by Isabelle Camoin ’26 on February 12, 2026
A&E - Film & TV
In lieu of The Cowl’s Valentine’s Day edition, I think it is appropriate to discuss a show that I believe to be about love: The Wonder Years. The Wonder Years is a fictional TV show set in the late ’60s and early ’70s that romanticizes and shares the tales of the life of Kevin Arnold, a kid living in suburbia. The show produces a love for nostalgia, family, country, and home.
I was first introduced to The Wonder Years during a sixth-grade tutorial, where my teacher would use our free 40-minute block to expose the class to various forms of media. The recent snow day instilled a feeling of nostalgia in me and a desire to continue experiencing this feeling by returning to viewing The Wonder Years.
An aspect of the show that’s even more on brand for Valentine’s Day is the developing story of the girl-next-door, Winnie Cooper. Winnie and Kevin are depicted in a strong platonic relationship throughout the show. The show follows Kevin’s coming of age, beginning in the seventh grade at 12 years old. I am sure many of us remember what it was like to be in middle school. The show depicts a self-conscious tween who is navigating what it means to love a friend, a neighbor, and even his own family. Sometimes you really dislike Kevin because he can act like a jerk, but other times you love him because eventually he learns and grows from his mistakes and realizes the true value of meaningful relationships. The beauty of the show is that it is narrated by Kevin’s adult and mature perception and reflection of his memories as he grows up.
There is something about the past and the slow pace that is presented in the show that makes me long for my childhood and invokes a love for nostalgia. As an audience member of the show, we follow Kevin through his relationships with Winnie, his best friend and neighbor, Paul Pfeiffer, his parents, and his friends from school. At their core, these themes all revolve around love that is playful, friendly, and careful. This stage in his life truly embodies the title of Wonder, and the exploration of ourselves and others that takes place during The Wonder Years.