On Beverly Hills 90210, the sun was always shining, the waves were always crashing, and the Peach Pit was always hopping. This teen-issues-drama turned nighttime-soap-opera offered viewers a glimpse into the window of young, affluent California life and became a staple of ’90s pop culture. Luke Perry’s tragic passing had a profound effect on fans of the show, who grew up watching Dylan McKay and his pals come of age, living in the world’s most famous zip code.
Right around when 90210 was ending, another pop culture phenomenon took flight: Harry Potter. Unlike the cliques of West Beverly High, those in the Potterverse weren’t determined by surfing abilities or net family income; they were determined by the Sorting Hat. This enchanted accessory delved into the depths of each student’s soul, assigning them a house - Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin - based on the student’s personality. If the 90210 gang was to hop across the pond, how would each member be sorted? Here are the Beverly Hills 90210 Characters Sorted Into Their Hogwarts Houses.
Brenda Walsh - Gryffindor
Though Brenda starts off desperately wanting to fit into the Beverly Hills lifestyle, she is decidedly always her own person. Sometimes that person is brave and warm, like when Brenda volunteered at a rape crisis center. She was also welcoming to Andrea Zuckerman before any of her girlfriends. Other times, this aspiring actress brought the drama. When Dylan deigned to go out with Emily Valentine after Brenda broke up with him, she called Emily a vicious name in front of the whole school. Brenda wholly encapsulates what it means to be a Gryffindor, both good and bad. She’s an individualistic defender of the underdog, but will react with her heart before her head can catch up.
Brandon Walsh - Hufflepuff
Steve once said that Brandon “makes friends in [his] sleep”. Indeed, Brandon’s gregariousness makes people flock to him, whether at West Beverly High or in the Hufflepuff common room.
Most twins in Harry Potter find themselves in the same house, but while Brandon and Brenda consider themselves best friends, their personalities are night and day. Brandon is much more responsible and on occasion, has to reign in Brenda’s wild temperament. Understandably, this can lead to conflict as Brandon can feel more like a babysitter than a brother. Not that he would ever behave any different, because Hufflepuffs are famous for their patience and dependability. Whether you need to borrow Herbology notes or a designated driver, a Hufflepuff’s got your back.
Kelly Taylor - Slytherin
As high school queen bees go, Kelly really doesn’t have much of a stinger. She’s rich, beautiful, and loves her sunny SoCal life. What’s to be bitter about? However, when Kelly wants something - or someone - that she can’t have, that’s when the Slytherin venom comes out. She’s not unlike the seagulls in Finding Nemo -“Mine! Mine!”- as she secretly tried to nab a date with Dylan after Brenda started dating him. Later on, she and Dylan had a summer fling while Brenda was vacationing in Paris. Though Kelly expressed guilt uncharacteristic of a Slytherin, it didn’t stop her from going after what she wanted.
Kelly can come across as shallow and arrogant, but this is her Beverly Hills armor. She’s survived many an ordeal, including a cult, a cocaine addiction, and a relationship with Steve Sanders. If anyone deserves a haughty Slytherin exterior, it’s Kelly Taylor.
Dylan McKay - Ravenclaw
By the time he was sixteen, Dylan McKay had lived more life than most people three times his age. A poor relationship with his parents forced Dylan to grow up early. As a result, he’s much more mature than many of his classmates. Though attractive and popular, Dylan is perfectly comfortable keeping his own company. A self-identified loner usually points to a Ravenclaw.
Ravenclaws aren’t famous for their communication skills and when things get rough, Dylan has a tendency to put up barriers. He’s often compared to James Dean due to his angst and resemblance. This combination makes him irresistible to women who think they can fix him. But not Brenda nor Kelly nor anyone else can alter his Ravenclaw poet’s soul.
Andrea Zuckerman - Ravenclaw
Andrea Zuckerman wouldn’t just be sorted into Ravenclaw; she would be appointed Head Girl in her first year. Andrea is Hermione without the Gryffindor sense of rebellion. What sets Andrea apart from her classmates isn’t just her sky-high intelligence; she lives out of district, in a less affluent area of town. Andrea’s caginess on the subject, combined with her overall shyness, makes her come across as standoffish and superior.
Brandon helps to pry Andrea out of her Ravenclaw shell. This leads to her discovering that she’s not so different from her wealthy classmates after all. Andrea has the same adolescent anxieties as they do; she just expresses them with a richer vocabulary.
Steve Sanders - Slytherin
Steve has both money and insecurity to burn. He presents himself to the world as a privileged twit, especially in the early days. However, this persona is all a sleight of hand. Steve wants to distract people from realizing the truth - that he’s petrified of being disliked or abandoned by his friends. But like a true Slytherin, Steve would rather die than come clean about his feelings. He carried a torch for Kelly long after their breakup. Of course, he couldn’t bring himself to have a heart-to-heart conversation with her about it. Over time, Steve was able to let go of his too-cool-for-school ‘tude, proving that sometimes a Slytherin can shed its skin.
Donna Martin - Hufflepuff
Donna Martin graduates… from Hufflepuff House. Free-spirited and upbeat, Donna is the typical California girl. Though likable and popular, people tend to dismiss Donna as not having much substance. Hufflepuffs are forever underestimated and chronic people-pleasers. When Donna had low grades, she was terrified her friends would think she was dumb. It turned out that Donna had an undiagnosed learning disability and her friends were beyond supportive.
Donna’s winning Hufflepuff personality caught the attention of David Silver and even though he was a nerdy sophomore, Donna went out with him anyway because he was sweet. Hufflepuffs often make the best partners and the pair had one of the longest relationships of the entire series.
David Silver - Gryffindor
David starts off as a dorky freshman who desperately wants to be popular. Most kids with his social status would be nervous wallflowers. Not David. He put himself out there in outrageous ways no matter how many times he was rejected or made fun of. In high school, daring to expose yourself to ridicule takes the steely nerve of a Gryffindor.
Gryffindors can be impulsive and not always take time to think about the consequences of their actions. When Donna tells David she wants to remain a virgin for the foreseeable future, he cheats on her. He also develops a meth addiction while working at the college radio station. Gryffindors don’t always think, but when they get their act together, they’re a force to be reckoned with.
