This episode depicts trauma and alcoholism.
The Child Is Father To The Man is the 22nd episode of Season 3 of Beverly Hills, 90210.
Synopsis[]
The Walshes (Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty, Carol Potter, James Eckhouse) offer sanctuary to Dylan (Luke Perry), who learns more about his father's parole, and struggles with urges to go back to old habits.
Starring[]
- Jason Priestley as Brandon Walsh
- Shannen Doherty as Brenda Walsh
- Jennie Garth as Kelly Taylor
- Ian Ziering as Steve Sanders
- Gabrielle Carteris as Andrea Zuckerman
- Luke Perry as Dylan McKay
- Brian Austin Green as David Silver
- Tori Spelling as Donna Martin
- Carol Potter as Cindy Walsh
- and James Eckhouse as Jim Walsh
- Recurring cast
- Joe E. Tata as Nat Bussichio
- Guest starring
- Valerie Wildman as Christine Pettit
- Raymond O'Connor as Curtis Bray
- Stephen Rowe as Serge Menkin
- Miguel Pérez as Mel Borman
- Co-Starring
- Tim Anderson as Dylan's Inner Child
- Matt McKenzie as Reporter #3
- Adam Tucker as Mike Nelson
- Hugh Holub as Mr. Jessup
- Jeff Coopwood as Reporter #1
- Sergia Sanchez as Reporter #2
- Larry Randolph as Preacher
Quotes[]
❛
- Dylan – Look, Bren, I wanna thank you for letting me stay-
- Brenda – Dylan, you don't have to say anything. In fact, I wanna apologise to you: I'm sorry it took me a whole day to swallow my pride and do the right thing
❛
- Brenda – [takes his hand] You know, it's gonna be okay
- Dylan – [voice cracking] just keep telling me that, will ya
Trivia[]
- Christine reveals herself to have been an undercover FBI agent and informs Dylan that his late father got out of prison to help the FBI by serving as bait for his past criminal contacts
- David manages to help Dylan feel understood by relaying his experience when Scott died tragically
- Dylan and Brenda work toward forgiveness
PRODUCTION NOTES
- Jessica Klein and Steve Wasserman lobbied for Brenda and Dylan to reunite in this episode. Showrunner Charles Rosin agreed, but according to Rosin, because Doherty was frequently late to set in this period, for logistical reasons it was not feasible, so Rosin decided against it, which is why Dylan and Kelly continued to be a couple.[1]
- Dylan plays his 13-year-old self for the majority of the episode because Luke Perry felt that they were the best lines, in the original script to have been said by the 13-year-old actor who appears at the end[1]
- Valerie Wildman wasn't told that her character worked for the FBI until she was on her way to shoot the scene in this episode[2]
Music[]
- can't cry hard enough | WILLIAMS BROTHERS
- dylan grieving with his inner child
Locations[]
- Casa Walsh
- Dylan's House
- Kelly's House
- Olvera Street Warehouse
- Icon Records
Photos[]
