Grazzhopper

A very goon-y day to you, Dana!

MistyMountainHop

I wonder what Eric and Donna's season 6 storylines would've been like had they established early on that theirs was a long engagement and that the wedding wouldn't be a thing we'd see on the show (save in a flash-forward).

Grazzhopper

Probably more interesting and engaging ( ).

MistyMountainHop

Yes.

If Donna went to college instead in S6, and the writers were able to write around that -- the same way they wrote around Kelso going to the police academy in Waukegan -- lots of stories could've stemmed from that.

msstock87

I would have liked to see Donna go to college and see them work around that.

MistyMountainHop

Same. It would've been possible to do. By season 6, many of the episodes probably took place on the weekends anyway. Otherwise, we never would've seen Jackie, who was still in high school then.

msstock87

Right! With a little creativity, it could have easily been done.

MistyMountainHop

They did it with Axl on The Middle. They showed him at college and at home, and he was very much a part of each episode and the family's storylines. A little creative thinking is all it takes.

Grazzhopper

Yeah, I think a lot of things can be done in a show if the effort is there. Staying true to the character should be the priority and Donna definitely should've gone to college.

MistyMountainHop

Which would have given Eric some real character development instead of all that regression stuff they forced on him in season 6. Because his conflict between helping out his family and starting his future would've been a running theme.

And maybe, just maybe, the show would've acknowledged that Hyde was also helping out the Formans, not just Eric.

And then we could've seen Donna be independent at college while also dating Eric. Instead of being in a casual relationship in season 4 (or no relationship), she ends up in another committed (on her end) relationship with Casey Kelso.

msstock87

Eric needed more development as far as his career goes, and Donna needed to actually follower her dreams.

MistyMountainHop

Season 6 could've seen Eric explore his passions -- if the show had let his and Donna's relationship be stable and not be the source of conflict. No too-early wedding date either. Then Donna could've focused on her writing instead of that whole celibacy storyline.

Wingster

MistyMountainHop

I would've loved to find out what Eric's passions are outside of his love for Donna -- and Star Wars.

Grazzhopper

Absolutely.