Kitty and Red are returning to lead That ‘90s Show, which is an apt fulfillment of their character arcs from That ‘70s Show. Set in 1995, approximately 15 years after That ‘70s Show’s finale, Netflix’s upcoming sequel series That ‘90s Show will follow Eric and Donna’s teenage daughter Leia (Callie Haverda) as she stays with her grandparents Red and Kitty Forman for the summer. Alongside introducing a new generation of Point Place teens with more modern culture, That ‘90s Show will see the iconic original characters return for a new, but ultimately familiar, era of their lives.
Repeating the dynamics of That ‘70s Show, Netflix’s sitcom spinoff will primarily depict the mishaps and cultural quirks of teens in the mid-1990s with Red (Kurtood Smith) and Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) returning as the more sensible adults who represent the ideals of past generations. Just as how Kitty and Red had to adjust to the counterculture activities of their children in the 1970s, the beloved characters will be confronted with even stranger developments in teenagers’ livelihoods and larger societal changes in 1995. Eric, Donna, Kelso, Jackie, and Fez will also be returning for That ‘90s Show in guest appearances, which sets up the opportunity for the characters to ironically refer to the new teens as “dumba**es.”
Rather than having Donna and Eric take over Kitty and Red’s roles from the original series, That ‘90s Show is bringing back Eric’s mom and dad to depict them as grandparents. While seeing Donna and Eric turn into their parents would be a fun development, Kitty and Red returning as main characters in the spinoff is the best decision in order to maintain the charming multi-generational interactions already established in That ‘70s Show. Audiences are already comfortable with Kitty and Red being both affectionate and stern toward rebellious teenagers from That ‘70s Show, so this lovable dynamic will be preserved, but with new angles as the 1990s introduces different obstacles for the grandparents. That ‘90s Show won’t be completely turning Donna and Eric into the culturally out-of-touch adults that Red and Kitty often seemed in That ‘70s Show, and can instead run with the idea that while the younger generations always change, the grandparents stay the same.
That ‘70s Show’s ending already teased that Donna and Eric would be great parents, but the original series had prepared for Kitty and Red becoming grandparents as an even more exciting development. Kitty frequently mourned the idea that she wouldn’t have any more children after Eric and Laurie, but became genuinely enlivened by the idea of becoming a grandparent. Even the stern and hard-shelled Red lit up when telling Kitty that he was looking forward to having grandchildren running around before he dies, with Netflix’s That ‘90s Show finally presenting the opportunity to grant Kitty and Red their wish of parenting all over again. Red is still apt to deliver his “foot in the ass” comebacks and refuse to love anyone he’s not legally required to, but That ‘70s Show has already set the character up to have a more tolerant and accepting approach to Leia than he did to Eric.
Kitty and Red leading That ‘90s Show also allows the characters to amend their errors in raising Laurie and Eric. While Red wasn’t prepared to be a father when Kitty told him she was pregnant in the 1950s, he was later eager to be a grandfather, which suggests he’ll be a (relatively) more open and affectionate caretaker to Leia. Also, Kitty Forman sadly never had a positive relationship with their daughter Laurie, so Donna largely stepped into this role during That ‘70s Show season 8. Since Leia is described as a combination of Eric and Donna’s best traits, That ‘90s Show teases that Kitty will finally be able to achieve a loving and meaningful relationship with one of her female family members. As exciting as it was to see Kitty and Red raise Eric and the gang in That ‘70s Show, it will be even more rewarding to watch them maneuver being grandparents in That ‘90s Show.
