April Is the Cruelest Month

Brandon is assigned to write a student profile on West Beverly's ace tennis player (Perry) but he soon finds that Roger is not the success he seems, as the contents of concerning screenplay gradually reveal.

Roger's interest in firearms and fast cars suggests a reckless streak which Brandon feels compelled to help treat. Meanwhile the girls are concerned about Donna's sudden change in attitude which is out of character for the usually low-risk teenager and maybe indicative of a personal crisis.

Perry's intense performance allied with his ensuing fame and then tragic demise immortalises this sombre series one episode, the plot for which is mostly compelling but the execution of both strands superficial and unsatisfying.

The climax in both instances feels rushed, and the resolution seemed a little casual considering the heavy content with uneven acting /performances to match. Might've worked better had they separated the two stories, as Perry's storyline in particular needed its own episode to ventilate properly.