That '70s Show: Season Two [Blu-ray] by Mill Creek Entertainment

Actors

• Topher Grace
• Ashton Kutcher
• Mila Kunis
• Wilmer Valderrama
• Debra Jo Rupp

Format

• Box set
• NTSC
• Widescreen

Editorial Review

As That '70s Show's second season begins, Eric's buddy Hyde (Danny Masterson) and college dropout-sister Laurie (Lisa Robin Kelly) are still living with the Formans, but a few things have changed. Red (Kurtwood Smith) is about to lose his job, due to layoffs at the plant, and both the opening sequence and theme, “That '70s Song” (Cheap Trick's version of Big Star's “In the Street”), have been revamped. Otherwise, all the first season characters and their favorite hangouts, like Eric's basement and Vista Cruiser, are back. Granted, Red accidentally sells the car during season opener “Garage Sale,” but it isn't gone for long (blame Hyde's “special” brownies).

As usual, the 1999-2000 season–1977-1978 in the show's chronology–was graced by a number of 1970s vets. “Red's Last Day” has singer Paul Anka and Lyle Waggoner (Wonder Woman), “Halloween” has Marion Ross (Happy Days),” “The First Time” has Maud Adams (The Man With the Golden Gun), and “Holy Crap” has singer/actor Mac Davis (North Dallas Forty). Then there's Tommy Chong (Up in Smoke), who became a frequent guest, as Fotohut owner Leo, in five of the 26 episodes and would return for several more seasons. Yet another notable episode, “Afterglow,” features a Scooby-Doo-styled animated sequence.

By the end of the year, Eric (Topher Grace) and Donna (Laura Prepon) will have taken their relationship to the next level, Jackie (Mila Kunis) and Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) will have broken up, and Red will have gotten a job at the Pricemart–where he supervises Eric. The second season will end with a cliffhanger (“Moon Over Point Place”) when Hyde is arrested (for something he didn’t actually do). The “sticky” situation will be resolved in the first episode of season three (“Reefer Madness”). –Kathleen C. Fennessy