Beverly Hills, 90210 Re-Watch: Spring Dance (Season 1 Episode 21)
It’s time for our first dance of this re-watch.
A “Spring Dance,” that is. The show has some pretty memorable high school moments. I have to say, perhaps none is more so than the spring dance on Beverly Hills, 90210 Season 1 Episode 21, “Spring Dance,” because Brenda loses her virginity to Dylan.
Let’s talk about it. I love that storyline as it’s depicted on this episode.
The gossip online is that Brenda and Dylan’s Season 2 breakup happened in part because of backlash that Brenda is “too happy” when she loses her virginity.
They originally break up, you might remember, because Brenda says she’s not ready for their sexual relationship.
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying sex as a teenager if you are choosing your partner for the right reasons and are prepared for the consequences that come with it.
“Spring Dance” doesn’t get into those consequences. It’s quite idealistic about someone’s first time. Plus, it’s a bit cliché to have them sneak away to a hotel room during a school dance.
I don’t mind how sugary sweet and perfect it all is. Sex isn’t shameful. But it still would be a more powerful episode if Brenda and Cindy had a talk similar to the one mentioned in our review of Beverly Hills, 90210 Season 1 Episode 7, “Perfect Mom.”
The vibe might still feel cheesy watching it today, but maybe a little bit more responsibility on this one episode could’ve prevented The Dylan/Brenda breakup in Season 2. They will always deserve more.
Back to the dance. It’s also totally 80s to barely show foreplay and have the sex implied with a scene of the two of them getting dressed rather than cuddling between the sheets afterward. It’s interesting to note just because of how far TV has come.
This might sound silly, but I honestly wish that every woman could feel how Brenda does after her first time: happy because she’s had sex with a partner she loves who has treated her right so far.
Let’s leave that there because there is so much packed into this episode, including the “frenemies wear the same dress in public” storyline.
I say frenemies because depending on the show, sometimes friends do it, sometimes enemies do, and sometimes it’s hard to tell the relationship between the two people who have the same taste.
At this point on Beverly Hills, 90210, Kelly and Brenda are friends, but as time goes on it’s really hard to say what they are.
Personally, I’ll never be the biggest fan of Kelly throughout this rewatch. But especially on this episode, she’s totally insufferable.
I hadn’t been talking for very long when this episode aired. But…a vegetable corsage? Did anyone actually wear those? Let me know if you did!
Nothing about Kelly winning spring queen is relatable to me. I definitely feel Brenda’s pain when she says, “Kelly at this point I wouldn’t mind if we stood on opposite sides of the state.”
Even though Kelly realizes what an annoying friend she’s been at the end of the episode, every time I watch Kelly, especially in high school, I want more from her personality.
If everyone who creates TV recognized the overused trope they want to use and raise it to something slightly more authentic, characters like Kelly would’ve been so much more interesting.
At one point, Kelly is literally sitting on a throne overlooking her “kingdom.” The imagery is obvious, and it’s just a show, but it’s still gross.
It’s hard to know if it’s appropriate to hold older shows accountable for the realities of 2019, but I’m pretty sure most viewers in the 90s didn’t share Kelly’s exact high school experience.
It might be asking a lot but we’re on the last episode of Season 1 I’ll be watching for this rewatch series, and Kelly’s selfishness is already exhausting.
Brandon’s also not exactly my type. I do love a genuine guy. But at this point on the show Kelly seems to be going for him just to do it anyway.
They never have the best chemistry in my opinion, and maybe that’s partly because at this spring dance, Brandon calls Kelly a “little sister.”
I relate much more to Andrea sitting at home eating junk food and watching “Prom Nightmare.” It’s a good idea to get off the couch and go to the dance so she doesn’t regret it.
She deserves that dance with Brandon. It’s not exactly “cool” to sit at home alone during a school dance just because you’re bitter if you really do want to go. Also, the horror element of Andrea’s story is just plain fun.
Her pain is definitely understandable, too. Andrea’s character is a valuable part of the cast because she’s a little bit of an outsider.
I’ve made the case before that it would’ve been interesting to see Steve and Andrea become a couple. After this episode, it’s clear that Brandon and Andrea should’ve become an item, at least for a little while.
They really don’t use Andrea to her full potential at all throughout her whole time on the show. But especially in high school, because she is the outsider “geeky” character she misses out on the depth of a real romantic storyline and that’s just sad.
Nearly equally as relatable to Andrea is Donna. Femme people, we’ve all worn the wrong dress to a dance and suffered for it just to look bomb, right? Donna suffers mostly because Steve is a sucky date.
She’s still just the comic, quirky relief on the show. But my favorite because the idea of a character who is on the outer edge of an inner circle is very true to life.
Donna’s not exactly trying too hard or not being herself. She is who she is. Her friends just don’t necessarily appreciate that as much as they should yet.
If that sounds like you, I believe in you. Tell your friends that your opinions matter.
Last but not least, we have to touch on Steve. Because we’re not just celebrating a school dance on the episode, we’re also celebrating his birthday.
It’s not the happiest of days for some people. Considering the day also marks the one-year anniversary of Steve finding out he’s adopted, quite frankly, it’s no wonder he gets drunk.
He is also rejected at least twice before going to the dance with Donna. Kelly’s is the rejection that hurts the most, but it’s salt on an already open wound.
She’s in too selfish of a state to really be there for him before someone knocks her over the head about it. So, who cares about spring queen. The person we should be celebrating is Brandon.
He really is a knight in shining armor in so many ways on this episode. He’s there for Steve, he’s not the date Kelly wants but he tells her what she needs to hear. Plus, he dances with Andrea.
As the series goes on, his perfection is a fatal flaw that makes him a terribly boring character. But that’s a topic for another review.
Right now, even Brenda is grateful that he’s the twin brother he should be and turns the other way when he learns how she spent most of the dance.
What did you think of this episode of Beverly Hills, 90210? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Esme Mazzeo
Esme Mazzeo is a lifestyle and entertainment journalist from Long Island. When she's not writing for work, she's writing for fun, or searching for something to satisfy her sweet tooth. She thinks rainy days are the best kind of days. Certified night owl.