The original plan for Eric Forman, Donna Pinciotti, and Steven Hyde was a lot different when That ’70s Show was still in early development, and it included an ongoing love triangle. The characters, played by Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, and Danny Masterson, respectively, made up half of the young group at the center of the Fox period sitcom. They were joined by Michael Kelso (Ashton Kutcher), Jackie Burkhart (Mila Kunis), and Fez (Wilmer Valderrama) as the teens facing the trials and tribulations of growing up in small-town America during the ’70s.
As the group grew older, their love lives became a key focus. It was established early that Kelso and Jackie were together and that Eric had a major crush on his next-door neighbor, Donna. Unfortunately for Eric, Hyde also had feelings for Donna, which came into focus during That ’70s Show season 1. Over the course of that first installment, Hyde put himself out there to catch Donna’s attention. Not only did he learn to dance just for her, but he also tried to make a move which was met with a slap. In the end, Donna ended up with Eric and the two embarked on an off-and-on relationship that lasted for the duration of the series — but the show almost went in another direction.
When That ’70s Show was still in the development phase, there were talks of having Eric and Hyde engage in an intense rivalry to fight for Donna’s affections. This would have kicked off a love triangle subplot lasting longer than the debut season. Instead, the writers decided to go in another direction for better character development. That didn’t stop the tease of the love triangle prospect, but considering the matchup between Eric and Donna in season 1, the notion was quickly pushed aside.
Why That ’70s Show Decided Against The Love Triangle
Though it was interesting to see Hyde wear his heart on his sleeve while interested in Donna, his home life became a more compelling focus of the series. Love triangles are often viewed as clichés and the same would have been said with two best friends vying for the same girl’s attention. Hyde made his move, but realized he and Donna were better off as friends. This opened the door for Eric and Donna’s complicated relationship to carry on as a subplot. It also allowed the series to focus on the issue that arose after Hyde’s parents abandoned him. Rather than pin Eric and Hyde against each other, the Forman family welcomed Hyde with open arms.
Despite not giving Hyde an opportunity to date Donna, That ’70s Show did reveal an alternate reality where the two ended up together. In the season 4 premiere, “It’s A Wonderful Life,” Eric envisioned how Hyde and Donna would have ended up together if his friend kissed her first. Hyde would have turned Donna into a rebel with piercings, tattoos, and clothes just like his. She would have also wound up raising their child alone since Eric believed Hyde could have ended up in jail. Of course, Eric was exaggerating when it came to that alternate reality but it was always made clear that Hyde and Donna were never a romantic match.
