The Best Episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210
Every episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210!
Follow 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 after graduation.
Top Episode Ratings Summary
The best episode of "Beverly Hills, 90210" is "One Wedding and a Funeral", rated 8.2/10 from 245 user votes. It was directed by James Whitmore Jr. and written by N/A. "One Wedding and a Funeral" aired on 11/8/1995 and is rated 0.6 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Isn't It Romantic?".
8.2/10 245 votes#1 - One Wedding and a Funeral
Season 6 Episode 10 - Aired 11/8/1995
The hit on Dylan fails when Brandon, David and Steve ""kidnap"" him for a rather sedate bachelor party. The girls throw a much livelier affair for Toni. Marchette shows up at the beach apartment and tries to talk Toni out of the marriage. He refuses to attend the wedding, so Bruno gives her away. (Only Bruno and Brandon are allowed at the ceremony, but everyone comes to the reception.) The next day, Marchette asks Dylan to come over to accept a gift for Toni. Bruno finds out that Dylan is to be ambushed and killed, but can't reach him because the phone is off the hook. He turns to Brandon for help. Toni is upset when their cat, Trouble, turns up missing during a driving rainstorm. Dylan agrees to stay home and look for her while Toni meets her father. Because of the rain, the hit men cannot tell that Toni is driving Dylan's car.
Director: James Whitmore Jr.
Writer: N/A
7.6/10 354 votes#2 - Isn't It Romantic?
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 1/3/1991
Brenda and Dylan continue their flirtation, and she accidentally catches him in the shower. They go out alone when Brandon has to stay home sick. Dylan loses his cool after a confrontation with his father. Brenda consoles him, and they end up kissing. Jim objects to the relationship because Dylan's father is considered ruthless and crooked. Brenda is prepared to go all the way, and is crushed when Dylan stands her up. He later explains that he had to move because his father skipped the country to avoid an indictment. Steve tries to make a pass at the speaker for a sex education assembly. She reveals that she has AIDS. Her speech prompts Brenda to slow things down with Dylan.
Director: Nancy Malone
Writer: N/A
7.6/10 333 votes#3 - Spring Dance
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 5/2/1991
Brenda tries to convince Andrea to ask Brandon to the spring dance, but Kelly beats her to it. Steve reluctantly takes Donna, who wears an elaborate gown that impedes sitting or dancing.
Director: Darren Star
Writer: Darren Star
7.5/10 363 votes#4 - Slumber Party
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/31/1991
Brenda invites Kelly, Donna and Andrea over for a ""night of female bonding."" They are having a good time until Kelly's friend Amanda shows up. She insults everyone and decides to turn the girls against each other. As part of a ""game"" about secrets, Amanda bullies Kelly into describing her first sexual encounter, in which she was humiliated by the football captain. After Brenda recalls stealing a Minnesota friend's boyfriend, Kelly admits that she tried to hit on Dylan. The girls eventually make up, and Brenda and Kelly vow to never let a man come between them. Amanda's behavior is attributed to a diet pill addiction. The girls catch David and Scott lurking outside the window and taking pictures of them. Brandon and Steve are denied entry to a club, but hook up with two girls. They steal Steve's Corvette, but he doesn't press charges (and pays their traffic ticket) because he foolishly thinks that he and Brandon still have a chance with them.
Director: Charles Braverman
Writer: Darren Star
7.5/10 272 votes#5 - U4EA
Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 11/14/1991
Emily invites everyone to join her at an underground club. The location is a secret; the gang must exchange an egg at a convenience store for this information. The others leave without Steve and Andrea, who end up going to the wrong store and embarrassing themselves. Kelly is mortified when David drinks an entire bottle of whiskey, but Donna dances with him and has a good time. Emily slips a drug called U4EA into Brandon's drink to get him to loosen up. He is too wasted to drive, and vandals trash his car when he leaves it at the club overnight. Brandon does not expose Emily's deed to his parents, but breaks up with her because he no longer trusts her. Music: ""Hold on to Love"" by T'Pau
Director: Charles Braverman
Writer: Ali Adler
7.5/10 172 votes#6 - Hazardous to Your Health
Season 5 Episode 18 - Aired 1/18/1995
Dylan flies to Mexico, where Kevin and Suzanne have recently re-located their smuggling business. Jonesy's female partner has abandoned him, so Dylan enlists Valerie's help. She flirts with Kevin and tricks him into revealing the location of the couple's bank account. Jonesy wires the money into an FBI account. He wants to leave, and is furious when Dylan insists on rescuing Erica. He and Val are caught in the act, but Jonesy returns with the cops and saves them. The university denies tenure to Professor Finley, sending his followers into an uproar. Brandon tries to defuse the situation, and learns from Dean Whitmore that parents have accused Finley of trying to ""convert"" students. Finley lashes out at Brandon, creating a rift between Kelly and him. Music: ""Sherry"" by the Four Seasons (#1, 1962); ""I Know the Game"" by Jamie Walters
Director: James Whitmore Jr.
Writer: N/A
7.5/10 170 votes#7 - Hello Life, Goodbye Beverly Hills
Season 5 Episode 30 - Aired 5/17/1995
Dylan asks Kelly to join him on a trip around the world. Valerie sees the tickets in Kelly's room and tells Brandon. Brandon counters with a marriage proposal, and Kelly asks for time to think things over. She eventually rejects both men and proclaims, ""I choose me."" Andrea and Jesse prepare for their move to Connecticut. The gang surprises her by organizing a picnic lunch at West Beverly High (although Brandon and Dylan, still waiting for Kelly's decision, opt not to attend). Everyone meets Andrea and Jesse at the Peach Pit one last time to say goodbye. Ray lashes out at Donna for devoting time to her friends and studying for finals. He drags her away from Andrea's picnic and verbally berates her. Jim considers a possible move to Hong Kong as his company offers a promotion and substantial raise. He and Cindy decide to go through with the move. Music: ""I'll Stand by You"" by the Pretenders (#16, 1994); ""Remember"" by Harry Nilsson
Director: James Whitmore Jr.
Writer: N/A
7.5/10 143 votes#8 - Speechless
Season 6 Episode 6 - Aired 10/18/1995
Valerie gets herself invited on a road trip with Kelly, Donna and Clare. David thanks Val for helping him through his hard times, and gives her a kiss. During the trip, Donna goads Val into admitting that she slept with Ray. The roommates resolve to stop talking to Valerie. The car breaks down, and the girls spend the night at a convent while awaiting repairs. They cannot speak after sundown. Donna forgives Valerie, who urges her not to forget about Ray's abusive behavior. Donna dumps Ray. Steve convinces Brandon to let a director film a movie at the Walsh house, without revealing that it is a porno. Susan is offended by the fiasco, but sleeps with Brandon anyway. Marchette doesn't show for a dinner engagement with Toni and Dylan. He arrives after Toni leaves the table and warns Dylan to stay away. Dylan and Marchette's bodyguard pull guns on each other. Marchette tells Toni that Dylan is using her. She refuses to believe Dylan's claim that her father killed Jack. Kelly meets Colin's a
Director: David Semel
Writer: Meredith Stiehm
7.4/10 281 votes#9 - The Next 50 Years
Season 2 Episode 14 - Aired 11/7/1991
The students of West Beverly unearth a time capsule from 1941, and put together a capsule of their own. Mrs. Scanlon organizes a surprise party for Scott's birthday, and pushes David to round up the guests. Donna is the only person who wants to attend. Kelly, Steve, Brenda, Brandon and Emily reluctantly come to the party, but act like jerks and refuse to participate in the activities. David tries to save the party by getting everyone to dance, but Brandon and Emily sneak upstairs to make out in the bedroom of Scott's little brother. Mrs. Scanlon throws them out, and the others act really indignant and walk out on the party. Scott goes to his father's den to get matches for the cake, and finds a gun in a locked desk drawer. He tries to twirl it for David, but accidentally shoots himself in the stomach and dies. David's friends and teachers annoy him by constantly asking about his well-being, while Mrs. Scanlon keeps trying to give him Scott's belongings. Donna takes offense when David c
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.4/10 239 votes#10 - A Walsh Family Christmas
Season 2 Episode 18 - Aired 12/19/1991
Steve arrives in Albuquerque and tracks down his grandfather, a diner owner. Al explains that his daughter gave up Steve because she was very young and wanted him to have a good home. He sadly reveals that Karen died in a car accident. Steve leaves flowers at her grave, and convinces an eccentric Santa-like charter pilot to fly him home for Christmas. Cindy is depressed about her first Christmas in Beverly Hills. She invites the kids' friends and their families for Christmas Eve dinner, but everyone has other plans. Brandon visits Emily in a psychiatric hospital, where she is doing very well. Brenda begins work at an upscale clothing store. She feels bad when her boss throws out a cheerful old man dressed as Santa Claus. She stops the police from harassing him and invites him over for dinner. Dylan goes to see his father in prison, and talks with the same Santa. Jackie is furious when Mel backs out of Christmas Eve plans because his estranged wife asked him to come over with David. Sam
Director: Darren Star
Writer: Darren Star
7.4/10 228 votes#11 - Wedding Bell Blues
Season 2 Episode 28 - Aired 5/7/1992
A furious Jim goes to the Mexican border to retrieve Brenda. Jim bans Dylan from the Walsh house. Jackie learns that Kelly covered for Brenda, and embarrasses her by yelling at her in front of Jake. Music: ""Wedding Bell Blues"" by The Fifth Dimension (#1, 1969); ""Blue Moon"" (Glen Gray - #1, 1
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Darren Star
7.4/10 186 votes#12 - Dead End
Season 3 Episode 21 - Aired 2/10/1993
Jack and Dylan begin living on a yacht, where they are constantly kept under surveillance. Jim does not want to dissolve the trust, but finally gives his approval so that Dylan can have a new life with his father. Christine accepts Jack's marriage proposal. Dylan and Kelly sleep together. Jack tries to confess something to Dylan, but a man interrupts them and warns Jack that he is breaking their deal. A bomb is attached to Jack's car during the night. Dylan receives a phone call from Kelly just as he is about to move the car, so Jack agrees to do it. As Dylan hangs up, he turns to see the car explode. Jackie tells Kelly and David that she has to sell the house. She receives an offer, but decides to hold out for a while. Music: ""All the Way to Heaven"" by Jody Watley; ""Tutti Frutti"" by Little Richard (#17, 1956); ""Take Me Out to the Ballg
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: Star Frohman
7.4/10 197 votes#13 - A Night to Remember
Season 3 Episode 27 - Aired 4/28/1993
Brandon and Andrea discover that the school board has quietly passed a measure in which any senior found drunk at the prom will be barred from graduation. Jackie tells David and Kelly that she has sold the house. Brandon and Brenda do not plan to attend the prom. Brenda accepts an invitation from football star Tony Miller, and Andrea calls Brandon at the last minute after Jordan gets the flu. Donna is surprised when her mother gives her permisson to stay out all night. David rents a hotel room for the night. Mel serves champagne at a pre-prom party, and everyone except Dylan and Andrea drinks. Donna gets drunk (partially because she also hadn't eaten all day) and becomes very ill. The gang tries to sneak her out of the hotel, but she faints right in front of Mrs. Teasley. Music: ""Time to Be Lovers"" by Michael McDonald and Chaka Khan; ""Action Speaks Louder Than Words""
Director: Richard Lang
Writer: N/A
7.4/10 194 votes#14 - Mr. Walsh Goes to Washington
Season 4 Episode 31 - Aired 5/25/1994
Brandon travels to Washington, D.C. to make a presentation for the task force. He considers giving in to the persistent Clare. Lucinda, in town for a meeting, shows up at the hotel; both women grope Brandon under the table during an important dinner. Kelly confesses her feelings for Brandon to Andrea and decides to surprise him. Roy offers Brenda the opportunity to spend the summer studying theater at the Royal Academy in London. Kevin and Suzanne get married. He and Dylan consider producing his project without outside assistance. Andrea gives birth to a 2 pound, 6 ounce daughter, Hannah. She and Jesse struggle to remain positive as Hannah fights to survive. Steve has a run-in with John Sears at the university carnival, and is hurt to learn that he is dating Celeste. Donna is jealous of the amount of attention Ariel devotes to David.
Director: Michael Lange
Writer: N/A
7.4/10 168 votes#15 - Up in Flames
Season 5 Episode 13 - Aired 11/30/1994
Emily flies back from Paris to attend a seminar at La Jolla. She asks Brandon to meet her at the airport, claiming to have just a four-hour layover. She actually has a week until the beginning of her seminar, but Brandon breaks her heart by revealing that he is dating Kelly. When he sees her back to her hotel room, they share a passionate kiss. Steve and Griffin organize a holiday rave at an abandoned house. Valerie helps them out in the hopes of getting back in Steve's good graces. David and Clare accidentally post the notice about the event on a computer bulletin board for lesbians, who constitute most of the guests. The house has very poor wiring and continually blows fuses. Griffin uses too much electricity, and the house catches on fire. Ray rescues Steve and Valerie, who were fooling around in one of the bedrooms. Kelly and a girl named Allison are trapped in a downstairs bathroom with no means of escape. The fire fighters try to reach them as they are engulfed by flames. Music:
Director: Gilbert M. Shilton
Writer: Meredith Stiehm
7.3/10 343 votes#16 - Perfect Mom
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/22/1990
Brenda is mesmerized by Kelly's hip and glamorous mother Jackie, a former model. Kelly insists that her mother is not all that she appears to be. Jackie is a recovering addict, and begins hitting the bottle again after her boyfriend dumps her. Cindy is hurt when Brenda initially fails to ask her to be in a mother-daughter fashion show. They eventually agree to appear, and are joined by Andrea, who draws raves. Jackie attempts to emcee the show while high on cocaine. She becomes disoriented and disrupts the show with a rambling tirade. Kelly convinces her to check into rehab. Kelly gains new respect for David when he gives her the fashion show tape to save Jackie from embarrassment. Jim becomes addicted to his new keyboard.
Director: Bethany Rooney
Writer: Darren Star
7.3/10 337 votes#17 - The Gentle Art of Listening
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 12/6/1990
Brenda becomes a trainee for a teen crisis hotline, although Andrea questions her devotion. Brenda violates the rules by taking a call after hours. The caller is a date rape victim, who suffers the same fate on three consecutive nights. Brenda is desperate to learn the girl's identity and help her. Brandon believes that a masseuse has a romantic interest in him. He also dodges a freshman admirer, who similarly gives the cold shoulder to Scott.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.3/10 314 votes#18 - B.Y.O.B.
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1/10/1991
Brenda goads Brandon into taking her to a party at Donna's house. He voices his objections to alcohol, but Steve spikes his drink. He decides to go along with it so that he won't appear ""uncool."" Kelly gets drunk and sleeps with Steve. Cindy catches Brenda with alcohol on her breath, but Brandon gets by unscathed. Jim and Cindy attend a weekend retreat, where they are forced to spend all their time with an overly friendly couple. Brenda convinces Brandon to throw a party, but they agree not to drink. Word of the party spreads, and it quickly gets out of hand. Brandon drinks heavily and kisses a stunned Andrea. Kelly dances with the lovestruck David to avoid Steve's advances. Brandon tries to drive to the store and smashes his car. He is arrested for drunk driving. Dylan takes him to an AA meeting and reveals that he is an alcoholic.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.3/10 286 votes#19 - Home Again
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 5/9/1991
Jim is offered a promotion that requires a move back to Minneapolis. He initially decides to respect his family's wishes and decline the job, but changes his mind when the boss offers to double his salary. Steve pushes Brandon away, and Brenda feels that Kelly and Donna are ignoring her. Dylan wishes to try a long-distance relationship, but Brenda breaks up with him. Andrea wants to sleep with Brandon before he leaves, and he agrees. Their rendezvous is cancelled when Kelly organizes a going-away party at the Peach Pit. Jim, swamped at his new job and touched by the outpouring of affection by his children's friends, decides to turn down the promotion. Brenda tells Dylan that she may be pregnant.
Director: Charles Braverman
Writer: N/A
7.3/10 266 votes#20 - Camping Trip
Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 8/29/1991
The gang takes off with plans to spend the weekend camping at Yosemite Park. A sudden monsoon forces the teens to seek refuge in a cramped one-bedroom cabin. Everyone quickly begins to get on each other's nerves. Steve and David go out for beer, but an elderly couple takes Steve's money and splits without buying him anything. The honeymooning couple in the next cabin supplies the kids with food and firewood, but gets into a huge argument. The gang tries to provide counsel, and learns that the husband had commented on waiting to have kids, but the wife is already pregnant. Dylan storms out following a fight with Brenda and has a drink. Dylan and Brandon go for a hike, but Brandon slips on the rocks. Dylan saves him from falling off the cliff, and they decide to keep the incident to themselves.
Director: Jeff Melman
Writer: N/A
7.3/10 189 votes#21 - Back in the High Life Again
Season 3 Episode 19 - Aired 1/27/1993
Jack is released from prison. He encourages Dylan to invite all his friends to a party, but only Kelly shows up. Dylan tells Kelly that he has chosen her over Brenda, and they kiss in the hotel pool. Dylan and Kelly take Brenda for a walk to inform her of Dylan's decision, and reveal their summer fling. She screams that she will never speak to them again. The financially destitute Jack wants to dissolve Dylan's trust so that he can have access to the money. Dylan goes along with it to show faith in his father. Jim fears that Jack is taking advantage of Dylan. Mel moves out of the Taylor house. David fears that he will no longer be a part of Erin's life, but Jackie invites him to stay with Kelly and her. Nat forgets to place a winning bet for Brandon; in lieu of cash, Brandon asks for his bookie's phone number. Music: ""Come Go With Me"" by the Dell-Vikings (#4, 1957); ""The Right
Director: Bill D'Elia
Writer: N/A
7.3/10 154 votes#22 - Love Hurts
Season 5 Episode 23 - Aired 3/1/1995
Lenny is released, as he has an alibi and the victim (an acquaintance) clears him. He confesses to David that he served time for sexual assault; he may have taken part in a rape while wandering the streets in a drunken stupor during his tour in the gulf. The outraged students try to run Lenny off campus, and Brandon agrees to help him transfer to another school. Valerie convinces Donna that David is to blame for Ray's departure. David and Donna get into a screaming match. Lenny reveals that Garrett Slan, a CU cafeteria worker, also spent time in a military prison. Brandon warns Clare that Garrett may be fixated on her, but he has moved on to Donna. Garrett breaks into the beach apartment, holds Donna at knifepoint, and tries to rape her. David interrupts as he comes over to apologize to Donna. She lets him know that something is amiss by calling him ""Dave,"" and he bursts in and hits Garrett in the head with a baseball bat.
Director: Gilbert M. Shilton
Writer: N/A
7.3/10 133 votes#23 - Violated
Season 6 Episode 7 - Aired 10/25/1995
Valerie accepts her marketing professor's invitation to a seminar. They have a drink afterwards, and the man tries to come on to her. He gives her a D on a midterm essay that he had seemed to like earlier, and Val suspects that he is punishing her. David and Susan encourage Valerie to file a complaint. Val backs down because she fears that the investigation will expose embarrassing information about her personal life. Meanwhile, Susan works on an exposé for the Condor. Several of Professor Haywood's past victims come forward, and he is forced to resign. Bruno delivers a letter from Dylan to Toni, and the couple eventually reunites. Marchette sees Toni and Dylan on campus together and becomes furious. Toni ignores her father's ultimatum and decides to move in with Dylan. Kelly cuts Colin loose after learning that he acts as Claudia's concubine in exchange for financial backing.
Director: Christopher Hibler
Writer: Meredith Stiehm
7.3/10 133 votes#24 - Bleeding Hearts
Season 6 Episode 21 - Aired 2/14/1996
Kelly and Colin argue because she used their entire coke stash. She goes to see his dealer alone, and a second man nearly rapes her. She hits him in the head with a wine bottle and drives away. Kelly calls Brandon for help; he finds her trembling in her car. Brandon and Jackie get Kelly into a rehab center. She confesses her love for Brandon, who does not reply. David writes Val a special poem for Valentine's Day. Valerie tries to pacifiy Ginger (and help out Susan) by setting her up with Jonathan. They pretend to be a couple in the hopes of making Susan jealous. When Jonathan tries to trick Susan into entering a dance contest with him, she punches him in the face. Valerie tells David about her scam with Ginger, and asks him to save her from humiliation by spending the night with Ginger. Nothing happens between David and Ginger, but he dumps Valerie because he feels betrayed by her request. The football coach kicks Joe off the team and recruits a new quarterback. Donna stops Joe from q
Director: Jason Priestley
Writer: N/A
7.3/10 114 votes#25 - Making Amends
Season 8 Episode 22 - Aired 3/11/1998
The paramedics revive Donna; she returns home from the hospital quickly, but suffers from withdrawal. Donna is fired after confessing that she plagiarized her co-worker's designs. Noah helps her battle her addiction, and she forgives him for sleeping with Valerie. A teenager abandons her baby outside of the clinic. Kelly cares for the child and tries to convince his mother to take him back. When this fails, she turns the baby over to social services. Kelly decides to apply to become the boy's foster mother. Brandon discovers that the record company paid a radio station to put David's song into rotation. A girl is injured at a concert as fans rush the stage. David quits the band and backs out of his record contract. Josh is sentenced to a year in jail for illegal drug possession. Valerie struggles to overcome memories of the rape and move on with her life. She concludes that neither she nor Noah is to blame for the crime. Steve finds love letters that are intended for another man.
Director: Joel J. Feigenbaum
Writer: N/A