BH90210

Just when you thought the iconic 90s show, "Beverly Hills 90210," was left in the rear-view mirror of pop culture, it makes a sensational return in a refreshingly different way in FOX's summer series, BH90210. A unique type of reboot, BH90210 brilliantly blends classic nostalgia with modern-day realities, making it an enticing watch for fans old and new alike.

Premiering in the summer of 2019, BH90210 is a clever and somewhat metafictional envisioning of a reboot, bringing back original series stars Jason Priestley, Jennie Garth, Ian Ziering, Gabrielle Carteris, Brian Austin Green, Tori Spelling, and Shannen Doherty. Unlike a straight-forward reboot that picks up where the original series left off or reimagines it entirely, BH90210 takes a new spin by having the iconic cast play "heightened versions of themselves" in an amalgamation of their real lives and the characters they portrayed on television.

The series begins with a Beverly Hills 90210 30-year reunion event in Las Vegas, where the actors play versions of themselves that cleverly nod to the public perceptions of their real lives. Tori is a reality TV veteran grappling with financial issues; Jennie is dealing with multiple divorces; Ian is a fitness aficionado; Brian is married to a famous singer; Gabrielle is exploring her sexuality; and Jason is a successful TV director. Seizing on the reunion's public enthusiasm, Tori comes up with the idea of a "90210" reboot featuring the original cast.

What makes BH90210 intriguing is its self-referential tone, where the lines between fiction and reality blur. The dynamics between the cast play out against the backdrop of crafting the reboot, tackling various highs and lows, personal growth, and the challenges of meeting audience expectations. At the same time, it cleverly caters to the nostalgia of fans with numerous throwbacks to the original series and clever in-jokes about the actors' subsequent careers and public images.

As the series unfolds, it plunges deeper into the setup of the reboot, revealing how the actors' personal lives and their character counterparts intermingle. The series skillfully reveals their personal growth from their days on the original series to their present-day predicaments. They face various challenges - unresolved interpersonal conflicts, romantic entanglements, breakups, familial chaos, professional stress, and more - both in the real and reel world, testing their bonds and willingness to keep the show afloat.

BH90210 also delicately deals with the real-life loss of Luke Perry – the original cast member who famously portrayed Dylan McKay. Though Perry was scheduled to appear in the series, his sudden death in March 2019 prompted the show makers to tastefully address his absence and pay tribute to his significant contribution to the original series.

This six-episode miniseries not only brings back the beloved characters but also captures the spirit of a different era through refreshingly candid eyes, making it a treat for fans of the original series while introducing newer audiences to its charm and allure. It is a unique variant of a reboot, veering away from predictable formats to explore unchartered territories.

The Fox's BH90210 cleverly exploits the familiarity of the original series and in turn, presents a highly entertaining, heartwarming, and at times, poignant exploration of life, growth, friendship, and the struggles of reclaiming past glory. The show is a celebration of the rich legacy of its predecessor while offering something entirely new and different, making it a bold experiment in TV revivals.