S01.E01: The Reunion

[formerlyfreedom]

Quote

Having gone separate ways since the series "Beverly Hills, 90210" ended, the cast members reunite.

Airing Wednesday, August 7, 2019.

[Supagirl]

There had better be a miggity-miggity-mic check.

[Scarlett45]

I’m so excited. The opening credits gave me all the feels. 

[alexa]

I felt sad right away because of Luke not being there.  😞

[WhoaWhoKnew]

4 minutes ago, Scarlett45 said:

I’m so excited. The opening credits gave me all the feels. 

We got the Kelly&Donna twirl!!

[alexa]

It feels a bit awkward so far.  It is kind of odd that they are using their names, and their stories, but the supporting characters are fake.  I get why but it makes it feel odd.  I think some of their interactions are off as well.  Again, it makes sense but it lacks a good flow.  

[Jax7917]

This really isn’t good in my opinion , but I’ll watch it for the nostalgia . I’m trying to figure out if it’s supposed to be a comedy or not . 

[ThisOne]

My favorite part is Tori's husband being played by the guy from "Mother May I Sleep with Danger." And so many fun callbacks.

[Jax7917]

I honestly think they should have stuck to a regular reboot . This is terrible and I can’t figure out what’s going on lol

[mojoween]

I will be TeamBrenda for life but dayum, Jennie is fucking funny.  I feel like I am betraying Shannen by saying that.

I miss Luke and was very sad when they did too.

I am actually loving this.

[ParadoxLost]

29 minutes ago, alexa said:

It feels a bit awkward so far.  It is kind of odd that they are using their names, and their stories, but the supporting characters are fake.  I get why but it makes it feel odd.  I think some of their interactions are off as well.  Again, it makes sense but it lacks a good flow.  

28 minutes ago, Jaclyn88 said:

This really isn’t good in my opinion , but I’ll watch it for the nostalgia . I’m trying to figure out if it’s supposed to be a comedy or not . 

Playing versions of themselves with fake supporting characters is breaking my brain.

I think not knowing what this is supposed to be exactly is happening with the actors too and that is why it feels so awkward.

Brian Austin Green and Ian Ziering feel familiar.  I'm not sure if its that they are just straight playing their public personas or if they are playing it as David and Steve (or Fin).  But they are the only two that aren't making me distracted by how unfamiliar they are.

Tori Spelling and Jennie Garth are definitely playing this off as a spoof.  They are basically doing the unauthorized 90120 tv movie, except they are the actors.

Gabrielle Carteris and Jason Priestley seem to be playing versions of themselves but are going for some level of realness or gravitas.  Not succeeding, but trying.

Its disorienting.

Edited August 8, 2019 by ParadoxLost

[Laurie4H]

I had high hopes but this is not good.  Everything is predictable and Tori is insufferable.  

[alexa]

Well, and further it isn’t really a spoof with someone like Tori because these are her real problems.  So if she thinks it is funny or a play on a pretend problem, it is not which makes it confusing.  This is bad, and also without Luke it is missing something.  

[WhoaWhoKnew]

This was cute, I guess.

I plan to keep watching, but if it's canceled, I'm cool with that too.

[BrindaWalsh]

I'm not crying at young Luke Perry, you're crying.

Other than that, I can't decide...it had some laugh out loud moments.  I know enough about Tori, Jennie, and Brian in real life to get their lives in this version.  I don't know enough about JP or Ian. 

Edited August 8, 2019 by BrindaWalsh

[theredhead77]

I'm not sure what I was expecting but this wasn't it. I'll keep watching but I'm not a fan of the mockumentary style.

[Scarlett45]

I liked it!! It’s fun that everyone is willing to poke fun at themselves. 

The grief in Jennie’s eyes was real the second Luke appeared on screen. RIP Luke. 

[seasons]

Not really much of a shock that Andrea might swing the other way.

[MerBearStare]

I enjoyed this episode, but I also knew that it wasn't a straight up reboot and had heightened reality elements. If I hadn't already known that I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much.

When she isn't being super hammy, like in the later seasons of 90210, Tori actually has really good comedic timing, like when she had that show (not a reality show) in the mid-aughts, So NoTorious. 

I was getting verklempt seeing the whole cast together without LP and damn if that ending didn't get me.

[methodwriter85]

42 minutes ago, alexa said:

I get why but it makes it feel odd.  I think some of their interactions are off as well.  Again, it makes sense but it lacks a good flow.  

I felt the same way. I get it, and I get what they're going for, but it's not really flowing right yet.

I also think the stalker THINKS that he's Brian Austin Green's son, but he's going to turn out to be Jennie and Jason's lovechild. They're paying homage to the secret child storyline from Soapdish. I mean, c'mon, look at the hair:

Edited August 8, 2019 by methodwriter85

[DivaLasVegas82]

I didn't really like it. It's not what I wanted the reboot to be. But I'm going to give it a few more episodes to see if it grows on me.

[ExplainItAgain]

I liked it. I think this first episode was a little bit of a mess because they had to throw a bunch of stuff in there. Hopefully it will be a little more organized as it goes on.

[Moxie Cat]

Man, I loved it....totally enjoyed all the callbacks and nostalgia. That's OK, I can hang out in the Unpopular Opinion corner!

I do wish I knew more about their (real) personal lives because I think a lot was going on there. Didn't Ian really have a a hot, younger blonde wife years ago whom he divorced? And I don't know anything about Jason's real family situation or how many times JG has been divorced.

Tori and the kids were spot on, though there was quite a bit of digging at "Dean's" lack of ambition/employment!

Sorry, Tori....that may be the same red dress but it was definitely let out! She's obviously still slender but if you watch "Spring Dance," TS was absolutely tiny back then.

[DivaLasVegas82]

I love the Luke Perry tribute at the end with Dylan telling Brandon, "Welcome to paradise" from the original show. I still can't believe Luke is gone. 😞

[StaceyNotStacie]

I enjoyed this. I didn’t have any expectations, but since Wednesday night television isn’t that great, I decided to check it out. My only complaint was that when they did the tribute to Luke Perry at the end,  I wish he would have gotten the entire screen instead of Brandon and Dylan together. 

[DivaLasVegas82]

1 minute ago, Moxie Cat said:

Man, I loved it....totally enjoyed all the callbacks and nostalgia. That's OK, I can hang out in the Unpopular Opinion corner!

I do wish I knew more about their (real) personal lives because I think a lot was going on there. Didn't Ian really have a a hot, younger blonde wife years ago whom he divorced? And I don't know anything about Jason's real family situation or how many times JG has been divorced.

Tori and the kids were spot on, though there was quite a bit of digging at "Dean's" lack of ambition/employment!

Sorry, Tori....that may be the same red dress but it was definitely let out! She's obviously still slender but if you watch "Spring Dance," TS was absolutely tiny back then.

I don't see how Tori, when she was writing this (with Jennie) didn't ask herself, "Why am I still with this bum?"

[drivethroo]

I actually loved this and I'll be tuning in next week, lol.

I figured out they were playing fictional versions of themselves when "Brian Austin Green" was married to "Shay" when we know he's married to Megan Fox and we know Jason Priestly is not married to Vanessa Lachey.

I'm trying to figure out if Tori Spelling is dragging her real life husband by having "Tori Spelling's" husband be a lazy trifling bum on the show.

LOL @ Nate telling "Tori" the kids were watching Mommy on TV but they'd be bored soon.

LOL @ "Gabrielle" getting her lesbian on.  And LOL at "Gabrielle" being a grandmother since she was dern near 30 playing high school Andrea.

Quote

Sorry, Tori....that may be the same red dress but it was definitely let out! She's obviously still slender but if you watch "Spring Dance," TS was absolutely tiny back then.

"Ian" dragged "Tori" about the dress and mentioned she could only get into it with 3 pairs of Spanx.

Quote

I don't see how Tori, when she was writing this (with Jennie) didn't ask herself, "Why am I still with this bum?"

I'm sure she is.  Tori has 5 kids.  "Tori" mentioned she has 6 mouths to feed.  Tori knows "Nate"/Dean is a bum but maybe Dean is useful to babysit the kids while Tori goes to work and she wouldn't have that if she kicked him to the curb.

Andrea isn't the lesbian, "Gabrielle" is the one exploring the other side...

Edited August 8, 2019 by drivethroo

[DivaLasVegas82]

5 minutes ago, seasons said:

Not really much of a shock that Andrea might swing the other way.

LoL. I never even thought about Andrea being a lesbian or bisexual. But perhaps because I was only seven when the original series started.

[TomGirl]

3 minutes ago, seasons said:

Not really much of a shock that Andrea might swing the other way.

I don’t know, I think the stereotype of the smart, nerdy girl being a lesbian is pretty cliche.

[mtlchick]

Tori's face.  Yikes.

Ian has not aged a damn day. 

I didn't HATE it.  But I think this could have been paced and plotted better.  (And they should have gone more meta and let Jason direct this episode.) I did like the mini shout outs to the egg, Color Me Badd and the dress but there were too many awkward pauses in between.

That all said...every tribute they did for Luke my heart broke for them as you can tell he was loved by all of them.  And the final shot of him...I cried.  It hurts that he's gone.  And in two months, he gets honored again on Riverdale.  

I hope this picks up the pace once Shannen and Christine enter the mix. Edit: but for a short term commitment, I’m all in. 

Edited August 8, 2019 by mtlchick

[DeafAngelboy23]

I’m not sure what they wanted it to be but I’ll always think of Luke 😔

[BrindaWalsh]

I will give it this, it was REALLY good to have that group on screen together or not.  At the risk of sounding like a squeef, they are like a warm blanket.  I'm not a naive and bright eyed teen anymore, the world is pretty bleak these days, so  this gave me a much needed dose of familiar escapism.  I'm certainly not getting that from the Handmaids Tale.  

[methodwriter85]

10 minutes ago, drivethroo said:

I don't see how Tori, when she was writing this (with Jennie) didn't ask herself, "Why am I still with this bum?"

Tori seems to know what her issues are, but she doesn't do anything about them.

As someone who really loved "Mother, May I  Sleep with Danger?" I really loved the callback by having Ivan Sergei play the husband. Can Kellie Martin show up as an obsessive fan?

Edited August 8, 2019 by methodwriter85

[Conotocarious]

I loved this. I can’t wait for next week.

[ParadoxLost]

10 minutes ago, BrindaWalsh said:

I'm not crying at young Luke Perry, you're crying.

How dare you.  I'm not crying.  😢

So far the parts I like most are Brian and Ian. 

I think there is the potential that Shannen deciding to do this may save the whole thing.

I like the spin that fandom, thirty years later, likes Brenda/Shannen better on a live feed than the rest of them collectively in a room while the cast still hates her.  I was dreading that this was going to be one long 'I hate Brenda' marathon.  It needed to be balanced out.  And I'm kind of intrigued whether Shannen does good works or if she is just screwing with the cast by bringing video of cute animals to fan events.  I kind of think its the latter and I hope she tortures them..  

[Laurie4H]

The whole thing with her stealing the dress was just ridiculous and that ruined it for me.  Also the predictability.  Ian taking about his perfect marriage you knew wasn’t.  But the accidentally FaceTiming him while having sex and they all saw it.  So stupid.  And the typical lesbian stuff that has to be in every tv show.  I wouldn’t have a problem with it if I didn’t always feel so forced.  And normally you just don’t ask a stranger their sexual preference.   Oh and the cliche after sex scene when they both fall back on the bed.   Please get creative.   

Edited August 8, 2019 by Laurie4H

[methodwriter85]

11 minutes ago, Laurie4H said:

 And the typical lesbian stuff that has to be in every tv show.  I wouldn’t have a problem with it if I didn’t always feel so forced.

It kind of would have been interesting if they had done that with Brian Austin Green instead because I remember there used to be rumors floating around about him being bisexual.

[Angeleyes]

I liked it. I knew going in that it was going to be similar to Curb Your Enthusiasm. Maybe they haven’t rivaled that show, but it’s nice to see the cast have a chance at some campy humor. Plus, they have promised to have a show within a show that will satisfy those wanting scenes similar to the original show. 

[txhorns79]

I did enjoy Gabrielle becoming a literal grandma at the beginning of the show, taking a bus to the convention and suddenly wondering whether she might be a lesbian.  

It was a little disturbing seeing present day Tori with the much more normal looking 1990 version of herself in the background while they were watching the first season of the show.  

I'd also like to know what Ian Ziering and Brian Austin Green do to stay so young looking.  I mean, Ian is 55!   

[GHScorpiosRule]

That. Was not good.

Seeing Shannen and then Luke at the end were the only good things. It didn’t help that Gabrielle, Jason and Brian all rolled their eyes and gave Shannen dirty looks when in reality, I think Jason and Shannen mended fences? Too on the nose with that ridiculous drama when Shannen left.

Add me to saying YIKES! To Tori’s face. She’s barely recognizable.

[Writing Wrongs]

1 hour ago, mojoween said:

I will be TeamBrenda for life but dayum, Jennie is fucking funny.  I feel like I am betraying Shannen by saying that.

Jennie is my fave so far. She's hilarious and she looks great.

I think Tori is funny also. This style is similar to her, So NoTORIous show and she was very funny in that.

Can't wait for Shannen to get into it.

[Ohmo]

1 hour ago, alexa said:

 It is kind of odd that they are using their names, and their stories, but the supporting characters are fake.

Yeah, and some of the scenes felt personal, but not in a good way, like Tori needing money and some of the interactions on the plane.  With them playing themselves, I kept wondering if this is how they saw themselves, and if so, why would they share that?  If some of it was supposed to be funny, it didn't come across that way.  Jennie and Jason didn't come across looking that great, and I'd be squimingly uncomfortable if I were Jason's RL wife.

[methodwriter85]

30 minutes ago, ParadoxLost said:

I like the spin that fandom, thirty years later, likes Brenda/Shannen better on a live feed than the rest of them collectively in a room while the cast still hates her.  I was dreading that this was going to be one long 'I hate Brenda' marathon.  It needed to be balanced out.  And I'm kind of intrigued whether Shannen does good works or if she is just screwing with the cast by bringing video of cute animals to fan events.  I kind of think its the latter and I hope she tortures them..  

I mean, it seems to be true. Shannen Doherty is getting nothing but a lovefest now by the fandom especially after surviving her bout with breast cancer. For obvious reasons, they're not writing that in, but they are going with the fact that Shannen is well-beloved by the fandom.

I would love it if she absolutely tortures them.

[kazza]

I enjoyed it. It was fun to watch faux versions of people who were famous when we were young doing what we imagine they are doing now. Perfect summer fluff. I think I'd actually enjoy this more than a straight reboot, because we get to be in the joke somewhat. 

[Artsda]

I liked it, odd start and to get into but by end i enjoyed it. Especially putting in the clips.

[methodwriter85]

TIL that Andrea Zuckerman was the teen lesbian crush of the 90's.

Quote

I did enjoy Gabrielle becoming a literal grandma at the beginning of the show, taking a bus to the convention and suddenly wondering whether she might be a lesbian.

Although to be honest, this kind of stuff does happen. Meredith Baxter-Birney and Kelly McGillis spring to mind immediately. I also have a friend in high school who only had boyfriends when I knew her but she's married to a woman.

Edited August 8, 2019 by methodwriter85

[TomGirl]

21 minutes ago, methodwriter85 said:

For obvious reasons, they're not writing that [Shannen’s breast cancer] in,

How do we know this?

[methodwriter85]

3 minutes ago, TomGirl said:

How do we know this?

Hmm, good point. I thought if that was in, it would have been mentioned right then and there because it would have gone with the tone of the St. Shannen introduction, but I figured they were swapping out Shannen's real-life breast cancer redemption arc with her being an animal rights activist and gaining love that way.

[GHScorpiosRule]

It’s also interesting that Jason got bumped from top billing to Gabrielle being the first in the opening credits.

[SevenStars]

1 minute ago, GHScorpiosRule said:

It’s also interesting that Jason got bumped from top billing to Gabrielle being the first in the opening credits.

No, the intro made it clear it was going be done alphabetical. I guess to make sure there wasn't a fight about that.

I like part of it but for the most part I didn't enjoy it. I'm just here for Shannen/Branda and JP. 

Dylan/Brenda/Brendon were always the main reason I watch this reruns of this show as a kid. I'm sad one of them won't be in it. 

Anyway, because of Shannen I will give it a chance but I'm one foot outside the door.

Edited August 8, 2019 by SevenStars