Summary
After watchingThat ’90s Showseason 2, I have to accept that the one thing I was really hoping for in the spinoff is never going to happen. The Netflix series has done a phenomenal job introducing a new crew of teenage characters, and overall, I have enjoyedThat ’90s Showimmensely. There doesn’t have to be constant references toThat ’70s ShowforThat ’90s Showto be nostalgic since its very formula comes with that bittersweet feeling built right in. Still, it might have been nice if the show had thrown fans of the original series one last bone.
That ’90s Showfollows Leia Forman, daughter to Donna and Eric, as she stays with her grandparents in Point Place, Wisconsin, every summer. Set 15 years after theending ofThat ’70s Show, the series explores the shenanigans involved with being a teenager in the 1990s, which, as it turns out, isn’t too different than in the 1970s. The theme is that, while times change, teenagers will still be teenagers. WhileThat ’90s Showfollows a new gang of basement dwellers,the stars fromThat ’70s Showhave returned for cameos. Still, this hasn’t quite lived up to expectations.
That ’90s Show Cast, Character & Cameo Guide
Here’s a breakdown of the cast, characters, and cameos of That ’90s Show parts 1 - 3, including the returns of That ’70s Show’s many cameos.
It Doesn’t Look Like That ’70s Show’s Original Gang Will Have A Reunion On That ’90s Show
Despite The Many Cameos, There Has Been No Real Reunion
Nearly all those who played the original teenagers ofThat ’70s Showappeared inThat ’90s Showseason 1, but there was not a single moment in which they were all in the same room at the same time. Topher Grace and Laura Prepon reunited to play now-married couple Eric and Donna, and once they were gone, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher came on screen together to reunite Red and Kitty Forman with Jackie and Kelso. Later, Wilmer Valderrama joined in on several episodes, playing Fez, who briefly reunited with Donna in the circle.
Danny Masterson, the only original member of the That ’70s Show gang not to appear inThat ’90s Show, is serving a 30-to-life prison sentence.
These were all excellent moments, butthey fell just short of being an actual reunion. Leading up toThat ’90s Showseason 1, many of the original stars teased their involvement with the spinoff series, and I naturally thought this meant that we would see the now grownup gang united once again. While I was let down in the first installment, I held out hope for season 2. However, these episodes have now come and gone, and the only member of the gang to return is Prepon’s Donna. At this point, if a reunion hasn’t happened, I have to accept that it likely never will.
Every That ’70s Show Character Missing From That ’90s Show Season 2
While That ’90s Show season 1 was full of character cameos from That ’70s Show’s cast, season 2 left out most of those from the original series.
How That ’70s Show’s Reunion Could Still Happen If The Original Actors Return Again
A Reunion At The End Of That ’90s Show Wouldn’t Get In the Way
The writers at Netflix likely didn’t want an all-out reunion with the original gang ofThat ’70s Showto overshadow the newThat ’90s Showcast, and I admit, this was probably a good decision. Reboots or sequels often struggle to survive longer than a season or two since when the nostalgia wears off, there isn’t enough substance left for the series to stand on its own.That ’90s Showseason 2 has been well received, proving that the new cast and character don’t need their predecessors.Reuniting the old gang in the first season might have only been an obstacle.
…a That ’70s Show reunion would be the cherry on top rather than a ploy to win over audiences for a brand-new show.
Of course, ifThat ’90s Showcontinues to be successfulfor several more seasons, there’s no reason the original gang couldn’t have an official reunion sometime leading up to the series finale. By this point, the teens of the spinoff will be well-loved on their own, and aThat ’70s Showreunion would be the cherry on top rather than a ploy to win over audiences for a brand-new show. This would depend on the actors' willingness to return, but it seems I can hold out a sliver of hope. For now, I must content myself with the fresh and fun new characters and stories ofThat ’90s Show.
That ’90s Show
Cast
That ’70s Show returns set two decades later with That ’90s Show, acting as a sequel but bringing back old cast favorites. Led by Red (Kurtwood Smith) and Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) Forman, the new cast arrives as the next generation, with the daughter of Eric and Donna, Leia Forman, leading the charge. Spending the summer with her grandparents, Leia makes new friends and forges new bonds in Point Place, Wisconsin. That ’70s Show series regulars make cameos in the show to maintain that sense of familiarity, and the show adopts the conventions of the ’90s as expected. That ’90s Show first aired on Netflix with a total of ten episodes.
