been stronger than me and now you proved it.” 

“How?”

“Maya, I only ever talked about it, but you actually did it. You. Became. Me.” 

“Riley, just because I’m wearing an outfit similar to yours doesn’t make me you.”

maya is right here -- an outfit doesn’t make a person, it’s a part of a person’s expression. 

“Hair–”

“Just because I’m wearing my hair like you today, it doesn’t make me you–”

again, she’s right. hair is only an outward expression of self. not inner self. 

“Maya–”

“Clothes and hair, big deal! Name me one thing of real significance that you and I share, in common that has to do with the inside, that affects us emotionally.”

“What’s wrong with us both liking a nice guy?”

“Do we?” 

how can riley question her best friend? maya never questioned her. maya has only tried to help riley. 

“What’s wrong with who I am now?”

there is nothing (and should be nothing) wrong with maya changing into someone better. there is not a thing wrong with her trying to grow up. 

“Maya the world has one of me, it needs one of you.”

“My voice is still my voice, Riley. You’re gonna need to show me a lot more than clothes and hair and a boy before I believe that it isn’t.” -most powerful line in the show. 

PS: Riley may have not become Maya, but she certainly hasn’t been herself [herself as in: Riley hasn’t been Riley] over the years, either. See below....

Exhibit A (Season 1 - Girl Meets Popular): Riley becomes Fakle’s nerdy leader. 

Exhibit B (Season 2 - Girl Meets Yearbook): Riley turns into a gothic chick with no emotions and no feelings towards anything or anyone. Maya only turns into Riley to bring her back to a positive light....not to berate her.

Aaaaand, Exhibit C (Season 3 - Girl Meets Jexica, ironically just 2 episodes before GMT): 

Riley turned into her alter ego, Jexica, because she thought people would like her this way. Maya even halted her and explained how it would work, but Riley didn’t listen and only went on with her original plan. I’m not hating on Riley, and I do understand that it’s a fictional show -- but it just bugs me that Maya’s change was turned into a negative thing instead of a positive thing. Like everyone but Maya was telling her how she was supposed to feel. That’s not right -- it’s no wonder she ended up being influenced by Josh in Ski Lodge because Riley had kept bugging her in the following episodes.

I mean, think about it: if someone kept insisting that your new self was bad, wouldn’t you begin to question it too? That’s all I’m saying. 

Lucas + Maya = Lucaya

You could see the flirtiness between them in the pilot episode.  It was Maya who spotted Lucas first. It was Maya who talked to him first.

She actually kind of foreshadowed their whole relationship as it’s played out in s1, 2 and 3 just from the first episode alone.  This dialogue represents a lot of what’s happened to them.

1. Started out really innocent and friendly

2. Then as you go along they become closer, both in a figurative sense (with helping each other out) and in a literal sense (with the touchy-feely smiley). They begin to form a friendship, a closer bond based on mutual trust, respect and loyalty.  All while being nice to each other, making each other laugh, and helping each other when needed.  

Of course these GIFs aren’t in episodic order (like the last one above is from Girl Meets Money) -- but I simply am using them to make a point that throughout midseason 1 to midseason 2 you see Maya and Lucas’ friendship grow, which in turn, brings them closer together because they understand each other more.

3. An interesting thing happens in season 2 though, especially in the episode Girl Meets Yearbook.  Not only does Riley go through trying to change herself, but in order to bring her back, Maya tries to be like her.  This is the only instance where you physically see everyone (minus Lucas) change. The emotional changes happen later, much like age development for any person does. But anyhow, back to GMY.

See, even in the beginning of the episode Lucas and Maya seem very flirty/friendly.

Then you’ve got Riley who morphed into someone darker. But the most interesting thing she says is this:

She of course says this as she herself is becoming someone else. Just remember that.

4. Another interesting thing happens when Maya tries to get Riley back. When Maya walks into the classroom, Lucas is the first to notice her different demeanor and appearance.

Things continue as they talk:

He’s not saying “no!” to Maya, he’s saying “no!” to the fact that she changed herself.

See, he knows it’s Maya.

Again, not rejecting Maya; but he’s rejecting the fact that she’s different than her usual self. See, in that last one, he looks back again in disbelief. He couldn’t believe that Maya had changed.

I mean, he even said to Riley when she first walked in: “Is this a New York thing or, I don’t unders[tand]–” and then was cut off by Maya walking in. His tone was casual with Riley, but when Maya came in he became more concerned.  Just saying. But moving onto some of the smartest things Lucas Friar ever said...they came from Girl Meets Yearbook, obviously.

He was the only person that defended Maya.

And let’s not forget this:

See, then after that you’ve got littler moments that show how closely they pay attention to each other and their facial expressions say it all honestly.

5. Then There’s Girl Meets Creativity where we got this moment (which continues to show they care deeply about each other):

You also should note that this episode talks about Maya’s art. As in, it’s something that Maya loves.  As in, Maya is not Riley and Maya does not like the same things as Riley.

(The above GIF was just to add comedic timing and to prove the point I made).

6. Girl Meets Texas was a huge moment. This is the episode where you found out that Maya likes Lucas. Not only that, but she’s liked him for a long time and she stepped back so that Riley could have him.  If that’s true, then we’re talking alllll the way back into Season 1, because that’s when Riley first got Lucas. So Maya stepped back for a whole year *cough cough: not just two episodes like Riley did*

Texas also gave us the campfire scene. Where Lucas almost kisses Maya. Also where Riley revealed Maya’s feelings (which btw, Maya never did to Riley when she crushed on Lucas) for Lucas.

PS: How gorgeous is that last one though? :’)

7. Girl Meets The New Year - when Lucas walks in, the first person he goes to is Maya. When Maya walks out, Lucas is the first she goes to on the roof. Plus there’s this cute lil moment:

But what’s important about GMTNY is (at least in my opinion) the looks they gave each other, as well as the obvious tension that was felt b/t them during the couples game.

Exhibit A:

To which Maya replies: “Oh come on, Huckleberry, it’s just a game.” Well, that is until she gets her question, and then proceeds to do the same thing as Lucas.

Also note the closeness and proximity. Plus the looks they give each other, like they understand why the other did what they did now.

Exhibit B:

“Well, it’s one minute to midnight, and I’m glad you’re standing here.” -Maya

“Wow, that kind of makes up for everything.” -Lucas

I mean, seriously. How could you not think that those two have some sort of connection? LOOK. AT. THEIR. FACES.

Especially look at their faces after Farkle announced that Riley still loved Lucas:

Look at how they 1) have matching expressions   2) which means they’re both forlorn / sad / confused by what the hell just happened

And they look at each other to see how the other person is feeling. They care so much about each other to do that. I mean, Lucas could have easily just ran off with Riley and Maya could have just fell to pieces but they didn’t. They stayed  t o g e t h e r.

8. You’ve got the cuteness in Girl Meets STEM (lab partners!)

9. Season 3 moments

defensive boyfriend at 12 o’clock

total couple

can’t forget the shirt grab, it’s a signature move

he knows who she is.

he was the only one who actually said something helpful to her when she was trying to find herself.

**meanwhile you have riley who says:

*to which Maya replies:

“My voice is still my voice Riley. You’re going to have to show me a lot more than clothes and hair before I believe that it isn’t.”

Aaaaaaand now back to lovely Lucas Friar:

look at how happy he is to have maya back.

boyfriend of the year award

son in law award

cuties

HA HURR.

10. Girl Meets Ski Lodge (aka: the best for last)

and she’s back.

hey, boing is not an issue. he’s a fantasy and you don’t go out with a fantasy.

Important to notice that Maya felt the need to justify herself to Lucas. And how she says you don’t go out with a fantasy (Josh), which implies that she would go out with Lucas (a reality).

Lucas was (only) mad because Maya could have gotten herself killed, which echoes Maya’s sentiments about Lucas riding the bull, where he could’ve gotten hurt. He doesn’t mind the tangling they do (”I also like it when Maya “hahurrs” me and calls me a Huckleberry 50 times a day” - Lucas Friar) but that’s not what he likes about her....as in about Maya as a person. See. Deeply caring.  He knows her better than she does.

Another parallel I noticed is that we never know why Maya doesn’t answer Lucas’ question (of why she poured a smoothie on his head) here.  Just like we never hear his answer to the question of why he lets Maya pick on him.

You can’t hurt me, can you?

He doesn’t mean to. Plus, his delayed reaction could have possibly been to her boldness of saying “it’s me” - when she was talking about who made his heart go ‘clippity clop.’ And then of course when he said he didn’t want to hurt her, she was reminded of what Josh told her. Not what she felt. But what he told her.

And then you have Lucas: He was just doing as he was told. Not what he felt. But what he was told:

“Huckleberry, if you care about me at all: Go find Riley, and tell her you love her.” - Maya to Lucas in GMSL

“Thank you.”

“What’re friends for.”

I still don’t buy it by her face at the end.

 I’ll leave you with this:

If Maya was supposedly Riley the whole time, then how could Riley feel threatened by the fact that she liked Lucas. Why would Riley have given them (aka: Lucas and Maya) a chance (to go out on a date) when in True Maya, Riley accuses Maya of ‘becoming her’ and says she’s going to take Lucas from her.  Why would Texas have even happened if they were supposedly the ‘same person?’ Why would Riley have told Lucas that Maya likes him if Maya was supposed to be Riley. And why would they continue to have more moments per episode than Riley and Lucas have had all seasons long if Maya was supposed to be just like Riley?

The answer?

Because Maya was herself. The whole time.  And Lucas knew knows that. He knows who Maya is because Maya was always herself.  And Lucas likes her for that.  And Maya liked likes him because Maya liked likes him. That’s all.

“You think they like each other?” “I do.”

[all gifs i got from giphy.com, google images and pinterest] 

I'm wondering if Rucas shippers even noticed the order of episodes. If some did, I'm sure they'd use it to argue that "Maya's been Riley all through s2 up until ski lodge" but I don't know if that's necessarily the case. I think the order is important because in yearbook you see Riley become someone else - and Maya be the one to help her. But when Maya supposedly becomes Riley, Riley doesn't do the same for her. The only person that stands up for Maya is Lucas. She is, according to him, "the most secure person in this room." Then you jump to semi formal where Maya seems to be acting normally. There's no evidence of her supposed Riley personality and the blonde hair has returned. Riley is also back to her normal self (bangs and darker look are gone). Then you jump to creativity where it's a very Maya centric episode. It's Maya who loves art - not Riley. You see how Maya feels about what she loves and you see that surprisingly Lucas is the first one to stand up and say something nice to her about it. He tried to help her first. Riley does not - she even sits on her own morals (literally sitting on her hands) and refuses to help at first. And then of course, there's Texas where Riley jumps the gun and tells Lucas how Maya feels (even though Maya let Riley tell Lucas herself). I don't know really what the point of this was. I guess I just noticed that no one really defended Maya *except for* Lucas. And while yes, Riley is a good friend and a wonderful character (I'm totally not hating on Riley or Rowan Blanchard!) I just found it interesting that while Lucas is supposed to be "so into riley" he is actually more focused on defending and helping Maya. More Lucas and Maya rambles to come! (: just wanted to share some things I noticed!