Created by Darren Star and produced by Aaron Spelling,Beverly Hills, 90210remains one of the most popular teen dramas in TV history. The series follows Minnesota transplants Brandon (Jason Priestly) and Brenda Walsh (Shannon Doherty), two all-American midwesterners who relocate to the affluent suburbs of Los Angeles and experience a whirlwind of culture shock.
Upon befriending such California locals as Dylan McKay (Luke Perry), Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth), Donna Martin (Tori Spelling), David Silver (Brian Austin Green), Steve Sanders (Ian Ziering), and Andrea Zuckerman (Gabrielle Carteris), Brandon and Brenda become more comfortable in their new surroundings and come of age while attending Beverly Hills High.
DespiteBeverly Hills, 90210’smassive popularity in the ’90s, even avid fans of the show may have missed the handful of spin-offs that belong to the official 90210 franchise. There have been six total TV series in the 90201 franchise produced between 1990 and 2019. As the recent death ofBeverly Hills, 90210actor David Gail continues to be mourned, it’s worth remembering the star’s legacy on the show by chronologizing the entire series from start to finish.
Beverly Hills 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990-2000)
A landmark TV show that spoke to an entire generation of teen viewers,Beverly Hills, 90210launched in 1990 and lasted a full decade across 10 seasons. To watchthe golden age ’90s teen dramain order, it’s paramount to begin with the pilot episode, which introduces the conceit of the drama, the setting, and the main characters. In"Class of Beverly Hills,“Brandon and Brenda Walsh move from Minnesota to Beverly Hills, California, and meet their new classmates. Brandon instantly falls for Kelly Taylor, the most popular girl in school.
With 292 total episodes aired between 1990 and 2000, there’s no shortage of crucial storylines to trace in the original teen drama. However, the most important episodes shed light on the characters' backstories.
In Season 1,“Perfect Mom"opens Brenda’s eyes to Kelly’s mother’s drug and drinking problems. Another must-see episode in Season 1 is"Slumber Party,“which brings Brenda closer to Kelly, Donna, and Andrea, only to have their dark secrets exposed by a cruel classmate. The season culminates with"Spring Dance,“another must-see episode in which Steve learns he was adopted while Brenda and Dylan consummate their romance for the first time.
Beyond Season 1, the most memorable episodes of the show include"The Next Fifty Years,“which ends with an unspeakable tragedy involving David’s friend, Scott, relating to gun violence. Season 3 continues to highlight the love triangle between Brenda, Dylan, and Kelly, with an unforgettable episode coming in"A Night to Remember.“The gang attends prom, where Donna has a drunken mishap that lands her in trouble.
Season 3 concludes with the outstanding two-part episode"Commencement,“which sees the gang graduate from high school and reflect on their time together.Beverly Hills, 90210became more repetitive and serialized following Season 3, with the next landmark episodes coming when the gang graduates from college in Season 7 ofthe ’90s-defining TV show.
Stream on Prime Video
Melrose Place (1992-1999)
The first spin-off in theBeverly Hills, 90210franchise,Melrose Placeran for seven seasons and 219 episodes from 1992 to 1999. The premise follows a group of trendy young Los Angelinos living in an apartment complex on Melrose Place in West Hollywood. While eight main characters were introduced in Season 1, several casting changes took place on the show and shifted the focus to Amanda Woodward (Heather Locklear), a ruthless advertising boss, and her relationship with her receptionist, Alison (Courtney Thorne-Smith). Meanwhile, romances in the building involve writer Billy Campbell (Andrew Shue), Dr. Michael Mancini (Thomas Calabro), fashion designer Jane Mancini (Josie Bisset), and more.
10 Teen Drama TV Series Where Best Friends Become Lovers
There’s just something about watching the evolution of platonic love into something deeper that strikes a chord with romantics’ hearts.
Beyond the establishing pilot episode, the 90-minute Season 1 finale (“Suspicious Minds”) is a must-watch episode for the way it transitions from Jane to Amanda as the series protagonist. Elsewhere, Alison’s old boyfriend arrives and finds her in a relationship with Billy, which further develops their connection. Another crucial episode includes the 2-hour Season 2 finale"Til Death Do Us Part,“in which Amanda is sued for sexual harassment in a riveting cliffhanger.
Likewise, the 2-hour Season 3 finale,“The Big Bang Theory,“offers juicy storylines involving Billy and Brooke’s wedding ceremony, pulling several strands together as the main characters are reunited. Toward the end of the series, essential episodes include"Amanda’s Back”(S6E15) and the series finale"A**es to Ashes,"(S7E35), which ties up as many loose strands as possible with satisfying results.
Models, Inc. (1994-1995)
The third entry in theBeverly Hills, 90210 series,Models, Inc.ran for one year and 29 episodes on Fox, from 1994 to 1995. The plot follows Amanda Woodward’s mother, Hillary Michaels (Linda Gray), who runs a high-profile modeling agency in Los Angeles. As Hillary runs Models, Inc. with an iron fist, she tries to balance her professional exploits with her personal problems.
The main characters also include models Carrie (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Teri Spencer (Stephanie Romanov), Linda (Teresa Hill), Sarah (Cassidy Rae), Julie (Kylie Travis), Cynthia (Garcelle Beauvais), all of whom have different industry challenges.
WhileModels, Inc.is fairly inconsequential regarding the90210chronology, standout episodes onthe short-lived Fox dramainclude the opening pilot and concluding finale. Between the opening and closing chapters, fans should check out"When Girls Collide,“which finds Julie taking over the modeling agency after Hillary is accused of murdering Teri.
In Episode 8,“Meltdown,“Sarah finds herself face to face with Teri’s real killer in an isolated beach house during a power outage, which does a great job of mixing genres with an unpredictable ending. Fans should also tune in to"Till Death Do Us Part”(S1E18), which finds Cynthia kidnapped by Frank in one of the most unforgettable moments in the short-lived spin-off.
Models, Inc.is currently unavailable to stream.
90210 (2008-2013)
While nowhere near as effective as the original,90210was rebooted in 2008 for The CW and lasted 5 seasons and 114 episodes. Instead of the Walsh family, the teen drama centers on the Wilson siblings Annie (Shenae Grimes) and Dixon (Tristan Wilds) as they adjust to their new wealthy L.A. environment. The show recycled several original ideas and plot points that made the original so compelling, although the caliber of acting wasn’t quite on par.
10 TV Characters Who Were Ruined in Reboots and Revivals
Reboots and revivals always excite fans, but there is usually the risk of certain characters failing to impress like they did the first time.
Much likeMelrose Place, 90210made a habit of saving their best episodes for showstopping season finales. For example,“One Party Can Ruin Your Whole Summer"concluded Season 1 with incredible results when Brenda Walsh from the original series appeared to help Adrianna deliver her baby at the hospital during prom. It’s an unforgettable moment that intrinsically links the two series. Likewise, the Season 2 finale"Confessions"converges several storylines together, including Annie confessing her hit-and-run to her parents.
At times,90210gets darker than its original predecessor, with"Liars”(S3E12) finding Naomi in a harrowing hostage scenario that marks the height of the show’s dramatic intensity. In a recurring titular theme,“Til Death Do Us Part”(S5E1) is another essential episode of 90210, setting up the final season in a brilliantly conceived and executed opener.
Melrose Place (2009-2010)
The fifth series in theBeverly Hills, 90210series,Melrose Placewas officially revived in 2009 with a new cast of characters dwelling in the same old titular apartment complex.The show aired on The CWfor one season and 18 episodes, from 2009 to 2010. Katie Cassidy plays Ella Simms, a publicist who makes friends with several new tenants at the famous Melrose apartment complex while dealing with her old boss and building owner, Sydney Andrews (Laura Leighton).
The show also marked the return of original cast members Heather Locklear and Thomas Calabro, who played Amanda Woodward and Michael Mancini, respectively.
Despite lasting just 18 episodes, theMelrose Placereboot has a few episodes worth checking out for90210completists. After standout episodes 3-5, the series hit its creative stride with Episode 12,“San Vicente,“which involves Jonah and Riley’s elopement to Las Vegas, Auggie’s alcoholic relapse, and the revelation of Sydney’s murderer. By the time the series takes a turn down “Wilshire” in the final episode, all the outstanding storylines come into sharp focus, bringing the events full circle to resolve Dr. Mancini’s criminal endeavors.
Melrose Place(2009) is currently unavailable to stream.
BH90210 (2019)
The sixth and final series entry to date,BH90210took a meta approach to its 2019 revival. Set nearly 20 years after the events of the original series, the show follows the original cast members ofBeverly Hills, 90210after Fox officially greenlights a series reboot. As the real-life actors weigh the decision to return to their career-defining roles well into their 40s, the show makes keen observations about aging in Hollywood as well as the trend to reboot and remake every popular TV show under the sun.
For fans of the original, all six chapters in the short spin-off are a must-see, especially for how it says goodbye to Luke Perry as Dylan McKay.
Although Perry was offered a chance to reprise Dylan McKay inBH90210, his scheduling commitments inRiverdaleforced him to bow out. Perry was willing to appear onthe stellar TV rebootas a guest but sadly passed away in March 2019, just five months before the first episode aired.
If for no other reason, seeing Perry’s friends give him a heartfelt sendoff inBH90210makes the show a must-watch, especially for fans who grew up withBeverly Hills, 90210in the ’90s. Apart from the emotional goodbye, the fresh and original meta-spinBH90210employed was truly inspirational.
