Interesting finale, I wonder where they’ll be able to go from here? Synopsis of the episode below:
Eric’s mom is having a hard time coping with Eric moving away to Madison, so she goes to a psychiatrist and is put on antidepressants. The kids (plus Laurie) decide to camp out in the woods the night before graduation. Hyde and Kelso fight over Jackie (which she reveals she enjoys), and Fez is determined to stay in the country (or at least sleep with as many girls as possible before he has to leave). He has his main sights set on Laurie, who takes a walk down to the lake. Eric and Donna decide to meet at the very same lake to go skinny dipping. Eric accidentally catches his sister in the nude, and Fez (while looking for Laurie) catches a glimpse of Donna. Tension mounts, and Eric and Donna return to the main camping area. Kelso and Hyde fight one time too many, causing Jackie to blurt out that it “isn’t fun for her anymore”. Fed up with fighting over her, they demand that she choose one of them. She can’t, and leaves them alone. Donna wonders where Fez and Laurie are, and we cut to the two of them in the back of the van after sex. Laurie is significantly less satisfied than Fez. The next morning, the group wakes up at 10:23. They scramble to get their things ready in time for graduation, only to find that Fez and Laurie have made off with the van. Back at the Forman home, the Formans and Pinciottis are not pleased that the kids have missed their graduation. They return home and have the group get dressed in their caps and gowns so they can take pictures. Eric and Donna are packing the last of their things when Jackie comes in, seeking advice on wo to choose. She leaves after being told “Choose the one who you love the most”. Eric’s mother is still melancholy at the idea of Eric leaving, but Red reminds her of all the things they can do with the house once he is gone. Everyone assembles at the Forman house for a picture session, and Jackie finally must make her choice. She says she chooses herself, because she is the one who she loves most of all. Hyde and Kelso aren’t pleased. Graduation pictures are taken, and Fez and Laurie finally show up. They break the news that they have gotten married so Fez can stay in the country. Red takes this especially hard, so hard that he has a (non-fatal) heart attack.
Do you think That 70’s Show can survive the kids in college? Or will they have a season depicting the events of the summer?
I think they’ll be able to tie it together well, mainly because Jackie’s still in high school–she’ll be a senior next ‘year.’ What they’ll do with Kelso and Hyde, I don’t know, but I can’t wait to see what happens with Eric and Donna.
So has this show finally (for lack of a better phrase) jumped the shark? How many high school-centered shows can last beyond graduation? At least they haven’t copped out by making them all go to the same college.
I think it probably has. The best part of the show, IMO, was the interaction between Eric and Red. With Eric out of the house and onto college, it just can’t be the same.
What, you guys seriously think all the characters are staying with their announced postgraduation plans? Red’s heart attack is an obvious rationale for the writers to change Eric’s plans – he’ll stay in Point Place for George Baileyesque reasons. Donna will stay to be near Eric. Fez is staying one step ahead of the INS, and Hyde, Kelso and Jackie were never leaving in the first place.
That heart attack was nothing more than one big excuse to keep everyone in Point Place.
I have a feeling they could keep this show going without jumping the shark for at least a few more years. Despite the high school age of the kids, the show actually has very little to do with being in high school; it was quite rare for there to even be a scene in the school, and the plotlines rarely involved high school issue.
As DCU points out, there are lots of excuses for Eric and Donna no to go to Madison. I wouldn’t be half surprised if Donna moved in and she and Eric set up house in the basement.
Let’s overlook for a moment the obvious plot hole that Fes could possibly be allowed to stay in the U.S. just because he got married after he was already told he would be deported.
So Red will finish having his heart attack, Eric will stay in town, Donna will stay in town to be with Eric (one or both of them will wind up at the local community college) and crazy hijinks will continue to ensue.
As for how many high-school shows could last beyond graduation, how about Dobie Gillis, Happy Days and Beverly Hills 90210 – just to name the first three off the top of my head.
Hey, don’t forget Saved By the Bell 
Well I was trying to forget it until you had to bring it up…
El Elvis Rojo: please dont’ tell me that you’re referring to the travesty that was Saved by the Bell: The College Years. I mean, how long did that last? A season or two?
When you think about it, “The College Years” makes no sense. They had been in high school for about a decade; why did they have to leave Mr. Belding behind? He was the heart of the show!
(dear god, what am i saying?)
–greenphan
so he could be in Saved by the Bell, the Next Generation, and then Screech eventually showed up their as well
Which leads to the inevitable question – who would you rather see in Showgirls 2, Laurie, Donna or Jackie?