WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for That ’90s Show part 2
Summary
AlthoughThat ’90s Showis a worthy follow-up toThat ‘70s Show, one problem is unique to Netflix’s sitcom spinoff. That ‘90s Show isn’t a revival ofThat ‘70s Show, but rather a direct sequel. Although some cast members fromThat ‘70s Showdo appear on occasion, the series focuses mainly on the next generation of teens misspending their youth in Point Place, Wisconsin.That ‘90s Show’s cast of charactersare connected to the heroes ofThat ‘70s Show, but their stories are their own, and, outside of Red and Kitty, the original cast isn’t the show’s main focus.
This is a good thing as it gives viewers a chance to get invested in Jay, Ozzie, Nikki, Leia, Gwen, and Nate. The manyThat ‘70s Showeaster eggs inThat 90’s Showseason 2mean no one can forget the link between the two shows, and both sitcoms also feature the same nostalgic style and aesthetic. Fortunately, this doesn’t stop the new characters from having fresh adventures that feel unique to the social and cultural landscape of the ‘90s. Gwen and Leia working in Hot Topic is as intensely 90s-coded as the original show’s 70s setting.
That ’90s Show May Have Just Confirmed The Death Of A Major Original That ’70s Show Character
A throwaway line in That ’90s Show part 2 implies that a beloved original That ’70s Show character passed away before the sequel series' timeline.
That ‘90s Show’s Summer Setting Limits Its Storylines
That ‘70s Show Addressed The Entire Lives Of Its Heroes
Sadly, not everything aboutThat ‘90s Showworks. While it is good that the spinoff’s second outing isn’t as reliant onThat ‘70s Showcast cameos as its predecessor,Fez’sThat ‘90s Showseason 2 absenceremains weird. Moreover,That ‘90s Show’s season 2 finale proves that the show’s summer setting is an issue, since it means the series only gives viewers a glimpse of their stories. This was particularly obvious in Gwen and Cole’s romance, which was cut short by the end of summer and their divergent life plans. This problem is bound to come up repeatedly.
The characters ofThat ‘90s Showare stuck in stasis for nine months of the year, waiting for their return to Point Place. If anything dramatic happens in their lives between seasons, viewers have to wait until next summer to find out about it. In contrast,That ‘70s Showaddressed everything from high school grades to college plans, to unplanned pregnancies, to career opportunities.That ‘70s Showcould center the entire lives of its heroes, whileThat ‘90s Showcan only offer viewers a glimpse into their world as it spends only a few months in their company.
That ‘90s Show’s Season 2 Finale Proves Its Scope Is Limited
The Sitcom Can’t Focus On High School and Everyday Life
WhileNate and Nikki’sThat ‘90s Showpregnancy scareproves that the spinoff isn’t afraid of more emotionally resonant storylines, this plot conveniently occurring during the summer months reaffirms the show’s biggest issue. If anything interesting happens outside of summer, viewers miss out on it, whereas if every dramatic event happens to occur during summer, this feels forced and unrealistic.That ‘90s Showcould offer a more immersive look into the lives of its heroes, but the decision to set the series during the summer makes this tougher. Thus,That ’90s Showwill never shareThat 70s Show’s depth.
