Oh, frabjous day. Callooh, callay! The Wonder Years is now on Netflix Instant Streaming, as of yesterday. I’m in for weeks of crying my eyes out and, of course, enjoying incredible music and vintage clothes. Not to mention laughing at how Fred Savage’s entire hairline moves when his eyebrows go up or down.
Little Kevin, Paul, and Winnie! Who doesn’t love these guys? Kevin is that all-around great kid who embodies childhood for all of us, and Winnie is the gorgeous, sweet girl next door. The all-American story. I remember watching The Wonder Years with my family growing up, and being genuinely hurt for Kevin anytime he would lose Winnie. Their first kiss in the woods still makes me cry.
But who am I kidding? Loads of those episodes get me all watery-eyed. Once I was on a plane watching episodes on my laptop, and to my complete embarrassment I began crying (pretty hard) at the end of an episode that focused on Kevin’s parents getting into a fight. I also remember getting choked up during a moment when Kevin agrees to take out the nerdy little sister of his best friend, Paul. The joy in her little face…geeeeesh.
But these moments definitely don’t steal the spotlight from the whole Kevin-and-Winnie thing. There is, of course, that famous woods kiss scene; the moment where they wander aimlessly around the dance floor looking for each other someone to dance with; and finally, my all-time favorite Kevin-and-Winnie moment, which happens in the episode “On The Spot.” There’s a school play, and Winnie gets the lead role while Kevin operates the spotlight. During a moment in which Winnie forgets her lines, she stares out at the audience, terrified. Kevin shines the spotlight on her and his grown-up voice remembers: “I felt like I was holding her up with that light. And we were connected by the light. And I wouldn’t let her fall. No matter what, I wouldn’t let her fall.”
BAM! Instant tears every time.
The truth is, with The Wonder Years, every time I decide to watch an episode, there’s a chance I’ll be wiping my eyes by the end.
This post was written by Tori.
