The Wonder Years Review: Happy Birthday, Clisby / The Happiest Place on Earth (Season 2 Episodes 9 and 10)
This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, The Wonder Years being covered here wouldn’t exist.
The Wonder Years Season 2 Episodes 9 and 10, “Happy Birthday, Clisby” and “The Happiest Place on Earth,” finds the Williams making life-altering decisions while overcoming familial squabbles. Kendra Cole pens episode nine with Katie Locke O’Brien at the directorial helm, while Yael Galena writes the script for episode 10 under Ken Whittingham’s direction.
“Happy Birthday, Clisby” brings the delightful Malcolm Jamal-Warner into the familial fold, with a beautifully nuanced performance from Aubriana Davis as Cassie. While it’s fun watching Jamal-Warner and Dulé Hill square off comedically, Davis’ grounded, compelling work is the beating heart of this episode.
CLISBY: This is the greatest gift of my life. Thank you. The fishing poles were nice, too. That was the whole gift, right? I was just checking in case a boat came with it or something.
This penultimate outing cleverly highlights sibling rivalries and the universally relatable jealousy stemming from them. It doesn’t matter where or when you grew up — everyone can identify with sibling bickering. Hill and Jamal-Warner play off each other well as two polar opposite characters.
Cole delivers a tight script with “Happy Birthday, Clisby” that balances heart and humor with ease. It’s a loving meditation on the importance of boundaries, which seems to be a running theme this season. It also seamlessly ties into “The Happiest Place on Earth” as Kim decides her future.
Richard Gant and Patti LaBelle contribute to the strong dynamic between our core characters. They all boast excellent onscreen chemistry that feels natural and buoyant. What makes this show such a comfort is that familial bond. In fact, it’s a must-have. It’s the underlying requirement for this series (and its predecessor).
DEAN [holding a paddle]: What’s this for?
LILLIAN: For people who ask too many questions.
As for “The Happiest Place on Earth,” it’s the stronger of the two. The Wonder Years concludes its season on a high note with this episode. At the end of the day, the relationship between the immediate Williams clan is the crux. It’s what makes the show sing. This episode is easily one of the funniest thus far that feels inspired by various vacation-themed media, including the delightful nod to Home Alone in the cold open.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of “The Happiest Place on Earth” is how prescient it feels regarding current events. Bill’s predicament when he first hears his song on the radio should hit home because of the necessary SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. Bill realizes he should get royalties for his hard work (thankfully, he does). The striking writers and actors rightfully should get paid residuals for their streaming projects (Exhibit A: the inexplicable success of Suits and how little the talent behind it received.)
All this to say, history is cyclical. This battle to be paid what one is worth has been waged for decades. “The Happiest Place on Earth” brilliantly highlights this. In addition to that, the episode showcases the top-notch comedy chops of its core cast, from sleek line deliveries to each character’s respective physicality. It even sets up a few intriguing narrative threads for Season 3 that will be ripe for exploration.
BILL: What matters is that you make a choice and that you make the best out of it. … Just trust that whatever you decide is the right decision for you.
The Wonder Years doles out a sweet and hilarious double-episode season finale that proves the series has staying power on the primetime circuit. It’s a strong finish to Season 2. Here’s hoping ABC sees sense and renews this heartwarming comedy that’s a balm for the soul week after week.
Stray Observations:
- Bill and Melvin should write a two-man musical and take that show on the road. I can picture the tune they performed in “Happy Birthday, Clisby” as an 11 o’clock number.
- Lillian really is the best mom to ever mom. I think Kim will realize this when she’s older.
- Hey, jazz is cool. It’s improvisational. Those who live life on the edge play jazz. Clisby and Melvin just can’t see that yet.
- As a fellow Disneyland fan, I hope Dean got to ride the teacups (or Mad Tea Party) again at night when the multicolored lights shine. It’s a beautiful sight. Also, the last time I rode the Matterhorn, my hips and neck hurt from getting jolted around so much (not that anyone asked). That said, it’s still a fun ride, if anything, for its historical significance in relation to the park.
- I hope we get more Kim/Bruce scenes in Season 3. They’re a delight together.
- I played Punch Buggy quite a bit on car rides as a kid. Although, I recall referring to it as “Slug Bug” over the former.
- I’d love to see all the extra footage from the Disneyland scenes. There has to be a substantial amount, I imagine.
What did you think of The Wonder Years season finale? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Wonder Years Seasons 1-2 are now streaming on Hulu.
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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.