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The Best Episodes of The Wonder Years Season 5

Every episode of The Wonder Years Season 5 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Wonder Years Season 5!

Binge this in 9h 36m•Peaking at 8.7/10

The story of Kevin Arnold facing the trials and tribulations of youth while growing up during the 1960s and 70s. Told through narration from an adult Kevin, Kevin faces the difficulties of maintaining relationships and

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 1 - The Lake
    8.6/10(419 votes)

    #1 - The Lake

    S5:E1

    The Arnold and Pfeiffer family go on a joint family trip. Kevin meets a wild young girl who smokes! Kevin and Cara have a good time together, so much so that he ditches dinner with his family to see her one last time - expecting to never see her again.

    Director:Michael Dinner
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 2 - Day One
    8.1/10(317 votes)

    #2 - Day One

    S5:E2

    Kevin's first day of high school is not all it's cracked up to be. He tries to set himself up as the class clown, but it backfires. He is hassled by a nerd and his new teacher, Mr. Botner. Even Winnie can't make him feel better.

    Director:Daniel Stern
    Writer:Sy Dukane

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  3. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 3 - The Hardware Store
    8.3/10(344 votes)

    #3 - The Hardware Store

    S5:E3

    Fed up with the low pay at his first regular job, Kevin decides to try for a job at the mall where he can meet girls. He demands a pay rise, not expecting to get it. When he does, he quits anyway.

    Director:Ken Topolsky
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 4 - Frank and Denise
    8.0/10(351 votes)

    #4 - Frank and Denise

    S5:E4

    Denise and Frank seem to be made for each other, until Denise turns her eye to Kevin because he understands poetry. Although she breaks up with Frank and kisses Kevin, Kev thinks it would be better if she went back to Frank because they are a perfect match.

    Director:David Greenwalt
    Writer:David Greenwalt

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  5. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 5 - Full Moon Rising
    7.7/10(307 votes)

    #5 - Full Moon Rising

    S5:E5

    When Ricky Halsenbach turns 16, Kev and friends decide to go cruising for chicks. Kevin gets into trouble with Cindy after she catches him in a lie. Purdle moons Kevin's parents from Ricky's car.

    Director:Ken Topolsky
    Writer:Mark B. Perry

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  6. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 6 - Triangle
    8.5/10(362 votes)

    #6 - Triangle

    S5:E6

    Kevin does not understand why Wayne's new girlfriend, Sandy, is with him. The tables are turned when Sandy approaches Kevin behind Wayne's back and kisses him. In fact, they kiss all over the school. But when Sandy breaks up with Wayne to be with Kevin, Kev can't bring himself to betray his brother.

    Director:Daniel Stern
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 7 - Soccer
    7.4/10(316 votes)

    #7 - Soccer

    S5:E7

    Kevin joins the school's soccer team in an attempt to become involved in school sports, but becomes very frustrated with the team's lackluster performance and an extremely apathetic coach.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 8 - Dinner Out
    8.2/10(321 votes)

    #8 - Dinner Out

    S5:E8

    It's dinner out for Jack's forty-third birthday. But Jack is grumpy, mainly because he is still not talking to his daughter. Norma and Michael try to mediate the arguments between the two, but the dinner - which Kevin is paying for - ends badly.

    Director:Bryan Gordon
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 9 - Christmas Party
    7.9/10(329 votes)

    #9 - Christmas Party

    S5:E9

    Kevin doesn't want to attend his family's annual Christmas party for the neighborhood because it will only be his parent's friends - all his friends will be away. Jack is busy at work and Norma is busy at college and when several other problems crop up during the party, Norma and Jack argue. When Jack sends Kevin and Wayne to the store, they expect to return home to the worst.

    Director:Jim McBride
    Writers:Denise Moss, Sy Dukane

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  10. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 10 - Pfeiffer's Choice
    7.6/10(302 votes)

    #10 - Pfeiffer's Choice

    S5:E10

    The Pfeiffer and Arnold families have always been friends, but that friendship is threatened when the Pfeiffers come into a lot of money due to a real estate investment that Jack Arnold passed on. When the Arnolds are invited to the Pfeiffers' country club, Jack cannot handle it. Norma saves the day with a toast to the families' continuing friendship

    Director:Ken Topolsky
    Writer:Mark B. Perry

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  11. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 11 - Road Test
    8.0/10(304 votes)

    #11 - Road Test

    S5:E11

    Kevin is motivated to get his driver's license by the promise of a date with Jessica. But Kev can't parallel park and he whimps out of taking his test and lies to his family about getting his temporary license. When Kevin tries to practice at night, he runs over the lawnmower - leading Jack to discover the truth about Kevin's license.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 12 - Grandpa's Car
    8.3/10(317 votes)

    #12 - Grandpa's Car

    S5:E12

    Grandpa Arnold is getting old and is involved in a minor car accident. He isn't ready to give up his driver's licence until his grandson, Kevin, tells him what he needs to hear.

    Director:Michael Dinner
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 13 - Kodachrome
    8.1/10(328 votes)

    #13 - Kodachrome

    S5:E13

    Miss Shaw was one of Kevin's more memorable teacher's. She was young, black, anti-authoritarian and actually enjoys teaching. But her unorthodox methods get her in trouble with the school board.

    Director:David Greenwalt
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 14 - Private Butthead
    8.7/10(346 votes)

    #14 - Private Butthead

    S5:E14

    While Kevin is asked to consider his future, Wayne makes a decision to leave school and join the army. Jack and Norma try to talk Wayne out of it, but he won't listen. Wayne and his friend Wart go together to the army testing station. Jack follows and apologises to Wayne for not being a better father to him.

    Director:Nick Marck
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 15 - Of Mastodons and Men
    8.0/10(319 votes)

    #15 - Of Mastodons and Men

    S5:E15

    Kevin has been dating Julie Aidem for two weeks when she invites him for dinner with her family and asks him to tell her parents they are going steady. When he sees Mr. Aidem is dominated by Mrs. Aidem, Kevin decides he doesn't want to end up like that and breaks up with Julie.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 16 - Double Double Date
    8.5/10(344 votes)

    #16 - Double Double Date

    S5:E16

    Kevin wants to date Inga and he uses Winnie to help him get a date. Winnie does the same thing to Kevin, getting set up with new guy Matt Stevens. They end up double-dating at the Spring Dance, bringing some tension to the evening. But when Matt and Inga begin to dance together, Winnie and Kevin rediscover their feelings for each other.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Mark B. Perry

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  17. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 17 - Hero
    8.1/10(353 votes)

    #17 - Hero

    S5:E17

    Kevin is on a first-name basis with McKinley's High's basketball hero, Bobby Riddle. When the team makes it to the regional finals, Kevin's dad decides to attend the game and embarrasses Kevin by talking strategy with Paul and Chuck. Later, though, Kevin apologizes to his dad for how he treated him.

    Director:Stephen Cragg
    Writer:David Greenwalt

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  18. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 18 - Lunch Stories
    7.8/10(306 votes)

    #18 - Lunch Stories

    S5:E18

    It's lunchtime at McKinley High and the cafeteria is full of life. Chuck spies a potential date. Ricky worries about an assignment he is yet to finish. Wayne tries to win $20 by finding out Maniac's first name. And Kevin is convinced by Winnie to donate blood.

    Director:Ken Topolsky
    Writers:Denise Moss, Sy Dukane

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  19. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 19 - Carnal Knowledge
    8.0/10(313 votes)

    #19 - Carnal Knowledge

    S5:E19

    Kevin, Ricky and Chuck plan on sneaking into an R-rated movie, while Paul decides he'd rather stay home and talk marine biology with a family friend's daughter. Kevin, Ricky and Chuck get thrown out of the movie theatre where "Carnal Knowledge" is playing, while Paul is at home losing his virginity. Paul confides in Kevin, but his secret gets out the next day.

    Director:Nancy Cooperstein
    Writer:David Greenwalt

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  20. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 20 - The Lost Weekend
    8.4/10(327 votes)

    #20 - The Lost Weekend

    S5:E20

    When Kevin's parents go away for the weekend, he invites his friends around for a poker game. But when the game gets boring, Chuck and Ricky call all their friends and Kevin ends up throwing the mother of all parties at home - ruining the house. Norma and Jack return the next day, earlier than expected.

    Director:Arthur Albert
    Writer:Sivert Glarum

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  21. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 21 - Stormy Weather
    8.1/10(309 votes)

    #21 - Stormy Weather

    S5:E21

    When Karen returns home one night, Kevin and Wayne's living arrangements are thrown into chaos. She's had a fight with Michael and they're not talking. Jack discovers that Michael had asked Karen to marry him, but she didn't want to do anything so traditional. Michael camps out on the Arnold family front lawn in the hopes of getting Karen back. Ten days later, Karen proposes to Michael herself.

    Director:Ken Topolsky
    Writers:Denise Moss, Sy Dukane

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  22. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 22 - The Wedding
    8.1/10(311 votes)

    #22 - The Wedding

    S5:E22

    While Karen has agreed to marry Michael, she has not agreed to have a traditional ceremony like her mother wants. She also doesn't know how to tell her family that she and Michael are moving to Alaska, where he has found work.

    Director:Peter Baldwin
    Writer:Mark B. Perry

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  23. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 23 - Back to the Lake
    8.0/10(312 votes)

    #23 - Back to the Lake

    S5:E23

    Summertime used to be fun, but now everyone's gotta work. Kevin has a job at a Chinese Restaurant with Paul, but one day - after finding a Christmas card he received from Cara, decides he will visit her at the lake. Paul has no choice but to tag along because Kevin is driving. Kevin feels like recapturing the wonderful time he had last summer, but things don't go to plan.

    Director:Michael Dinner
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. The Wonder Years Season 5 Episode 24 - Broken Hearts and Burgers
    7.6/10(310 votes)

    #24 - Broken Hearts and Burgers

    S5:E24

    Kevin is torn between whether to try getting back with Winnie or just enjoying his time at the diner with friends. Includes flashbacks of Winnie in the pilot, "Steady as She Goes," "Nemesis," "How I'm Spending My Summer Vacation," among many others. There is also a flashback to Becky Slater in "Just Between You and Me and Kirk and Paul and Carla and Becky," to Lisa Berlini in "Dance with Me" and to Madeline in "It's a Mad, Mad, Madeline World."

    Director:Ken Topolsky
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 5 Ratings Summary

"The Lake" is the best rated episode of "The Wonder Years" season 5. It scored 8.6/10 based on 419 votes. Directed by Michael Dinner and written by Unknown, it aired on 10/2/1991. This episode is rated 0.5 points higher than the second-best, "Day One".