Back in the Hills! (90210)

Member Name: pmcds

Product:	90210
Date:	08/11/09 (42 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It works well, doesn't try to outdo itself

Disadvantages: May not appeal to wider target audiences

In a brave move to recreate a retro TV programme, 90210 is essentially bringing Beverley Hills 90210 (the teen TV drama from the 90s) bang into the 21st Century, using the name and the school and attempting to make a certain success out of the brand.

I was under the impression it was going to be yet another TV drama that will fall by the wayside, conforming to the same old format that all similar dramas such as The O.C. do nowadays. However, it cleverly uses the former show's name but then stops there with the comparisons. Sure, it has the occasional guest drop in from stars of the original such as Shannen Doherty, but really it just documents the lives of a group of teens at a school in Bev Hills.

And really, that's all it needs to do. It has the attention from the original series and the link with the name, and from there on in, it provides us with some decent acting and storylines, and an appealing sense of emotion that I'm sure lots of teens can associate with. I find that the problem with a lot of shows is that they seem too unrealistic, but you can imagine that the majority of these plotlines are believable, and it makes it a rather intriguing show to watch.

It aired on E4 earlier this year, but they're showing reruns on T4 at the moment on Sundays. The decor and music and style is all up to date, and the glanour and glitz is present just enough to make it appealing but not over the top. It doesn't alienate the public like a lot of shows find themselves doing. Returns of characters such as Kelly (Jennie Garth) and Brenda (Doherty) mix well with the new 'family' that it mainly centres around, the Wilsons, and the combinations work very well.

Overall, it's well worth watching if it's your sort of thing. This will likely appeal to its target audience of teenage girls, more than anyone else, but it has enough drama and appeal to stretch to other targets as well. No doubt a second series will hit before long, and I'd be somewhat interested to see how this gets on in comparison to its predecessor.

Summary: A modern update of the original TV series