September 04, 2008

90210 Is Strangely High School

Tuesday night's premiere of CW's 90210 was... okay. It wasn't particularly boring but we didn't exactly love it. Throughout the show, something felt off to us, something we couldn't really name until it suddenly occured to us that the show felt SO high school!
The show is about high school, you say, so obviously it's supposed to feel high school. But the characters in the past few 'high school' dramas that I've watched have been so un-high-school, 90210's characters and enviornment seemed relatively young and teensy. Think back: While The OC was also about spoilt kids who go to a rich, Californian school, Marissa (Mischa Barton) and Summer (Rachel Bilson) seemed to deal with more non-school-related issues and the only time we see them at school was to see them talk by their lockers. Veronica Mars was so mature and smart that I never really thought of her as a dumb teenager. As for Gossip Girl, Blair, Serena and sometimes even Jenny seem so worldly and glamorous that it just doesn't seem like normal high school to us.
So watching the kids on 90210 actually doing high school things like playing lacrose, messing up the rival school, copying a friend's homework, being grounded, participating in school plays and boys beating each other up. Obviously high school's not supposed to be sophisticated but we're just not used to it! And yes, of course we noticed the clothes!
The main character whose name was so forgetable I had to look up, is Annie. In the first episode, she wore very basic high school clothes, like a camisole with denim skirt.
And look, jeans with basic tops. Nothing fancy!
Silver (yes, that's the character's name,) whose supposed to dress hipster/ hippie/ edgy is my favourite 'fashion character' on the show so far. (She looks way cooler in the show than in this photo. I couldn't find a better one.)
The popular girl, Naomi dresses only ok. As you can see from her ugly outfit here, she's no Marissa Cooper. And she's really into wearing designer-flashing things, like Chanel logo accessories.
As for the party outfit, Annie got to wear an expensive dress (because Naomi bought it for her.) Silver looks so cool with a simple ballerina-looking American Apparel dress with long necklaces. I'm looking foward to more of Silver's outfits!
So you can obviously tell I am not impressed with the girls' outfits -but that is one of the things that is making this show seem so 'high school' to me. Hopefully the drama will get more interesting in the next few episodes. How much did you like the new 90210?

36 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

well from the pictures, the school looks like a big and obvious set. the characters are dressed like they had someone dress them. i hate tv and anything aimed at young people.

9/04/2008 11:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The show followed the lives of a group of teenagers living in the upscale, star-studded community of Beverly Hills, California and attending the fictitious West Beverly Hills High School and, subsequently, the fictitious California University. The show was created by Darren Star and produced by Aaron Spelling and Spelling Television. The "90210" in the title refers to one of the city's postal ZIP codes.

9/05/2008 12:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

During all the hype about this show, all I kept saying to myself was "This Stylist/Costume Designer better BRING IT!"

And whomever he/she was has dropped the ball.

They apparently went for a very realistic approach, but you know what, we don't need realistic... at least no on CW.

If you gave me that budget, I could have had these kids looking AMAZING with a simple stop at Forever XXI.

9/05/2008 12:50 AM  
Blogger Dropsofglamour said...

Meh! The wardrobe is so not inspiring at all. I never planned to watch it so im not that dissapointed.

9/05/2008 12:54 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I wasn't particularly impressed with the wardrobe, but I remember not being greatly impressed by the outfits on the first few episodes of The OC either. I think the clothes will get better.

9/05/2008 2:54 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think you are right on. I'm not sure if it is good or bad that that everything about the show seemed truly high schoolish - but that's definitely what feels weird.

I mean looking back at 90210's original cast, they were at least 25 years old at the time, even if the issues were things high school kids encountered. These actors seem no older than 19.

That is, except for the popular girl. She looks about 30. Boo.

And yes, they need to step up the clothes!!!

9/05/2008 3:48 AM  
Blogger elysia mann said...

i totally agree with you about the fashion. i was very unimpressed, except for Silver, who I will watch out for. I hope it gets better- Summer looked ridiculous the first season, and then she blossomed once the show had more money to spend on her clothing and makeup! (i'm also obsessed with the o.c.)

9/05/2008 5:03 AM  
Blogger S.Elisabeth said...

Hmmm, I actually liked this new show, but I am in high school, soo... (btw the dress Annie's wearing, isn't the expensive one. they never actually show it; its the one her dad holds up and says its less revealing). The thing that throws me off is the fact that Annie is only a sophomore (as is Naoimi). I'm not sure about everyone else, but it was Naoimi's sweet sixteen party they went to, AND Annie's mom talks about her being 15. They're all obviously older than that.
Overall, though, the show reminds me of Saved By the Bell, only, hopefully, sans the cheesiness & inability to keep the storylines straight that SBB had. Even if fashion isn't so great, bleh, that's why we have Gossip Girl. =)

9/05/2008 9:04 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Tell it like it is, Kraven.

9/05/2008 9:37 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi! That was a fabulous looking coverage of the event. This school event was really very exciting! The photos are good.

http://exploringfashion.blogspot.com/

9/05/2008 5:21 PM  
Blogger Siru said...

I am still an O.C. -girl.

juliet xxx

9/05/2008 6:43 PM  
Blogger Amanda and May said...

Don't know much about the show, I just watched the first ep, but given that it's set in Beverly Hills, the "popular girls" should've been a lot more interesting in dressing than Annie (obviously), not just wear branded goods with big logos on them to show its branded, and there isn't much style going on with leading lady Naomi as well (plus, she looks way beyond 16) I guess we can only watch 91210 for the scandalous plot and not the fashion, hmm, we'll see if Silver can be the "blair waldorf" of this show.

9/05/2008 9:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Also, the Chanel that Naomi has been wearing are fake! all the fashionistas who been watching can tell. It's so blatantly fake they can afford the Bentley and Lamborghini rentals but cant afford to get real designer clothes and accessories. What a shame. Just google the topic and you can forums talking about it. Lol.

9/05/2008 11:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You are absolutely right! I am really disappointed with this show and think that with all the hype there was for this premiere, they should have done a better job with the plot, clothes and overall portrayal of the show. Basically the cheesy situations in cheesy clothes needs to be toned down!

9/06/2008 1:25 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

call me stubborn...but i wont watch this new 90210. nothing compares to the original. and i just feel like it is a cheap rip-off! :P

9/06/2008 4:28 AM  
Blogger Ondo Lady said...

I thought the show was very entertaining. Ok the fashion was not ground breaking but I think it fit in well with LA fashion. I like Annie but Silver is my favourite character by a long shot. Looking forward to the next episode.

9/06/2008 11:57 AM  
Blogger alexgirl said...

I'm so gutted that I can't watch the new 90210! I'm not living in TV Land anymore. I hope the show lasts so I can Netfix season 1 on DVD.
Thanks for the rundown. I hope you keep posting your thoughts on the show.

9/06/2008 4:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, I always felt that 90210 was America's Degrassi. It doesn't help that a Degrassi character is in the new 90210. I believe the "high school" idea is getting old, unless it is innovative such as Secrets of an American Teenager, where is deals with hard hitting issues that are true to today's issues. But we never get to see a great College show until the high school kids grow up, and honestly Greek just doesn't reel me in when its all about one love triangle. So maybe they are hoping for the new generation to embrace 90210's same old same old, unless they have a brand new storyline up their sleeve.

9/06/2008 11:07 PM  
Blogger Nastia said...

I was at the gym the other day and some people were watching the show while exercising. It took me 30 minutes to realize it wasn't Degrassi.

9/06/2008 11:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It is hard to resuscitate 90210.

The show was based on the kids and adults were just fun/interesting/required background noise.

Necessary, but really not as important as a soap opera dramatic point. Really a bad idea in this version to make the Melrose Place guy and the Full House mom be these anxious people. Now a kid? Who will that be? Yawn.

The whole idea of wealthy kids in High School was originated in films, but this was a real first in Television. To see the affluence in all it's barfable consumerism.

Now, after all the shows IAF mentions, it is very trite, very mundane. There is no sense of embarrassment of riches at all. Just the requisite number of correct clothes and accessories to indicate the buying power necessary to "get" those items. From cars to shoes to plastic surgery (Naomi's oh-so-fake lips) these kids get it all and we don't even blink any longer.

Really a faded idea.

Kelly and Brenda look like token reminders of how mundane adulthood will apparently be to all the hip and stylin' youth.

Kelly just finger wags and looks mysteriously knowing. Brenda looks like she drinks too much and is in a 3rd run of some off Broadway play that needs an L.A. run. She really needs the plastic surgery the kids already apparently have.

Brandon and Dylan are sorely missed, but I guess ol' Principal is the guy who is the Brandon stand in?

I don't know. Dull and repetitive is the only thing that seems to resonate.

If all it boils down to is a bad fashion show, what a serious yawnfest.

9/07/2008 4:08 AM  
Blogger Hip Hype Central said...

Well it's kind of an upset..

well maybe because people are expecting more because of the fact that the BH90210 back in the day was really successful

they aren't there quite yet..

9/08/2008 6:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I didn't catch that until you pointed that out! That's hilarious, but isn't it based on high school kids?

9/09/2008 4:14 AM  
Blogger Punchdrunk said...

Naomi dresses like she's 30.

I loved how in the show the characters all acted as if Annie looked amazing in the blue dress (Naomi, her grandma) and she really didn't look that amazing.

9/09/2008 3:15 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Just found your blog... much love.

As a fan of the original 90210... I liked the show as a whole, but you're right about the fashion. Silver is also my fave, but she's technically the "spin-off" character since she's Kelly's baby sister (which was addressed in the original series)

The girl playing Annie (whose name I also forgot, thanks for the reminder) is a Canadian girl from this show called Degrassi, where she played pretty much the same character only snootier. Hopefully 90210 will step up on the fashion a bit since it's supposed to be the "Hills" rich kids.

9/10/2008 3:43 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Does anyone know who makes/designed the dress that Naomi wears (it looks like a pink dress with pink knit over) she wears it with a white jacket in episode 5. It's when she walks into her mother's room and tells her to get out of bed

thanks,
marcy

9/25/2008 5:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

90210 is kinda boring, all the usual stuff. i didn't see somethings jump out of the box.
privileged is much more better

9/29/2008 8:50 AM  
Blogger Josey said...

i love Silvers outfites there so very hot and sexy but the shirt that Annie wore to go see Ty in was super fine and so so sexy

10/29/2008 7:46 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

does anyone know who designed the black shoes Annie wears in her 16 b-day party? help me, please

3/29/2009 9:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I LOVE the show also! and totally agree that Silver has the best style. I have a hard time looking for wear to get some of her stuff though! --- if any1 knows anything...? xoxo

4/16/2009 12:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i totaly LOVE silver's outfits they are soooo hip and fashionable.

4/30/2009 3:47 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

your blog very best content about fashion....I love..
Astaga.com lifestyle on the net

12/13/2009 3:12 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

loove 90210 is teh best show ever much better than gossip girl gush! love silver she is so cooool!
xoxo 90210!

12/27/2009 11:40 AM  
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