Everybody here at TVgasm have had a lot to say about The OC. The first two real articles on TVgasm were B-side and I weighing in on what we thought of the first season. Believe us when we say that we are huge fans of the show. Therefore, when we thought the show was declining rapidly, we felt it necessary to make our voices heard, in recaps and in-depth analysis. Obviously we were not alone in our criticism, as many fans and critics said the same about many of the choices made the writers made this year. "It was so much better last year" we said, and it seems like the writers listened. This week, the writers hit the abort button and acknowledged most of the criticism, even as they mocked many of those points in the show.
We begin the episode at Harbor. Ryan and Seth are discussing how spring is here and...wait a minute, they are at school? Ever since Zach was out of the picture and Lindsay moved out, it seemed like there was no reason for anybody to go to school. Marissa would have been expelled under almost any circumstances, and if that asian headmistress was still around, she probably would have. It was that complete lack of focus with regards to the kids that was one of the biggest criticisms. The writers wrote as if the high school kids were running the World Bank or something, nothing was ever fun. Bravo to the writers for starting off on a good foot.
What started great turned into a little more of the same. Seth continued to talk about the spring, how almost a year had gone by, how people tried new things this year that might not have worked out (yard guys, illegitimate daughters, less fighting). Why Seth spoke for the critics with his comments, Ryan took a little shot at them by saying "maybe you remember last year as better because it was all new". Yes, I have never, ever, heard of a show about some California kids and their relationships in high school *cough*Saved By the Bell*cough*. And it was really ingenious to make those kids rich, because that was never tried before, well if you don't count Beverly Hills 90210. Of course, you do have the added soap opera with adults and what is going on with there lives, kind of like Melrose Place with married people. But yeah, it was pretty much all new.
Ryan finally said that you can sentimentalize about last year, and you can't live in the past. Well, if you say so, we'll give it a try. Since we aren't living in the past, they probably aren't going to have some big school event(perhaps a party?) where Ryan will have an altercation over Marissa's love. No, the fact that Marissa was organizing a spring bonfiire for the water polo team would not have anything to do with getting Ryan and Marissa to secretly work together and accidentally realize they were meant for each other. To make sure this doesn't happen, Summer urges Seth not to meddle too much in the relationship. Ryan and Marissa are great people, but are a train wreck as a couple. We learned that in the past.
Seth doesn't listen to Summer, of course. He wants Ryan to be happy. It will be at least a few years before Seth feels safe to come out of the closet and profess his undying love for Ryan (I think the real reason Ryan lives in the boathouse is so Seth doesn't "accidentally" walk in on him in the shower). The next best thing to making Ryan happy with himself is to make Ryan happy with someone else. Marissa is having a problem finding anybody to help her build this bonfire, so Seth comes up to her and suggests Ryan. He is into architecture, and he does love to burn things down. Perfect match!
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Comments (17)
nooOOOOO!
they cannot ship alex off! she was great, and htt hot. they should keep her working at the bait shack while attending school at night! isnt that what blue collar people do?
plus where is "back home?" downtown LA? hell, i guess anything south of sunset is as bad as being shipped off to chicago.
1 of 17 | Posted by jash | Posted on March 21, 2005 9:12 AM
I can't say that the OC has any interest to me.
Not to say that it probably isn't a good show
just to say that I remember Melrose Place and
the "New Generation" is probably going through
this phase with the OC.
Of the nightly soap opera's that are a staple to
"normal, meat eatin' American's" I've chosen
Summerland. It's harmless and there is much
angst... if only something will happen on that
show!
2 of 17 | Posted by visibleh20 | Posted on March 21, 2005 9:31 AM
While I always find your comments thorough and witty, you omitted the most important part of the episode:
Coop's maroon "Harbor" Hoodie.
I absolutely have to be the first on my block to rock that.
3 of 17 | Posted by nickgeez | Posted on March 21, 2005 11:28 AM
jjunit - your music cred is shot with me for referring to the pixies as "old music"
4 of 17 | Posted by merlatonin | Posted on March 21, 2005 12:29 PM
junit - your music cred is shot with me for referring to the pixies as "old music"
5 of 17 | Posted by merlatonin | Posted on March 21, 2005 12:29 PM
ha i suck at posting comments once.
6 of 17 | Posted by merlatonin | Posted on March 21, 2005 12:41 PM
Jash,
I take offense at your "below Sunset" comment. I live just below Sunset Blvd. and it's not too high of a crime area.
Seriously, there's only been like 12 murders (including 2 decapitations) in the last year.
I'm sure it's better than Chino.
--Nate
7 of 17 | Posted by Nate | Posted on March 21, 2005 1:17 PM
I too take offense to the "below Sunset" comment. However, my place is after Sunset bends and runs north-south as oppose to your section that runs east-west. Haven't heard of any murder, but seen too many busted car windows. Still, way better than Chino. To show my disgust, I'll deprive myself of this site for the next hour...
8 of 17 | Posted by khaled | Posted on March 21, 2005 2:02 PM
YES, I knew that was pixies. What song was it? Debaser?
9 of 17 | Posted by IndianJones | Posted on March 21, 2005 3:59 PM
my bad. as seems evident, the area south of sunset is totally devoid of persons with a sense of humor! besides, i can LA bash all i want being a new yorker.
:)
speaking of chino--any ties to the supremely soft luxury that is the summer weight jcrew chinos?
lastly, khaled--depriving yourself of this site for an hour in protest--doesn't that harm you more than the site? just wondering.
10 of 17 | Posted by jash | Posted on March 21, 2005 4:11 PM
indian jones:
yah, debaser. a real golden oldie.
11 of 17 | Posted by merlatonin | Posted on March 21, 2005 4:22 PM
Debaser came out in 1989.
And Billy Campbell is a pussy.
12 of 17 | Posted by DeBaser | Posted on March 21, 2005 4:44 PM
Jash-
HA! Now, who doesn't have a sense of humor? :o
But seriously, I have never been to Chino and only have one pair of chino, so I can't really make any comparison or know of any association.
-khaled
13 of 17 | Posted by khaled | Posted on March 22, 2005 8:38 AM
I think ryan and merissa should really get back togeather because they were maid for each other and they look cute togeather!!!!!!!!!
14 of 17 | Posted by heather maness | Posted on March 23, 2005 10:20 PM
seath is really hot!he is my fave actor on the oc and i think ryan and mirssia should get back togeather!
15 of 17 | Posted by jennifer | Posted on March 23, 2005 10:28 PM
This season has been so lame. Everything resolved so quickly and easily. The Ryan/Ryan's girlfriend pregnancy. The Lindsay/Caleb thing. The Rebecca/Sandy thing. The lesbian thing. Everyone conveniently disappears. The only thing that was more developed was the love triangle between Seth, Summer, and Zach, who's easily the most boring person on the show, and was overall a lame triangle. Even the Yard Guy was more interesting, though I'm glad that character disappeared, too. And this whole Julie Cooper porno video. Who cares? What a lame season. If people are tuning in for the first time based on the publicity generated by season one, I bet they're disappointed.
16 of 17 | Posted by Danny | Posted on March 24, 2005 7:14 PM
ALEEEEEEEEEEX.........COME BACK............ALEEEEEX........PLEASE................NO!
17 of 17 | Posted by Aerial | Posted on March 27, 2005 8:27 PM