The Wonder Years Review: Where No Dean Has Been Before (Season 1 Episode 21)
The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 21, “Where No Dean Has Been Before,” finds Dean going where no Dean has gone before while Lillian encounters trouble on the work front.
This outing boasts its fair share of sharp, quick-witted one-liners and delightful jokes. There’s never a shortage of humor on The Wonder Years, but “Where No Dean Has Been Before” fires on all comedic cylinders, doling out top-tier hilarity that lands successfully.
KIM: I’m not dressing for boys. I’m dressing for myself. Those are the clothes that make me feel good.
Elisha Williams and Don Cheadle feel more synchronized in this penultimate episode than ever, with Williams tapping into Cheadle’s seamless, pitch-perfect delivery via his easy onscreen presence and physicality.
As the series prepares to cross the Season 1 finish line next week, The Wonder Years thrusts Dean into a high school party, officially christening his newfound teenage path. Everyone knows high school parties are a rite of passage.
DEAN: Did I hide the strand of her hair I have taped on my desk? No, I better go do that.
No matter who you are, everyone can relate to wanting to “be cool” (a.k.a. Bill Williams’ catchphrase). The Wonder Years is universally relatable in that respect. So much of this season explores identity in more ways than one. The series, particularly this episode, effortlessly immerses us in Dean’s journey as he grapples with being his true self.
On the other side of that coin, Lillian, always played to perfection by Saycon Sengbloh, is battling sexism as she accepts a new job. The show brilliantly frames this through a 1960s lens while addressing its relevancy today, especially since countless women still encounter sexism in the workplace.
At face value, “Where No Dean Has Been Before” harbors a simple premise — a primary A-plot featuring Dean trying to keep his house in order amid a party and a B-plot showcasing Lillian’s workplace struggle (which she overcomes triumphantly). But the episode even touches on The Vietnam War and whether America’s presence in Vietnam is warranted.
DEAN: You’re always yourself, and people love you for it.
The Wonder Years is adept at tackling challenging themes with grace and poise while enveloping audiences in the warmth of its heartfelt humor and everlasting light.
“Where No Dean Has Been Before” is a quintessential example of what The Wonder Years is, perfectly encapsulating its radiant energy, playful comedy, surprising profundity, and endearing characters. It feels like a great big bear hug on a rainy day.
ABC, do the right thing and renew this serotonin boost of a series.
Stray Observations:
- The episode title references Star Trek, which won’t surprise you if you’re a Trekkie.
- It’s not a high school-level party unless someone’s vomiting in your mom’s house plant after one too many beers and the cool guy’s making out with your crush in your parents’ bedroom.
- Petition to have Lillian Williams run the world, please and thank you?
- Thankfully, being a “geek” is en vogue these days. Who needs football when you have science fiction?
- As sweet as Broderick is, it’s abundantly clear that Keisa only has eyes for Dean.
What did you think of this episode of The Wonder Years? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
The Wonder Years airs Wednesdays at 8:30/7:30c on ABC.
Follow us on Twitter and 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
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.