Expert: Mel - 3/7/2007

Question
I have a question, I was wondering if you could tell me what Donna's favorite color was? Also, If you feel her and Steve could have ever had a chance (in a relationship) and why the creators never tried out this combination. Thanks for the info in advance.


Answer
Well, Donna’s favorite color is pink (1.14, 14).  I know; not very original, though she is also fond of “Rose” and “Buff” (4.04, 84).  These were the colors of Alpha-Omega, the sorority she rushed her freshman year of college.  

About her and Steve, wow … usually when people cite a Donna-Steve combination they’re trying to prove that there are some relationships within the cast that never really ‘were’, even as friends.  But nothing could be further from the truth in this case, as Donna and Steve always made a really great tag team, and shared notable similarities.  It looks like you saw something very special in wanting a romantic relationship to develop between them.  

Personally, I was satisfied with things the way they were, though your question does leave me wondering how sweet it could have been.

For one thing, they were the only characters defined - at times, entirely - by their ability to provide comedic relief for a given episode.  If anyone’s going to make cartoonish gestures, say something dumb, or do something awkward (or in Steve’s case, totally foolish), it will be one of them.  I’d like to think this gave them specific appreciation for each other.

At the very least, they recognized their matching insecurities quite early, and possibly why they felt the need to play into that role.  A seminal moment occurs at the first Halloween party (2.13, 35), where Steve asks Donna why she chose to show up in such an outrageous mermaid costume that she’s obviously uncomfortable in, much like the giant red dress that didn’t allow her to sit down at the Spring Dance.  He encourages her to “show up as [herself] every once and a while”, to which she replies, “Yeah, who would want to see that?”  “ … I would”, Steve says, giving her a kiss on the forehead.  

Of course, Steve himself seems to spend ALL his energy projecting false confidence, while Donna, being more timid and sincere, would do just the opposite.  But back to the Spring Dance (1.21, 21).  Here we have a situation where Donna and Steve literally decide to go to the function together because, basically, no one else would have them (or in Donna’s case, she thinks no one would).  Then Steve proceeds to ignore her completely, except for one scene where they stand together in navel-gazing glumness.  This can’t be good in the long-term ;)

It’s only as the series progresses and they become more self-assured, I’ve found, that they really gain the ability to support one other and laugh-off so many missteps.  

One reason why some might consider romance a misstep for them is that there are major differences to consider too (flakey vs. reliable, selfish vs. selfless, virile vs. chaste, impulsive vs. rational).  But Steve’s occasional rudeness and insensitivity would be handled well by Donna (see episode 2.10, 32, where he insults her judgement on economics, and she puts him square in his place with unexpected strength).  Unlike Steve, Donna is exceptionally forgiving, and he is both well-intentioned and a mess of sweetness without the overblown need for bravado.  I think it would’ve been good for him to have someone like Donna to keep him in check on such a close level.  

But was there ever any mutual attraction between them?  I’d have to say, ‘No’.  Steve was Donna’s go-to male buddy outside of David, whom she dated for most of the series.  So whenever she would have problems with the later, there was always ‘Uncle Steve’, so to speak, to hear her frustration (4.16, 96) and offer a male perspective.  Towards the end of the series, you can still find them hanging out at the bar, speculative about whether his marriage and her relationship with David have become too ‘comfortable’ and potentially sexless (10.25, 293).  I think it’s safe to say that scenes like this confirm that the energy between those two is decidedly platonic.  

This is not to say, however, that the series didn’t play around with the idea of them together (albeit, rarely and always tongue-in-cheek).  Aside from a flirty handshake withdrawal in season 5 (5.13, 125), they were paired together as forlorn lovers in a talent show production -- but in drag (7.26, 203). The whole idea, it seems, is worthy only of spoof. Donna was also the one who once put Steve in a dress for a fraternity mission (4.13, 93).  As time went on, Donna seemed to have a blast with Steve’s free-spirited nature.  In the final shots of the series, you can actually catch Donna and Steve dancing together on her wedding night in full goofy, suggestive glory.  

The one time I can recall that the possibility of a romance is explicitly acknowledged comes the morning after a night of group confessions about past and present crushes (episode 5.24/136).  Here is the exchange:

D: … Yeah, I hope no permanent damage was done.
S: Oh, quite the contrary, Donna.  I think it opened up a whole new world of possibilities.
D: Like what?
S: Like how about … you and I play house this afternoon?
D: Steeeve!
S: What? … What?
D: (raises eyebrows)  Uh - Party’s over … (wink)
S: Can’t blame a guy for asking, right? (to self)

Clearly, they were both joking.  But with Steve, you never know.  That is, if Donna were into it.

Here are some probable reasons why a Donna-Steve relationship was never explored by the producers:

1. Steve is Kelly’s ex, and Donna is nothing if not loyal.  It took all of season one for the former to resolve their long-standing feud, and in that time Donna acted as a mere shadow to her friend Kelly, with no voice of her own.  By season 2, she was seeing David, and Steve would continue pining after Kelly until, arguably, season 7.  To pair them up any later in the series during the brief moments of them being single would’ve just looked contrived.

2. Should Kelly be uncomfortable with the arrangement (though I think she’d be fine, at least as of season 3), Donna would not have been attracted to the drama either.  Her most essential role within the group, I think, was that of Peace Negotiator to all.  

3. Despite this, Donna was generally regarded as a kid sister of sorts, more appropriate for parenting than hot pursuit (probably due to her moments of clear naivete).  So, Steve accepted the position of a big brother.  This is all pretty ironic, though, considering that she was really the oldest of the original characters … being the first among them eligible to register to vote in the 1992 presidential election (3.11, 61).

4. As evidenced by all his long-term relationships (but one: Celeste), Steve finds a little loving (or even not-so-loving) beratement necessary to be turned on in any courtship.  Not always sincere insult; more like an inside joke or flirtation.  Donna either wouldn’t engage in this, or would fail to be any good.  She’d feel bad.  And the last time Steve was with a girl who never had a single salty remark for him (Celeste, partial in seasons 3-4), he cheated on her.    

Conflicts between Donna and Steve have, not surprisingly, shown themselves only in comedic one-liners (“Donna -- No one takes SHOULDER PADS on a CAMPING trip!”, 2.07, 29).

5.  Steve would never pursue a girl who didn’t believe in sex before marriage.  

6.  For Steve, dating Donna is probably the closest he’ll ever get to dating Brandon Walsh.  And, in his own way, wasn’t he practically doing that already?  (hehe)


I guess it could be said, then, that I believe their best shot was really as friends.  But that they’d make a rather endearing couple, if only for a short while.  Two people who know too well what it’s like to be the butt of every joke, and have parents willing to belittle their confidence and threaten disownment (Felice Martin, Donna’s mom; Rush Sanders, Steve’s dad).  Yeah, how is it that they didn’t compare notes on that last one?  For me, that’s the *real* lost opportunity.

Hope you enjoyed the read, and thanks so much for your question!  I expect future answers to be a bit shorter but, this being the first, I thought it best to be thorough.

All the best,

Mel