Much of my youth was spent watching shows like That 70’s Show, so when I heard they’re making a new one, based around my formative years in the nineties, I wanted to jump on and review it.
As always our reviews are broken down into story, acting, and overall. So let’s jump on into the nineties!
Story 6/10
Picking up a little over 15 years after the end of the first show, and completely forgetting the 80’s themed show they made, The series picks up with Eric and Donna visiting Red and Kitty with their almost 15 year old daughter Leia at the start of summer.
She’s butting hands a little bit with her father about what they both think is cool or enjoyable. By a chance encounter with the neighbor girl, she finds a fast friend.
It’s this encounter that has her telling her parents that she would rather spend the summer with her grandparents.
The story isn’t groundbreaking but it’s definitely a fun journey as the show tells a dual generational story, split between Leia coming of age and out of her shell, as well as Red and Kitty as their empty nest once again has youth injected into it.
“…I find myself more interested in Red and Kitty’s stories…”
I feel as an adult, and parent myself, I find myself more interested in Red and Kitty’s stories as opposed to Leia’s, even though Leia is living my childhood.
Acting 6/10
While the acting is corney and over the top, I looked back to the original series and the child cast of Callie Haverda, Ashley Aufderheide, Mace Coronel, Reyn Doi, Sam Morelos, and Maxwell Acee Donovan are nailing their homage to their predecessors. The acting was horrible in That 70’s Show.
The original kid cast all (except for Danny Masterson) make appearances and seem to pretty much phone in their performances with the exceptions of Laura Prepon and Wilmer Valderrama who played Donna and Fez. Both of them also got a lot more screen time then the rest.
“…Red and Kitty’s actors, Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp, do an amazing job and literally carry the series.”
Another stand out from the series comes from Red and Kitty’s actors, Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp, do an amazing job and literally carry the series. Their new addition of Andrea Anders playing the neighbor Sherri also does an amazing job performing as a surrogate daughter. Wait, didn’t they have a daughter?!
Overall 6/10
At the end of the day That 90’s Show isn’t amazing, it isn’t really breaking new ground, and it won’t stand out as anyone’s favorite show of the year, but it is fun.
It’s popcorn. It keeps you interested and it got just enough spirit and nostalgia to connect you on some level. That’s more than enough to warrant giving it a chance.
Conner’s Final Thoughts
This show raised a question for me. If my child had the chance of a more fulfilling life full of friends, would I let them live with their grandparents? Would I move to a different state for their happiness? Why isn’t that an option for Leia in this series?
Watch the whole ten-episode series now on Netflix!
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