“I’m Happy With How It Gets Resolved”: That ’90s Show Part 2 Ending & Its Impact On Part 3 Addressed By Star
Summary
That ’90s Showstar Kurtwood Smith breaks down Red’s development in season 2. A sequel toThat ’70s Show, the new Netflix series centers on Leia Forman, the teenage daughter of Eric and Donna, as she spends each summer with her grandparents, Red and Kitty, in Point Place, Wisconsin. Smith played Red Forman, Eric’s father, in all 8 seasons and 200 episodes of the original series, and has returned for the sequel, withThat ’90s Showseason 2releasing its first part on June 27.
During an exclusive interview withScreen Rant,Smith broke down Red’s development inThat ’90s Showseason 2. The Red actor discussed how the character is inspired by his stepfather and his relationship with Eric in the original series. For season 2, Smith says that Red’s discovery of model trains should reveal a new softer side of the character. Read his full comments below:
It is actually difficult for me to answer because it’s sort of like saying, “Expand on yourself.” A lot of the character is sort of based on my stepfather. Not the writing, of course, but the way in which I play the character.
He was a man who was trying to prepare you, and I think the basis of the problem with Red and Eric is that Red was trying to prepare Eric for a world that he — Red — grew up in, as opposed to the world that Eric is growing up in. It’s the same thing with the father-son relationship in Dead Poets Society, [which is] trying to force the life that you’ve had onto somebody who’s growing up in a different time in a different place.
That burden is kind of gone, which makes life a little easier for Red. He doesn’t feel like he’s always needing to tell Eric what to do, and I think the discovery of the trains is great because it’s really a softer side. And it’s fun to do as well.
What To Expect From Red In That ’90s Show Season 2
The Second Season Should Explore More Of Red’s Softer Side
A conservative Navy combat veteran who served in World War II and the Korean War, Red retains his gruff, no-nonsense demeanor and tough-love approach inThat ‘90 Showseason 1, which are hallmarks of the character from the original series. His stern and often intimidating personality is still very much present in the sequel series, especially when dealing with his granddaughter Leia and her new group of friends. However,despite his harsh exterior, Red has a softer side which he shows from time to time.
That ’90s Show Cast, Character & Cameo Guide
Here’s a breakdown of the cast, characters, and cameos of That ’90s Show parts 1 - 3, including the returns of That ’70s Show’s many cameos.
InThat ‘90 Show, Red’s role shifts from being an authoritarian father figure to balancing the nuances of grandparenthood. In doing so, he exhibits more moments of warmth and caring, showing a softer side to the character that was less pronounced in the original series.Red takes on a mentorship role to Leia and her friends, similar to how he did with Eric and the gang inThat ’70s Show. Although his mentoring style is still blunt and tough, his guidance and support shows an underlying care for their well-being.
That ‘90 Showseason 2 should continue exploring Red’s softer side. However, his relationship with Eric won’t be a part of the second season since Topher Grace isn’t reprising the role. As Smith says, Red feels less burdened because he no longer needs to constantly instruct Eric. The actor also mentions Red’s new hobby, model trains, which is less character development as it is another aspect of Red’s personality to explore.Red will also continue his mentorship of Leia, especially as she is faced with the choice between Nate and JayinThat ‘90 Showseason 2.
That ’90s Showseason 2 releases its first part on June 27, followed by the second part on October 24.
That ’90s Show
Cast
That ’70s Show returns set two decades later with That ’90s Show, acting as a sequel but bringing back old cast favorites. Led by Red (Kurtwood Smith) and Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp) Forman, the new cast arrives as the next generation, with the daughter of Eric and Donna, Leia Forman, leading the charge. Spending the summer with her grandparents, Leia makes new friends and forges new bonds in Point Place, Wisconsin. That ’70s Show series regulars make cameos in the show to maintain that sense of familiarity, and the show adopts the conventions of the ’90s as expected. That ’90s Show first aired on Netflix with a total of ten episodes.
