Riley Matthews is the main protagonist and title character of Girl Meets World. She is the fourteen-year-old daughter of Cory and Topanga Matthews. Riley and Auggie Matthews are Cory and Topanga's only children, of which Riley is the oldest of the two.
Her father, Cory Matthews is her ninth grade history teacher at Abigail Adams High School, where Riley interacts with her best friends Maya Hart, Farkle Minkus, and Lucas Friar. She is portrayed by Rowan Blanchard.
Riley is bubbly, outgoing, cheerful, optimistic, intelligent, and slightly awkward, and while she is also sensitive, she is not afraid to voice her opinion about things, and will readily stand up for her friends and family. At first Riley seems immature and noticeably awkward, but as the series progresses, she begins to dress and act more mature.
She is also very idealistic, and expects everyone around her to live up to her own expectations, lofty as they may seem at times. Like Cory, Riley also prefers to maintain her own belief in things despite disagreement from others; this trait mainly applies to Maya, upon whom Riley never gives up hope as shown in Girl Meets Pluto. Riley will do whatever it takes to keep her friends happy, even at the expense of her own emotional well-being.
Much of Riley's personality is inherited from her father Cory; Shawn Hunter once described Riley as "Cory with Topanga's hair", but in Girl Meets Cory and Topanga, she discovers that many of her mother Topanga's character traits were handed down to her as well. Riley is rather intelligent, as shown in Girl Meets Maya's Mother, in which she rivals Farkle for the highest grades, and though not generally a sports fan she seems very knowledgeable about the New York Knicks.
But for all her acumen, she tends to have some ditzy and sometimes scatterbrained moments:
In Girl Meets Pluto, she didn't realize that she had dug up the time capsule while she, her parents, Maya, and Shawn were still digging for it in other parts of Mr. Feeny's yard.
Also in Girl Meets Pluto, it was revealed that there was a "Riley Committee" to keep her from discovering things that could potentially hurt her because her friends think she's fragile. Her shock and sadness at being informed that Pluto was demoted from planet status quickly turned to anger and annoyance.
Riley has an unshakable penchant for purple cats; in most episodes that involve art or art class, Riley is shown painting only purple cats, and in so doing invariably ends up with purple paint all over her hands and forearms (an early exception to this is Girl Meets Maya's Mother, in which Riley's artwork involves drawings of Lucas). In Girl Meets Legacy, when she, Maya, Lucas, Farkle and Zay dedicate a specially-redesigned bench to the future students at JQAMS, Ms. Kossal notices a purple cat among the designs, which Riley explains by saying "everybody should leave their mark".
Riley's affinity for purple cats carries over into her high school years, and plays a key role in Maya's realization that she is going through an identity crisis; In Girl Meets Triangle, their art teacher Mr. Jackson postpones grading Maya's assignment because neither one of them can understand what she's trying to say in her work, but Jackson later has Maya take another look at her painting from a different angle, which is when Maya notices that she painted a purple cat, causing her to finally admit that she has become like Riley. In Girl Meets Upstate, Riley and Maya get into a second paint fight (the first was in Girl Meets Maya's Mother) in which Riley throws purple paint all over Maya, which eventually earns a compliment from Mr. Jackson on painting her best purple cat ever-- and then a request to try painting something else.
In Season three's Girl Meets Ski Lodge (Part 1), during Maya's movie fantasy, Maya (as "The Bomb") and Lucas (as "Huckleberry Bond") confront their arch-nemesis, the "Purple Cat" (Riley) in her lair, a lower-level speakeasy called (what else but) "The Purple Cat Club".
Maya is Riley's best friend. Although they are very different from each other, the two are extremely close and very loyal to one another. Riley typically lets Maya in through her bedroom window so they can talk sitting at the Bay Window. Riley supports Maya in dealing with her certain problems too. Maya also helps Riley, like in the episode "Girl Meets World," when she lets Riley fall into Lucas's lap. Riley and Maya have friendship rings as a way of showing how strong their friendship is. In Girl Meets I Do, Riley tells Maya that as her best friend she also wants what's best for her, by allowing Katy and Shawn to get married.
Farkle is one of Riley's close friends. Though Farkle has had an unrequited crush on Riley since 1st grade, Farkle and Riley remain close; she often tries to protect Farkle from Maya, and the two both seem to be protective of each other. Riley shows concern for Farkle in "Girl Meets Flaws" when he stops coming to class. Farkle usually only tells Riley his secrets, also shown in "Girl Meets Flaws" when he only told her when he was being bullied. Overall, the two are highly fond of one other.
Lucas Friar
(Ex-boyfriend)
Riley and Lucas in her fantasy during Girl Meets Ski Lodge (Part 1)
Lucas is Riley's boyfriend. Riley has had a crush on Lucas from when she first saw him on the subway. In "Girl Meets Boy," it is shown that they have a strong connection. In Girl Meets the New World the two of them briefly date due to peer pressure and possible disapproval of Cory of them dating. They break up, realizing that they are better off as friends. However, they still have strong feelings for one another.
In Girl Meets Texas (Part 1) Riley admits to Maya that she knows Maya thinks that she likes Lucas more than just a friend. Despite her saying this, Riley herself still had feelings for Lucas but didn't want anyone else knowing, because she feels like that it will destroy their friendship. In Girl Meets Texas (Part 3) Farkle realized Riley still loved Lucas. He confronted her about it, which she was hesitant about in admitting her true feelings. In Girl Meets the New Year, Farkle revealed to the group that Riley still loves Lucas, which led to the situation in Girl Meets Legacy.
In the end, Lucas still had trouble choosing who he wanted to be with. Therefore, in Girl Meets High School (Part 1), he starts referring to both Riley and Maya as his girlfriends. In Girl Meets Triangle, Lucas announces that he has finally chosen between the two, but despite the girls being away and Topanga and Katy demanding to know who he chose, his decision is not revealed until Girl Meets Ski Lodge (Part 2), in which he reveals that his choice is Riley and he wants to spend more time having deeper conversations with her. He gives her a purple jellybean while saying "I choose you and I really want you to choose me." Riley then gives him the leaf she found and says "I'm glad I fell into your lap". While Lucas replies "So am I." symbolizing their special moment together.
Originally from Austin, Texas, Zay moves to New York and reunites with his old friend Lucas. He then forms new friendships with Riley, Maya, and Farkle. Zay sees Riley as a fun and caring person and Riley shows how she cares about his relationship with Vanessa.
Although their relationship began as a shrewdly devised ploy by Smackle to uncover "the equation for beauty," the pair have since decided to remain friends. In fact, Riley assured the emotionally reserved girl that she already loved them (meaning all of Farkle's friends) but just didn't know it yet. While Riley supports Farkle and Isadora's relationship, she did state (in Girl Meets High School (Part 2)), that she does not believe Farkle has found love yet. Nonetheless, Riley has taken pleasure in helping Isadora overcome her social awkwardness by integrating her into their circle of friends.
Charlie is Riley's friend and admirer. Charlie has a big crush on Riley, and despite being friends with Lucas, is jealous of the two. He is always looking for an opportunity to ask Riley out, and got his chance in Girl Meets Texas (Part 3). He and Riley went out on a date, although Riley didn't feel the same way. She only went out with him to spare his feelings, and hers as well after her heartbreak with Lucas. She broke things off during Girl Meets the New Year when she tells Charlie she cant be with him at midnight because he deserves much better than her.
Shawn is a lifelong friend of her parents (particularly Cory), that Riley views as an uncle figure. For the first 13 years of her life they had a strained relationship, but thanks to Maya, they have become much closer.
Missy is Riley's enemy, who has only appeared in one episode. Riley was immediately jealous of her because she was flirting with Riley's crush, Lucas, even asking him out on a date to see a horror movie in the episode "Girl Meets Sneak Attack." When Riley warns Lucas about being alone with Missy, Missy purposely gets herself and Lucas in detention, therefore being alone with him. Later, Riley gets detention, too, after she did something to make her father give her detention. However, during detention, Lucas declares he'd rather spend time with his friends than going on a date with Missy. Disappointed at this, Missy tells the group to grow up, and Riley refuses, at least for the time being.
Besides being Riley's high school history teacher, Cory is also a loving father to Riley. In the pilot, he encouraged Riley to make the world she was living in hers, but promised that he would be there if she needed him. Throughout the episodes, he also teaches and advises Riley and her friends. Like any father, Cory is also protective over Riley, which is seen whenever Riley and Lucas are together. In "Girl Meets Father," Cory and Riley share a father-daughter dance, as he wants to replace the tradition if its ended.
Topanga is Riley's mother. Riley is closer to her mother than her father. Topanga usually takes Riley's side when there is an argument between Riley and Cory. Riley loves to have talks with her mother and knows that she can go to Topanga if she needs help with anything, like in "Girl Meets Father," when Riley asked Topanga if she could have some makeup.
Auggie is Riley's younger brother. He thinks that they're twins so he does the same things that Riley does. Sometimes, Riley and Auggie learn the same things, such as in "Girl Meets Sneak Attack." However, Auggie also likes to listen in on Riley's conversations, as shown in "Girl Meets Father." In the end though, Auggie and Riley have a good sibling relationship.
Joshua is Riley's paternal uncle and her father's younger brother. Both of them are close in age, being less than 3 years apart. It is shown in Girl Meets the Tell-Tale-Tot that Josh trusts Riley by not revealing to Cory and Topanga that she sneaked with Maya to visit him at his college party. In Girl Meets Ski Lodge (Part 2), Josh and Riley have a conversation about her friendship with Maya. After Josh tells Riley that they don't like the same boy, Riley realizes how they've been protecting one another.
I was raised by Topanga and Cory Matthews. They're maniacs. They would walk through an avalanche for friendship, for the sake of family. I got that from them. I got a talent. How about that?
You know I don't think you're serious until six times. You know the first three times I'm still checking for chickenpox to see if I can miss school.
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I thought it was called the Grand Canyon.
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I don't know. And why do they call it shop class? That was the biggest disappointment of my little life.
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I get up in the morning and you're already up. I go to sleep, you're still up. There's food on the table. Clean clothes. You take us where we need to go. You have a job and you still make time to take care of me and Auggie. And I know now that may not be so easy. So if I've forgotten to say thank you, I'm saying it now. Thank you. Oh, and you too, dad.
There was a time were my father was the only one who knew that he and my mother would always be together, even when everyone else said that they wouldn't. He knew.
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Dream dreams Maya. You're going to get everything you want in life.
Maya, how could it possibly happen where anybody would ever believe that it was actually me under the covers? I mean, who would be dumb enough to fall for- How did I get over there?
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Hey, I have hope for something 4 billion miles away. You have always been right here.
Oh. Do you have a son or daughter at John Q Adams?
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What a random and curious comment to make, Fish Store Phil.
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Lucas!
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They can't!
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I would like that very much, Fish Store Phil. Yes. How does she get there?
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Get her on it. Get her on it.
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Of course. What was that?
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But it sounded a lot like a toilet.
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How can he make a fortune, Maya? They cost a dollar each.
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Lucas, you ran the bases?
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Chelsea is replaced. So ends the long, glorious reign of Chelsea the first. Long live Chelsea 2.
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What will happen to her now?
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The potty?
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It's our class goldfish, Chelsea. She made it through the whole year. Right up until it my turn to take her home. And then she- And then she- Is she dead? Because she's either dead or she's so, so very tired. Can you wake her up, Fish Store Phil?
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Then it's as good as done. You know I am fantastic with pets.
I'm not. When the time comes, I want my ashes scattered over-
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It's this weekend. Lucas hasn't asked me to the semi-formal. We're Riley and Lucas, aren't we, Maya?
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It's all over the front of my notebook. Riley hearts Lucas forever.
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Riley and Lucas are just friends.
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Hi.
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I'm Riley.
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How do you love two people, differently?
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Alright, I'll go. What color goes with shame?
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How am I supposed to feel, Maya? I like Lucas, don't I? You were me. How did I feel when you were me? What are me and Lucas?
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You know something. Tell me.
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It was only one time.
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Time to make some choices, Billy. Simple enough for you, Billy?
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Life is so much simpler in black and white.
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You and me, Sally, front of the notebook, baby!
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I just want to be asked to the dance.
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No.
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Why does he keep doing that?
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How long are you gonna keep doing it?
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I thought it was either going to be the front of my notebook or the back of my notebook, but now there's another guy so I think I'm gonna need to get a whole new notebook, because Maya won't tell me how I feel. Adults have it easy, Dad, all you have to decide is what to have for dinner and what to put the thermostat at.
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Wait a minute. What do I do here?
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Oh, this is my punishment. My parents are smart.
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I can't. They're going to punish me.
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They're not going to punish me.
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How?
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I got asked by Charlie.
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What?
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Charlie, I want to thank you for the flowers, and the banner, and Yogi on skates.
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Keep making things happen, Maya.
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Billy gets it!
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Have you no sense of anything?
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Oh, there's a dance and you're planning to attend this dance that you never mentioned in my general vicinity. That dance?
She is one of the only two characters to physically appear in every episode, the second being Maya.
She was born on December 8, 2001 at 6:00 AM in New York City, weighing 7lbs 4 oz, and she was 21 inches long.
Her uncle Joshua was born on February 14, 1999, making them nearly three years apart in age.
She has had her tonsils removed.
Her equivalent character in Boy Meets World is her father, Cory Matthews.
Riley appears closer to her mother, Topanga, rather than her father, Cory.
She is stated to be 3 years younger than her uncle Joshua, however Joshua was born on February 14, 1999 making the two almost 3 years in difference.
As revealed in "Disney That's Just Who I Am," Rowan Blanchard, Riley's portrayer, is similar to her character in real life.
Mr. Puffles, Riley's hamster mentioned in Girl Meets Boy, apparently met a tragic fate.
She has a major crush on Lucas Friar, a new student from Texas whom she met on the subway.
Riley admits to loving Farkle as a friend, but not as deeply in the way that he claims to love her.
Riley has been present for all of the episodes throughout the series.
It is possible that the name "Riley" might have been inspired by the name of frequent Boy Meets World guest star Blake Soper's Indie Rock band Rilo Kiley.
In Girl Meets Texas (Part 3), Riley admits to Farkle that she still has strong feelings for Lucas, but stepped back because she cares about Maya's feelings.
In "Girl Meets Fish", it revealed that Riley is really sensitive.
She is the official/female counterpart of Cory Matthews.
It is revealed by Charlie in Girl Meets the New Year that her favourite movie snack is red gummy bears and likes to bite the heads off first so they feel less pain.
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