In 1998, season one of That ‘70s Show premiered and gave audiences a taste of what it was like to be a teenager in 1976. The show was filled with young love, crazy teenage hijinks, and the good vibes of the 70s.
Back in January, Netflix released their reboot of That ‘70s Show entitled That ‘90s Show. The show takes place 20 years after the original and follows Eric (Topher Grace) and Donna’s (Laura Prepon) daughter, Leia (Callie Haverda) as she decides to stay at her grandparents’ house in Wisconsin for the summer.
Leia is trying to find out who she is apart from her parents, and in the first episode Leia’s friends for the summer are introduced; Gwen, Jay, Ozzie, Nate, and Nikki. Each of the characters seems to carry elements of the original cast with them, which plays effortlessly on the audience’s nostalgia.
In the first few episodes of the show, it’s clear that the cast was still trying to figure out their chemistry, but by the middle of the season the cast creates a unique atmosphere within the show.
Some characters seem to get lost in the storylines. Ozzie, a gay Asian-American character, only had one episode with a real storyline about coming out to Kitty, and although the impact of the storyline was heartfelt, he seems to get lost in the commotion and only really serves as a comedic relief character. Other characters like Nikki also seem easily forgettable as the series progresses. Nikki is supposed to be like Jackie from the original series, as both date the loveable himbo of the group. Unlike Nikki, Jackie was given a strong personality which allowed her to become a favorite among fans.
Other characters like Leia, Jay and Gwen definitely have a defined role in the series and the show displays their personalities early on. Leia is the shy newcomer, trying to find her place within the group. Jay is the main male lead who tries to have a relationship with Leia despite being a player in the past, and Gwen is the rebel girl next door who shows Leia how to have fun.
Kitty and Red are still main characters in the show, and other characters make cameos throughout the season. The audience will enjoy how these small appearances really make it feel like the old show.
Overall, the plot lines were fun and didn’t deviate too far from the original show. When a show is rebooted often times the show relies too much on the first show and doesn’t give the show a chance to be something on its own, or it doesn’t trust the original and elements that attracted fans in the first place are lost entirely. That ‘90s Show does a good job of defining itself while also staying true to its parent show.