Kelly Taylor (90210)

Infobox soap character | colour = #ffaa44
name = Kelly Taylor


imagesize =
caption = Kelly, portrayed by Jennie Garth, matures from adolescence to adulthood
portrayer = Jennie Garth
creator = Darren Star
gender = Female
other_names = Kel
gender = Female
first = "Class of Beverly Hills"
(Beverly Hills, 90210)
episode =
occupation = Guidance Counselor Owned "Kelly Taylor Public Relations" Partner in a clothing store Volunteer at an AIDS hospice
parents = William "Billy" Taylor (father)
Jacqueline "Jackie" Taylor (mother)
siblings = Joy Taylor (paternal half-sister)
Erin "Silver" Silver (maternal half-sister)
David Silver (step-brother)
children = Unnamed child (sex unknown, with Brandon, deceased)
Samuel "Sammy" Taylor (son, with Dylan)
romances = Steve Sanders
Jake Hanson
Dylan McKay
Brandon Walsh
Colin Robbins
Matt Durning
Ryan Matthews

Kelly Taylor was, for the majority of the show's run, the lead female character on the American television drama "Beverly Hills, 90210". [ [http://epguides.com/BeverlyHills90210/ 'Beverly Hills, 90210' cast billing] "epguides.com". Retrieved on July 8, 2008] Portrayed by actress Jennie Garth, Kelly appears prominently in all but one of the four shows which compose the "Beverly Hills, 90210" franchise. She was instrumental in launching the series' first spin-off, "Melrose Place", [ [http://www.tv.com/melrose-place/show/442/episode.html 'Melrose Place' episode summaries] "tv.com". Retrieved on July 13, 2008] and returned in the third spin-off, "90210".

A survivor of several challenges and perils, Kelly is depicted as a young woman who grows from self-absorbed teenage beginnings toward a more sensitive and mature adulthood. Along the way, she gains the romantic attentions of many, but begins to cherish a select few.

"Beverly Hills, 90210"

Throughout the course of the first season, Kelly became—alongside Ian Ziering's Steve Sanders—one of the show's most developed characters. When introduced, Kelly was presented as a stereotypical spoiled type who placed high value on posh appearances. However, it was gradually revealed that Kelly was very lonely, having grown used to disappointment (due to a troubled mother), abandonment (due to an absent father), and being judged by her exterior appearance. [http://www.tv.com/beverly-hills-90210/show/293/summary.html 'Beverly Hills, 90210' episode summaries] "tv.com". Retrieved on July 13, 2008]

Eventually, Kelly was revealed to have a conscience during a summer romance with Dylan McKay, the boyfriend of her friend Brenda. Over the following years (particularly during her ascension to lead status after the departure of Shannen Doherty's Brenda) the writers made Kelly a more compassionate, down-to-earth character. Tori Spelling's Donna was Kelly's best friend. Tiffani Thiessen's Valerie, who replaced Brenda, became Kelly's nemesis, but right before Valerie's departure, the two women formed a truce.

Kelly faced many difficult issues and obstacles, often with the assistance of loved ones, including her difficult home life, being date-raped, using diet pills, being tricked into joining a cult, being caught in a fire, and temporarily becoming addicted to cocaine. In addition, she endured being shot, getting amnesia, shooting her rapist, going to rehab, being stalked and almost killed by a patient from rehab, becoming unexpectantly pregnant and having a miscarriage, and learning that it would be difficult, but not impossible, for her to have children because of a condition called endometriosis. In overcoming these obstacles, she was able to become a better person and help others.

Kelly's two most prominent romantic relationships in the series were with Brandon Walsh and Dylan. In season 5, she was forced to make a choice between the two, as a result of Brandon proposing to her and Dylan confessing his love for her. However, she refused to do this and chose herself. However, in season 7, she finally chose Brandon. She nearly marries Brandon, but the two decide that they are not ready to. At the show's conclusion, the matured Kelly had started her own PR firm and reunited with her long-time love, Dylan.

"90210"

In 2008, Kelly Taylor returned in the spin-off "90210", now working as a guidance counselor at West Beverly High School, where her half-sister Erin Silver also attends. It was revealed in the first episode that during the intervening years since "Beverly Hills 90210", Kelly had attained a Master's Degree and she also has a four-year-old son named Sammy. When Principal Harry Wilson and Kelly are catching up during his first day at the school, it is revealed that they were neighbors growing up.

In episode 2, Kelly goes on a date with her coworker, Ryan Matthews while Brenda babysits Sammy.

In episode 3, Kelly finds out that her mother has relapsed and is drinking again. Hearing Silver is sometimes sleeping in a battered woman's shelter, she confronts her mother. After an argument, Kelly decides to take Silver and have them live together.

In episode 4, Ryan asks Kelly about Sammy's father and she tries to avoid the subject. Kelly also suggests to Harry that Brenda would be a good director for the school musical. After hearing that he asked Brenda about the father, Kelly confronts her. Brenda then reveals that Sammy's father is Dylan McKay and that Kelly is still in love with him (which is why her subsequent relationships have failed).

In episode 5, Kelly confronts Adriana about her drug problem and tries to help her. Talking with Brenda, they reminisce about high school and their memories. Kelly does attend the play with Ryan.

In episode 6, Kelly is talking to Ryan and Brenda when Brenda's phone rings. When Kelly finds out it's Dylan on the line, she talks to him. It turns out that Dylan wants to try and be a family again with Sammy. However, this would mean they would have to move out of Beverly Hills. After much thought, Kelly breaks up with Ryan, as she said that she needs to try to work things out with Dylan even if they may not work. Although Ryan says that he will wait for her, she turns down his offer. Ryan hurt, tries to get her to stay. He asks Kelly about the reason Dylan would call Brenda's phone, not hers. Fearing Brenda and Dylan are secretly back together, she confronts Brenda. She asks Brenda if there is a relationship going on between her and Dylan, and criticizes Brenda for taking her "seconds" (which Kelly is mistaken, as Dylan dated Brenda first before he dated Kelly). After hearing Brenda say that her and Dylan's relationship is platonic, Brenda and Kelly make up. Before she leaves, she tells Silver that she can live in her house so that she will have a home.

References in other Jennie Garth works

*In a season 3 episode of "What I Like About You" ("Dangerous Liaisons") Val (played by Jennie Garth) and Todd (played by Luke Perry) flashed back to high school, where Todd spoke of his girlfriend, Brenda, who was away in Paris (a nod to Luke Perry's "Beverly Hills, 90210" portrayal of Dylan McKay, and to Brenda Walsh going to Paris in season 3 of the show). Val also mentions that Brenda was her best friend (a nod to Jennie Garth portraying Kelly and to Kelly's friendship with Brenda). In the same episode, when Val is flashing back, a musical number very similar to the "Beverly Hills, 90210" theme plays in the background.

*In a season 4 episode of "What I Like About You" ("The Perfect Date"), Charlie (played by Jason Priestley) mistakes Val (played by Jennie Garth) for being someone he knew when he was younger, as he asks her if they went to high school together (a nod to Garth's previous role as Kelly). When Val replies that she doesn't think so, Charlie asks her if she remembers that he was the editor of the school paper (a nod to Priestley's portrayal of Brandon) and that she was friends with his sister (a nod to Kelly's friendship with Brenda).

External links

* [http://90210.wikia.com 90210pedia] —a Wikia project

References