Forget Scream: Beloved ’90s Sitcom Delivers a Near-Perfect 23-Minute Slasher

A sitcom shifts into slasher territory

The episode begins with the gang sent to detention after a classroom disturbance. Mr. Feeny, played by William Daniels, is overseeing them as the group deals with Cory and Topanga’s breakup, which troubles Shawn.

Feeny leaves and locks the classroom doors. A creepy janitor appears, the lights go out, and a message reading “NO ONE GETS OUT ALIVE” appears on the chalkboard in blood.

A Halloween story in February

Despite its Halloween atmosphere, “And Then There Was Shawn” aired in February 1998. The episode’s timing is an odd fit, but its spooky touches and horror-film references make it suitable for an October watch. Boy Meets World also had episodes explicitly framed around Halloween, including “The Witches of Pennbrook” and “Who’s Afraid of Cory Wolf.” The article describes “And Then There Was Shawn” as the best of those episodes and potentially the series’ best overall.

A memorable line and setup

Angela, played by Trina McGee-Davis, responds to the bloody chalkboard with a joke about Feeny’s chalk supply. Her quip gives the tense scene a brief moment of comedy.

The setup combines familiar sitcom characters with a deserted school, a locked classroom and a mysterious killer. That contrast helps the episode stand out as an unusually effective slasher homage.