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#20: Kitty’s Mother Cries “Your Time Is Gonna Come”
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Kitty’s parents, Bea and Burt, visit the Formans. Bea is quite overbearing, frequently berating her husband. Tragically, during their visit, Burt passes away. Kitty takes it hard, and she’s disturbed by her mother’s apparent lack of grief. However, when Kitty goes to confront her about it, she finds her mother crying quietly in her room. It’s a really heartfelt, somber moment and a reminder that everyone grieves in different ways. Losing a spouse after you’ve been together for so long is an incredibly difficult thing to endure - and, honestly, seeing Betty White crying automatically has us in tears, even if she’s only acting.
#19: Red & Eric Go Drinking “Eric’s Depression”
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Red Forman is rarely a tactful father, particularly towards Eric. That’s why it’s hardly surprising that he has a difficult time relating to Eric’s depression after his son breaks up with Donna. When his usual yelling proves unable to motivate Eric, Kitty reminds Red of his first break-up with a girl. While seeing a young Red is nothing short of amazing, it also prompts the character to console his son. It’s a rare moment of understanding between father and son, and also makes for a special moment in the show as a whole.
#18: Jackie’s Father Is Arrested “Black Dog”
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Jackie’s dad is one of the most seldom seen of the parental characters in the series. His role is largely to provide his spoiled daughter with a lavish lifestyle. However, in this episode it’s revealed that Jack Burkhart took bribes in his job as a city councilman and he’s sent to prison. Jackie is distraught, particularly with her mom being equally absent and she looks to the Formans and Hyde for comfort. Although the show does play some parts of the situation for laughs, the loss of a parent in this way is still a very upsetting and all-too-real situation.
#17: Eric Leaves “Going Mobile” & “The Seeker”
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Eric and Donna both have worries about their future after they’re engaged to be married during high school. Eric gets cold feet after a dream he has about their future together. Although Donna also has second thoughts too, she does show up to the rehearsal dinner - but Eric does not. Eric eventually returns to explain himself fully to Donna and while she agrees that they may have dodged a bullet by not getting married so young, his lack of communication was not okay. It’s an essential part of any successful relationship, and his inept skills in that department was probably a good indicator that he wasn’t ready for a commitment as major as marriage.
#16: Red Is Laid Off “Red’s Last Day”
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Red works for many years at an auto parts plant. However, throughout the first season, his hours are gradually cut back. Finally, in season 2, he and many of his coworkers are laid off when the plant closes down. He joins them in getting drunk at a bar. While seeing Red loosen up is fun, particularly after he convinces Eric and his friends to join him, the events themselves are no laughing matter. Then Kitty shows up and tries to console Red, claiming they’ve been through worse - but Red can’t remember any examples, and neither can she. Losing your job and being uncertain if you’ll be able to support your family…that’s heavy stuff.
#15: Eric Tells Red Off “What Is and What Should Never Be”
After she’s late, Kitty believes she’s pregnant. Faced with the prospect of having a child at a later age than most, she’s understandably nervous. And when Red drops the ball on supporting her, Eric steps in to set him straight. He’s the one who yells at Red for once, telling him that he needs to be there for Kitty through what is a very scary time for her. Luckily, it gets through to his dad, because he later gets out the old crib and decides to sell his Corvette. Kitty’s lateness is revealed to be a result of menopause in the following episode but, for the time when they thought it was pregnancy, Red put his family first.
#14: Hyde Meets His Dad Again “Hyde’s Father”
Steven Hyde’s home life is not the most stable, which is why he moves in with the Formans. After years of being absent from Hyde’s life, his father, or at least the man who nominally raised him reappears. Bud was in town for a year, and yet he made no attempt to contact his kid. Hyde rebuffs Kitty’s attempts to reconcile them at first, since he has a lot of anger built up over his father abandoning him and his mom. While he eventually decides to give his dad another chance, it’s obvious his real family will always be the Formans. Parental abandonment is an extremely serious issue, and “That ‘70s Show” handles the topic well, even if our hearts break for Steven.
#13: Second Choice “Love, Wisconsin Style”
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After Eric and Donna break up, she gets involved with Kelso’s brother, Casey. However, the guy is a massive tool, and ends up getting her drunk during a school day - and then not standing up for their relationship. After they break up, Donna turns to Eric, who comforts her. Their conversation is an absolute gut punch! In her vulnerable state, Donna kisses Eric, wanting to get back together. However, Eric refuses to be her second choice. Donna claims this isn’t the case, and Laura Prepon’s delivery breaks us every time. If we could reach into our screens and give them both a hug, we wouldn’t hesitate for a second.
#12: Kelso Struggles with Responsibility “I’m Free”
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When Kelso discovers that Brooke, a girl he had a one-night stand with, is pregnant, he’s expectedly freaked out. However, Brooke lets him know that she doesn’t expect him to be involved. Kelso is relieved about this at first, but his conscience, and his friends have other ideas. Hyde especially has an issue with it, given his own absent father. Still, Kelso makes a surprisingly good rebuttal - it’s easy to say what the right thing is, when it’s not your life. He does eventually decide to be involved in his child’s life, even if Brooke still needs more convincing. Teenage pregnancies are frequent enough in real life, and the show manages to make one of its goofiest characters take the topic seriously.
#11: “Bad Blood” “Career Day”
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Kitty takes Eric to the hospital where she works as a nurse for career day. Eric gets to see a whole different side of his mother, and certainly gains a new respect for her as she helps keep the doctors from accidentally killing the patients. Unfortunately, one of her patients, Mr. Anderson, passes away. Eric is baffled at his mother’s ability to deal with death, questioning her about it as she sings along to “Bad Blood” by Neil Sedaka. But, as she continues singing and he joins in, it becomes clear - this is how she processes it all.
#10: Kelso Breaks Up With Jackie “Everybody Loves Casey”
Michael Kelso and Jackie Burkhart have one of the most tumultuous relationships on “That ‘70s Show.” While they’ve broken up and gotten back together multiple times, and although it was tempting to choose when Jackie broke up with Kelso, the inverse is arguably more serious. When the couple is arguing over their respective cheating, Kelso shows up to Jackie’s room and tells her that he’s realized that he was unfaithful because Jackie puts him down so much. He goes on to decide that they should break up, because he can’t be with someone who makes him feel bad about himself. Kelso may be an idiot, but even he can see that he deserves someone who will lift him up instead.
#9: Jackie Says “I Don’t Love You” “Nobody’s Fault But Mine”
Speaking of Jackie’s relationships, her time with Steven Hyde isn’t free of heartbreak either. After Hyde catches Jackie apparently in Kelso’s arms, he sleeps with someone else. Although he does admit this to her, Jackie breaks up with him. This scene alone is a real gut punch, but the follow-up hits even harder. After trying to apologize again, Hyde admits that he loves Jackie. While it clearly affects her, she doubles down and tells him she doesn’t love him back. The acting from Mila Kunis and Danny Masterson is fantastic here and is some of their best in the series.
#8: Bob Accepts Midge Is Gone “The Relapse”
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Bob Pinciotti, Donna’s dad, is kind of a goofy, loveable doofus. However, even he gets a serious storyline. When his wife Midge finally leaves him, Bob is unable to accept it. He remains in denial, making remarks throughout the episode about her coming back, even buying her gifts. Ultimately, it falls to Red Forman to set him straight. Although Bob is at first sure it’s just his neighbor being mean as usual, he eventually says that he knows Midge isn’t coming back. Spousal and parental abandonment isn’t something sitcoms usually tackle, but “That ‘70s Show” deals with it gracefully. Speaking of which…
#7: Red Hugs Hyde “Hyde’s Father”
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Hyde hasn’t had the greatest family life. So when his alcoholic dad Bud shows up again after years of absence, tensions are certainly high. While Kitty tries to get them to get along, Red is more critical, particularly when he sees Hyde hand money over to Bud to help him with rent. While Red is ready to lecture Hyde about it, Hyde tells him he’s decided to move in again with Bud. After all, he’s family. Red holds back and instead wishes him luck. He continues playing tough, but it’s clear he’s come to see Hyde like a son. That Red tells Hyde he’s not going to hug him and then hugs him anyway is just heartwarming.
#6: Eric Has to Stay “The Kids Are Alright”
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After Red has a heart attack, he can’t support his family the way he used to. With Eric poised to leave for college, Kitty must work more shifts to make ends meet. Eric is sure his parents are trying to guilt him into staying. Down in the basement, he vents to Donna, becoming increasingly emotional as he yells about how much he needs to leave. But ultimately, he decides he needs to stay to help his family. Overwhelmed that he’s given up his dreams, he just wants to hold Donna. The scene runs the gamut of emotions and Topher Grace absolutely kills it.
#5: Fez Experiences Racism “Bring It on Home”
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It’s a big deal when Fez meets his girlfriend Nina’s parents. Nina was reluctant to introduce him to them, and it turns out she had good reason. Although they initially seem enthusiastic, this changes when they realize that she and Fez are dating and not just friends. Their overt racism during dinner leads to Fez briefly breaking up with Nina, until she tells him she doesn’t share their ignorant views. Although Fez isn’t treated with much cultural sensitivity through most of the show, particularly by Red, few of his friends are malicious in how they treat him, which makes this a difficult watch.
#4: The Formans Take Hyde In “Hyde Moves In”
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We’ve touched on Hyde’s abandonment issues before, and as serious as his tense reunion with his dad is, we’d like to touch on the other half of that unfortunate equation – his mom. Midway through the show’s first season, Edna Hyde abandons her son. When Red and Kitty go to Hyde’s house and see how he’s been living, it’s pretty tragic. Kitty is of course ready to adopt Steven immediately, but Red doesn’t know how they can afford to support another kid. Although his profanity strewn decision to let Hyde stay with them is hilarious, Hyde being essentially orphaned is still a very real subject to cover.
#3: Grieving For Grandma “Grandma’s Dead”
“That ‘70s Show” has dealt with grief and death in several episodes. Although Kitty walking in on her mom crying after her dad’s death is also quite moving, this moment from season 1 is even sadder. Each of the Formans process the death of Red’s mother in different ways. Kitty makes too much food, Eric lashes out, and Red bottles up and turns wistful. Red sharing the things he loved about his mom with Eric is so special and uncharacteristically emotional for him. While Red’s reaction to Eric’s last words to his grandmother gives both him and us a laugh, Kitty’s breakdown soon after has us fighting off the waterworks again.
#2: Eric & Donna Break Up “The Promise Ring”
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Let’s be clear - if this were purely a list of the saddest moments in “That ‘70s Show,” this could easily be number one. After Eric gets Donna a promise ring, it brings up questions for her about their future. She wants to give the ring back, claiming that if they’re meant to be, they’re meant to be and a ring isn’t going to make it any more likely. Eric argues that commitment to each other, like with the ring, is how they’ll be together in the future. We can see where both are coming from, but it doesn’t mean it’s any less heartbreaking when Eric suggests they break up. So often in sitcoms, break-ups can feel staged, but this feels all too real.
#1: Red & Eric’s Hunting Talk “Hunting”
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Red and Eric Forman don’t exactly have the most loving father/son relationship. Threats and insults on Red’s side and sarcasm on Eric’s part tend to be the order of the day. When the guys go hunting and the two of them are alone in a deer blind, a lot of their issues come up. Red eventually asks Eric to tell him what he thinks of him. Eric replies that he believes Red feels pushed around by life and that by being hard on his son, that Eric will have fewer difficulties later in life like he has. It’s a rare moment of honesty between them and it helps their dynamic feel very authentic and somehow just as loving as their rare moments of affection.
