Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Nostalgic coming-of-age sitcom still charms.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Wonder Years
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 26 kid reviews
Kids say this show is a nostalgic coming-of-age sitcom that balances humor and heart, but it's noted for its mature themes and suggestive content, particularly in later seasons. While many reviewers believe it offers valuable life lessons and relatable experiences for teens, they often advise parental discretion for younger children due to mild swearing, discussions of sex, and some situations that might require a more mature understanding.
- mature themes
- life lessons
- parental discretion
- relatable experiences
- coming-of-age
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Set in the late 1960s and early '70s, THE WONDER YEARS offers a funny, nostalgic look at a boy coming of age during of one of the most tumultuous times in American history. Narrated in voice-over by adult baby boomer Kevin Arnold (Daniel Stern), the show is structured as a flashback to Kevin's day-to-day life from 1968, when he's 11, until his junior year of high school in 1973. His story is told from his point of view both as an adolescent (as portrayed by Fred Savage) and as an adult. Kevin's youth is spent in middle-class suburban America with his family, including his Korean War veteran dad Jack (Dan Lauria), homemaker mom Norma (Alley Mills), hippie older sister Karen (Olivia d'Abo), and annoying older brother Wayne (Jason Hervey). Along with best friend Paul Pfeiffer (Josh Saviano) and girl-next-door Winnie Cooper (Danica McKellar), Kevin faces the trials and tribulations of growing up -- including braving a first kiss, starting (and surviving) high school, and getting a driver's license.
Is It Any Good?
Overall, the series is lighthearted, but it also contains its fair share of both thoughtful and dramatic moments. These moments usually present themselves when the events in Kevin's life are touched by the social, political, and economic upheavals of the era. Conflicts between Mr. Arnold and Kevin's older sister Karen are frequent, as the elder Arnold's traditional middle class values collide with Karen's hippie counterculture ideals. This tension in The Wonder Years -- in addition to concerns about the draft, losing neighborhood children in Vietnam, and putting a man on the moon -- create the backdrop for a world that Kevin and his friends must try to make sense of while growing into adulthood.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about nostalgia in the media, especially in shows like The Wonder Years. How accurate do you think TV shows and movies that look back on the past -- particularly the recent past -- are? Do people in general have a tendency to idealize certain parts of history?
Families can also talk specifically about life in America during the 1960s and '70s. What was it like growing up in that era? How have events like the Vietnam War and the hippie counterculture movement impacted American life today? Which of today's events do you think will have as lasting an effect on future generations?
How do the characters in The Wonder Years demonstrate gratitude and integrity? Why are these important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 31, 1988
- Cast : Dan Lauria , Danica McKellar , Fred Savage
- Networks : Syndicated , Discovery Family Channel
- Genre : Comedy
- Character Strengths : Gratitude , Integrity
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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