#non-monogamist

[the-mjolnir-owner]

BDSM TEST: What kind of deviant are you?

Tagged by: @shieldretired

Tagging: @the-blackest-spider @killerqueenwidow @brynhildr-valkyrie-voldsom @benevolentgodloki @youknowwhoiamaskblog @thegreenwichvillagemystic​ @ofcrimsonenchantresses​ @arroganceandfear​ 

[alliluyevas]

“divorce epidemic” his first wife divorced him too bc he wanted to be a polygamist and he didn’t have any contact with his three oldest kids who got adopted by their mom’s second (monogamous) husband and then one of the subsequent seven wives also left him. but that’s none of my business. out here crying about combating the divorce epidemic and meanwhile divorced from more women than your average monogamist divorced person.

[not-so-superheroine]

unpopular rlds opinions: joseph smith jr. was a polygamist.

just killed the tone of a social group by stating that as a historical fact. one of our seventies did a lecture and it caused a kerfuffle because he implied that there is generational trauma from the Nauvoo era that we have to address and heal.

he's right. but people think Joseph's polygamy a Brighamite conspiracy. and Brigham Young is lowkey the Josephite boogeyman so people think it had to be him who introduced the practice.

The Utah LDS church got through to our leadership and historians, but many members don't trust them. Which is why i think we really should talk to each other more.

[lacewove]

yeah ok

[genderqueerdykes]

happy pride to polyamorous people, non-monogamists, relationship anarchists, swingers, people who follow to multiple models of love, people in kink families/houses, and anyone else who feels their love and the way they conduct their life does not suit the amatonormative "one partner for life" model. i hope you have an amazing time loving and being loved and enjoying life

[holyschnitzel]

So I'm a bit confused on something and I need some clarity-

(This is a question for the non-poly/monogamist route specifically)

You said in a previous ask that Damon would never cheat on MC, but you also say Damon and DG are FWB. Were they only FWB BEFORE MC became Damon's love interest, and then he completely stopped that relationship with DG once he fell for MC? Cause if they stayed FWB, that honestly sounds like cheating in this scenario. 🤔

no problem ^^

yep, they were already FWB long before they met you. Damon will stop sleeping with DG if he's in a relationship with MC, no matter how DG feels about it ^^b

[teafromthemicrowave]

Tiny trashy comic about my fav non-monogamist relationship ever

[prettygirlpaige]

Intro post

Minors do not interact. If you are under 18, you shouldn’t be anywhere near this blog. I don’t care if you’re almost 18 or “mature for your age”, fuck off as I’m not risking anything for you.

I’m a 28 year old cis female with a lot of kinks that range from mild to pretty hardcore. I’ve put a (reasonably) full list below but my main kinks involve non-consent/rapeplay, objectification and dumbification.

Also have a huge praise kink so if you call me a good girl, chances are I’ll do most things.

DMs and anonymous asks are open, message me if you want to chat or send me an ask if you have a scenario or fantasy you’d like to share.

**Please don’t ask me to send you pictures or to post specific pictures for you as I’m not going to. All pictures have the tag ‘prettygirlpaige’ on them so you can find them by searching my blog.**

Full list of kinks and limits below and my kink test percentages:

Kinks

- Non-consent/ rapeplay/ forced

- Objectification

- Degradation/humiliation

- Anything to do with me giving oral (throat fucking, face fucking, face sitting)

- Praise kink

- Exhibitionism

- Anything in public

- Medical/gyno

- Breeding/pregnancy/lactation/hucow

- Free use

- Trad-wife/housewife

- Bondage

- Sensory deprivation

- Anal play

- Spit

Limits

- Nipple play/torture

- Piss, shit, blood etc

- Extreme name-calling (i.e. don’t call me a slut in your first message, it will be deleted)

- Incest

- Extreme pain/violence (including using instruments such as whips, discussing piercings, brandings, tattoos)

- Any mention of cutting or shaving my hair

== Results from bdsmtest.org ==

98% Submissive

98% Rope bunny

91% Degradee

81% Exhibitionist

79% Non-monogamist

79% Boy/Girl

77% Brat

75% Voyeur

75% Slave

71% Experimentalist

70% Primal (Prey)

70% Masochist

66% Pet

47% Ageplayer

30% Vanilla

4% Rigger

4% Primal (Hunter)

3% Degrader

0% Daddy/Mommy

0% Brat tamer

0% Dominant

0% Master/Mistress

0% Owner

0% Sadist

0% Switch

[pray4saint]

modern!james taking the bdsm test

masterlist & descrip. pg-13. 16+ lots of kinks mentioned. james potter's reaction to his partner asking him to take the bdsm test. implied sex at the end.

james is the type of boyfriend to perk up at anything you ask of him with a smile

”jamie would you take this kink test for me?” you'd ask, eyes on the screen, ”yes of course, anything for you angel.” his eyes big and doe-looking

he didn't even realise what the test was when you asked, he just wanted to please you, being the golden retriever we know and love

”baby what is this?” ”weren't you listening jamie?” he didn't wanna disappoint but he really didn't know what was happening, so he shook his head ”a kink test love, no biggie.” you kissed his cheek and left him with your computer

you heard him gasp a few times during the test and it made you giggle, james didn't seem to hear you, too immersed in the questions and vulgarity of what he was doing

you'd ask him if everything was going alright and he'd tell you it was but he wouldn't look at you while he said it, he was focused

despite all his focus, it took him twice as long to finish it as it took you the first time around

”i finished it. here love.” he'd get out of the chair for you, ”oh merlin..” you'd say and he'd smile despite not exactly knowing what was going on

at the very top, 100%, you read off switch, followed by degrader, masochist, and brat tamer

he had high percentages for a lot, the 90s had pet, rope bunny, submissive and primal (hunter), the high 80s had dominant and moving down had experimentalist and in the low 70s, non-monogamist, you'd have to ask about that later

and like a switch in his brain, he had something for you to do

”love, now you take the test.” ”i already have.” ”i know, but take it f'me love.” and of course, you comply

pray4saint© do not copy, translate or repost my work without my express permission.

[daddysbrattyangel]

So y'all know what I like

== Results from bdsmtest.org ==

100% Masochist

100% Brat

100% Boy/Girl

98% Submissive

91% Rope bunny

89% Degradee

88% Primal (Prey)

87% Ageplayer

86% Experimentalist

82% Non-monogamist

81% Exhibitionist

77% Voyeur

73% Switch

71% Pet

67% Slave

63% Sadist

53% Rigger

43% Dominant

37% Daddy/Mommy

33% Primal (Hunter)

33% Degrader

28% Brat tamer

19% Owner

11% Master/Mistress

7% Vanilla

http://bdsmtest.org/r/zXvV8XaS

[lucidlavenderr]

𝕄𝕒𝕕𝕤• 𝟚𝟙 • 𝕤𝕙𝕖/𝕙𝕖𝕣 🦋🌈✨

chubby & subby , soft & bratty mess ™️

**𝙳𝙽𝙸 𝙸𝙵 : 𝚏𝚊𝚝𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚋𝚒𝚌, 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚋𝚒𝚌, 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚘𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚋𝚒𝚌, 𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚛 𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚒𝚜𝚝 , 𝚗𝚘 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚜**

keep in mind this is a HOBBY for me. you are not entitled to a response I do this for fun in my FREE TIME

all my links —>

𝕗𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕠𝕨 𝕞𝕪 𝕗𝕒𝕟𝕤𝕝𝕪 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕗𝕣𝕖𝕖!

𝕓𝕦𝕪 𝕠𝕗𝕗 𝕞𝕪 𝕨𝕚𝕤𝕙𝕝𝕚𝕤𝕥 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕗𝕣𝕖𝕖 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥!

- bi as helllll 🩷💜💙

- yes I am in a relationship, yes I’m happy, & yes he knows what I post online 😚

- yes my blog is a mess LOL inside of my head looks vvvv similar

•𝓀𝒾𝓃𝓀𝓈 ⛓️- 𝒞𝒩𝒞, 𝒶𝒷𝒹𝓊𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓎, 𝒶𝒻𝒻𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝒶𝓉𝑒 𝒹𝑜𝓂𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒, 𝒶𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇𝒸𝒶𝓇𝑒, 𝒻𝓇𝟥𝟥 𝓊𝓈𝑒, 𝒷𝓇𝑒𝑒𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝒷𝓇𝓊𝒾𝓈𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝒷𝑒𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓅𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒹,𝒹𝑒𝑒𝓅𝓉𝒽𝓇𝑜𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔/𝒻𝒶𝒸𝑒𝒻𝓊𝒸𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝒻𝒶𝒸𝑒 𝓈𝓁𝒶𝓅𝓅𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝓉𝒽𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓈,𝓇𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽 𝓈𝑒𝓍 , 𝓈𝑒𝓍 𝒾𝓃 𝓅𝓊𝒷𝓁𝒾𝒸, 𝓈𝓅𝒶𝓃𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝓅𝒶𝒾𝓃, 𝑜𝓇𝒶𝓁

•𝓈𝑜𝒻𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝓂𝒾𝓉𝓈 🤔- 𝓅𝒶𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁, 𝓌𝒶𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓈𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉𝓈

•𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒹 𝓁𝒾𝓂𝒾𝓉𝓈 ‼️- 𝒷𝓁𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓎, 𝓀𝓃𝒾𝒻𝑒𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓎, 𝓈𝒸𝒶𝓉 , 𝓋𝑜𝓂𝒾𝓉 ,𝑔𝓊𝓃𝓅𝓁𝒶𝓎

𝕓𝕕𝕤𝕞 𝕥𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕦𝕝𝕥𝕤-

100% Submissive

97% Brat

94% Masochist

91% Rope bunny

89% Degradee

88% Boy/Girl

76% Ageplayer

70% Primal (Prey)

70% Experimentalist

66% Slave

66% Non-monogamist

59% Voyeur

52% Exhibitionist

28% Pet

[huihuiheart]

In Bed Series - Mingyu

Navigation

Seventeen Masterlist

Series Masterlist

Requested: No

Warnings: NSFW, BDSM Themes, Scenario contains Sub Mingyu

Results:

100% - Experimentalist 100% - Exhibitionist 100% - Voyeur 100% - Switch 97% - Non-monogamist 94% - Degrader 87% - Primal (Hunter) 86% - Sadist 84% - Dominant 82% - Submissive 80% - Master/Mistress 79% - Owner 72% - Brat tamer 71% - Pet 71% - Rigger 69% - Degradee 68% - Daddy/Mommy 68% - Masochist 68% - Primal (Prey) 64% - Brat 62% - Rope bunny 61% - Slave 35% - Boy/Girl 11% - Vanilla 8% - Ageplayer

Description Below:

Experimentalist: Mingyu is open and willing to try just about anything at all. He will say as much too. Of course, he doesn’t absolutely have to. It’s just that he can’t have things be the same all of the time, so of course there’s going to be plenty of experimenting involved.

Exhibitionist/Voyeur: He loves showing off and being shown off, sex is just another way to do such things. That being said he also loves watching. It gives him ideas and it also lets him know what the other person likes. Not to mention it spices things up so so much.

Switch: This man has just about every kind of sex. He likes it when it’s different every time. He also loves his needs being taken care of just as well as he takes care of yours. The more you keep this man on his toes the more he loves it. Sex life with him is never boring. 

Non-Monogamist: So he’s open to this in any form. Whether it be a poly relationship or just in the bedroom. Either way, this man is an excellent communicator about this from the very start. It really ties into the exhibitionist/voyeur thing though along with other things. He also knows though that he has a busy schedule so he might not always be there to care for your needs. He also has a high stamina so you might need help caring for him. It being a non-romantic thing wouldn’t be a deal breaker for him though. 

Degrader: Degradation just comes naturally to him. The best kind of degradation though, it's the kind that is just as much praise and filth as it is degrading. He’s more of the type to make you feel that little burn of shame at how filthy you are in taking things.

Primal (Hunter): Have you seen the way that his eyes get sometimes? Of course, this man is a hunter. He’s not the type to lure or trap either. As soon as you’re in his sights he’s after you. He’s got you before you even know what has happened and he loves it. Almost as much as he loves it when they run. 

Sadist: In particular the humiliation. It goes hand in hand with the degrader in him. As for pain, he does typically stick to the more traditional things such as spanking whether with his hands or a toy. He will experiment with anything that you’re willing to try out as well though. As much as he’s a sadist too he prefers things that leave like a sting or temporary pain than actually hurt. If he actually hurts you he might just cry. 

Dominant:  As much as he likes being a switch and being kept on his toes he has a slight dom lean. When his submissive starts to do something they shouldn't, his eyes darken and he simply watches them with a smirk. It’s later that they’ll realize just how much they’ve worked him up. 

Submissive: Like I said he’s a switch and that dom lean is slight. He does get into subby moods of course. He prefers it though when you walk in and are just intent on showing him who is in charge. He’s OBSESSED! Like, show the beefy man that those muscles are absolutely useless. Also, he might just be into pegging just saying. 

Master/Owner: When you’re his he likes having full say and control. So master and owner and very fitting. It’s more of just a matter of if you’re a little kitten/pup or his slave that day, to be honest. 

Brat Tamer: This man has no problems brat taming. He finds enjoyment in it even. He simply isn’t the type to want to do that all of the time. Do it enough to keep things interesting, sprinkling in the good submissive act as well and you’ll crack the code. 

Pet: 1000% a pup. He thought all the fans barking at him was funny until you walked by and it suddenly clicked for him. He was on his knees in .2 seconds. Mouth shut except for little pointless sounds. Fully prepared to let you guide him around on a leash until his knees gave out and he would still come back for more. 

Rigger/ Degradee/ Masochist: They’re all a release for him, just at different levels and in different ways. Rigger is the highest because sometimes he just needs to look at the work of art that he turns you into. Even though he has you tied up his head is mush, he’s the first one who is fucked out. With degradee and masochist, he straight up wants you to make him cry, he’ll beg you for it. He wants to remember how you spoke to him and made him hurt for days so that whenever his brain gets too loud again he has that.

Daddy: He loves soft caring dom moments. He is like ooey gooey soft when he’s in daddy mode. He is a pure pleasure dom here when he gets like this.

Primal (Prey)/ Brat/ Rope Bunny/ Slave: These like to come out in combination. Either all together or just some mixing. He’s especially fond though of using his brat to lure you into making him feel like your prey. If it leads to you tying him up until he leads how to be a good, well-behaved slave for you though he will never complain.

Boy: Usually triggered by something if it comes out and often starts with some tearful incident. He’s an easy baby boy to please though. Just take good care of him, he’s extra fragile like this.

Vanilla: I’m sure no one is really surprised after the rest of this list. You get 1, maybe 2, vanilla night before he starts to need more at the start of the relationship. On a very very rare occasion, you might see it again.

Age Player: Almost rarer than seeing a unicorn, it does happen to exist though.

Scenario:

“What’s the matter, pup?” You coo mockingly down at Mingyu who is gazing back up at you through heavy, wet lashes, his lips swollen, red, and shiny from how much you and him have bitten them.

“Please just put it in, I can't wait any longer.” Mingyu whines, hips wiggling, cock hard, leaking, and neglected against his abs. You’d like to tease him more, but he’s so enticing, and besides you did promise to fill him up and fuck him good tonight.

[lolitaondrugsssss]

Hii, I realize that I haven’t done an introduction here. So here you go!

My name is Cay but some people here on tumblr call me Lolita and I’m more than fine with that lol.

I’ve been struggling with an ed for 4 years now.

Girl/ed/tc/academic validation blog

I like skz, txt, Lana and more I can’t think of rn.

Age:18; 5’11

˚₊‧꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

== Results from bdsmtest.org: == 100% Ageplayer 100% Little 100% Submissive 98% Degradee 93% Primal (Prey) 91% Rope bunny 91% Masochist 88% Experimentalist 87% Pet 60% Slave 58% Voyeur 41% Exhibitionist 32% Vanilla 27% Non-monogamist 12% Primal (Hunter) 10% Owner 7% Switch 4% Rigger 0% Daddy/Mommy 0% Brat 0% Brat tamer 0% Degrader 0% Dominant 0% Master/Mistress 0% Sadist

[screams-at-dark]

Horny blog you know the deal.

18+ to view, 20+ to DM.

If we're not mutuals, I'm not gonna be horny in DMs. This kind of thing requires consent. Send asks, reblog with tags if you want to get your shit off real quick.

DNI: Sissy blogs, minors, pedos

More info below, keep reading beautiful

About Me

25 year old, black nb transfem (she/they/it), poly, burnt out programmer with an estrogen addiction, very original.

If you're in Chicagoland, I'd be interested in making friends ^_^

This is a safe space for all trans, non-binary people full stop. I don't tolerate any transphobia or non-binary erasure

I'm discovering that I'm a werewolf puppygirl now sooo yeah

My bdsm test

100% Degradee

100% Switch

96% Rope bunny

95% Masochist

94% Degrader

94% Rigger

93% Primal (Hunter)

89% Monogamist

84% Dominant

83% Submissive

83% Brat

83% Sadist

83% Pet

A couple of my top kinks:

Denial

Choking

Spanking/Pinching/other mild pain

Petplay: see above

Pred/Prey: I know prey when I see it

Edging

Overstimulation

Limits/Hard No:

scat/piss

sissy stuff

misgendering

raceplay

Weirdos, freaks welcome, just be respectful

[funky-little-archivist]

Okay besties listen to me right now. Here’s how steddyhands can still win (real and true)

Stede and Ed clearly love each other very much, but they just can’t seem to stop fighting. They can’t seem to get on quite the same page, and this is a problem they’ve had from the start. They both want different things at the end of the day, and they just haven’t been able to reconcile that issue. Ed wants to explore non pirate life, which he’s never really had a chance to do, while Stede wants to explore pirate life for the exact same reason. I can’t really point at either of them and say that either of these things are wrong or they’re being intentionally malicious with each other. I also can’t point at the writers and complain about them stringing us along when all we want is for gentlebeard to be happy because this feels like very natural progression for both of them. As I said, they’ve been heading in this direction from the very start of the show.

So you know what I think they need? A stabilizing force. An anchor. A mediator. These are two whim-proned people who need someone to keep them grounded. And who’s sitting right there waiting for the chance to do exactly that? Izzy.

All season, apart from the parts where he was mourning blackbeard and the loss of his leg, izzy has been doing pretty much exactly that for both of them. Yes last season izzy was pretty much nothing but toxic for Ed, encouraging the worst parts of him. But he’s since come to regret that and was actively the one that stopped his downwards spiral. And he’s been coaching Stede, getting to know him better and teaching him how to pirate properly. This season izzy has really been encouraging both of them towards the goals they had at the start of season 1, in a way, making them the versions of themselves they want to be. But it does seem like he doesn’t intend for Stede to go off the deep end like Ed did either, as izzy discouraged him getting into the bar fight and kept trying to make him back down. I don’t think season 1 izzy would have ever done that for Ed. He’d have wanted blackbeard to defend his reputation. I think izzy wants them to be better, and as he said he actively approves of and encourages Stede and Ed’s relationship. He knows that they’re good for each other, and he doesn’t necessarily want to see them break up. But he also wants them to be the best versions of themselves.

And I’m honestly starting to think that’s what they need. As I said, they need a calming force, because both of them are very active passionate energies in their own way. But here’s the thing, I could be crazy but I’m actually starting to suspect maybe there’s a chance the show is going in this direction as well? I mean I could be reading too much into it, and listen I’ll be the last to put faith into this kind of theorizing again. But listen

How could it possibly not have been intentional to have izzy serenade Ed and stede’s first time together? It could have been literally anyone. It could have been frenchie, we’ve seen him sing before. But no, it was izzy, he got glammed up, showing his immense emotional growth and maturity compared to the first season, and had him practically sing his blessings for their relationship. And yes, maybe that’s all it was meant to symbolize, that izzy approves now and has moved on. Except he so clearly hasn’t moved on (we all saw that heart eyes stare he gave Ed in man on fire) and for me it’s the fact that he actually played an active part in their scene together, at least for the audience. He set the mood guys. In a sort of metatextual way, izzy was part of Ed and stede’s love scene.

And then there’s the fact that the show has been exploring non traditional non monogamist relationships for the entire season. I mean, already in season 1 we had Lucius telling izzy that they don’t get jealous when izzy tried to use that against him, but now we have olu and Jim actively celebrating each other’s relationships with other people despite still sort of being in some kind on non platonic relationship (shown by olu calling Jim babe during the safe space stand still scene). Olu, Jim and Archie sort of formed a straight up throuple? And then olu and zheng almost invited Jim and Archie to? Share a room with them?? Maybe? Whatever the case, it’s all fluid. And that’s okay! This type of relationship fluidity has been so normalized on the show, I don’t really see a reason for them to get precious about Stede and Ed being the only exclusive couple. At it makes sense, sexual fluidity has always been an integral part of the queer community and it’s so refreshing to see it represented here realistically. (Not to say that monogamy isn’t also accepted and valid in queer spaces but many shows have and will continue to represent that. It’s nice to see a representation of the less traditional, less “sanitized” side of queerness.) (edit: AND LET’S NOT FORGET SPANISH JACKIE! hell she was doing it before anyone else)

And hey as a bisexual myself I understand not everyone will like this allusion but I did see someone say that izzy is quite literally Ed and stede’s unicorn lmao. So. there’s that.

And not that this would be a perfect solution to all their problems either. I don’t want izzy to just continue to play custodian to Ed’s problems and add stede’s to that as well, not to mention that izzy and Ed have SO much work to do to fix their mess of a relationship. But I just think maybe all three of them can help balance each other out, mediate each side of the triangle. The dynamic would just be so satisfyingly perfect, and hey, a stool can’t hold up anything with just two legs, but with three it is stable.

Anyway, basically I’m starting to see it guys and maybe I’m crazy but maybe there’s actually a chance here. Again, I’m by no means saying this is 100% going to happen, and most likely I’m seeing things they didn’t intend. But from interviews from David jenkins and the cast, to subtext in the show, I think maybe there’s a non zero chance. Either way, I cannot wait to see what this show has in store for us in the last three episodes.

[thestupidhelmet]

I'm disappointed That '90s Show isn't getting its third season. I wanted to see the end of that story, which very likely would've/could've wrapped in a 16-episode season 3. Instead, we've got an unfinished show -- like an unfinished fic (those are so frustrating).

I accepted (or viewed) it as its own show outside of That '70s Show. I enjoyed what we got, and seeing more of (mostly) in-character Red and Kitty in their relationship was a particular treat.

I can only speak for me, but I I think the reason T9S ultimately didn't garner enough of an audience is multifactorial.

1) It tried to appeal to T7S fans' nostalgia while also trying to get brand new fans for a show full of new characters (save Red and Kitty) as principals. This middle ground approach made the show neither fish nor fowl.

2) That '70s Show experimented with ideas new to network sitcoms: regular fantasy sequences, regular pot circles, and characters with emotional depth and psychological complexity who are also funny. It has a certain quirkiness -- along with approaching the 1970s setting in a non-gimmicky way; rather, depicting the sociopolitical and economic issues of the '70s seriously.

While the quirkiness remained for many sessions, the commitment the 1970s setting faded -- although the time period continued to remain relevant to the characters' core throughout and to plots through at least season 4, albeit to a lesser extent than seasons 1 and 2.

3) The writing on That '90s Show didn't go deeply enough. '90s references abound, but they're not essential to the who the characters are and the show's plots. The '90s setting is fun window dressing, but if removed, the characters' personalities wouldn't be affected. They're written closer to modern teens who have an affinity for '90s teen culture, not as actual'90s teenagers.

The characters (new to the show) don't have the same level of stakes as those from T7S, whether as an individual or in their relationships. Nothing is necessarily wrong with having lower stakes, but teenagers tend to experience everything intensely, whether or not that intensity reflects what they're actually going through.

For comparison, in T7S we've got the characters' first experiences with sex -- or adding sexual connection to their relationships -- treated seriously and realistically while also deriving humor from these character-developing stories. After Jackie and Kelso consummate their relationship, for example, Jackie's so afraid of losing him that she acts servile in "That Wrestling Show" -- a complete reversal of her behavior so far but substantiated by the writing. Feminist Donna makes Jackie aware of her faulty thinking, which Jackie interprets very much in-character and seizes back control of her relationship with Kelso.

In T9S, Leia and Jay's first time having sex is depicted as cartoonish -- and as an actual cartoon. In writing, form follows function. The emotional stakes are very low for Leia and Jay, which the cartoon device both represents and confirms. While Jay's revelation in the following episode that all the sex he had before Leia was meaningless shows depth, it doesn't lead to any changes for the couple. Jay had already made the shift in season 1 from being a womanizer to a monogamist.

In T7S, Eric and Donna having sex the first time in season 2 is huge for both of them. Donna has trust issues because of her parents' relationship to sex, how they use it to manipulate each other, their lack of boundaries in regard to keeping their sex life private from Donna. She's afraid that adding sex to her relationship with Eric will destroy it.

Once Donna feels secure about her parents' relationship, she feels secure enough to have sex with Eric. For him, connecting with her that way is very deep and meaningful. It's not just the fact he's having sex but having sex with her. The love Eric feels for Donna is very evident and moving during the scene where he kisses her neck and begins to undress her.

In the following episode, however, we learn that Eric and Donna had two very different experiences during their first time. Eric is emotionally high from a) having sex and b) connecting with Donna sexually. Donna, however, didn't orgasm. Worse, she felt so disconnected from Eric while they had sex that she disassociated. Likely because she was terrified and Eric didn't check in with her and remain emotional present for her. He also orgasmed quicky, which is a realistic detail for a male teenager who'd built up this moment in his mind for over a year.

Their relationship is negatively affected by their lack of communication during sex and afterward. They both end up feeling miserable. Eric feels humiliated when he learns the truth of Donna's experience from a secondary source, which is ultimately the result of Jackie's gossipy nature. But Jackie, as ever being the font of experiential wisdom in certain areas, tells Eric his first-time performance was normal -- as a way of taking responsibility and making correction for her not keeping Donna's truth to herself.

The emotional and relationship stakes in this storyline are high. They're depicted as such, and that creates an emotional connection in the audience.

Moving away from sex (mostly), Hyde's home life in season 1 is depicted as precarious. We learn that his father abandoned him almost ten years ago and that his mother is an alcoholic who's had many sexual relationships and exposed Hyde to most of them. We also learn that Hyde's mom has left him for stretches of time regularly.

He grows up in poverty. The state of his house, its furniture, and the TV is proof of that, along with the fact he has six dollars and some cents total at Christmas to buy a gift for Donna.

In "Career Day," we get a glimpse of how Edna treats Hyde. She either doesn't view or doesn't care that Hyde was a child (and still is at seventeen, albeit old enough by then as not to be completely dependent on her for survival) when she exposed him to her sexual partners and provided/provides no parental stability. She acts entitled to her narcissistic behavior, which unfortunately often goes with being an addict. She constantly equates him with his father, the man who abandoned him to the abuse and neglect of his alcoholic and selfish mother. She clearly expects him to take on the responsibilities of a husband in all ways but sex from the time Hyde is nine. She's transferred her resentment of Bud onto Hyde.

That's enough emotional trauma for any kid, but in "Prom Night" and "Punk Chick," Edna's abusiveness is expressed through her words to him whenever he leaves the house. His sarcasm (at times biting) is clearly inherited from her. His paranoid belief in conspiracy theories also stems from having the two people (i.e. his parents) responsible for his physical survival and emotional well-being creating an unsafe, unpredictable environment. His passive aggressiveness, (which is a lesser part of his characterization until season 5 when the writers intensified it to serve the season's final arc / plot) is inherited from his mother, as well

Then his mother abandons him. He's seventeen. His father's nowhere to be found. His uncle's in prison. He has no family. If Eric and the Formans hadn't taken him in, he would've ended up in prison himself or dead.

Once he does move in with the Formans, we learn even more about his home life with Edna. He lived in a house full of vermin. He was not fed properly ... and his mother hit him, implied to be a regular occurrence.

His emotional defenses are totally understandable. But "Prom Night" establishes that he cares so much about the vulnerable, even for people whose personality he finds abrasive and unlikeable, that he'll put his own comfort and safety aside to help and protect them. This is his core, and it's reconfirmed in the last episode of season 1.

In "The Good Son," he doesn't act entitled to the Formans' help. He's grateful and shows himself to be the opposite of what his mother always accused him of: being lazy like his father. He does chores around the house happily and without expectation of reward. It's his way of "earning his keep".

But when Eric gets jealous of Red and Kitty's positive acknowledgement of Hyde, Eric acts out by bouncing a bowling ball in the living room, with the unforeseen result of destroying the TV. Red is furious. Hyde, out of gratitude for Eric's friendship and being the reason he has a safe home, takes responsibility -- which could result in him becoming homeless vs. Eric being punished relatively benignly. Hyde again sacrifices his safety to protect someone else, this time his best friend.

All of the above about Hyde happens in season 1 and is depicted throughout a portion of its episodes. One season. A handful of episodes. Plot is created organically from the characters, and the plot -- in turn -- affects the characters organically. Humor rises organically from the characters and plots as to be informed by them rather than the characters and plot being manipulated to fit a punchline.

The depth of writing in T7S creates a significant emotional connection with the show's characters in the audience. This depth is what's lacking in That '90s Show despite its pleasures.

Leia, Gwen, Nikki, Nate, Jay, and Ozzie had the potential to become emotionally complex characters. The first few layers are there, but the writing needed to go much deeper -- at least for me -- for a deeper emotional connection to the characters. The emotional stakes had to be higher.

Accepting that T7S S4 Jackie and Kelso are Jay's parents, that Jackie and Kelso divorced twice and Kelso had a child with Brooke during one of them -- or that impregnating Brooke was the cause of the first divorce -- Jay would not have grown into a carbon copy of his father. He would've been a completely different character, affected by his parents' personalities and toxic relationship. I could write a meta about what I believe Jay's personality actually should have been according to the facts of his upbringing.

Nikki is, for me, the most deeply portrayed character. I think the credit goes to the actress for that, not the writing. She has a nuance to her performance the other younger actors lack.

Leia and Gwen, from T9S's first episode (and through season 1), have a massive amount of chemistry that season two (particularly the second half) intentionally dismantles. I'm not saying all the characters in every show evarrrr need to be LGBTQ+ in some way, but Leia's unhappiness in Chicago in the '90s could've had a much deeper, higher stakes reason than T9S gives us (which pushed the limits of my belief).

Leia being bisexual or gay and hiding this fact at her old school would have explained her misery believably, as she's written and depicted in T9S S1 E1. Discovering Gwen through Gwen's window (queue the Melissa Etheridge song if you want; it was released in '93😅), the freedom of expression Gwen displays, the obvious attraction Leia experiences to both (which doesn't have to be romantic or sexual and canonically isn't) -- with different writers (or Netflix allowing it because they can and have made mandates to showrunners about LGBTQ+ content in the past) -- a perfect set up.

I absolutely would've written Leia as bisexual or gay and Gwen as being gay. In the '90s, a teen discovering their sexuality doesn't fit heteronormative society was much harder than it is for teens today (and it's still difficult). Pushing the LGBTQ+ rep to a side character who is barely depicted as a character in season 1 is a safe choice. Making the protagonist not straight in a '90s setting would have opened the storylines and upped the emotional stakes.

As Cosima from Orphan Black says, her sexuality isn't the most interesting part of her. This would (and should) also be true for Leia and Gwen. But Gwen being out to her family and friends would've helped a very-much-in-the-closet Leia navigate her understanding of her sexual orientation and given her a group of people who accepted her vs. what she experienced at home: having to hide an essential part of herself to be safe and accepted.

Had That '90s Show taken writing risks instead of writing to the middle, it could have been a successful descendant of That '70s Show. The essence of T7S, at its best, is having emotionally complex characters, significant stakes, humor arising organically from the first two items listed, integrating the '70s setting into the characters' essence and plots, and innovating with the fantasy sequences -- which weren't all '70s references but the characters imagining scenarios for themselves and other characters (e.g., Red joining the circle; "I am Whipped-Cream Head. Fear me") -- and the 360 circle scenes.

The essence of T9S should've been, imo, to innovate not imitate. If Jackie/Kelso are together in that version, then write the consequences of that seriously for Jay. Kelso in T7S is clearly a product of his upbringing. We hear a lot about his family dynamics but meet his father only once and only one brother out of his six siblings. Jay would not be a Kelso clone -- but I'll save further discussion on that for another meta.