Season 3 of Beverly Hills, 90210 was probably the most important season of the show's run. By the third season, they had quite the fan following. This wasn't a top ten rated show by any means, but for the demographic they were targeting, it was an immense success. There were many reasons that this was such a monumental season for the show, including one entire season long storyline love triangle. Not only that, but the teenagers from West Beverly High were seniors and the entire season was focused on them graduating and moving on.

But the season began in the summer and Dylan (Luke Perry) and Brenda (Shannen Doherty) were still in the midst of their rocky relationship. Kelly (Jennie Garth) and Donna (Tori Spelling) were supposed to go to Paris for the summer, but Kelly opted out. This lead to Brenda's parents, the great Jim and Cindy Walsh, to send Brenda to Paris to get her away from Dylan. This is what happens in Beverly Hills. You irritate your parents because you miss curfew and instead of being grounded, you get sent to Paris.

Dean Cain in pre-Superman fashion is featured in the Paris episodes as a man Brenda meets and undresses with her eyes. But she pretends to be French so that he doesn't know the true her. David Arquette also shows up in Season 3 as Diesel, a wannabe rocker who is the ex-boyfriend of Brandon's young sophomore squeeze Niki. Seth Green plays a nerdy high schooler who gets set up on a double date with Brenda and Kelly. Burt Reynolds also shows up in a cameo on an episode in which a con woman uses Brandon and Steve to steal money from people who expected her to give them a Hollywood Tour.

The season long love triangle was expertly done. With Brenda in Paris, Kelly and Dylan get to spend time together and fall in love. But they try to honor their friendship with Brenda and you know how that works. Since Brenda also has something going on in Paris with Superman, the viewer feels the issue is fair and there is really no bad guy. Except, Shannen Doherty is so much of a better actor than both Luke Perry and Jennie Garth, she steals every scene and you start to feel sorry for her even though it's a fair situation. Well, maybe if Dean Cain was Dylan's best friend.

(One of the things that is changed about this DVD because of license issues is a memorable run where Brenda plays Losing My Religion all the time because she's depressed. The song is sadly changed here. What really should've been played is Biz Markie's Just A Friend. Oh baby you, you got what I need. But you say he's just a friend ...)

The big blow up of the season causes Brenda to call Kelly a "slut" and then tell her that if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck ... Pure greatness. The storyline doesn't really become finalized even at the end of the season and would go on for the next season.

You might be wondering about the living legend Brandon Walsh. The big deal for him the entire season was the fact that he couldn't hold a girlfriend. But inside of that, he also does a bit of gambling. There's a lesson here kids. Don't bet money that you don't have. The subtle attraction between Andrea (Gabriele Carteris) and Brandon is continuous even as she finds not one, but two boyfriends throughout the season. Brandon goes through a couple of women himself, including one who is racist, and one who gets beat up by her ex-boyfriend.

For some reason, David Silver (Brian Austin Green) decides that because he's a junior and everyone else is a senior, he's going to double up on classes so that he can graduate early. Never once is it stated how he does this. The only information we're given is that he needs help on the morning radio show that he does for the high school. Steve gets in a bit of trouble with his grades which leads him to do devious things, get in much trouble, and then for some reason, hit a lucky half court shot at a LA Lakers game and win some money. Sometimes, the sun shines on a dog's a**.

Other than the love triangle, there are two big subplots that the season will be remembered for. Dylan's father, who is in prison because of money laundering, makes a deal with the FBI (though we don't learn this until later) so that he can get out of prison. Jack McKay, is played by Josh Taylor who was also the dad on the Hogan's Family (which originally starred Valerie Harper and was called Valerie). He has never been in Dylan's life but is making up for lost time. In a very memorable episode, Jack goes to move his car, and the car blows up right in front of him. His dad's death plays into Dylan's character for the rest of the season.

(When Dylan screams "No!!!!!" it's nearly as heartbreaking as when Ritchie Valens died in La Bamba and his brother Bob screamed, "Ritchie!!!!!!!!". Two of the most heartbreaking screams of all time.)

But what this season is really remembered for is three words.

Donna

Martin

Graduates

Or, as to say it like the kids at West Beverly said it, "Donna Martin graduates!" Wash, rinse, and repeat about 500 times. Right before prom, the school board tries to pass a new rule that if anyone was caught drunk on prom night, they wouldn't graduate with the rest of the class. And guess who gets drunk? 85 pound Donna Martin, that's who. That great man Brandon Walsh puts together a plan that leads to everyone walking out of their finals and marching and protesting the school board to see to it that Donna Martin indeed graduates. It was BWalsh at his greatest.

(Quick trivia question: Who is the first one to utter those famous words, "Donna Martin graduates"? Answer at the bottom.)

Like I said, this season was the turning point in the series. Because of this season, season 4 would shoot up in ratings, doing the greatest ratings the show would ever do. The season long love triangle keeps the continuity of the show in tact, though there are some odd ball episodes that don't really fit in, including a wacky one where an angel and a man presumed to be God argue over whether they should change fate in order to make sure the kids from Beverly Hills don't die in a car accident. Yes, this episode happened.

At the end of the season, we are lead to believe that the gang is splitting up with Andrea going to Yale, Brenda moving back to Minnesota for college, and Dylan wanting to go to Cal Berkley. The rest of the crew moves on to California University. Go Condors!

(Trivia question answer: Steve Sanders is the first one to utter, "Donna Martin graduates." But he didn't say it with as much enthusiasm that would permeate throughout the rest of the episode.)

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12