Still of Elisha Williams and Amari O'Neil in The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 2 Green Eyed Monster The Wonder Years Review: Green Eyed Monster (Season 1 Episode 2)

The Wonder Years Review: Green Eyed Monster (Season 1 Episode 2)

Melody McCune Reviews, The Wonder Years

The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 2, “Green Eyed Monster,” showcases the Williams family’s coping mechanisms during the time after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, made all the more poignant considering King’s connection to Montgomery. 

“Green Eyed Monster” deftly digs deep into the uncomfortable emotions of not just adolescence but adulthood. Whether it’s the “green-eyed monster” of envy or the sting of grief, The Wonder Years reminds us that painful feelings are part of the human experience. 

DEAN: While Cory got to caress Keisa’s soft, supple hand, I was stuck next to someone who looked like he’d been at Lincoln’s memorial. 

Elisha Williams continues to impress as the sweet and charismatic Dean. “Green Eyed Monster” basks in the glow of nostalgia, and Williams is the perfect conduit for taking us back to our teenage years. Don Cheadle’s narration is lively and a delight for the ears. 

Still of Elisha Williams in The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 2 Green Eyed Monster
THE WONDER YEARS – “Green Eyed Monster” While Dean reckons with his first taste of heartbreak and betrayal, the adults in his life are overly empathetic and assume his grief is from mourning current events. Dean milks the special treatment and uses it to his advantage, and his family shows their support for him in their unique ways. Kim invites him to join her at a local activist rally, while Bill and Dean bond during a fishing trip a new episode of “The Wonder Years,” airing WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 29 (8:00-8:30 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (ABC/Erika Doss) Pictured: Elisha Williams 

Dulé Hill is a far cry from his Psych character, proving just how talented he is as a performer. He imbues the often stoic, calm, collected Bill with nuance, showing his softer side when Dean fishes with him. Those facets make him quite intriguing and a joy to watch. 

BILL: They don’t have to wonder why bad things happen to good people, or why there’s so much hatred in the world, or why, for some people, life may never be fair.

While we haven’t seen much of Laura Kariuki’s Kim on The Wonder Years, “Green Eyed Monster” pulls back on the curtain a bit and unveils the tender, heartwarming relationship between Dean and his sister. Kariuki’s a natural on the screen, breathing life into Kim from a grounded place. 

The juxtaposition of the community’s grief over Dr. King’s assassination and Dean’s grief about losing the girl of his dreams to his best friend is something “Green Eyed Monster” dives into headfirst. It’s the show’s way of ensuring there’s a heaping helping of lightheartedness to accompany the heaviness, and the episode strikes the perfect balance between the two. 

Still of Elisha Williams and Laura Kariuki in The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 2 Green Eyed Monster
THE WONDER YEARS – “Green Eyed Monster” While Dean reckons with his first taste of heartbreak and betrayal, the adults in his life are overly empathetic and assume his grief is from mourning current events. Dean milks the special treatment and uses it to his advantage, and his family shows their support for him in their unique ways. Kim invites him to join her at a local activist rally, while Bill and Dean bond during a fishing trip a new episode of “The Wonder Years,” airing WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 29 (8:00-8:30 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (ABC/Erika Doss) Pictured: Elisha Williams, Laura Kariuki

The Wonder Years is off to a solid start, and it’ll be interesting to see how it progresses over the next four episodes. It delves into life’s challenging issues with grace, heart, and humor aplenty, all while maintaining family as the vital crux of the series. 

Stray Observations:

  • Could Dean’s dearly departed pet, Fred the turtle, reference Fred Savage, a.k.a. Kevin Arnold from the original The Wonder Years? After all, Savage serves as executive producer and director for this series.
  • On a materialistic note, Kim’s boots (and overall fashion sense) are fabulous. 
  • Dean, Cory, and Keisa’s presentations about Dr. King are reminiscent of Black people being asked to educate everyone regarding Black Lives Matter/systemic racism this past year. It’s proof positive that history repeats itself, and we shouldn’t ask marginalized folks to teach us when we’re capable of learning on our own.
  • Nothing stings more than the girl you like kissing someone else, no matter how old you are. 
Still of Dulé Hill in The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 2 Green Eyed Monster
THE WONDER YEARS – “Green Eyed Monster” While Dean reckons with his first taste of heartbreak and betrayal, the adults in his life are overly empathetic and assume his grief is from mourning current events. Dean milks the special treatment and uses it to his advantage, and his family shows their support for him in their unique ways. Kim invites him to join her at a local activist rally, while Bill and Dean bond during a fishing trip a new episode of “The Wonder Years,” airing WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 29 (8:00-8:30 p.m. EDT), on ABC. (ABC/Erika Doss) Pictured: Dulé Hill

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The Wonder Years airs Wednesdays at 8:30/7:30c on ABC.

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Melody loves TV. Maybe too much. Besides being a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV, she's the Managing Editor for Geek Girl Authority, an Independent Contractor for Sideshow Collectibles, and a Senior Writer for Eulalie Magazine. Additionally, she has bylines in Culturess, Widget, and inkMend on Medium. To top it all off, she's a critic for Rotten Tomatoes and CherryPicks.