gemini22

Something really struck me in this episode. I thought this was perhaps an inverse of The Fluffer, one of my faves, but it didn't work. First, Jessica and Nick's chemistry is all off. She seemed more maternal than romantic. Second, in The Fluffer the story got a chance to develop. Here, having to switch stories with Winston/Aly and Schmidt and CC, then jamming in the stuff with Reagan and Jess, there was no real banter time for the nick/jess stuff to be satisfying. I love the nick/jess combo, but it's hard to create a strong dynamic when you're carrying so many characters. I like Winston and Aly, but they weren't even connected to anything on the story at all. In my opinion, the story flows better when the character stories intertwine somewhere. For me, seasons 1-3 were great (although Jess and Nick's breakup reasoning was ridiculous). Since then it's been a struggle.

Cekrypton1, no kidding! That producer was so honest about what happened behind the scenes. Like Aaron Spelling firing that guy b/c he supposedly ant-semetic, or how irritated he was when Priestly insisted on The Cardigans performing when he had the Spice Girls. Also, about how the cast hated Shannen Doherty but the writers liked her b/c she always remembered her lines and never adlibbed. Good interview!

Okay, I've been waiting for Val to show up to post. I came across an interview one of the former producer/writers did with a fan site. https://teendramawhore.com/2010/01/17/beverly-hills-90210-producer-talks-college-years-slams-new-90210/ It's not hyperlinking, but you can cut and paste. Basically, what I found most interesting (and appalling) in the article was this response the producer/writer gives about when they told Brian Austin Green (BAG) that they had hired Tiffani Amber Thiessen (TAT). Apparently, BAG was furious to find out they'd hired her b/c they were seriously dating at the time and he knew that she'd have to do love scenes (most likely) with Perry and Priestly and it was well known they liked to "feel up" their female costars! The writer plays it off b/c both guys are "wonderful", but he says he has tons of outtakes showing them groping their costars before sexual harassment was a "watchword". Also, he mentions that the women didn't feel as though they could complain b/c it would lead to their dismissal. SO SICKENING. There is also some other very interesting conversation about Brenda leaving and other behind the scenes gossip. This guy was only a writer during the college years.

I totally agree. I like the idea of this character, but when it is required for Nikki to have an intense/emotional scene, Lyonne just....isn't very good. It rings kind of hollow. I like it when she's acerbic and witty, but the emotional scenes are really unconvincing.

You guys bring up an interesting point about Morello. She seems so sad and vulnerable that she can evoke a lot of pity, but her actions are terrible, violent, and kind of deranged. That is what is so compelling about this show. The person that seemed so sweet for entire season and a half is an obsessive monster in a lot of ways, but only in a particular context. Otherwise, she essentially harmless. It's kind of fascinating. I like that they play with people having specific activation points. Like Tastee's was V, Morello's is Christopher, or Gloria's was triggered her feelings of impotence around her son so she made some bad choices. These triggers turn them into the worst versions of themselves.

Right, Big Boo had it in Season 1, but then she gave it to Piper as her Christmas present b/c Pennsatucky was threatening to kill her. I remember she pulled it on Pennsatucky at the end of Season 1 when they fought, but I find it hard to imagine she got it back!

I didn't particularly care for the turn Piper took this season. I mentioned this in another thread, but I really feel Taylor Schilling's strength as an actor lies in her comedic ability. She has great comedic timing and uses facial expressions hilariously. However, the edge she needs to carry off this arc doesn't seem like a good fit for her. In the past, Piper only seemed to get edgy and aggro when she was overwhelmed and pushed too far. Taylor can do that kind of this intensity. But this wholesale departure just doesn't fit the Piper they created. I mean....she told on herself for setting up Pennsatucky and Pennsatucky was trying to fucking KILL her. She decides to get god knows how many years tacked on to Stella's sentence with all that contraband b/c Stella stole from her? I don't know.

Just a small continuity question for everyone. I thought Piper lost the screwdriver in the last episode of season 1 when she was fighting Pennsatucky? I was just wondering how she got it back... Otherwise, I liked this season. I loved the pairing of Soso and Poussey, I hope Soso is accepted by that group. I have a strong suspicion Alex will be fine. Lolly made a point of noting how dangerous that guy with the toothpick was, so I bet she sees him go into the shed and saves Alex somehow. Just idle speculation! I liked Alex this season more than Piper! Piper became sort of rotten - it was a demeanor that didn't feel natural. It felt a little like a godfather parody skit. I think I'm so used to seeing Piper portrayed comically, and I really thing that's Taylor Schilling's wheelhouse - comedy and things that require comic timing. She can do intensity when she is reacting to host of stressful situations, but to lashing out as a big bad felt kind of silly to me. I also really enjoyed Norma's backstory - I never would have guessed a stutter!