Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Classic teen soap explores themes of sex and violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Beverly Hills, 90210
What's the Story?
Created by renowned TV producer Aaron Spelling (Charlie's Angels, Melrose Place) and Sex and the City creator Darren Star, BEVERLY HILLS, 90210 follows twins Brandon (Jason Priestley) and Brenda Walsh (Shannen Doherty), who move to L.A. from Minneapolis and attend the fictitious West Beverly High School. Their circle of friends includes popular Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth), insecure Donna Martin (Tori Spelling), ambitious Andrea Zuckerman (Gabrielle Carteris), aspiring musician David Silver (Brian Austin Green), happy-go-lucky Steve Sanders (Ian Ziering), and rebellious Dylan McKay (Luke Perry). The teens deal with everyday issues, like relationships and more serious topics, like alcoholism, gun violence, and pregnancy, all against the glamorous backdrop of their famous California zip code.
Is It Any Good?
While it hits on many important issues across its 10-season run, this isn't a realistic portrayal of teenagers. Beverly Hills, 90210 delves deeply into the (mostly) privileged but often troubled lives of its core characters. While they're fun to watch, they hardly reflect the average teen, who (hopefully) doesn't suffer the amount of high-stakes drama this cast faces on a weekly basis. While full of teen-oriented storylines about friendship, rivalry, and troubled romance, the series is first and foremost a prime-time soap. Consequently, characters frequently scheme, cheat, and manipulate their way through the world of high school and beyond.
That said, 90210 does address some very serious issues faced by teens, including coping with peer pressure to smoke, drink, do drugs, and have sex. The series also deals with subject matter that was controversial when it first aired, including teen suicide, partner abuse, surviving rape, and struggling with alcohol- and drug-dependent parents. In the show's fifth season, many of the original group transitions to college and other pursuits. Their problems after high school get so over-the-top that the show stops being as fun to watch. Nonetheless, the series will forever be remembered as a cultural phenomenon that helped define the 1990s.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how teenagers are presented on Beverly Hills, 90210. How similar are the lives of these teens to those of the teens in your family or at your school?
How does Beverly Hills, 90210 compare to other teen dramas like Gossip Girl or the 90210 remake? What do Brenda, Brandon, and company have in common with the teens on other shows? How are they different? Do you think real teens' lives would be as much fun to watch on television? Why, or why not?
Families can also talk about some of the difficult issues teens have to deal with today. Who are the people you can go to if you or someone you know has a problem?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 4, 1990
- Cast : Jason Priestley , Jennie Garth , Shannen Doherty
- Network : SOAPnet
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- TV rating :
- Awards : Emmy - Emmy Award Nominee , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Nominee , Kids' Choice Award
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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