Boy Meets World - The Complete First Season - Region 1 DVD

Boy Meets World lasted seven seasons, and one of the real pleasures of following the series is that its story and character changes are largely organic, rather than forced by cast departures or other pressures. Thus the auspicious first meeting of Savage's 11-year-old Cory Matthews and his classmate Topanga (Danielle Fishel) in season 1 leads, quite sweetly and logically, to a deeper relationship in subsequent seasons. Cory's attachment to his formidable yet compassionate 6th-grade teacher, Mr. Feeny (William Daniels in a tailor-made performance), who also happens to be Cory's neighbor, grows and deepens as Feeny eventually becomes the principal at Cory's high school and a mentor beyond. Season 1 also introduces Cory's likeable father (William Russ), a grocery store manager, and mother (Betsy Randle), a homemaker and realtor, as well as appealing siblings Eric (Will Friedle) and Morgan (Lindsay Ridgeway) and best friend Shawn (Rider Strong). A slightly surreal tone (a little similar to Family Ties) keeps the jokes coming, but BMW is at its most touching when Cory's awareness of and empathy for the needs of others expands. --Tom Keogh