The Wonder Years Season 2 Episode 7 Review: A Star Is Born
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 Episode 7, “A Star Is Born,” finds Dean joining the drama club as the lead in Peter Pan while Bruce and Bill clash over politics. Melanie Boysaw pens an equal parts poignant and hilarious script while Lisa C. Satriano provides steady direction and fun staging for Dean’s star-making moment.
“A Star Is Born” also gracefully navigates racism in the arts and the microaggressions and outright discrimination Dean faces when his drama teacher casts him as the titular character. When Karen claims someone like Dean has never played Peter Pan, we know what she means: the character has never been Black.
DEAN: Trying to break into a new group in middle school is like a prostate exam — scary, exposing, and you pray no photos exist of either.
This scene proves that history is cyclical, and much of what Black people faced in 1970 is still an issue today. The Little Mermaid is proof positive of that. So many folks made a to-do about Halle Bailey’s casting well before seeing her in the film. What Dean faces in this episode is a painful reminder of how little progress we’ve made on that front.
On a similar note, Lillian shooing away Karen is as humorous as it is heartbreaking, especially when she notes that Karen’s parents are nowhere to be found and there are (or aren’t) white witnesses. Lillian’s trying to ensure that neither Dean nor the Williams family is accused of doing something to a little white girl that simply isn’t true. It’s an uncomfortable truth that’s cleverly conveyed through Boysaw’s writing.
As for the B plot, Bill confronts Bruce for supporting a Republican congressional candidate who ostensibly is only using Bruce as a prop to check off a box. Spence Moore II and Dulé Hill play off each other well as son and father. Moore II brings a groundedness and maturity to Bruce, showcasing the gut-wrenching realities of being a Black veteran in 1970. He had to grow up quickly.
BILL: You could’ve been on drugs, a gambler, or hated jazz, but a Republican?
Meanwhile, Hill consistently delivers as a performer, and “A Star Is Born” is no exception. As usual, he stretches his comedic wings (his timing in the scene with Kim, Bruce, and Lillian is seamless), while his dramatic turn is understated and nuanced. You can feel Bill’s pain when Bruce storms out of the barbershop after their fight.
“A Star Is Born” also tackles stereotypes and knee-jerk judgments geared toward veterans. Specifically, at a time when mental health services weren’t readily available, and there was little understanding from the general public about PTSD. Of course, Bill doesn’t mean to imply that Bruce’s potential mental struggles make him less than; however, that implication stems from Bruce supporting a different political party than him.
It’s an essential lesson in being less judgmental and more accepting of differing viewpoints. Is this politician merely using Bruce to bring in the Black demographic? More than likely. However, as Clisby wisely advises Bill, it’s imperative to let kids make mistakes (so long as it doesn’t threaten their lives). Sometimes, we have to learn things the hard way.
LILLIAN: Lord, our children have lost their ever-loving minds today.
“A Star Is Born” is one of the show’s strongest episodes, packed to the gills with awkward teenage hilarity, drama club antics, and heartwarming moments. At the same time, the outing doesn’t shy away from heavy-hitting topics as it deftly handles racism, bigotry in the creative arts, and mental health ignorance, particularly among veterans. It strikes that perfect balance between hilarity and thought-provoking drama. The Wonder Years has mastered the art of delivering life lessons in a warm, family-friendly setting.
Stray Observations:
- Jack McBrayer’s appearance is more evidence for the “Kenneth Parcell is immortal” theory. Clearly, this is Kenneth before he starts working at NBC as a page in the 2000s.
- That little girl Karen was aptly named. Karens have existed since the dawn of time (or later — I’m no history expert).
- Did you know: The first person to play Peter Pan in Peter Pan was actress Nina Boucicault in 1904 at the Duke of York’s Theatre in the West End?
- I’m 100 percent certain Bruce would despise today’s Republican party.
- Dean deserves an award for wearing his costume in front of a middle school cafeteria and completely owning it. Middle schoolers hold fast to a particularly ruthless brand of cruelty.
- Here’s hoping the show doesn’t pair Dean and Karen together. I don’t think it’ll go down that road, notably given Dean’s narration at that moment about the world not being ready for interracial couples until 1980s sitcoms. That said, it’s lovely seeing Karen’s ignorant viewpoint (I don’t think she was being intentionally hateful) change for the better by the episode’s end. At the very least, she and Dean can be friends.
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 9/8c on ABC, with next-day 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.