BEVERLY HILLS, 90210

My Take: 10/10

Parental Rating: Older Teens and Young Adults

This one is personal.

Before streaming. Before algorithms. Before teen drama became darker, louder, and more explicit, there was Beverly Hills, 90210.

And it mattered.

Not because it was subtle. Not because it was perfectly written. But because it gave teenagers emotional storylines that felt big. Important. Worth centering.

And that is the reason why Beverly Hills, 90210 isn't just a TV show, it’s a cultural blueprint. As a creative mentor who focuses on the "youth industry," I view this series as the definitive origin story for the modern teen drama. It’s a 10/10 because it was the first of its kind to treat the teenage experience with the gravity, complexity, and high-stakes emotional truth it deserves. Long before the "glam-noir" of modern series, 90210 used the lens of zip-code-induced wealth to tackle issues that are still deeply relevant today: identity, class tension, and the messy process of finding your "tribe" in a world that often feels artificial.

The series begins with the "culture shock" of twins Brandon and Brenda Walsh as they move from the earnest suburbs of Minnesota to the high-pressure, sun-soaked hallways of West Beverly High. While the cars are faster and the houses are bigger, the core struggles, fitting in, dealing with peer pressure, and navigating first loves, are universal. The show effectively balances the aspirational glamour of Beverly Hills with "issue-of-the-week" storylines that grew into complex, multi-season character arcs. It’s a story about a group of friends who become each other's chosen family, navigating the transition from adolescence into the complicated realities of adulthood.

The Parental Lens

I am categorizing this for older teens and young adults because the show doesn't shy away from "taboo" subjects. For an older teen, 90210 is a fantastic mirror for the social dynamics they face every day. Even in 2026, the pressure to "curate" a perfect life is identical to what Kelly or Steve experienced, only now it happens on a screen instead of at a beach club. You can talk to your teen about the "Walsh perspective": How do you keep your values intact when you are surrounded by a culture that prioritizes status over substance? It’s a great entry point to discuss the difference between "fitting in" and truly belonging.

For young adults, the series offers a fascinating look at the "emancipated" life. Many of the characters, like Dylan or Kelly, deal with a startling lack of parental supervision, which leads to both freedom and profound loneliness. As a parent, this is a vital conversation to have with a young adult about the responsibility that comes with independence. It asks the question: When the guardrails are gone, what keeps you grounded? Much like the high-pressure roles in professional dramas, the characters in 90210 are often forced to be "mini-adults" long before they are ready, making it a perfect springboard to talk about emotional regulation and the importance of a solid support system.

From a creative standpoint, the impact of 90210 on the industry cannot be overstated. It transformed its cast into global icons and proved that "teen stories" were a massive, underserved market. As a creative, I appreciate the show's "visual evolution", from the neon, primary colors of the early 90s to the more sophisticated, soap-opera aesthetic of the later seasons. I also love the "cross-pollination" of music and fashion; the Peach Pit and later the Peach Pit After Dark were instrumental in how shows integrated real-world culture into their fictional universes. It’s a lesson in "brand building", how to create a world that the audience doesn't just watch, but wants to live in.

My Final Take

Beverly Hills, 90210 is a 10/10 because it pioneered the "prestige teen" genre. It managed to be both a escapist fantasy and a grounded social commentary, often in the same episode.

My Take is that this is the ultimate "legacy" show to watch with your older kids. It’s a reminder that while the fashion and the phones (or lack thereof) change, the heart of being a teenager remains the same. It’s a chance to show our kids that we "get it", that we understand the heartbreak, the confusion, and the thrill of that time in life. It’s a classic, high-octane journey through the most famous zip code in the world, proving that no matter where you live, the most important journey is the one you take to find yourself.

This is my personal view. Please always check local ratings. Poster used for review purposes only.