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After the somewhat dramatic conclusion of That '70s Show's fourth season, which saw Donna (Laura Prepon) and Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) head to California, the fifth season (2002-2003) opens on a cheerier note, with Donna and Eric (Topher Grace) reuniting after the latter also travels West to declare his affections. Their dramatic progress of their relationship forms the crux of season 5, but if that sounds too heavy for you, don't worry--there are plenty of wacky situations on hand involving Fez (Wilmer Valderamma), Hyde (Danny Masterson), and the rest of the retro gang. The Eric/Donna story arc moves quickly from a promise ring ("Ramble On") to an unplanned engagement ("Hot Dog") and the discovery of said union by Eric's parents, Red (the always-terrific Kurtwood Smith) and Kitty (Debra Jo Rupp, who is consistently excellent), which results in considerable rancor in the Foreman household. Eventually, marriage appears to be the destination for Eric and Donna, but first, there's graduation to deal with ("Celebration Day"), not to mention Hyde's blossoming affection for Jackie (Mila Kunis), an apparent pregnancy for Kitty (the two-parter "What Is and What Never Should Be" and "Heartbreaker"), and Fez's romance with DMV employee Nina, which goes tragically awry (and lead to a major season-ending disaster for him). Guest stars this season include Jessica Simpson in a recurring role as Kelso's California girlfriend, Annette, as well as Fred Willard, Tom Poston and Betty White as Kitty's parents, and Bobcat Goldthwait. In short, season 5 is standard issue for That '70s Show, a charming mix of broad comedy and teen-friendly drama that's well played by its very likable cast. The four-DVD set includes some surprisingly light extras: short reminiscences from Valderamma and Masterson, network promos for each episode (which are not accessible via the "Play All" feature), and "Season Five in Five Minutes," which distills the 25 episodes to a five-minute capsule. What's sorely missed are the commentary tracks that appeared on previous boxed sets, and serious '70s fans may note the absence of "That '70s KISS Show," a joint effort between Fox and VH-1 which brought the venerable glam rock band and the show's cast together (along with Cher and Danny Bonaduce!). But it's hard to imagine these omissions deterring longtime viewers from picking up this still-groovy set. --Paul Gaita
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