WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for That ’90s Show part 2!
Summary
A key returning original character fromThat ‘70s Showhad his role expanded inThat ‘90s Showseason 2, highlighting how difficult it was to replace him in the sitcom’s sequel. While Red (Kurtwood Smith) and Kitty Forman (Debra Jo Rupp) are the onlyThat ‘70s Showcharacters who return in themain cast ofThat ‘90s Show, Netflix’s sequel series still brings plenty of beloved original faces back to Point Place. While most of these appearances have amounted to little more than cameos,That ‘90s Showpart 2 has given some returning characters bigger rolesas their presence proves greatly beneficial to the sitcom’s story.
In addition to Red and Kitty,That ‘90s Showpart 2 features excitingreturns from original characters like Donna Pinciotti (Laura Prepon), Bob Pinciotti (Don Stark), and Mitch Miller (Seth Green). Though Topher Grace’s Eric Forman is missing from Netflix’s new batch of episodes, the heightened presence of Donna and Bob in part 2 helps increase the representation of thefamily members of main character Leia Forman. In fact, one character gets a far bigger role than the other inThat ‘90s Showpart 2, proving how uniquely important they are to the strength ofThat ‘70s Showand its successor.
Bob Pinciotti Was The Missing Piece That ’90s Show Season 1 Needed (& His Season 2 Return Proves It)
Point Place feels right with Bob Pinciotti back as Red & Kitty’s annoying neighbor
There were still some kinks that needed to be worked out afterThat ‘90s Showseason 1’s endingto better mirror the original series’ strong suits, and part 2 proves that Bob Pinciotti was the answer. While Sherri Runck (Andrea Anders) was set up as Bob’s annoying next-door neighbor replacement who made herself right at home with the Formans, it became more apparent thatSherri was actually filling Eric and Laurie’s rolesfor Red and Kitty. Nobody could come in and fully replace Bob Pinciotti inThat ‘70s Show’s world, asthe character is a clear product of what Don Stark uniquely brings to the table.
That ’90s Show May Have Just Confirmed The Death Of A Major Original That ’70s Show Character
A throwaway line in That ’90s Show part 2 implies that a beloved original That ’70s Show character passed away before the sequel series' timeline.
Every interaction that Bob has with Red and Kitty inThat ‘90s Showpart 2 is a reminder of how greatly he enhanced the everyday humor of the original series. While the circumstances have changed now that they all share a granddaughter, Bob is just as competitive and comically prideful with the Formans as he was back inThat ‘70s Show. With Bob back in Point Place and able to annoy Red Forman every day, this aspect ofThat ‘90s Showpart 2makes it feel as if no time has passed fromThat ‘70s Show’s ending.
Bob Returning To Point Place Confirms Sherri Was Never His Real Replacement
Sherri isn’t competing with Bob for the Formans' annoying neighbor role anymore
With Bob and Sherri both being Red and Kitty’s neighbors byThat ‘90s Showpart 2’s ending, it’s more clear than ever that she was never the sequel’s real replacement for him. In fact,Sherri is absent from the first few episodes ofThat ‘90s Showpart 2 while Red and Kitty’s subplot focuses on Bob’s returninstead. Furthermore, Sherri has stopped unexpectedly coming over to the Formans’ and making herself at home as frequently in the new episodes, as Bob returns to his rightful place in assuming this lack of social graces.
Sherri has stopped unexpectedly coming over to the Formans’ and making herself at home as frequently in the new episodes, as Bob returns to his rightful place in assuming this lack of social graces.
As Sherri no longer competes with Bob’s role inThat ‘90s Show, she increasingly becomesthe sequel series’ answer to a more compassionate version ofThat ‘70s Show’s Laurie Forman. Now serving as a surrogate daughter for Red and Kitty, Sherri goes through the trials and tribulations of being a parent to two teenagers while still largely being in a state of arrested development herself. WhileThat ‘90s Showdoesn’t give a deeper exploration of Donna and Eric raising Leia, Sherri substitutes this missing piece as Red, Kitty, and Bob share the task of overseeing the new generation of Point Place teens.
That ’90s Show
Cast
That ’70s Show returns set two decades later with That ’90s Show, acting as a sequel but bringing back old cast favorites. Led by Red (Kurtwood Smith) and Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) Forman, the new cast arrives as the next generation, with the daughter of Eric and Donna, Leia Forman, leading the charge. Spending the summer with her grandparents, Leia makes new friends and forges new bonds in Point Place, Wisconsin. That ’70s Show series regulars make cameos in the show to maintain that sense of familiarity, and the show adopts the conventions of the ’90s as expected. That ’90s Show first aired on Netflix with a total of ten episodes.
