As a child of the ’90s and early aughts, just about every series I watched religiously has had a reboot, spinoff, or reunion in the past decade. While some have had solid success (Hey Bel Air!), others have missed the mark (R.I.P. Gossip Girl 2.0). The latest in the pack is the That ’70s Show spinoff, That ’90s Show. Not sure who asked for this, but it’s perfect for a weekend Netflix binge.
It’s now July 1995 in Point Place, Wisconsin. Clinton is president. Dial-up internet is sweeping the nation. And Eric and Donna take their daughter Leia (like the Star Wars princess) to visit her grandparents Kitty and Red for July 4th. She follows the sound of a girl singing along to Alanis Morissette’s You Oughta Know and is led to the bedroom window of Gwen, the Riot Grrrl next door who now lives in Donna’s old house. An instant friendship forms. Soon we’re introduced to the new basement kids: Nate, Nikki, Ozzie, and Jay Kelso. (Yes, Kelso is now someone’s dad). Leia convinces her parents to let her enjoy the rest of the summer with her new friends in their old town. Cue the casual ’90s teen hijinks mixed with heartwarming moments that are relatable, not dated.
This spinoff keeps all the familiar elements of That ’70s Show. The hilarious basement hangouts, solid friendships, and awkward teen romance drama are still present. Plus there are just enough cameos from the original cast to excite fans of the OG series.
If you’re looking for a fun binge session, That ’90s Show is one to add to your queue. Hopefully Netflix will green-light a few more seasons and keep the ’90s nostalgia going.
