90210

90210 aired its final episode of 2008 on Tuesday, and fans are going to have to wait until January 6 until the CW drama returns to the screen.  The first episode of 2009, entitled “Hello, Goodbye, Amen” was directed by Brandon Walsh himself, Jason Priestley.  It appears to revolve around Brenda Walsh and some of her serious personal issues.  But until then, we are all left to think about the first half season of 90210.  Was the re-boot of the series worth it?  Has it lived up to expectations?  Does the show have future promise?  The CW took a risk with 90210, the original series holding a legion of fans.  What are they feeling now?

Upon reflection, the mere fact that 90210 isn't an epic failure is an accomplishment.  Depending upon the tone The CW decided to take with the series, it could have very easily been an utter disaster.  Teen dramas have to reflect the sensibilities of today's youth.  If they had tried to recreate the original Beverly Hills 90210, it would have been embarrassingly outdate.  As it stands now, 90210 still feels a little safe, but that's only because we have the likes of Gossip Girl on TV these days.  Still, they went with a more modern tone than they could have, and it's served the series well.

That all being said, 90210 remains disappointing on a number of levels.  The characters are all acceptable in their own right, but they don't fit as a whole, in terms of possible ongoing conflict and story lines.  The conflicts within the main characters aren't sustainable.  The writers like who they have too much.  The whole Wilson family is so adorably wholesome, that even when Annie gets drunk, it's cute.  The drama, therefore, feels flimsy and unearned.  We know it will all work out, and thus the weight is lost.

Then there's the pure execution of each episode.  The acting, overall, has been good.  There are no Mischa Barton's weighing down the cast.  All the leads hold their own, have a definite persona, and are interesting enough. However, the dialogue is spotty at best, and the attempted humor falls flat more often than not.  This is something that needs to improve if the show's going to get better.  Maybe some more extreme, eye-catching story-lines would be appreciated. 

90210 hasn't been the disaster some assumed it would be.  It's actually been just fine, for what it is.  There is serious potential there, and the writers just need to figure out exactly what the show is going to be.  Maybe 2009 is the year they figure it out. 


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image Courtesy of CW)