The Wonder Years

One of my all-time favorite shows is The Wonder Years. The show first aired in 1988 and lasted six seasons. Kevin Arnold recalls his childhood and teen years in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. Each episode has an underlying message or moral. As Kevin has grown older, he remembers certain experiences that he has learned from.

I watched The Wonder Years on Nick at Night when I was a kid and I remember being instantly drawn to the show. I enjoyed watching and listening to Kevin relive his most memorable experiences, including his budding romance with Winnie Cooper, his run-ins with school bullies, his fights with his annoying brother, Wayne, and the simple yet memorable times that we've all shared. Most of all, I loved the music. The Wonder Years had a great way of incorporating the right music into every episode that made it feel more personal and emotional. Because the show takes place in the ‘60s and ‘70s, it’s interesting to see the impact that certain events and matters had on kids, teens, and families across America during that time.

The Wonder Years is an interesting popular culture text because even though it aired in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s and accumulated a following of younger viewers, older generations could watch and enjoy it because it was based in an earlier time with experiences that many had lived and witnessed themselves. And though I obviously wasn’t alive in the late ‘60s or didn’t watch it when it first aired, it’s still one of my favorites.

If you have not see The Wonder Years, I strongly suggest it!