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Note: This post was inspired by lil sis Sarah, who is faithfully watching Season 1 of 90210 on DVD.

As we sit on the precipice of fall TV premieres, looking down over a broad swath of blah, I feel it’s appropriate to reflect for a moment on the return of a cultural phenomenon: Beverly Hills, 90210.

I don’t have high hopes for the remake. But I can’t wait to check it out, mostly because I’m hoping to catch even a faint glimmer of the glory that was the original. High drama, corny yet engrossing lessons, shifting relationships, taxed storylines, “fashion” — all the makings of a great primetime soap.

But what compels me to watch the reruns again and again is the show’s context. It’s a friggin time capsule of the ’90s — the series ran for the entire decade. That’s why I think watching it in syndication now is an even — dare I say — richer experience. We can look back and laugh at the hairstyles, the innocence, the bad acting. And none of it seems heavy compared to what we see on TV today.

That’s what the remake is going to lack: that irreplaceable ’90s vibe. The new 90210 will likely be oversexed and overproduced. The storylines will probably push the limits of what’s acceptable for the genre today. All that innocence will be gone.

In my viewing repertoire of teen dramas, there’s a logical progression from the original 90210, to The O.C., to Gossip Girl (see New York Magazine article on the subject). I don’t want the remake to be the next point on that line, I want it to bring the whole thing full circle.

So, dearest remake: Take us back, as best you can, to those simpler days! Don’t try to one-up Gossip Girl. Remember your niche, and remind us why we loved 90210 in the first place.

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