Beverly Hills, 90210 Re-Watch: Chuckie’s Back (Season 2 Episode 17)

“Centric episode” probably wasn’t a term in 1991, but they certainly still existed. Beverly Hills, 90210 Season 2 Episode 17, “Chuckie’s Back” is about as centric as the show gets. 

First, it’s worth noting that the episode also marks what I believe is Donna and David’s first real kiss, at the Christmas dance before school ends for the year.

Donna has her ups and downs with confidence over the series, but early on she’s more unapologetically herself, especially when it comes to dating David. 

Is there a better way to announce to your friends that you want to date a guy and you don’t care what they think than full-on making out with him in the middle of the dance floor for the whole school to see? 

At least for highschoolers, I can’t think of one. Though if I do say so myself, there is nothing appealing about David’s dance moves or outfit, let alone attractive. 

I’ve buried the lead, though, because this episode is basically a Steve Sanders centric, and there is no more deserving character.  

Most of the time, Steve is the comic relief on the show. Especially during the high school years, if there is a character not to emulate it’s Steve.  

I mostly just tolerate him. But there are a few episodes that give him a lot of depth and one of the first ones is “Chuckie’s Back.” 

No one should begrudge Steve’s feelings toward Chuck Wilson, no matter that Samantha Sanders was on Hartley House when he was younger.

Steve only learns of his adoption when he’s 16. It must be so hard to find out that one of his rivals knew Steve was adopted basically his whole life. 

Steve was just a young kid on his mom’s set who needed attention. Sometimes it’s really hard to see your parents give other kids affection, you are the one they’re supposed to pay attention to the most. 

Even if part of it was scripted, Samantha admits she made Steve be nice to Chuckie when they were younger. So, combined with his adoption feelings his wounds probably run deep. 

I love Steve and Kelly’s friendship. It’s solid and adds inexplicable history to the show. 

But it’s inexplicable because it happens off-screen before the series starts, at least the romantic part of it. 

So, it’s really hard to feel that history or any romantic chemistry between them as a viewer. 

That said, Kelly is the perfect date for the Christmas dance that Steve is technically expelled from. It’s amazing that she stands Chuckie up and owns it right in front of his face. 

Cindy Walsh and Dylan really deserve more credit for helping Steve on his journey to deciding to find his birth mother, though. 

Sure, it’s cheesy to watch in 2019. But I love that the Walsh kitchen is a safe place for any of the gang to go and get iced tea and motherly advice — even while suspended. 

I’m not quite sure what a scene like that looks like these days, but something about how cheesy it is also makes the scene comforting. 

Let’s face it, someone has to prepare Steve for the fact that his birth mother may not want a relationship with him. And make him aware that his actual mother is probably terrified of the moment he tells her wants to find his birth mom.  

But only a friend like Dylan can drive home the point that sometimes birth parents aren’t worth much at all. Samantha has been there mothering him his whole life and that’s what matters. 

Speaking of Samantha, it’s a little bit hard to feel bad for her, but I do by the end of the episode. 

I don’t blame her for wanting to do the Hartley House reunion at first. She deserves to work just because she wants to, but she’s mostly motivated by wanting to provide for Steve. 

It’s pretty cringeworthy to watch her beg Steve to behave and be nice to Chuck so the Hartley deal will happen, though.

And I just plain pity her when Chuckie only signs on to the reunion because Steve takes all the blame for their fight. 

But she’s just trying to be the best mom she can be. Buying Steve the car isn’t even a bribe, really. Her love language is gifts. She’s trying. 

It must be absolutely devastating for her that she and the Hartley House reunion are basically the reasons Steve is going to New Mexico to find his birth mom. 

The show follows him there, but this rewatch will not. 

Overall, this episode teaches viewers so much about Steve. It’s actually a little bit sad that it sticks out so much because he’s a pretty neglected character. 

Still, so many things date it and make it just plain strange. The Sanders’ have a black housekeeper that presumably lives in — that makes me uncomfortable.

The last scene of the episode is really odd, too. The whole gang at the bus stop is so melodramatic. 

I know Steve doesn’t find another person to love him in New Mexico — but presumably, that’s what he’s going to find. Everyone should be happy. 

No matter what he finds it’s not going to be easy to stay. But everyone acts as if they’ll never see him again.

As under-served as he is through 10 years, it wouldn’t be 90210 without Steve. So I’m glad he comes back and Chuckie disappears. 

What did you think of this episode of Beverly Hills, 90210? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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