Newport Living is Quite Revealing

newport_living_surpriseLast week was a tipping point of sorts for The OC this season. Perhaps all of the fans and critics had nothing to do with dragging the show out of the quagmire of lesbian rating stunts, but whatever realization the writers came to about where the season was headed, they seemed to have salvaged the show from spiraling into a "it sucks, but it's on Fox, so it will last seven seasons" type of mediocrity. Maybe I am a little too optimistic after just one week, but here's to hoping the good episodes are a trend and not an anomaly.

By now we know that the Cohens aren't big on cooking. The only time anybody in the house has anything other than a bagel for breakfast, is one somebody is trying to bribe somebody, usually with pancakes, for some sort of error they had made. The Kirsten and the Sandy don't even pretend that they have any skill at cooking. Other than some pathetic attempts at Thanksgiving and some red meat on the grill every now and then, dinner is usually phoned in at the Cohens. Just because they aren't the Cleavers doesn't mean that Sandy doesn't enjoy a family meal every now and then. He has been busy with felons and porn movies, his wife has been busy with a magazine, his son has been busy with his girlfriend, and Ryan has been, uh, well being so self-righteous is like a full-time job in itself.

As determined as Sandy is with keeping the family together for dinner, it is sort of surprise when we see him answer the phone, and then let the person on the other side talk to Ryan. Seth is just about to go onto a long rant about why his dad would let Ryan talk on the phone, but we sense something is wrong. Ryan comes back to the table with a sullen and distant look on his face, and this is more sullen and distant than normal. He looks downright upset. What could it be? His pregnant girlfriend calling? "Oh, I had the baby BTW. Laters. Bye." Perhaps it was Lindsay "Uh, so this Chicago thing kind of sucks, plus I think I am pregnant. Tell Seth he's a father."

Those scenarios, while humorous, paled in comparison to the actual situation. Lest we forget, Ryan came to the Cohen household because the benevolent Sandy pulled him out of juvenile detention. Ryan was there for, among other things, stealing cars, but he didn't do it alone. His accomplice was his older brother Trey, and since Trey was over 18, Trey went to jail. After 18 months or so in the big house, it was time to go, and so Trey called Ryan to come pick him up the next day.

Even though the last time Trey asked Ryan to meet him in jail, he asked Ryan to steal a car. Ryan agreed to the plan to save his brother from getting beat up, but in the process Ryan almost took a beating himself. He was with Marissa at the time, and she had to save him by playing get away driver. With that in mind, Ryan woke up the next morning, put on his Chino gear (black jeans, white t-shirt, grey hoodie) and went to pick up Trey. Seth even offered to go with Ryan, saying seeing the prison might "scare him straight". You may be scared of prison Seth, but we know nothing is going to keep you apart from Ryan. Nevertheless, Sandy decided to go with Ryan, and Seth was forced to go to school.

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Comments (8)

This show sucks without Alex. I hate it that she's gone. Marissa seems so "okay" that she's not here. But i'll love the O.C nomatter what.

ofcourseitsme:

In addition to Lance showing up at the party without a bruise or scratch on him, I found a few other plot flaws. Would Trey really go back the very next day to the very store where he was accused of stealing, threw clothes on the ground, kicked over a display, and disrespected the security guard to buy the very same watch he was accused of stealing? So the next day, the folks at the store are just 100% cool with Muscle-Tee coming back and making an honest purchase? I don't think so. And after the bar fight, why didn't Ryan look any worse for wear? Didn't he get punched?! Did the same guys who beat up Lance beat him up too?! He shows up at the Cohens post-fight like he just got out of the ball crawl at Chuck E. Cheese. No way Jose, but still one of the best episodes this season. Love the Trey.

smithie:

ofcourseitsme:
maybe your TV was fuzzy, but Lance did have a black eye

ofcourseitsme:

Gee, you're right, I guess the aluminum foil on the antenna isn't working that great.

Alex was the worst actress and the fakest lesbian ever. I am much more entertained by Mischa Barton's Keds ads than by any lesbian kiss involving the two of them.

jash:

new trey is hot

chileanguy:

Great Episode. looking forward to the next. by the way, lindsay was hottttt!!!, so sad that she left...

melisa:

Mmmmm....I'm hoping Ryan's bro sticks around...mmm

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