'90210's' drama-packed finale shines in its simplest moments

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

Photo: Shannen Doherty as Brenda Walsh. Credit: The CW

Comments

[Shari]

I raised the same point about Adrianna-Jim Walsh in my reaction on TeenDramaWhore. That part was ridiculously nonsensical and almost insulting.

I liked the Dixon-Ethan confrontation, too, but I think I liked the Ethan-Silver one more.

Harry and Debbie were a waste of time. Though I am intrigued by the possibility of Kelly-Harry storyline.

I don't think Annie's scenes were funny--just full of bad acting. And we're all assuming that Annie hit someone we "know." But it could be a random person as well...

[Lee]

Steoph,
I liked the dream sequence, but I agree with what you say about the simpler moments being great on this show. I also agree that they should pursue the Kelly/harry/deb storyline next season. I love it! Great recap as usual!

[Glen]

Did I miss something? I replayed that final scene about 4 times, and I didn't see any car crash. I saw Annie drive away (in an SUV of some kind), and then a BMW (or maybe a Benz) come to stop on the side of the road. The camera focused on the second car's license plate like it was significant, but I couldn't see anything significant about it. It also had a West Bev HS bumper sticker. In any case, I didn't see either car crash into anything.

[shan L]

I have been thinking about the very silly dream scene- did Adrinna know Brenda went to China?
If not,are they saying she has flashes of E.S.P? The dragon would be China-
If this is the line of thinking-does this mean Annie ran over Jim Walsh? If so,how random is that?
Annie really did look like she was going to pull a gun or knife out instead of her phone. Imagine the scene if that had happened!
Who did she hit? Who was the person in the car? My bet is Ethan being hit. Or maybe Adrinna had another dream and walked away from the hospital(NOT)
Whoever it was looked as if they were already dead.

[shan L]

Could the dream scene be clues to what is to come? The dragon points to Brenda returning from China?
Maybe Annie hit Jim Walsh-really,how random was that anyway?
Annie's 'madness' scene was funny-for a second I thought she was going to pull or a knife or a gun out instead of a phone!

[Megan Thayer]

Does anyone else think it's weird that there was a sophomore prom or at least a sophomore king and queen?

[Lee]

http://www.latina.com/blogs/vivo-por-tivo/“90210”-annie-gets-her-gun

[B-]

Annie hit Ethan. The other car with a WBHH bumper sticker was to show that the person who saw the hit and run went to WBHH. So that will cause problems for Annie since she has a car that is uncommon. Also, Kelly mentioned to Adriana that Brenda was still in China during the scenes where she was in labor. And if Adriana is close enough to Brenda to want her at the hospital, we have to assume she knows about her parents and their conversation happened off screen at some point.

Also the writers did a good job of making me feel for Annie. Never liked her, but her meltdown at the party was well done.

[Jandira]

This show is a so awful and embarrassing to just watch...I can't believe I gave it an entire season of a chance. The best parts are the older cast members/original members. Horrible acting...I'm so tired of see "teeth" instead of acting. Over-dramatics are painful to watch...and come on!!! I know you can write better than this. Ugh, I'm just appalled.

[knowitall]

The car that stopped after Annie looks extremely similar to Ryan Matthews' car that we briefly saw in episode 7...