One of the biggest TV shows to hit Netflix last week was "That '70s Show," a sequel to "That '90s Show" featuring a new group of teenagers growing up in Point Place, Wisconsin. That '70s Show" ran for eight seasons at the time and was immensely popular, so it is no surprise that this new show is ranked in Netflix's top 10.
Trying to capitalize on past nostalgia can be a gamble, and one might wonder if "That '90s Show" is really worth checking out. After all, trying to capitalize on the success of a show that ended 15 years ago could be disastrous. Or it could be a huge success and finally break the curse of Netflix cancellations.
If you're on the fence about whether to add a sitcom sequel to your viewing list, you've come to the perfect place. Let us help you figure out if "That '90s Show" is a show you should stream or skip.
"That '90s Show" is based on the same basic premise as its predecessor: a group of teenagers get together and do whatever teenagers do. They listen to music, engage in various pranks, and smoke copious amounts of marijuana. The pop culture references and fashion sense have changed dramatically, but everything will seem familiar to anyone who watched the original show.
The impetus came when Leia Forman (daughter of Eric Forman and Donna Pinciotti) came to Point Place to spend the summer with her grandparents. Leia wants to break away from the naivete of her youth and the sheltered upbringing she has experienced. The group of misfits from Point Place is obviously going to be a bit of a culture shock.
This familial bond means that Red and Kitty Forman, who were the namesake of That '70s Show, are back as main characters. Various other characters make cameo appearances, most of them former cast members. If you want to see how they are doing in life, you may have to tune in.
That '90s Show currently has a 74% Rotten Tomatoes (open in new tab) score from critics and audiences. It is not often that both scores match so perfectly, but hopefully that will change as more people begin to watch the show.
Manuel Betancourt of the AV Club (opens in new tab) gave the first season a B, stating: if you grew up watching "That '70s Show," you have no way to assess whether "That '90s Show" works on its own You would have no way to evaluate whether "That '90s Show" works on its own. Maybe you can't. And maybe you don't even want to."
[16Angie Han of The Hollywood Reporter (open in new tab) is a bit more positive: "It doesn't aim for anything more ambitious than recreating the understated charm of the previous film. But it hits that goal with enough confidence and consistency to be a treat in its own right."
Meanwhile, Lauren Piester of TheWrap (open in new tab) said that "That '90s Show" is "good in every sense of the word, both bad and good.
Not everyone is positive, of course, as Brian Lowry of CNN.com (open in new tab) noted: "There's smoke, but not much heat." The uninspiring audience representing the next generation offset the encores by most of the original cast, making "That '90s Show" middling at best.
Kelly Lawler of USA Today (opens in new tab) was more scathing, giving it a 1.4 (on a 4-point scale). The jokes don't hit the mark, the actors are miscast, and a cameo by Kutcher and Kunis doesn't make a bad script any better.
"That '90s Show" is not a highbrow comedy, but it's not trying to be. If you're a fan of "That '70s Show," it's worth tuning in and giving it a chance. In fact, that's clearly what Netflix is aiming for, and total newbies may be a bit confused at times.
Most importantly, That '90s Show is a lighthearted sitcom, and each 22-minute episode is the perfect excuse to sit back and turn off your brain. If you like watching those shows, this is definitely one to watch. But if you're looking for a little intellectual stimulation in your television programming, the almost stoned, dumb humor of "That '90s Show" won't appeal.
It's a shame that Netflix doesn't have "That '70s Show" for those who would finish the first season of "That '90s Show" (all 10 episodes) in less than a week.
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