Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Meta reboot of teen soap is clever and self-aware.
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BH90210
What's the Story?
Almost 30 years after their hit teen soap Beverly Hills, 90210 created a pop-culture tsunami, the former teen-magazine idols are hoping to relaunch their careers with a reboot that gets the whole gang back together, BH90210. In the years between the old 90210 went off the air and now, Tori Spelling has become a reality-TV staple, Ian Ziering and Shannen Doherty have appeared sporadically in TV movies and little-seen series, Jason Priestley has moved into directing, and Brian Austin Green, Jennie Garth, and Gabrielle Carteris have mostly shown up in celeb gossip stories. But when they all get back together for a 90210 convention panel, they realize there may be juice left in the old gang and the time is right to create a 90210 reboot. And in this show-within-a-show in which every actor plays a sorta-true version of themselves, they do just that
Is It Any Good?
Pleasantly meta and sharp, this "reboot" (if you can call it that) of the 1990s teen TV drama transcends its soapy roots to become, amazingly, something pretty profound. Beverly Hills, 90210 was never great art, and the now-grown-up cast definitely gets how ridiculous it is to be best-known for a show that was a guilty pleasure even when it was one of the hottest shows on TV. With almost BoJack Horseman-levels of irony, the ex-90210'ers look back on their days of teen idolatry with a mixture of embarrassment and wistfulness: it sure would be nice to have the recognition and money that once came so easily, even if that same recognition meant that the show's actors were never taken seriously afterwards as they headed off to TV projects with even greater levels of corn (Ziering's Sharknado turns, Spelling's reality-TV queendom), or "where are they now?" status (Garth, Green).
Yet even "pinups for horny teenage girls," as Priestley is called during BH90210's first episode by a sneering millennial, have feelings, and middle age is a great time to experience both regrets for one's past mistakes, and a longing for a different, better life. And so as we meet up for the cast for the first time in a long long while, it's pretty delicious to see them playing riffs on their real-live selves, and hoping that their reunion will take them somewhere new. Maybe it won't work -- but in launching this smart, self-aware reboot, the cast is already leagues ahead of similar, staler retreads that go nowhere. "Who was that guy who said you can't go home again?" asks a game Spelling. "I don't know," shrugs Garth. "I only went to fake high school."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how many shows that were once popular on TV are getting modern remakes, i.e. Fuller House, Charmed, One Day at a Time. Why? Do these shows have a built-in audience or appeal? How do the shows change when they are remade or rebooted? Are all the changes for the better?
Did you watch Beverly Hills, 90210 when it first aired? If so, does that increase how likely you are to watch and enjoy this show? Or is it made to appeal to new fans? How much "fan service" (i.e. including elements that will mostly be enjoyed by people who are already fans) does it perform?
How do the characters on BH90210 demonstrate courage and teamwork in relaunching their careers? Why are these important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : August 11, 2019
- Cast : Shannen Doherty , Jennie Garth , Tori Spelling , Jason Priestley , Ian Ziering , Gabrielle Carteris , Brian Austin Green
- Network : Fox
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Courage , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : December 8, 2025
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