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blagi"Shawn deserved better, Cory was the worst, Cory is an abusive control freak and Shawn is nothing but loyal"
So over the last 10+ years I've seen this crop up as people rewatch the show, realize how great Shawn is, and notice Cory's flaws more. Now Shawn IS great and Cory has flaws that turn him into a jackass sometimes, but.
Saying Shawn "deserved better" than Cory implies that Shawn's life wouldn't be ten times worse without Cory in it.
As the lead character, Cory has two Most Important People: Topanga, the love of his life, and Shawn, his best friend.And the other love of his life but that's a whole other discussion
Cory comes from a cozy privileged home in the suburbs with two loving parents who are always around. Shawn comes from a trailer park with a neglectful father and a mother who eventually gets so sick of the bullshit she leaves. Even when Chet and Virna try to make their marriage work again they can't.
Because of his rough childhood and lack of upbringing, Shawn has rough edges and a lot of issues. He's a bad boy, he does a few crimes throughout the series, ditches Cory to hang out with the bullies in season 2 after a girl dumps him. This is because Shawn's never really been told he's WORTH anything. His parents aren't abusive, they never put him down, but they never exactly lift him up either. They're too busy arguing and his dad's too busy dreaming up fantasy careers he'll never have. The only authority figures in his life who want to help him and believe he can do better are Mr. Feeny and Mr. Turner, but Shawn having a naturally rebellious personality plus low self-esteem and parents who never explained to him that teachers are stern for a reason and that sometimes you SHOULD listen to the grownups equals him not giving a shit about his schoolwork and thinking the adults in his life just want to control him. It takes him YEARS to realize that's not the case, that Turner loved him the way a father should and that Feeny wants what's best for him and understands him better than he thinks.
The one person who's consistently on his side and believes in him and understands him, and whom Shawn KNOWS is on his side and believes in him and understands him, is Cory. The rest of the main cast, the Matthews parents, they care for him and they'll always reach out to him, Shawn knows they care, but none of them have had his back the way Cory has since they were little kids. Cory is his rock, his anchor, the one guy he knows he can trust even knowing Cory's not perfect. Cory is always pushing him to do the right thing because he believes in him.
"Oh, but what about the time Shawn kicked ass at the internship and Cory was a bitch about it, that means he totally wanted to keep Shawn down so he could be superior!!" Okay but that's like, ONE incident? One time Cory let his insecurities make him jealous as shit and instead of being proud of his friend he was an asshole? Go ahead, claim that if you've ever been jealous or frustrated you handled it like a saint.
That being said...yes, Cory does unconsciously exhibit some classism now and then, we see it in the S4 Thanksgiving episode where his parents are picky about having Thanksgiving in the trailer park.
But that's not who Cory is. At his core, Cory Matthews is the kind of person who wants everyone and everything to be okay. Part of it is due to him craving stability, but part of it is because he really and truly cares. This is the kid who went to the hospital alone to see Mr. Feeny and bring him a plant after he had his appendix out. This is the kid who, when his little sister broke the window, threw himself under the bus so she wouldn't get in trouble. Admitted to underage horse betting and used the money to replace that window, then used the rest to buy his mother a rose for Valentine's Day. The guy who saw his older brother's girlfriend crying because she was the victim of racist bullying and used that to teach a lesson about Anne Frank. In Season One, where he was still a dopey kid who just wanted to dick around with his friend.
Even when he became more neurotic and fussy and a control freak as he got older, the core of him was still there. He wanted everyone to have a good future and a good life, especially Shawn.
Shawn, meanwhile, has a tendency to give up on himself easily. We see it in S2 where he dumps Cory to hang out with Harley and the other bullies because being dumped by that girl reminded him that he'd never be good enough for certain people, and rather than trying to prove that "trailer trash" could better himself, he decided he belonged with other lowlifes.
What did Cory, the selfish control freak do? STOOD THE FUCK UP TO HARLEY AND SAID GO AHEAD AND KILL ME. He was willing to sacrifice himself as long as he knew he'd done everything he could to get through to his friend!
In S3, when Dana dumped Shawn because he "wasn't boyfriend material" and went after Cory instead, Cory only went out with her so he could convince her to give Shawn another chance. He KNEW Shawn really liked Dana, and while Turner helped him figure out how to be a little less fast and flashy, Cory told Dana that deep down, Shawn was actually really kind and sensitive. And it worked.
"But what about the Pink Flamingo Kid?" Yes, that was another one of Cory's selfish moments, totally wanting that cred for the footage he caught and selfless Shawn rushed in to play the hero against his own half brother. Cory had to realize there were more important things than fame and credit, and he was truly grateful to Shawn for rescuing him.
When the two got caught drinking in S5, Cory was the one who brought the alcohol. Shawn took the blame to protect Cory, who was not okay with it. He stood up and told his parents HE got drunk because he was hurting so badly over his breakup with Topanga. Cory may have flaws, but throwing Shawn under the bus is not one of them.
Back in S3, Shawn was going to drop out of school and go to Europe because it was easier than trying to do better in class. Cory told his parents and Mr. Turner because once again, Shawn was giving up on himself. And Cory alone couldn't talk him out of it.
S1, the Cherry Bomb incident. Cory realizes Shawn plans to run away, offers to let Shawn beat the crap out of him for standing in his way, and convinces him to go home and deal with being grounded. Which sucks, yes, but at least Shawn has a chance to learn from this and not blow up anything else. "We're only 12, we live again" = "don't let this define you, you have a chance to turn things around and stay on the safe side of the line".
"Cult Fiction" is the peak example of this. Shawn's parents' marriage is floundering, he's still struggling with school, he doesn't think he has what it takes to go to college and have a future, so he joins a cult. Cory smells the bullshit and stops at nothing to bring Shawn to his senses.
Also, remember when Cory DIDN'T meddle for once because he was trying to shoot his documentary about Eric, Shawn, and Jack living together? And things escalated? Topanga had to be the one to stop the filming and convince Cory to do what he does best: meddle. Talk to his friend. Convince him not to give up.
Cory was the one who helped him go for it with Angela and have his first serious relationship. When they broke up, he realized they still loved each other and tried to get them back together because they were both miserable apart. He knew Shawn deserved a stable relationship with someone he loved, to feel what he did for Topanga and really enjoy it.
Finally, the episode where Feeny told Shawn to get Superbowl tickets and basically went "Cory, you are in charge of his destiny"? Guess who convinced Shawn to keep going until he got those damn tickets?
You know who else fell into the habit of giving up on himself? Eric. Cory was there when Eric wanted to stay in that diner forever rather than try to pass his SATs again, he was the one who called their father to talk Eric into coming home and giving it another shot.
Cory may seem like a control freak, but it comes from a place of love. This ties into why he became a teacher in GMW: He wants people to reach their potential and really try their best. He doesn't want them to give up on themselves because it's the easy way out. I credit this to the geography bee in S1 and his brief stint as a teacher in "Teacher's Bet".
Without Cory, Shawn would have given up on himself permanently and who knows where he'd be? Cory may be a fussbudget and he may not always be the perfect friend, but when it comes down to it, he'll risk life and limb and his parents' approval for Shawn.
Cory is the reason Shawn keeps picking himself back up and trying again. He can't control what life decides to throw at him or what his emotions lead him to do, but Cory is the continued emotional support and voice of reason that helps him get back on track. And in GMW, he has a steady job and eventually gains a stable family in Maya and Katy.
Saying Shawn "deserves better" is actually saying the exact opposite. By suggesting Cory be removed from his life, you're suggesting he deserves worse.
(Also, as a sidenote, I can't help feeling people's dislike of Cory is why they're bitching about Ben Savage not palling around with the cast anymore and living his own damn life. Stop doing that. Let the man be in politics and not mock everything he does or listen to BuzzFeed-esque articles claiming his castmates hate him.)
So over the last 10+ years I've seen this crop up as people rewatch the show, realize how great Shawn is, and notice Cory's flaws more. Now Shawn IS great and Cory has flaws that turn him into a jackass sometimes, but.
Saying Shawn "deserved better" than Cory implies that Shawn's life wouldn't be ten times worse without Cory in it.
As the lead character, Cory has two Most Important People: Topanga, the love of his life, and Shawn, his best friend.
Cory comes from a cozy privileged home in the suburbs with two loving parents who are always around. Shawn comes from a trailer park with a neglectful father and a mother who eventually gets so sick of the bullshit she leaves. Even when Chet and Virna try to make their marriage work again they can't.
Because of his rough childhood and lack of upbringing, Shawn has rough edges and a lot of issues. He's a bad boy, he does a few crimes throughout the series, ditches Cory to hang out with the bullies in season 2 after a girl dumps him. This is because Shawn's never really been told he's WORTH anything. His parents aren't abusive, they never put him down, but they never exactly lift him up either. They're too busy arguing and his dad's too busy dreaming up fantasy careers he'll never have. The only authority figures in his life who want to help him and believe he can do better are Mr. Feeny and Mr. Turner, but Shawn having a naturally rebellious personality plus low self-esteem and parents who never explained to him that teachers are stern for a reason and that sometimes you SHOULD listen to the grownups equals him not giving a shit about his schoolwork and thinking the adults in his life just want to control him. It takes him YEARS to realize that's not the case, that Turner loved him the way a father should and that Feeny wants what's best for him and understands him better than he thinks.
The one person who's consistently on his side and believes in him and understands him, and whom Shawn KNOWS is on his side and believes in him and understands him, is Cory. The rest of the main cast, the Matthews parents, they care for him and they'll always reach out to him, Shawn knows they care, but none of them have had his back the way Cory has since they were little kids. Cory is his rock, his anchor, the one guy he knows he can trust even knowing Cory's not perfect. Cory is always pushing him to do the right thing because he believes in him.
"Oh, but what about the time Shawn kicked ass at the internship and Cory was a bitch about it, that means he totally wanted to keep Shawn down so he could be superior!!" Okay but that's like, ONE incident? One time Cory let his insecurities make him jealous as shit and instead of being proud of his friend he was an asshole? Go ahead, claim that if you've ever been jealous or frustrated you handled it like a saint.
That being said...yes, Cory does unconsciously exhibit some classism now and then, we see it in the S4 Thanksgiving episode where his parents are picky about having Thanksgiving in the trailer park.
But that's not who Cory is. At his core, Cory Matthews is the kind of person who wants everyone and everything to be okay. Part of it is due to him craving stability, but part of it is because he really and truly cares. This is the kid who went to the hospital alone to see Mr. Feeny and bring him a plant after he had his appendix out. This is the kid who, when his little sister broke the window, threw himself under the bus so she wouldn't get in trouble. Admitted to underage horse betting and used the money to replace that window, then used the rest to buy his mother a rose for Valentine's Day. The guy who saw his older brother's girlfriend crying because she was the victim of racist bullying and used that to teach a lesson about Anne Frank. In Season One, where he was still a dopey kid who just wanted to dick around with his friend.
Even when he became more neurotic and fussy and a control freak as he got older, the core of him was still there. He wanted everyone to have a good future and a good life, especially Shawn.
Shawn, meanwhile, has a tendency to give up on himself easily. We see it in S2 where he dumps Cory to hang out with Harley and the other bullies because being dumped by that girl reminded him that he'd never be good enough for certain people, and rather than trying to prove that "trailer trash" could better himself, he decided he belonged with other lowlifes.
What did Cory, the selfish control freak do? STOOD THE FUCK UP TO HARLEY AND SAID GO AHEAD AND KILL ME. He was willing to sacrifice himself as long as he knew he'd done everything he could to get through to his friend!
In S3, when Dana dumped Shawn because he "wasn't boyfriend material" and went after Cory instead, Cory only went out with her so he could convince her to give Shawn another chance. He KNEW Shawn really liked Dana, and while Turner helped him figure out how to be a little less fast and flashy, Cory told Dana that deep down, Shawn was actually really kind and sensitive. And it worked.
"But what about the Pink Flamingo Kid?" Yes, that was another one of Cory's selfish moments, totally wanting that cred for the footage he caught and selfless Shawn rushed in to play the hero against his own half brother. Cory had to realize there were more important things than fame and credit, and he was truly grateful to Shawn for rescuing him.
When the two got caught drinking in S5, Cory was the one who brought the alcohol. Shawn took the blame to protect Cory, who was not okay with it. He stood up and told his parents HE got drunk because he was hurting so badly over his breakup with Topanga. Cory may have flaws, but throwing Shawn under the bus is not one of them.
Back in S3, Shawn was going to drop out of school and go to Europe because it was easier than trying to do better in class. Cory told his parents and Mr. Turner because once again, Shawn was giving up on himself. And Cory alone couldn't talk him out of it.
S1, the Cherry Bomb incident. Cory realizes Shawn plans to run away, offers to let Shawn beat the crap out of him for standing in his way, and convinces him to go home and deal with being grounded. Which sucks, yes, but at least Shawn has a chance to learn from this and not blow up anything else. "We're only 12, we live again" = "don't let this define you, you have a chance to turn things around and stay on the safe side of the line".
"Cult Fiction" is the peak example of this. Shawn's parents' marriage is floundering, he's still struggling with school, he doesn't think he has what it takes to go to college and have a future, so he joins a cult. Cory smells the bullshit and stops at nothing to bring Shawn to his senses.
Also, remember when Cory DIDN'T meddle for once because he was trying to shoot his documentary about Eric, Shawn, and Jack living together? And things escalated? Topanga had to be the one to stop the filming and convince Cory to do what he does best: meddle. Talk to his friend. Convince him not to give up.
Cory was the one who helped him go for it with Angela and have his first serious relationship. When they broke up, he realized they still loved each other and tried to get them back together because they were both miserable apart. He knew Shawn deserved a stable relationship with someone he loved, to feel what he did for Topanga and really enjoy it.
Finally, the episode where Feeny told Shawn to get Superbowl tickets and basically went "Cory, you are in charge of his destiny"? Guess who convinced Shawn to keep going until he got those damn tickets?
You know who else fell into the habit of giving up on himself? Eric. Cory was there when Eric wanted to stay in that diner forever rather than try to pass his SATs again, he was the one who called their father to talk Eric into coming home and giving it another shot.
Cory may seem like a control freak, but it comes from a place of love. This ties into why he became a teacher in GMW: He wants people to reach their potential and really try their best. He doesn't want them to give up on themselves because it's the easy way out. I credit this to the geography bee in S1 and his brief stint as a teacher in "Teacher's Bet".
Without Cory, Shawn would have given up on himself permanently and who knows where he'd be? Cory may be a fussbudget and he may not always be the perfect friend, but when it comes down to it, he'll risk life and limb and his parents' approval for Shawn.
Cory is the reason Shawn keeps picking himself back up and trying again. He can't control what life decides to throw at him or what his emotions lead him to do, but Cory is the continued emotional support and voice of reason that helps him get back on track. And in GMW, he has a steady job and eventually gains a stable family in Maya and Katy.
Saying Shawn "deserves better" is actually saying the exact opposite. By suggesting Cory be removed from his life, you're suggesting he deserves worse.
(Also, as a sidenote, I can't help feeling people's dislike of Cory is why they're bitching about Ben Savage not palling around with the cast anymore and living his own damn life. Stop doing that. Let the man be in politics and not mock everything he does or listen to BuzzFeed-esque articles claiming his castmates hate him.)
