Beverly Hills 90210 is my all-time favorite show. It premiered in 1990 when I was 11 years old and ended in 2000, a few months before my 21st birthday. I grew up with it, loving the storylines (well, not all of them…seasons 8-10…yikes) and characters. Treasuring the actors and following them into new projects. I could go on forever about my 90210 adoration, but I’ll save that for another day/post/anniversary.
BH90210 is a whole different animal. A reboot without being a reboot. Basically, the cast (Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth, Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty, Ian Ziering, Gabrielle Carteris, and Brian Austin Green) are playing heightened, fictional versions of themselves. Paying homage to the original without trying to continue on with it in its exact form. Thank God. This is so much better than going back to the well. Instead, they’re spiking the well water with vodka and getting a bit wacky.
The show kicks off with Tori, Jennie, Gabrielle, Jason, Ian, and Brian headed to Vegas for a 30th Anniversary 90210 convention. I would so attend this. They’re anxious about seeing each other for the first time in years. Plus, they each have their own stuff going on back home.
Tori is broke. Again. Her reality show about her lame husband and their six kids just got cancelled. So, she desperately needs this convention money. Btw, big points for casting Ivan Sergei as her husband. He played her psycho boyfriend in the 90s TV movie Mother May I Sleep with Danger? Not to be confused with her other movie Awake to Danger. Tori was in a lot of danger in the 90s. Jennie is on her third marriage. And soon-to-be third divorce. She’s trying to keep it on the down low, but TMZ blows that up. Brian is a stay-at-home father of three with a famous pop star wife (La La Anthony). He stopped acting to focus on his family and lost his mojo. Ian is married to a young wannabe-famous chick. They’re building some sort of brand, just like most people on social media these days. Jason has a sad career directing bad TV shows while trying to get his indie film made. He also has a wife/publicist who focuses more on his career than their marriage. Lastly, Gabrielle is the president of SAG-AFTRA, just like in real life. And a new grandma. Really playing up those Andrea is super old jokes.
The cast is suffering though a panel at the convention (stop asking Brian about his much more famous wife!) when the host announces a surprise guest. Shannen! Her huge live streamed image is projected on the screen behind them. Apparently, she’s been saving wild cats all these years. The crowd eats it up. Here former castmates aren’t so impressed. I love how the writers play up the disdain for Shannen, always a constant rumor back in the day.
Post-panel, the gang decides to hang out at the hotel before flying home to LA. Jennie flirts with a douchebag by the pool with horrible results. Then she and Jason end up in bed, despite the fact that she can’t stand him. Gabrielle flirts with and actually kisses a female fan/bartender. I haven’t read any, but surely there must be some Andrea lesbian fanfic out there. Meanwhile, Brian and Tori seem close to possibly rekindling their past off-screen romance. But she gets drunk and loses her shit. She decides that Donna’s dress from the spring dance episode in season one, that is currently on display at the hotel, belongs to her. A broken display case and a mad dash to BAG’s wife’s private jet ensues. On the flight home, Ian discovers his wife is cheating on him and decides to take it out on the group. Harsh words are exchanged all-around. Making it worse, they land and find the police waiting for them. Orange is the new BH?
The next day Tori and Jennie make up. Tori is suddenly hit with inspiration after seeing her kids watch her on an old 90210 episode. So much meta. They should reboot the show! Jennie side-eyes her, but considers it. Maybe this could work…dunadunadunadunadundun!
Other 9021Notes:
Jason’s wife announces she’s pregnant, stopping him from revealing his romp with Jennie. Good timing!
Brian decides to give acting another shot. Maybe a Mr. Mom remake?
Ian doesn’t tell his wife that he knows about her cheating, but reads over their prenup.
Gabrielle keeps her bartender kiss a secret from her husband.
In the final shot, they zoom in on Luke Perry in the old 90210 episode. It’s still hard to believe that he’s gone. There were a couple of other brief mentions of him earlier in the show. I’m glad they found a way to honor him.
