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The Best Episodes of The Wonder Years

Every episode of The Wonder Years ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Wonder Years!

Binge this in 10h 42m•Peaking at 8.5/10

A coming of age story set in the late 1960s that takes a nostalgic look at a black middle-class family in Montgomery, Alabama through the point-of-view of imaginative 12 year-old Dean. With the wisdom of

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Seasons2

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 19 - Love & War
    8.5/10(206 votes)

    #1 - Love & War

    S1:E19

    Bruce returns home from Vietnam, and the family is shocked to find out he is dating an older woman with an 8-year-old son with whom he is eager to start his life. When they learn more about Bruce’s latest deployment, they begin to understand his survivors’ guilt and come together to support him.

    Director:Numa Perrier
    Writer:Kendra Cole

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  2. The Wonder Years Season 2 Episode 3 - Football Team
    8.1/10(121 votes)

    #2 - Football Team

    S2:E3

    As Kim decides to take classes at Bill's college and date one of his star students, Bill must walk the line between teacher and dad; Dean and his friends join the football team where Dean finds himself in a tricky situation.

    Director:Stacey Muhammad
    Writer:Amberia Allen

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  3. The Wonder Years Season 2 Episode 4 - Blockbusting
    8.0/10(121 votes)

    #3 - Blockbusting

    S2:E4

    Bill and Lillian consider moving into the first integrated neighborhood in Montgomery; Dean develops a crush on Brad's mom during a sleepover at their house.

    Director:Nefertite Nguvu
    Writer:Jacque Edmonds Cofer

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  4. The Wonder Years Season 2 Episode 5 - Takeover Spirit
    8.0/10(108 votes)

    #4 - Takeover Spirit

    S2:E5

    When Lillian joins the church choir, she discovers a new side to her mother-in-law; Kim encourages a guilt-ridden Dean to have an encounter with the supernatural.

    Director:Melissa Kosar
    Writer:Jordan Black

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  5. The Wonder Years Season 2 Episode 6 - Bill's New Friend
    8.0/10(102 votes)

    #5 - Bill's New Friend

    S2:E6

    After Bill befriends Dean's music teacher, Bill and Lillian attend a party at his house and the evening takes an unexpected turn. Meanwhile, with their parents away, Dean, Bruce and Kim make their own plans for the night.

    Director:Ken Whittingham
    Writer:Max Searle

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  6. The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 9 - Home For Christmas
    7.9/10(209 votes)

    #6 - Home For Christmas

    S1:E9

    Dean can’t wait to spend Christmas with his older brother, Bruce, when he returns home from Vietnam. But adjusting to life back in Montgomery comes with unexpected challenges for Bruce, and the rest of the Williams family rely on their favorite holiday traditions to bring cheer

    Director:Fred Savage
    Writer:Bob Daily

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Wonder Years

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  7. The Wonder Years Season 2 Episode 1 - One Small Step
    7.9/10(152 votes)

    #7 - One Small Step

    S2:E1

    It’s the summer of 1969, and Dean and Bill are experiencing new walks of life in New York City where Dean has tagged along for Bill’s career-making songwriting gig. Back in Montgomery, Lilian’s infamous sister, Jackie, pays a memorable visit.

    Director:Ken Whittingham
    Writer:Saladin K. Patterson

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  8. The Wonder Years Season 2 Episode 2 - Forbidden Fruit
    7.9/10(122 votes)

    #8 - Forbidden Fruit

    S2:E2

    Torn between his secret relationship with Keisa and his friendship with Broderick, Dean turns to Jackie for advice. Meanwhile, after her latest run-in with the law, Jackie decides to turn over a new leaf.

    Director:Ken Whittingham
    Writer:Bob Daily

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  9. The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 4 - The Workplace
    7.8/10(286 votes)

    #9 - The Workplace

    S1:E4

    It’s “Take Your Son to Work Day” and Dean heads to band practice with Bill. But the “grown folks’ business” at the music studio prompts Lillian to have to pick up Dean. While at her office, Dean finally learns what his mom does while he’s at school all day, gaining a newfound respect for her career and ambition.

    Director:Shiri Appleby
    Writers:Kendra Cole, Meredith Dawson

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  10. The Wonder Years Season 2 Episode 7 - A Star is Born
    7.8/10(100 votes)

    #10 - A Star is Born

    S2:E7

    In search of a new hobby, Dean joins the drama club - only to find himself mixed up in drama of his own. Bill and Kim grapple with Bruce's choice to campaign for a local politician.

    Director:Lisa C. Satriano
    Writer:Melanie Boysaw

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  11. The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 3 - The Club
    7.7/10(289 votes)

    #11 - The Club

    S1:E3

    Dean stumbles upon some “racy literature” and shares it with friends at school. When he is caught by the school principal, Bill and Lillian navigate uncharted territory as parents and Dean learns that manhood isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

    Director:Fred Savage
    Writer:Max Searle

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  12. The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 7 - Independence Day
    7.7/10(221 votes)

    #12 - Independence Day

    S1:E7

    As Kim’s campaign for a car coincides with the need to take Grandaddy Clisby’s keys away, Bill proposes a solution that is only pleasing to him: Kim can drive, so long as she takes her grandfather and Dean around town. Later on at the mall, Dean is worried about seeming uncool when Clisby ends up chaperoning him and his friends, but Clisby has a few crowd-pleasing tricks up his sleeve.

    Director:Robert Townsend
    Writer:Jacque Edmonds Cofer

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  13. The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 15 - Black Teacher
    7.7/10(170 votes)

    #13 - Black Teacher

    S1:E15

    When their teacher goes on maternity leave, Dean, Cory and Keisa are excited to be taught by Mr. Brady, the school’s first Black teacher. Mr. Brady encourages the students to try out for the Knowledge Bowl team where Dean faces some unexpected challenges

    Director:Fred Savage
    Writer:Amberia Allen

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  14. The Wonder Years Season 2 Episode 8 - Like a Boss
    7.7/10(98 votes)

    #14 - Like a Boss

    S2:E8

    After Lillian's boss announces budget cuts, she is forced to make a decision and enforce boundaries between her personal and professional life. Meanwhile, Dean and Cory's friendship hits a few speed bumps as they work together for the boxcar derby.

    Director:Michael Schultz
    Writer:Tom Young

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  15. The Wonder Years Season 2 Episode 9 - Happy Birthday Clisby
    7.7/10(98 votes)

    #15 - Happy Birthday Clisby

    S2:E9

    The Williams gather to celebrate Clisby's 75th birthday - including Bill's brother Melvin and his daughter Cassie. While Bill and Melvin try to one-up each other for Clisby's approval, Cassie shares big news with Lillian and Kim.

    Director:Katie Locke O'Brien
    Writer:Kendra Cole

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  16. The Wonder Years Season 2 Episode 10 - The Happiest Place on Earth
    7.7/10(102 votes)

    #16 - The Happiest Place on Earth

    S2:E10

    When the Williams family decides to go on a family vacation, Kim suggests a road trip to Austin College and Dean proposes a stop at Disneyland. After meeting up with his old bandmates, Bill reflects on his life choices.

    Director:Ken Whittingham
    Writer:Yael Galena

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  17. The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 13 - The Valentine’s Day Dance
    7.6/10(167 votes)

    #17 - The Valentine’s Day Dance

    S1:E13

    Dean’s plans to ask Keisa to the Valentine’s Day Dance are foiled when another boy asks her out first after a new makeover makes her the talk of the school. Meanwhile, Bill and Lillian make Kim sign up for a Big Sister program to have extracurricular activities for her college applications.

    Directors:Victor Nelli, Jr.
    Writer:Brett Melnick

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  18. The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 22 - Love, Dean
    7.6/10(138 votes)

    #18 - Love, Dean

    S1:E22

    It's the end of the school year, and summer excitement is all around; Bill and Lillian each receive major career opportunities; Dean and Keisa take shelter together as a tornado tears through.

    Director:Saladin K. Patterson
    Writer:Yamin Segal

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  19. The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 17 - Jobs and Hangouts
    7.5/10(151 votes)

    #19 - Jobs and Hangouts

    S1:E17

    Kim is excited to start her new job as a waitress at the local diner, which Dean adopts as his local hangout. When Kim experiences drama with her friends, she finds unlikely allies in a tough coworker and her younger brother.

    Director:Aisha Tyler
    Writer:Jacque Edmonds Cofer

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  20. The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 18 - Goose Grease
    7.5/10(145 votes)

    #20 - Goose Grease

    S1:E18

    When Dean comes down with the chicken pox on his way to a hunting trip with Bill and Grandaddy Clisby, Lillian forces the three of them to quarantine together. Clisby pushes homemade remedies on them out of his mistrust of doctors, but he’s forced to reckon with this when Dean’s condition worsens.

    Director:Ken Whittingham
    Writer:Yael Galena

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  21. The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    7.4/10(488 votes)

    #21 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    Struggling to figure out where he fits in, Dean decides to pursue his calling as "The Great Uniter" and attempts to organize the first integrated baseball game between his team and his friend Brad's team.

    Director:Fred Savage
    Writer:Saladin K. Patterson

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  22. The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 11 - Brad Mitzvah
    7.4/10(169 votes)

    #22 - Brad Mitzvah

    S1:E11

    Brad works through his nerves preparing for his bar mitzvah speech while Dean ends his friendship with Keisa when Charlene tells him he can’t be friends with other girls. Things come to a head when the whole group comes together to celebrate Brad’s bar mitzvah.

    Director:Fred Savage
    Writer:Yael Galena

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  23. The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 2 - Green Eyed Monster
    7.3/10(322 votes)

    #23 - Green Eyed Monster

    S1:E2

    While Dean reckons with his first taste of heartbreak and betrayal, the adults in his life are overly empathetic and assume his grief is from mourning current events.

    Director:Fred Savage
    Writer:Mary Fitzgerald

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  24. The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 5 - The Lock In
    7.3/10(235 votes)

    #24 - The Lock In

    S1:E5

    Dean is reluctant to attend the annual church lock-in until Kim tells him it’s where she got her first kiss. He enlists his friends to help him pair up with Keisa, but his plans are thwarted when he instead gets paired up with the pastor’s daughter, Charlene.

    Director:Molly McGlynn
    Writer:Amberia Allen

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  25. The Wonder Years Season 1 Episode 12 - I'm With The Band
    7.3/10(174 votes)

    #25 - I'm With The Band

    S1:E12

    When Dean loses his position as first chair saxophone in the school band, Bill lays the pressure on him to earn it back.

    Directors:Victor Nelli, Jr.
    Writer:Jordan Black

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Best Episodes Summary

"Love & War" is the best rated episode of "The Wonder Years". It scored 8.5/10 based on 206 votes. Directed by Numa Perrier and written by Kendra Cole, it aired on 4/13/2022. This episode scored 0.4 points higher than the second highest rated, "Football Team".