The Wonder Years: Season 5

1991 · 24 episodes · ★ 9.6

What Season 5 of The Wonder Years

Kevin Arnold is twelve years old and lives in a middle-class suburb in the United States in the late sixties. His father, Jack, works for a defense company and holds very rigid ideas about how the world should be. His mother, Norma, runs the household and often acts as the family peacemaker. Living with them are his brother Wayne, who enjoys tormenting him, and his sister Karen, who has become a hippie. Kevin wants to fit in, impress Winnie Cooper, and not lose his best friend, Paul Pfeiffer. Family arguments and doubts about friendship are the terrain he navigates. The story is told by the adult Kevin, who looks back on those years and reflects on what he learned while trying to understand what it means to grow up.

24episodes

Oct 2, 1991aired

May 13, 1992latest episode

9.6 hrtotal runtime

Season 5 Episodes

5x01 The Lake
Oct 2, 1991 · 24 min
The Arnold and Pfeiffer family go on a joint family trip. Kevin meets a wild young girl who smokes! Kevin and Cara have a good time together, so much so that he ditches dinner with his family to see her one last time - expecting to never see her again.
Directing: Michael Dinner · Starring: Brad Hunt, Scott Menville, Torrey Ann Cook, John C. Moskoff
5x02 Day One
Oct 9, 1991 · 24 min
Kevin's first day of high school is not all it's cracked up to be. He tries to set himself up as the class clown, but it backfires. He is hassled by a nerd and his new teacher, Mr. Botner. Even Winnie can't make him feel better.
Directed by: Daniel Stern · Written by: Sy Dukane · Starring: Scott Jaeck, Scott Menville, Rocky Costanzo, Josh Peden
5x03 The Hardware Store
Oct 16, 1991 · 24 min
Fed up with the low pay at his first regular job, Kevin decides to try for a job at the mall where he can meet girls. He demands a pay rise, not expecting to get it. When he does, he quits anyway.
Directing: Ken Topolsky · Starring: Josh Blake, Al Ruscio, Michael Bacall, Gloria Manos
5x04 Frank and Denise
Oct 23, 1991 · 24 min
Denise and Frank seem to be made for each other, until Denise turns her eye to Kevin because he understands poetry. Although she breaks up with Frank and kisses Kevin, Kev thinks it would be better if she went back to Frank because they are a perfect match.
Directed by: David Greenwalt · Written by: David Greenwalt · Starring: Roy Brocksmith, Parker Jacobs, Rocky Costanzo, Michael Bacall
5x05 Full Moon Rising
Oct 30, 1991 · 24 min
When Ricky Halsenbach turns 16, Kev and friends decide to go cruising for chicks. Kevin gets into trouble with Cindy after she catches him in a lie. Purdle moons Kevin's parents from Ricky's car.
Directing: Ken Topolsky · Writing: Mark B. Perry · Starring: Heather McComb, Parker Jacobs, Michael Tricario, Rocky Costanzo
5x06 Triangle
Nov 6, 1991 · 24 min
Kevin does not understand why Wayne's new girlfriend, Sandy, is with him. The tables are turned when Sandy approaches Kevin behind Wayne's back and kisses him. In fact, they kiss all over the school. But when Sandy breaks up with Wayne to be with Kevin, Kev can't bring himself to betray his brother.
Directing: Daniel Stern · Starring: Carla Gugino, Michael Ensign, Lindsay Sloane, Parker Jacobs
5x07 Soccer
Nov 20, 1991 · 24 min
Kevin joins the school's soccer team in an attempt to become involved in school sports, but becomes very frustrated with the team's lackluster performance and an extremely apathetic coach.
Directing: Thomas Schlamme · Starring: Brice Beckham, Paul Dooley, Michael Gregory, Ryan Holihan
5x08 Dinner Out
Dec 4, 1991 · 24 min
It's dinner out for Jack's forty-third birthday. But Jack is grumpy, mainly because he is still not talking to his daughter. Norma and Michael try to mediate the arguments between the two, but the dinner - which Kevin is paying for - ends badly.
Directed by: Bryan Gordon · Starring: David Schwimmer, Beatrice Colen, Monica Lundry, Eric Poppick
5x09 Christmas Party
Dec 11, 1991 · 24 min
Kevin doesn't want to attend his family's annual Christmas party for the neighborhood because it will only be his parent's friends - all his friends will be away. Jack is busy at work and Norma is busy at college and when several other problems crop up during the party, Norma and Jack argue. When Jack sends Kevin and Wayne to the store, they expect to return home to the worst.
Directing: Jim McBride · Writing: Sy Dukane, Denise Moss · Starring: Kimberley Kates, Candice Azzara, Patrick Thomas O'Brien, Scott Nemes
5x10 Pfeiffer's Choice
Dec 18, 1991 · 24 min
The Pfeiffer and Arnold families have always been friends, but that friendship is threatened when the Pfeiffers come into a lot of money due to a real estate investment that Jack Arnold passed on. When the Arnolds are invited to the Pfeiffers' country club, Jack cannot handle it. Norma saves the day with a toast to the families' continuing friendship
Directing: Ken Topolsky · Writing: Mark B. Perry · Starring: Torrey Ann Cook, John C. Moskoff, Stephanie Satie, Mark Boone Junior
5x11 Road Test
Jan 8, 1992 · 24 min
Kevin is motivated to get his driver's license by the promise of a date with Jessica. But Kev can't parallel park and he whimps out of taking his test and lies to his family about getting his temporary license. When Kevin tries to practice at night, he runs over the lawnmower - leading Jack to discover the truth about Kevin's license.
Directed by: Thomas Schlamme · Starring: Michael Gregory, Lindsay Sloane, Troy Fromin, Patricia Coleman
5x12 Grandpa's Car
Jan 15, 1992 · 24 min
Grandpa Arnold is getting old and is involved in a minor car accident. He isn't ready to give up his driver's licence until his grandson, Kevin, tells him what he needs to hear.
Directed by: Michael Dinner · Starring: David Huddleston, Jeremy Roberts, Clay Wilcox
5x13 Kodachrome
Jan 29, 1992 · 24 min
Miss Shaw was one of Kevin's more memorable teacher's. She was young, black, anti-authoritarian and actually enjoys teaching. But her unorthodox methods get her in trouble with the school board.
Directing: David Greenwalt · Starring: Lanei Chapman, Richard Fancy, Wendy J. Cooke, Harvey J. Goldenberg
5x14 Private Butthead
Feb 5, 1992 · 24 min
While Kevin is asked to consider his future, Wayne makes a decision to leave school and join the army. Jack and Norma try to talk Wayne out of it, but he won't listen. Wayne and his friend Wart go together to the army testing station. Jack follows and apologises to Wayne for not being a better father to him.
Directing: Nick Marck · Starring: Joseph Whipp, Scott Menville, Pat Crawford Brown
5x15 Of Mastodons and Men
Feb 12, 1992 · 24 min
Kevin has been dating Julie Aidem for two weeks when she invites him for dinner with her family and asks him to tell her parents they are going steady. When he sees Mr. Aidem is dominated by Mrs. Aidem, Kevin decides he doesn't want to end up like that and breaks up with Julie.
Directed by: Thomas Schlamme · Starring: Lyman Ward, Scott Nemes, Carly Elman, Sandy Faison
5x16 Double Double Date
Feb 26, 1992 · 24 min
Kevin wants to date Inga and he uses Winnie to help him get a date. Winnie does the same thing to Kevin, getting set up with new guy Matt Stevens. They end up double-dating at the Spring Dance, bringing some tension to the evening. But when Matt and Inga begin to dance together, Winnie and Kevin rediscover their feelings for each other.
Directing: Peter Baldwin · Writing: Mark B. Perry · Starring: Jason Ross-Azikiwe, Shevonne Durkin, Scott Nemes, Jason Renfro
5x17 Hero
Mar 11, 1992 · 24 min
Kevin is on a first-name basis with McKinley's High's basketball hero, Bobby Riddle. When the team makes it to the regional finals, Kevin's dad decides to attend the game and embarrasses Kevin by talking strategy with Paul and Chuck. Later, though, Kevin apologizes to his dad for how he treated him.
Directed by: Stephen Cragg · Written by: David Greenwalt · Starring: Jim Caviezel, John Frear, Tiffanie Poston, Mary-Beth Manning
5x18 Lunch Stories
Mar 18, 1992 · 24 min
It's lunchtime at McKinley High and the cafeteria is full of life. Chuck spies a potential date. Ricky worries about an assignment he is yet to finish. Wayne tries to win $20 by finding out Maniac's first name. And Kevin is convinced by Winnie to donate blood.
Directing: Ken Topolsky · Writing: Sy Dukane, Denise Moss · Starring: Richard Fancy, Seth Green, Lindsay Sloane, Richard Chaim
5x19 Carnal Knowledge
Mar 25, 1992 · 24 min
Kevin, Ricky and Chuck plan on sneaking into an R-rated movie, while Paul decides he'd rather stay home and talk marine biology with a family friend's daughter. Kevin, Ricky and Chuck get thrown out of the movie theatre where "Carnal Knowledge" is playing, while Paul is at home losing his virginity. Paul confides in Kevin, but his secret gets out the next day.
Directed by: Nancy Cooperstein · Written by: David Greenwalt · Starring: John C. Moskoff, Stephanie Satie, Scott Nemes, Jon Frear
5x20 The Lost Weekend
Apr 8, 1992 · 24 min
When Kevin's parents go away for the weekend, he invites his friends around for a poker game. But when the game gets boring, Chuck and Ricky call all their friends and Kevin ends up throwing the mother of all parties at home - ruining the house. Norma and Jack return the next day, earlier than expected.
Directing: Arthur Albert · Writing: Sivert Glarum · Starring: Andrew Shue, Jeremy Davies, Lindsay Sloane, Eric Bruskotter
5x21 Stormy Weather
Apr 22, 1992 · 24 min
When Karen returns home one night, Kevin and Wayne's living arrangements are thrown into chaos. She's had a fight with Michael and they're not talking. Jack discovers that Michael had asked Karen to marry him, but she didn't want to do anything so traditional. Michael camps out on the Arnold family front lawn in the hopes of getting Karen back. Ten days later, Karen proposes to Michael herself.
Directed by: Ken Topolsky · Written by: Sy Dukane, Denise Moss · Starring: David Schwimmer
5x22 The Wedding
Apr 29, 1992 · 24 min
While Karen has agreed to marry Michael, she has not agreed to have a traditional ceremony like her mother wants. She also doesn't know how to tell her family that she and Michael are moving to Alaska, where he has found work.
Directed by: Peter Baldwin · Written by: Mark B. Perry · Starring: David Schwimmer, Gerry Bednob, James Brodhead, Tara Ellison
5x23 Back to the Lake
May 6, 1992 · 24 min
Summertime used to be fun, but now everyone's gotta work. Kevin has a job at a Chinese Restaurant with Paul, but one day - after finding a Christmas card he received from Cara, decides he will visit her at the lake. Paul has no choice but to tag along because Kevin is driving. Kevin feels like recapturing the wonderful time he had last summer, but things don't go to plan.
Directed by: Michael Dinner · Starring: Michael Paul Chan, Kirk Trutner, Jon Frear, Rocky Costanzo
5x24 Broken Hearts and Burgers Season Finale
May 13, 1992 · 24 min
Kevin is torn between whether to try getting back with Winnie or just enjoying his time at the diner with friends. Includes flashbacks of Winnie in the pilot, "Steady as She Goes," "Nemesis," "How I'm Spending My Summer Vacation," among many others. There is also a flashback to Becky Slater in "Just Between You and Me and Kirk and Paul and Carla and Becky," to Lisa Berlini in "Dance with Me" and to Madeline in "It's a Mad, Mad, Madeline World."
Directing: Ken Topolsky · Starring: Julie Condra, Dah-ve Chodan, Mars Callahan, Jon Frear