awakening of spring

It's not too much work at all and I'm not overwhelmed! I'm happy to talk about episodes I enjoy (originally from this ask for reference)! Again, chronologically not ranked!

1. 1x19 "Prom Night": A wonderful Hyde/Jackie episode from start to finish, I also super super love the Eric/Donna interactions. The interaction between the guys prepping for prom is also great, and shows them how they approach things differently. I think it's interesting that Hyde seems in favor of planning ahead, while Eric is keen on being spontaneous -- just looking at them, you'd almost think it'd be the opposite. The set and costume design is also perfect this episode.

2. 1x23 "Grandma's Dead": This episode is really just great and really exemplifies everything I love about this show. The family dynamics are really well written and well performed. The show does a really good job of incorporating humor where appropriate into a plot involving grief and death, which can be a difficult balance to strike. I think they're able to do it very well here.

3. 1x24 "Hyde Moves In": I've said it before that, aside from Kelso screaming at Jackie while she's sick, this episode is basically perfect to me. Much like 1x23, it handles a very difficult topic with smart writing and humor where appropriate, but also gravity where needed. Expanding the Forman family to include Hyde is one of my favorite decisions the writers made.

4. 1x25 "The Good Son": This episode just carries forward the previous episodes plot, further integrating Hyde into the Forman family. It's a good display of Hyde's real character, showing that he's a lot more than just an aimless slacker, and that in a supportive environment he has a lot of potential to flourish. This is also an excellent Red/Kitty episode, and I absolutely love Laurie and Eric's interactions around Eric's newfound jealousy with Hyde.

5. 2x07 "I Love Cake": Probably my absolute favorite Eric/Donna episode. Eric telling the guys about his goof in the circle and their reactions is genuinely hilarious. I also like this episode for Donna and Jackie's friendship moments, and how the writing shows that Jackie is actually exceptionally insightful about interpersonal dynamics. Overall a very funny and sweet episode that I always enjoy watching.

6. 2x21 "Kelso's Serenade": It goes without saying that this is a great Hyde/Jackie episode. Hyde comforting Jackie by spending time with her and listening to her, despite the fact that he doesn't really like her, makes for a few really interesting scenes that build on their character development. Likewise, there's a few really hilarious moments (i.e. Eric unknowingly breaking his own guitar, "Hey Eric, what rhymes with Donna", etc.).

7. 2x25 "Cat Fight Club": Another great Hyde/Jackie episode. We get a glimpse into Hyde's character through the Zen lessons, and the episode sheds a spotlight on Jackie and her feelings and vulnerabilities around her breakup. The episode treats her character and her feelings seriously, which I always appreciate. This is really specific but Donna wanting to attend dinner because she knows Red's going to be upset to hear about Kelso and Laurie dating and she wants to watch really endears her character to me.

8. 3x02 "Red Sees Red": Another great Forman family episode. The overarching subplot of Eric's budding confidence manifesting as sarcasm feels like it comes full circle with how much Eric stands up to Red. Watching Kitty trying to maintain some semblance of peace in the house and then her finally putting her foot down was also really nice to see. Also, Donna and Kelso running around upstairs trying to avoid getting caught during the bed checks is so funny (until Kelso's unsolicited touching happens, of course).

9. 3x08 "Jackie Bags Hyde": This episode is a quintessential Hyde/Jackie episode! The iconic moment of Chip getting punched out, Kitty and Hyde's talk in the kitchen, and the impromptu date are all really great scenes. Besides that, I enjoy the tension between Donna and Eric and the competing bbqs was a fun way to reveal Bob losing his store, as sad as it is.

10. 3x17 "Kitty's Birthday": I think this might be one of the funniest episodes in the entire series. All the Forman family scenes make me laugh, Red is particularly funny this episode, and it never fails to put me in a good mood. The square dancing at the end of the episode is so great and I love the outfits. I also really enjoy the scene where Hyde happens to remember Kitty's birthday, but doesn't tell Eric.

All of these episodes are great characterization episodes in my opinion that show a lot of depth, in addition to humor, so I admit that I think about them a lot when I'm writing. I appreciate your compliment! I'm grateful that some people enjoy my writing!

Anon, I must admit I appreciate you asking for a list of my favorite 10 -- even if it was incredibly difficult for me to narrow it down to such a list!! 😂 My initial list had 21 episodes on it, but I think I was able to narrow it down enough to determine my top 10 favorite episodes (chronologically, not ranked):

1x19 "Prom Night"

1x23 "Grandma's Dead"

1x24 "Hyde Moves In"

1x25 "The Good Son"

2x07 "I Love Cake"

2x21 "Kelso's Serenade"

2x25 "Cat Fight Club"

3x02 "Red Sees Red"

3x08 "Jackie Bags Hyde"

3x17 "Kitty’s Birthday"

I had 11 honorable mentions, but that number likely could've expanded had I not been actively trying to restrain myself.

It was a little cooler today than it was the past week, so I decided to seize the opportunity and do some baking. 'Baking Yesteryear' by B. Dylan Hollis has been my favorite baking recipe book since I purchased it last year. Not only are some of the recipes genuinely good, but a lot of them are very simple (something I appreciate as someone who enjoys baking, but also likes to be efficient with her time).

I tried exploring a few recipes from the 1970s last year, and today I revisited the Potato Chip Cookies. My first attempt was fine, but I had messed up one step -- and for those familiar with baking, sometimes making an error can automatically yield a subpar result. However, this time I was very careful to follow the recipe precisely and I am pleased to say that it was a success!

One reason why I was interested in revisiting this recipe -- aside from the fact that I don't have much of a sweet-tooth and a salty/sweet cookie is right up my alley -- is because this is totally a cookie I could see Kitty Forman baking. Whenever I think of this recipe, I'm reminded of when Midge leaves Bob and Donna, and Kitty bakes them a casserole and Donna says something like: "Are there real potato chips in here?" (Side note: I really need to learn some casserole recipes. I'm not much of a cook in general, but casseroles seem manageable.)

Then there was the scene with Kitty and Donna experimenting in the kitchen and trying to invent a new cookie, so I don't think it's a stretch to say this might be a cookie recipe Kitty would try out. There are a few other lower budget dessert recipes from the 30s-60s that I think Kitty might've made that I'd like to try out eventually. But if I'm going to test out another '70s dessert, the Robert Redford icebox cake is something I'd like to try. It's a little more involved than cookies, but it sounds delicious!

We know Kitty likes to bake brownies pretty regularly (it's the dessert I think we've seen the most on the show), but I wonder what other period typical treats or from decades past she might've had a talent with?

Pam's return wasn't handled very well in my opinion. The fact that the main focus was on how her presence basically drove every male character to act like a horny idiot for laughs, instead of her relationship with Jackie made the whole thing seem very shallow in terms of writing.

When Pam shows up in episode 6x15, she claims she came back to Point Place because she "missed" Jackie. She spends the entire scene nonchalantly dismissing Jackie's completely valid anger, preening over the attention she's getting, and making jokes about her "vacation" in Mexico.

When Jackie storms off, Pam makes no effort to follow her, and has a very "oh she'll get over it" sort of vibe. The show demonstrates the two of them trying to talk several times, but Pam's attitude comes across multiple times as "well, you have to forgive me, because I'm your mother and I love you". So I don't think it's necessarily her pretending nothing happened, but more so her just expecting Jackie to get over it.

Pam is likely a narcissist, and while this doesn't necessarily prevent her from loving her daughter (in her own self-absorbed way), she only seems to care about her own feelings in terms of their relationship. I don't remember if, in any of their scenes, Pam actually asked Jackie about what she went through or how she feels about having been abandoned. To do that would be to admit wrongdoing, take accountability, and show remorse. Pam is incapable of doing any of those things in my opinion.

I don't think whatever conversation(s) happened off-screen between them were much different from what we got on screen. I think Pam deflected a lot of the blame (likely towards Jack, since he's not around to defend himself and is the perfect scapegoat), and continued to insist that Jackie owes her forgiveness for the simple fact that Pam is her mother.

When Jackie runs off in 6x15, Hyde follows her and remarks about how he'll "see [his friends] tomorrow". I'm not a big fan of his tone and how the line is delivered since it can be interpreted in different ways. It could be that he's frustrated that his girlfriend is upset, but it also leaves an impression that going to comfort her is a chore he has to do. I don't think the latter sentiment is IC, just like I don't think Hyde joining the pack of idiots drooling over Pam is IC (side note: also ooc for Red).

That said, an IC Hyde would absolutely want to be supportive and comfort Jackie about her mom. I can see Jackie venting her anger to both Hyde and Donna, though I think she'd reserve her more vulnerable feelings for Hyde. So no, I don't think she'd keep it to herself. I think she confided quite a bit in Hyde, who she trusts and can understand her situation more than most people.

She acts tough and angry about it in public, but completely losing any semblance of stability at Jackie's age (and frankly inexperience with the world considering how sheltered she was) can be devastating. It's not an understatement to say that if she didn't have Hyde and Donna in her corner to bolster the support from the adults, Jackie's life could've taken a very bad turn after her father was arrested and her mother left.

I don't necessarily think everyone else was trying to act like nothing happened. It's important to remember that this particular plot arc is set decades and decades ago in the '70s. Certain family drama was often considered "impolite" to draw attention to, and people avoiding stating "Pam abandoned her daughter" outright is to be expected. It's also not dissimilar to how the Formans' sometimes verbally tiptoed around Edna abandoning Hyde, and I'm sure was more so done out of a desire to protect Jackie's feelings.

Nowadays, we would probably just call it like it is and state that Pam was a narcissistic mother living with a substance use disorder, that neglected and abandoned her child.