The Wonder Years Review: The Lock In (Season 1 Episode 5)
The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 5, “The Lock In,” hysterically dives into navigating first crushes, first kisses, and first church lock-ins amid the choppy waters of adolescence. As usual, Elisha Williams steals the show, imbuing Dean with equal parts heart and humor as he wades through an all too relatable experience.
“The Lock In” showcases Don Cheadle’s narrator prowess, and while he always knocks it out of the park on The Wonder Years, this episode seamlessly weds his vocals with Williams’ performance.
ADULT DEAN: So much of what makes Black culture unique comes from its roots in the Black church.
The pair are as one — Cheadle’s narration and Williams’ acting are symbiotic, and they work so well together. Cheadle’s voice aptly conveys Dean’s mental anguish over his crush on Keisa and his delight when he kisses Charlene.
ELISHA WILLIAMS, CALEB BLACK
Newcomer Milan Marsh is a natural on screen, injecting Charlene with sweet vulnerability and refreshing candor. You seldom hear about teenage girls frankly discussing their feelings with their crushes, and it’s nice to see The Wonder Years take that approach with Charlene.
ADULT DEAN: I think our parents only gave us middle names so we’d know when we’re in trouble.
Admittedly, it’s a tall order to top last week’s poignantly powerful outing, so “The Lock In” might fall short to some viewers if they’re comparing the two. That said, it’s more lighthearted, embracing the universal awkwardness of getting your first kiss and romantic feelings with aplomb and copious amounts of humor.
ADULT DEAN: At that age, I was so focused on my first kiss, and yet to this day, the second kiss is what I remember best.
The Wonder Years taps into its inherent magic with this week’s episode, and it feels like the show is hitting its stride by bringing its signature appeal to the table: a whole lot of adolescent relatability, charming characters, tenderness, and immense love.
MILAN MARSH, ELISHA WILLIAMS
Stray Observations:
- Dean promptly shoving Charlene into the baptismal pool as a knee-jerk reaction to his first kiss is hilarious, considering how hellbent Lillian is on keeping the kids “pure” in the house of the Lord.
- Once again, The Wonder Years brilliantly dabbles with breaks from reality, i.e., Dean’s “home from war” daydream involving Keisa.
- What’s more provocative than a church lock-in? A high school lock-in with the marching band.
- Parents give their children middle names solely because it sounds more intimidating when they’re doling out punishments.
- We need footage of the pastor’s sex-ed talk with the Moses puppet — for science.
- “The Lock In” marks Elisha Williams and Milan Marsh’s first kiss, and that knowledge makes that scene all the sweeter.
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.