
Scripted series · ABC
The Wonder Years
Return to wonder.
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How The Wonder Years actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
The Wonder Years reads strongest on Humour, Character Depth and Emotional Weight.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
The story
What it's about
A coming of age story set in the late 1960s that takes a nostalgic look at a black middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama through the point-of-view of imaginative 12 year-old Dean. With the wisdom of his adult years, Dean’s hopeful and humorous recollections show how his family found their “wonder years” in a turbulent time. Inspired by the classic series of the same name.
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.

S02E01
One Small Step
It’s the summer of 1969, and Dean and Bill are experiencing new walks of life in New York City where Dean has tagged along for Bill’s career-making songwriting gig. Back in Montgomery, Lilian’s infamous sister, Jackie, pays a memorable visit.
- Directed by Ken Whittingham
- Written by Saladin K. Patterson

S02E09
Happy Birthday Clisby
The Williams gather to celebrate Clisby's 75th birthday - including Bill's brother Melvin and his daughter Cassie. While Bill and Melvin try to one-up each other for Clisby's approval, Cassie shares big news with Lillian and Kim.
- Directed by Katie Locke O'Brien
- Written by Kendra Cole

S02E10
The Happiest Place on Earth
When the Williams family decides to go on a family vacation, Kim suggests a road trip to Austin College and Dean proposes a stop at Disneyland. After meeting up with his old bandmates, Bill reflects on his life choices.
- Directed by Ken Whittingham
- Written by Yael Galena

S01E01
Pilot
Struggling to figure out where he fits in, Dean decides to pursue his calling as "The Great Uniter" and attempts to organize the first integrated baseball game between his team and his friend Brad's team.
- Directed by Fred Savage
- Written by Saladin K. Patterson

S02E07
A Star is Born
In search of a new hobby, Dean joins the drama club - only to find himself mixed up in drama of his own. Bill and Kim grapple with Bruce's choice to campaign for a local politician.
- Directed by Lisa C. Satriano
- Written by Melanie Boysaw

S02E04
Blockbusting
Bill and Lillian consider moving into the first integrated neighborhood in Montgomery; Dean develops a crush on Brad's mom during a sleepover at their house.
- Directed by Nefertite Nguvu
- Written by Jacque Edmonds Cofer
Recently aired
Latest Episodes

S02E09
Happy Birthday Clisby
- Directed by Katie Locke O'Brien
- Written by Kendra Cole

S02E10
The Happiest Place on Earth
- Directed by Ken Whittingham
- Written by Yael Galena


S02E07
A Star is Born
- Directed by Lisa C. Satriano
- Written by Melanie Boysaw

S02E06
Bill's New Friend
- Directed by Ken Whittingham
- Written by Max Searle

Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.

Saladin K. Patterson
Showrunner

Fred Savage
Executive producer

Marc Velez
Executive producer

Lee Daniels
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Yael Galena
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Max Searle
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Jordan Black
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Amberia Allen
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Jacque Edmonds Cofer
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Mary Fitzgerald
Writer

Jordan Black
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Brett Melnick
Writer

Yamin Segal
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Kendra Cole
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Bob Daily
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Tom Young
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Meredith Dawson
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Melanie Boysaw
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Bo Zenga
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Dioverd Danny Batista
Writer
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Created by
- Saladin K. PattersonCreator
Executive production
- Fred SavageExecutive Producer
- Marc VelezExecutive Producer
- Lee DanielsExecutive Producer
- Saladin K. PattersonExecutive Producer
Writing
- Yael GalenaWriter
- Max SearleWriter
- Jordan BlackWriter
- Amberia AllenWriter
- Jacque Edmonds CoferWriter
- Mary FitzgeraldWriter
Direction
- Melissa KosarDirector
- Aisha TylerDirector
- Victor Nelli, Jr.Director
- Ken WhittinghamDirector
- Fred SavageDirector
- Numa PerrierDirector
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- Disney PlusStreaming
- Amazon VideoBuy
- Apple TV StoreBuy
- Google Play MoviesBuy
- Fandango At HomeBuy
If you liked this
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