That ‘90s Show Season 2 Release Date Means Netflix Is Learning From Major TV Show Complaints

Summary

• Netflix is releasing the second season of That ’90s Show only 1.5 years after the first season, a quick turnaround that addresses viewer complaints about long gaps between seasons.
• The 1.5-year break between seasons is beneficial for That ’90s Show because it aligns with the aging timeline of the cast, who play characters growing up over summer breaks.
• That ’90s Show serves as a sequel to That ’70s Show, bringing back beloved cast members and introducing a new generation of characters.

Netflix has revealed the release date window for That ’90s Show season 2, and it suggests that the streamer is learning from a major TV show complaint. A spinoff of the beloved sitcom That ’70s Show, the series premiered in January 2023, introducing a new generation of teens inhabiting Red and Kitty’s basement for the summer. With Eric and Donna’s daughter, Leia, headlining the cast of That ’90s Show, the series introduced a new group of teens and showcased what it was like growing up during the 1990s.

While Leia returned to Chicago at the ending of That ’90s Show season 1, it was with the promise that she’d visit Point Place again during her next summer break. She’s poised to change significantly in the meantime, especially after making new friends during her stay in Point Place. When she finally does return to her grandparents’ home, she’ll need to answer a number of questions raised ahead of That ’90s Show season 2. Fortunately, viewers won’t have to wait very long to see which boy she chooses or how she fares after a new school year.

That ’90s Show season 1 is currently streaming on Netflix.

That ’90s Show’s 1.5-Year Gap Between Seasons Isn’t Nearly As Bad As Netflix’s Other Big Teen Shows

Netflix revealed the release window for That ’90s Show season 2, confirming it will premiere sometime during the summer 2024 television season. This is only 1.5 years after its first batch of episodes debuted on the platform, and such a quick turnaround suggests that Netflix is learning from a modern-day TV complaint. With the advent of streaming, TV seasons have taken longer and longer to come out. This is the case for many Netflix shows, with other teen series, like Stranger Things and Wednesday, having long gaps between seasons.

This release model is frustrating for viewers for a number of reasons, and it can be difficult to remember where the characters left off after years away from a show. There was an almost three-year gap between Stranger Things seasons 3 and 4, and after the Hollywood strikes of 2023, there will be a similarly long wait between seasons 4 and 5. Shows like Bridgerton also tend to take a couple of years between seasons, and Wednesday will do the same between seasons 1 and 2. By contrast, the 1.5-year break between That ’90s Show seasons 1 and 2 feels like a push in the right direction.

While a 1.5-year break between seasons is impressive for a modern-day Netflix series, it’s still a long delay for a teen show whose cast members are aging over the course of its run. Fortunately, this actually works out for That ’90s Show‘s timeline. Since every season of the series will presumably take place over summer break, it makes sense that Leia and her friends will look older each time they reunite. This hurts some teen series, but it fits perfectly with the sitcom’s setup, making a summer 2024 release date for That ’90s Show perfect all around.