The Wonder Years Review: The Club (Season 1 Episode 3)
The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 3, “The Club,” moves slower, with less narrative action and more character development, and it’s not a bad thing.
The Wonder Years is never plot-heavy in general — it’s more of a deep dive into Dean’s journey through adolescence as he grapples with the conflict between his day-to-day issues and those of the world at large. As long as you bear this in mind, you’ll find “The Club” to be relatively lighthearted and entertaining.
YOUNG DEAN: They’re grownups. They don’t know what real fun is.
“The Club” cheekily explores Dean’s discovery of racy magazines through the lens of the 1960s. It’s a relatable topic for some folks; the first time you feel that inexplicable pull when looking at somebody appealing. What transpires is a hysterical tumble down the sexuality rabbit hole.
JULIAN LERNER, ELISHA WILLIAMS
The bulk of “The Club” hones in on Lillian and Bill giving Dean “the talk.” Saycon Sengbloh soars here, delivering an utterly natural performance, one that brims with heartfelt honesty and humor.
Lillian’s forward-thinking, modern woman sensibilities are still challenged in contemporary society, and, once again, The Wonder Years deftly showcases the striking parallels between life now and life then.
DEAN: I caught my parents looking at porn. If this was the Old Testament, we’d all be stoned.
Lillian doles out the talk every child should get from their parents. But even in 2021, you seldom hear of adults sitting down with their kids for an honest, open conversation, one that destigmatizes embracing one’s sexuality and normalizes having those “taboo” or “dirty” feelings.
SAYCON SENGBLOH
“The Club” masterfully digs up the buried treasure (and writer’s goldmine) of blatantly discussing sexuality in the family setting with hilarity, tenderness, and aplomb. Not just adolescent feelings but toxic masculinity, and, despite its time, The Wonder Years reminds us that compassionate men ooze more confidence than their fragile, egotistical counterparts.
KIM: They’re grownups — everything they do is boring.
Overall, this episode is the show’s strongest yet, and here’s hoping it continues to tell heartwarming, hilariously relatable stories with its crop of endearing characters, spearheaded by the devastatingly charming Elisha Williams.
Stray Observations:
- “The Club” takes us full circle with the brilliant parallels between the first and final scenes, from Dean and Kim switching perspectives regarding their parents’ adult parties to the first/last lines of dialogue echoing the same sentiment.
- Dean envisioning a “Men’s Club” with his father is a fun sojourn into fantasy land, and hopefully, The Wonder Years embraces more of those delightful, intermittent breaks from reality.
- Dean’s mom is divine (this isn’t an opinion; it’s a fact).
- “Boys will be boys” is a phrase still uttered today, showing us that not everything on the societal front changes with time.
- No matter what era you grow up in or how old you are, you always long for your parents’ approval. It’s a universal (and neverending) desire.
ELISHA WILLIAMS
What did you think of this episode of The Wonder Years? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Wonder Years airs Wednesdays at 8:30/7:30c on ABC.
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Melody McCune
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.