Let's Compare Scenes: Throwback Episodes

Here’s another edition of “Let’s Compare Scenes” that’s really “Let’s Compare Episodes.”

I’ve already written about my love for alternate universes. The two episodes highlighted below take that trope but put a spin on it by going back in time.

Beverly Hills, 90210

Episode 4.25, “The Time Has Come Today”

When Brenda finds an old diary hidden in her bedroom, she learns about the life of Wendy, a woman who was a teen in the 1960s. As viewers, we are transported back to the tumultuous time, seeing our present-day characters take on the personas Brenda is reading about in the diary. The 1960s characters and storylines have parallels to the 1990s characters and storylines. The episode was directed by one of the show’s stars, Jason Priestley.

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One Tree Hill

Episode 6.11, “We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)

When Lucas falls asleep, he dreams of life in the 1940s. As viewers, we are transported back to the swinging time, seeing our present-day characters take on the personas Lucas is dreaming about. The 1940s characters and storylines have parallels to the 2000s characters and storylines. The episode was written by one of the shows stars, Chad Michael Murray.

Neither episode is considered a favorite among most fans — the “One Tree Hill” one is particularly maligned. But I am a huge fan of both series’ takes on throwback episodes even though I’m generally not all that into period pieces usually. The main reason I love both episodes so much is I find it incredibly smart how the characters and storylines from these alternate worlds mirror the characters and storylines from our worlds.

Both episodes take real aspects of their respective decades and tie them into present-day dynamics that we’ve been watching unfold for seasons. And the fact that we have the creativity of the respective series’ stars — Priestley and Murray — to thank for that is no small thing.

I’m happy to throw it back (see what I did there?) to these similar episodes again and again. What about you? Do you like these episodes of “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “One Tree Hill”?

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