‘90210’: It’s about to hit the fan

Well, now we’re talking. Finally an episode of “90210” I can get behind. Funny, emotional, chock-full of cliffhangers, and did I mention funny?

Of course, now we all have to wait until Jan. 6 for more. No new episodes until then. So cruel, CW.

How did the show get turned right upside down? What exactly will I be missing? Lots of groundwork has been laid, so diving right in:

Who is Sean? It’s safe to say he’s probably not Harry’s son. His Southern drawl disappeared with that last mysterious phone call. Very “Desperate Housewives” of you, “90210.” I like. Looks like the little scammer’s mooching off the Wilsons! Naughty, naughty. Wait until Tabitha gets her hands on you.

Someone’s got morning sickness. OK, my original guess that it would be Brenda was wrong. Newly sober Adriana seems to be the one expecting. We saw her lose her lunch after she got a whiff of some hot dogs. Could Navid be the father? Hmmm, doubtful…

Speaking of Brenda … wait, she’s only in one more episode? Rumor has it she may have a terminal illness. But now that we’ve seen the explanation for the hospital bed -- she fell off a stage -- I think this is not likely. What are they going to do with her? Still rooting for an all-out cat fight between her and Kells. That would be a way to write her off the show. ... But let’s instead all hope that Shannen Doherty signs on for even more episodes.

Naomi finally goes bad … Up until now, Naomi’s been a whiny brat with bothersome nostrils, as opposed to just a brat I love to hate. But Tuesday night she delivered. First, she got to explain to counselor Kelly -- and in perfect Blair Waldorf fashion -- why she and Annie can't be friends. “Well, it’s just that Annie is a whore and went out with my boyfriend behind my back -- after I asked her not to!” (Speaking of Blair, did anyone else find it a little coincidental that she also now has a maid for a sidekick? Doroda meet Penelope.) Now, she’s earned her keep in a very “Mean Girls”-esque clique, which is altogether very promising for the once-wannabe bad girl.

… while Dixon’s about to go bad. Dixon has been the most consistent of the “90210” kids. Funny, charming, a guy you could actually picture in the real world. When he and adoptive dad Harry worked out their father-son issues -- and Dixon’s race finally entered the picture -- you felt for him. But that sexy little cheerleader might be a problem for Silver, no?

There are still a few hiccups. Those back-to-back T-Mobile product placements were beyond awkward. Not all of Naomi’s digs were sharp (“Tip for the short: Wear heels.” Huh?) And not everyone’s a winner yet. Annie’s saccharine-sweet good-girl routine is pushing me to my breaking point. Either bad stuff goes down for Annie -- as we've been promised -- or she’ll go down in history as the Andrea of the new “90210”: boring and almost entirely unnecessary.

And what about all the loose ends? Is Mr. Matthews (and his former "student" and narc) coming back? What about Debbie? Is she going to have something to do besides being Harry's dutiful wife? What will Kelly do if and when Brenda is gone?

We have seven weeks to ponder. Let me know what you thought of the episode in the comments section below.

-- Denise Martin

Related:
Tristan Wilds talks Dixon’s dilemma
Complete “90210” coverage

Photo credit: The CW

Comments

[joanna]

Loved the Ugg boots comment by Annie! Sooo 2002 - so true! :)

[Marisa]

ok, yes, the episode was a bit better - i like where the naomi/ozzy thing is going, but she still bugs the ever-living crap out of me.. honestly, what is up with her "diabolical and scheming" facial expressions (she just looks constipated and confused)??! although i must say that annie's "raging bull" moment, as silver called, was probably the most painful moment in the show's brief history. shenae, um, stick to fake laughing and lame attempts at witty, "coy" banter with ethan. yuck.

also, is it just me or does sean look freakishly like the perfect mix between his "mom and dad"? amazing casting.. although, i guess if he turns out to not be their son, it's a moot point.

curse you CW!

[lee]

This show is a nightmare. Last night's episode was the worst yet, and it's funny that Rebecca Kirshner said she would fix it. It's is so corny. So many plot lines. So many "people we think are one kind of person only to learn they're someone else entirely (Kimberly the cop, and now Harry's stupid cliched southern son). This is absolutely ridiculous.

I am a big Brenda/Kelly fan, but honestly, either give them SOMETHING to do, A STORYLINE, or send them packing already. They're in the episodes for like 5 seconds, especially Brenda. That was hard to watch last night. I also don't like this new "FUNNY" approach to the show. It's supposed to be a drama.

[mambo]

this show is going nowhere and will be forgotten by summer. until they drop all the new characters and resurrect a lot more originals it's just a brand rip-off; a pale shadow of the show it leased the name from.

and these writers have no right to make decision on the original characters' fates without first consulting original prod/writers like Starr, Rosin, Klein, Mollin...

[Maria]

I really liked this episode Dixon and Silver 2 of the strongest characters got screen time, Annie decides to stop being fake and be herself, Naomi rocks playing the bitch and good addition her and the Junior or Senior girls. They will no doubt force her to do bad things in the future, Adrianna is throwing up early signs of sickness or preggers. Harry and Dixon's scene was so real I felt for him I even found a mean streak Dixon extremely hot. The cheerwhore got on my nerves, Silver needs more SL in 09' she is a big part of this 90210. Sean is evil !

Dammit I have to wait till Jan. 6 2009 for the next episode !

What's to come ? I know Annie and Naomi will clash that's just a given they don't like each other

Dixon and Silver's promo she asked if he still cares about her I love these two don't break them up !!!...And who is this Christina the cheerwhore ? Adrianna's promo you can see her looking into a mirror and Navid sounds frustrated.Sean is up to no good you can hear it in his voice, see it in his eyes..I do not trust that guy something is definitely up, Debbie and Harry sound like they will go through bigger problems family related And last Brenda and Kelly part I lost count...but now she's trying to get pregnant w/ Ryan ... good payback is a bitch and Kelly had it coming for some years now. I can't wait but I have to so until 2009.

[Tom]

The product placement ads in the show are too obvious. One week its State Farm Insurance, another its T-mobile, then a soft drink. There are ways to do product placement in a show without making it look so obvious that you are taking a few minutes during the show to sell an item. Work on it 90210. Otherwise I like the show more than I expected I would.

[nancy]

I am so sick and tired of seeing Brenda (big fan) and Kelly of being on for 5 minutes here and there. What a waste of talent. This show needs to GET BRENDA BACK and get her a storyline QUICK!. In the old 90210 we cared about the Walshes and the kids from West Beverly...their chemistry was special. We rooted for the little family they made but the new 90210 doesn't even come close to that. It might have the same zip code but it sure doesn't have the heart.