IR TV Review: THE WONDER YEARS - EPISODE 2 (“Green Eyed Monster”) [ABC]

The idea of personal strife inside a national tragedy is an interesting transmutation but also the undeniable social interactions and how a young person processes that is integral. "The Wonder Years" in its initial form was able to address these ideas but, in the new iteration, it does it in a similar way with added context. Fred Savage's portrayal as Kevin in the original was marked by heartache, growing up and perspective. In an irony but also a continuation, Savage actually directs this episode and you can see the light touch of the original while still hitting the political and racial reflection beats that are the contextual for this iteration...but within the psychology of an 11-year-old boy. Episode 2 entitled "Green Eyed Monster" has over-currents of the aftermath of Dr. Kings death to the Williams household but for Dean (Elisha Williams) it is about girl trouble, navigating feelings of abandonment and the course of friendship.

We see the relationship also more with Dean and his sister Kim(played by Laura Kariuki) which in a way mirrors the same approach with Kevin and his sister in a way (though the brother was always the catalyst of trouble) in the original series. The series, then and now, has always been about fleeting moments but only understanding after the fact. The motif of fishing is an interesting play here because we as the audience as well as Dean as an adult knows its impact in terms of reflectional relevance but we see the mistakes or missed opportunities as they move in their normal direction. As with the first episode, this "Wonder Years" continues creating its world, but as it should, it gets more into Dean's head which is where the show needs to be anyway (as Savage knows). And it works because it shows hope, because it shows loss and because it shows that we are all only human. B+

By Tim Wassberg