Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

That '70s Show: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Eight seasons and two bonus discs? That's a lot of hangin' out with 'That '70s Show' on Blu-ray.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman October 29, 2015

Mill Creek Home Entertainment has released the complete 'That '70s Show' series to Blu-ray in an 18-disc set. Every season is spread across two discs. The studio previously released seasons one and two to Blu-ray, but at time of writing the only way to own subsequent seasons is through this set, which necessitates repurchasing seasons one and two. That leaves those seasons feeling more like a test run for the show's viability on Blu-ray and previous buyers who want to own the entire series out some extra change. Supplements are held in reserve for two dedicated discs which come in a separate fold-open sleeve. A handful of audio commentaries are included, scattered throughout seasons two through eight. Packaging details can be found in the supplemental section below, and in the final ten screenshots found by clicking the "screenshots" tab above.

Also, for fans wondering about what may or may not have been cut, removed, or replaced from the series, Mill Creek Entertainment's Vice President of Marketing had this say in response to a Blu-ray.com inquiry: "Carsey-Werner had previously confirmed that the vast majority of music is the same as when broadcast. A handful of insignificant cues were apparently altered but I've never been able to get a detailed list of which were affected." Also note that the fifth season finale, 'Celebration Day,' which originally ran longer than standard, is presented here with a runtime of 21:57.

If only we had Blu-ray down here...

Does anyone remember -- like, really remember -- the time before iPads, iPhones, WiFi, Facebook, 140 characters, and all of the ooh and aah gadgets and gizmos and useful applications of today? Busy busy busy! People who do remember it -- their numbers aren't dwindling, but they're slowly but surely losing ground to people who don't -- tend to remember it fondly as a time without the insanity that modern culture brings (along with plenty of great conveniences), but life wasn't the relaxed, simple creature that lives on only in faded and glamorized memories. That '70s Show, Created by the trio of Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, and Mark Brazillhich, originally aired just before the technological revolution born of the widespread adaptation of the Internet swept the world into its frenzied grasp. It was a simpler time in some ways, yes, and even a more intimate, personal time, but man hasn't really changed from now to then. It's only the technology that's evolved. People are still people where it counts, and that core humanity -- the desires, the loves, the hates, the doubts, the fears, the cycles of life -- remain, just as they were then, just as they were thousands of years ago, just as they will be in 2070, and just as they will be in 2770. And that's what makes That '70s Show so special. It's a product of its era to be sure -- it's painstakingly precise in look and feel -- but the show would work in any era. Give the characters a haircut and a change of clothes and throw them on another set and it would still play just as well. That's timelessness, and that's life, and that's why the show lives on not as a reminder of how things looked, but of how things are and will always be. The rest? It's just fun, nostalgic window dressing.

That successfully timeless replication of real life -- oftentimes uproariously funny but also frequently heartfelt and even poignant -- earned That '70s Show a massive folioing over its eight-season run, beginning on August 23, 1998 and concluding on May 18, 2006, carrying a nation through a time of dramatic change, fear, war, and uncertainty. The show was a constant, stable reminder of life's simple pleasures, wrapped in its most challenging complications of young life that, like the real world around surrounding the show's airing, was defined by big decisions, major changes, widespread uncertainties, evolving emotions, intimacy, drift, and a growing understanding of how things work, though not necessarily always why they work that way. The show centers on teenager Eric Forman (Topher Grace). He lives at home with his (seemingly and supposedly) "traditional" parents (Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp) and spends much of his time hanging out in the basement with his love interest Donna (Laura Prepon) and his friends Hyde (Danny Masterson), Kelso (Ashton Kutcher), Jackie (Mila Kunis), and foreign exchange student Fez (Wilmer Valderrama). Their time is frequently spent interacting in various forms and fashions that often revolve around desires for sex and the next high, but through their youthful ignorance and bliss and, as the series progresses, their maturation, the show comes to depict a real, honest look at what it means to grow up and, in some cases, move on, but at the core lies an unbreakable bond built on the shared experiences of life that proves more important to the process than all the hormones and highs combined.

Like any series that runs for more than a few seasons, things invariably change. Characters grow -- not only physically and in years but in maturation -- and even come and go, but That '70s Show maintains a certain stability in several key areas, the most important being its approachable, funny, and relatable feel that warmly draws the audience onto the basement couch, around the kitchen table, or into any of the show's other secondary locations. Yet these are just set dressings. It's the people who count, who make the show go. They just sit on the couch and on the kitchen table chairs. They're the constants. And no matter where it is, what the joke may be, who's in the scene, or where the characters may be in the run, the core coming-of-age story remains the central focus. Eric's life is influenced from a number of angles, not the least of which is his own physical maturation, but that's the only part that isn't in some way deeply influenced by the experiences he shares with his friends and family along the way. He, and the rest of the characters, literally grow up throughout the series, both in terms of how they look and who they become. By the end, it's easy to see a little part of everyone in each character. Few TV shows manage such a close sense of camaraderie and connection between both the characters and the audience, and that above all else may be what makes The '70s Show a special television experience.

There's another constant, one that might not be so readily evident through the thicket of general series themes, humor, stylistic approaches, '70s decor, and cast consistency and camaraderie. Veteran TV Director David Trainer (Designing Women, Boy Meets World) literally helmed 99.5% of the series; only the pilot episode does not bear his name. That level of familiarity -- on both sides of the camera, not just one -- elevates the show considerably, and it's obvious not only in stylistic control, which is relatively straightforward, but in tonal consistency and a deeper appreciation for the ins-and-outs of exactly what the each episode, each segment, scene, and shot, need to be to make That '70s Show the best program possible. Television shows frequently director-hop, and the best, meatiest dramas don't usually suffer as a result, but Trainer's steady presence, camaraderie with the cast, and fruitful, intimate knowledge brings a level of excellence to the show that's often otherwise missing in the sitcom realm. Trainer describes in the supplements that he and his team noted early on that the show displayed potential beyond even its premise and positive early returns, and they were able to collaboratively, and consistently, build on it, to hone not simply broad story arcs and general photographical technique but the more intimate character details that get the very most of every inch of each frame. With that level of deep involvement, one cannot help but tip the hat to Trainer for seeing it through, refusing to let fatigue or complacency get in the way and keeping the show both thematically fresh but tonally consistent for the duration.

Trainer's cast is equally terrific. It's not uncommon for long-running television programs to boast excellent cast camaraderie. After all, it's the characters that drive the shows, and the very best -- Star Trek: The Next Generation, The X-Files, The Sopranos -- not only maintain a level of excellence in front of the camera, but the actors prove capable of growing the characters both in a cruder, more generic arc throughout the series but, much more importantly, at the intimate, nuanced level that's more gradual and evolutionary rather than immediately obvious to the audience one episode to the next. Of course, much praise need be given to the writing team, too -- and the writing is uniformly excellent through the series, capturing all of those timeless real-life qualities mentioned earlier -- but the cast knocks the show out of the park. That the real actors are essentially growing up alongside the characters they play and experiencing all of the ups and downs along the way only helps the show find a greater authenticity, but they also nail the humor and heart with surprising consistency over the long haul. They make That '70s Show just as funny and soulful in its last episode as they do in its first and play the most important part in elevating the program from run-of-the-mill Comedy to an almost magical coming-of-age story.

Even though the series' '70s retro stylings are, when it comes right down to it, not much more than window dressing that exists to support what is otherwise a top-down character/coming-of-age story, the show gets it all right. That '70s Show doesn't just settle for authenticity -- that's a given -- but it's in the little details that make it shine. Popular culture references aren't simply referenced, they're integrated. Furnishings aren't just there, they're lived in. The sets are alive with little odds and ends details that might not jump out at the audience but that do bring a very strong sense of place, making for a believable little corner of a much larger world from a particular place in time. Even though the filmmakers didn't have to dig that far to find just the right prop or the perfect photographic or video evidence or even memory of exactly what the '70s looked like, the entire series feels absolutely right. Many of the props may very well have come out of basements and attics, and that most of it is stuff that didn't necessarily need to be created for the show but rather simply found and placed just so on the stage only makes it feel all the more organic. But the show doesn't just settle for clothes, haircuts, furniture, and a few pop culture references. It's deep in '70s culture and politics and the cast nails the speech and attitude, which again isn't so far removed from when it was made in the late 1990s/early 2000s, but it's all a testament to the commitment to excellence that made That '70s Show one of the most beloved shows on television for nearly an entire decade.

That '70s Show: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Whereas Mill Creek released seasons one and two to Blu-ray in four-disc sets, this new series boxed set squeezes every season onto two discs, with dedicated supplemental discs included (scattered audio commentaries are present throughout the series run as well). This was most certainly a cost-cutting measure, both for the studio and the end consumer, essentially cutting the number of required discs in half and resulting in a lower sell price point. But does that mean a drop-off in picture quality? First, a few numbers. A quick comparison of the bitrate monitor between the individual seasons and the new complete series release reveals a substantial drop. The old sets hover anywhere between the high 20s and the high 30s (and surpass 40 on a couple of occasions), while this new set lingers in the low 20s and high teens. The good news is that there's not an immediately noticeable drop-off in quality. In fact, the image looks pretty much identical at-a-glance (more on that below), even as the bitrate, and the number of discs, have essentially been halved. In response to a Blu-ray.com inquiry on the subject, Mill Creek Entertainment's Vice President of Marketing had this say: "[O]ur first individual season releases were spread across 4 BD-25s. This set uses BD-50s throughout to keep the overall disc count down and yet retain optimal bit rates. We have not noticed any quality loss using the dual layered blu-rays versus the single layer."

Indeed, there's not a ton of difference. The new release appears noticeably brighter, not to any show-devastating extent but a quick comparison between season one and two episodes shows a bit of constant fluctuation in that area. Colors are still healthy and vibrant, not showing quite the depth as before but holding their own nicely enough. Bright reds push a little hot and appear overly saturated, but there's a good, positive nuance to the '70s decor and attire. Details are rather strong. Sweaters and flannel shirts, for example, reveal quite a bit of intimate texturing in close-up shots, while broader definition impresses, too, particularly on furniture -- whether the rattier pieces in the basement or the more plush, cleaner sofa and chairs in the Forman living room -- but also on other details like the basement staircase or a brick wall in the living room. Grain remains throughout the series run. It's thick, spiky, and noisy in the early seasons but dials down a little towards the series' end. Even when it's not very refined, it helps add an attractive filmic veneer to the program. A few pops and speckles creep in here and there, but never to a debilitating, distracting extent. There's some scattered scenes throughout the run that appear sourced from standard definition. A good example is the season three episode "Hyde's Christmas Rager." Definition and detail noticeably drop, colors lack vibrance and contrast suffers, grain disappears, and a processed, almost blocky and blown-up look dominates. The series retains the 1.78:1, "HDTV friendly" framing, which is, of course, not the 4x3 original broadcast ratio but is nevertheless as the program was originally photographed. More information is added on the sides, but nothing is lost on the vertical plane.

Note that screenshots 1-10 in this review have been captured to approximately match several screenshots from the seasons one and two reviews. Screenshots 11-30 are sourced from various points across the entire series. Screenshots 31-40 are photographs of the packaging. Below is a list and links to seasons one and two screenshots. For example, "Screenshot One" refers to the first screenshot in this review, and the link goes to the corresponding screenshot from the individual season one or two release.

Screenshot One
Screenshot Two
Screenshot Three
Screenshot Four
Screenshot Five
Screenshot Six
Screenshot Seven
Screenshot Eight
Screenshot Nine
Screenshot Ten

That '70s Show: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

That '70s Show: The Complete Series reverses the bitrate drop-off of the video and actually increases it for the audio. The newer discs can almost double the bitrate, which hovers in the high 3s and approaches 4, while the older sets linger around 2. As for the audio quality, it's still quite good. Mill Creek's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack enjoys a nice balance of all its elements, each one yielding excellent clarity and natural stage placement. Most prominent throughout the run are dialogue and laughter. The former is crisp and natural with consistent center placement. Whether deeper male voices or Kitty's screechy shrieks and laughs, there's a lifelike presence to every syllable. Audience laughter is widely dispersed with seemingly equal balance between the front and rear, essentially wrapping the listener in the middle of the crowd. Definition is such that listeners will be able to, here and there, identify an individual audience member's specific style of laugh or pick up on hushed chuckles and coughs that pop up underneath. There's always a nice balance to the prioritization between laughter and dialogue, too, with the more important spoken word always dominating but not to the point that the laughter plays second fiddle or loses its critical support feel. The opening title music is aggressively positioned in the stage, playing with a healthy surround element, positive low end heft, and nuanced vocal and instrumental detail. Various sound effects are nicely integrated, too, with some spread around the stage but mostly hanging out up front and in the middle. Overall, this is a very good presentation from Mill Creek.

Note that no subtitle options are included with this release; previous season releases contained an English SDH subtitle option.

That '70s Show: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

That '70s Show: The Complete Series features all of its video-related extra content on discs 17 and 18. Various audio commentary tracks are included throughout the series, beginning with season two. No commentaries are included with seasons one or five. Many of the supplements from the standalone season one and two releases carry over, but the following are omitted: A Sneak Peak at Season 2 (from season one) and Behind-the-Scenes from 3 Popular Episodes (season two). Season one did contain a simple trivia supplement, but it's become more interactive in this set (questions do carry over).

A few words on the packaging: Mill Creek's boxed set measures just a shade under 7" in height (it's about the same as a standard Blu-ray case), 5.5" wide, and 2.5" deep. A slipcover, with a felt-like covering surrounding the "floating heads" seen in the publicity image at the top of this page, is included. The top of the case simply lifts off, revealing all nine individual cases (eight two-disc seasons and one two disc bonus) inside. The individual two-disc cases are more like sturdy fold-open glossy sleeves. They're essentially the same size as a standard CD jewel case but are about half as thick. They're adorned with colorful artwork on both sides and a brief season recap blurb on the back. Inside is a listing of every episode with a very brief synopsis and, when applicable, a mention of the included audio commentary track. The discs are fairly tight inside and must be removed by pulling them towards the center. The style of packaging all but necessitates touching the bottom of the disc, so expect some smudges and fingerprints with even casual use. The outer case is sturdy enough, but the individual season (and bonus) cases are more flimsy than they are rigid. They don't require special handling, but they're not made to be thrown around, either. The individual cases could stand to be a little tougher, and disc removal isn't ideal, but they should stand up to regular use and shelf life well enough.

• Audio Commentaries: Season Two, Disc One: Director David Trainer for both "Halloween" and "Hunting." Season Two, Disc Two: Director David Trainer for "Cat Fight Club." Note that these season two commentaries are identical those featured on the standalone season two release. Season Three, Disc One: Director David Trainer and Producer Patrick Kienlen for both "Too Old to Trick or Treat, Too Young to Die" and "Eric's Panties." Season Three, Disc Two: Director David Trainer and Producer Patrick Kienlen for "Dine & Dash" and Director David Trainer for "Radio Daze," "Eric's Drunken Tattoo," and "The Promise Ring." Season Four, Disc One: Director David Trainer for "Eric's Depression." Season Four, Disc Two: Director David Trainer for "Class Picture" and "Hyde's Birthday." Season Six, Disc Two: Director David Trainer for "Substitute," "Sparks," and "My Wife." Season Seven, Disc One: Director David Trainer for "Time Is On My Side" and "Angie." Season Seven, Disc Two: Director David Trainer for "Till The Next Goodbye." Season Eight, Disc One: Director David Trainer for "Bohemian Rhapsody." Season Eight, Disc Two: Director David Trainer for "Keep Yourself Alive," "We Will Rock You," and "That '70s Finale."

Bonus Disc One:

• Behind the Scenes Featurettes:
• Hello Wisconsin! (480i, 18:06): See the Season One review linked above for more information. Note that the supplement in season one was presented in 1080p with a high definition "flower power" border and the standard definition content presented in the center of the screen. The supplement as presented here eliminates the border and presents in a standard 4x3 window and plays at 480i rather than 1080p.
• Webisodes (480i): A collection of behind-the-scenes shorts that take viewers into the making of several episodes from the end of season two, focusing on the on-stage action, the backstage fun (including working in front of the live studio audience), general insights into how the shows come together, and some technical details. Included are Kelso's Serenade (7:14), Jackie Moves On (7:23), Holy Crap! (5:32), Red Fired Up (6:49), Cat Fight Club (6:56), and Moon Over Point Place (7:18).
• Making Company: David Trainer on Directing That '70s Show (480i, 7:46): The series' director speaks on what makes this, or any, show great, the importance cast and crew camaraderie, the actors' maturity along the way, character qualities and growth, core story details, and the satisfaction he finds in not only making a great show but enjoying the audience's positive reaction. The piece is interspersed with clips from the series.
• Beyond the Polyester: Writing That '70s Show (480i, 7:58): Executive Producers Rob Des Hotel, Mark Hudis, and Dean Batali discuss the writing process, including how they try to reach inside the characters' heads, ensuring a constant state of interesting storytelling, the series' charm and realism, season ending cliffhangers, building and ending character relationships, and their own maturation through the process.
• That '70s Show Set Tour with Director David Trainer (480i, 11:35): With the show's final days in sight, the director guides viewers through key set pieces and their interesting background details, beginning with the basement (including a look at creating the series' trademark 360-degree shots), and moving on to the Vista Cruiser, the Forman kitchen, an historical part of the stage where ancillary locations are filmed, and the living room.
• That '70s Blooper Special (480i, 10:06): A collection of happy accidents from the set.
• That '70s Show Through the Years: A Retrospective (480i): Brief character highlights from the series with cast interviews in which the actors look a little more deeply into the characters they play and the larger show details around them. Included are Eric (3:04), Jackie (2:57), Kelso (2:56), Hyde (3:00), Donna (3:01), Fez (3:01), Kittie & Red (3:02), and Bob (3:00).
• Season Overview Featurettes:
  
  
  • Season One: A Look Back (480i, 4:58): The same supplement available on the season two release.
  • Season Two: A Talk with Director David Trainer (480i, 12:58): The same supplement available on the season two release.
  • Season Three: A Look Back (480i, 23:16): A look at the evolution of the series' core romantic relationships, Kitty and Red's place in the show and season, and the core qualities that drive the show and make it a success.
  • Season Four in 4 Minutes (480i, 4:30): Director David Trainer introduces a rapid season four highlight reel.
  • Season Five in 5 Minutes (480i, 5:01): A rapid fire series of highlight clips from season five.
  • 6 Minutes of Season Six (480i, 6:00): A rapid fire series of highlight clips from season six.
  • That Seventh '70s Season (480i, 12:36): A selection of grouped character highlights from the seventh season.
  • Season Eight in 8 Minutes (480i, 8:01): A rapid fire series of highlight clips from season eight.
• A '70s Show Flashback (480i): Key cast look back on their experiences on the show, sometimes dating back even to initial rehearsals and moving on through their growth individually and collectively across the series. They examine their core character qualities and relationships with the other characters. The pieces feature plenty of clips from the series intermixed with the interview footage. Included are Laura Prepon (6:20), Mila Kunis (6:02), Wilmer Valderrama (8:36), Danny Masterson (6:52), Debra Jo Rupp (6:39), Kurtwood Smith (6:23), Don Stark (7:28), Tommy Chong (4:57), and Josh Meyers (4:35).

Bonus Disc Two:

• Trivia Game (1080p): Various personalities, including Gene Simmons and the cast, ask some text-based multiple choice questions. Correct answers are followed by clips from the show that prove the answer is correct. Wrongs answers are met with a humorously disparaging clip.
• Groovy Green Screen (1080i, 3:20): The same supplement available on the season one release.
• Foto Hut (1080p, 18:13 total runtime): A large selection of automatically progressing photos, including individual cast (Bob, Donna, Eric, Fez, Hyde, Jackie, Kelso, Kitty, and Red), stills from each season, and group pictures of the cast.
• Promo Spots (480i): Broadcast advertisements for the show. Included are Season 1 (3:46, also included on the standalone season one set), Season 3 (12:40), Season 4 (11:52), Season 5 (12:49), Season 6 (12:49), Season 7 (13:29), and Season 8 (11:47). Season 2 is not included.

That '70s Show: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

That '70s Show holds up very well even close to ten years since it wrapped. The characters are terrific and the show is, essentially, a time capsule of timelessness, a look at what it's like to grow up amidst the particularities of a peculiar decade. Mill Creek's Blu-ray release is bound to frustrate those who purchased the first two seasons, released more than three years ago. A proper run would have seen individual seasons followed by the season set, or the whole shebang put out at once from the outset. Still, the boxed set provides a solid value for fans and collectors. Packaging could stand to be a little sturdier and some new retrospective supplements would be have been nice, but all told the release more than satisfies. Video and audio qualities are quite good. Highly recommended.