That '90s Show - First episode
It is a trend of recent years. Old series that are being revived. After Full House and Dexter, it's now That '70s Show's turn for a sequel called That '90s Show. From 1998 to mid-2006, That '70s Show was a global household name. This comedy series followed a group of teenagers from Wisconsin. The series was about life in the 1970s and was (largely) set in the basement of the Forman family. A rumor of a sequel had been going around for years and now it's finally here. On January 19, 2023, the first ten episodes of That '90s Show appeared on Netflix. In this new series that, as the name suggests, takes place in the 90s, we see how the (grand) children of the main characters from That '70s Show are doing.
A recognizable thing from That '70s Show is the opening tune in which the characters sing along loudly with a song by Cheap Trick. Unfortunately, with this spin-off it was decided not to make a similar tune. Only the well-known “Hello Wisconsin!” can still be heard, this time spoken by one of the teenagers from That '90s Show. Yet there is still a lot recognizable for fans of the original series. For example, the scenes between the scenes can still be seen and the old familiar laugh track is there as well. The water tower is also present again and for the observant viewer, there is even a small easter egg hidden in the scenes with this iconic background.
Although That '90s Show focuses on the children of…, I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was still a lot of attention for the original cast. So we really see Eric and Donna as parents and it's clear that Red and Kitty carry the show as an anchor between the old and new characters. Leia soon meets the girl next door Gwen (Ashley Aufderheide) and by befriending her, she gets her entire group of friends for free. Picking up where their parents left off in the past, the teens find themselves in situations familiar from That '70s Show.
Not only the Forman family returns for this first episode. The Kelso family is also present. We see a short, funny scene between Michael (Ashton Kutcher, Two and a Half Men) and Jackie (Mila Kunis, Family Guy), who are of course also a couple in real life. In the previews of the rest of the season you can see that many more old acquaintances will come along and almost the entire cast of the original series seems to be participating in this sequel. It is my understanding that a number of people return each episode to make the entire season interesting for fans of the original cast.
That 70's Show has been the breakthrough series for several great actors and actresses. In addition to the aforementioned names, it was also the breakthrough role for Wilmer Valderrama, for example. Whether That '90s Show has the same talent in young actors remains to be seen. The same goes for the '90s portrayal. Whether this is done as convincingly as the '70s did back then remains to be seen. But the beginning certainly did not disappoint. In my opinion, That '90s Show is really made for the fans of That '70s Show. Viewers who have not seen the predecessor can certainly enjoy the series, but to understand all the jokes properly, it is nice to know the original series well.
Viewers of That '70s Show get to see a lot of familiar faces in the first episode of That '90s Show. Just like in the original series, the story again largely takes place with the Forman family. Meanwhile, Red (Kurtwood Smith, Resurrection) and Kitty Forman (Debra Jo Rupp, Better with You) live alone in their well-known house in Point Place when son Eric (Topher Grace, Home Economics) and his family come to visit from Chicago. Meanwhile, he and Donna (Laura Prepon, Orange Is the New Black) have become parents to Leia (Callie Haverda), a teenage girl who is clearly a mix of her parents and has a hard time finding her place.I have to admit that I wasn't too thrilled when I heard that the old cast would only play small parts in this sequel.
A recognizable thing from That '70s Show is the opening tune in which the characters sing along loudly with a song by Cheap Trick. Unfortunately, with this spin-off it was decided not to make a similar tune. Only the well-known “Hello Wisconsin!” can still be heard, this time spoken by one of the teenagers from That '90s Show. Yet there is still a lot recognizable for fans of the original series. For example, the scenes between the scenes can still be seen and the old familiar laugh track is there as well. The water tower is also present again and for the observant viewer, there is even a small easter egg hidden in the scenes with this iconic background.
© Netflix
Although That '90s Show focuses on the children of…, I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was still a lot of attention for the original cast. So we really see Eric and Donna as parents and it's clear that Red and Kitty carry the show as an anchor between the old and new characters. Leia soon meets the girl next door Gwen (Ashley Aufderheide) and by befriending her, she gets her entire group of friends for free. Picking up where their parents left off in the past, the teens find themselves in situations familiar from That '70s Show.
Not only the Forman family returns for this first episode. The Kelso family is also present. We see a short, funny scene between Michael (Ashton Kutcher, Two and a Half Men) and Jackie (Mila Kunis, Family Guy), who are of course also a couple in real life. In the previews of the rest of the season you can see that many more old acquaintances will come along and almost the entire cast of the original series seems to be participating in this sequel. It is my understanding that a number of people return each episode to make the entire season interesting for fans of the original cast.
I have to admit that I wasn't too thrilled when I heard that the old cast would only play small parts in this sequel. Although I understand that it is all about the new generation, I would have liked to see a bigger, permanent role for their parents. In the trailer, all the images with the younger cast members did not appeal to me. I therefore went into the first episode with lower expectations. Fortunately, after seeing the first 30 minutes, I had a much more positive image. Although I only really laughed out loud at the scenes of the original cast members, the quality as a whole was of a good level.In my opinion, That '90s Show is really made for fans of That 70's Show.
That 70's Show has been the breakthrough series for several great actors and actresses. In addition to the aforementioned names, it was also the breakthrough role for Wilmer Valderrama, for example. Whether That '90s Show has the same talent in young actors remains to be seen. The same goes for the '90s portrayal. Whether this is done as convincingly as the '70s did back then remains to be seen. But the beginning certainly did not disappoint. In my opinion, That '90s Show is really made for the fans of That '70s Show. Viewers who have not seen the predecessor can certainly enjoy the series, but to understand all the jokes properly, it is nice to know the original series well.
© Netflix
