Ep 20. Parental Guidance Recommended

The episode "Parental Guidance Recommended" of Beverly Hills 90210's third season focuses on the relationships between parents and children. As the school year draws to a close, the Walsh family prepares to host a beach party for all of Brenda's friends. However, Brenda is dismayed to learn that her parents plan to chaperone the event. She feels that they are treating her like a child, and argues that she is old enough to make her own decisions about partying.

Meanwhile, Steve is excited to spend time with his father, who is in town on business. However, when his dad cancels their plans in order to spend time with his new girlfriend, Steve takes it hard. He begins to question his father's priorities and wonders if their relationship will ever be the same. Donna, too, is struggling with her parents. Her mother is overly critical of her weight and appearance, which causes Donna to feel insecure and ashamed of her body.

Even Jim and Cindy Walsh are facing their own issues with parenting. They are concerned about Brenda's relationship with Dylan, and how it might be affecting her grades and behavior. They disagree about how to handle the situation and whether they should intervene or trust Brenda to make the right choices.

As the beach party gets underway, tensions are high and emotions run rampant. Brenda rebels against her parents by sneaking alcohol onto the beach, which leads to a fallout with Dylan. Steve's father tries to make it up to him by inviting him to a fancy dinner, but the gesture comes too little too late. Donna's mother continues to nitpick her appearance, which only makes her more self-conscious.

In the end, each character learns a valuable lesson about the complexities of parent-child relationships. Brenda realizes that while she may feel independent, she still needs her parents' guidance and support. Steve comes to terms with the fact that his father is flawed, but still loves him. Donna stands up to her mother and asserts her own self-worth.

"Parental Guidance Recommended" is a poignant exploration of the highs and lows of growing up and finding one's place in the world. It reminds us that while our parents may not always get it right, they are doing the best they can and ultimately have our best interests at heart.