I find late 1993 to early 1999 really lacking in comparison to mid-1999 to 2005. Overall this period was somewhat of a second GREAT period of the show. I myself haven't laughed more than watching episodes from this era and I find the whole Slut from the valley era very entertaining. But yes, the show lacked class and dept, which some people will say the show never had, but I personally believe IT DID, at least till 1994. The 1999-2005 is like a trashy version of the gold period.
The 1994-1998 period had some of the biggest storyline stinkers and boring stuff this show has even seen. I will only say that the current 2020-2024 is worse.
If you ask me I barely now even remember some of the stuff from these years, which is telling.
As soon as 1999 started going to Thorne and Brooke and the Stephanie/Brooke war... the show was good again.
2006 to 2009 there was a drop in quality and Donna repeated some of Brooke's old storylines which started to really annoy me. Stephanie also became a complete joke and caricature in this period.
2010-2013 had some good moments with pure camp trash...
But now bringing it back to current day... even 2013 seems so amazing compared to what is being released at this moment.