Yahoo News New ‘Wonder Years’ series addresses MLK assassination and viewers react: ‘They just gutted me’
On Wednesday’s series premiere of The Wonder Years we met Dean, a 12-year-old living in Montgomery, Alabama in 1968. And the series, which was inspired by the show of the same name that ran from 1988 to 1993, is already evoking a range of emotions for viewers.
Throughout much of the pilot episode Dean is seen dealing with usual kid stuff, like bullying and his best friend stealing his girl. But we also saw Dean and his family dealing with some heavier topics, like the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Addressing the historical moment in the series premiere definitely resonated with viewers on Twitter who made comments like, “I was just laughing. They just gutted me.”
Video transcript
- We're so sorry. We just heard what happened.
- Heard about what?
- Dr. King. He-- he was shot.
- What? Where?
- In Memphis. It's all in the news.
KYLIE MAR: On the series premiere of "The Wonder Years," which was inspired by the show of the same name that ran from 1988 to 1993, we met Dean, a 12-year-old in 1968 Alabama dealing with usual kid stuff, like bullying and his best friend stealing his girl. We also saw him and his family dealing with some heavier topics.
- Good evening. Dr. Martin Luther King, the apostle of nonviolence in the Civil Rights movement, has been shot to death in Memphis, Tennessee. Police have issued an all points bulletin for a well-dressed young white man seen running from the scene.
KYLIE MAR: Addressing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination in the series premiere definitely resonated with viewers on Twitter who made comments like, "The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., all the feels tonight," and "Y'all. They have Dr. King's assassination on the first damn episode. I was just laughing. They just gutted me."
- Mama, Dr. King is dead.
- I just couldn't understand what was so important about folding those clothes.
KYLIE MAR: The emotional episode was directed by the original show's star, Fred Savage, who also serves as an executive producer for the series. And if reactions on social media are any indication, the show is already making an impact.
- Everybody in my family plays that day over and over in their minds. But for different reasons. For each of us, it felt like the world around us had changed forever.
