The Core Four

In my T7S era, especially zenmasters 🫶🏼 ASK ME ANYTHING 🫶🏼

[hellowisconsin]

What do you guys think of the episode gifsets? Continue or nah?

[hellowisconsin]

Episode Gifsets (2/178): “Eric’s Birthday”

[hellowisconsin]

If the characters where born today how do you think they would change?

Born today or grew up today?

I think their core characterizations and dynamics would remain but the setting obviously would be different.

Eric can still be a nerd for Star Wars, a new generation of it. Kelso can still be a sex fiend and actually be championed online for his misogynistic ways. Hell, he can even be president! Fez can still be… Fez. He would have the opportunity to be more open sexually if he were to identify as queer. Hyde would still be against all the horrible things in the world that are still happening: genocide, racial profiling, police brutality, ring of elite pedophiles in charge of countries, bigoted billionaires in charge of the news outlets, wars used as deflection tactics, corrupt politics, capitalism of the media being controlled by a select few, etc. his “conspiracy theories” wouldn’t sound as far fetched. Jackie would have to encounter social media in her teenage years which really changes the game in terms of self-esteem, incels, online bullying, etc.

Disturbingly, a lot of the social issues that were plaguing the 70’s are still common due to a maniac using his platform to make hate speech celebrated. Feminism is still as necessary as ever so Donna would still be interested. Especially regarding reproductive rights which are currently worse in the US since the early 70’s since the reversing of Roe.

Technology has accelerated exponentially but socially/politically? We’re still in the midst of a backswing that has taken society back decades.

[alienscareme]

Jackie wasn’t a “good” person and probably a lot of people in high school would remember her as a bully or not have found memories of her.

We see this mainly when Jackie expresses no one voted for her at the dance.

I think Jackie would be the type of person to firmly believe she wasn’t and only years later after running into an old class mate be told of story’s of how she was and be shocked.

Don’t get me wrong I love are girl but she definitely had a tendency to be cruel and probably made a lot of people experience in high school a living hell.

I feel like after her dad got arrested the tables probably turned. Even thought she got nicer it was probably to little and to late.

I also feel like (this might be a hot take? Idk) but Hyde confirmed the rest of the gang also saw her as a bully when he was comforting her about Kelso in the car. He says something along the line of “if I never heard you talk I’d think you where hot”.

This could also be a reason Eric kinda hated Jackie.

[hellowisconsin]

My hot take is that yes, Jackie had some negative characteristics but but she is called out for it and held accountable more than the other characters.

Eric, Donna, Hyde, Kelso and Fez also have bad traits (sometimes less obvious) but because they have a longstanding friendship pre-existing Jackie and/or justification through toxic masculinity, there’s infinitely more acceptance and tolerance.

Jackie is the youngest of the group and had to learn and grow the most. She was humbled notably in season 5 (with her father going to prison), and season 7 (facing missteps in a pursuit of a career and shattering breakup).

I think the case can easily be made that between seasons 1-7, Jackie is the only one who matured. I think most would agree Fez and Kelso regressed (Kelso had a chance in season 6 but blew it in season 7). Eric was mostly stagnant but in season 6 and 7, I think both he and Donna regressed or perhaps rejected maturing (by not going to college, not moving in together and wanting to abandon the other at the altar). Hyde had the potential in season 7 especially with his new family being introduced but he failed to rise to the occasion.

[zenmasterlover]

My always and forever pairing.

[hellowisconsin]

Ah burn!

[alienscareme]

I think it’s so funny many of us that 70’s show fanfic writers agree we would get rid of Kelso as a character on the show yet in are fanfics he’s usually the main plot device XD

[hellowisconsin]

I wouldn’t get rid of Kelso. I’d just write him better.

I’d get rid of Fez though.

[alienscareme]

Personally if I could rewrite the show I’d choose to keep fez instead of Micheal. There’s a lot more to do with fez character for example I think he would have been the first one in his family to move to America witch could be a really fun and meaningfully story line. I also think if you made fez pan or bi (I don’t think you could do this with Micheal) that would also be really interesting and allow for much deeper conversations about sexuality expressly in the 70’s. Well that being said also exploring the discrimination fez probably faced could be a impactful plot that was over all ignored in the show.

Anyways I just think fez’s character had the opportunity to be a lot more where we kinda got everything that could be gained from kelsos character u know?

[hellowisconsin]

For me, Fez just got past the point of redemption to me. I could no longer find anything endearing about his character by season six. It’s a shame though because I forgot how cute he was in season one (as I’m currently rewatching).

With Kelso, I actually liked him best as a character in season six. I’m personally a big fan of him and Brooke together so I just have a lot more there to delve into. Whereas with Fez, I was never really a fan of any of his romances either.

JMO though.

[alienscareme]

I think it’s so funny many of us that 70’s show fanfic writers agree we would get rid of Kelso as a character on the show yet in are fanfics he’s usually the main plot device XD

[hellowisconsin]

I wouldn’t get rid of Kelso. I’d just write him better.

I’d get rid of Fez though.

[hellowisconsin]

[shallow note: HYDE IN THAT SWEATER 😍]

[alienscareme]

Hot take I’d rather watch 10 seasons of Kelso/Jackie then one episode of Donna/ Hyde

[hellowisconsin]

SAME.

I'm currently going through the first season for a number of gifs and they actually make my skin crawl.

[einsteinsugly]

Hot take: I'd rather see one episode of Hyde/Donna compared to one episode of Jackie/Fez.

[hellowisconsin]

I also agree with this 😂

Kelso/Jackie >>> Hyde/Donna >>> Fez/Jackie

[alienscareme]

Hot take I’d rather watch 10 seasons of Kelso/Jackie then one episode of Donna/ Hyde

[hellowisconsin]

SAME.

I'm currently going through the first season for a number of gifs and they actually make my skin crawl.

[thestupidhelmet]

When do you think each member of the group considered Jackie one of them instead of just the “annoying girlfriend”?

Related, do you think Eric is the only one who considered Jackie the “Yoko” of the gang?

Donna is the first. Certainly before "The Pill" (1x17). Their friendship develops in stages, and Donna's the first to accept Jackie into the group.

While Fez's attraction to Jackie is evident in "That Disco Episode" (1x07), he likely thinks of her as part of the group by "Garage Sale" (2x01).

Hyde accepts -- and inducts -- Jackie as an official part of the group in "Cat Fight Club" (2x25).

Eric's perspective on Jackie wobbles. He can be supportive or hostile, depending on the situation. But he truly accepts her as part of the group in "Jackie's Cheese Squeeze" (4x19). He calls her Yoko in season 5 because he's too close to Hyde, and it's easier for him to put the onus on Jackie for what he fears will be the destruction of his life-long safe haven and friend-family.

But Eric first uses the Yoko accusation on Jill, Hyde's girlfriend, in "The Third Wheel" (4x11) for a similar reason.

Kelso is a special case (in many ways 👀). He primarily views Jackie's status in the group based on her status with him. One might argue he accepts her as part of the group by season 5, but his many attempts to sabotage her happiness that season undermine this reading. He accepts her fully as part of the group, apart from her connection to him, only by "The Kids Are Alright" (6x01). He's finally moved on from her because he's experienced a true emotional connection with another woman (i.e. Brooke).

[thestupidhelmet]

do you think Hyde ever clarified to Jackie that just because he thinks Brooke is hot, it doesn’t mean he wants to be with her?

Yes. My interpretation/understanding of Hyde is that he's a sex-favorable demisexual, demiromantic. See my meta Objectifying Jackie: A Comparison of Jackie’s Relationships with Kelso and Hyde with a Focus on Allosexual, Demisexual, Demiromantic, and Aromantic Character Interpretations.

Hyde finds Brooke aesthetically appealing or attractive, which doesn't necessarily mean he's sexually attracted to her. In the 1970s, the language and understanding we have have now about the asexuality and aromantic spectrums didn't exist. Nor did it exist for different kinds of attraction. Or that sexual arousal and sexual attraction aren't one and the same.

Hyde doesn't have the language we have now. Calling Brooke hot is akin to calling a painting beautiful. That doesn't mean he's sexually attracted to that painting.

The conversation might go as follows, in Hyde's room.

Jackie: Steven, if I didn't exist, would you have sex with Brooke -- if she wanted you?

Hyde: You don't exist in this totally not-a-trap question?

Jackie: Nope. I was never born.

Hyde: Sure. Why not?

Jackie: Steven!

Hyde: What? You don't exist.

Jackie: So you do want to do it with her.

Hyde: Nope, but Iike havin' sex. And I wouldn't say no to doing it with someone on the opposite side of gross.

Jackie flinches. "What does that mean?"

Hyde (serious, sincere): Jackie, listen. I've been with a lot of chicks before you, and the sex was fun, okay? But none of it made me feel anything deeper than -- just rub your hands together real fast. Your palms.

Jackie does as Hyde instructs.

Hyde: How do your hands feel?

Jackie: Hot. Tingly. A little numb, maybe.

Hyde: There ya go.

Jackie: I still don't get it.

Hyde: No girl has ever made me willing to leave my ice cream to get her a freakin' magazine. Or cut my hair shorter. Or like being called a cutesy nickname that should make me sick. And when you and me have sex, that's all part of it, man. Way beyond hot and tingly. And sure as hell not numb.

Jackie: So you're saying sex with Brooke would be meaningless?

Hyde: That and I got no interest in doin' it with her. Why would I settle for nothin' when I got everything right here?

Jackie: Me. You mean me! [She's happy until another question rises in her mind.] Then why do you think Brooke is hot?

Hyde: Why do you think Andy Gibb is hot?

Jackie: Excuse me. That poster shows my appreciation for his music.

Hyde arcs up an eyebrow.

Jackie: Fine. Because I like how he looks and sings and his overall Andy Gibb-ness. But I wouldn't have sex with him.

Hyde: Do you want to?

Jackie shakes her head more vigorously than she's aware of.

Hyde: Why not?

Jackie: I'm in love with you. And I don't actually know Andy Gibb. He's a stranger, and the idea of doing it with a stranger, even one who's that foxy ... ew. [Realizing with a gasp:] And Brooke is basically a stranger to you! So you can think she's hot, but you don't love her. You love me. I'm the first girl you've ever had a deep, undying love for. A love so powerful that you'd turn the Earth backward to save my life like Superman does for Lois Lane!

Hyde, knowing to leave well enough alone despite Jackie's hyperbole, caresses the back of her hair. "So ... wanna try to turn the Earth backward?"

Jackie: Honestly, I'd prefer just to lie together on your cot for a while.

Hyde (snuggling up with her): Okay.

Joy and a sense of security flood both Jackie and Hyde in this moment. Neither wants it to end.

[hellowisconsin]

hyde + jackie {season seven}

[hellowisconsin]

eric + hyde {season seven}

[hellowisconsin]

donna + jackie {season seven}

[hellowisconsin]