90210: We’re Not In Kansas Anymore + The Jet Set [series premiere]
By fred | September 3, 2008
(S01E01-E02) 90210. Do those numbers mean anything to you ? Yes, no, because I hear that behind the zip code hides an old TV shows which many still have in their hearts, and now it’s been brought to life again by The CW. But I hate to say, they don’t mean nothing to me, those numbers. I did not watch the original 90210 back in the days and so I couldn’t care less about bringing it back to life, just like the the presence of original cast members Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty did absolutely nothing to me.
And as it turns out, I’m sure it did nothing either to the targeted audience for this new series, because - that is my belief at least - if you’re old enough to have watched (and loved) the original series, you’re not who The CW had in mind when they decided to came up with this new version. Which is a little odd, then, to have original cast members on the show, but I guess it’s just to ensure a lot of press mostly.
Because those for whom this show had been made for are quite younger, and while I don’t doubt this series premiere will do wonder on ratings I also don’t doubt it won’t last, because it doesn’t take much to see how this sucked.
I mean seriously, maybe I too as too old for this crap, but this was in no way a good show, let’s stop kidding ourselves. If there’s a reason The CW made sure no screener was out before the show aired it’s for that one single reason : it would have been trashed. I really don’t know where to begin, nor do I really feel the energy to go over everything, so let’s try to make it quick.
For starter, the writing is not really good, some dialogs are pretty awful, and the characters are not only so cliché, but lack a thing called depth. I mean, one of the main character is black! Also, he’s the new principal’s adopted kid, and he’s good at sports. That’s about all we know after spending two hours on the show, and much of the same can be said about all the characters.
Also, is it me or do they all really act pretty bad ? Sure, this is a teen soap and we’re not to be looking for Emmy-worthy performances here, but still it wasn’t really good. And the main character, Annie (Shanae Grimes), she’s really not good. I always had the impression that she overplayed everything, like she wanted to make sure we really could see she was sad here, happy there, excited then… adding to that how many situations and relationships felt utterly forced - like her relationship with the adopted brother for instance - and the mix really isn’t any good.
I mean, even the supposedly mean bitch can’t keep her things together. You want to see a real bitch, someone who’s not trying to be mean or hurt you, just does, and loves it ? Have a look at Blair Waldorf! Those kids here are not amateurs, they’re not even in the same planet.
This is the kind of show where, by the end of the first episode, you should start to see who you’ll root for and who you’ll probably (love to) hate. After two hours, I have nothing. I’m not rooting for anyone, I don’t hate anyone, they all left me completely indifferent. They all act the same, do the same things, they’re all the same, whether their the richest kid in town and the poor fresh from Kansas kid, same difference.
And really, how are you supposed to root for the new kid, when he’s all complaining that the other kids only see him as the principal’s kid, while he’s the first, at school, when said principal gives a speech and while everyone of his team mates say “yes mister principal”, he’s the one to say “yes dad”. If you do that then stop bitching about it later, please!
But the truth is, this wasn’t really good, and this had nothing (new) to offer really. This was like many other shows, the ones about the spoiled rich kids and how there’s this poor stranger who joins the club and tries to adapt. We’ve seen it so many times before, it was The O.C., it was Hidden Palms, it is Gossip Girl, it will be Privileged, and maybe I’m getting sick of it, but I just don’t need one more of those.
I already have and love my GG, so maybe I’ll stick for Privileged, but if it’s worse than this one then I’ll simply stick with GG only, and that’s more than fine, because really, I don’t anything else than B & C in a duel over their love…
About you ? Did you fall for this new zip code ? How do you think feel it compares to GG ? Will you keep watching in the coming weeks ?
