That ’70s Show: The 15 Best Episodes Ranked

That ‘70s Show remains one of the most beloved sitcoms of the era, with its hilarious cast of characters, period setting, and sharp writing making it a truly endearing watch, but That ’70s Show’s best episodes are way more than that. That ’70s Show’s period setting was never just a novelty, as it had a huge fanbase just like other popular sitcoms of the time like Seinfeld and Friends. However, That ’70s Show was different, as it looked into the dysfunctional and social lives of a group of friends in high school, and the colorful characteristics of the ’70s added more pizazz.

That ’70s Show is still highly regarded as one of the best American sitcoms, as it accurately depicted growing up in the Midwest in the 1970s. The series was both a nostalgia trip for grown-ups and a bizarre, hilarious history lesson for younger audiences. Given that the series consists of 200 episodes, That ’70s Show didn’t have the most consistent run, and the quality dropped significantly in its later seasons, but its earlier seasons are full of classic episodes. While the legacy sequel series, That ’90s Show, couldn’t quite recapture the magic of the original series in the eyes of some, these That ’70s Show episodes still exist, and they’re endlessly rewatchable.

15Halloween (Season 2, Episode 5)

It isn’t just the fancy dress gags that make season 2, episode 5, “Halloween,” so entertaining, as dark secrets get revealed too. On October 31, the gang decides to visit their old elementary school that’s now burned down. They find their old permanent records, and the information uncovered rattles the group. It’s revealed that Eric was responsible for Hyde’s first time in trouble and that Donna used to streak, and Jackie admits that Fez was a better kisser than Kelso. The episode is way more playful and intentionally melodramatic than usual episodes of That 70’s Show, and Fez wearing a Batman outfit is just the dressing, making it one of the best the show had to offer.

14Parents Find Out (Season 2, Episode 19)

Eric and Donna’s sex life is always a topic of conversation in the show, as Eric losing his virginity is a big story arc in season 1 — including how to keep their intimacy secret from Eric’s parents. However, in season 2, episode 19, “Parents Find Out,” they get caught red-handed. They’re forced to go home and admit to their parents that they got caught having sex in Eric’s car by a police officer. Kitty typically takes it the worst, as she becomes bedridden upon hearing the news about her son. The show’s parents are often way funnier than the teenage gang in That ’70s Show, especially Kitty and Red, and “Parents Find Out” is a perfect example of that.

13Cat Fight Club (Season 2, Episode 25)

That ’70s Show‘s best episodes often go in surreal directions, which is the case for season 2, episode 25, “Cat Fight Club.”Hyde tries to teach Jackie how to be tough and act “zen,” which is a perfect example of Hyde and Jackie being a great couple. Red finds out that Kelso has been dating Laurie too. However, the big scene in “Cat Fight Club” delves into the future. As the 1970s was an era where people were constantly considering what the future would be like, especially with technically advanced inventions and the rise of sci-fi movies, That ’70s Show’s depiction of the future is typically on brand.

12Eric’s Hot Cousin (Season 4, Episode 14)

Season 4, episode 14, “Eric’s Hot Cousin” plays upon a common storyline in the show where an attractive relative visits the town, and everyone loses their minds. Eric’s cousin Penny rolls into town and has a revenge plan set for Eric following a time when Eric got her stuck in a revolving door. The whole episode is hilariously cringey, especially when even Eric starts to fantasize about Penny too. Penny also featured in the spin-off, That 80’s Show, which didn’t have quite the same impact as That ’70s Show and only lasted for one season. Her appearance in That 70’s Show, however, made for one of the best episodes.

11Red Sees Red (Season 3, Episode 2)

Season 3, episode 2, “Red Sees Red,” is another example of the parents stealing the show and being the primary reason for That ’70s Show’s best episodes, and it has the most appropriate title ever. Most of the humor in the series stems from Red’s angry rants and being too hard on the teenagers, but he totally boils over when he finds out about Eric’s marijuana use. Red enforces a strict curfew that the gang refuses to abide by, and he then starts setting booby traps and goes too far. It’s one of the rare times audiences see Red being unfair for no real justifiable reason, but it’s still hilarious.

10Water Tower (Season 1, Episode 21)

Season 1, episode 21, “Water Tower,” sees the gang attempt to paint a pot leaf on the town’s water tower. After Hyde convinces Kelso to continue painting, Kelso falls and breaks his arm – leading Jackie to blame Hyde for the incident. The episode started a running gag in the series about painting pot leaves on the water tower, which ran up to the very last episode. Given that the first season was still exploring the characters and trying to establish itself — especially noticeable given how much That ’70s Show changed drastically after season 1 — “Water Tower” really showed how much potential the period-based sitcom had, and remains one of the best That ’70s Show episodes to date.

9Hyde Moves In (Season 1, Episode 24)

It’s no secret that Steven Hyde doesn’t exactly have the most functional family in the world. With an absent father and a contentious relationship with his mother, he’s abandoned completely in season 1, episode 24, “Hyde Moves In,” after his mother leaves town unexpectedly. The Formans let Hyde stay with them, kicking off some of the show’s most heart-warming relationships — specifically the ones between Hyde, Red, and Kitty. What works so well about the episode is that it gives another glimpse into why Hyde is the way he is, and along with Eric being to blame for his first time in trouble, it’s so easy to empathize with Hyde.

8Reefer Madness (Season 3, Episode 1)

Ironically named after a 1936 exploitation movie about the negative effects of marijuana, season 3, episode 1, “Reefer Madness,” sees the gang getting busted for smoking the herb. After two full seasons of the gang’s infamous “circles” going unnoticed, they’re finally caught in the episode after the police apprehend Hyde — who takes responsibility for the whole group of teens. It’s another Hyde-centric episode that makes audiences empathize with the character, showing how much of a lost soul he is as opposed to the troublemaker he’s mistaken for, and it leads to a heartfelt moment where Red bails him out. But that’s after Red becomes TV’s scariest dad.

7Canadian Road Trip (Season 3, Episode 23)

Another quintessential episode of That ‘70s Show, season 3, episode 23, “Canadian Road Trip,” follows Eric, Kelso, Fez, and Hyde as they hunt for beer across the Canadian border. Things soon go from bad to worse when they realize Fez has forgotten his green card — leaving them at the mercy of a group of Mounties. The episode’s comedy comes from the steadily mounting precariousness of the gang’s situation, as they grow more and more desperate in their attempt to escape from the clutches of the law, only to inevitably make things worse. The episode also features one of Leo’s funniest appearances.

6Class Picture (Season 4, Episode 20)

While it comes as a surprise that season 4, episode 20, isn’t related to marijuana, which the gang loves so much, “Class Picture” is still a That ’70s Show best episode. “Class Picture” sees the gang reminisce about their past, as well as how they first met — shedding some hilarious light on the gang’s younger days. The episode serves as a great encapsulation of what makes the show so beloved on the whole, with its perfect mix of humor and heart working in the episode’s favor. Seeing so much of younger versions of Eric, Hyde, and Kelso partake in their first circle is a highlight.

5A New Hope (Season 1, Episode 20)

Although That ‘70s Show’s pop culture references aren’t thrown in the audience’s faces all the time, in a way that was likely very tempting to, when the show does make a reference to important cultural milestones, it does it well. Season 1, episode 20, “A New Hope” is a case in point. The episode chronicles what it was like to see Star Wars: A New Hope for the very first time. Few moments in That ’70s show are as satisfying as when Red is blown away by the sci-fi movie, as he had been critical of Eric being excited about it for the whole of the first season.

4Eric’s Panties (Season 3, Episode 6)

In one of the show’s most hilarious episodes, season 3, episode 6, “Eric’s Panties,” Eric’s new lab partner appears to take a shine to him. Offended when Donna fails to express jealousy over their time together, Eric finds himself in hot water when Donna finds a mysterious pair of underwear in the back of his Vista Cruiser. Watching Eric and Donna work themselves up into a frenzy over the course of the episode is equally frustrating and uproarious. Red’s new diet is yet another reason for him to act like a grumpy old man too, and the episode is a vessel for every character’s strongest moments.

3Garage Sale (Season 2, Episode 1)

In season 2, episode 1, “Garage Sale,” Hyde bakes some extra special pot brownies, which turn out to be a hit — especially with Red — who proceeds to sell Eric’s car in his altered mental state. That ’70s Show best episodes tap into exactly what audiences want to see, and a high Red Foreman is exactly that. The episode’s subversion of what audiences have come to expect from the show is what makes this so brilliant, with Kitty and Red partaking in the ‘circle’ for a change, after which they’re interrogated by Hyde and Eric taking on their usual parental roles.

2Dine And Dash (Season 3, Episode 13)

In one of the show’s most brilliantly executed gags, season 3, episode 13, “Dine and Dash” opens with Kelso offering to take the gang out for dinner after he gets $100 from his grandmother. The rest of the group soon finds out that Kelso has no intention of paying the bill before he skips out on it altogether – imploring his friends to do the same. What follows is a hilarious game of moral chicken as each member of the gang sneakily exits one by one. “Dine and Dash” also has a refreshingly and unique setting, as the gang never returned to the restaurant, but for obvious reasons.

1That ‘70s Finale (Season 8, Episode 22)

Though the series’ quality dipped in the later seasons, as main characters left the show to pursue movies, That ’70s Show impressively lasted for exactly 200 episodes. Season 8, episode 22, “That ’70s Finale,” thankfully managed to return to the quality of the early seasons, as the very last episode of the show tied up all the loose ends, brought back Eric and Kelso, and was a satisfying send-off for its beloved cast and characters before they returned decades later for That ’90s Show. The series was even brave enough to end with Eric and Donna not ending up together, totally subverting sitcom tropes.