Warning! This article contains spoilers for That ’90s Show season 2.
Summary
- Red’s relationship with his granddaughter Leia mirrors his relationship with his daughter Laurie in That ’70s Show.
- Red’s reaction to Leia and Jay’s relationship advancement triggers heart palpitations, reminiscent of his heart attack in That ’70s Show season 5.
- Red’s reaction to Leia’s relationship draws a parallel between her and Laurie, highlighting Leia’s role as the new Laurie in Red’s life.
Red’s story in That ’90s Show season 2 mirrors one of his most heartbreaking That ’70s Show twists. While the younger characters of the parent series are no longer in the limelight, Red and Kitty Forman continue to be a prominent feature in the Netflix spinoff. This allows That ’90s Show to build off the foundation of the original beloved TV show, with some subtly repeated storylines drawing threads of connection from one to the next. In the case of Red, this also draws attention to how his relationship with his granddaughter differs from that of Eric.
Red is far gentler on Leia than he ever was his son in That ’70s Show. However, the Forman patriarch is still the hardass he has always been. That ’90s Show season 2 sees the man continue to gripe about the frequent presence of teenagers in his house, and his concern that they are getting up to too much mischief is still clear. This is especially prevalent in That ’90s Show season 2, episode 7, “Baby-Baby-Baby,” when Red overhears Leia and Jay say that they are ready to take their relationship “to the next level.” The grandfather’s reaction to this is similar to another such moment in That ’70s Show.
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That ’90s Show Cast, Character & Cameo Guide
Here’s a breakdown of the cast, characters, and cameos of That ’90s Show season 1, including the returns of That ’70s Show’s original main teens.
Red’s Reaction To Jay & Leia Repeats His Shocking Heart Attack From That ’70s Show Season 5
Red Had A Similar Reaction To Laurie’s Big News In That ’70s Show
After hearing Leia and Jay express their desire to have sex, Red experiences heart palpitations and asks to be taken to the hospital. Thankfully, he was fine—he didn’t suffer a heart attack and only needed some rest and a few less surprises. Red’s experience in the hospital ended up being a good thing since it made him realize that he needed to live his life to the fullest, and he winds up buying tickets to Paris for himself and Kitty. Still, this close call with a heart attack is reminiscent of a far more heartbreaking moment in That ’70s Show.
…it’s interesting to consider what these two situations imply about his connection with his kids and grandkid.
Back in That ’70s Show season 5, episode 25, “Celebration Day,” Red suffered a full-blown heart attack after his daughter, Laurie, broke the news that she had married Fez to help him avoid deportation. Red was always highly protective of Laurie, and the news that she had eloped with one of Eric’s friends (arguably the one Red hated the most) was simply too much for him. It certainly seems that serious relationship advancements among teenagers are something of a trigger for Red, but it’s interesting to consider what these two situations imply about his connection with his kids and grandkid.
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That ‘70s Show: Why Laurie Forman Was Recast
Christina Moore replaced Lisa Robin Kelly in the role of Laurie Forman in That ’70s Show season 6. Here’s the reason behind the recasting decision.
That ’90s Show’s Red Twist Proves Leia Is His New Laurie (Not Eric)
Red Sees Leia The Way He Saw Laurie Back In That ’70s Show
Red’s reaction to Leia taking her relationship with Jay further being so similar to when Laurie got married draws a parallel between these two female characters while, once again, leaving Eric out. Whenever there was a big Eric revelation, Red would respond with anger and punishment, but the idea of his girls growing up elicits a very different (and more dangerous) response. This shines a subtle light on the way Leia fits in Red’s life. Rather than this That ’90s Show protagonist being an Eric replacement, Leia is, in Red’s eyes, the new Laurie.
That 90s Show
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.
- Cast
- Kurtwood Smith , Debra Jo Rupp , Mace Coronel , Callie Haverda , Ashley Aufderheide , Sam Morelos , Reyn Doi , Maxwell Acee Donovan
- Release Date
- January 19, 2023
- Seasons
- 1
- Writers
- Gregg Mettler , Bonnie Turner , Lindsey Turner , Terry Turner
- Directors
- Gail Mancuso , Laura Prepon
- Showrunner
- Gregg Mettler