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canceled + renewed TV shows - TV Series Finale

   

The Wonder Years: The Arnold Family Says Farewell

Published: February 3, 2008

 The Wonder Years After six seasons, audiences said goodbye to the Arnold family as ABC aired the series finale of The Wonder Years. It’s a two-part episode that was aired together on May 12, 1993. Episode 114 is entitled “Summer” and the last episode (#115) is appropriately called “Independence Day.” Here’s what happened.

Winnie (Danica McKellar) takes a summer job as a lifeguard at a Cascades resort. Upset that they’ll be apart, Kevin (Fred Savage) plans to take a cross-country trip with his friends. Unfortunately, his father (Dan Lauria) won’t let him go and tells him, “You wouldn’t survive for two seconds on your own.” Disappointed, Kevin returns to his unfulfilling job at the family furniture factory. When he phones Winnie at the resort, she is enjoying herself and seems distant.

During a fight with his father, Kevin tells his old man off and announces that he needs to “find himself.” He drives to the resort. He hopes to land a job so that he and Winnie can spend the summer together. Unfortunately, she’s not thrilled to see him and he can only get a busboy position.

Kevin trys to distract himself by playing poker with members of the resort’s band. After bluffing his way to a $100 win, he goes to tell Winnie the good news and sees her in a passionate embrace with hunky lifeguard Eric (guest Brad Naso).

The next morning, Jack arrives to give his despondent son some spare underwear and cookies, because Norma (Alley Mills) is worried about him. Kevin expects an apology but it doesn’t come and he tells his father that he doesn’t need his help or his cookies. Jack doesn’t lose his temper and leaves.

When Kevin confronts Winnie, they get into a big fight. She’s angry that he was spying on her and pushes him into the pool. That night, a frustrated Kevin plays another round of poker with the band. He thinks he has the perfect hand but loses everything, including his car.

The next morning, he packs to leave and goes to tell Winnie goodbye. He ends up punching Eric and leaves the resort on foot. After awhile, Kevin flags down a car driven by an elderly couple and gets a ride. He’s surprised to find Winnie in the backseat. She’s been fired over Kevin’s behavior. The two begin to argue about who should get out of the car and the elderly couple dump them both. They continue to fight and even throw each other’s luggage into the street where it’s run over by a hay truck.

Soonafter, the two find themselves caught in a torrential downpour and must take refuge in a barn. Drenched, the two calm down and talk about how much the other has changed. They sadly agree that they’re probably not going to end up together. Scared, Winnie tells Kevin that she doesn’t want it to end. They share passionate kisses and the camera pulls back and fades to the next scene. In voiceover, we’re told that the two promised to always be together, no matter what.

 Kevin & Winnie, so long ago We next see them arriving back home, holding hands, in time to watch the local 4th of July parade on a clear day. We’re told that Kevin and Winnie both knew that the town held their past but not their future. Adult Kevin (Daniel Stern) says, “It was the last July I ever spent in that town. The next year, after graduation, I was on my way.” As the two spot Paul (Josh Saviano), the voiceover says, “So was Paul. He went to Harvard, of course. Studied law.” As Paul sneezes, adult Kevin notes, “He’s still allergic to everything.”

Kevin spots his Dad who is being given some small flags to wave. He tells his two friends that he’ll be right back and goes to his father. As the two awkwardly say hello, the voiceover tells us that the two patched things up. Jack calls to his wife and we see Norma, Wayne (Jason Hervey) and a pregnant Karen (Olivia d’Abo). As the Arnold family reunites, the voiceover continues, “Hey, what can I say? We were family, for better or for worse. One for all and all for one.”

As the family and friends watch the parade, the camera pans to each of them and adult Kevin says, “Karen’s son was born that September. I gotta say, I think he looks like me. Poor kid. Mom? She did well — businesswoman, board chairman, grandmother, cooker of mashed potatoes. The “Wayner” stayed on in furniture. Wood seemed to suit him. In fact, he took over the factory two years later, when Dad passed away. Winnie left the next summer to study art history in Paris. Still, we never forgot our promise. We wrote to each other once a week for the next eight years. I was there to meet her when she came home, with my wife and my first son — eight months old. Like I said, things never turn out exactly the way you planned.”

The parade fades into a scene of Jack and Kevin sitting at the kitchen table. They pleasantly talk about the day and that Jack will soon be a grandpa, with gray hair and everything. Jack is pleased. As the camera pulls back, adult Kevin tells us, “Growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day you’re in diapers, the next day you’re gone. But the memories of childhood stay with you for the long haul.”

The camera draws back further to show the Arnold house and street in twilight. He continues, “I remember a place, a town. A house like a lot of houses. A yard like a lot of other yards. On a street like a lot of other streets. And the thing is, after all these years, I still look back, with wonder.”

We see fireworks in the distance as the scene fades to black. A young boy’s voice says, “Hey Dad, wanna play catch?” Adult Kevin’s voice deepens a little and says, “I’ll be right there.” End of series. TV Series Finale home page


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Becky
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Becky

The ending, while very bitter sweet, is true to real life. How many of us have actually ever ended up with our first love? Yes, I’m sure there are rare cases where people have, but for most people it never ends up that way. That’s just life, and its okay.

Vote Up20Vote Down Reply
March 8, 2016 11:14 pm
Ryan
Reader
Ryan

While I do agree with you that it was very realistic Kevin did NOT end up with Winnie, I think it would have been better if Kevin’s father had survived his first heart attack, with Wayne still taking over the family business then.

Vote Up10Vote Down Reply
December 13, 2018 7:16 pm
Ryan
Reader
Ryan

Actually, one of my friends I graduated high school with DID end up marrying his high school sweetheart and is still married to her after eighteen years. They have had three kids together.

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December 13, 2018 7:18 pm
Sharla Batangan
Reader
Sharla Batangan

I met my first love back when I was 5 years old. We broke up last year some time. I’m with someone else now. Someone who I knew for a long time too.

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March 6, 2019 2:37 am
Danielle
Reader
Danielle

Wonder Years has been one of my most favorite television shows. it sort of reminds me of when I was growing up in late 60s and early 70s.. though I was only small child, it reminded me of simpler times we lived in…no cable,no computers, no cell phone, no microwaves either.. it was a time that families did spend some quality time together. Life was a carefree era even at 4 years old living in a trailer park I had the run of the park.. rode my bicycle almost every where in that park and also had a hill where… Read more »

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November 13, 2014 1:35 pm
Caspion
Reader
Caspion

One of the best…, but…, I can’t … How I hate the way it ended! I has a ***** up end with Winnie coming back and Kevin welcoming her?? with his family????…., oohh… it really aches in sorrow… 🙁 …

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September 8, 2014 7:11 am
Ryan
Reader
Ryan

The odds of someone marrying and staying married to one’s first love in real life are worse than one’s odds of winning a Powerball jackpot, considering how many people there are in the world. Odds are someone else is a better match for you than the person you end up marrying.

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December 13, 2018 7:09 pm
Paul
Reader
Paul

I still remember quite a bit of this show and the sad ending..it was never meant to be forever with Winnie and Kevin but it was allworth the ride! The whole series was:) Still today 21 years ago since the series finale and the Wonder Years is easily still one of the all-time greates shows!:)

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June 12, 2014 4:54 pm
Jwill6891
Reader
Jwill6891

I remember this show coming on when I was young (about 5 or 6), but wasn’t old enough to get into it. I just finished watching the whole series on netflix…. and Wow… It was amazing. I feel sad, but glad that I experienced it overall.

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June 2, 2014 10:24 pm
marty
Reader
marty

Although this era was before my time I love watching it. It reminds me of an exciting time.

A pity this show had to end.

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July 2, 2012 9:07 am
DC1236
Reader
DC1236

I just rewatched to whole series also. Made me sad, only because I fit into Kevin’s shoes…..older brother that was a jerk to me, older sister that was rebellious, and a tough dad who taught me more than I actually realized until he passed away. I hope I’m half of what I had to my daughters.

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March 13, 2012 10:10 am
Juan
Reader
Juan

I just Rewatched the series in a week. It made me miss my childhood, the show and my father. It is and will forever be my favorite tv show.

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December 23, 2010 7:02 am
vv
Reader
vv

MY GOD THIS WAS THE BEST THING I EVER SAW ON TV….BUT ALIAS EVERYTHING GOOD COMES TO AN END!!

WHY?????????????????????????????????????

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February 8, 2009 3:10 pm
mavrick
Reader
mavrick

those were the best days of my life why did it ever had to end

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January 14, 2009 9:41 am
ARINAH!
Reader
ARINAH!

it will always be an AWESOME series; why did it have to end!? so sad ):

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September 2, 2008 11:48 pm
arnetta
Reader
arnetta

Ahhhhh, those were the days. How i remember them well.

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July 29, 2008 9:06 pm
Coronaboy
Reader
Coronaboy

I’ll never forget this series, I remember watching the pilot right after the Super Bowl as well. 🙂

I remember the final episode(s) as well, I was pissed when I heard the series was cancelled, however it had an amazing run! Too bad they can’t work out a deal with the music issues and release the series on DVD.

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February 3, 2008 11:18 pm
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