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Recap / The Wonder Years S 03 E 12 The Powers That Be

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Grandpa Arnold comes to visit the family, and Jack doesn't get along with his father very well. Jack is especially mad when Grandpa brings a puppy as a gift for Kevin, who had been talking about wanting a dog the last time he visited. Jack does not want to keep the dog. Eventually, after Jack and Grandpa argue too much, Kevin angrily decides that he doesn't want the dog anymore. Jack later has a change of heart and tells Kevin that he thinks they should keep the dog. Kevin points out that the dog doesn't even have a name, and Jack says that they'll find him a name.

Includes examples of

  • Comically Missing the Point: Grandpa wants to take Kevin out for ice cream when Jack wants Kevin to take the dog for a walk. Jack asks Grandpa if he'd want to wait (to use the bathroom) and Grandpa says "not for ice cream".
  • A Dog Ate My Homework: Kevin has to do a homework assignment that involves a potato. Buster ends up eating it. The teacher reacts in disbelief when Kevin tells him his dog ate his homework, and Paul vouches that Kevin would not lie about something like that.
  • First Appearance: Grandpa Arnold and the family dog, who would eventually be named Buster.
  • Informed Ability: In-Universe example. When Grandpa learns that Jack can do an impression of Jackie Gleason, the narrator says that his impression was killer.... to the Arnold household. When he does the impression, Grandpa says that that's not Gleason.

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