One of TV's Most Wanted series graduates at last to DVD! Beverly Hills 90210 still makes a terrific first impression, despite Brandon Walsh's (Jason Priestley) mullet in the pilot episode. And as Brandon's fraternal twin sister Brenda (Shannen Doherty) states as she nervously prepares to attend her first day at West Beverly Hills High School, "First impressions are incredibly important." The 21 episodes from the 1990-91 debut season hook viewers immediately as transplanted Minnesotans Brandon and Brenda struggle to fit into their fabulous new surroundings while still holding on to their grounded Midwestern values. "Strange city, new school, no friends," Brandon says sarcastically, "I'm psyched." The siblings anchor the series as they and their new friends grapple with teen rites of passion and soap opera dramas that involve such hot-button issues as AIDS, underage drinking, parental substance abuse, and coping with a learning disability. There's pretty and popular Kelly (Jennie Garth), who takes Brenda under her wing; jock Steve (Ian Ziering), still reeling from a recent breakup; Andrea (Gabrielle Carteris), the school newspaper editor who busts Brandon when he strays from the straight and narrow; and freshman square pegs David (Brian Austin Green) and Scott (Douglas Emerson). Oh yes, and Donna (Tori Spelling, daughter of series producer Aaron). But what the show really needed was that galvanizing breakout character who would catapult Beverly Hills 90210 to must-see status. Enter, in the second episode, Dylan McKay (Luke Perry), the soulful, enigmatic loner with a bad reputation and a good heart, who reads Byron and loves Marx Brothers movies. As one acquaintance notes, "He's not exactly an open book." Dylan's flirtation with Brenda, which begins in earnest in "Isn't It Romantic," is consummated in "Spring Dance." Future star alert: In the episode "April Is the Cruelest Month," Matthew Perry guests as an overachieving student with serious father issues. "Friends?" he cries to Brandon, "I have no friends." In four years, that would change, big time. DVD extras include audio commentary by writer-producer Darren Star on two episodes, three behind-the-scenes featurettes, and a season recap. Recommended. (D. Liebenson)
Beverly Hills 90210: The Complete First Season
Paramount, 6 discs, 1,068 min., not rated, DVD: $61.99 Volume 22, Issue 1
Beverly Hills 90210: The Complete First Season
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