Warning: Spoilers ahead for That ’90s Show season 2!

Wilmer Valderrama’s Fez doesn’t appear in That ’90s Show season 2, but his absence is made stranger when remembering the character’s season 1 arc. Fez was one of the original That ’70s Show characters to appear in the Netflix sequel series. Whereas Red (Kurtwood Smith) and Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) have a more prominent role within That ’90s Show‘s cast, major characters like Eric (Topher Grace), Donna (Laura Prepon), Kelso (Ashton Kutcher), and Jackie (Mila Kunis) have popped in as guest stars. That said, Fez’s storyline in That ’90s Show season 1 was an important aspect of another new character.

That ’90s Show season 1 followed Leia Forman (Callie Haverda) as she visited her grandparents for the summer. Seeing as the sequel is set 15 years after the original show, the fates of many original characters were revealed. Of course, Red and Kitty remained in their same Point Place home, which has remained the setting for That ’90s Show. Meanwhile, Eric and Donna raised Leia in Chicago, Jackie and Kelso ended up together and had at least one son, Jay (Mace Coronel), and Fez opened a successful hair salon. Valderrama’s character also entered into a new romantic relationship that was seemingly abandoned in season 2.

That ’90s Show Season 2 Doesn’t Mention Fez Even Though He Was Dating Sherri In Season 1

Sherri Seeming Moved On After Season 1

Aside from the new young characters and returning faces, That ’90s Show introduced Sherri Runck (Andrea Anders), the next-door neighbor and the mom of Nate (Maxwell Acee Donovan) and Gwen (Ashley Aufderheide). At one point, it was revealed that Sherri had been dating Fez, but they had recently broken up. By That ’90s Show season 1’s ending, Fez and Sherri got back together, setting up a hopeful future for the couple. However, That ’90s Show season 2 failed to mention what happened to Fez and Sherri’s relationship following the summer of 1995. In fact, the season didn’t mention him at all.

Fez showed a lot of growth by the end of That ’90s Show season 1 when he put his grudge against Fenton (Jim Rash) aside as a way to help Sherri. Sadly, their relationship obviously didn’t last long, considering Sherri seemed to be single in season 2. Through That ’90 Show season 2’s ending, Sherri wasn’t properly utilized like she was in the debut installment despite being one of the show’s comedic highlights. However, she did end up using her flirtatious powers to help Kitty’s ploy at the airport, suggesting she may be long over Fez.

Why Wilmer Valderrama Didn’t Return As Fez For That ’90s Show Season 2

The Netflix Sitcom Couldn’t Make It Work

Even if Sherri and Fez had been revealed to be broken up, Wilmer Valderrama could have still returned since his salon was nearby. Interestingly enough, the Pinciotti family became the only significant figures to appear in season 2, thanks to the return of Donna and Bob (Don Stark). The reason Fez doesn’t return in That ’90s Show season 2 came down to Valderrama’s busy schedule rather than pure creative decisions.

Due to filming NCIS, the actor couldn’t make it work, but Valderrama also understood that the sequel show shouldn’t be just about the legacy characters. While the decision makes sense, it doesn’t fully close the door on Fez or other legacy characters from returning down the line. Just because Fez didn’t appear, that didn’t stop the return of a handful of other familiar characters. Granted, it would be nice for That ’90s Show to reveal Fez’s true fate if there’s no intention of bringing him back.