The Wonder Years Review: Independence Day (Season 1 Episode 7)
The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 7, “Independence Day,” delivers its strongest outing thus far, a tender and poignant love letter bridging generational gaps and bolstered by a brilliant guest performance from the legendary Richard Gant.
At face value, one might believe “Independence Day” is a holiday-themed episode; however, the story depicts a more personal kind of independence. Dean and Granddad Clisby, two people from different generations, find common ground in their respective quests for freedom from family supervision.
ADULT DEAN: Back then, I thought Granddaddy Clisby was just mean to be mean. I was wrong — that was him being nice.
Of course, as Black men, both have experienced racism in their lifetimes. While not every viewer can connect with enduring discrimination due to skin color, everyone can relate to seeing eye-to-eye with their elders.
It’s not always easy when you’re young, and your worldview consists of, well, only your world. “Independence Day” maps out a thoughtful, touching, and equally humorous story of family and coming to terms with getting older.
BILL: We’re talking about stopping your granddad from driving, not putting him down.
The Wonder Years boasts some of its funniest dialogue yet, and that’s due in part to the arrival of Richard Gant as Granddad Clisby. Gant imbues Clisby with nuance and an endearing curmudgeonly quality. He’s the gruff, occasionally blunt grandpa with a secretly ooey, gooey center.
Gant soars in “Independence Day,” with Elisha Williams hot on his heels. The pair boasts excellent chemistry, and, of course, Don Cheadle’s pitch-perfect narration seamlessly complements that chemistry.
Older viewers (middle-aged millennials and up) will undoubtedly relate to the mall storyline in “Independence Day” and how your “coolness factor” was determined by your presence (or lack thereof) at the local mall. The Wonder Years hilariously plays with this relatable piece of nostalgia, a relic forever enshrouded in antiquity.
ADULT DEAN: I began to see why my dad was so overprotective. Maybe it wasn’t overprotective; maybe it was wise.
This episode further drives home the importance of connection, understanding a time before your own, and that older people can be hip, too, with its trademark heart and delightful humor.
“Independence Day” is the great unifier between generations and a stark reminder that all folks, young and not-so-young, have more in common than they realize. Supported by clever writing, chuckle-worthy one-liners, and fleshed-out performances, this episode solidifies The Wonder Years as the go-to family series of the year.
Stray Observations:
- If you didn’t hang out at the mall when you were a teen, were you even one of the cool kids?
- The consensus from “Independence Day,” the one thing we can all agree on, is this: grandparents are fantastic.
- Dean mentioning the trouble Granddad Clisby had with opening a bank account is reminiscent of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier episode wherein Sam Wilson encountered the same thing. Systemic racism is real.
- Elisha Williams will be a massive star one day — calling it now.
- It was great seeing Richard Gant as General Tony in last week’s Doom Patrol and this week’s episode of The Wonder Years. Talk about range!
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.