This week's episode of The OC promised to provide us with a lot of answers. For years, the writers sort of neglected the fact that Theresa lied about her miscarriage. Most of us never really believed that Ryan was the father because Theresa wasn't exactly the most chaste woman at the time, but the Ryan baby story line became a glaring example of problems that have been plaguing this writing staff ever since those magical first six episodes when we all believed that this show was going to be the best thing on television for a long time. Now that the show is not the pop culture darling it used to be and FOX has several hour long dramas that fans and critics like a lot more, I think the writing staff have realized some of the old practices aren't going to work. But I don't write these recaps to lecture the producers, and the writers do seem to be getting better this year, so I'll just jump into the recaps. Scroll to the end if all you care about is who fathered Theresa's baby.
I understand that the college application process is different on the west coast. If you grew up in the east coast, every town with a gas station seems to have a small liberal arts college as well. Therefore, there was probably a good chance that you actually visited a college before you applied there. That being said, my first year college roommate was from California (Orange County to be exact), and so I consider myself to possess at least average knowledge of how things go.
Unfortunately, The OC got a lot of things wrong; chief among them is that we are supposed to believe that all of these kids are geniuses. Just because Sandy and Kirsten went to Berkeley doesn't mean that Ryan has to go especially when we Marissa has to go to the same school to make things awkward. Just because she "got all A's" two years ago as she would later tell somebody at Berkeley doesn't mean that she will automatically be accepted at the best college in the University of California system. It would have been much easier and just as awkward to accept UCLA, and just imagine all of the possibilities of Kaitlin Cooper mischief if they had went to Santa Barbara! But again, I am not looking to lecture, so really, I'll get on with it now.
Anyway, just like every college sent acceptance letters so everybody in Newport Beach would know where they got into college at the same time, the institutes of higher education all across the land conveniently conspired to have their prospective freshman weekend all on the same date. I mean, seriously, did Taylor fly to France for the Sorbonne pre-frosh weekend? I can imagine it now. "Zis weekend you will sit at zee cafe and complain about zee Americans and bash zee Euro" Oh, and I should call it pre-frosh, although more technically, it should be called profro. These are prospective students, meaning that they haven't yet enrolled, and hence they are profros. When they officially enroll, some schools will have a pre-frosh weekend for those students. Oh shit, there I go with the lecture again, but you get the point.
Seth sort of wondered why Ryan was packing so many things, or technically, how he could pack so many things, since we've only seen Ryan wear a wife beater and like two hoodies. Seth is clearly confusing Ryan's "run away from Newport" packing with Ryan's "vacation from Newport" packing. Besides, being somebody who tends to over-pack whether the stay is one day or one week, I can completely understand. You don't want to be miles away from home without a wardrobe for every occasion, plus six or seven extra sets of boxers and socks should something happen to you. Some people have emergency rations, but I have emergency underwear. If the apocalypse ever comes, I may die of starvation, but I will have clean boxer briefs.
As much as Seth is making fun of Ryan, he is just avoiding the obvious. Seth has to get into Brown, and although we left them last week trying to come up with another crazy scheme, all they have is this:
1. Seth flies to Providence
2. ????????
3. Seth gets into Brown!
In other words, they have had much better plans. That being said, Brown is the land of "pasty Jewish kids", so Seth feels he'll have no trouble fitting in and when Seth has confidence, there is no telling what could happen.
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Comments (16)
Another good episode. I think the last 6 or so in a row have been really good. The show will never be what it was in those glorious, wondrous first 6 episodes (some people prefer the next 7 but they were already a little too cutesy Gilmore Girls for me) but it's definitely on track. Like the second half of Season 2, after the good folks at TvGasm read those writers the riot act. Anna looks bad, but she was fun to have back on the show. Next week could be the best episode ever.
1 of 16 | Posted by homeymcgee
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Posted on April 23, 2006 5:37 PM
Another great recap and the show has finally picked up after the johnny debacle. I loved that Anna was back but i missed the short hair and she def. needs to eat a burger or two. The glory days of season 1 would be hard to recapture but hopefully the show ends well. Finally, they need to bring luke back because him and Anna really added to the touch. I really enjoyed Luke's character after the break up and the Rooney eps. as well as the the eps. up until his departure.
2 of 16 | Posted by sloppyseconds
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Posted on April 23, 2006 6:25 PM
Great recap. I agree with bringing Luke back. At first, I really didn't like him, but now I realize he really was a great character.
Also, I loved Anna's return! Definitely my favourite character of the show. But, she did look quite scary. Her bad tan and her hideous nails. Bleh, and I loved her short hair :(
I also thought that Theresa's return was anti-climatic. And she now looks even older than Ryan. In fact, they all look too old to even be in high school anymore.
3 of 16 | Posted by someonespecial
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Posted on April 23, 2006 7:35 PM
Anna's return made me vomit. Her side-mullet-weave was repulsive in itself and then the idiot had to open her mouth and speak. I hope she goes away soon.
Also, you would think these two idiots would get in touch and find out where they were both going to college. I don't buy it.
www.flipkicksandnightbellows.blogspot.com
4 of 16 | Posted by flipkicks
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Posted on April 24, 2006 5:55 AM
So...I read on tvguide.com a little accidental spoiler about someone that will be coming in the last episodes. if you want to know, go to ask ausiello, but I won't ruin it for anyone else! I'm kind of mad I accidentally found out, because I hate spoilers, but these things happen.
5 of 16 | Posted by Stefunny77
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Posted on April 24, 2006 6:39 AM
Maybe the producers should have dropped a bit more dough and hired the girl from Blow Out that's so great with extensions. Worse hair and best Nicole imitation. No mention of Marissa's icky surfer dude and Sound of music. Ewwwww
6 of 16 | Posted by RMMommy
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Posted on April 24, 2006 6:43 AM
I totally agree about anna. She looked horrible!!!! worst hair extensions EV!!! Volchok sucks ass. Am i the only ryan and marissa fan. remember them in the first 7 episodes; that is how i like to think of them. Bring back Caleb from the dead. I am so curious, who is coming back in the last episode?????
7 of 16 | Posted by gigigigi
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Posted on April 24, 2006 6:51 AM
If they brought Caleb back from the dead I would probably have to stop watching this show (and that's saying alot). I'm all for Soap Opera cheesiness, but come on. On a side note, I'm diggin the title of this recap. It reminds me of that old Michael Bolton song, "How can we be lovers if we can't be friends? How can we make love if we can't...Make a Mess!"
I don't know if that was the intention or not, but Wow, I just recited a Michael Bolton song.
8 of 16 | Posted by StopMakingSense
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Posted on April 24, 2006 7:57 AM
Stopmakingsense,
Actually, the line came from the song "I Got a Man" by Positive K.
It features other great lines, such as:
So when your man don't treat you like he used to
I kick in like a turbo booster
Ahhh, early 90s hip hop.
9 of 16 | Posted by J Unit
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Posted on April 24, 2006 9:48 AM
J-Unit:
so glad you mentioned Anna's hair extensions .... they were terrible! I guess i sortoff tune out when it comes to Sandy/Newport Group drama...but what is he doing that Kirsten's not happy about??
10 of 16 | Posted by D-Hoffs
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Posted on April 24, 2006 11:01 AM
I feel bad that no one comments on The OC anymore so here I go.
I hear all of your Anna complaints, but to me she's like the patron saint of the show so I can't knock her.
And how weird was it seeing the 30 year-old looking Ryan getting a tour from "older" kids?
11 of 16 | Posted by tj
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Posted on April 24, 2006 11:09 AM
Anna's hair extensions sucked! So ratty and cheap!
How could The O.C do me so wrong? Theresa pretty much said: "Ryan, the kid is not yours. It's Eddie's. Thanks for coming though!" ARE YOU SERIOUS? Thanks for keeping this storyline open for 2 years for NOTHING! I actually laughed out loud when Theresa said the kid was Eddie's. LAME! Anyways, I forgot what the previews for this week's episode are. Only 3 more days so it should be ok.
Oh and how cute that Volchok rented The Sound of Music. He cares about Marissa, not just her vajayjay! Sensitive guy!
-Thanks J-Unit for another great recap :)
12 of 16 | Posted by stacyrocks
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Posted on April 24, 2006 11:19 AM
1. Seth flies to Providence
2. Seth meets the Dean of Admissions at a faculty reception
3. ????????
4. Seth gets into Brown!
^ that pissed me off more than anything...because that stuff never happens in real life..and it was so anticlimactic because we knew he'd get to be with summer in the end
what should have happened is that seth should have gotten like on the wait list..and then his dad should've called admissions and donated like $10 million...because that garbage happens all the time..and seth should get in eventually, and should find out about his acceptance into college was only because his dad paid for it...and that would set up another season plot...
i love how the OC writers think one episode at a time
13 of 16 | Posted by anonym.
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Posted on April 24, 2006 2:57 PM
Um, Sireb - Seth didn't get into Brown.
14 of 16 | Posted by homeymcgee
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Posted on April 24, 2006 6:56 PM
whoops..haha i didn't watch this episode and admit i skimmed through the recap...the list that j-unit made seems exactly like what the OC writers would write...sorry...disregard my rant :)
15 of 16 | Posted by anonym.
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Posted on April 24, 2006 8:38 PM
Dude, where is this week's recap? I had a list of stuff I wanted to say, but now I've forgotten.
16 of 16 | Posted by Tiffany
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Posted on May 1, 2006 5:54 AM