From the trendy teens on Riverdale to all the Netflix original teen movies, there are countless places to find high school stories today. But way before that, Beverly Hills, 90210 was a hit and one big reason was Luke Perry’s character, Dylan McKay. He was a main love interest for many leading ladies and fans loved his cool vibe.
Of all the 90210 teens, Dylan stands out from the crowd as he loves to read and doesn’t care about fitting in. He would be better suited to New York City than Beverly Hills because he doesn’t flaunt his money nor does he want to wear designer clothes. There’s a lot to love about Dylan, but there are some things about him that aren’t as awesome.
Best: Strong
![Beverly Hills 90210: Dylan’s 5 Best & 5 Worst Traits](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Beverly-Hills-90210-Dylan-Jack.jpg)
Ultimately, Dylan is a super strong character, and this is one of his best personality traits. He has been through a lot so it’s no wonder that he can handle even the most tragic news.
From thinking that his father Jack (Josh Taylor) is dead to learning that he’s actually alive to the many ups and downs in his romantic life, Dylan feels a lot of emotions all the time, and he even overcomes a bout with addiction before the end of the series.
Worst: Cold
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Just like not every season of 90210 is wonderful, not everything about Dylan is great, either. He can be rather cold toward even the people who he loves, and this is upsetting for everyone.
Dylan has a very tough vibe and while this makes people interested in dating him as he’s truly a man of mystery, it doesn’t bode well for those trying to help him out. He could work on being a warmer, friendlier person, like his friend Brandon (Jason Priestly).
Best: Brilliant
![dylan mckay on beverly hills 90210](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Dylan-90210.jpg)
When Brandon (Jason Priestley) and Brenda Walsh (Shannen Doherty) move to Beverly Hills, they’re immediately taken by how smart Dylan is. He’s a brilliant guy and this is one of his best personality traits.
While Dylan could probably pass all of high school in five minutes, he’s not that into studying or attempting to get good grades. Instead, he loves the world of books and that’s how he gets his education. He speaks much differently than the other kids in Beverly Hills and always sounds very wise.
Worst: Angry
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Dylan has a lot of anger that he carries around, which makes sense since he lives alone and doesn’t have a warm home to go to after school every day.
Anger is a truly negative emotion and can really damage someone over a long period of time. It’s clear over the course of the series that Dylan’s anger has been eating away at him.
Best: Calm
![luke perry as dylan mckay on beverly hills 90210](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Luke-Perry-Dylan-Beverly-Hills-90210.jpg)
Many characters on Beverly Hills, 90210 can seem pretty hyper, but not Dylan. He stays calm and chill most of the time, especially during the first few seasons when everyone is in high school.
Being able to remain stable and steady when other people are freaking out during a crisis is definitely a plus (especially in high school). This is one reason why Dylan is a good friend and why people can count on him so much.
Worst: Reckless
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Some of the worst, most confusing storylines on 90210 involve Dylan making rash decisions and throwing caution to the wind. He can be reckless, as he sometimes just thinks about how happy something or someone is going to make him in the moment, and he doesn’t consider the future. This is part of Dylan’s “bad boy” personality and outlook on life.
Best: Loving
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Whether in a serious relationship with Brenda or finding out that he also loves Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth), Dylan is a very loving partner.
He gives someone his all and he doesn’t mind being sappy or romantic. Unlike some high schoolers, he has no problem telling people how he feels, and he shows his partners a lot of compassion.
Worst: Intense
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It’s fair to say that Dylan is a very intense person, and most of the time, this isn’t a great trait for him to have. One example is in the first season when it’s obvious that he wants to take his relationship with Brenda to the next level and she’s worried about that.
Dylan’s intensity is something that Brenda both loves and hates. It’s what attracted her to him, but she also wonders if he’s going to stick by her if she wants to wait.
Best: Mature
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One reason why Brenda Walsh is so drawn to Dylan is his maturity, and this is one of the best things about this particular character.
Sure, Brandon seems pretty mature a lot of the time, but Dylan acts like he’s in his thirties or forties whereas Brandon is clearly still a teenager. Since he’s so used to being by himself, Dylan never really got the chance to act like a kid, so while that’s heartbreaking, he does possess a maturity that his classmates don’t.
Worst: Wild
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Another one of Dylan’s worst traits is his wild nature. He really does whatever he wants, from cheating on Brenda with Kelly Taylor to heading off to a nearby town and sleeping with a woman he literally just met.
Dylan really should have some goals in his life that he can move toward instead of being such a free spirit.