The Many Traumas of Kelly Taylor on "Beverly Hills, 90210"

Peyton Sawyer went through a lot. Marissa Cooper went through a lot.

But Kelly Taylor is the OG teen drama trauma girl.

Across (almost) every season of “Beverly Hills, 90210,” Kelly suffered a physical and/or mental crisis of some sort. During “The Final Goodbye,” the retrospective that aired the week before the series finale, portrayer Jennie Garth said:

“My character, I think more than any of the other characters, just has been through the most. Our show had always been kind of, you know, ‘Bad things that almost happen to beautiful people.’ That was like what the joke was over in the offices. I was always like, ‘Let it happen to me. Let something really bad actually happen to the character.’ So they did. They shot her, they burned her, raped her. They really took me seriously.”

Brace yourself for the full list of Kelly traumas below.

TRIGGER WARNING: The content discussed below and depicted in the accompanying videos may be upsetting to some people.

Season 1

Date Rape

In episode 1.13, “Slumber Party,” Kelly is forced to reveal how she lost her virginity. But the story isn’t what anyone expected. She tearfully recalls being date-raped by a fellow student, Ross Webber. Years later, thanks to Valerie of all people, Ross learns Kelly never forgot what he did to her.

Season 2

Sexual Assault

In season 2, episode 13 was a Halloween installment aptly titled “Halloween.” Kelly’s sexy witch costume attracts the eye of many partygoers, one of whom who uses the way she’s dressed as an excuse to try to sexually assault her. Before the assailant can get too far, the attack is interrupted by Brenda and Donna before Steve and Dylan intervene.

Season 3

Eating Disorder

Over a few episodes, Kelly becomes increasingly insecure about her looks. Suffering from body dysmorphia, she starts taking — and then abusing — diet pills. After passing out at her 18th birthday party in episode 3.24, “Perfectly Perfect,” Kelly’s hospitalized and treated for an eating disorder.

Season 5

Fire, Cult

In “Up in Flames,” episode 5.13, Kelly is severely burned in a fire that breaks out at a house party. As she struggles emotionally in the aftermath, she finds solace in The New Evolution, an organization run by Professor Finley. It takes quite a while for Kelly to realize what everyone else has already figured out: The New Evolution is a cult.

Season 6

Drug Addiction, Murder-Suicide Attempt

After being disappointed by her father for the umpteenth time, Kelly ends episode 6.17, “Fade In, Fade Out,” by snorting cocaine. Over several episodes, she becomes more and more addicted before ending up in rehab — where her roommate Tara becomes a little too attached to her. It all culminates in Tara trying to execute a murder-suicide via carbon monoxide poisoning.

Season 7

AIDS Scare, Miscarriage

While volunteering at an AIDS hospice, Kelly becomes particularly close with one patient, Jimmy. In episode 7.04, “Disappearing Act,” an accident with a knife ends with some of Jimmy’s blood on Kelly’s hands, leading her to panic about contracting HIV. Kelly is ultimately assured she is negative for the disease. Then, she’s tormented again later in the season. In episode 7.30, “Senior Week,” a pregnant Kelly suffers a miscarriage and finds out she may never be able to carry a baby to term.

Season 8

Shooting, Amnesia

Episode 8.02, “Aloha Beverly Hills, Part 2,” ends with a bang — literally — when Kelly is shot in an airport parking lot. Following a medical complication during her recovery, Kelly experiences memory loss. It takes a bit before she remembers Brandon’s place in her life.

Season 9

Rape, Shooting

As she heads to a late-night meeting with Dylan, Kelly is raped in an alleyway in episode 9.24, “Dog’s Best Friend.” She’s still struggling over what happened in the season finale, episode 9.26, “That’s The Guy,” when an improbable run-in with the rapist, Joe Patch, leads her to shoot him before he can attack her again.

Season 10

Arrest

Episode 10.01, “The Phantom Menace,” opens with Kelly being arrested for fatally shooting her rapist. She faces the possibility of charges for murder and illegal possession of a firearm, but ultimately none are filed. A few episodes later, in episode 10.06, “‘80s Night,” Kelly is forced to come to terms with all that’s happened when Joe’s parents tell her they forgive her for killing their son.

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These storylines were all disturbing in their own ways, which makes it feel inappropriate to have a “favorite.” Nevertheless, we all have our preferences, and mine are Kelly’s eating disorder storyline in season 3 and the rape storyline in season 9. If you guessed this is because both plots heavily involve Kelly’s relationship with Dylan, you’d be right. But also, I’d argue Garth does some of her best work of the entire series in episode 9.25, “Agony,” as Kelly is traumatized after her rape.

As you might’ve noticed, there was no traumatic event in Kelly’s life in season 4, at least compared to other seasons — just relationship drama involving Dylan, Brenda, John Sears, and Brandon. Guess the writers decided to give her a relative break that year. Generally speaking, though, the teen dramas tackled mental health issues poorly, but hopefully Kelly has found a really great therapist by now.