Summary
- Season 8 of That '70s Show suffers from the absence of Eric and Kelso and questionable storylines, but Leo's return and Red's remarks provide highlights.
- Season 7 marks the beginning of the end with repetitive storylines, but fun moments like Red catching the boys and Lindsay Lohan's cameo still entertain.
- Season 6 has great storylines, but forced relationship drama and the casting change for Laurie Forman hinder its potential.
That '70s Show is an exemplary sitcom, but like with any other show, its quality deteriorates from season to season. Even though the series aired from 1998 to 2006, it did manage to capture that special, liberating atmosphere of the 1970s and bring it to everyone behind the screen who didn't get to witness those times live. That '70s Show took a simple concept of six teenagers living their day-to-day lives and made it into a compelling story that millions were eager to follow for eight whole seasons. The lives of Eric, Donna, Hyde, Jackie, Kelso, and Fez had audiences glued to their screens.
In fact, the show has been so popular, even a few decades later, that a sequel series, focusing on Eric and Donna's daughter Leia, has recently been released, and That '90s Show is already renewed for season 2. The original sitcom certainly has its ups and downs, but it remained a quality show all throughout, although some storylines are definitely much more sophisticated and much less questionable than others. Still, That '70s Show lasted for eight seasons, each unique in its own right.
8 Season 8
Though That '70s Show had a strong run, a slight deterioration does present itself in its final season. With Eric gone, the group dynamic that audiences feel close to is lost, and That '70s Show's Randy can't substitute the fan-favorite character even in the slightest. Just as Eric's absence is processed, Kelso departs too, and that is a hit the series didn't need. Plus, the storyline with Hyde marrying Samantha felt a bit too weird for That '70s Show. Among the few highlights of season 8 are Leo's full-on return and Red's remarks about his house being too crowded.
7 Season 7
Season 7 feels like the beginning of the end for That '70s Show, since the writers couldn't come up with anything original for the gang to do. If anyone feels a sense of déjà vu while watching season 7, it's because the characters are basically doing what they have done before. Eric and Donna don't know what to do with themselves after the wedding catastrophe, and Hyde, Jackie, and Kelso are in a love triangle again. Still, there are quite a few fun moments in season 7, including Red finally catching the boys doing the "circle," Lindsay Lohan's That '70s Show cameo, and the storyline with Hyde's father.
6 Season 6
This season has given viewers such great storylines as Kelso's transformation into a future father, the aftermath of Red's heart attack, Fez and Laurie's marriage, and so many more. The reason That '70s Show season 6 isn't as incredible as it could've been is the romance story with Donna and Eric that led to the cancelation of the wedding, which felt like forced relationship drama. In addition, getting Christina Moore to play Laurie Forman is a big mistake — it is as if the character is a completely different person, not the sadistic and promiscuous Laurie audiences have come to know and love to hate.
5 Season 4
Season 4 sees Donna and Eric apart, and it brings with it both pros and cons for the show. On the one hand, it has allowed other That '70s Show characters to get more time to shine, and the standalone storylines are solid in season 4. On the other hand, it has also given an unnatural feel to the show and to Donna and Casey's relationship. While Casey is a great character and fun to watch on-screen, Donna's obliviousness to the fact that they aren't right for each other is frustrating. Season 4 is a sad time for Bob and Midge, but their divorce subplot offers a fresh twist on the narrative.
4 Season 3
By season 3, That '70s Show had found its success formula and decided to stick to it no matter what. Overall, it is an entertaining season with plenty of strong storylines, including Red's new strict rule in the Formans' house and Donna and Eric's relationship experiencing new highs and lows — the promise ring scene alone is an emotional rollercoaster of the best kind. The best addition to the show this season is Fez's new girlfriend Caroline, who provides a much-needed wild boost to the group dynamic, and she quickly becomes one of the most effortlessly hilarious side characters on the show.
3 Season 2
That '70 Show season 2 is ridiculous in the best sense of the word. It is an awesome mixture of laughs, life lessons, and exploration, with Donna becoming a rebellious teen, Kelso getting entangled in a love triangle with Laurie and Jackie, and Hyde becoming even closer to the Formans by moving in with them. Midge and Bob's swingers phase is quite literally out of this world, and Donna's mooning storyline is exactly what the 1970s is all about. Season 2 also features the adult characters tripping on the gang's "special" brownies by accident, and it is simply comedy gold.
That '70s Show: The 20 Best Episodes Ranked
That '70s Shows is one of the most beloved American sitcoms, and the best episodes delve into what it's like growing up in the Midwest in the '70s.
2 Season 1
Season 1 is when it all begins, and it is hard not to appreciate what this season has to offer. After all, it's what created the characters and the relationships that made the series popular in the first place. That '70s Show season 1 showcases the budding atmosphere of the sitcom that viewers will come to love. The pop culture references, especially in the Star Wars episode, are off the charts, the gang is becoming close friends and confiding in each other, and Red's iconic catchphrase is born. In season 1, Donna and Eric aren't fully together yet, so their awkwardness with each other provides a lot of funny moments.
1 Season 5
That '70s Show season 5 features all the most amusing moments and storylines of the show, and it is also the season that has managed to surprise viewers the most. Hyde and Jackie's unlikely coupling is an unexpected scene-stealer, and Eric and Donna aren't the only power couple around anymore. Laurie marries Fez so that he won't get deported, making it a wild twist for the series. Donna's California debacle, Kitty's menopause subplot, and Kelso's aspiration to become a police officer just add to the fun. None of those things might have seemed like the best course of action for the series, and yet they are.