That 90s Show - A Netflix Series Review

Time to head back to the Forman’s basement.

That 90s Show is a 2023 Netflix series. Based on That 70s Show, Eric and Donna have a 16-year-old daughter. Staying with her grandparents for the summer, Leia makes new friends. She also gets into trouble and his to figure out a crush.

That 70s Show was one of my favorite shows. I remember my parents looking at me when I was laughing so hard at an episode. I understand where the creators wanted to go with That 90s Show, but the show didn’t replicate the tone, themes, and core friendships of the original.

Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp reprise their roles as Red and Kitty. They were the best parts of the new series. Kitty is one of the best grandparents in a TV show. She is open-minded, willing to listen, and has the biggest heart.

Leia (Callie Haverda) had so much potential and then writers ruined her character. I liked her in the first episode where she expressed a personality and stood her ground to her father. The series is meant to be a coming-of-age tale but Leia’s storyline deserved more.

Credits include Ashley Aufderheide, Mace Coronel, Reyn Doi, Sam Morelos, and Maxwell Acee Donovan. I agree that the series had a Disney channel vibe instead of imitating the tone of That 70s Show. The acting was forced. Nobody felt natural.

The characters had zero depth, were written under the usual stereotypes or were so dumb! The series only needed the Foremans, Leia, Jay, and Gwen. Ozzie’s coming-out storyline is important but I think it should have been given to Leia or another character.

As for Nate, his stupid dialogue and personality was headache-inducing. I could not stand his character! Plus, I don’t understand the love-triangle twist with his character in the end. Leia did not have romantic chemistry with him.

Cameos from the original cast members are what kept this series entertaining. Hopefully, they will appear more in season 2. I would have skipped this show if it didn’t have the old gang back. I loved the audience reaction (when they used a real audience, that is) whenever the cast members from That 70s Show returned.

I had the biggest smile on my face during Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis’ cameo. Casting Mace Coronel as Michael and Jackie’s son was the best casting. It’s subtle, but it’s evident how much Michael has grown with how Jay treats Leia with respect.

What audience was this show geared towards anyway? It lacks any tone. Unlike That 70s Show which did prominent research for the 70s, that didn’t acquaint with The 90s Show. The creators forgot to remove modern references, like newspaper articles that mention events that occurred in the early 2000s.

I was ready to give up on the series because of the storylines or the dumb things the characters said. The dialogue is so corny. The kids did random things, like sharing a hot tub with an old woman. What was the whole point of that?

Comedy was forced. There was a live audience present, but for some reason, the show’s creators mixed a laugh track in. That was distracting.

I really wanted to enjoy this series but I only liked it for its nostalgia. Since the series has been picked up for a second season, my only piece of advice is that the kid actors get stronger directions along with better storylines.

That 90s Show is streaming on Netflix. The episodes are 20 minutes in length so it’s a fast binge.