The Wonder Years (1988)

Watchseries; When I think about the programs that my family enjoyed when my brother and I were younger, this one always comes off as the most memorable, mainly because my family spent quality time together watching this show. Now, at 20 years old, this show is still as memorable and holds up against the test of time.

"The Wonder Years" is a period dramedy told from the point-of-view of adult Kevin Arnold (narration of Daniel Stern), and recalls Kevin's adolescence during the turbulent times of the late 1960s and 1970s. Kevin (played brilliantly by Fred Savage) comes of age in suburbia in a neighborhood that many of our parents (including my mom) grew up in. Kevin lives in a ranch house with his parents, Jack (Dan Lauria), an accountant, Norma (Alley Mills) a housewife, and his older siblings, hippie Karen (Olivia D'Abo) and smart-alecky Wayne (Jason Hervey). He has a childhood sweetheart in Gwendolyne "Winnie" Cooper (Danica McKellar), and a best friend in lovable geek Paul Pfeiffer (Josh Saviano). Kevin deals with normal situations that is territorial with adolesence--first loves, heartbreak, middle school, high school, puberty, and growing up. Kevin grows up in uncertain times, much like children are today. Each episode is a chapter in Kevin's life, and follows him between the ages of 13 and 18--the most crucial years of growing up.

When this show was made, they definitely looked at the lives of teenagers. The characters were realistic, and no matter when you grew up, you could relate. Everyone could relate to Kevin, and many felt his adolescent pain. You knew your parents were overburdening, but realized later that they were only trying to help you. Everyone had a sibling like Wayne, and possibly like Karen.

I'm a product of the 1980s, and being born in 1982 put me out of the loop in regard to what the 1960s and 1970s were really like. My parents came of age in this decade, so they easily related to Kevin. The situations were comical, and this show was always good, clean fun. The humor wasn't overburdening, but it was evident, and we always laughed, but it also impacted you and made you think after it was all over. This show premired when my brother and I were only 5, and we watched it with our parents every week until it went off the air. I don't think this show ever was capable of cancellation, but it went out the way it was intended, and it left an indellible impression on this generation. When the reruns returned to television on Nick-at-Nite in 1998, my classmates and I, already in ninth grade, began to watch again. Now, I'm a sophomore in college, and if I can catch the reruns on ABC Family during the week, I'm thrilled. I truly miss this show, and watching reruns brings back great memories.

I don't have a favorite episode or memory--I have many favorite episodes and memories. Two of the moments that I can still remember vividly are when Winnie's older brother died in Vietnam and Kevin and Winnie shared their first kiss, and when Kevin's math teacher died. My mom, brother, and I always used to laugh (and still do) at my dad, who resembles Jack Arnold. We could be talking about something funny during dinner, and my father will sit there, stone-faced, much like Jack always did. I used to love when they'd ask him a question, and he would utter a low growl. While my dad has NEVER done that, he has always resembled Jack. Only now, several years later, he finds it funny that we thought that of him.

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When I think about the programs that my family enjoyed when my brother and I were younger, this one always comes off as the most memorable, mainly because my family spent quality time together watching this show. Now, at 20 years old, this show is still as memorable and holds up against the test of time.

"The Wonder Years" is a period dramedy told from the point-of-view of adult Kevin Arnold (narration of Daniel Stern), and recalls Kevin's adolescence during the turbulent times of the late 1960s and 1970s. Kevin (played brilliantly by Fred Savage) comes of age in suburbia in a neighborhood that many of our parents (including my mom) grew up in. Kevin lives in a ranch house with his parents, Jack (Dan Lauria), an accountant, Norma (Alley Mills) a housewife, and his older siblings, hippie Karen (Olivia D'Abo) and smart-alecky Wayne (Jason Hervey). He has a childhood sweetheart in Gwendolyne "Winnie" Cooper (Danica McKellar), and a best friend in lovable geek Paul Pfeiffer (Josh Saviano). Kevin deals with normal situations that is territorial with adolesence--first loves, heartbreak, middle school, high school, puberty, and growing up. Kevin grows up in uncertain times, much like children are today. Each episode is a chapter in Kevin's life, and follows him between the ages of 13 and 18--the most crucial years of growing up.

When this show was made, they definitely looked at the lives of teenagers. The characters were realistic, and no matter when you grew up, you could relate. Everyone could relate to Kevin, and many felt his adolescent pain. You knew your parents were overburdening, but realized later that they were only trying to help you. Everyone had a sibling like Wayne, and possibly like Karen.

I'm a product of the 1980s, and being born in 1982 put me out of the loop in regard to what the 1960s and 1970s were really like. My parents came of age in this decade, so they easily related to Kevin. The situations were comical, and this show was always good, clean fun. The humor wasn't overburdening, but it was evident, and we always laughed, but it also impacted you and made you think after it was all over. This show premired when my brother and I were only 5, and we watched it with our parents every week until it went off the air. I don't think this show ever was capable of cancellation, but it went out the way it was intended, and it left an indellible impression on this generation. When the reruns returned to television on Nick-at-Nite in 1998, my classmates and I, already in ninth grade, began to watch again. Now, I'm a sophomore in college, and if I can catch the reruns on ABC Family during the week, I'm thrilled. I truly miss this show, and watching reruns brings back great memories.

I don't have a favorite episode or memory--I have many favorite episodes and memories. Two of the moments that I can still remember vividly are when Winnie's older brother died in Vietnam and Kevin and Winnie shared their first kiss, and when Kevin's math teacher died. My mom, brother, and I always used to laugh (and still do) at my dad, who resembles Jack Arnold. We could be talking about something funny during dinner, and my father will sit there, stone-faced, much like Jack always did. I used to love when they'd ask him a question, and he would utter a low growl. While my dad has NEVER done that, he has always resembled Jack. Only now, several years later, he finds it funny that we thought that of him.

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The Wonder Years watchseries. Most of the plots of the show actually happened to the target audience of the time -30 somethings. That's what made this show great. For me it was school walk out to protest the Viet Nam war. I remember thinking when I first watched that episode, did the writers go to Oak Crest Jr. High in Encinitas with me in 1969? Because that's exactly the way it happened. I think of that episode daily when I drop my son off at the same school. I see that courtyard where we all walked out to, and remember the strife of the teachers talking, should we, or shouldn't we allow this to happen, and just like the show, the one or two teachers that joined in, were the ones we thought were cool.

I was born in 1980, so by 1988 I was still a little young (8yrs old) and not interested in TV other than cartoons. When I started watching this amazing show in the mid 90s (when the series was officially over but had reruns going nonstop) I was so taken by it. Not because it made me reflect on my childhood (because I was right smack in the middle of it) but because I had a big crush on Winnie and it was funny. It also gave me a little insight to suburb life which intrigued me because I was born & raised in Harlem, NYC.

Fast forward 20yrs to present day. I'm now 31yrs old (OK OK, so I'm not an old man yet) and I find that Netflix has FINALLY released this fabulous series on Instant streaming. Understand that I had been looking for this series on DVD or other wise for some time (I don't have cable so I can't catch the reruns on TV), so I was overjoyed when I added it to my queue and started watching it a couple of days ago. It was every bit as great as I remembered it, PLUS MORE!!! NOW I was able to enjoy it because of how it cause me to reflect on my childhood. After moving from NYC to the suburbs in my early youth, I could relate to a lot of what Kevin Arnold went through and how the narrator (old Kevin Arnold) saw things through his own eyes. Let me tell you, this show made me cry when I was young because I was such a fan of the Winnie & Kevin relationship.... now this show made me cry again!! I'm only on season 3 right now, but every single episode has plucked on my heart strings and played a tune of love, laughter, loss, rebellion, reflection, failure and victory. I wasn't born and raised in the 60s, but this show makes me wish I was.

I HIGHLY recommend this series to those raised in the pre-digital age, those who witnessed the birth of the digital age, and all those poor unlucky saps who were raised in the 80s and have not had the chance to watch it yet!!! Bonus: If you're a big movie & TV buff like me, you're gonna see a LOT of familiar faces when they were young! I've already seen a young Screech & Zack Morris from Saved By The Bell, a young Larenz Tate, and a couple of actors from some Christian videos I used to see when I was young (anyone remember Mcgee & Me??).

I can remember watching Kevin Arnold growing up, from 1988 until the shows end in 1993. This is a show where you can actually say, "Yeah, that happened to me too" at some point in every episode. The episode that relates best to me is the one where Kevin is trying to call the prettiest girl in class, and dials every number but the last one. He is scared of rejection, I suppose. I can remember doing the same thing at that age. And the on again, off again relationship between Kevin and Winnie was priceless, just the way it was "back in the day". I wish there were more shows like this one on now, but we are given the choice now of watching these pathetic reality programs that SUCK, and appear to entertain only the braindead of society (mostly college kids).

The Wonder Years is an authentic look back into adolesence. In the wonder years we see young Kevin Arnold explore the world of denial, friendship, hate and love. Never in my life have i seen a more perfect depiction of life as a young teen. The hardships with school, friends, your older brother, and the girl that lives on your street; these are all realistic struggles and very easy to identify with. For generations to come, teens will continue to relate to this wonderful show. I will never forget this timeless series of family values and life long lessions; "Growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day you're in diapers, next you're gone. But the memories of childhood stay with you for the long haul."

I love this show. I remember when I was five sitting down in front of the tube and watching it, with my eyes wide, and my face stretched to the max with a smile. I can still remember coming home from school and watching it, and clinging on to every word like a good book. This show helped me grow up.