The Wonder Years (2021 TV series)
The Wonder Years is an American coming-of-age comedy on ABC, created by Saladin K. Patterson and inspired by the 1988 series of the same name. It follows 12-year-old Dean Williams in Montgomery, Alabama, in the late 1960s, with his adult self voiced by Don Cheadle as the narrator.
Cast and setting: Elisha “EJ” Williams stars as Dean. His parents are played by Dulé Hill and Saycon Sengbloh, with Laura Kariuki, Milan Ray, Julian Lerner, and Amari O’Neil as Dean’s friends and family. The show is set from a Black middle-class perspective in Montgomery during a turbulent era.
Production notes: The show uses a single-camera format. Executive producers include Saladin K. Patterson, Lee Daniels, Marc Velez, and Fred Savage (season 1). Savage was fired in May 2022 for inappropriate conduct. The pilot was announced in 2020, filmed in Atlanta, and the series order followed in May 2021. Allen Maldonado joined in a recurring role.
Premiere and episodes: The Wonder Years premiered on September 22, 2021, and ran for two seasons with a total of 32 episodes, ending on August 16, 2023. Season 2 began on June 14, 2023.
Story scope and reception: The series tackles major events from 1968, including the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., with a nostalgic yet thoughtful approach. Critics gave it positive reviews: Rotten Tomatoes reported around 96% positive from critics, and Metacritic scored it at 75 out of 100, indicating generally favorable reviews. Reviews highlighted its warmth, strong performances, and respectful handling of history.
Distribution: In the United States, it aired on ABC and later found streaming on Disney+. Canada’s CTV carried it, and Disney+ Star carried it in other regions. The first season arrived on Disney+ on June 15, 2022, and the second season on August 17, 2023. The theme song was released on November 8, 2021.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 05:31 (CET).