THAT 70s SHOW: SEASON TWO
1999-2000
26 episodes
Season 2 of That 70s Show introduces several extended arcs that spin their wheels for a lot of the first half of the season. But in the second half of the season, the show really gets moving and has a super strong stretch. As a result, this season graded out as the highest rated one in my scores (by a slim margin) and that's almost entirely due to the second half. The stories that just feel stuck in neutral for the first half of the season finally lead to some excellent moments and character development in the second half. Season two also includes Lisa Robin Kelly as a series regular and introduces Tommy Chong as a recurring character.
Starring
Topher Grace as Eric Forman (26 episodes)
Mila Kunis as Jackie Burkhart (26 episodes)
Ashton Kutcher as Michael Kelso (26 episodes)
Danny Masterson as Steven Hyde (26 episodes)
Laura Prepon as Donna Pinciotti (26 episodes)
Wilmer Valderrama as Fez (26 episodes)
Debra Jo Rupp as Kitty Forman (26 episodes)
Kurtwood Smith as Red Forman (26 episodes)
Lisa Robin Kelly as Laurie Forman (22 episodes)
Don Stark as Bob Pinciotti (16 episodes)
Tanya Roberts as Midge Pinciotti (16 episodes)
Tommy Chong as Leo (5 episodes)
Kevin McDonald as Pastor Dave (1 episode)
The Formans have a yard sale to help make money with Red about to be out of work. Hyde makes pot-laced brownies for the yard sale. Fez kisses Jackie at the movies.
Season two of That 70s Show picks up right where season one left off with a bunch of the storylines continuing. One of the funniest moments of this episode is putting the four adults in "The Circle" after they try Hyde's "special" brownies and then Red being tripped out while Eric is questioning him about selling the car. It's a really funny flip on the premiere of season one. The other story with Fez kissing Jackie is okay but it's not a super strong B story. This episode is really all about the adults getting high and there's lots of comedy to be mined. It's perhaps the funniest Kurtwood Smith has been yet. Red being so goofy instead of his usual stern self is pretty hilarious.
RATING: 7.5/10
27. Red's Last Day (10/5/99)
Red has his last day working at the plant and ends up getting drunk with co-workers. Kelso buys a van and ends up having sex with Laurie in it.
We have a second straight episode with Red being a little goofy, this time because he is drunk. Although this is funny too, I don't know if I would have put Red in this type of part for two straight episodes. It seems like it would have made this episode funnier if they were spread out a little more. This episode feels more like a set up to future episodes. We have a tease of Eric and Donna taking the next step and a tease of what's going to happen between Kelso and Jackie. However, this episode feels a little transitional and a little unimportant as a result.
RATING: 4.5/10
28. The Velvet Rope (10/12/99)
Eric, Donna, Fez and Hyde try to go to a hip new club, but only Donna gets in at first. Red tries to get another job. Jackie tests out makeup on Kelso.
I don't want to keeping harping on Laura Prepon, but yikes, she is just so unbelievable with her acting at some points. And this is in a broad multi-camera sitcom. When she comes in at the beginning of this episode all upset about her parents, I don't believe her for a second. That being said, there's a great guest appearance by future Scrubs and The Middle star Neil Flynn as the bouncer. The different methods that the four of them have to use to get into the club is pretty funny and true to each character. The Kelso-Jackie and Red stories are less appealing.
RATING: 4.5/10
29. Laurie and the Professor (10/19/99)
The Formans find out that Laurie has been dating her much older professor. Midge tries to bond with Donna as she continues to fight with Bob.
This is an episode that could feel a little icky but actually makes complete sense considering Laurie's character. There's a strong guest performance from Stephen Tobolowsky and it plays well into the Eric-Laurie relationship as well as the on-going saga with Kelso. There's an absolutely hilarious line from Kitty at the end of the episode as well. As has been the case so far in season two, there's a strong A story but the B & C stories are lacking. Donna torn between her parents doesn't really do it for me probably because I don't really care for Donna, Bob or Midge. I also think the show just let the Kelso-Laurie-Jackie story sit for too long without making any plot advances for too many episodes.
RATING: 7.5/10
30. Halloween (10/26/99)
On Halloween, the gang breaks into the old burned down grammar school they attended. Kitty remembers the first Halloween in their house when she found out she was pregnant.
After spending way too much time on the Kelso-Jackie-Laurie triangle, things finally move forward with this episode and it's a sigh of relief as far as I'm concerned. Eric running over Donna's cat is a funny storyline, but it's hurt some by another unbelievable performance by Laura Prepon. Not for a second did I buy that she was upset with Eric or that her cat died and that's a problem. The third story with Fez's appendix does provide one of the better fantasy parodies the show has done to date with the "Fez's Angels" bit.
RATING: 6.5/10
46. Kelso's Serenade (3/27/00)
Kelso is depressed after his breakup with Jackie and tries to get her back even as Jackie bonds with Hyde. Donna worries that Eric is taking her for granted. The Formans visit their Aunt Pearl.
For the second time in two episodes, That 70s Show gives us a strong 70s-era TV show parody. This time it is All in the Family. While the impressions aren't all spot-on, it is a clever way to parody the current storylines with Eric, Donna, Kelso and Jackie. Surprisingly, Laura Prepon is not too bad at a Jean Stapleton impression. Kelso's various breakup songs have some funny moments and there's a good guest turn by Connie Sawyer as Aunt Pearl. Sawyer made a late career out of playing old ladies before her death at age 105 in 2018. This episode also furthers a potential Hyde-Jackie hookup and it's interesting to watch.
RATING: 7.5/10
47. Jackie Moves On (4/3/00)
Upset after her breakup with Kelso, Jackie agrees to go on a date with Fez. Red finds out Kitty pawned his late mother's necklace. Hyde and Laurie team up against Eric.
Well, they couldn't make it three in a row. After two episodes that had good fantasy sequences, this one featured a totally unnecessary ninja fantasy at the beginning of the episode that was not used for plot development at all and wasn't funny. There's a second parody later in the episode (a Willy Wonka one) that fares a little better. Despite these scenes, the episode has some good moments and three solid, if inconsequential, stories. Fez attempting to woo Jackie is pretty funny and the Kitty/Red story is enjoyable.
RATING: 6.5/10
48. Holy Crap! (5/1/00)
Eric and Laurie skip out on church when Kitty has a work emergency and then decide they don't want to go anymore. Kelso and Fez try to grow facial hair.
That 70s Show is really doubling down on into the fantasy scenes as Season 2 nears its end. The show was often guilty of finding something that worked and then running it into the ground. I don't think we need four straight episodes with a fantasy scene. They lose their power when they are done that often and yes, I know it was a staple of the show. Here, we have one at heaven's gates that is mildly funny but doesn't take away from my point. The episode is good and I always find it interesting when sitcoms tackle church stories. A strong first guest appearance by Kevin McDonald as recurring character Pastor Dave and a very funny scene when he visits the house makes this a strong episode, fantasy scene notwithstanding.
RATING: 9/10
49. Red Fired Up (5/8/00)
Eric and Red find themselves bonding at work. Kelso decides to start formally dating Laurie to help him get over Jackie.
While the Kelso-Jackie-Laurie triangle drags on, this episode has some great moments and it's primarily due to Kitty and Hyde. Kitty's response to Kelso trying to pick up Laurie for a date and Hyde's jokes around Kitty about the two of them was a hilarious moment. The split screen of Kitty and Hyde giving a talk to Laurie and Kelso was pretty funny too. It's interesting too that the show teed up Eric and Red working at the same place months before actually doing an episode showing them working together. But it was a fun plot and a great way to see the Red-Eric relationship develop more.
RATING: 8/10
50. Cat Fight Club (5/15/00)
Kelso tries to be more serious with Laurie by going to dinner with the Formans. Hyde tries to teach Jackie how to be chill about things.
That 70s Show really had a strong string of episodes as season two comes to a close and finally, the long-lasting love triangle with Kelso, Jackie and Laurie starts to pay off in very funny ways. The dynamics between Kelso and Red are pretty funny in this episode and there's a very funny Batman-inspired cat fight between Jackie and Laurie. There's yet another fantasy sequence too, but this one is so absurd (set in a futuristic "1997") that it works. I feel like things are all gelling for That 70s Show at this point in its run. The characters are sure of themselves and the stories are tighter.
RATING: 8.5/10
51. Moon Over Point Place (5/22/00)
Eric is upset when he realized Donna mooned the camera for a yearbook photo. Jackie has feelings for Hyde and starts to cling to him. The Formans and Pinciottis try to stay friends after knowing Eric and Donna slept together.
This is another good episode to end the second season with a funny premise about Donna having mooned the yearbook camera. However, it's worth noting that this is where That 70s Show started to show glimpses of a later problem: overusing Tommy Chong. Leo is a great and hilarious character in small doses and there are great ways to use him but when he starts doing things like hanging out with the gang at the Hub, it becomes more about trying to get cheap laughs than integrating characters organically. Also since it's his fourth and final appearance, I'd like to give a shout out to Paul Connor as Timmy, who always goes 110% as Eric's worst nightmare at the worst moments.
RATING: 7/10
AVERAGE RATING FOR SEASON TWO:
6.6/10
The Best Episodes
1. "Holy Crap!" (#48) - 9/10
2. "Halloween" (#30) - 9/10
3. "The First Time" (#41) - 9/10
4. "Parents Find Out" (#44) - 8.5/10
5. "Cat Fight Club" (#50) - 8.5/10
The Worst Episodes
1. "Eric's Stash" (#37) - 2/10
2. "Hunting" (#38) - 3/10
3. "Vanstock" (#31) - 3/10
4. "Red's Last Day" (#27) - 4.5/10
5. "The Velvet Rope" (#28) - 4.5/10
Eric, Donna, Fez and Hyde try to go to a hip new club, but only Donna gets in at first. Red tries to get another job. Jackie tests out makeup on Kelso.
I don't want to keeping harping on Laura Prepon, but yikes, she is just so unbelievable with her acting at some points. And this is in a broad multi-camera sitcom. When she comes in at the beginning of this episode all upset about her parents, I don't believe her for a second. That being said, there's a great guest appearance by future Scrubs and The Middle star Neil Flynn as the bouncer. The different methods that the four of them have to use to get into the club is pretty funny and true to each character. The Kelso-Jackie and Red stories are less appealing.
RATING: 4.5/10
The Formans find out that Laurie has been dating her much older professor. Midge tries to bond with Donna as she continues to fight with Bob.
This is an episode that could feel a little icky but actually makes complete sense considering Laurie's character. There's a strong guest performance from Stephen Tobolowsky and it plays well into the Eric-Laurie relationship as well as the on-going saga with Kelso. There's an absolutely hilarious line from Kitty at the end of the episode as well. As has been the case so far in season two, there's a strong A story but the B & C stories are lacking. Donna torn between her parents doesn't really do it for me probably because I don't really care for Donna, Bob or Midge. I also think the show just let the Kelso-Laurie-Jackie story sit for too long without making any plot advances for too many episodes.
RATING: 7.5/10
30. Halloween (10/26/99)
On Halloween, the gang breaks into the old burned down grammar school they attended. Kitty remembers the first Halloween in their house when she found out she was pregnant.
This episode gets started with a very funny bit about Fez not understanding that there is just free candy on Halloween. We get one final appearance from Marion Ross in the flashback scenes and it's fun to see her again. I'm not always a fan of the fantasy sequences on this show but the flashback scene is really fun and well done. The grammar school story starts slow but turns into a really interesting character study of the dynamics and pent-up frustration of the friend group. I think that's something we can all relate to on some level.
RATING: 9/10
31. Vanstock (11/2/99)
The gang travels to a music festival but Donna finds out about Kelso and Laurie before leaving. Red and Midge bond over soap operas with Red out of work.
We finally start to get somewhere on the Kelso-Jackie-Laurie triangle story and it's at the fun setting of a music festival. I still think the overall story moves glacially slow, but at least we start to see signs of movement with this episode. This is an example where the kids story is better than the adult story. Red becoming very involved with soap operas and an unfunny soap opera parody doesn't provide much comedy. Overall though, this feels like another one of their transitional episodes. It's like a town on a highway. That 70s Show sometimes just speeds right past an episode with their eye on the long game and they forget to see the sights around them.
RATING: 3/10
32. I Love Cake (11/9/99)
Donna tells Eric she loves him and Eric has trouble saying it back. Bob moves in with the Formans as he continues to fight with Midge.
This is the definition of a middle of the road episode for me. There are some standout moments (the Fonzie jokes are funny and the gag where Red and Bob conspire to have Bob sneak back in his house are pretty funny). But there's also a lot of stuff that doesn't quite land. The Eric and Donna story about saying I Love You is a pretty predictable plot that doesn't even really resolve in a satisfying way. And aside from the one Red/Bob moment, I'm already pretty tired of the Pinciotti marriage troubles story that spins its wheels too much.
RATING: 5.5/10
33. Sleepover (11/16/99)
Donna spends the night with Eric. Hyde gets a job at a photo hut from a hippie owner.
After spinning its wheels for awhile, That 70s Show finally moves the Donna-Eric story forward a little bit by having Donna sleep over at Eric's. This is a good step in the relationship that makes things a little more interesting. I'm starting to think I like the Eric-Donna relationship as seen through the other friends more then the episodes more exclusively focused on Eric and Donna. This episode is also notable because it is the first episode with Tommy Chong as spaced out Leo. Though I felt like Leo eventually became used too much, he is pretty funny in this episode and it's easy to see why they decided to make him a recurring character.
RATING: 8.5/10
34. Eric Gets Suspended (11/30/99)
Eric covers for Donna smoking and ends up getting suspended. Hyde and Fez go on a double date. Michael and Jackie get in a fight about her putting stuffed animals in the van.
This episode has one of my favorite That 70s Show moments even though it's pretty dumb, not integral to the plot and quite obviously filmed on a soundtage. But darn it, the scenes with Kelso trying to get Jackie into the van make me laugh every time. I feel like it epitomizes the Kelso-Jackie relationship. This episode features Melissa Joan Hart in a guest starring role but she's trapped in a so-so story and is a pretty obnoxious character. The Eric-Donna story with the smoking is only ok too. It's the biggest throwaway part of the episode that keeps it from being a dud.
RATING: 6.5/10
35. Red's Birthday (12/7/99)
The Formans celebrate Red's birthday. Bob and Midge each bring dates to a dinner with Red and Kitty. Eric doesn't understand why Donna won't open up to him.
There's a couple very funny moments in this episode. Most notably, Kitty has some good moments and there are funny impressions of Bob and Midge from a couple different characters. For being an episode called "Red's Birthday," the episode doesn't have all that much to do with his birthday though the parts that do (the opening scene and the gift giving scene) are pretty funny. Watching many episodes in a row, it does feel like the show stretched out the Bob-Midge separation and the Kelso-Jackie-Laurie triangle more than they needed to. Maybe it didn't feel that way when people were only watching once a week.
RATING: 6.5/10
36. Laurie Movies Out (12/14/99)
Laurie moves out and Red discovers she's moving in with a man. Kelso tries to lie about his relationship with Laurie after Jackie learns he left a t-shirt in her room.
The story of Lisa Robin Kelly is such a sad one especially because she can be quite strong on That 70s Show. I think it's already apparent here that she's not quite the same person she was when we first met her on the show as it's well documented she was already struggling with alcoholism. Every time the show deals with Laurie messing up, there's a twinge of sadness to it knowing what happened to the actress. There are still some funny moments here and Kitty and Red agreeing that Red is the "dumbass" is a fun switch on Red's go-to insult. The Kelso and Jackie storyline feels like it's about to bust open but ultimately doesn't.
RATING: 7/10
37. Eric's Stash (1/11/00)
Eric can't find his secret stash of money and thinks Hyde stole it. Kelso and Fez help Jackie prepare for a beauty pageant.
This episode doesn't really work because neither story is that interesting or strong enough to be an "A" story of an episode. They feel like two "C" stories pushed together to make an episode and it all feels pretty unnecessary. The missing money storyline is at least passable with a couple funny moments between Eric and most of the rest of the cast. The beauty pageant story, even with a cameo by classic 70s host Bob Eubanks, is pretty terrible with no laughs to be found. That 70s Show seems to have more throwaway episodes than some other shows but this is one of their most glaring examples of that.
RATING: 2/10
38. Hunting (1/18/00)
The guys go on a hunting trip together while the girls try to bond over poker.
This is a new split for That 70s Show as the episode completely divides along gender lines with the adults included. It's a pretty standard premise but more ambitious here because of how many main characters That 70s Show has. As a result, there are some characters who pretty much fade into oblivion quickly and it becomes a little disjointed. I think That 70s Show works best when a few characters are featured prominently in a main story and others have incidental moments or less important side stories. This set-up, or at least the first attempt at it, doesn't work.
RATING: 3/10
39. Red's New Job (2/1/00)
Red tries to get a job at the new PriceMart, which upsets Bob. Laurie decides she wants a relationship with Kelso.
That 70s Show made a conscious effort after the first season to move away from the more topical 70s episodes here. But this one feels a little bit like a throwback to the first season with Red continuing to deal with the economic slump and getting a job at a big box store that could push Bob's store out of business. The twist of Eric getting a job makes for some funny family dynamics for the Formans. The Kelso-Laurie story continues to drag on with another unfunny entry that seems completely out of character for Laurie and therefore seems like it's more in service to a plot idea than in service to a character, which is always a problem.
RATING: 6/10
40. Burning Down the House (2/7/00)
Jackie hosts a dinner party and doesn't invite Fez or Hyde. Red discovers that Bob wears a toupee.
After splitting up the guys and the girls a couple episodes ago, this episode splits in a much more successful (and common) way, breaking up the teens and the adults. And there are good stories with both groups. This is a great chance for Kelso to be a complete idiot and that plays well. The awkward dinner time with the Formans and Pinciottis is pretty funny too as the unspoken knowledge of Bob's toupee hangs over a lot of the episode. When the bald head is finally revealed, there's a great reaction from Debra Jo Rupp. Another great moment is Eric serenading Donna on the piano.
RATING: 8/10
41. The First Time (2/14/00)
Bob and Midge decide to renew their wedding vows and Kitty is upset she's not a bridesmaid. Hyde gets Leo to photograph the wedding. Eric and Donna have sex for the first time.
This is a fun premise that allows a lot of characters a chance for some good moments. We get the second appearance from Leo and with his appearances still sporadic, he's still pretty funny. As a Packers fan, I also very much enjoyed the green and gold wedding colors with some truly ridiculous outfits. I think the plot development of Eric and Donna having sex for the first time is handled in a good way. If this episode wasn't called "The First Time," it's not clear that's where the episode is going until the end. And we finally have one of the on-going storylines resolved by getting them together.
RATING: 9/10
42. Afterglow (2/21/00)
After having sex with Eric for the first time, Donna feels disappointed by it and the rumor spreads that Eric wasn't good at it. Red buys a motorcycle.
Immediately following the previous episode, "Afterglow" touches on an awkward subject but handles it with a lot of humor true to how these characters would probably respond. There's some good moments from Topher Grace as Eric in a pretty awkward boat throughout the episode. That 70s Show was never one to shy away from gimmicks or odd fantasy sequences and they have an extended animated one here that doesn't work at all so that grinds the episode to the halt. There was nothing in the animated sequence that couldn't have been done with the regular actors in a live action setting (with the exception of Fez eating the sub) so what was the point?
RATING: 6/10
43. Kitty and Eric's Night Out (2/28/00)
Kitty is upset that Eric doesn't want to spend time with her so they arrange an evening to spend time together. Fez gets a girlfriend who used to date Hyde and it makes Jackie surprisingly jealous.
On paper, this should be a funny episode. I like the pairing of Kitty and Eric (see season one's "Career Day") but this one never quite gets off the ground until the very end with the car ride home and a sweet moment after they get back to the house. Unfortunately the whole dinner and movie part was lacking in laughs. This episode also introduces the idea of Jackie having feelings for Fez, which is something the show revisits quite a bit. Kelso is barely seen in this episode. I wonder if Ashton Kutcher was off doing a movie or something?
RATING: 5/10
44. Parents Find Out (3/7/00)
The Formans and Pinciottis find out that Eric and Donna have been having sex after they are caught in a car by police. Kelso, Hyde and Fez make friends with a woman over the CB radio.
This episode starts off on a really funny note. Eric and Donna getting caught and the following scene trying to explain to Red and Kitty is all very well done and very funny. The rest of the episode is good too although it never quite matches the energy and hilarity of the first couple minutes. Still, Eric trying to tell the Pinciottis about the incident as well as Kitty's depression over her son growing up provide for some great moments. I don't care for the CB radio storyline, but it seems pretty inconsequential when the main story is such an important one in the overall arc of the series.
RATING: 8.5/10
45. Kiss of Death (3/20/00)
Kelso tries to break things off with Laurie but Jackie ends up seeing them kiss. Eric accidentally runs over and kills Donna's cat. Fez has to have his appendix out.
RATING: 9/10
31. Vanstock (11/2/99)
The gang travels to a music festival but Donna finds out about Kelso and Laurie before leaving. Red and Midge bond over soap operas with Red out of work.
We finally start to get somewhere on the Kelso-Jackie-Laurie triangle story and it's at the fun setting of a music festival. I still think the overall story moves glacially slow, but at least we start to see signs of movement with this episode. This is an example where the kids story is better than the adult story. Red becoming very involved with soap operas and an unfunny soap opera parody doesn't provide much comedy. Overall though, this feels like another one of their transitional episodes. It's like a town on a highway. That 70s Show sometimes just speeds right past an episode with their eye on the long game and they forget to see the sights around them.
RATING: 3/10
32. I Love Cake (11/9/99)
Donna tells Eric she loves him and Eric has trouble saying it back. Bob moves in with the Formans as he continues to fight with Midge.
This is the definition of a middle of the road episode for me. There are some standout moments (the Fonzie jokes are funny and the gag where Red and Bob conspire to have Bob sneak back in his house are pretty funny). But there's also a lot of stuff that doesn't quite land. The Eric and Donna story about saying I Love You is a pretty predictable plot that doesn't even really resolve in a satisfying way. And aside from the one Red/Bob moment, I'm already pretty tired of the Pinciotti marriage troubles story that spins its wheels too much.
RATING: 5.5/10
Donna spends the night with Eric. Hyde gets a job at a photo hut from a hippie owner.
After spinning its wheels for awhile, That 70s Show finally moves the Donna-Eric story forward a little bit by having Donna sleep over at Eric's. This is a good step in the relationship that makes things a little more interesting. I'm starting to think I like the Eric-Donna relationship as seen through the other friends more then the episodes more exclusively focused on Eric and Donna. This episode is also notable because it is the first episode with Tommy Chong as spaced out Leo. Though I felt like Leo eventually became used too much, he is pretty funny in this episode and it's easy to see why they decided to make him a recurring character.
RATING: 8.5/10
34. Eric Gets Suspended (11/30/99)
Eric covers for Donna smoking and ends up getting suspended. Hyde and Fez go on a double date. Michael and Jackie get in a fight about her putting stuffed animals in the van.
This episode has one of my favorite That 70s Show moments even though it's pretty dumb, not integral to the plot and quite obviously filmed on a soundtage. But darn it, the scenes with Kelso trying to get Jackie into the van make me laugh every time. I feel like it epitomizes the Kelso-Jackie relationship. This episode features Melissa Joan Hart in a guest starring role but she's trapped in a so-so story and is a pretty obnoxious character. The Eric-Donna story with the smoking is only ok too. It's the biggest throwaway part of the episode that keeps it from being a dud.
RATING: 6.5/10
35. Red's Birthday (12/7/99)
The Formans celebrate Red's birthday. Bob and Midge each bring dates to a dinner with Red and Kitty. Eric doesn't understand why Donna won't open up to him.
There's a couple very funny moments in this episode. Most notably, Kitty has some good moments and there are funny impressions of Bob and Midge from a couple different characters. For being an episode called "Red's Birthday," the episode doesn't have all that much to do with his birthday though the parts that do (the opening scene and the gift giving scene) are pretty funny. Watching many episodes in a row, it does feel like the show stretched out the Bob-Midge separation and the Kelso-Jackie-Laurie triangle more than they needed to. Maybe it didn't feel that way when people were only watching once a week.
RATING: 6.5/10
Laurie moves out and Red discovers she's moving in with a man. Kelso tries to lie about his relationship with Laurie after Jackie learns he left a t-shirt in her room.
The story of Lisa Robin Kelly is such a sad one especially because she can be quite strong on That 70s Show. I think it's already apparent here that she's not quite the same person she was when we first met her on the show as it's well documented she was already struggling with alcoholism. Every time the show deals with Laurie messing up, there's a twinge of sadness to it knowing what happened to the actress. There are still some funny moments here and Kitty and Red agreeing that Red is the "dumbass" is a fun switch on Red's go-to insult. The Kelso and Jackie storyline feels like it's about to bust open but ultimately doesn't.
RATING: 7/10
37. Eric's Stash (1/11/00)
Eric can't find his secret stash of money and thinks Hyde stole it. Kelso and Fez help Jackie prepare for a beauty pageant.
This episode doesn't really work because neither story is that interesting or strong enough to be an "A" story of an episode. They feel like two "C" stories pushed together to make an episode and it all feels pretty unnecessary. The missing money storyline is at least passable with a couple funny moments between Eric and most of the rest of the cast. The beauty pageant story, even with a cameo by classic 70s host Bob Eubanks, is pretty terrible with no laughs to be found. That 70s Show seems to have more throwaway episodes than some other shows but this is one of their most glaring examples of that.
RATING: 2/10
38. Hunting (1/18/00)
The guys go on a hunting trip together while the girls try to bond over poker.
This is a new split for That 70s Show as the episode completely divides along gender lines with the adults included. It's a pretty standard premise but more ambitious here because of how many main characters That 70s Show has. As a result, there are some characters who pretty much fade into oblivion quickly and it becomes a little disjointed. I think That 70s Show works best when a few characters are featured prominently in a main story and others have incidental moments or less important side stories. This set-up, or at least the first attempt at it, doesn't work.
RATING: 3/10
39. Red's New Job (2/1/00)
Red tries to get a job at the new PriceMart, which upsets Bob. Laurie decides she wants a relationship with Kelso.
That 70s Show made a conscious effort after the first season to move away from the more topical 70s episodes here. But this one feels a little bit like a throwback to the first season with Red continuing to deal with the economic slump and getting a job at a big box store that could push Bob's store out of business. The twist of Eric getting a job makes for some funny family dynamics for the Formans. The Kelso-Laurie story continues to drag on with another unfunny entry that seems completely out of character for Laurie and therefore seems like it's more in service to a plot idea than in service to a character, which is always a problem.
RATING: 6/10
Jackie hosts a dinner party and doesn't invite Fez or Hyde. Red discovers that Bob wears a toupee.
After splitting up the guys and the girls a couple episodes ago, this episode splits in a much more successful (and common) way, breaking up the teens and the adults. And there are good stories with both groups. This is a great chance for Kelso to be a complete idiot and that plays well. The awkward dinner time with the Formans and Pinciottis is pretty funny too as the unspoken knowledge of Bob's toupee hangs over a lot of the episode. When the bald head is finally revealed, there's a great reaction from Debra Jo Rupp. Another great moment is Eric serenading Donna on the piano.
RATING: 8/10
41. The First Time (2/14/00)
Bob and Midge decide to renew their wedding vows and Kitty is upset she's not a bridesmaid. Hyde gets Leo to photograph the wedding. Eric and Donna have sex for the first time.
This is a fun premise that allows a lot of characters a chance for some good moments. We get the second appearance from Leo and with his appearances still sporadic, he's still pretty funny. As a Packers fan, I also very much enjoyed the green and gold wedding colors with some truly ridiculous outfits. I think the plot development of Eric and Donna having sex for the first time is handled in a good way. If this episode wasn't called "The First Time," it's not clear that's where the episode is going until the end. And we finally have one of the on-going storylines resolved by getting them together.
RATING: 9/10
42. Afterglow (2/21/00)
After having sex with Eric for the first time, Donna feels disappointed by it and the rumor spreads that Eric wasn't good at it. Red buys a motorcycle.
Immediately following the previous episode, "Afterglow" touches on an awkward subject but handles it with a lot of humor true to how these characters would probably respond. There's some good moments from Topher Grace as Eric in a pretty awkward boat throughout the episode. That 70s Show was never one to shy away from gimmicks or odd fantasy sequences and they have an extended animated one here that doesn't work at all so that grinds the episode to the halt. There was nothing in the animated sequence that couldn't have been done with the regular actors in a live action setting (with the exception of Fez eating the sub) so what was the point?
RATING: 6/10
43. Kitty and Eric's Night Out (2/28/00)
Kitty is upset that Eric doesn't want to spend time with her so they arrange an evening to spend time together. Fez gets a girlfriend who used to date Hyde and it makes Jackie surprisingly jealous.
On paper, this should be a funny episode. I like the pairing of Kitty and Eric (see season one's "Career Day") but this one never quite gets off the ground until the very end with the car ride home and a sweet moment after they get back to the house. Unfortunately the whole dinner and movie part was lacking in laughs. This episode also introduces the idea of Jackie having feelings for Fez, which is something the show revisits quite a bit. Kelso is barely seen in this episode. I wonder if Ashton Kutcher was off doing a movie or something?
RATING: 5/10
The Formans and Pinciottis find out that Eric and Donna have been having sex after they are caught in a car by police. Kelso, Hyde and Fez make friends with a woman over the CB radio.
This episode starts off on a really funny note. Eric and Donna getting caught and the following scene trying to explain to Red and Kitty is all very well done and very funny. The rest of the episode is good too although it never quite matches the energy and hilarity of the first couple minutes. Still, Eric trying to tell the Pinciottis about the incident as well as Kitty's depression over her son growing up provide for some great moments. I don't care for the CB radio storyline, but it seems pretty inconsequential when the main story is such an important one in the overall arc of the series.
RATING: 8.5/10
45. Kiss of Death (3/20/00)
Kelso tries to break things off with Laurie but Jackie ends up seeing them kiss. Eric accidentally runs over and kills Donna's cat. Fez has to have his appendix out.
After spending way too much time on the Kelso-Jackie-Laurie triangle, things finally move forward with this episode and it's a sigh of relief as far as I'm concerned. Eric running over Donna's cat is a funny storyline, but it's hurt some by another unbelievable performance by Laura Prepon. Not for a second did I buy that she was upset with Eric or that her cat died and that's a problem. The third story with Fez's appendix does provide one of the better fantasy parodies the show has done to date with the "Fez's Angels" bit.
RATING: 6.5/10
46. Kelso's Serenade (3/27/00)
Kelso is depressed after his breakup with Jackie and tries to get her back even as Jackie bonds with Hyde. Donna worries that Eric is taking her for granted. The Formans visit their Aunt Pearl.
For the second time in two episodes, That 70s Show gives us a strong 70s-era TV show parody. This time it is All in the Family. While the impressions aren't all spot-on, it is a clever way to parody the current storylines with Eric, Donna, Kelso and Jackie. Surprisingly, Laura Prepon is not too bad at a Jean Stapleton impression. Kelso's various breakup songs have some funny moments and there's a good guest turn by Connie Sawyer as Aunt Pearl. Sawyer made a late career out of playing old ladies before her death at age 105 in 2018. This episode also furthers a potential Hyde-Jackie hookup and it's interesting to watch.
RATING: 7.5/10
47. Jackie Moves On (4/3/00)
Upset after her breakup with Kelso, Jackie agrees to go on a date with Fez. Red finds out Kitty pawned his late mother's necklace. Hyde and Laurie team up against Eric.
Well, they couldn't make it three in a row. After two episodes that had good fantasy sequences, this one featured a totally unnecessary ninja fantasy at the beginning of the episode that was not used for plot development at all and wasn't funny. There's a second parody later in the episode (a Willy Wonka one) that fares a little better. Despite these scenes, the episode has some good moments and three solid, if inconsequential, stories. Fez attempting to woo Jackie is pretty funny and the Kitty/Red story is enjoyable.
RATING: 6.5/10
Eric and Laurie skip out on church when Kitty has a work emergency and then decide they don't want to go anymore. Kelso and Fez try to grow facial hair.
That 70s Show is really doubling down on into the fantasy scenes as Season 2 nears its end. The show was often guilty of finding something that worked and then running it into the ground. I don't think we need four straight episodes with a fantasy scene. They lose their power when they are done that often and yes, I know it was a staple of the show. Here, we have one at heaven's gates that is mildly funny but doesn't take away from my point. The episode is good and I always find it interesting when sitcoms tackle church stories. A strong first guest appearance by Kevin McDonald as recurring character Pastor Dave and a very funny scene when he visits the house makes this a strong episode, fantasy scene notwithstanding.
RATING: 9/10
49. Red Fired Up (5/8/00)
Eric and Red find themselves bonding at work. Kelso decides to start formally dating Laurie to help him get over Jackie.
While the Kelso-Jackie-Laurie triangle drags on, this episode has some great moments and it's primarily due to Kitty and Hyde. Kitty's response to Kelso trying to pick up Laurie for a date and Hyde's jokes around Kitty about the two of them was a hilarious moment. The split screen of Kitty and Hyde giving a talk to Laurie and Kelso was pretty funny too. It's interesting too that the show teed up Eric and Red working at the same place months before actually doing an episode showing them working together. But it was a fun plot and a great way to see the Red-Eric relationship develop more.
RATING: 8/10
50. Cat Fight Club (5/15/00)
Kelso tries to be more serious with Laurie by going to dinner with the Formans. Hyde tries to teach Jackie how to be chill about things.
That 70s Show really had a strong string of episodes as season two comes to a close and finally, the long-lasting love triangle with Kelso, Jackie and Laurie starts to pay off in very funny ways. The dynamics between Kelso and Red are pretty funny in this episode and there's a very funny Batman-inspired cat fight between Jackie and Laurie. There's yet another fantasy sequence too, but this one is so absurd (set in a futuristic "1997") that it works. I feel like things are all gelling for That 70s Show at this point in its run. The characters are sure of themselves and the stories are tighter.
RATING: 8.5/10
Eric is upset when he realized Donna mooned the camera for a yearbook photo. Jackie has feelings for Hyde and starts to cling to him. The Formans and Pinciottis try to stay friends after knowing Eric and Donna slept together.
This is another good episode to end the second season with a funny premise about Donna having mooned the yearbook camera. However, it's worth noting that this is where That 70s Show started to show glimpses of a later problem: overusing Tommy Chong. Leo is a great and hilarious character in small doses and there are great ways to use him but when he starts doing things like hanging out with the gang at the Hub, it becomes more about trying to get cheap laughs than integrating characters organically. Also since it's his fourth and final appearance, I'd like to give a shout out to Paul Connor as Timmy, who always goes 110% as Eric's worst nightmare at the worst moments.
RATING: 7/10
AVERAGE RATING FOR SEASON TWO:
6.6/10
The Best Episodes
1. "Holy Crap!" (#48) - 9/10
2. "Halloween" (#30) - 9/10
3. "The First Time" (#41) - 9/10
4. "Parents Find Out" (#44) - 8.5/10
5. "Cat Fight Club" (#50) - 8.5/10
The Worst Episodes
1. "Eric's Stash" (#37) - 2/10
2. "Hunting" (#38) - 3/10
3. "Vanstock" (#31) - 3/10
4. "Red's Last Day" (#27) - 4.5/10
5. "The Velvet Rope" (#28) - 4.5/10
Tomorrow: The Friday Five - Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week!
Thursday in 2 Weeks: A look at the third season of That 70s Show!
No comments:
Post a Comment