That ‘90s Show season 1 ends with a major twist for Leia’s love life, setting up big changes for the Point Place teens as they head back to school for the year. Set in 1995, That ‘90s Show season 1 follows Leia Forman, the teenage daughter of That ‘70s Show’s Eric and Donna, as she stays in Point Place for the summer with her grandparents, Red and Kitty. Leia quickly befriends a new bunch of basement-dwelling teens, and over the summer, the rebellious gang experiences a series of misadventures, Circles in the basement, and romances that could be more than just a summer fling.

In That ‘90s Show’s season 1 finale, Leia faces several dilemmas as she prepares to return to Chicago with Donna and Eric for the school year. While Gwen is angry at her for leaving Point Place, Leia is also dealing with the heartache of Jay breaking up with her due to his fears of a long-distance relationship. To make matters more complicated, Leia and Nate nearly kiss before being interrupted, which is almost immediately followed by Jay taking back their breakup. It’s certainly a lot of chaos, and with That ’90s Show season 2 on the way, these “endings” are only the beginning.

Related

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.

Leia Forman Heads Back To Chicago After Almost Kissing Nate

Leia’s Close Call With Nate Promises A Conflict-Filled Season 2

Leia is now heading back to Chicago for the next nine months, where she’ll return to her high school with a brand-new perspective on life and adolescence. She’ll likely still be a social outcast in the debate club, but at least Leia will be able to call Gwen and Ozzie nearly every day to stay connected to That ’90s Show‘s Point Place. The biggest question of all is whether Leia will choose to keep dating Jay or break up with him and act on her feelings for Nate.

It doesn’t seem like Jay and Leia’s relationship will last very long after That ‘90s Show’s season 1 ending, but that also doesn’t mean she’ll immediately begin dating Nate. In That ‘90s Show season 1’s final moments, Nate is still dating Nikki and will likely continue dating her until Leia returns next summer. While it’s possible that Leia will visit Red and Kitty occasionally during the school year, she’s apt to change significantly upon returning in That ‘90s Show season 2.

Jay Kelso Decides To Give Long Distance A Try

Jay Doesn’t Know About Leia & Nate And Decides To Call Off His Breakup

Like father like son, Jay Kelso inherited his father Michael’s reputation for relationship drama. At the end of That ‘90s Show season 1, Jay is intent on giving a long-distance relationship with Leia a try, though it remains to be seen how long this effort will actually last. Jay will also likely see some friction with Nate now that he and his best friend have feelings for the same girl, but Nate will be better at hiding it, considering he’s still dating Nikki.

Jay will have to prove that his womanizing days are over if he’s going to stay in a relationship with Leia, and this doesn’t seem likely to happen so soon. Rather, Jackie and Kelso’s son is apt to return to dating different girls in Point Place if he and Leia decide to remain friends. In the meantime, Jay will be focused on continuing to get straight-A’s in school (surprising for a Kelso) and working at the local video store ahead of That ‘90s Show season 2.

Gwen Runck Catches Leia & Nate About To Kiss

Gwen & Leia’s Friendship Continues, But It May Get Trickier In Season 2

The next thing happening to Gwen after That ‘90s Show season 1’s ending is a talk with her brother Nate about how he nearly kissed Leia. Since Leia is now Gwen’s best friend after the summer they spent together in Point Place, she’ll be calling her even more to decipher what her kiss with Nate really means. That ‘90s Show implies that Gwen doesn’t have many friends outside Leia and Ozzie, so heading back to school doesn’t seem to be too exciting for the rebellious character. Rather, it seems Gwen will eagerly await That ’90s Show‘s summer return and her reunion with her best friend.

Nate Runck Nearly Kisses Leia But Keeps It A Secret

Nate & Nikki’s Relationship Was Already Tumultuous

Like Leia, Nate has much to contemplate after That ‘90s Show season 1’s ending. After nearly kissing Leia, Nate either has to come clean to his girlfriend Nikki and best friend Jay or keep this secret between himself, Gwen, and Leia. However, since Nate will be distracted by the upcoming high school football season, he likely won’t have to act on the consequences of his feelings until much later. Still, Nate may feel guilty enough to end his relationship with Nikki until deciding what to do about his connection with Eric and Donna’s daughter Leia.

Ozzie Finally Cries At The End Of That ’90s Show Season 1

Ozzie Came Out To Kitty In Season 1, So The Next Step Is Coming Out To His Family

After telling the gang he couldn’t cry, Ozzie finally has a grand display of emotion in That ‘90s Show season 1’s ending as he begs Leia to stay. While his new friend will be missed, Ozzie has a lot on his plate after the finale. Ozzie coming out as gay to Kitty was step seven on his plan, with his next big task after That ‘90s Show season 1 is to come out to his family members. It’s unclear whether this will happen during the school year or when Leia returns to Point Place in That ‘90s Show season 2, but Ozzie will still have the support of his friends and Leia’s grandma Kitty when he’s ready.

Nikki Is Oblivious To Nate & Leia’s Almost-Kiss

Nikki Is More Focused On Her Education & Future Than Her Boyfriend’s Shortcomings

That ‘90s Show season 1’s ending already set up several storylines for Nikki, who was initially connected to the gang as Nate’s mature girlfriend. Nikki is still unaware that Nate nearly kissed Leia, but this moment will inevitably become a source of contention between the couple. In fact, it could lead Nikki to break up with Nate soon after That ‘90s Show’s season 1 finale. Nikki was already more focused on school and her own future than her boyfriend, so she likely wouldn’t stay with a guy who was inches away from cheating on her. Of course, the big question is how this will affect her friendship with Leia.

Sherri Runck Is Working On Her Father Issues

Sherri Is Dating Fez In That ’90s Show Season 1, But That Might Not Continue Into Season 2

Red Forman (Kurtwood Smith) watched Sherri Runck (Andrea Anders) ride a bike in That '90s Show.

Nate and Gwen’s well-meaning yet irresponsible mother, Sherri, showed significant growth over That ‘90s Show season 1, suggesting she’ll continue being a more present parent and working through her own issues with her father. In one of the funniest subplots of That ‘90s Show season 1, Sherri was revealed to be dating That ‘70s Show’s iconic character Fez. However, actor Wilmer Valderrama isn’t slated to return in That ’90s Show season 2, so Sherri’s character arc may head in a different direction in the coming episodes.

Red & Kitty’s Home Will Remain A Hub For Teenagers

Kitty Gets A Job At Point Place High School & Red Is Sure To Still Be Surrounded By Teens

While Red told Leia her friends weren’t allowed to be in the basement after she left, That ‘70s Show already proved who had more power in the Forman household, so Kitty’s wish for the teens to still hang out at the house will doubtlessly come true. This is even more likely considering Kitty’s next adventure after That ‘90s Show season 1 is becoming the new nurse at Point Place High School, where she’ll be seeing the new characters from That ’70s Show‘s reboot quite often. The Formans are apt to still have a full household throughout the school year, even though they’ll be missing the presence of their granddaughter Leia.

With Kitty back to work after That ‘90s Show season 1, Red Forman may find a new hobby of his own. That ‘90s Show hinted that gardening wasn’t his strong suit, so he may get back into working on cars again, potentially using Nate, Gwen, Jay, Nikki, and Ozzie to help him out on any projects. What’s more, the trailer for That ’90s Show season 2 has hinted at Bob Pinciotti’s return to Point Place, so this should provide Red with plenty of entertainment (for better or worse).

That 90s Show Poster

That 90s Show

Romance
Comedy
Drama

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

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

Writers

Gregg Mettler
, Bonnie Turner
, Lindsey Turner
, Terry Turner

Directors

Gail Mancuso
, Laura Prepon

Showrunner

Gregg Mettler