That ‘70s Show Season 5’s Biggest Story Is Being Remade In That ‘90s Show Season 2 (2024)

The trailer for That ‘90s Show season 2 indicates that Netflix’s sequel series is rehashing a major teen conflict from That ‘70s Show season 5. While some of the original figures reprise their characters from the original sitcom, many of the new cast and characters of That ‘90s Show have taken on roles similar to the main teens from That ‘70s Show. For instance, Leia is a combination of Eric and Donna, Gwen is similar to Donna, Nikki takes on a role akin to Jackie, Nate and Jay both bear qualities similar to Kelso and Hyde, and Ozzie has some comparable traits to Fez.

Consequently, it isn’t too surprising that some of the dramatic storylines from That ‘70s Show are being repeated in the sequel series as well. By the end of That ‘90s Show season 1, the romances within the main group were beginning to settle in, only for a last-minute twist between Leia and Nate to drastically switch up the dynamic. Now, more like That ‘70s Show, the teens are divided by inevitable breakups, friends being interested in their friends’ exes, and crushes on friends’ family members. Given the teases from That ‘90s Show season 2’s trailer, it seems one romantic setup is repeating a feud from That ‘70s Show season 5.

Leia's Love Triangle In That '90s Show Season 2 Repeats Jackie, Kelso & Hyde's That '70s Show Season 5 Story

That '90s Show season 2's romantic drama mirrors That '70s Show season 5's conflicts

That ‘90s Show season 2 is gearing up for Leia, Nate, and Jay to repeat the love triangle fallout between Jackie, Hyde, and Kelso in That ‘70s Show season 5. In the original show, Kelso and Jackie were implied to break up in the season 4 finale after he suddenly left for California, with the season 5 premiere then revealing that Jackie and Hyde – who previously hated each other – began hooking up over the summer. The two had kept their feelings for one another a secret throughout the summer, but once Kelso, Eric, and Donna returned from California, the truth and betrayals caused plenty of conflict for the gang.

That ‘70s Show season 5 then saw Kelso essentially shun Hyde for getting with Jackie, even though he had abandoned her for California. The secrecy also led to Eric and Donna having conflicts with Jackie and Hyde as they tried to get them to tell Kelso the truth, making season 5 a fairly dramatic outing for the teens. Once Kelso found out, he was furious with Hyde and even “accidentally” shot him with a BB gun, with it taking a while before they all made amends. This season truly began the love triangle between Jackie, Hyde, and Kelso that would last even through the sequel, when it was revealed that Jackie and Kelso married and had a son, That ‘90s Show’s Jay Kelso.

It seems like the same conflict is being set up for That ‘90s Show season 2’s story. The trailer reveals that while Nate and Leia almost kissed each other in the season 1 finale, they never told their significant others and instead kept it a secret all year. As such, when That ‘90s Show season 2 premieres, it seems that Jay and Leia will still be a couple while Nate and Nikki are still together, but chaos will soon follow when their almost-kiss is disclosed to the group. Once Jay and Nikki find out that Nate and Leia began having feelings for each other, there’s bound to be a rift between Jay and Nate as well as Leia and Nikki.

That '90s Show's Love Triangle Conflict Is Already Worse Than That '70s Show Season 5

That '90s Show adds in another figure to the romance betrayals

The love triangle between Jackie, Hyde, and Kelso caused plenty of tension within the group during That ‘70s Show season 5, but That ‘90s Show’s romance drama is even more complicated given Nikki’s role. When Jackie and Hyde got together in That ‘70s Show season 5, Hyde was completely single and hadn’t previously dated anyone within the gang. However, Nate already has a girlfriend, Nikki, in That ‘90s Show, so Leia and Nate almost kissing directly affects another person’s relationship.

As such, it’s more of a love square than a love triangle in That ‘90s Show. While Hyde had to work toward rebuilding his friendship with Kelso, Jackie didn’t have to make amends with any other girl in the group after getting together with Hyde. But, in That ‘90s Show, Leia has to try to fix her friendship with Nikki and make amends with Jay, with Nate having to do the same. Considering there are only six teens in That ‘90s Show’s main group, it’s going to get extremely complicated in season 2 with four of them at odds with each other.

That '70s Show Season 5's Story Hints At Who Leia Will Really End Up With In Season 2

Jackie & Hyde hint at how Leia's romantic storyline will conclude

If the outcome of That ‘70s Show season 5’s story is any indication, then it seems likely that Leia and Nate will actually end up together in That ‘90s Show season 2. While Leia Forman and Jay Kelso were initially set up as the potential new “Donna and Eric” of That ‘90s Show, this role now appears to be taken over by Leia and Nate, who seem to have more in common. However, though Jackie and Hyde ended up dating through That ‘70s Show season 7, the couple split for good ahead of season 8, with Jackie ultimately being married to Kelso in That ‘90s Show.

Consequently, if following this trend, it’s still possible that Leia and Jay will get back together again before That ‘90s Show’s series ending. Across That ‘70s Show’s eight seasons, the sitcom saw plenty of combinations of couples, so there are bound to be more unexpected matches in That ‘90s Show as well. The sequel show is only in 1996 in That ‘90s Show season 2, so there are still four more years’ left of teenage relationship drama to explore with Leia and her friends in Point Place.

That 90s Show

Romance

Comedy

Drama

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.

Cast

Kurtwood Smith , Debra Jo Rupp , Mace Coronel , Callie Haverda , Ashley Aufderheide , Sam Morelos , Reyn Doi , Maxwell Acee Donovan

Release Date

January 19, 2023

Streaming Service(s)

Netflix

Writers

Gregg Mettler , Bonnie Turner , Lindsey Turner , Terry Turner

Directors

Gail Mancuso , Laura Prepon

Showrunner

Gregg Mettler