So much of this shouldn’t have worked… and yet it does.
Most of the time, I tend to deplore reboots because they are the pinnacle of laziness. When a studio has to go back to an old property that has languished for well over half a decade (or two decades if you don’t count The CW’s spin-offs), it’s usually a sign that they are looking for a shameless cash grab instead of an interesting and worthwhile story. Since I was only a casual watcher of Beverly Hills, 90210, the possibility that this reboot might suck didn’t bother me as much as it probably should have, but I was still worried about wasting several hours for no good reason.
And then, I sat down to watch the thing.
To keep things short and sweet, BH90210 is nothing short of a troperiffic miracle that will entertain you from beginning to end.
This Isn’t What You Think It Is.
There’s genuine fun to be had here.
For some reason, BH90210 was originally marketed as a reboot… and I have no idea why that is. Sure, almost all of the original cast is back together, but I was kind of taken aback by the fact that the writers didn’t just sit there and shovel out a look at what Dylan and Brenda Walsh are doing today. Instead, they developed an original story that doubles as a love letter to the fans of the franchise and a bizarrely hilarious satire of modern Hollywood.
Before we get to the story, though, I have to commend the cast for having the guts to laugh at themselves. I haven’t seen a show pull off something like this since the heyday of Stargate SG-1, which truly says something about modern entertainment.
As you might have guessed by that clue, the show is actually about an exaggerated version of the original cast and their attempt to get a reboot going at Fox. Some people might think that such a premise might be a story-driven spectacle, but this series focuses quite a bit more on the “characters” than anything else… and for good reason. The chemistry of this cast is so explosive that it completely overshadows most of the show’s possible flaws.
With all of that said…
This Is Cheesier Than A Wet Burrito That Has Been Slathered In Five Truckloads Of Fondue.
RUH ROH!
Before you misinterpret this as a criticism, let’s get one thing straight. Much like the soap operas and telenovelas of yore, melodramas like Beverly Hills, 90210 are like a ten-thousand-pound platter of the most artery-clogging Wisconsin cheddar cheese that has ever been produced on this good earth. Therefore, BH90210 wouldn’t be half as good as it is if it didn’t revel in the asspulls and plot twists that define the genre.
Fortunately for us, the cast and creative team love the absurdity as much as we do. Even though any viewer with half a brain can see some of the twists coming from a mile off, it’s easy to appreciate the hilarity and the endearing nature of the story. If they’re having fun with an “I Am Your Father!” story arc, it’s a good bet that we will, too!
And no, I’m not going to spoil much of anything here. The dialogue and story points are so awesome that you have to experience every little morsel on your own.
The Flaws Are Minor.
I kinda wanted to see “Jason” edit the pilot, but you can’t always get what you want.
Before we get going here, I’d like to point out that there is a difference between real issues and things that could be misinterpreted. To demonstrate this, I’ll point out a real flaw and follow it up with one that I could have added to this list, but didn’t.
On the production side, I feel like this series could have benefited from one or two additional episodes. While it is always a good idea to cut out the fat, it seems like the creative team could have packed in a bit more satire during the creation of the in-universe reboot’s pilot. They did a good job with the scriptwriting process, but they kind of skimped out on the filming and editing side of the equation. I know that technobabble isn’t all that desirable, but the viewers could have gained a greater appreciation for what the people behind the camera have to do to deliver entertainment to us.
I suppose that can be saved for a possible season 2.
On another note, some viewers might get the idea that the writers are attempting to shove SJW-style messaging into the show. In my case, I had to give these segments some thought because they can bring down a normal show. At first, I wasn’t sure if the writers were going for satire because some actors sound like pretentious jackasses in the real world. However, I soon realized that some of the best satire involves a healthy dose of reality. After all, why would they include one of Dave Chapelle’s prophecies come to life if they didn’t want us to laugh?
Conclusion.
The show is very funny, but there are some genuinely touching moments in there, too!
BH90210 is proof that the entertainment industry can still surprise us all, and I love it for that. The cast is a joy, the story is an over-the-top blast, the dialogue is howlingly funny, the flaws are almost non-existent, and there’s even a tribute to the late, great Luke Perry! If you’re a fan of the franchise or just want a piece of rip-roaring entertainment, give this show a shot.
You won’t regret it for a second.
And can Fox PLEASE give this show a second season already? I command it!
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