90210: Party Politics

"You're alive"

Loads of secrets are being kept in the zip but it's no secret that they are determined to make a splash in the world of politics. The gang is taking an interest in the upcomming election and things are heating up.

Adrianna questions Jim about why he allowed everyone to think he was dead. He is not pleased to see Liam and Jane as a couple. Adrianna tells him that the two are in love and happy together. He begs Adrianna to keep his secret and let him stay dead. The next day Jane and Liam are discussing how things are finally going well for them when Jim shows up at Liam's bar. Jim jumps right back into his relationship with Jane and pretends to be unaware of Liam and Jane's relationship. Jane begs Liam not to tell before she leaves with Jim. When Adrianna returns she tells Liam that Jim was her "stalker" and that he knows about his relationship with Jane. Liam confronts Jim and the two get into a fight that ends in a pregnant Jane falling into a wall. Liam tells Jim that she's pregnant and they take her to the hospital. The doctors inform them that she suffered a concussion but the baby is fine. The two men talk things out and Liam pushes Jim to work things out with Jane and go back to the way things were before.

Naomi appears to be happy with Max but still lusting for and dreaming about Austin. Austin is asking Naomi to go away with him for more fun but she is set in sticking with Max. She is focusing on her sorority's mission to get the CU students voting. Max later tells Naomi about Austin's idea to have girls strip clothing as people register to vote. Naomi resists Austin's help but Max is excited about his idea. Naomi lashes out at Austin for using this to get close to her and he accuses her of using the situation to impress Max. Naomi throws a huge party at her house with the band Cobra Starship performing. Naomi gets into an argument with Austin and tries to throw him out but ends up getting locked out of her own property. She tries to get back in but she and Austin get stopped by the authorities and put into a van alone together. As they sweat in the van, the two begin to undress down to their underwear. Austin confesses that he is trying to break up her and Max because he has feelings for her. The two are about to kiss when Max and the security open up the van. She tells Max that nothing happened in the van but confesses her hook up with Austin before. She tells Max that she wants to be with him and feels nothing for Austin.

Navid and Silver are dealing with living together and having his little sister Leila who resents Silver and Navid for not letting her do what she wants. The two finally get time alone when Silver gets a call from Teddy who is ready to be picked up from the airport. The next night Silver prepares for her night alone with Navid and finds his bag of money he received from his uncle. She confronts Navid about the money and all his money he has been throwing around. He confesses the stolen car ring to Silver and explains that he is stuck in his situation. Silver walks away to take in everything he has told her. She comes back later to tell Navid that he and Leila can stay at her place while she stays with Naomi. She is not happy with the decisions he is making and cannot be with him right now.

Teddy later informs Silver that he had a summer romance but it's now over. Teddy tells Silver that his father has not been returning his calls since he left the message telling him that he is gay. Teddy later goes to see his conservative uncle who appears to be accepting of Teddy's sexual orientation. He then asks Teddy to support him in his run for congress. Meanwhile Silver is working with a political campaign after the success of her commercial. She then comes to the shock that the guy she is working with (Shane) is Teddy's romantic interest from Barcelona. Shane informs Teddy that his uncle is a homophobic conservative who is running against his candidate and that they cannot have a relationship if Teddy gets involved in his uncle's campaign. Silver is introduced to the candidate Marissa whom she will be working with. Teddy sees the situation as helping family instead of politics. Teddy later follows his uncle and stands with him on stage in support. Teddy explains to Shane that his uncle is his only family standing by him and he wants to return the favor. The two argue and Teddy berates Shane for trying to make him choose. Teddy informs him that he is willing to lose him to keep his family.

A very hyper Dixon is excited for his new track he has recorded and wants to spread it and get it popular. He later asks Adrianna to give his CD to the manager of Cobra Starship at Naomi's party., she informs him that she is not invited but he begs her to do him this favor. Things go well and the manager puts Dixon's music up on their website.

Annie is still struggling to stop Marla's family from contesting the will. She later helps out Silver and Navid by babysitting Leila, but it conflicts with her escorting with Bree. She resists but gives into Silver and Navid's pleas. She ends up bringing Leila along but does not inform her what the night is really about. Leila puts things together and confronts Annie about being an escort. Leila assures her that she will keep her secret and asks for a cut of the money.

 The writers are doing a great job with character interaction, plus everything finally seems organized and well constructed. The stories themselves however, are lacking in the entertaining department. The Jim/Liam/Jane story is probably one of the worst for the new 90210. None of the stories seemed to be doing enough to keep viewers tuned in throughout the episode. This episode gets a C- and it appears that so far the episodes just keep going down in quality this season. Next week does at least look quite promising.

Next Week's Episode: "Benefit of the Doubt"

90210: Let the Games Begin

"I'm saying I can handle it"

Things are getting competitive in the zip! The Greek games are about to begin, Liam struggles to control his business, Dixon goes down a bad path, and a shocking secret could change peoples lives.

Naomi is frustrated with Holly's status as Queen Bee and her position on head Greek council. She plans to beat her at the Greek games and take over her position. She then realizes Austin is her key to taking down the Kappa's at the games, as he was with the winning frat a couple of years ago. She attempts to seduce him but fails and comes clean that she needs his help. The two declare their hatred for each other and then end up kissing passionately and having sex. Austin shows up at the sorority's meeting to get everyone pumped for the competition. At night Naomi shares a passionate kiss with Austin that is seen by Holly which causes Holly to end things with Austin. Naomi then realizes that Austin was using her to anger Holly. Austin expects Naomi to be happy and she tries to cover up that she was growing feelings for him. Holly and Naomi go head to head in the games but Naomi loses focuses and falls when Holly points out Max whom she invited under the assumption that Holly was Naomi's friend. A heartbroken Naomi blames Annie for holing onto the note from Max. Max later chats with Naomi and informs her that he is going to Cal Tech to be close to her and he's tried to get in touch with her. She is hurt by getting her heartbroken by someone she got so close to. The two embrace and kiss after they confess how much they have missed each other. During the final game Annie helps throw the game and Naomi leads her house to victory. Zeta wins and Naomi is named the new head of Greek council. Austin later attempts to hook up with Naomi again and questions her relationship with Max. Austin acknowledges that Max sees the good, but he is happy to see the bad in Naomi. She almost gives in but pushes him away. She then basks in the glow of her victory.

Naomi later enlists Ivy to help her with the game in the surfing competition. Raj encourages her to go for it and have a good time. Ivy wins for Zeta Rho Pi. After she chats with a photographer who took pictures of her and wants to show Raj but finds Raj passed out. Raj assures her that he just got dehydrated but Ivy is worried for his health. Raj later berates her for always reminding him that he is sick. Ivy is pleased to see Raj energized enough to fight with her again.

Annie is stressed with trying to keep up with her training for the Greek games. She's also struggling with money while her sorority big sister Bree reminds her that she could make money if she joins her as an escort. Holly suggest that Annie apply for the Kappa scholarship, which would then keep her from playing in the volleyball game that she promised to throw for Naomi. Annie is kicked out of the Kappa's after she throws the game. But she later approaches Bree and asks to join her as an escort to which Bree happily welcomes her.

Navid's uncle brings him his cut from the stolen car money. Navid refuses to take it but his uncle will not accept it returned. Navid later uses the money to get Dixon studio time and make up for letting him down before. He continues to use his money to help the people he cares about and Silver is getting suspicious and wants to know what's going on but Navid still wants her out of it.

Dixon struggles to have energy and focus during his studio time and races out to take more of Austin's pills to help out but realizes he is out. He goes through Austin's bedroom but comes up empty handed. He later chats with Annie and the two discuss having to find their own solutions to their problems now that they are adults. The next day at the Greek games he approaches the party frat to get more ADHD medication, they direct him to the math department which is widely known for popping pills to focus on work. After getting his fix, Dixon returns to the studio to show off his energized performance.

Liam is looking for an apartment for him and Jane to live in now that she is expecting a baby. It's time for Jane to return to Alaska to get Jim's life insurance but Liam is not interested in taking Jim's money. She insists that she needs to get them the money. Silver uses the money she is getting from Navid to help Liam advertise his bar. Meanwhile Adrianna goes on her break to avoid Silver and is approached by a guy who begins questioning her about her boss, Liam. The commercial struggles with a drunk actress and Liam's poor acting skills. After cleaning up Adrianna sees the guy she met on the pier sneaking around outside, she tells Liam the next morning and worries that he is stalking her. Liam brings the police to deal with it but they don't have enough to go after the guy. Liam confesses to Jane that he's upset he cannot protect the people he cares about. Liam returns to his bar that night to see it's full thanks to Silver editing his commercial to look sexy and humorous. After Adrianna is cleaning up and looks at a picture of Liam, Jane and Jim. She is shocked to see that Jim is the man who was questioning her earlier. Jim shows up and asks Adrianna not to tell Liam and Jane that he is alive.

90210 wasted its big episode cliffhanger on its most boring story. While this will certainly shake things up, it is also very contrived and a soap cliche at it's best. This episode receives a C. The rest of the stories are progressing nicely but there was not as much excitement in this episode. We shall see if things look up for the zip next week.

Next Week's Episode: Party Politics