Expert: Mel - 4/2/2007

Question
how long were dylan and brenda together off screen during season 6? and why did they break up? thanks.

Answer
Hey, Sebastian.

Glad you asked, because I've seen misinformation posted about this before.  And ... there may be a continuity error, which are always fun to spot.  My interpretation is that Brenda and Dylan were officially seeing each other once again for about 9-11 months, and only in 1996 (Jan/Feb to Nov, give or take).  This would be the second half of Season 6 and the first half of Season 7.

Here's why:

First of all, we receive confirmation that Brenda is still in London as of Dylan's wedding (Nov '95), as per the postmark on her letter of congratulations, which Brandon reads off to him.  

As we all know, Dylan leaves town after his wife's murder, and does so on his motorcycle (complete with orphaned kitten).  This leaves one to believe he traveled the country for a bit before hopping a plane to Europe - which, itself, could have been either to visit Brenda or just 'bum around' there like he's done before.  

It's in the Season 6 finale that we first learn about Dylan's whereabouts.  Namely, that he's been living in London with Brenda for an unspecified amount of time (but one assumes, months).  This information, sent via letter to Kelly, is confirmed by an e-mail message that Brandon receives from his sister.  

Almost a year later (Feb '97, 7.20), we see Kelly journaling on the beach, grief-stricken over the loss of both Brandon and Dylan.  Her voice-over repeats, "Dylan's in London with Brenda, and ..."  So here we're to assume they're still together.  But Kelly's statement could also be an assumption, seeing as there's no evidence up to that point that Brenda keeps in touch with her.  Just keep this in mind, as it relates to the possible time glitch.

... Which becomes apparent upon Dylan's return.  In the last scene of episode 9.08 ("I'm Back Because"), Kelly asks him why he decided to return to L.A.  Dylan circumvents the question by bringing up the mountain climbing expedition he went on where he "should have died", and mentions that it took place "about 2 years ago, right after I left Brenda".    Stunned, Kelly only asks what he's been doing in Europe since then, if Brenda and him have been apart for so long.

Dylan informs her that he learned to fly (a small plane or jet, I hope) and raced motorcycles in Belgium before retiring to a life of spending his days "just trying to forget".  Oh, yeah.  And let's not forget the mountain climbing.  What you can conclude from this is that he didn't come home immediately after his break-up with Bren.  

But, even if he were to, then the latest date they could have split would be Nov '96 (Season 7), two years prior to Nov '98 (Season 9), when he comes back.  This would render Kelly's assumption of them being together in 1997 untrue, unless they coincidentally called it quits at around that same time and Dylan is a man of rough estimates and bad math (which he kind of is).  Either way, they'd have to have broken up shortly after in that same year for these notions to reasonably co-exist.

The fact that, as Dylan confesses to Kelly (10.08), he showed up on her wedding day in Season 8 (the finale) at least implies that he was, in fact, single as of Spring '98, the year of his return.  Furthermore, Brenda is not mentioned when, also in Season 8, Erica is sent back into Dylan's custody.  I'm sure she would have welcomed her, but it's strange for Brenda, the live-in girlfriend, not to be mentioned if they were together.  

Still, I wouldn't be surprised if there's a line in the wedding episode that cites why Brenda and/or Dylan could not officially be present, the implication being that 'he's so over Kelly' that he can't be bothered to stop her from marrying Brandon, or care, because he's still happily in love with Brenda.  I wish I could check this, but the last 3 episodes of Season 8 are the only ones I can't play.

Also to keep in mind:  The telegram that's sent to Kelly in late Season 7 (7.26), is fake (courtesy of Valerie).  Dylan never asked Kelly to meet him at the airport.  Though this whole incident probably impressed upon fan's minds the possibility that he was single once again and still in love with her.

The most concrete takeaway from this is really just that Dylan and Brenda had been apart for two years when we next saw him, not together for two years.  This line tends to get flipped in people's minds (usually, according to whether they liked Dylan-Brenda or Dylan-Kelly better).  Naturally :)

The reason for Dylan and Brenda's off-screen break-up was never mentioned or even alluded to, not even by Kelly, who didn't dare ask.  I guess Dylan really doesn't 'kiss and tell', as he often says ...

Thanks for the question!

All the best,

Mel