msstock87

Yes!!! That was the song I was thinking of and too lazy to look up, thanks for that Lisa!

MistyMountainHop

You're welcome.

The song does fit them. I wish the writers had been a bit more inspired by it and written a few storylines for E/D based on the lyrics (if anything, just capturing the emotional core of them).

msstock87

That would have been lovely to see actually. I think I could get on board with that.

MistyMountainHop

Right?

I've just imagined a Those '70s Comics montage that illustrate the lyrics using Eric and Donna. Maybe when I get some creative free time, I'll do it.

Grazzhopper

So probably not?

msstock87

I would love to see that Lisa if you get the time.

MistyMountainHop

No, this one I might actually do.

Colleen, I wrote a note about this idea. That way I won't forget about it.

---

If Eric and Donna had definitively said, "We'll set a wedding date after we graduate college," then I wonder how season seven would've gone for them.

msstock87

I think that would have been the mature thing to do for them, to set a date after they finish college.

MistyMountainHop

And I think it's what they would've done had the writers not run out of story ideas for them. Season 6 needed almost a total overhaul. The only story arc that works is Kelso and Brooke's.

The setup of season 6 for Eric is that he chooses to defer college a year to help his family after Red's heart attack. Of course, what should have happened is Hyde talks seriously with Eric, saying, "Look, I'm not going to college. I'll look after your folks, all right? Paychecks and chores. Go to college."

And Hyde so would. The Formans took him in. There's no way he'd abandon them. But the show doesn't acknowledge Hyde's role in the Formans' house or family much after season 4, not until season 7 and the W.B. storyline. He lives there, but the Formans don't treat him like he's family (save in "Misty Mountain Hop"). It's the result of lazy writing.

Anyway, Eric would worry that Hyde's paycheck and presence wouldn't be enough. He'd also ask himself how he could "abandon" his family for college while Hyde, who isn't even blood (that's just how Eric might look at it) is doing Eric's job.

So Eric would stay behind, and he and Hyde throughout the season should've talked about Red and Kitty's situation with each other. Comedy could've been derived from them being like squabbling parents with different ideas of how to go about things (a reprise of "Garage Sale"), only to have Kitty lay down the law.

Let's say Donna stayed behind for Eric. Then she might start worrying about Eric not having enough Donna time, a reversal of Eric's insecurities from season 3. Eric's working all the time, and he can even do the goof-off crap he pulls in "I'm a Boy," which would piss off Hyde since Hyde is working his butt off to help out the Formans.

The reason Eric is goofing off, though (sleeping in all morning because of late-night poker games at the Holiday Hotel) is that the experience of adulthood scares the hell out of him. He feels pressure from all sides, his parents, Donna, his own expectations.

This season could've been one of true growth for Eric. He realizes his fears, his immaturity, and how his insecurities early in the series had driven Donna away by the end of season 3. He could've emerged a transformed character by the end of season 7, but then we'd have to deal with why he and Donna didn't leave Point Place for college then.

Donna, meanwhile, would learn in season 6 what Eric's POV was in the early seasons of the series. She has true empathy for his fears, rather than the sweep-our-issues-under-the-rug "understanding" of season 5. Maybe she even asks Eric what he sees for his future, and he doesn't have an answer except for being married to her, and she wants to help him realize some passions that aren't about her.

msstock87

I really wish we could have seen more career direction from both Eric and Donna. The show really dropped the ball on them. That has always bugged me.

MistyMountainHop

You'd think after showing the characters in high school for so long that the writers would be happy to explore their careers.

msstock87

One would think!

MistyMountainHop

Speaking of careers, Donna should've given her dad and the Formans a tour of WFPP -- for the laughs that tour would give us.

msstock87

That could have been interesting to see.

MistyMountainHop

Bob would touch everything -- or try to -- and he'd also try to talk on-air.