While That ‘70s Show had its fair share of silly storylines, the sitcom’s low point came with the utterly pointless, bizarrely dark tale of Charlie Richardson. Like most sitcoms that last for more than a few seasons, That ‘70s Show took some time to find its feet, enjoyed relative critical acclaim for a few years, and then fell into decline a while before the show ended its 7-season run. For a frame of reference, the viewership of That ‘70s Show seasons 4-6 averaged around 10 million per episode whereas, by That ‘70s Show season 8, this number had dropped to just over 5 million.While the success of the Netflix spinoff That ‘90s Show proves That ‘70s Show is still enduringly popular among television viewers, the final seasons of the original show weren’t as well-liked as its best outings. This was due in part to the departure of Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher, although the writing of That ‘70s Show also appeared to grow more slapdash before the exits of these actors. The introduction and swift exit of a character who was once intended to become Grace’s replacement is a perfect example of just how much the later seasons of That ‘70s Show struggled with character development.
Charlie’s That ’70s Show Death Is The Show’s Worst Subplot
Viewers familiar with That ‘70s Show’s behind-the-scenes machinations know that the short-lived Charlie Richardson was killed off because, although producers viewed him as a potential Eric replacement, actor Bret Harrison got an offer from another show. Replacing the lead character with a younger star wouldn’t be the first sitcom cliche That ‘70s Show leaned into, but this was not destined to work out as Charlie only appeared in four episodes of the series before he was killed off. Unceremoniously thrown off the water tower offscreen, Charlie suffered what is arguably the harshest fate of any character in That ‘70s Show history.
Since viewers didn’t know that Charlie was intended to replace Eric, his arc was truly wild. He was introduced as a socially awkward nerd who met the Point Place crew and was immediately bullied by Fez. Fez was quick to note that he received plenty of hazing over the years and eventually, the gang joined in, got Charlie drunk, waited until he passed out, and put him in a dress before leaving him behind. Then he died by falling off the water tower. That ‘70s Show (and That ‘90s Show) killed off characters before and since, but this death still seemed inordinately brutal and abrupt.
Charlie’s That ’70s Show Death Encapsulates A Major Flaw
Since Charlie was intended to be a replacement for Eric, his actor’s unavailability was likely frustrating for the creators of That ‘70s Show. That said, the carelessness with which the character's exit was handled proves that the writers of That ‘70s Show weren’t overly invested in its characters or its fictional world at this late stage. The makers of That ‘70s Show were clearly counting down the clock to cancelation, or else the sitcom would not have greenlit a gag where a teenager dies tragically and no one cares. The joke never fit the tone of That 70s Show and the series never justified its inclusion, making this a low point for the sitcom.