90210: Wide Awake and Dreaming

This week’s episode centered on the big school musical, directed by Brenda and starring Annie.  Annie was Adriana’s understudy but is called into action when she shows up blitzed before the curtain rises.  Adriana is an aspiring actress with an overbearing stage mother who relentlessly pushes her.  She’s a klepto and a drug abuser, but she’s obviously trying to escape her mother in any way possible.

Meanwhile, Dixon and Silver continue their flirtation.  I’m curious to see how far the writers are willing to take their storyline – which might have been taboo in years past.  Although Dixon and Silver are taking baby steps, Annie and Ty seem to be jumping into the deep end, as Annie contemplates losing her virginity to him after the play.  I really didn’t like the way the writers dealt with this aspect of the storyline because it felt superficial and insignificant.  Annie and Dixon are a pair of goody-two-shoes, and it seems that she would have given more thought to taking such a big step.  They didn’t actually sleep together, but her willingness to do so seemed at odds with her character.  The only reason they didn’t seal the deal is because Adriana played the role of spoiler in cruel fashion.  This girl’s a real basket case and I wouldn’t be surprised if she ended up dead by season’s end.

This was a pretty entertaining episode, in a trashy sort of way.  The dialogue was quick and sharp, and the pacing was good.   My chief complaint with the series thus far is that it tries to be edgy one minute and is corny the next.  Hopefully it settles into an identity in the coming weeks.

Tuesdays, 8/7C, The CW

Photograph courtesy of The CW