90210 – Recap & Review – Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat

photo: cw

90210
Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat

Original Air Date: Sept 22, 2009

Meg – TwoCents Reviewer
meg@thetwocentscorp.com

This week on 90210, Annie and Naomi engage in an all-out war, while Dixon woos an older lady. Meanwhile, just as Navid starts to warm to him, Teddy makes his move on a very confused Adrianna.

West Beverly High
We start off with Dixon in Harry’s office, being reprimanded for punching creepy Mark last episode after finding out Mark took naked photos of Annie. Harry yells at Dixon, asking “How do you think this reflects on me?” Way to think of others, Dad. Fed up, Dixon finally reveals why he punched Mark. Awkwardness ensues.

In the hallway, Silver gives Dixon a box of his stuff. They laugh over some of the contents until they happen upon a horror DVD of “Hell’s Hospital.” Dixon says that Silver can keep the film since he hates horror movies. Silver is surprised since they watched so many when they were together. Then Dixon complains that they always did whatever she wanted to do and then he delivers the kicker, “I was never really myself around you.” Ouch, but if that’s true about their relationship, then it wasn’t really balanced and I can’t blame him for wanting to move on (but still—ouch).

Meanwhile Annie arrives at school (one day after naked pictures of her were emailed to the entire school? Yikes, I would have changed my name and moved to Baku by then!). She puts up a brave face, but quickly crumbles when she sees that someone has scrawled “SLUT” across her locker door. Still trying to clear her name, Annie goes to talk to Mark who is whining about Dixon’s assault. She asks for his help and while he agrees, he says it will cost her. Ew.

Adrianna is still angry at Navid for ambushing Teddy on camera and just generally being a jerk. Navid wins both of us back a little bit by showing her his latest video editing project—he took footage from his interview of Teddy and spliced it with his own responses. On screen, Navid-One grills Navid-Two about his horrible behavior, admitting that he behaved unacceptably. Both Navids speak sweetly of their love for Adrianna and the two of them (the three of them?) reconcile adorably.

Teddy invites the gang to a yacht party. Navid gamely accepts and reveals to Dixon that he is implementing “Operation Overcompensate” and that he is going to reassure Adrianna by befriending Teddy.

Navid sends Dixon off in his father’s yellow Lamborghini to pick up pizzas for the Blaze meeting. While waiting for his order, Dixon spies a gorgeous girl getting wrapped up in a baseball game. He slides over and they flirtingly tease each other over their baseball preferences. She introduces herself as Sasha and says that she’s a DJ. Dixon is a smitten kitten until Sasha tells him she’s been DJing since college. Oh dear—where in the conversation is it appropriate to drop in a mention of “that’s-great-by-the-way-I’m-a-good-five-years-younger-than-you-probably-think-I-am-and I don’t-actually-drive-that-fancy-sports-car-outside,-but-hey,-I’m-totally-mature-for-my-age!” They make plans to see each other again.

Wilson Homestead
After learning of the sext scandal, Annie’s mom starts to tell her that “being intimate with someone is a big deal” and points out that sex for girls in high school is more likely to damage the girl’s reputation than the guy’s. Instead of accepting her mother’s well-meaning advice, Annie bitches about how her mom is just bitter because she has no sex life. Harry, overhearing the exchange, grounds Annie on the spot. When Debbie disagrees, Harry admonishes her for being soft and says that sometimes the kids need a parent, more than a friend. At the office, Harry shares a cup of coffee and some conversation with Kelly. Kelly suggests that Annie has been punished enough by the fact that everyone in the entire school has seen her naked. Then, she starts talking about her own wild days at West Bev and is thankful nobody had camera phones back then. Erm, is that really appropriate stuff to talk about with your boss?

Later, Harry mentions that he talked about their problems with Annie to Kelly. Debbie is mightily annoyed and stomps off. Harry does not help the situation by instant-messaging with Kelly and promising to get lunch and talk on Monday.

Yacht Party!
On the yacht, kids assemble in sundresses and god-awful floppy wide-brimmed hats. Annie shows up with whiny Mark. Annie marches over Naomi and Silver and demands that Mark confess that Naomi stole his phone and sent herself the sext. Erin is shocked and angry at Naomi. Annie tries to summarize the situation: “I am a good person and she’s a lying sociopath.” Naomi threatens war.

And as annoying as I find Annie, if it had ended here, with Annie just wanting to clear her name and bring the truth to light, my sympathies would have sided with her. HOWEVER, Annie crosses the line when she begs Liam to tell Naomi the truth and then sandbags him in front of Naomi by claiming that they were having sex the entire time Liam and Naomi were together and that they’d lay in bed and make fun of her. Annie points out callously that everyone Naomi loves ends up loving Annie more. Naomi’s face crumples. Wow, that was exceptionally cruel. Erin observes the exchange and is aptly horrified.

Dixon, looking like a Will Smith stand-in from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, tries to avoid running into Silver and ends up running into Sasha, who just happens to be DJing the party. Poor Dixon looks for an escape route, but the yacht has already sailed. Determined to keep Silver and Sasha away from each other, Dixon enlists his buddies to help him. Sasha is grooving and seems to accept Dixon’s cover story that he’s friends with the Montgomery family. She also gives him an opportunity to DJ a little.

Dixon and Sasha get into some handholding and a little smooch. I can’t help but noticing that Sasha has a weird smile. She’s gorgeous, but she definitely bares her teeth when she smiles. Her smile soon dissipates, however, when notices that Silver is giving her “the stink eye.” Dixon explains that she is his ex and instead of accepting that and moving on, Sasha says she wants to be introduced.

Dixon introduces Navid to Sasha as his assistant. Unfortunately Navid suddenly gets sea-sick and runs outside, leaving Sasha alone to be confronted by Silver. Awkwardness ensues. Sasha reveals she thinks that Dixon is a successful music producer. Dixon returns and is horrified to see the two of them chatting. However, to Silver’s credit, she doesn’t blow his cover, and makes a very gracious exit.

Teddy looks after a sea-sick Navid outside and takes the opportunity to ask why Navid doesn’t like him. Navid is (for better or for worse) honest and tells him he thinks Teddy is a sleaze, mentioning the previously-referenced scandal at Exeter involving naked girls. Teddy confides in Navid that he was actually taking the hit for his roommate who was on scholarship and needed to keep his place at Exeter. Navid seems duly impressed.

Just as I start to think Teddy might be more sincere than I was giving him, he cozies up to Adrianna in the kitchen and starts reminiscing about their history together. And then he leans in for a kiss. Villain! Adrianna seems genuinely disturbed and excuses herself. Later, Navid yammers on about how great Teddy is and how he wants to throw him a party while Adrianna stays silent.

Silver and Naomi later share a sweet bonding moment. Naomi feels destroyed by Annie’s attack and Silver feels dejected by Dixon having moved on so quickly. Silver shows Naomi that she still has her Dixon tattoo and that the removal process will take eight painful months. They commiserate and support each other and I have to admit that I enjoy their friendship.

Dixon borrows Navid’s car to continue impressing Sasha and she gets behind the wheel and says they’re road-tripping to Napa. I’m just waiting for them to get pulled over and for him to have to be asked for his registration.

What did you think of the episode? Are you on Annie’s side, Naomi’s side, or do you think they are both equally terrible? What do you think the fallout will be for Dixon?