A New Hope is the twentieth episode of the first season of That '70s Show. It aired on March 14, 1999.
Red is glad when Ron Milbank arrives back in town. Eric, however, is not so excited to see him, as his son David was Eric's childhood rival.
Tropes:
- Aborted Arc: This episode featured plot points that were apparently meant to continue into a subsequent episode, most glaringly David Milbank and his attempts to court Donna. But for whatever reason, the writers didn't follow up on it, and David was never seen or mentioned again.
- Big "SHUT UP!": Unable to break the bad news about the factory to Red, Eric shouts this at Laurie for bragging about making out with Kelso.
- Bread, Eggs, Breaded Eggs: When Eric receives fighting tips from Red and Bob:
- Bob: And hit him with a banjo.
(Beat)
Red: You wanna knee him in the groin.
Bob: You can hit him in the groin with a banjo.
- Characterization Marches On: The characters watch Star Wars: A New Hope, and all of them like it, with no hint that Eric is especially enthralled by it; if anything, Kelso is the one who is too obsessed with it. Hyde, Donna, or Jackie show no sign that they feel it's a Guilty Pleasure or that "only a geek would like it" (certainly their stance in the later episodes, when making fun of Eric). Red's attitude, however, is consistent, with no need for any Retcon at all; he has only scorn for Star Wars in both the early episode and the later seasons.
- Red: Eric actually likes this? That kid's on dope.
- The Cloud Cuckoolander Was Right: As this is the episode where the gang sees the first Star Wars film, Kelso correctly guesses that Leia will end up with Han rather than Luke, a prediction that Hyde immediately shoots down.
- Crazy Jealous Guy: Eric over how close Donna is getting to David. He ends up being exactly right to be suspicious of David's intentions.
- Downer Ending: Donna is pissed off at Eric for his behavior. Worse, he learns the factory will be shutting down permanently once the remaining inventory is completed, and he has no idea how to break the news to Red.
- Dramatic Irony: Bored out of his mind, Red says Eric must be on dope to actually enjoy this.
- He Is All Grown Up: As a kid, David had asthma and scoliosis; now he's a fit, handsome man
- Hypocritical Humor:
- Red dismisses Bob's suggestion of hitting an opponent with a banjo, saying that's just dirty. He then advises Eric go for a Groin Attack instead.
- Upon learning what Eric is going to do, Kitty chastises Red for supporting it and refers to it as neanderthal-like. She likens it to how Red previously punched out a lifeguard for pinching her, ultimately turning herself on when describing that incident.
- I Didn't Mean to Turn You On: Kitty actually pulls this on herself, as she tries to criticize Red for teaching Eric to fight, and recalling the time Red beat up a guy who tried to put the moves on Kitty when they were first dating, only to describe how good Red looked doing it. She and Red then race each other to their bedroom.
- May the Farce Be with You: The parody of the "Star Wars" introductory crawl at the start of the episode, along with Eric's Star Wars-themed dream.
- Not So Above It All: While Red is dismissive of the movie overall, he did let out an impressed "Whoa" when the Death Star exploded.
- Shout-Out: Kelso doubts that Star Wars is going to be as good as Planet of the Apes (1968): "Those apes were really good actors."
- We Will Meet Again: David after Eric gives him a bloody nose.
- Wham Line: "We're just here, until my dad closes down the factory."
