Ep 9. Forgotten Son

In That 70's Show season 4 episode 9 titled "Forgotten Son", the audience is treated to a heartwarming plot with a touch of drama.

At the center of the episode is the Pinciotti family, and specifically, Donna's dad Bob. In the previous episode, Bob revealed to his daughter that he had another son, which had been a secret he had kept from his family for many years. The news understandably rocked Donna's world, and in this episode, she grapples with what this means for her relationship with her father.

Eric also sees firsthand how the news about Bob's son affects Donna and decides to help her get to the bottom of the situation. Donna had previously called Bob's other son and left a message on his answering machine inviting him to come and visit her family, but so far, he has not responded. Eric then suggests that they drive to his town and try and track him down.

The two of them make their way to the said town and with the aid of new technology known as the yellow pages, they are able to find his address. When they arrive, they find someone who cuts a lonely figure - Bob's other son's wife. After making contact with her, they get to know more about the man they have come all this way to meet.

It turns out that Bob's other son, who is named by his wife as Charlie, has not had the best of lives. He has had to grow apart from his family because of circumstances beyond his control. The result has been that he has found himself living a solitary existence, and this has taken a toll on his mental wellbeing.

Eric and Donna are visibly moved by this revelation and decide to go and track down Charlie, who has gone missing after a particularly tough day. They eventually find him, where he confides in them about his struggles - he feels like he has been forgotten about by his father.

The episode ends with some family drama, particularly with Eric's family, but it is clear that Bob and Donna have found closure around the revelation of Bob's other son. Fans of the show may particularly find the episode to have been impactful, as it touches on themes of family and mental health.