Fans of the classic sitcom That ’70s Show have eagerly awaited the release of its sequel series, That ’90s Show, which is now available for streaming on Netflix. The new show features the return of the beloved characters Red and Kitty and their life with their granddaughter, Leia. While the show has its good points, it has also come under criticism for its queer-baiting tendencies.
Leia’s life, her friends, her grandparents, and her summer vacation are all central to the plot of the season, and so is her relationship with her absolute rebel of a BFF, Gwen. While it’s hinted that Gwen may be Hyde’s daughter, the writers refrain from explicitly mentioning him in the show. Gwen is extremely lesbian-coded, and her connection with Leia reminds many of their early sapphic crushes. However, the writers continue to tease viewers by writing scenes between the pair and then having Leia kiss another boy instead. This, coupled with the bisexual erasure in the show, has been seen as a disappointing form of queer-baiting.
It’s no secret that we’ve seen a lot of queer-baiting in the media over the years, and That ’90s Show has been accused of perpetuating this trend. While it’s great in theory to draw in a lesbian/bisexual audience, it often comes across as offensively pandering. While the show is worth watching for fans of the original series, it’s disappointing to see Netflix continue to fall short in their representation of LGBT characters. Let’s hope that the next season does better.
That ’90s Show is now streaming on Netflix.