What if instead of moving in with the Formans Hyde ended up moving in with W.B (for the purpose of the show he would still live in point place) how do you think things would have changed? Kinda fun idea to mess around with
Hi Anon!
Assuming there'd be a subplot involving a means with which Kitty (or someone else) could discover Hyde's birth certificate earlier and connect them sooner, this would be an interesting development -- although perhaps even more soap opera-y than it already is. Abusive mom abandons son, only for him to discover a rich, cool dad shortly after almost gives one whiplash!
In that same vein, I feel like Hyde would (initially) be far more anxious about living with W.B. than the Formans'. He would find the situation almost "too good to be true" and would be constantly waiting for the second shoe to drop. He would definitely feel like he doesn't "fit" with W.B.'s rich lifestyle and would struggle to adjust. He may act out in an effort to find boundaries or prove to himself (and his new family) that W.B.'s love is conditional and that he is unable to meet those conditions. These could be possible reactions Hyde may experience with the shock of meeting new family he previously didn't know, while coping with Edna's abandonment (which would still be very fresh in his mind).
Luckily for Hyde, I think W.B. is a good parent, who would be willing to put in the work to earn his trust and reassure his son that he's ready to make up for lost time and take care of him. It would be a slightly bumpier road, but I think they'd be able to build a strong father-son relationship, much like we see the beginnings of in the original show.
Part of why I think Hyde was able to transition so easily to an amicable relationship with W.B. is because of his time living with the Formans' though. By S7 he knows that even if it turns out bad, that the Formans' will support him as they have through other things (i.e. Edna, Bud, his 18th birthday, etc).
As a perhaps more comical aside, I could see Jackie trying to associate herself with Hyde more often, with them now being the two defacto "wealthy kids". Hyde would find this extremely annoying, but it could result in some funny exchanges (i.e. "Hyde, now that you're rich and no longer a common peasant, let me know if you want any lessons on how to comport yourself accordingly," to which I'm sure he'd say "Get bent").
Thanks for the ask! 💖













