An emotive episode.
Wayne is at that stage where he's not going to do too well in his exams, and doesn't know what to do next. And the army seems like a good career choice. I guess alot of us has been at this sort of crossroads in life.
Jack probably sees how the Vietnam war is going at that time, and doesn't want his son being one of the many casualties of it. Jack's own experience of war in Korea is rarely spoke of, but maybe being older and wiser, he sees the futility of war, the senseless killing and wants to protect Wayne from that. He knows politicians and army leaders will present a rosey picture of the armed forces to young men to get them to sign up, when the reality of army life and the battlefield is far from rosey. He just wants Wayne to realise this.
Jack is clearly a good father and provider, but feels he's let Wayne down in preparing him for life, and what lies ahead. It takes a big man to admit something like that, especially in front of his son.
You do feel sorry for Wayne too. He probably realises he's messed about in school, or maybe he's just not that good academically. Either way, he has big choices to make soon. Butthead or not, you do still root for him and hope he comes good.
It's touching too that behind all the teasing and fights between Wayne and Kevin, they do really have a bond. We see this with Wayne trying to give Kevin a talk on life (and failing), and Kevin going along for support and waiting for Wayne while he takes his medical.
The Wonder Years is very good at dealing with the big moments in life, and this episode is another great example.
Wayne is at that stage where he's not going to do too well in his exams, and doesn't know what to do next. And the army seems like a good career choice. I guess alot of us has been at this sort of crossroads in life.
Jack probably sees how the Vietnam war is going at that time, and doesn't want his son being one of the many casualties of it. Jack's own experience of war in Korea is rarely spoke of, but maybe being older and wiser, he sees the futility of war, the senseless killing and wants to protect Wayne from that. He knows politicians and army leaders will present a rosey picture of the armed forces to young men to get them to sign up, when the reality of army life and the battlefield is far from rosey. He just wants Wayne to realise this.
Jack is clearly a good father and provider, but feels he's let Wayne down in preparing him for life, and what lies ahead. It takes a big man to admit something like that, especially in front of his son.
You do feel sorry for Wayne too. He probably realises he's messed about in school, or maybe he's just not that good academically. Either way, he has big choices to make soon. Butthead or not, you do still root for him and hope he comes good.
It's touching too that behind all the teasing and fights between Wayne and Kevin, they do really have a bond. We see this with Wayne trying to give Kevin a talk on life (and failing), and Kevin going along for support and waiting for Wayne while he takes his medical.
The Wonder Years is very good at dealing with the big moments in life, and this episode is another great example.
