We’re back in Point Place, and
this time it’s the summer of 1995. Released exclusively on Netflix on
January 23, That 90’s Show features both the original cast of That 70’s
Show and an array of new characters.
That
90’s Show followed six high schoolers, Eric Forman (Topher Grace), Donna
Pinciotti (Laura Prepon), Michael Kelso (Ashton Kutcher), and Jackie
Burkhart (Mila Kunis) as they navigated their teenage years in Point
Place, Wisconsin. Twenty years later, the beloved cast is fully grown,
with the plot centering around Forman and Pinciotti’s daughter Leia
(Callie Haverda) and her new friends. Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith
return to reclaim their iconic roles as Kitty and Red Forman, who watch
over their granddaughter Leia during the summer before her sophomore
year.
With a meticulous reproduction of the
original set and appearances from much of That 70’s Show’s main cast,
nostalgia is sure to be through the roof. According to House Beautiful,
original set pieces like the Green Bay Packers helmet and the glass
grapes on the basement’s coffee table were brought back by the original
cast, a sweet ode to the show’s predecessor. At the same time, the set
design, costuming, and slang perfectly captures that 90’s essence, which
shows regularly fail to accomplish.
There
aren’t tireless, continual remarks and callbacks referencing the
original series (even though there are hidden easter eggs which fans are
sure to pick up on), so it can easily be watched by a viewer who has
never seen That 70’s Show.
That 90’s Show
manages to satisfy fans by giving life-updates on the beloved cast while
also creating an entire new series with new characters. Leia’s friends,
Gwen (Ashley Aufderheide), Ozzie (Reyn Doi), Nikki (Sam Morelos), Nate
(Maxwell Acee Donovan), and
Michael Kelso’s
son Jay (Mace Coronel), take on similar personalities as the original
cast, but they also function entirely separately.
That’s
about all That 90’s Show got right, though. The characters fall
entirely short of the cast of That 70’s Show. The chemistry visible in
the cherished series succeeded in turning the awkward and cringeworthy
script into a laughable, eccentric performance. In That 90’s Show, even
though the original cast takes on their memorable roles, the new cast
fails to make a legitimate name for themselves.
The
10-episode season is a relatively light-hearted watch, although the
incessant laugh track, occasional cringe-worthy remarks, and flat
characters can deter one from continuing. It’s more of a
put-on-in-the-background show while doing your homework rather than one
to pop popcorn for.
That 90’s Show did what
it was supposed to do; it successfully brought back that wave of
nostalgia fans were hoping for. Yet, its flat characters and Disney-like
essence ruined its chances to live up to its classic predecessor.
3 out of 5 stars
Author: Quinci Lott