Thank you cosmic superpowers for Netflix.
Why?
Because NETFLIX has 'The Wonder Years'
This show helped illustrate what life was kinda like to a young Tescadero. As I sat there watching the show that gave birth to 'Boy Meets World', watching the young Kevin Arnold go through those awkward teenage years, I walked down my own memory lane all whilst being serenaded by some of the best songs of the 1960's. (And arguably the best soundtrack a television show has ever put together. I forgot how much I loved this show.)
Allow me to digress for a second in case you've never SEEN The Wonder Years. This show transcended a normal coming of age story. It perfectly depicted those awkward teenage times when you're trying to discover what kind of adult you're gonna be. For example here’s the narrator (adult Kevin Arnold) at the close of the first episode, right after Kevin and Winnie have their first kiss:
...and then I remembered why I hate Winnie Cooper. For those of you that don't remember- Winnie was the girl of Kevin's dreams. His first love, his high school sweetheart. All of that. This hatred probably should have went away, but now, looking back and watching the show with adult eyes... nope- I STILL hate her.
It seems the only difference between my hatred for her then, and my hatred for her now is- as a kid I was frustrated for Kevin's sake. I sat there with him every week as she pulled him through that yo-yo garbage disposal she calls her feelings. You know what I'm talking about- she doesn't want to be with him, but she wants to talk to him everyday, she wants to be his female best friend, she wants to be around him everyday, and she wants him to be fine with all of that.
I sit here now and hate her for what she represents. She represents ALL WOMEN that don't know what they want, yet manipulate their talons into one guy while she shops through numerous other men, erring and experimenting in pursuit of what she IS looking for. Because she figures as long as she's verbally honest, she's not doing anything wrong. So sure, she can tell you all about why YOU aren't good enough, and usually these reasons are really dumb. (i.e. I just was told by a girl two weeks ago, that I would be perfect for her, and she beats herself up that she isn't giving us a fair chance- but she hates the way I dress)
Oh yes, Ms. Cooper, I am not fooled by your obvious girl next door, plain, inexpressive personality. You are the devil. Pure evil incarnate. When you wanted a bad guy, Kevin was nice. Kevin grew into a bit of a dick, and suddenly your flavor was nice guys. You just couldn't make up your mind could you?
Let's not mention that whole period where everyone in town knew your panties were in a bunch for Kevin but you STILL wouldn't give him any affection. Your only explanation was, (and I quote): "I like you, Kevin...but I don't...but I do!" WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?! Ugh.
Death to the Winnie Coopers of the world.
Why?
Because NETFLIX has 'The Wonder Years'
This show helped illustrate what life was kinda like to a young Tescadero. As I sat there watching the show that gave birth to 'Boy Meets World', watching the young Kevin Arnold go through those awkward teenage years, I walked down my own memory lane all whilst being serenaded by some of the best songs of the 1960's. (And arguably the best soundtrack a television show has ever put together. I forgot how much I loved this show.)Allow me to digress for a second in case you've never SEEN The Wonder Years. This show transcended a normal coming of age story. It perfectly depicted those awkward teenage times when you're trying to discover what kind of adult you're gonna be. For example here’s the narrator (adult Kevin Arnold) at the close of the first episode, right after Kevin and Winnie have their first kiss:
"It was the first kiss for both of us. We never really talked about it afterward, but I think about the events of that day again and again, and somehow I know that Winnie does too. Whenever some blowhard starts talking about the anonymity of the suburbs, or the mindlessness of the TV generation. Because we know that inside each one of those identical boxes, with its Dodge parked out front, and its white bread on the table, and its TV set glowing blue in the falling dusk, there were people with stories. There were families bound together in the pain and the struggle of love. There were moments that made us cry with laughter. And there were moments, like that one, of sorrow and wonder."
That's not television, that is literature. That is poetry.
When you watch these two kids nervously touch lips for the first time, you get a weird sense of nostalgia. You probably weren't a kid in the 60's, hell you probably weren't the age they were portraying- but you'll feel like you were. This is a testament to the show’s endurance, to its deep resonance in American pop culture.
...and then I remembered why I hate Winnie Cooper. For those of you that don't remember- Winnie was the girl of Kevin's dreams. His first love, his high school sweetheart. All of that. This hatred probably should have went away, but now, looking back and watching the show with adult eyes... nope- I STILL hate her.It seems the only difference between my hatred for her then, and my hatred for her now is- as a kid I was frustrated for Kevin's sake. I sat there with him every week as she pulled him through that yo-yo garbage disposal she calls her feelings. You know what I'm talking about- she doesn't want to be with him, but she wants to talk to him everyday, she wants to be his female best friend, she wants to be around him everyday, and she wants him to be fine with all of that.
I sit here now and hate her for what she represents. She represents ALL WOMEN that don't know what they want, yet manipulate their talons into one guy while she shops through numerous other men, erring and experimenting in pursuit of what she IS looking for. Because she figures as long as she's verbally honest, she's not doing anything wrong. So sure, she can tell you all about why YOU aren't good enough, and usually these reasons are really dumb. (i.e. I just was told by a girl two weeks ago, that I would be perfect for her, and she beats herself up that she isn't giving us a fair chance- but she hates the way I dress)
Oh yes, Ms. Cooper, I am not fooled by your obvious girl next door, plain, inexpressive personality. You are the devil. Pure evil incarnate. When you wanted a bad guy, Kevin was nice. Kevin grew into a bit of a dick, and suddenly your flavor was nice guys. You just couldn't make up your mind could you?
Let's not mention that whole period where everyone in town knew your panties were in a bunch for Kevin but you STILL wouldn't give him any affection. Your only explanation was, (and I quote): "I like you, Kevin...but I don't...but I do!" WHAT THE FUCK DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?! Ugh.
Death to the Winnie Coopers of the world.
