That ’90s Show Season One Review

That ’70s Show set a pretty high bar, running 8 seasons from 1998-2006 and playing a large part in the lives of Gen Z and those who have found the series since its original run through reruns or on various streaming services it had landed on over the years. Hoping to recapture that same magic by moving things to the next decade was the short-lived That ’80s Show which ran for one season back in 2002. When a second attempt was announced in That ’90s Show. it’s only normal to have some skepticism by those expecting another That ’80s Show. Unlike the latter series, this new series is an extension of That ’70s Show that feels like a sequel. With that, the comparisons are inevitable and while That ’90s Show doesn’t quite reach the level of the original, having Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith as Kitty and Red Foreman and as executive producers doesn’t hurt. That being said, they play prominent roles in this new series but they are not the only thing about the original series that show up here. Even for those who haven’t seen the original series, the crowd track makes it hard to miss those or anything else for that matter.

That ’90s Show takes place in 1995 and sees Eric and Donna’s daughter Leia Foreman (Callie Haverda) visiting her grandparents Kitty (Rupp) and Red Foreman (Smith) for the summer back in Point Place, WI. But the more things change, the more they stay the same. Despite being in the middle of their glory years, having no kids in the Foreman household left a void in Kitty much to the chagrin of Red. Quickly making friends her own age, the Foreman basement once again became the hangout spot for Leia and her friends and their various hijinks similar to that of her parents and their friends. While they were similar in certain ways, Leia’s group of friends had their own quirks to go with the times. Ultimately, the series will live or die on the ability of viewers to get behind these new characters. Admittedly, they do take some time getting used to as that dynamic finds its footing though once it does, they are fun to watch. To better enjoy them, it’s best to think about them less in terms of the previous group of friends and more as their own characters.

The teens may change but Kitty and Red were very much of the same with their same charm. They were more prepared for what was to come than they were back in the 1970s but it didn’t seem to matter as the juxtaposition between the 1970s and the 1990s from their perspective was the biggest highlight thus far. Above all else, there’s no one better than Red to make comments and voice his displeasure about how those times have changed with his uncanny ability to put things in perspective in a way that only he can. Smith’s one-liners and deliveries as Red still pack the same punch this time around but Rupp’s energy as Kitty often makes her a scene-stealer, perhaps more so than in the original series. Just like the original series, they had their moments but they primarily played a part in what essentially was Leia’s coming-of-age story and the other young people in their orbit that played a part in it. A shy and introverted only child living in Chicago, she was so focused on her studies that she never had the chance to live and experience what it was like to be a teen in the 1990s.

In terms of writing, That ’90s Show doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel when it comes to sitcoms. Keeping the same tone and vibe of the original series, the humor is still hit or miss with updated references and subplots to reflect the new time period. While they have some charm to them, dips in balance sometimes got in the way as the series merely attempts to fill out of the season. As opposed to network television, running at just 10 episodes in total does work to its benefit as it keeps the narrative reigned in for the most part. Meanwhile, the performances were solid with Rupp and Smith of course leading the way as Kitty and Red. The power of that familiarity is undeniable as they make for a comforting and grounding presence while offering plenty of laughs in their own right as their chemistry is very much alive and well. While Haverda’s Leia Foreman fails to have a breakout moment to truly endear herself to viewers in a way that Topher Grace did as her father Eric, her chemistry with her group of friends somewhat made up for that and was another highlight. In particular, Reyn Doi as Ozzie and Maxwell Acee Donovan as Nate steal their fair share of scenes.

In the end, That ’90s Show may not reach the same heights of the original series and may still be rough around the edges but still delivers a level of comfort that is undeniable.

still courtesy of Netflix

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.