Ep 6. Girl Meets Upstate

Girl Meets World season 3 episode 6, titled "Girl Meets Upstate," follows Riley, Maya, and the rest of the gang as they embark on a road trip to Upstate New York. The trip was initially planned as a celebratory visit to Upstate to see Maya's stepdad Shawn, but as it unfolds, they realize that the retreat is more about self-discovery and figuring out who they are as individuals.

The episode opens with Riley and Maya packing for their road trip, excited to leave behind the constraints of their everyday lives and explore the world beyond the city limits of New York City. They plan to take a trip with their classmates, Farkle and Lucas, to visit Shawn, who has been living in Upstate with his wife, Katy.

As the group sets out on their road trip, tensions start to rise between Riley and Maya. Maya, who has always been seen as tough and cool, suddenly becomes anxious after missing her curfew the previous night. She spends much of the drive staying in contact with her mother throughout the entirety of the episode, which interrupts the planned fun the teens had hoped to have.

Meanwhile, Riley struggles with the idea that she's been pigeonholed into the role of the "perfect" daughter. Her parents, Cory and Topanga, have high expectations of her, and she feels like she's not allowed to break out of that mold. So, she decides to take a page out of Maya's book and let loose a little bit. The plan backfires, and she realizes that maybe the perfect daughter role isn't so bad after all.

Once they arrive in Upstate, the group goes through a series of adventures that force them to confront different aspects of their personalities. They visit Shawn at his makeshift nature sanctuary, where he has been working and living with Katy. The teens are surprised to see how much Shawn has changed, feeling happier and more content with life than ever before.

The group then decides to take a trek through the woods, an activity which presents them with some of their best moments of self-discovery. They come across a rickety bridge over a deep ravine, one that represents their respective fears. Farkle is afraid of heights and crossing the bridge presents a major step in conquering his fear. For Riley, the bridge represents her struggles with living up to the expectation of being the perfect daughter.

As they trek through the woods, Maya and Riley discover hidden waterfalls and an abandoned cabin, which they decide to explore. The people inside the cabin have left behind a journal, and as they read through the pages, they start to learn about the previous occupants' lives. As they read, Riley and Maya have to deal with their own individual personal issues. They realize that looking beyond the surface level can reveal a story that is richer and more complex than they ever imagined. This realization serve as the foundation for further growth throughout the rest of the series.

"Girl Meets Upstate" is an entertaining episode about friendship, self-discovery, and growth. Through their explorations, Riley, Maya, and their friends discover that there's more to life than just going through the motions. The road trip serves as a reminder that every obstacle presents a new opportunity to grow and become a better person. This episode can easily be enjoyed by both children and adults who want to be reminded of the essential lessons that drive us as human beings.