9021OMG, or just not interesting? (90210)

Member Name: Jark

Product:	90210
Date:	04/04/09 (37 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some fabulous and intriguing characters; glossy as anything

Disadvantages: A couple of annoying characters are central to the plot

I'll start by saying that I never saw the original Beverley Hills 90210. Still being a teenager, it was before my time, so I went into this revamped edition with no expectations, other than the excitement induced by the rather glamorous TV advert - and glamorous is definitely the perfect word. This is the zip code where nobody wants for anything. The kids swan around in Mercedes SUVs bought for them by their parents, bitching at each other and pitying themselves. If that sounds frightful, it isn't, surprisingly!

The story begins with the Wilson family - Harry, Debbie, and their two children Annie and Dixon - moving from Kansas into the home of Tabitha, Harry's mother, in Beverley Hills. They're a loving sort of family who had an easy-going life back home before Harry took up a job as principle at West BH High. Before very long we're informed, through a series of distressed glances, that Tabitha and Debbie don't get along too well. I spy drama! Dixon (who is black, and was adopted by the Wilsons) and Annie enroll at the school and soon become friends with Ethan and 'Silver' (Erin Silver to her mother), as well as making enemies of everybody's favourite bitch, the social climber Naomi Clark.

Following on from this, everything takes a fairly soapy turn. Annie falls for both Ethan, who is seeing Naomi but is hardly suited to her, and Ty Collins, the richest kid in school. Dixon flirts with and later starts to date Silver. Naomi discovers her father's infidelity and witnesses the break-up of her parents' marriage, and her best friend Adrianna is admitted to rehab. It isn't just the students whose lives are messy either; Harry discovers that he has a son, the love child of his college affair with Naomi's mum Tracey. Kelly, portrayed by Jennie Garth who also starred in the original, falls for fellow teacher Ryan, but struggles to decide exactly what it is she wants.

What's so good about 90210 then? Everything I've just written makes it sound like an entirely vacuous, typical American soap which nobody would miss if it were to disappear forever. Well, some of the characters for starters. Not all, but some. It's hard to launch a programme with characters that the audience cares about at the best of times, but when the setting is moneyville it's virtually impossible. Aren't we too overcome with envy to care? Perhaps a little, but some of these people are genuinely interesting. Dixon faces ongoing inner demons relating to his parentage; despite the Wilsons giving Annie absolutely no preferential treatment, and acting as if Dixon was by blood their own, he always feels a slight outsider, despite his cheery outlook on life. Silver radiates warmth (and acts half of the cast off the screen). Ryan is particularly interesting. A confident, charming teacher, we get the impression that something might be missing in his life. When Kelly breaks it off with him, we truly do feel for him. When he meets Kimberley, we really want it to work out.

Other characters have less worries but still shine. Tabitha is unrelentlessly witty and cunning. Her chihuahua analagy as she tells her daughter-in-law to support Harry as he dines out with his new-found son is particularly hilarious. Tracy Clarke is the ultimate socialite, bitchy one-liners rolling off her tongue effortlessly. She shimmers from scene to scene, flicking her pefect hair around, her self-adoration constantly growing. Adrianna returns from rehab a changed girl, her petite persona hogging the screen.

What lets 90210 down in part are the less commanding characters. As the central protagonist, Annie is almost too annoying to bear. She changes her mind on a whim and makes it her mission to moan about every little thing - and let's not go into some of those facial expressions! Naomi, though one of the strongest and most mesmerising characters, has an irritating phase of telling everybody about her parents' divorce; the way she was harping on, drowning in her own pity, you'd think seperation was virtually unheard of. Brenda (Shannen Doherty, also from the original) takes understated to new levels, barely giving us any insight whatsoever into her emotions. Sean is a truly agitating bum-licker - you know the kind.

That said, 90210 is, for the most part, engaging. The tacky bits - and there are plenty - are endearingly so, and the more serious moments - there are a few of those too - are generally touching. It isn't yet on the level of The OC, surely the best example of a show set in an affluent area where the audience is hooked on character and relationship developments, but it's worth sticking with. If the impending second series manages to develop on the show's existing strengths, and iron out a few flaws, it could become a very strong programme indeed.

Summary: Pretty fabulous, if slightly flawed.