"I guess things never turn out exactly the way you planned, I knew they didn't with me. Still my dad used to say, traffic's traffic, you go where life takes you..."
(to wit I still don't know the answer...)
Finally, I've seen all the Wonder Years episodes! I really fell in love with it. Watching the series was somehow a nostalgic trip for me. I could somehow relate to it and actually think that it's pretty close to home that's why I cried like a baby at some episodes. Really tugs at the heartstrings... I preferred watching it alone kasi pag may kasama ako, hindi ako makapag-emote. Haha.
The show's recurring theme were that of family life with the Arnolds and Kevin and Winnie's relationship.
Paul Pfeiffer. Kevin Arnold. Winnie Cooper.Kevin and Winnie
We all know that during Kevin's childhood, Winnie played a significant part in his life. Almost all episodes that concentrated on Kevin and Winnie's relationship were the ones that made me cry or had a lasting impression on me. I guess it's obvious to say that Kevin liked Winnie more than Winnie liked him. Maiwan lang si Winnie ng sandali, may bago na agad (Moving, Heartbreak, Summer). Winnie had broken Kevin's heart too many times that I actually have begun to hate her. When Winnie broke up with Kevin, it felt as if my heart was broken, too. I hated Winnie for leading Kevin on, for taking him for granted cos she knew he'll always be there.
You can't help but be on Kevin's side when you hear him say that Winnie's words cut his heart out.
Another one of my fave Kevin-Winnie episodes was The Accident.
"Winnie Cooper was part of me and I was part of her. And no matter what as long as we live, I knew I could never let her go."
-- Kevin Arnold, "The Accident"
I can't help but shed a tear every time I see this episode. Again, this episode proved how much Kevin liked Winnie, how much his feelings for her were unwavering. One of the best Wonder Years moment... with that scene... and that background music... *sigh*
Even up until the last episode, it was about Kevin and Winnie. As mentioned, Winnie played a very vital role in Kevin's growing up years. Maybe Winnie was Kevin's one true love... I don't know. I might be getting a little mushy over here... I somehow still hope that they would end up together, in a parallel universe. They didn't end up together although they remained good friends. Kevin married another woman. I don't know about Winnie. But we all knew that there was a time when his world revolved around hers.
"Once upon a time, there was a girl I knew who lived across the street, brown hair, brown eyes. When she smiled, I smiled. When she cried, I cried Every single thing that happened to me that mattered in some way had to do with her"The Arnolds
-- Kevin Arnold, "Independence Day"
Another recurring theme, as I've mentioned, was the family life of the Arnolds. Some of the best episodes for me dealt with family life. Maybe because I can relate a little. Growing up in a middle-class family in the suburbs of Manila, there were some things in common. It actually amazed me how although this show was set in the 1960s, I could still relate to it. My daddy went to work everyday. My mommy wasn't exactly a homemaker, still isn't. And my sisters, I have 4, weren't exactly Karens and Waynes (buti na lang). Maybe it has something to do with family life in general.
Out of all the characters in Kevin's family, aside from Kevin, my favorite was Jack Arnold. Although he was quite a grouch, there were some times when you'll see that he's not that bad. I guess the pressure of having to provide for his family has taken a toll on him. I'm not making excuses for him since my dad had to provide for more and he was never a grouch. Pero basta lang... I almost shed a tear when Kevin said in the final episode that his father died. Nooo!Norma Arnold... in a way that's how I want my mom to be, but I'm afraid my mom is no Norma. She's the total opposite of Norma but I am not complaining. Well, sometimes I do, but I guess if she's happier being a businesswoman, then so be it. Norma's actually Stepford Wife-ish. She happily did everything her family wants her to do and never complained.
Karen... I don't like Karen. I don't hate her either. I just don't like it when she breaks her father's heart. And I totally hate that Brightwing episode. According to Ycel, every time uuwi si Karen, may bago sa kanya. She went from a hippie high school student, to a working college girl who then cohabitated with her boyfriend, then became a wife and in the last episode, she was a mom-to-be.
And Wayne.. ang pinaka-consistent. His face didn't change. His height didn't either. Kevin even outgrew him. Haha. He served as the comic relief for the show. He's funny but in most parts, he's just plain annoying.
Top 10 Favorite Episodes
I loved almost all episodes. Of course, there were some episodes that weren't really memorable, but most were. And among of these wonder-ful episodes, I have my favorites among the favorites.
In the order they were shown...
1. My Father's Office
The first episode that I loved-loved. Daddy issues...
2. Family Car
This is one episode I so can relate. My father's Mr-Fix-It. If it can be repaired, who needs a new one. That was the way it was before and it still is how things are now. When I was a kid, I remember having 3 cars, the gray turned midnight blue Toyota Royal Saloon, the silver Toyota Crown and the yellow turned red Mitsubishi Colt... but all were luma. I remember my father telling us that the Royal Saloon was considered as the Mercedes Benz of the Japanese. Yeah, right. I remember our car conking out once in awhile... in the middle of the road. Or course we wanted a new car, but we just can't afford it. After all they were raising five children. They were putting five children through school, an all-girls Catholic private school at that. I vividly remember when we bought the brand new Tamaraw FX back in 1996, the whole family was in the lobby of Toyota Ortigas, and we were so excited to ride it home- plastic and all- and that was way before FX was used as a public transportation. Until now we have Hot Mama (the FX) with us, still in good condition. And after that, we still haven't had any brand-new-car-purchases up until now but what matters is that whenever I don't feel like commuting, we have a car, and an FX and a van used as a school bus and a pick-up that is rarely used. ;)
3. Powers That Be
"Not all gifts are simple and some battles are fought out of love..."Papa Arnold and Grandpa Arnold. An episode that authenticates the phenomenon called vicious cycle... meaning, you will become what you don't like most about your mother/father. A scary thought.
4. St. Valentines Day Massacre
Another one of those Kevin and Winnie episodes... Finally, Winnie admitted she liked Kevin.
5. Goodbye
The episode where Mr. Collins, the Math teacher, died. I cried like a baby on this one. Not that I can relate to this since I've never had a Math teacher who actually cared about her students. I hated Math and Math hated me back. Math teachers=Math. I hate Math. Ergo, I hate Math teachers.
6. Daddy's Little Girl
"... and maybe that's how it had to be... children leave and parents stay behind. Still some things are deeper than time and distance and your father will always be your father and he will always leave a light on for you."I would like to consider myself as daddy's little girl... forever!
7. Heartbreak, Denial (since they're practically one long episode split into 2)
I hated Winnie in this episode! This was when she broke Kevin's heart, big time!
8. The Accident
Another of those Kevin-Winnie episodes... really heart-wrenching...
9. Graduation
"I went for a walk, traveled streets I once known, long ago... when life was simple... when life was new...I guess that's when I new the old days were gone. Things have changed and they will never be the same again."Kevin's graduating from middle school. And Paul decided to go to prep school. Suddenly, Kevin felt as if the important people in his life were leaving him. Winnie didn't live across anymore. He and Paul won't be together in junior high. Kevin took a walk around the block and reminisced about the times when they were younger. When he, Paul and Winnie were still together.
"... but I guess change can't be stopped, no matter how you might wish otherwise."10. Summer, Independence Day
Pues claro que sÃ... dito na nagkaalaman eh.. :)
"Things never turn out the way exactly you planned... Growing up happens in a heartbeat. One day you were in diapers, the next day you're gone. But the memories of childhood stay with you for the long haul... I remember a place... a town.. a house.. like a lot of other houses. A yard like a lot of other yards. A street like a lot of other streets. And the thing is, after all these years, I still look back with wonder."Questions
Who takes the family videos when all of them are in it?
What happened to Carla Heeley?
Etc.
The kids of The Wonder Years were the only childstars who grew up normal and were not total wrecks. Fred Savage (Kevin Arnold) graduated from Stanford University in 1999 with a degree in English. Josh Saviano (Paul Pfeiffer) majored in Political Science at Yale and graduated from Yeshiva's Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. And Danica McKellar (Winnie Cooper) graduated summa cum laude from UCLA with a BS in mathematics in June 1998.
Fyi: Becky Slater was played by Crystal McKellar, Danica's younger sister. She's now a lawyer in New York City.
This show definitely goes into my most prized possessions list. It's something I want my children to see... 20 years from now. Times might be different then but I know the same life lessons will be relevant.
No comments:
Post a Comment