The Wonder Years (2021 TV series)

Production

ABC ordered a pilot for a new version of The Wonder Years on July 8, 2020, with original star Fred Savage set to direct and executive produce. The pilot was confirmed in January 2021 and filmed in Atlanta, Georgia. In March 2021, the cast was announced: Saycon Sengbloh, Elisha "EJ" Williams, Dulé Hill, Laura Kariuki, Milan Ray, Julian Lerner, and Amari O'Neil, with Don Cheadle as narrator. The series was picked up on May 14, 2021.

Allen Maldonado joined in a recurring role that July. At a Television Critics Association panel in August 2021, the creative team said the show would cover major events from 1968, including the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Writer and executive producer Saladin K. Patterson explained that they wanted to show the diversity within Blackness, both in appearance and in cultural backgrounds, and that Maldonado fit that goal. The first season initially had nine episodes, but on October 26, 2021, it was expanded to a full 22-episode season.

Richard Gant and Spence Moore II were reported to join the cast in November 2021. In May 2022, Savage was removed from his roles as executive producer and director following allegations of verbal outbursts and inappropriate behavior. One week later, ABC renewed the show for a second season, which premiered on June 14, 2023. The series was canceled on September 15, 2023, after two seasons.

Release

The Wonder Years ran on ABC in the United States from September 22, 2021, to August 16, 2023, and aired on CTV in Canada. It launched as an original series on Disney+ via Star in select countries on June 1, and was a Disney+ exclusive in Latin America. Hollywood Records made the theme song available for streaming and download on November 8, 2021; Roahn Hylton and Jacob Yoffee wrote it, with vocals by Scotty Granger. Disney+ added the first season on June 15, 2022, and the second season on August 17, 2023.

Reception

Metacritic assigned a score of 75 out of 100 based on 18 critics, indicating generally favorable reviews. In a Variety review, Daniel D'Addario said parts of the 22-minute pilot felt rushed but its focus on the time period made characters' relationships feel vivid and real against the backdrop of changing times, and he gave positive feedback to the cast. The Hollywood Reporter's Angie Han wrote that the series invokes nostalgia for bygone days while remaining clear-eyed about the period's challenges and delivers the cozy appeal of the best family sitcoms.

Jen Chaney of Vulture stated the series succeeds at honoring its source material and providing something new, calling it one of the few reboots handled with care, intelligence, and clear intention. Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian gave the series 4 out of 5 stars, finding it a charming and funny reboot that taps into the nostalgic appeal of the original while carving a new path. Joyce Slaton of Common Sense Media rated it 4 out of 5, praising positive messages and role models, citing integrity and dignity, and applauding diverse representations.

Dave Nemetz of TVLine gave the pilot a B, praising the vintage soundtrack, comedic tone, and focus on minorities in a 1960s story, but summarized the series as a decent remake that lacks the groundbreaking verve of the original and pulls its punches a bit.