Writers giving us false hope. (That 70s Show/Jackie&Hyde)

Jackie and Hyde. Hyde and Jackie. They were perfect, right?

I have to admit I was a little late to the "That 70s Show" party. I watched it when it was airing but then I took a little break...well, a long break, and not long ago I decided to re-watch them all again. It'a been about 6 or more years since I last watched the show so there was a lot of things I had forgotten, which made watching it more fun because it felt just like watching a new show. 

I finished watching all 8 seasons of the show a few days ago. The 8th season was better than I'd expected after watching season 7 and not enjoying it as much. First of all, I thought doing the last season without Eric (Topher Grace) and Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) was a little risky, but as the season went on it didn't bother me as much. The only thing that bothers me and will probably never stop bothering me is the fact that Jackie and Hyde did not end up together. As much as I love Fez I honestly don't see them together... I really don't.

At the start of the show you saw the progression of the Donna/Eric relationship and you knew it was made to work out, no matter what. Even their breakup and Donna being single throughout the last season I knew they would somehow make it work towards the end.

Jackie's relationship with Hyde really interests me, I mean we can all argue and say it was the cliche, with the whole opposites thing, but to me it really worked and the show did a really great job not making it predictable, until of course the end!

The Hyde/Jackie relationship starts off slow. Before the episode Kiss of Death it’s safe to say they both hated each other. Hyde was always telling Kelso to break it off with Jackie but also didn’t approve of him cheating on her behind her back. Although they are convinced of loathing each other they somehow seem to connect in a way. Jackie trusting Hyde whenever she’s upset and Hyde enjoying their connection.

The episode Kiss of Death through to Jackie bags Hyde, Jackie catches Kelso cheating and seeks comfort in Hyde. They spend time together as Hyde teaches her the art of “Zen”. Hyde’s protective and romantic feelings begin to come out during this period. Defending her from Laurie and a date Jackie brings who called her “a bitch” behind her back. After their first date and their first real kiss in Jackie bags Hyde, he comes to realise his romantic feelings for Jackie. Jackie however, has a different response by saying that she didn’t feel anything.

I started to really like their pairing and the way the writers wrote out their relationship. The pace they took with the character relationship was realistic, frustratingly slow, but real.

In season 4, neither of the two characters mentions their kiss to anyone, as if it never even happened and they also have limited interactions with one another. Although, Jackie and Hyde seem to have a certain closeness none of the other members of the group notice.

Season 5 and 6 was where their relationship really began, despite Donna and Eric’s disapproval. The reason this couple worked so well together is the way they learn from eachother. They learnt to be better both individually and as a couple. Throughout their relationships there were a few fights and breakups but it was nothing they couldn’t get through because in my opinion they were perfectly imperfect, which is what makes it fun to watch. Their first breakup was when Hyde walks in on Jackie hugging Kelso, thinking that she was cheating on him he goes off to a motel and spends the night with a nurse out of pain and anger. The next day Jackie reassures Hyde that she was only comforting Kelso. After hearing this Hyde confesses what he did and Jackie then breaks up with him. As an audience falling in love with these characters, their first breakup was hard to watch. Hyde was beginning to show real feelings and Jackie was even becoming nicer.

At the start of season 6 Hyde and Kelso, still fighting over Jackie and Jackie after being undecided about the both of them get back together with Hyde with the help of Kelso. As their relationship goes on their characters begin to grow better and better for eachother. Their strengths and weaknessess compliment eachother. The fact that they would do anything for eachother despite their pride is really pleasing to watch. Jackie growing out of her self-obsorbed rich girl stereotype while still maintaining to be herself and Hyde becoming a more caring person, towards her anyway. They both support eachother.

In the end of season 7 Jackie and Hyde have fights about Jackie wanting him to be more mature. In the episodes after this we see Jackie doubting Hydes love for her, which is understandable. This also led to their breakup. However, after a few episodes in they get back together, though by this time I was cautious of their relationship. I could tell the writers would do something terrible and not make them end up together.

The last episode of season 7 was heartwrenching. It gave the audience false hope about this couple. After Jackie goes off to Chicago, Hyde decides to go after her, this is where the audience smile and feel as though all is right in the world, I mean, the guy chases after the girl, classic fairytale move in a not so cliche kind of way, but NO the writers felt it wasn’t right, the happiness of the audience was CLEARLY NOT on their mind when they decided to throw in a naked Kelso implying that they were going to have sex, even though we all know that isn’t true, an untrusting Hyde thinks different and leaves.

In season 8 new writers to hold the fate of Jackie and Hydes relationship in their hands, they didn’t get back together. In fact they thought it would be much like old Hyde to come home and realises he was married to a stripper while on his intoxicating adventures in Las Vegas.

By the season finale we learn that Hyde’s single again because his wife was actually already married, Kelso works in Chicago, Donna’s going off to college, Eric comes back from Africa and he and Donna get back together and Jackie ends up with Fez.

Jackie and Fez...JACKIE AND FEZ? WHAT?! Really writers? Really?