That ’90s Show Season 2 Part 1 Review
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
That’s it, the “That ’90s Show” cast has infinitely grown on me from season one to season two. It was super fun watching the group of friends being silly, goofy, and getting themselves into trouble. The biggest conflict of the new season is, of course, “the almost kiss” between Leia (Callie Haverda) and Nate (Maxwell Acee Donovan). Netflix decided to drop season two in two parts, so only the first eight episodes were released at the time (June 2024) of writing this review.
Season two of “That ’90s Show” opens with Leia back in her grandparents’ home at Point Place, while her best friend Gwen (Ashley Aufderheide), boyfriend Jay Kelso (Mace Coronel), and grandmother Kitty Forman (Debra Jo Rupp) fight over who gets to hug her first. Grandpa Red (Kurtwood Smith) might not be happy to host Leia’s posse of friends in his basement again, but he sure is happy to have his granddaughter back. The Forman’s cozy house once again becomes the center of all activities and hubbub.
While the adult cast outshone the teen cast in season one of “That ’90s Show,” the teen characters are definitely a lot more entertaining this time around. The funniest subplot involving the adults was Kitty Forman’s relentless efforts to convince her daughter-in-law Donna (Laura Prepon) to move back into the same neighborhood. Kitty hilariously uses various versions of “Give me my son back!” to emotionally blackmail Donna. Debra Jo Rupp remains a hoot as the casual, upbeat, and energetic Kitty, while Kurtwood Smith is equally entertaining as the grumpy old Red.
As for the teen plots, like I said at the beginning of this review, Leia and Nate agonize over whether they should tell Jay and Nikki (Sam Morelos) about how they almost kissed. Their dilemma and eventual decision lead to a lot of comedic moments in the show, including some drama between both couples as Leia continues to Jay, while Nate and Nikki begin to doubt their connection. Meanwhile, another major subplot follows Ozzie’s (Reyn Doi) decision to meet his long-distance Canadian boyfriend for real. Ozzie is my favorite from the friend group in “That ‘90s Show,” thanks to Reyn Doi’s riotous portrayal of the sassy, smart, blunt, no-filter teen. Leia and Nate come a close second, just because both are such big airheads. But don’t get me wrong, I do not want them to end up together; they would make a dumb-and-dumber combination. I wish the writers hadn’t made both Jay and Nate so incredibly dumb—one brainless jock in the group would’ve been enough to bring on all the giggles. And even though I make that criticism, I really enjoyed Jay and Nate’s friendship. They’re like brothers who share the same brain cell and always have each other’s back (and Ozzie’s too).
I remember writing about how a lot of the humour in the first season of “That 90s Show” felt like it was written for a Disney or Nickelodeon show, even though the series isn’t aimed at kids. However, this time around, the writers surprisingly explore a few serious issues, albeit, in a light-hearted manner. For instance, episode six dwells into racial profiling via Gwen’s (Ashley Aufderheide) character, who gets into some trouble with the authorities.
Just like the last season, this one also boasts a lot of special appearances, including a sexy-funny cameo by Carmen Electra, who doesn’t have anything to do with the original “That ’70s Show,” but is just there for the era-specific humor, since she’s a 1990s star. If I had to pick the best 90s reference in this season, it has to be a scene from episode seven where Leia imagines herself and Jay as Romeo and Juliet, but from the 1996 movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. So, Callie Haverda and Mace Coronel get to recreate the iconic fish-tank meet-cute from the film, wearing the same costumes: Leia in the popular angelic outfit complete with wings, while Jay dons a medieval soldier costume.
The first eight episodes of “That ’90s Show” are easy to watch, with plenty of comical moments throughout. Again, it might not be rib-tickling, but it’s got an adorable cast and is a light, breezy show that you could watch if you’re looking for some ’90s nostalgia.
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