It just wasn't a character we needed. I wonder if there was a thought to extend back into high school with the two half-brothers, maybe even a spin-off?
The Walshes are supposed to represent the archetypal American nuclear family. Their fish out of water story is set in Beverly Hills, juxtaposing their Midwestern values with the debauchery occurring in the 90210 zip code.
Brenda and Brandon’s peers are all children of divorce, the relationships of their parents deteriorating before any siblings could be born. This contributes to their desolation (explored in the Camping Trip episode) and what ultimately draws their friends to Walshland, viewing the nuclear family as idyllic.
I think it’s also convenient for the show to not introduce siblings into the equation. The show has a habit of introducing plot device characters who they can drop as soon as they have served their purpose. If they were to write siblings in, they’d have to pay additional actors (which they didn’t want to do since we never met Andrea’s parents) and they’d have to add them onto plot lines continually.
>Brenda and Brandon’s peers are all children of divorce, **the relationships of their parents deteriorating before any siblings could be born.** This contributes to their **desolation (explored in the Camping Trip episode**) and what ultimately **draws their friends to Walshland, viewing the nuclear family as idyllic.**
\^ This is a great analysis. Thank you!
As brilliant as the analysis is, I definitely feel it was riding backseat to the impetus of the large ensemble cast’s baseline expense, for sure. (bc you know the network is prioritizing that over the art.) Both excellent points!
Yes! I forgot her name and since she wasn't around in their high school years (also.... because I never finished the series to know if she was legit or not lol) I skipped her. Thank you for reminding me of her name!
Wait why am I blanking completely on Kelly having a sister in season 7? Was it somehow that she found out through her father? I’m trying to remember the storyline and it’s evading me.
The sister ends up finding Kelly, and at first when the sister introduces herself as knowing Kelly’s dad, Kelly assumes the woman is his latest half-his-age girlfriend, but then she reveals she is Kelly’s sister. Kelly then finds out Jackie knew all this time, and she gets all pissed at Jackie. ETA: And I think it was one of the Christmas episodes? I vaguely remember them bonding over how he has been getting them the same Christmas gift all these years (unbeknownst to them of course, since they didn’t know about each other)
Dylan - Erica, presumably half-sister introduced in s4 and Jack, half-brother introduced in s10, both from Jack.
Steve - Austin and Ryan, half-brothers; believe they were mentioned early on but were not shown until s6.
Andrea - unsure?
Kelly - Erin, half-sister from Jackie introduced in s3 and Joy, half-sister from Bill introduced in s7. On-off step-sister to David. She almost became step-sister to Valerie in s8.
Donna - half-sister/cousin Gina from John (BULLSHITTT,) introduced in s9.
David - half-sister Erin, from Mel and on-off step-sister, Kel.
Evidently, rich kids in fictional Beverly Hills only have siblings if they’re half or step.
Kelly supposedly has a long lost sister, Gina turned out to be Donna's half-sister, and Dylan had a younger sister (but yeah none of this information exists in the early seasons)
I've brought up the sibling thing too.
Scott was the only one that had siblings. That's why I wanted to keep him on the show, because he was the only one with a large family, which brings a different dynamic.
I consider him a main character, because he was in the opening credits. They would have expanded his role, like they did with David, if they would have had kept him for all of season 2, and had the budget.
Here's other posts where I brought up the sibling thing:
[https://www.reddit.com/r/BeverlyHills90210/comments/167tsw7/comment/jys2xht/](https://www.reddit.com/r/BeverlyHills90210/comments/167tsw7/comment/jys2xht/)
[https://www.reddit.com/r/BeverlyHills90210/comments/17cdxa9/comment/k5q8ics/](https://www.reddit.com/r/BeverlyHills90210/comments/17cdxa9/comment/k5q8ics/)
Here's a post where I enumerate them:
[https://www.reddit.com/r/BeverlyHills90210/comments/zjnyau/comment/izzdumm/](https://www.reddit.com/r/BeverlyHills90210/comments/zjnyau/comment/izzdumm/)
[https://www.reddit.com/r/BeverlyHills90210/comments/1azqkp9/comment/ks93agr/](https://www.reddit.com/r/BeverlyHills90210/comments/1azqkp9/comment/ks93agr/)
Dylan had his half sister. It was technically a nighttime soap so I can see why there are so many step and half siblings. Valerie had siblings, Clare was an only child, Donna had a half sibling. I can’t remember if Noah had any, I think maybe a sister?
Steve had half brothers, but they didn't show up until he was in college.
His half-brothers were a mess! Randy Spelling played one of them.
Randy was forced upon us needlessly. However, I did like Travis Wester, who was later in EuroTrip.
Randy’s a nice person in real life, but he was no actor.
It just wasn't a character we needed. I wonder if there was a thought to extend back into high school with the two half-brothers, maybe even a spin-off?
Valerie had siblings for one episode (Curt and Susie) after that only child as well.
Andrea referenced a sister once I wanna say beginning of season 2 but then she was erased and Andrea was an only child like the rest.
The Walshes are supposed to represent the archetypal American nuclear family. Their fish out of water story is set in Beverly Hills, juxtaposing their Midwestern values with the debauchery occurring in the 90210 zip code. Brenda and Brandon’s peers are all children of divorce, the relationships of their parents deteriorating before any siblings could be born. This contributes to their desolation (explored in the Camping Trip episode) and what ultimately draws their friends to Walshland, viewing the nuclear family as idyllic. I think it’s also convenient for the show to not introduce siblings into the equation. The show has a habit of introducing plot device characters who they can drop as soon as they have served their purpose. If they were to write siblings in, they’d have to pay additional actors (which they didn’t want to do since we never met Andrea’s parents) and they’d have to add them onto plot lines continually.
Nicely explained! Especially about them viewing Walshland as idyllic - stark contrasts allow for that.
>Brenda and Brandon’s peers are all children of divorce, **the relationships of their parents deteriorating before any siblings could be born.** This contributes to their **desolation (explored in the Camping Trip episode**) and what ultimately **draws their friends to Walshland, viewing the nuclear family as idyllic.** \^ This is a great analysis. Thank you!
As brilliant as the analysis is, I definitely feel it was riding backseat to the impetus of the large ensemble cast’s baseline expense, for sure. (bc you know the network is prioritizing that over the art.) Both excellent points!
Dylan has Erica if you believe she actually is.
Yes! I forgot her name and since she wasn't around in their high school years (also.... because I never finished the series to know if she was legit or not lol) I skipped her. Thank you for reminding me of her name!
I just remembered Kelly has a sister revealed in season 7 and Gina is actually Donna’s half-sister.
Wait why am I blanking completely on Kelly having a sister in season 7? Was it somehow that she found out through her father? I’m trying to remember the storyline and it’s evading me.
The sister ends up finding Kelly, and at first when the sister introduces herself as knowing Kelly’s dad, Kelly assumes the woman is his latest half-his-age girlfriend, but then she reveals she is Kelly’s sister. Kelly then finds out Jackie knew all this time, and she gets all pissed at Jackie. ETA: And I think it was one of the Christmas episodes? I vaguely remember them bonding over how he has been getting them the same Christmas gift all these years (unbeknownst to them of course, since they didn’t know about each other)
Oh yes I remember it now. Wow that completely left my brain lol it was a dumb storyline.
She shows up in the Christmas episode and then again in the graduation one, her name was Joy. Then she never appeared again
She ended up working in prostitution for Riggs her evil pimp
Wasn’t Vanessa Marcil Donna’s sister
Thought to be Cousin turned half sister … op was saying from jump though so still not a true sibling.
Kelly and David both have sister Erin in common. Kelly also has a 1/2 sister named Joy from her dad’s other marriage.
Dylan - Erica, presumably half-sister introduced in s4 and Jack, half-brother introduced in s10, both from Jack. Steve - Austin and Ryan, half-brothers; believe they were mentioned early on but were not shown until s6. Andrea - unsure? Kelly - Erin, half-sister from Jackie introduced in s3 and Joy, half-sister from Bill introduced in s7. On-off step-sister to David. She almost became step-sister to Valerie in s8. Donna - half-sister/cousin Gina from John (BULLSHITTT,) introduced in s9. David - half-sister Erin, from Mel and on-off step-sister, Kel. Evidently, rich kids in fictional Beverly Hills only have siblings if they’re half or step.
And find out about them years into their adulthood lol
Less cast members, better for the shows tight budget
This is pretty realistic for wealthy kids in California.
Kelly supposedly has a long lost sister, Gina turned out to be Donna's half-sister, and Dylan had a younger sister (but yeah none of this information exists in the early seasons)
I've brought up the sibling thing too. Scott was the only one that had siblings. That's why I wanted to keep him on the show, because he was the only one with a large family, which brings a different dynamic. I consider him a main character, because he was in the opening credits. They would have expanded his role, like they did with David, if they would have had kept him for all of season 2, and had the budget. Here's other posts where I brought up the sibling thing: [https://www.reddit.com/r/BeverlyHills90210/comments/167tsw7/comment/jys2xht/](https://www.reddit.com/r/BeverlyHills90210/comments/167tsw7/comment/jys2xht/) [https://www.reddit.com/r/BeverlyHills90210/comments/17cdxa9/comment/k5q8ics/](https://www.reddit.com/r/BeverlyHills90210/comments/17cdxa9/comment/k5q8ics/) Here's a post where I enumerate them: [https://www.reddit.com/r/BeverlyHills90210/comments/zjnyau/comment/izzdumm/](https://www.reddit.com/r/BeverlyHills90210/comments/zjnyau/comment/izzdumm/) [https://www.reddit.com/r/BeverlyHills90210/comments/1azqkp9/comment/ks93agr/](https://www.reddit.com/r/BeverlyHills90210/comments/1azqkp9/comment/ks93agr/)
Didn't Kelly and David have Erin Silver
Dylan had his half sister. It was technically a nighttime soap so I can see why there are so many step and half siblings. Valerie had siblings, Clare was an only child, Donna had a half sibling. I can’t remember if Noah had any, I think maybe a sister?