Though Topher Grace did ultimately go away That ‘70s Present on the finish of season 7, his Eric Forman character ought to have been written out of the sitcom a 12 months earlier. It’s by no means straightforward for a sitcom to say goodbye to its former principal character. Audiences develop hooked up to the lead actor of any present, however since sitcoms have a tendency to offer a consolation watch for a lot of, adjustments to solid chemistry will be significantly impactful as a result of the sub-genre depends on the interaction between actors.
Like some other TV present, nonetheless, sitcoms do sometimes want a significant shake-up to make sure their format avoids changing into too repetitive. Because of this That ‘70s Present used Charlie – and later the marginally extra profitable Randy – to interchange Topher Grace’s lovable Eric Forman in season 8. Whereas many have been upset when Grace left That ‘70s Present, that call allowed the star to pursue his film profession, whereas additionally creating room to introduce a brand new character to the central gang. Sadly, Eric’s good ending would have really seen the character go away That ‘70s Present a whole season earlier.
The place Eric’s That ‘70s Present Story Ought to Have Ended
Whereas Eric and Donna bought engaged whereas the pair have been nonetheless very younger, their wedding ceremony by no means materialized. First, Pink’s coronary heart assault in That ‘70s Present season 5 led Eric to remain in Level Place as an alternative of transferring to Madison with Donna. Whereas this sitcom cliche allowed That ‘70s Present to increase Eric’s position within the collection, it was not essentially a foul determination. Nonetheless, Eric getting chilly ft on his wedding ceremony day and leaving Donna alone on the altar was the important thing mistake. As a substitute, That ‘70s Present season 6, episode 24, “Going Cellular,” ought to have ended Eric’s position within the collection by having him undergo with marrying Donna.
Eric getting chilly ft was not totally out of character for the perpetually anxious antihero, however his failure to reconcile with Donna after their disastrous wedding ceremony day did really feel jarringly bleak and misplaced for the nice and cozy sitcom. Whereas it’s apparent that the creators of That ‘70s Present wished Eric round for one more season, the affect of his father’s coronary heart assault had already modified the character’s demeanor. In earlier seasons, Eric was nearly as candy and naive as his daughter, Leia in That ‘90s Present, however by season 6 he was sad, burnt out, and resentful of his household and hometown for holding him caught.
Extending Eric’s That ‘70s Present Story Failed
Eric initially caught round due to Pink’s coronary heart assault in That ’70s Present season 5, however grew to become lazier, extra bitter, extra directionless, and extra sarcastic because of this. This was exacerbated when Eric and Donna didn’t undergo with their wedding ceremony. Because the sardonic intellectuals of their tight-knit buddy group, Eric and Donna have been all the time destined to finish up with one another. Certainly, That ‘90s Present confirmed that the pair had a baby, implying that their eventual reunion within the collection finale was everlasting. Nonetheless, viewers might have been spared Donna’s relationship with Eric alternative character Randy if Eric’s story ended at their wedding ceremony day.
That ’70s Present dragged out Eric’s position within the collection for one more season by ruining Eric and Donna’s wedding ceremony. Within the course of, That ‘70s Present doomed Eric to a depressing season 7. The character was nonetheless residing in his hometown, pulled out of marrying his longtime love curiosity on the final second, and lacked any objective past a obscure, thinly-sketched dream of transferring to Africa. As such, Eric inevitably got here throughout as bitter in That ‘70s Present season 7 and, paradoxically, proved that the collection would have been higher off simply letting his character go the earlier season.
That ‘90s Present Justified Eric’s That ’70s Present Exit (Kind Of)
That ‘90s Present exhibits Eric as an excellent father and proves that he did find yourself pleased with Donna. Nonetheless, this doesn’t erase how despondent he appeared in That ‘70s Present season 7. If something, Eric and Donna’s future happiness proves that the pair ought to have gotten married and left their hometown behind on the finish of season 6, since they have been seemingly prepared for that dedication only some years later anyway. In an try and undo the injury attributable to holding Eric’s character round a season too lengthy, That ‘70s Present’s revival as an alternative proved simply how a lot the unique collection mishandled his arc.
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