I'm 3 1/2 episodes into the series and so far I'm underwhelmed.
The Good Kitty & Red - they're about as good as they've always been, although the writing is letting them down
The Old Gang Cameos - their cameos are definitely enjoyable, although some seem forced. Why Kelso & Jackie showed up for 2 minutes was never really explained. But seeing them makes me wish this sequel was about them and much less about the kids.
The Bad The New Gang - They're not working for me. For the most part it seems like the writers are trying to make them like the previous generation. What's more, I don't buy them as 90s kids, not in the least. Some people are praising that they're actually teenage, which they are, but that just makes for some cringy moments.
The 90s Look - Lots of people have already pointed out, they've done a lousy job at capturing the 90s look and feel. The clothes, the technology, the look and feel of everything just seems off. It's not the worst part of the new show, but definitely don't watch it expecting to feel nostalgic for the 90s. It could easily be anywhere from late 80s to 2010s.
The Ugly The Writing - Get new writers for Season 2. The writing is bad. Completely undeserving of a second chance. The best lines are repeats of things the characters said in the original show. The writing was never the best thing about the original show but at least they were funny, and they created characters you cared about.
A line that passes for comedy: after being interrogated by Red where Leia is, Ozzie says, "She went to Nunya." Red: "Where's Nunya." Ozzie: "Nunya business." Big laugh from the studio audience, while I sit and wonder why I'm paying for Netflix.
Also, I'm not sure if it's the writing or the editing but the scenes seem far too short. Most seem to last 30 seconds and then it's off to something else. Maybe that's good if you have a short attention span, but for most people they appreciate a proper set up to a punchline.
Overall, I'm disappointed. This could have been a lot better, and I think would have been a lot better if they gave the fans what we wanted and made it about the original cast rather than turning it into That 70s Show: The Next Generation.
On the positive side, it makes That 80s Show seem even better in comparison.
The Good Kitty & Red - they're about as good as they've always been, although the writing is letting them down
The Old Gang Cameos - their cameos are definitely enjoyable, although some seem forced. Why Kelso & Jackie showed up for 2 minutes was never really explained. But seeing them makes me wish this sequel was about them and much less about the kids.
The Bad The New Gang - They're not working for me. For the most part it seems like the writers are trying to make them like the previous generation. What's more, I don't buy them as 90s kids, not in the least. Some people are praising that they're actually teenage, which they are, but that just makes for some cringy moments.
- Leia (Callie Haverda) had just turned 15 when filming started. I'm supposed to cheer for a girl her age getting high and drunk? And an episode or two later it's all about getting her first kiss. It's like the writers can't decide how to write for her. Is she supposed to be a "bad girl" or not?
- Kelso's kid looks a lot like his dad, and at times acts like him. But again the writers don't seem to know how they want to write for him. One minute he's having sex in a lake, the next minute he's falling for Leia who he literally just met, and doesn't want to rush things BY KISSING HER!
- The other characters just seem mostly forgettable. The gay Asian kid is annoying as written and would VERY likely have still been in the closet back in the day. It's great that society has evolved but in the 90s it hadn't. If he was at all open with friends it would not have extended to parents (and DEFINITELY not to someone like Red!).
The 90s Look - Lots of people have already pointed out, they've done a lousy job at capturing the 90s look and feel. The clothes, the technology, the look and feel of everything just seems off. It's not the worst part of the new show, but definitely don't watch it expecting to feel nostalgic for the 90s. It could easily be anywhere from late 80s to 2010s.
The Ugly The Writing - Get new writers for Season 2. The writing is bad. Completely undeserving of a second chance. The best lines are repeats of things the characters said in the original show. The writing was never the best thing about the original show but at least they were funny, and they created characters you cared about.
A line that passes for comedy: after being interrogated by Red where Leia is, Ozzie says, "She went to Nunya." Red: "Where's Nunya." Ozzie: "Nunya business." Big laugh from the studio audience, while I sit and wonder why I'm paying for Netflix.
Also, I'm not sure if it's the writing or the editing but the scenes seem far too short. Most seem to last 30 seconds and then it's off to something else. Maybe that's good if you have a short attention span, but for most people they appreciate a proper set up to a punchline.
Overall, I'm disappointed. This could have been a lot better, and I think would have been a lot better if they gave the fans what we wanted and made it about the original cast rather than turning it into That 70s Show: The Next Generation.
On the positive side, it makes That 80s Show seem even better in comparison.
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