Let’s be real for a second. If you grew up watching the 90210 reboot on The CW, you probably spent a good five years screaming at your television screen. Most of that screaming was directed at Liam Court and Annie Wilson.
They were the "it" couple that almost never was. Or, more accurately, the couple that was constantly being derailed by stalkers, secret half-brothers, hit-and-runs, and some of the most questionable writing choices in teen drama history. Honestly, it's a miracle they ended up together at all.
The Slow Burn That Actually Burned
The chemistry between Matt Lanter and Shenae Grimes-Beech wasn't just a happy accident. From the moment Liam showed up in season one as the brooding guy working on a boat, there was this weird, magnetic pull toward Annie. She was the "good girl" from Kansas trying to survive the shark tank of West Beverly, and he was the outsider who saw right through her.
People forget that Liam actually started out with Naomi Clark. That was a physical, high-drama disaster. But with Annie, it was different. It grew out of actual friendship. Remember when Annie confessed to the hit-and-run? Liam was the one who encouraged her to come clean. He didn't judge her for the mess she’d made, which, in the world of Zip Code 90210, is basically the equivalent of a soulmate.
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But then, things got weird.
When the Writers Lost the Plot
If you talk to any "Lannie" fan today, they’ll tell you the same thing: seasons four and five were a fever dream. After building this epic romance, the writers basically decided to throw every possible obstacle at them.
- The Half-Brother Drama: Annie dating Charlie (Liam's half-brother) was peak cringe.
- The Stalker Situation: Liam being kidnapped and held in a bowling alley by a stalker named Ashley? Totally normal Tuesday in Beverly Hills.
- The Escort Arc: Annie becoming a high-end escort to pay for Dixon’s rehab was... a choice.
The most frustrating part for fans wasn't just the obstacles; it was how Liam’s character seemed to pivot. He went from being this deeply loyal guy to someone who hopped from one random relationship to another. He even had a thing with Silver, which most fans have collectively agreed to scrub from their memories.
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The Finale: Romantic or Just Rushed?
The series finale of 90210 is legendary for being a chaotic scramble. The cast found out the show was cancelled while they were already filming the final episodes. This explains why the ending for Liam Court and Annie Wilson feels like it happened at 2x speed.
Liam finally reads the end of Annie's book, Undressed, and realizes she's the one. In a scene that is both incredibly corny and undeniably iconic, he chases down her plane on his motorcycle. He proposes right there on the tarmac.
It was the "happy ending" everyone wanted, but it felt a little unearned after two seasons of them barely speaking. Shenae Grimes-Beech herself has mentioned in interviews that the writers were literally scrambling to give the fans what they wanted in the final minutes. It wasn't perfect, but for a show built on soap opera tropes, it was the only way it could end.
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Why We Still Care
So, why are people still obsessed with these two over a decade later?
Basically, they represented the heart of the show. While everyone else was swapping partners every three episodes, the "Lannie" connection felt like the one constant. They were both deeply flawed—Annie could be judgmental and Liam could be a total tool—but they allowed each other to be messy.
They weren't the "perfect" couple like David and Donna from the original series. They were a 2010s disaster, and that’s why they stuck.
Actionable Insights for the 90210 Binge:
If you're planning a rewatch to relive the Liam and Annie glory days, keep these tips in mind to save your sanity:
- Focus on Season 2 and 3: This is where the tension is actually good and the payoff feels real.
- Skip the Silver/Liam Arc: If you value your time and the integrity of the characters, just fast-forward. You aren't missing anything but frustration.
- Watch the "Alternate" Finale: AnnaLynne McCord (Naomi) famously filmed her own ending because she was so annoyed with the official one. It's worth a watch on YouTube to see how the cast really felt about the rush.
- Appreciate the Growth: Look past the wild plots and watch how Annie goes from a girl seeking approval to a woman who finally chooses herself (before Liam eventually catches up).
The reality is that Liam Court and Annie Wilson are the quintessential "endgame" couple. They prove that in TV land, no matter how many times you break up or how many times someone gets shot, if you have a motorcycle and a ring, you can fix anything.