Netflix has revealed the release window for That ’90s Show season 2, and though it’s later than hoped, the delays will solve an uncomfortable problem from season 1. The That ’70s Show spinoff series brought in a whole new cast of teen actors to play the next generation of Forman-basement layabouts, with the youngest of them being 13 at the time of the shooting. Since the cast of the parent series was significantly older by the final season, the stars of That ’90s Show seem uncomfortably young in comparison. However, this is only a temporary problem.
That ’90s show released its first batch of episodes without a hitch in January of 2023, and it was a relative success, managing a 75% score on Rotten Tomatoes and quickly getting the green light for a second season. Unfortunately, the Netflix series saw filming delays from the various strikes of 2023, and it took some time before filming for season 2 could get underway. Now, That ’90s Show season 2 finally has a release window—summer 2024—which means about a 1.5-year gap between seasons. That’s a while to wait for a sitcom, but, ultimately, it was for the best.
That ’90s Show Season 2: Cast, Plot & Everything We Know
That ’90s Show season 1’s ending sets up future storylines and character returns. Here’s everything we know about That ’90s Show season 2 on Netflix.
The Actors’ Ages In That ’90s Show Created Awkward Moments In Season 1
Though the characters of That ’90s Show were the same age as those from That ’70s Show during their respective first seasons (16 – 17), the actors in the latter series were, on average, older. Aside from Mila Kunis, who played Jackie, the cast were all in their late teens and early 20s, which meant they were headed into adulthood by season 2. This fact makes the characters of That ’90s Show seem uncomfortably young by comparison. Not only does this seem to diminish the maturity factor of the spinoff series, but it also makes some moments downright uncomfortable.
Callie Haverda, who plays Leia Forman in That ’90s Show, turned 15 while filming for season 1, and this made some of the mature themes surrounding her character a little more uncomfortable. Though these same themes drove the plot in That ’70s Show, the actor’s young age shifted the perspective slightly. Then, there was the fact that Leia’s love interest, Jay Kelso, was played by 19-year-old Mace Coronel. Age differences like this had already caused controversy in That ’70s Show‘s early years, and That ’90s Show repeating it only adds to the fire.
Filming & Release Delays For That ’90s Show Season 2 Means Older Actors & Characters
Of course, it can be assumed that That ’90s Show went through every precaution, using intimacy coaches and other resources, to keep things as appropriate as possible for these actors. Still, it will be easier as the actors get older, which is why That ’90s Show‘s filming and release delays are something of a benefit. Though filming officially started in the Spring of 2023, it was halted until December 2023. This means Haverda will be closer to 17 in That ’90s Show season 2, making her coming-of-age story a little more comfortable to watch.
Every That ’70s Show Easter Egg & Reference In That ’90s Show Season 1
Netflix’s That ’90s Show season 1 features numerous Easter eggs and references to That ’70s Show, including visits to familiar locations.
That ’90s Show’s Gap Between Seasons Makes Sense For The Plot
After the success of That ’90s Show season 1, it’s been difficult to wait for season 2. This is typically when a spinoff series proves whether it can hold up on its own or whether the nostalgia has fallen flat. However, there’s another reason that older actors are better for this next installment of the Netflix series. Unlike That ’70s Show, Leia doesn’t live full-time in Point Place, Wisconsin, but instead she only stays there for the summer. Since she went home to Chicago at the end of season 1, she should be a whole year older at the start of season 2.
Though this would have been true for Haverda even without the year-and-a-half gap in filming, the contrast between the characters’ ages from summer to summer will be more noticeable on-screen with a little extra time. Additionally, all the “teen” actors being older in That ’90s Show season 2 will allow the series to begin to place more focus on the new characters rather than depending on the nostalgia of That ’70s Show to carry the series. In all, this means a series that should just keep getting better year after year.
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.
- Release Date
- January 19, 2023
- Cast
- Kurtwood Smith , Debra Jo Rupp , Mace Coronel , Callie Haverda , Ashley Aufderheide , Sam Morelos , Reyn Doi , Maxwell Acee Donovan
- Seasons
- 1
- Writers
- Gregg Mettler , Bonnie Turner , Lindsey Turner , Terry Turner
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
- Directors
- Gail Mancuso , Laura Prepon
- Showrunner
- Gregg Mettler
