Three episodes in, we can call it: The new, improved new 90210 may not be Mad Men, but it is officially a fun, fizzy bitchfest of a show. Herein, five things we loved about this week’s episode:
1. The exact right amount of truth-telling. In the first scene, when Dixon was in the principal’s office — a.k.a. his dad’s office — for punching that slimy guy who took Annie’s now-infamous naked picture, and he was being all coy about why he punched the guy, I thought we were in for an episode of let’s-keep-this-from-dad subterfuge and high jinks. Instead, Dixon came out and told Dad, then asked if he could go to lunch already and stop defending himself. Dad agreed. Bravo.
Later, when Annie vowed to prove to Silver that Naomi had been the one to actually send the “sext,” as the kids (or newscasters who breathlessly cover “shocking” kid antics) call it, I again thought we were in for some Blair Waldorfian shenanigans. Not that I don’t enjoy Blair Waldorf or shenanigans in their rightful place, but I was glad Annie’s big play was to have Sext Dude tell Silver the truth in front of Naomi, so she couldn’t deny it. Perfect. And exactly the right set-up for what would come later.
2. Dixon moving on from Silver. I’ve never been a huge fan of them as a couple. (Exception: When she’s surreptitiously filming their sex and then showing it at the movie theater. But that lasted only one episode last season.) I am, admittedly, a little intrigued by what we didn’t see of their relationship, since he mentioned it involved sharing both Ramones CDs and a calligraphy set. But he claimed that stuff was all her, not him, and declared, “I’m gonna find me a female Dixon.” Navid’s answer: “I’m picturing the start to a very bad Tyler Perry flick.” See? Things get 12 percent wittier the second Dixon gets over Silver! Navid then rewarded Dixon by letting him drive “the Lambo” to pick up pizzas for the Blaze meeting, and next thing you know, Dixon’s meeting said “female Dixon” at the pizza place! Because super-hot girl sports fans just hang out at random pizza places at approximately 3:15 p.m., the time of high school extracurricular activity meetings! The two exchanged some baseball banter, only to find that, OMG, they both had that one Drake song on their ringtones! And she liked music just like he did! And … oh, oops. Turned out our girl Sasha was also, as Dixon would later describe her, a “grown woman.” Like who’d graduated college and now deejays for a job. They made a date for the weekend, but we could see where this was going, especially once she saw that he drove a Lambo … straight to a place where Dixon was not engaging in truth-telling as above.
She, of course, showed up later playing Teddy’s yacht party, where Dixon, Silver, and everyone else was … but, aww, Silver played along, which made me like Silver better, too. Everybody wins. (Also in Sasha’s favor: She played Bel Biv DeVoe’s “Poison” at the bash! She really must be a grown woman to know that classic.)
3. Navid is now adorable. He made Adriana the cutest video apology ever, in which he interviewed himself about being a jealous jerk over Teddy. “She’s so far out of my league that I feel like I’m dreaming. … I defy you to look in those eyes and not lose your mind.” Sigh. (I defy you to not love the absurdly colorful makeup she’s been rocking this season: yellow eyeshadow, green eyeshadow, blindingly red lipstick. Only somebody as gorgeous as she is could pull that off, but I love seeing the girls on this show find some fashion edge this season.)
4. Jenny Garth could be getting a juicy storyline … Is it just me or are we inching toward a liaison between her and Principal Wilson? Nonetheless, I like that she talked some sense into him and told him Annie had “been punished enough” by being humiliated by the sext without also getting grounded on top of it. As awful as Annie can be, and as much as I like dark-place Annie, enough is enough.
5. Hats! On a yacht! The show has been taking a (good) page from the Gossip Girl playbook by sprinkling in far more fabulous events with fabulous wardrobe. This time out it was the yacht party, and hats. Lots of hats. Naomi’s straw hat! Dixon’s bowler! Annie’s white floppy hat! All the better for her final, bitch-on-bitch confrontation with Naomi: Just when we thought we’d get more truth-telling, she marched up to Naomi with Liam at her side and declared proudly that they did sleep together, just as Naomi had always suspected! And furthermore, that “afterwards we’d lie there making fun of you. … It’s kind-of funny though: Everybody who loves you just ends up loving me more.”
And I must admit: This oddly table-turning showdown, which made both Silver and me feel a tad sorry for Naomi, also made me like (“like” as in “hate”) Annie a little more. Phew. The war is far from over.
What did you think, PopWatchers? Are you happy to see Dixon moving on with Sasha? Should Adriana stick with Navid or ditch him for Teddy? How long will it be before picture-perfect Teddy turns out to be pure evil? Do you wear hats when you go to yacht parties?
Photo Credit: Michael Desmond/The CW
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I thought this episode was a total snore aside from the completely amazing Annie and Naomi scenes. We need more bitch and more crazy, and definitely way less Teddy.
I’m sorry I still love Silver/Dixon, other than that the show is way different from last yr. I actually was at a 90210 party tonight, that’s how good it was. 90210 TUESDAYS ARE BACK! Woot!
I’m all for Silver/Dixon. But this show is getting ABSOLUTELY awesome. Is it too early to say that I’m anticipating upcoming episodes of “90210″ then “Gossip Girl”? Hark! The horror!
And do you know why this episode had an extra uumph? Cause Crazy Jen wasn’t in it. Yes!
omg! im sooo lovin this new season, think its wayyy betta than season 1. and i did actually hate annie in s1 cos of her ‘good girl’ act, bt im lovin da new bitchy annie specially when she turned the tables on naomi in front of liam as well haha.
i agree with u vivi, gossip girls not doin it 4 me anymore…im a jen-hater as well bt i do luv how she manipulates evry1, wat a nice talent 2 have lol
I look forward to 90210 more then GG now too! I can’t even believe it.
me too I LOVE THEM!! I so want a hate/love relationship btw them!! I hope they get back together at the end of season
I’m loving this season all the more! Love it to the highest level.
ONe thing is for sure: Dixon is a jerk-face! Not that I want him to end up with Erin Silver again but his pathetic excuse of getting a “female Dix” to get over her in the form of grown-up Sasha. It’s just so silly…Moving on doesn’t mean getting a replacement for an ex that quickly but finding closure to both Silver and Dixon in a way that they could not hurt each other anymore.
Love evil Annie, Naomi deserves to be knocked down a peg. I hate her sister too, can’t wait until Naomi finds out she’s the skank and throws her out.
I really am liking this season a lot, but there’s one thing I can’t get past: Teddy looks far to old to be a high schooler (which makes sense, since the actor is 30). Everytime I see him with one of the other actors I just think of that guy who graduated high school but can’t move on, so he just hangs around with people much younger than he is. Also, when he’s with one of the girls I think statutory rape. Other than that, it’s been a great season, and I do like the character of Teddy; I just wish he looked younger.
Teddy…not so much a rapist as he is gay. The whole, I covered up for my roommate thing, makes me suspicious, plus the “you’ll like it better in the stern” comment was laced with sexual innuendo.
Love the bitchy Annie. Loathe Naomi. The deaths of all her family members, as victims of a hit and run by Annie, still wouldn’t make me feel bad for that jackhole.
I love Teddy. Navid and Dixon arent hot in the least
Funny…every time Teddy comes on screen my 17 year old daughter goes, “OMG he’s like 50″. the Dixon story line is stuid. Naomi’s sister is the biggest snake I have seen on TV in years.
Ewww… Dixon couldn’t find someone better looking than Sasha?! Ugh. I wish Lauren London was back on the show but I guess her being preggo wasn’t a good look for the show. lol. Butttt PLEASE find Dixon someone whose pretty and his age..and not nutz!
lol! She’s okay but yeah, Lauren would’ve been a perfect candidate. Too bad her character was also a lesbian. lol. Anywho, all I was think throughout that episode was if that Sasha chicks laughs one more time…
omg I said the same thing to my roommate. It was annoying. Here gums were bigger than her teeth and thats not a cute look! EVER!
I am a little confused with the attack from Annie claiming she did sleep with Liam but I am guessing that will just lead to bigger and better things. Dixons character has gotten a little cocky this season I think. I do think somethings going on there between principal and guidance counceler so that should be sleezy and interesting…LOL! I liked Silvers character better last season when she was edgey and not part of the click…now she just seems to follow suit. Good story line though definately keeping me guessing.
Loving it AND loving dark Annie. When Naomi does the same stuff, she’s justified. When Annie does it, she’s wrong. I pray Annie finds out who Liam slept with that night and spreads it ALL over WBH.
Sidenote: LOVED Navid’s apology video. And hats are pretty standard when going out to sea on a yacht for the day. On boats (i.e.common folk), no. On yachts (i.e. big azz boats), yes.
Fact-check much? Try spelling it Jennie, and researching what Jennie has already said WON’T be happening with Kelly & Harry, and your credibility will go up.
Not feeling the show at all but wasn’t last season either. There was so much hype that this year was going to be bigger and better, and I just see the same weak characters, plots, writing, etc. There’s nothing and no one I want to get invested in. It’s all superficial and vapid, which are the things you seem to like judging by your review so…to each her own!
Ok, so seriously….why are you watching it then?
I watch because I have a website that covers everything about teen dramas–and for better or worse, 90210 is a part of it.
And as a die-hard BH90210 fan, I watch to keep track of references to the original and see how much of the history and characters they continue to screw up.
Also, Adrianna has 2 Ns, not 1. =)
loved it! loving the new season
i used to like annie but now i HATE her
btu thats ok
silvers new haircut adrianas long hair
naomi being skinnier haha
lovinggg it!!!
I MISS ETHAN!
omg ethan no I’m happy he moove on montana seriously ! I totally forget him
This season is AWESOME!
It’s Jennie Garth, not Jenny. Glee redid BBD’s “Poison” last week. So 90210’s a week late on that and shouldn’t get coolness points for copying.
your really think 90210 knew that Glee was also using that song? I chalk it up to coincidence or admiration for a great song
What is the title of the song playing on Dixon’s ringtone?
It is killing me, I can’t figure out what song this is. It was also playing on the yacht later.