Were Jackie and Hyde Really the Perfect Couple?

'That 70’s Show' has continuously remained an iconic television show which appeals to a wide range of people through its use of nostalgia and bewitching take on 7o’s high-school culture. The aesthetic not only pulls in the older generation from familiarity but also fascinates the young people who are looking for an escape to a more vintage time. One of the most well known parts of the show was the relationship between the charming main characters, Eric Forman and Donna Pinciotti. While the two were the main couple during the show, another couple burst onto the scene during season 5 which proceeded to completely steal the audience's love. Jackie Berkhart & Steven Hyde became the perfect and unpredictable pair which remains to be a fan favorite. What made the two special was the oddity of their coupling, which seemed to work in their benefit for the love story. However, when someone actually looks into their relationship past just watching the show casually, it becomes hard to ignore their hardships and turmoil which take over in the later seasons. Catching major signs of manipulation, trust issues and communication problems. A watchful eye comes to realize the pair might not be as perfect as they once thought. They may even be pretty toxic for each other.

A casual viewer may enjoy the journey Jackie & Hyde took together from enemies to friends to eventual partners. Because it seemed as though the two characters made the other a better person and shared a real love between them. But perhaps one of the most stand-out reasons against them, is their back-and-forth manipulation of each other. Taking a closer look at Jackie, it becomes clear that her manipulation of the relationship/Hyde stems from an insecurity (through no fault of her own). The younger girl was shown only to bring it out when she felt threatened by an obstacle. Like in season 6 when Jackie obsessively tries to force Hyde to say that Brooke isn't hot. Jackie asks Hyde the simple question to which he answers; “Oh well, I guess since you're not setting a trap, I can answer honestly. Yeah, she's freakin hot.” (“That '70s Show. Season 6, Episode 4 - The Acid Queen”). Hyde’s reference makes it clear that Jackie has used ‘traps’ to her advantage before which doesn’t seem to please him. Continuing with that as an assumption would be clear enough on it’s own from his line but then Jackie goes on to really hammer it in; “Ah ha! See, I trapped ya.” (“That '70s Show. Season 6, Episode 4 - The Acid Queen”). Manipulating one's partner to give the assumed ‘right’ answer is never a great foundation for a romance.

Hyde’s subconscious form of manipulation is much more present around the cheating story-line where Hyde mistakenly believes Jackie is cheating on him with Kelso (A common thread pulled with him). In response, he cheats on her & his behavior in that situation will be discussed later. The aftermath however, shows the clear form of manipulation the teen used. Jackie attempts to be mature about the situation and holds off until a summer of thought ends to make her decision between the two. But Hyde more or less stews and maneuvers the situation into something more beneficial for him. Starting with making his false point by dating another girl after Jackie chooses him; “You didn’t think I was going to wait around for you all summer, did you?” (“That '70s Show. Season 6, Episode 4 - The Acid Queen”). He’s clearly baiting Jackie to admit she’d done something wrong by taking long to decide even though he cheated on her. That continues in a later scene in their hang-out when he calls her immature; “No amount of tattoos or toe rings are gonna fix the fact that you have a lot to apologize for.” (“That '70s Show. Season 6, Episode 4 - The Acid Queen”). Except, Jackie doesn’t have a lot to apologize for. Whether Hyde was aware of it or not, he was attempting to manipulate the situation to some sort of ‘equal playing field’ where they were both in the wrong, which was just...false. But like Jackie, all the behavior stems from insecurity.

For all the insecurities each of them carry, a problem arises with trust in the relationship. Jackie Burkhart was an average spoiled teen girl living in the ‘That 70’s” world. She was a character whose purpose seemed to be dating within the group and to be treated as an unwanted guest for the most part (Jackie’s unfair treatment is an essay on it’s own). But the character had some major growth before it was again destroyed by season 8 (another essay all on it’s own). In comparison to her relationship with Michael Kelso, which was built as immature, her relationship with Steven Hyde seemed better for her. However, having been burned by cheating several times and once with Hyde himself, Jackie developed some trust problems. Which is fair when one looks at the reasons but it doesn’t make for a stable relationship. “I mean, look. Last week, he called me his girlfriend. And then this week, I couldn't even trick him into promising me...he wouldn't fool around with someone else.” (“That '70s Show. Season 5, Episode 6 - Over The Hills and Far Away”). Jackie was obviously not secure in their relationship and since Hyde would continually give her reasons to be worried (to be discussed later), one can’t blame her. But her obsessive behavior to ignite promises due to the insecurity was never a really healthy reaction.

The personal problems and insecurities are much more subtle in Hyde’s case. Which is to be understood as a natural response to his childhood. But they do take him on full-force when ignited. The common thread which causes his uncertainty? Micheal Kelso. Hyde never trusted Kelso and openly admits that he can’t even trust Jackie. “You don't need to be hanging out with Kelso alone. Because I don't trust him.” “Yeah, but don't you trust me?” “No!” (“That '70s Show. Season 5, Episode 22- You Shook Me”). The simple fact which causes turmoil between the couple is that Hyde could never trust Jackie when it came to Kelso. There was a period where it seemed he’d gotten over it but the thread was pulled again at the end of season 7, which caused the permanent end of the relationship. Though one could understand by the look of what happened, Hyde perfectly displayed another problem that makes his relationship with Jackie troubled. Which is the lack of communication before action.

Taking action without asking for permission was Jackie Burkhart’s specialty for a good portion of the romance. “Steven! I am your girlfriend. I speak for you now!” (“That '70s Show. Season 5, Episode 11 - The Girl I love”). Those words stand for a repeated behavior in Jackie’s relationships; one which had been a main factor in the final breakup between herself and Kelso. As opposed to Hyde, Jackie’s ‘Do now-Ask later’ behavior usually involves something like agreeing to a couples activity that she knows might make Hyde uncomfortable. No romantic partner should be speaking for someone without asking. Not only is it rude but Hyde had previously shown resistance to such activities. Which was because he’d explicitly expressed distaste for the way Jackie only seems to want to do what she likes. “Steven. As your girlfriend, I am ordering you to go to this party.” (“That '70s Show. Season 5, Episode 11 - The Girl I love”). Her behavior came across as immature several times in their relationship. The communication between the two of them would slowly become unbalanced as their strong personalities took over.

Steven Hyde’s communication problems stem from an understanding background in his childhood but he consistently made no effort to voice his feelings about anything to Jackie, which was just unhealthy. Perhaps the biggest example of his pride taking over was the ‘cheating’ incident between Jackie and Kelso that actually never happened. “Look, I cheated on Jackie, 'cause she cheated on me with you.” (“That '70s Show. Season 5, Episode 23 - Nobody's Fault But Mine”). Instead of acting as an adult, Hyde reacted before even talking to Jackie about her seeing Kelso. Time and time again, the audience saw Hyde try to save himself from being made a fool. He would consistently make rash decisions without communicating with his girlfriend. Which is not only juvenile but rather toxic, considering what was discussed before; Hyde never trusted Jackie to begin with.

What the discussion all comes down to, is that both Jackie & Hyde are guilty of having and abusing their toxic traits, whether they are aware of it is another question. That fact makes for interesting plots but a bad relationship. The show itself never really built them up as a ‘perfect couple’ like with Donna & Eric and even destroyed the relationship during the awful last season. But the audience latched onto Jackie & Hyde and have been devastated over their final break-up for the years since. But a relationship that may seem better in comparison to others in the past, is not always strong on it’s own. Steven Hyde and Jackie Burkhart were in some way good for each other but tragically fell apart due to manipulation, lack of trust, and a refusal of communication. Perhaps if the writing of ‘That 70’s Show’ handled character development better, the couple would have worked out for the better.