The Wonder Years - One Small Step (S2E1)
It’s the summer of 1969, and Dean and Bill are experiencing new walks of life in New York City where Dean has tagged along for Bill’s career-making songwriting gig. Back in Montgomery, Lilian’s infamous sister, Jackie, pays a memorable visit.
| Runtime (min) | 22 |
|---|---|
| TMDB Rating | 4.0 (5 votes) |
| Air Date | 2023-06-14 |
| Genres | Comedy, Drama, Family |
| TV Rating | TV-PG |
| Network(s) | ABC |
Storyline
The summer of 1969 takes Dean Williams far from Montgomery, Alabama, when he accompanies his father Bill to New York City for a pivotal songwriting opportunity. Bill has been invited to work on a career-defining project, and Dean tags along for what becomes an eye-opening adventure in the bustling metropolis. The father-son duo navigates the unfamiliar streets and culture of New York, with Dean experiencing the city's energy and diversity in ways that contrast sharply with his Southern upbringing.
Meanwhile, back home in Montgomery, Lilian's sister Jackie arrives for a visit that quickly becomes the talk of the household. Jackie's presence stirs up family dynamics and brings her own distinct personality and perspective into the Williams home. As Bill and Dean bond in New York and Lilian manages Jackie's memorable stay, the episode explores how families grow and change when separated by distance and brought together by unexpected visitors, all against the backdrop of one of history's most significant summers.
What kids learn
Children watching this episode can learn about the importance of supporting family members during pivotal career moments. Dean's willingness to accompany his father to New York demonstrates how families show up for one another during important opportunities, even when it means stepping outside their comfort zones. The episode illustrates that being present for someone's big moment matters, and that children can play a meaningful role in their parents' professional journeys.
The episode also teaches about adaptability and openness to new experiences. Dean's immersion in New York City culture exposes him to different ways of life, showing young viewers that traveling beyond familiar surroundings can broaden perspectives and challenge assumptions. The contrast between Montgomery and New York in 1969 offers lessons about regional diversity within America and how different communities live and express themselves.
Additionally, the storyline involving Aunt Jackie's visit demonstrates how extended family relationships enrich our lives, even when those relatives have strong personalities or different viewpoints. Children can learn that family bonds remain important even when relatives live far apart or have contrasting lifestyles, and that welcoming family members with grace and patience strengthens those connections.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the New York City setting age-appropriate for younger viewers? | The episode presents New York City through Dean's eyes as an exciting but unfamiliar place, focusing on cultural differences and the city's energy rather than anything frightening or inappropriate. The show maintains its family-friendly tone while depicting the contrast between Southern and urban life in 1969, making it accessible for the series' typical audience of children aged seven and up. |
| How does the episode handle the father-son separation from the rest of the family? | The episode treats Bill and Dean's trip to New York as a bonding opportunity rather than a source of anxiety. The parallel storyline with Lilian and Jackie back in Montgomery ensures that both parts of the family remain engaged and active, showing children that temporary separations for important reasons are normal and that families can maintain their connections even when apart. |
| Does the episode reference the moon landing, given the summer 1969 setting? | The episode title "One Small Step" directly references Neil Armstrong's famous moon landing quote from July 1969, and this historical context frames the episode's themes of taking bold steps into unfamiliar territory. The show uses this significant moment in American history as a backdrop for Dean's own journey of discovery in New York City. |
| What kind of character is Aunt Jackie, and is her visit portrayed positively? | Jackie is characterized as Lilian's sister with a memorable, distinct personality that creates interesting family dynamics during her visit. The episode portrays her as someone who brings energy and perhaps different perspectives to the Williams household, offering children a realistic depiction of how extended family visits can be both enjoyable and occasionally challenging. |
| Are there any messages about following dreams or taking career risks? | Bill's songwriting opportunity in New York represents a significant career moment, and the episode explores themes of pursuing professional dreams and taking calculated risks for advancement. Children see how Bill balances this important opportunity with family considerations, demonstrating that career growth sometimes requires stepping into new situations while maintaining family bonds and support systems. |
Writing
Directing
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Struggling to figure out where he fits in, Dean decides to pursue his calling as "The Great Uniter" and attempts to organize the first integrated baseball game between his team and his friend Brad's team. |
| 1 | 2 | While Dean reckons with his first taste of heartbreak and betrayal, the adults in his life are overly empathetic and assume his grief is from mourning current events. |
| 1 | 3 | Dean stumbles upon some “racy literature” and shares it with friends at school. When he is caught by the school principal, Bill and Lillian navigate uncharted territory as parents and Dean learns that manhood isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. |
| 1 | 4 | It’s “Take Your Son to Work Day” and Dean heads to band practice with Bill. But the “grown folks’ business” at the music studio prompts Lillian to have to pick up Dean. While at her office, Dean finally learns what his mom does while he’s at school all day, gaining a newfound respect for her career and ambition. |
| 1 | 5 | Dean is reluctant to attend the annual church lock-in until Kim tells him it’s where she got her first kiss. He enlists his friends to help him pair up with Keisa, but his plans are thwarted when he instead gets paired up with the pastor’s daughter, Charlene. |
| 1 | 6 | When Coach Long and Bill take the boys on a camping trip as part of their newly formed scout troop, their starkly different approaches to the outdoors show Dean that his father isn’t good at everything. As a thunderstorm threatens an eerie quest through the woods, Bill leans into his expertise to save the day. |
| 1 | 7 | As Kim’s campaign for a car coincides with the need to take Grandaddy Clisby’s keys away, Bill proposes a solution that is only pleasing to him: Kim can drive, so long as she takes her grandfather and Dean around town. Later on at the mall, Dean is worried about seeming uncool when Clisby ends up chaperoning him and his friends, but Clisby has a few crowd-pleasing tricks up his sleeve. |
| 1 | 8 | After seeing Dean bullied by Michael after school Lillian goes to confront his parents and learns he needs more compassion than discipline. Much to Dean’s dismay, she takes Michael under her wing and helps him with his project for the science fair – an event where Dean typically excels |
| 1 | 9 | Dean can’t wait to spend Christmas with his older brother, Bruce, when he returns home from Vietnam. But adjusting to life back in Montgomery comes with unexpected challenges for Bruce, and the rest of the Williams family rely on their favorite holiday traditions to bring cheer |
| 1 | 10 | Bill and Lillian decide to join high society club Lads & Ladies as a way to introduce Kim and Dean to positive influences in the community. Bill, Kim and Dean fit right in, but things take a turn when Lillian is treated differently for being a working mom. |
| 1 | 11 | Brad works through his nerves preparing for his bar mitzvah speech while Dean ends his friendship with Keisa when Charlene tells him he can’t be friends with other girls. Things come to a head when the whole group comes together to celebrate Brad’s bar mitzvah. |
| 1 | 12 | When Dean loses his position as first chair saxophone in the school band, Bill lays the pressure on him to earn it back. |
| 1 | 13 | Dean’s plans to ask Keisa to the Valentine’s Day Dance are foiled when another boy asks her out first after a new makeover makes her the talk of the school. Meanwhile, Bill and Lillian make Kim sign up for a Big Sister program to have extracurricular activities for her college applications. |
| 1 | 14 | The family spends spring break with Lillian's parents in the countryside, and Dean lies to his cousins about city life in Montgomery to impress them. Meanwhile, Lillian helps to settle a land dispute between her parents and their neighbors to impress her difficult-to-please mother. |
| 1 | 15 | When their teacher goes on maternity leave, Dean, Cory and Keisa are excited to be taught by Mr. Brady, the school’s first Black teacher. Mr. Brady encourages the students to try out for the Knowledge Bowl team where Dean faces some unexpected challenges |
| 1 | 16 | When Dean learns that Corey’s dad, Coach Long, is in the doghouse, he struggles to keep this secret from his friend. |
| 1 | 17 | Kim is excited to start her new job as a waitress at the local diner, which Dean adopts as his local hangout. When Kim experiences drama with her friends, she finds unlikely allies in a tough coworker and her younger brother. |
| 1 | 18 | When Dean comes down with the chicken pox on his way to a hunting trip with Bill and Grandaddy Clisby, Lillian forces the three of them to quarantine together. Clisby pushes homemade remedies on them out of his mistrust of doctors, but he’s forced to reckon with this when Dean’s condition worsens. |
| 1 | 19 | 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. |
| 1 | 20 | Bill is excited to have made tenure at the university, only to find that his focus on career and family has cost him his spot in his band; Bruce adjusts to living at home. |
| 1 | 21 | Dean tries to impress Keisa's cool new boyfriend by inviting him and his friends to a party Kim is throwing while Bill and Lillian are away for the night; things get out of hand just as Bill and Lillian arrive home. |
| 1 | 22 | It's the end of the school year, and summer excitement is all around; Bill and Lillian each receive major career opportunities; Dean and Keisa take shelter together as a tornado tears through. |
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | It’s the summer of 1969, and Dean and Bill are experiencing new walks of life in New York City where Dean has tagged along for Bill’s career-making songwriting gig. Back in Montgomery, Lilian’s infamous sister, Jackie, pays a memorable visit. |
| 2 | 2 | Torn between his secret relationship with Keisa and his friendship with Broderick, Dean turns to Jackie for advice. Meanwhile, after her latest run-in with the law, Jackie decides to turn over a new leaf. |
| 2 | 3 | As Kim decides to take classes at Bill's college and date one of his star students, Bill must walk the line between teacher and dad; Dean and his friends join the football team where Dean finds himself in a tricky situation. |
| 2 | 4 | Bill and Lillian consider moving into the first integrated neighborhood in Montgomery; Dean develops a crush on Brad's mom during a sleepover at their house. |
| 2 | 5 | When Lillian joins the church choir, she discovers a new side to her mother-in-law; Kim encourages a guilt-ridden Dean to have an encounter with the supernatural. |
| 2 | 6 | After Bill befriends Dean's music teacher, Bill and Lillian attend a party at his house and the evening takes an unexpected turn. Meanwhile, with their parents away, Dean, Bruce and Kim make their own plans for the night. |
| 2 | 7 | In search of a new hobby, Dean joins the drama club - only to find himself mixed up in drama of his own. Bill and Kim grapple with Bruce's choice to campaign for a local politician. |
| 2 | 8 | After Lillian's boss announces budget cuts, she is forced to make a decision and enforce boundaries between her personal and professional life. Meanwhile, Dean and Cory's friendship hits a few speed bumps as they work together for the boxcar derby. |
| 2 | 9 | The Williams gather to celebrate Clisby's 75th birthday - including Bill's brother Melvin and his daughter Cassie. While Bill and Melvin try to one-up each other for Clisby's approval, Cassie shares big news with Lillian and Kim. |
| 2 | 10 | When the Williams family decides to go on a family vacation, Kim suggests a road trip to Austin College and Dean proposes a stop at Disneyland. After meeting up with his old bandmates, Bill reflects on his life choices. |
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