‘90210’s’ drama-packed finale shines in its simplest moments
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Clearly, ‘90210’ wanted to end the season on a note of high drama Tuesday night, as evidenced by vodka-toting Annie Wilson’s crash into what appeared to be a pedestrian, the dragon/Cleopatra dream-sequence, and more. But as is so often the case with this show, it was the subtler, truer moments that shone brightest.
Adrianna’s dream sequence, in which Brenda Walsh appeared, outfitted as Cleopatra with her pet dragon in tow, was bizarre to the point of silliness. Watching it made me feel like maybe I had sampled some of Mama and Papa Wilson’s magic brownies.
Annie’s descent into insanity, complete with jeering classmates and broken glass, felt very Erin Silver. Maniacal. Presumably, this was the erupting-volcano-moment Liam had been telling us so much about. But the scene was so over the top, it felt more funny than dramatic. The vodka bottle and the car crash did little to temper the excess. Do you all recall the original ‘90210’ as being this action-packed? Or was it a simpler show?
Anyways, the strongest moment of the episode was not one of the fireworks-worthy broken-glass or dream-sequence scenarios but instead the confrontation between Ethan and Dixon, when Dixon finally asked Ethan how he felt about Silver. Could Dixon have been any cooler in that moment? Any more simultaneously calm and authoritative? Emmy, please!
The Wilson-parents-on-pot bit was cute (if a little familiar). Hey, why not let the parents have a bit of fun once in a while? Plus, it served as a foil for Kelly Taylor’s apparent inappropriate feelings for the hunky principal. A plot that deserves a lot of attention next season.
Perplexing things:
-- Silver’s dress looked pretty good post-dunk, doncha think? Like, exactly the same as it did before her leap.
- -Why did Adrianna’s subconscious know Brenda’s dad’s name? In her dream, ‘Jim Walsh’ was scrawled on the dying patient’s hospital door.
-- Why must they all be so, so small? Maybe this is a lost cause, but wouldn’t it be great to have just a few human-sized high school girls on this show? Even drunk-puking-girl was positively pint-sized in last night’s eppy. We know the main cast is set, but for the smaller roles, maybe cast a regular girl or two?
OK, that’s all for this season of ‘90210.’ What did you all think of the eppy? And what do you think will happen to Kansas-cutie-Annie after that seriously dramatic ending?
-- Stephanie Lysaght
The CW