AgentRXS March 30, 2022 Share March 30, 2022 Quote Bruce returns home from Vietnam, and the family is shocked to find out he is dating an older woman with an 8-year-old son with whom he is eager to start his life. When they learn more about Bruce’s latest deployment, they begin to understand his survivors’ guilt and come together to support him. Original Air Date: April 13, 2022 Link to comment
txhorns79 April 14, 2022 Share April 14, 2022 I appreciated the nod to the original series. This show often has little moments that can raise the bar of an otherwise average episode and I think that was one of them. Having said that, I'm not sure the continuity is completely correct. From what I remember from the original series, Brian was killed in the pilot episode which took place in September 1968 (since the kids were just starting junior high), and I think here they are well into Spring 1969. 7 Link to comment
yanksno1 April 14, 2022 Share April 14, 2022 Wow, I just got chills. They tied that in perfect. This show is really a surprise. 12 Link to comment
Sarah 103 April 14, 2022 Share April 14, 2022 18 minutes ago, txhorns79 said: I appreciated the nod to the original series. This show often has little moments that can raise the bar of an otherwise average episode and I think that was one of them. Having said that, I'm not sure the continuity is completely correct. From what I remember from the original series, Brian was killed in the pilot episode which took place in September 1968 (since the kids were just starting junior high), and I think here they are well into Spring 1969. Here's why I think the timing works. Bruce could have have put the medal in his desk when he was home in December. It's possible he could have done it more recently when Dean was out of room/wasn't looking. Clearly Dean respects his brother's privacy and doesn't go looking through his brother's things on regular basis, otherwise he would have already known about the medal. That being said, I don't know how much time usually elapses between the action and someone in the military recieving a medal for the action. This episode had score that sounded more like Snuffy Walden than usual for this series, especially during the proposal scene. As soon Bruce said Brian, I though "Brian Cooper?!" and then went back and forth between "No way" and "Maybe." When Bruce mentioned Brian had a sister, I knew I was right the first time. In my opinion, this was easily the best episode of the series so far. If we get a second season, I want to see a multi-episode story-arc on Bruce adjsuting to civilian life post-Vietnam. The story of a Black Vietnam Veteran adjusting to civilian life in the late 1960s/early 1970s isn't a story that has been told on TV/in movies a zillion times. 13 Link to comment
possibilities April 14, 2022 Share April 14, 2022 Especially right now, when there's a war going on and people are feeling very strongly about it in the present, this story has an extra impact. IT's not just thinking about the past. It's also highlighting that even when you are a hero, war is hell and it has a cost. It's hard to celebrate, even when you're getting told you did a good job. There's a grief no matter. 4 Link to comment
januaryman April 14, 2022 Share April 14, 2022 https://deadline.com/2022/04/the-wonder-years-original-series-easter-egg-spoilers-1235001998/ I hope this series is renewed. 4 Link to comment
Bookish Jen April 14, 2022 Share April 14, 2022 I got goosebumps when Bruce talked about his friend Brian. And when he showed the picture of Brian with his little sister Winnie, I got a bit verklempt. And on a shallow note, I think the actor who plays Bruce is really cute. 7 Link to comment
Snow Apple April 14, 2022 Share April 14, 2022 I was waiting for this since the first episode, but when Bruce said the name "Brian" I was going "I'm not ready! I'm not ready! I'm not ready!" And then they showed that picture. 😢 1 8 Link to comment
Empress1 April 14, 2022 Share April 14, 2022 Hello Yvonne Oriji, aka Molly from Insecure! ”Who the fuck is this?” cracked me completely up. So did “unfortunately, Joey was still her son.” 20 hours ago, pennben said: Chills. Tears. That was amazing. 5 Link to comment
theredhead77 April 15, 2022 Share April 15, 2022 This episode makes me want to go back and watch the original. I know I watched it but I have very few memories of it. 3 Link to comment
madpsych78 April 15, 2022 Share April 15, 2022 Yeah, we're going to need more of Bruce and his storyline. Besides the obvious reasons, but also Dean has a potential nemesis in Bruce's girlfriend's son, which could be funny. Adult Dean's "who the f*ck is this" was comedy gold. 2 Link to comment
Raja April 16, 2022 Share April 16, 2022 On 4/13/2022 at 9:19 PM, Sarah 103 said: Here's why I think the timing works. Bruce could have have put the medal in his desk when he was home in December. It's possible he could have done it more recently when Dean was out of room/wasn't looking. Clearly Dean respects his brother's privacy and doesn't go looking through his brother's things on regular basis, otherwise he would have already known about the medal. That being said, I don't know how much time usually elapses between the action and someone in the military recieving a medal for the action. This episode had score that sounded more like Snuffy Walden than usual for this series, especially during the proposal scene. As soon Bruce said Brian, I though "Brian Cooper?!" and then went back and forth between "No way" and "Maybe." When Bruce mentioned Brian had a sister, I knew I was right the first time. In my opinion, this was easily the best episode of the series so far. If we get a second season, I want to see a multi-episode story-arc on Bruce adjsuting to civilian life post-Vietnam. The story of a Black Vietnam Veteran adjusting to civilian life in the late 1960s/early 1970s isn't a story that has been told on TV/in movies a zillion times. Just judging by war movies, medals for valor beneath a Silver Star were given rapidly after the unit commander recommended it. You would think a General had the authority to issue them on the spot if he heard a combat report. General Patton handing out medals before he slapped the soldier in that biopic. And some were later upgraded to higher level medals after someone like Denzel Washington's Lt Colonel in Courage Under Fire did an official investigation. Even though I mentioned Winnie when I first saw that Bruce returned injured I didn't make the connection until the picture was being sent back to her. 2 Link to comment
bybrandy April 17, 2022 Share April 17, 2022 Add me to the group that got a little "gasp" when he started talking about Brian and a little teary when we saw Winnie. Bruce's episode has been the most powerful me so far. And if we get a second season I'd love to see more Bruce. 6 Link to comment
PRgal April 17, 2022 Share April 17, 2022 17 hours ago, bybrandy said: Add me to the group that got a little "gasp" when he started talking about Brian and a little teary when we saw Winnie. Bruce's episode has been the most powerful me so far. And if we get a second season I'd love to see more Bruce. Same. And I have to admit that I chuckled a bit when Dean said that Winnie was pretty. Whoever wrote this may have had a crush on Danica! 5 Link to comment
Raja April 17, 2022 Share April 17, 2022 35 minutes ago, PRgal said: Same. And I have to admit that I chuckled a bit when Dean said that Winnie was pretty. Whoever wrote this may have had a crush on Danica! Who wouldn't have a crush on Winnie Cooper? 8 Link to comment
Sarah 103 April 17, 2022 Share April 17, 2022 17 hours ago, bybrandy said: Add me to the group that got a little "gasp" when he started talking about Brian and a little teary when we saw Winnie. Bruce's episode has been the most powerful me so far. And if we get a second season I'd love to see more Bruce. If we get a second I want them to do a slight reset. Focus the show on the older siblings, have Dean commenting via voiceover on what is happening at home, and give Dean a subplot. I'm not sure when/how this happened, but I found the older siblings to be more interesting and enjoyable characters than Dean. 9 Link to comment
Bookish Jen April 18, 2022 Share April 18, 2022 17 hours ago, Sarah 103 said: If we get a second I want them to do a slight reset. Focus the show on the older siblings, have Dean commenting via voiceover on what is happening at home, and give Dean a subplot. I'm not sure when/how this happened, but I found the older siblings to be more interesting and enjoyable characters than Dean. I totally agree with this. Dean is a cutie, but I find Kim and Bruce to be more compelling. I want to see Kim find herself in both civil rights and second wave feminism. I want to see Bruce navigate a world that can be quite hostile towards Vietnam vets. The show can develop so many interesting stories featuring these two. 9 Link to comment
tennisgurl April 18, 2022 Share April 18, 2022 Damn, I really should have seen it coming as soon as Bruce said his buddies name was Brian, but I didn't catch on until he said his sisters name was Winnie. I am glad that I'm not the only one who gasped, got serious chills. Best episode of the show so far. I hope that we can focus more on Bruce, his episodes have been the most compelling so far. 8 Link to comment
andromeda331 April 25, 2022 Share April 25, 2022 I really wasn't expecting Bruce's friend to be Brian Cooper. That hit really hard. What a great job. I loved Dean's rivalry with the kid. That was hilarious. 3 Link to comment
Scarlett45 July 3, 2022 Share July 3, 2022 My Mom didn’t catch the connection during her first watch, but when we just rewatched the episode together I said “wait for it”, and she leaned forward “that’s Danica McKellar!”. This was a good episode. 1 Link to comment
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