A love triangle keeps a teen drama going strong, and in the case of Beverly Hills, 90210, the dramatic storyline featuring Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth), Dylan McKay (Luke Perry), and Brenda Walsh (Shannen Doherty) was top-notch entertainment.
This is a love triangle that comes up a few times throughout the TV show, which aired for 10 seasons from 1990 to 2000. We’re going to answer the important question: who was better for Dylan, Kelly or Brenda? Read on to find out.
10. Kelly: They Knew Each Other Longer
Kelly and Dylan have both been living in Beverly Hills their whole lives, so they come from the same rich social circle. They weren’t the best of friends but fans know that they had at least been friendly with one another for a long time.
This seems important since it means that Kelly and Dylan are aware of each other’s family backgrounds (which are both not great) and they’re super comfortable around one another. Brenda and Dylan have a really rocky start to their relationship and sometimes seem awkward and like they’re not sure how to act.
9. Brenda: They Had Real Chemistry
At the beginning of Beverly Hills, 90210, Brenda and Dylan flirt a lot and really seem to like each other. Sparks are totally flying in every scene that they’re in together, and anyone watching was rooting for them to start dating.
Brenda and Dylan definitely had real chemistry, and that seems to be a reason why she’s better than Kelly in terms of a love interest for him. While it’s clear that Kelly and Dylan love each other, they don’t seem quite as crazy about each other.
8. Kelly: She Understood His Pain
Dylan hasn’t had an easy time of things. His dad is basically a crooked businessman, and Dylan drowns his pain in alcohol, drugs, and dating at various points throughout the series. He even spends some time living at a hotel instead of an actual house. He really doesn’t have any family to speak of.
It feels like Kelly understands his pain a lot more than Brenda does. While Brenda tries to be sympathetic, she’s a pretty selfish character who cares about how things and situations affect her. She likes Dylan and is attracted to his bad boy attitude, but she doesn’t go super deep into his past or his pain.
7. Brenda: Kelly Is Willing To Cheat
Some fans might think that it’s okay that Dylan cheated on Brenda with Kelly if they ship those two characters. But for the rest of us, we’re wondering how both Dylan and Kelly could have done something like that to Brenda.
Since Kelly is clearly willing to cheat and even hurt her best friend in the process, that’s another point for Brenda. When she and Dylan get together, they’re not causing any drama or ruining friendships or hurting anyone. They’re simply two people who like each other and want to date.
6. Kelly: She’s More Mature Than Brenda
Thanks to her rich upbringing, it’s fair to say that Kelly is much more mature than Brenda. She’s used to being ignored by her mother and she doesn’t really have anyone to rely on, so when she and Dylan find their way to each other, she leans on him.
Kelly is a better partner for Dylan because she’s experienced a lot of things and she feels more on his level. While Brenda is innocent and very coddled by her sweet, caring family, Kelly is more independent. She just gets Dylan and doesn’t freak out over every little thing the way that Brenda does.
5. Brenda: She Shows Him A Happy Family Life
Although Brenda’s dad, Jim Walsh (James Eckhouse) isn’t thrilled with their relationship, it’s definitely true that Brenda is able to show Dylan that it’s possible to have a happy family life. She comes from a home with a brother and two parents, and he’s able to observe that, especially since he’s good friends with Brandon (Jason Priestley).
This is something that Brenda can offer Dylan that Kelly can’t. That seems to be another point in Brenda’s favor.
4. Kelly: He And Brenda Break Up Too Many Times
If you had a friend who had a relationship like Dylan and Brenda’s, you would definitely tell them to let it go and say goodbye. Kelly is a better love interest for Dylan because Dylan and Brenda break up way too many times.
In the second season, Brenda thinks it’s for the best if she and Dylan end their relationship because she worries that she’s pregnant and she feels that it’s all too much. If they were meant to be, they would be able to help each other through bad and good times instead of feeling like it’s overwhelming and they need time apart.
3. Brenda: She Helps Him Grow Up
When Brenda meets Dylan, he’s a friend of her brother Brandon’s and she likes his cool vibe. As they start a serious relationship, it seems that Brenda helps Dylan realize that he needs to grow up.
He’s used to not having a care in the world and going anywhere and doing anything that he wants since he lives in a hotel and has zero parental guidance or supervision. But since Brenda comes from a good family and she wants to be in a happy, healthy relationship, she helps him understand that he’s capable of loving someone and also being loved.
2. Kelly: It’s A More Grown-Up Relationship
Since Kelly and Dylan date beyond high school and get back together in season four, it feels like they have a more grown-up relationship. Brenda and Dylan’s love story is filled with immature drama and always feels like it’s one bad argument away from a break-up. It can feel pretty tiring to watch them.
For that reason, it feels like Kelly is the better love interest for Dylan, and they seem really good together. Sure, it’s a teen drama so there are always juicy storylines, but their romance feels a bit calmer.
1. Brenda: She And Dylan Reconcile Later On
The final reason that Brenda and Dylan should be together (and should have ended up together on 90210)? After Shannen Doherty left the series and Brenda moved to London to become an actress, fans found out that she and Dylan rekindled their romance.
The fact that they reconciled seems to suggest that she’s the better love interest for him. They couldn’t stay away from each other and they knew that their love was something special.
