ABC 's The Wonder Years was one of the most notable sitcoms of the s, well known for its theme song and generally saccharine tone. Going on for five years and six seasons, the show accumulated over episodes and is a seminal series in the history of American television.
Sadly for fans of the beloved TV series , The Wonder Years came to a close in , and it did so in a way that not many of them appreciated. Featuring a hastily done voice-over and a future that was not at all what people expected, the surprising but realistic ending for the show is still a sore point among many who watched it.
The Wonder Years told the story of Kevin Arnold, a young boy growing up in the s. Despite the political nature of the era, the show was known for its innocence and sense of nostalgia. Among the rest of the cast were Kevin's curmudgeonly father John, endearing mother Norma, free-spirited older sister Karen and bullying older brother Wayne. The show focused on the comedy of their coming of age, while sometimes briefly touching upon darker themes such as the death of a teacher, as well as recent wars.
The series came to an end with its sixth season, which featured a controversial 1-hour series finale. The Wonder Years final two episodes saw Kevin quitting his job at his father's factory, having grown tired of his overbearing nature. Leaving town, he went to see Winnie at the resort where she worked, hoping to spend the rest of the summer with her.
We remember his nerdy best friend, Paul; his no-nonsense, working-class dad, Jack; his wholesome and doting mother, Norma; his bully of an older brother, Wayne; his hippie older sister, Karen; and, of course, his childhood crush, Winnie Cooper.
The show received a ton of accolades during its six-season run, including a spot in the Nielsen Ratings' Top 30 programs for its first four seasons. Although the show's numbers dwindled a bit in its last two seasons, it was by no means a slouch, but the way the show finished felt abrupt. Fans definitely could have used at least one more season of episodes for a more satisfying ending.
So, what happened? It's difficult to imagine that a show as wholesome as The Wonder Years would cause any sort of controversy, but its ending rubbed audiences the wrong way.
The last two episodes of Season 6 showed Kevin quitting the job he took at his father's factory after he couldn't stand working for him any more. He decided to leave and visit the resort Winnie was working at, with his heart full of anticipation.
This is actually one of my favorite episodes, where Kevin gets sick and Winnie comes over to pretend to take care of him and then just MURDERS him for earlier making fun of her in public to be cool even though they both deeply care for each other. He then learned that Winnie was in a relationship with a lifeguard who worked at the resort, which caused Kevin and the lifeguard to fight.
Kevin punched the lifeguard out, then left the resort after their scuffle. The series skillfully balances these moments with humor and nuance. Looking back at the moment, grown-up Dean has trouble deciphering whether or not the teacher was racist — he remembers her being so, but also notes that she paid special attention to Black students she felt had potential. The tone immediately shifts when the Williams learn that Martin Luther King has been assassinated.
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