The Wonder Years: Season One DVD Review

      Actor: Fred Savage

Format: Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC

Language: English

Number of discs: 2

Rated: NR (Not Rated)

Studio: Time Life Entertainment

DVD Release Date: October 7, 2014

Run Time: 288 minutes

 

 

        “The Wonder Years” was one of those shows I thought would never make it to DVD, mostly because of how much great music from the show had copyright issues. Not only has it finally made its way onto DVD for the first time ever, it comes with the originally broadcast music, including Joe Cocker’s memorable rendition of The Beatles’ With a Little Help from My Friends. But this is a show that is much more than the fantastic soundtrack, though just as much of a classic as the hits that took so long to get copyrighting for.

 

        The show followed the youth of Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage) in suburban middle-class America in the late 1960s, narrated by Daniel Stern as the voice of the child grown with insight and profundity only found with age. Kevin has a stern father (Dan Lauria), a doting mother (Alley Mills), an obnoxious brother (Jason Hervey), and an older sister who is dealing with some of the more complex issues of the time. The show touches upon these issues, such as Vietnam and political scandals, but it is much more interested in the nostalgia of childhood growing pains.

 

        At the top of that list for Kevin are his relationships with neighbor girl and first-love, Winnie Cooper (Danica McKellar), and his lifelong friendship with Paul Pfeiffer (Josh Saviano). This trip makes up all of the content that isn’t dealing with the Arnold family. The pilot episode establishes the importance of their relationship, and this is the one thing that stayed constant to the final episode after six seasons.

 

        The first season only has six episodes, although there isn’t a bad one in the bunch. They are included on two discs, along with a cast reunion featurette and several interviews with the cast and creators Neal Marlens and Carol Black. There is also an additional featurette about the first years of production on the show. 

 

Entertainment Value: 9/10

Quality of Filmmaking: 9.5/10

Historical Significance:  9/10

Special Features: 9.5/10




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