This is the Problem with 90210
As 90210 inches closer to its second season finale, the show has a major problem on its hands. It's an obstacle that has prevented it from being consistently suspenseful on a weekly basis:
Everyone is too nice.
Think about it: Who is the main antagonist on 90210? What are the major dilemmas?
The series airs on the same network that features other primetime soap operas such as Gossip Girl and The Vampire Diaries. Those dramas focus on sexual liaisons, backstabbing friends, violent deaths and other pulsating cliff-hangers.
On 90210? Naomi lied about a sexual harassment case and Adrianna felt awkward about ditching her band. Sorry, but compared to the aforementioned shows, those situations are a G-rated snooze.
Naomi and Liam are together, in love... and boring.
Granted, 90210 might simply be aiming at a different audience and taking on a different tone. There's nothing wrong with a series that centers on more light-hearted fare and tries to depict realistic situations.
But it still needs more layered characters. Take Jenny on Gossip Girl, Damon on The Vampire Diaries. These are individuals that, simply out, often stir $hit up. They're written well, so viewers don't hate them - but they're multi-dimensional and often cause serious trouble.
What happened to that side of Naomi? Or Liam? These students were meant to be the bitch and bad boy of West Beverly, respectively, but they've since morphed into soft, simplified versions of their former selves.
It's a much more interesting, entertaining scenario, for example, when Naomi and Annie are bitter enemies instead of close friends. Not all characters have to be in a close-knit clique. These friendships have felt forced all season long.
For months, meanwhile, Jasper was meant to be the main villain... but was he even that bad? As I've railed against for weeks, the hit-and-run storyline was completely botched by the writers, as it never gained momentum (or made sense) and Jasper even acted like a loyal, loving boyfriend for a bulk of his relationship with Annie.
I love 90210 and I'm hoping it ramps up the suspense over the next few weeks. I'm encouraged by the return of Jen and the troubling news she has to share, and also hope Liam's father is up to something truly evil.
But with its ratings dropping, the show needs to create a lot more drama than Deb simply pecking her Yoga instructor on the lips and then feeling guilty about it.
Raise the stakes, writers. Make this a show people are truly buzzing about all week, for reasons other than curiosity over when Shenae Grimes last ate a full meal.
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Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter.
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April 27th, 2010 9:52 PM
The new 90210 is boring. THe original is better. Melrose did a better job than 90210. At least THE NEW Melrose Place brought some of the main characters and tied them in to a main storylines with the new cast . THE NEW 90210 BROUGH BACK BRENDA AND KELLY AS THE SHOWS SHADOW CHARACTERS WITH NO MEANING. THEY WERE JUST THERE BUT THERE WAS NO ACTION REIGNITED ON THE NEW 90210.
the new 90210 need to get real and the writers need to make the show intriging to watch. with out some of the original members or new dynamic characters, this show will not survive. THe show needs Kate Cassidy on 90210. she was great on melrose place. She got what it takes to stir things up on 90210. AS FOR JEN, HER CHARACTER IS BORING AND DOES NOT FIT IN THE NEW 90210!
April 25th, 2010 8:15 AM
Without evil Jen and more shocking, watercooler moments, this show will die. I've been hollering since season one about all the goody-goody niceness...NOTHING HAPPENS. Who can forget "family bowling night?"
I thought the original producers were FIRED because of the horrible casting and boring storylines. Please don't tell me the new regime is gonna give us more of the same.
REMEMBER, this is a prime time SOAP. A "heightened" reality. Watching people "talk" is not entertainment. We've gotta have DRAMATIC, SHOCKING STORYLINES.
Rank: Recurring Character
April 25th, 2010 12:06 AM
Yeah.. the whole random relationship thing is annoying too..
Rank: Recurring Character
April 24th, 2010 11:58 PM
(Gia && that redhead Navid's with can hookup for all I care)
Harry - Screw Aunt Becky && Kelly. Divorce him && help him find someone likeable to be with.
OH. && where's his love child again?? Hellooo, major hottie possibility???
I'm giving this show until this season finale to bring things up. Hopefully the finale can bring something big enough for me to want to return to it in the fall. And Oh My God, DON'T GET ANYONE PREGNANT. Ade's storyline was strong && totally believeable - let's not try to do it again && miserably fail shall we??
Thank you for bringing back Naomi's sister!! +10 - I liked her with Mr. Matthews, make it happen again.
&& I guess my last suggestion is, if I'm not being too hopeful, BRING BACK ETHAN! - Major drama for Silver && Teddy!! Maybe he can end up with Annie this time around??? - I feel like things were never resolved between these two..
Rank: Recurring Character
April 24th, 2010 11:57 PM
Suggestions: (Continued)
Naomi & Liam - ...I think I've ranted on enough about these two... Just please, either break them up or bring the fire back. DON'T bring Annie in the middle of them again just like in the first season && mess up the perfectly good friendship that Annie && Naomi have going for them.
Ade - Navid!!!
Rank: Recurring Character
April 24th, 2010 11:54 PM
Sadly, I have to agree. When I first started watching the show in its premiere, I was just bored. Usually its the first couple of episodes where all the big stuff is supposed to happen to really capture your attention && make you really want to continue watching the show, but for me it just wasn't happening. Annie was too nice & Naomi && Ethan were boring. (These were the main characters at the time). I think it wasn't until Liam came around that I got really excited to sit down & watch the show every night. I love the whole chemistry that him & Naomi had going on for them & they instantly became my favorite characters. Then liking everyone else on the show also became very easy to do. I thought the ending to Season 1 was AWESOME btw - major kudos to the writers.
I was soo excited when Season 2 came around, and for the majority of the episodes, I was content with all the drama. (Besides Ethan leaving - Him && Silver were perfect for eachothe
Rank: Regular Character
April 24th, 2010 6:51 PM
I really don't see what's wrong with 90210 being more light-hearted than TVD or Gossip Girl. I often find that 90210 is a nice break from those shows that are entirely unrealistic, exaggerated, and so forth. I like having something to relate to, and at the moment 90210 is a little closer to being relatable then most shows on television.
I still do watch TVD and Gossip Girl. But I really like 90210 the way it is. The drama in shows like Gossip Girl, which is rarely light-hearted, goes way too far some times, just for the sake of drama.
Rank: Guest Star
April 23rd, 2010 6:21 AM
Want noamie bitch and bad boy liam back!
I have the feeling maybe Liams father trys something to Noamie and she tells Liam but he doesn't believe her because she lied about the sexual harassment thing that would cause some drama
April 23rd, 2010 2:35 AM
ivy happen!!!! thats why i am hook into this show!!!!!!!
April 22nd, 2010 5:47 PM
okay wait a second i want to know why yall peaple who hate the show why the hell r u on thier tv fanatic site reading and you must watch it to now so much about it 90210 is great so your telling every day you get out of bed you act like a bitch for all the peaple who say Naomi has softened and she hasnt she still a bad girl and the annie storyline has been pushed to the limit but i think it shall have an explosive season finale and can you stop hating on shenae im really am quite tired of seeing stupid comments about her.She is a great actress her charcter is the best but her chracter is super good and i love annie so i also support the annie and liam relationship all Naomi and liam is sex sex sex sex sex sex sex sex sex sex sex sex sex sex sex lets have someone with a meaningful relationship come on and have chemistry they look cute toghter i could totally see them hooking up in real life and no matter what you say the writers are going to make it happen so just sit back and enjoy the