Jackie Burkhart, played by Mila Kunis, is one of the central characters on That '70s Show. Originally, she enters the group as Kelso's new, snobby girlfriend, but throughout the years she establishes herself by earning her own position in the group. Even after their various breakups.
In her own way, Jackie is one of the stars of the show, but there are a few questions we still have about her. These questions never really got answered on the show and were left as unexplained mysteries. So, we're going to help figure out the answers to some of those burning Jackie Burkhart questions.
WHY DOES SHE KEEP GOING BACK TO KELSO?
This is a question many That '70s Show fans ask themselves. The simple truth is that she just can't get over Kelso. He's her first love. For many people, that's enough to keep giving out second chances. And third, and fourth ones. She's also incredibly stubborn and insists on a future with him.
IF SHE'S SO POPULAR, WHY IS SHE ALWAYS WITH THE GANG?
It's pretty well known throughout the show that the gang are basically misfits who don't belong in other groups. Even after she and Kelso break up, Jackie still hangs around them. The reason for this is simple: in this group, Jackie's the most popular girl in the room. When she hangs out with the popular crowd, she's just another one of them and doesn't stand out as much.
WHY IS SHE THE ONLY ONE WHO ISN'T TERRIFIED OF RED?
Part of this could be because she's so used to every parental figure spoiling her. But it could also be because she's surprisingly one of Red's favorites out of all of Eric's friends. Red has a soft spot for her because she actually knows how to properly hold a flashlight and help him work on cars. She also doesn't have a strong father figure in her life.
EVERYONE ELSE CALLS EACH OTHER BY THEIR LAST NAMES, BUT NOT JACKIE. WHY DOESN'T SHE GET THE SAME TREATMENT?
All of the main members of the gang call each other by their last names. Not all the time, but most of the time. Particularly the guys. Jackie has occasionally even thrown out a last name or two at the others. But no one ever refers to her as "Burkhart." Not even once. It's most likely because Donna and the guys don't really consider her a founding member of the group, and she's mean to all of them anyway. Therefore, she doesn't get the same type of treatment.
WHY IS SHE SO MEAN TO DONNA?
Despite the fact that Donna and Jackie are best friends, the two have opposite personalities. Jackie tends to think that she is above Donna because she is popular and well dressed. Donna is far less girly than Jackie, which prompts the latter to make fun of her boy-ish nature. To be fair, though, Jackie is mean to almost everyone to make herself feel better. In fact, her whole friendship with Donna would never even fly today.
WHERE DOES SHE GET HER MONEY FROM AFTER HER DAD GOES TO PRISON?
Jackie never really has a job, except when she briefly works at the cheese store when her father cuts her off. She expects to get by on her looks and marry someone rich. But after her father goes to jail in season five, Jackie's family loses everything and she moves in with Donna. She still doesn't get a job until later when she works as a TV assistant, even though she's lost her source of money. It's probably valid to say that she has some kind of trust fund or financial support coming in from her mom, who is still living it up in Mexico.
WHY IS SHE WAY MORE LENIENT WITH KELSO THAN SHE IS WITH HYDE?
Kelso cheats on Jackie multiple times and treats her terribly, but she keeps taking him back. But in her relationship with Hyde, she is way more intolerant of his antics. The reason for this is because when she's with Hyde, Jackie is actually a better and more mature person. Kelso's just her high school crush and not her end game. Hyde is what could have been her end game if things hadn't gone the way they did.
HOW COME SHE'S SO OBSESSED WITH MARRIAGE?
Throughout her relationship with Kelso, Jackie is constantly talking about marrying him. Then, with Hyde, she also tries to convince him that they should get married. She desperately wants a husband. Particularly a rich husband who will provide for her. This likely stems from her own parents' dysfunctional relationship and the fact that her dad provides everything for her. She also sees marriage as a status symbol that will make all of her popular friends jealous.
HOW IS SHE ABLE TO LIVE WITH DONNA?
Before her dad goes to prison, Jackie is basically living independently. Her father's never really around and her mother is off in Mexico somewhere. When her dad goes to prison, she's basically left homeless as he loses all his money and her mom is still gone without a trace. She has to leave the house but has nowhere to go. That's how she ends up with Donna. In real life, with Jackie being under 18, she definitely would have ended up in the foster care system. Bob would have had to go through a huge legal battle to gain guardianship of Jackie.
WHY DOES SHE END UP WITH FEZ?
Basically, this was one of the forced decisions that were involved in the negatively received eighth and final season. Jackie had no one else left to turn to, she liked the attention Fez gave her, so she figured "why not?" It's almost like the producers just didn't want anyone ending up single.