TV Series: “90210” Blends Long Forgotten Plot And Up-To-Date Pretty Faces

If you expected “90210” to bring a bunch of surprises, find out it did. Although not a bunch and just a couple, the “Beverly Hills” spin off managed to surprise its viewers, and not necessarily in a pleasant way.

On the one hand, the plot is so familiar, one would actually take it for a “Beverly Hills” episode if the faces weren’t new. Surprise! On the other hand, an up-to-date posh soap about fabulously rich teenagers can’t possibly feature the same old means of communication or transportation or whatever.

The hippest hairdos, the most stylish clothes, the very attractive characters, the latest cars and mobile phones, everything is brand new. But for the story, of course. Anyway, all of these nowadays must-haves seem to be taken out of (you guessed) “Gossip Girl.”

So what’s original about “90210”? Nothing, if you ask me. It’s a cocktail made out of various juicy and cheesy soaps and even if the result is indeed colorful, it’s not tasty at all.

No wonder The CW kept the series hidden from the critics’ eyes.

In spite of the fact that Brenda is all grown up now, the series’ producers found a very good replacement for her and her brother. It’s Annie (Shenae Grimes) and Dixon’s (Tristan Wilds) turn to move to the trendiest ZIP code out there. Their dad (Rob Estes) gets a job as a principal at the West Beverly High and the siblings by adoption have no other choice than get acquainted to the other rich teens’ lifestyles.

Dixon lands a spot on the lacrosse team, while his sis gets a part in the chorus of a play, whose front man (Adam Gregory) she begins to date.

The fatiguing two-hour opener of “90210” went all-out to prove everybody it did have a point. Unfortunately, I think it failed beautifully. Nonetheless, the outfits and pretty faces may be the ones to do the trick. It wouldn’t be the first time, would it?