Storylines
Being the show's main character for the first seven seasons, Eric appeared in many storylines. The show opens with Eric, a scrawny, socially awkward 16-year-old, dealing with his ever-evident and growing crush on the girl next door, Donna Pinciotti. During this time, Eric obtains the signature 1969 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser, and takes it out of town, despite his father's warnings not to. This, evidently, impresses Donna and leads to the pair's first kiss. The next episode sees the pair dealing with their kiss as well as Eric's long awaited 17th birthday. As the series progresses, Eric's friends influence over him begins to surface as he finds himself arrested, due to Kelso being caught driving a stolen car whilst he was a passenger, due to an earlier ban on his Vista Cruiser. Eric and Donna soon share a first date, but all goes awry as Donna accidentally becomes intoxicated due to a mix-up with the drink order, causing an awkward and umcomfortable experience for Eric. During the high school prom, the two decide to rent a nearby motel room for after, though ultimately decide not to engage in intercourse after receiving the attention of fellow students.
Coinciding with the beginning of his relationship with Donna, Eric must deal with the death of his grandmother, sharing a rare bonding moment with his father Red and his best friend, Hyde's abandonment. It is Eric who ultimately decides that Hyde should move in with them. Season 2's episode, "Halloween" revealed that it was Eric who began Hyde's downward spiral to rebellious stoner due to him framing Hyde for the destruction of a class mates school work. The pair end up in an argument, but all is resolved as they choose to forget it ever happened. Taking the blame from Donna for smoking on school property, Eric is suspended from school but is swiftly re-entered as the truth is later told. He also received his first steady job from his father at PriceMart and Donna and Eric lose their virginity to each other at Midge and Bob's revised wedding vows.
Throughout season three, the pair's relationship holds a steady foundation despite Eric's constant awkward antics, such as accidental sexism and pantsing Donna. However, things take a turn for the worse as Eric's offer for a promise ring is rejected by Donna and he decides that if she doesn't see a future with him, they should break up. Despite it being his decision, this leads him to spiral into depression, hallucinating at one point what it would be like if he had never dated Donna. He is angered on several occasions as Donna deals with their breakup and the downfall of her parents' marriage by acting insulting toward him, even publishing in the school's newspaper a story that parallels their relationship. He is also resentful of her relationship with Michael Kelso's older brother, Casey, who is offensive and smug. When Donna began acting out due to Casey's influence, Eric was concerned but refused to take her back upon the evening Casey flamboyantly threw Donna aside due to embarrassment.
Regretting it instantly, Eric went to find her to once again reconcile, however, he learns that she and Michael had taken off for California where they spend the remainder of the summer. Despite his parents foreboding, Eric takes off after Donna and reconciles instantly and the two continue their relationship. Later on, Eric contemplates in front of his friends the idea of proposing to Donna, something they all instantly pick out the idiocy. However, the two do get engaged as he proposes, somewhat awkwardly, atop the water tower. He then realises that he is in fact failing his test scores, getting a worse score than Kelso, prompting him to work harder in order to marry Donna. Eric also thinks hard about his future, choosing to move out to Madison with Donna. In the fifth season, Eric and Donna become engaged, despite widespread discouragement (and anger, in the case of Kitty, Red and Bob). However, they refuse to call off the engagement and remain engaged until the end of the sixth season. Eventually, they both begin to experience pre-wedding jitters and Eric, acting upon these feelings, abandons his wedding rehearsal. He then returns in the next episode and Donna forgives him.
After spending much of 1978-79 lazing around, Eric eventually decides he needs to do something with his life. This prompts many attempts for him to find a longterm career. It is not until a conversation with friends that he realises his passion is in teaching. With this, he visits a guidance counseller who informs him that it is a very expensive studying experience. However, he offers a choice of reduced costs, if he takes it up in Africa. Eric accepts, much to his mother and Donna's dismay. After a few weeks of preparation and receiving cold treatment from Kitty and his girlfriend, Eric packs his bags and prepares to leave. With the blessing from Red and forgiveness from his mother and Donna, he drives off with the Vista Cruiser to a hearty farewell.
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