| October 30, 2003 Ebb’s Impressions of last night’s The O.C. --Wow...... When I think my emotions can’t get anymore stretched, Fox somehow is able to prove they are much more malleable than I previously thought. The O.C. continues to pump out believable drama involving believable characters believably acting. Gosh, where does one start? How bout a premise of what the show is about for all you living under a rock and haven’t seen an episode yet. The O.C. is not another Beverly Hills 90210 clone so please don’t refer to that as it’s lineage. The O.C. actually pits real teens and adults in real life situations, not wanky panky “everybody’s smiling and laughing” at the end of the show. The O.C. is a youth oriented drama with engaging and believable storylines, emotional and organic characters, and true to life tensions facing everyone. Yeah the story is set in a rich, high-class environment, but you wouldn’t know it by the relative issues the characters go through. And me coming from a rich area like Northern Virginia (McLean, Great Falls, Langley, etc.) the only thing different is that the huge houses and six-figure cars aren’t about 100 feet from the Pacific Ocean. Anyways, I don’t think I have a choice, considering my extremely emotional character and insatiable desire to write about my emotions and thought, but to write about what happened every episode from now on. So you can probably look forward to this write-up every Thurs. night. I’m going to try to start each dissertation with a review of the show, go on with a character by character analysis, and then finish with a conclusions and impressions on next week’s show. By now you’re saying to me in your head, Keith, you are such a girl and such a nerd. “You’re pwobably wight” –Homestar Runner. I don’t care though, maybe one day I’ll meet Marissa in real life and I’ll take her away from all the PAB’s and she’ll love me for that and........sigh.... *Some invaluable links provided below....believe me, you’ll want to check them out. 10/29/03 show Ok, I had to wait like 2 months or something for the stupid baseball playoffs to finish before I could find out if Marissa was ok. Booooo baseball! If you don’t know what happened up to this point, go to the Fox website, the one I linked below and read all the past shows. Anyways, to my heart’s relief, Marissa did actually make it, even though she was close to dying. Phewwwww. I don’t know what I would’ve done.... So Marissa spent most of the time in the hospital recovering this episode. Ryan spent most of his time worrying about Marissa and worrying about getting into the same prep school Seth goes to. Seth spent the episode helping out everyone and providing his witting humorous banter. I most identify with Seth...nerd-type, but really cool. Loves videos games and punk music. Shy around hot girls and has admired one of them (Summer) from afar for like forever and didn’t even talk to that girl till his senior year in high school..... Gosh wait a second....I just realized Seth is me. Scary....one of the show’s writers must’ve used to know me. Ok, back to the show. Summer spent the show being hot and also helping everyone else out. Did you see Summer in that nurses outfit?!?! Um yeah, I think I’m coming down with a fever.....oh yes, a hot pack would be perfect Summer. You like my hospital gown because I’m not wearing anything underneath?? Well I guess I like it too cause I it’s gives me that “freedom” you know..... Um oops....there I go thinking (fantasying) out loud again. Back to the show... The adult drama is getting pretty hot and heavy too. I don’t like that co-worker of Sandy’s at his new job at that private law firm. She’s too....Medusa/Siren/F-PAB looking. I know what she’s thinking. Mark my words, she’s gonna try to pull the moves on Sandy sometime in the near future. Kristen was pretty clean this episode but that still doesn’t excuse her from her little some’m some’m with Jimmy while painting his place. He’s married and so are you Kristen!!! Careful girl. But I really like Kristen. She’s down to earth and has a great heart despite her “privileged” upbringing. This then brings me to the ultimate be-arch.....Julie. Oh man....talk about F-PAB. She’s the quintessence of a selfish be-arch and I felt so bad for Marissa when she was being all nefariously be-archy around her. Somebody needs to spank her.....I’ll do it :) No, bad thoughts Keith!!! Bad boy! So in short the main plotlines this episode were Marissa’s recovery, Ryan’s attempt to get admitted to the prep school, Sandy’s “workdate” with the office hussie, Jimmy and Julie’s legal battles, and Summer and Seth’s growing relationship. Let’s do a character breakdown of the show. Ryan If you didn’t know yet, not only is Ryan a warm-hearted, brilliant induvidual, he’s one bad @$$ too. I was a bit upset that he didn’t pop anyone this past episode. That’s usually a gimme each week, although I was half-expecting him to punch Luke when he showed up at the hospital. Kudos for Ryan getting accepted to the Harbor School, although you can just smell the tension that is soon to come there. Ryan’s big heart for Marissa manifested again for he showed he’d really do anything and sacrifice anything for her. Ryan is just the type of guy, as a guy, you want to be friends with. You know he’s always got your back and you know he’ll try to do the right thing. I think his comment late in the episode about “speaking only when there’s something important that needs to be said” said a lot about him in his character. Just take it slow with Marissa Ryan. She’s been through a lot lately and despite your good and pure intentions, you don’t want to take advantage of her insecurities, whether voluntary or not. Marissa She’s too cute and graceful for me to say anything bad about her. I just feel so bad for her because of her be-archy mom and dead-beat (although getting better) dad. Poor girl has been through too much for her young heart.....gosh, these characters remind me too much of persons in my life....maybe that’s why I’m so attracted to this show.... Anyways, I’m glad she all better know and I’m glad she finally confronted her mom. Stick with Ryan if you know what’s best sweetie. Seth Or should I say Keith? Seth is such a great character because he’s so down to earth, has a great heart just like his mother, and is wise and mature beyond his years. I don’t know about you, but some of his whimsical comments have me laughing out loud. Maybe it’s the “gamer” connection we have goin. Anyways, he was helping people out most of the episode as always. I think he’s taking the Summer relationship well. He knows she likes him but it’s gonna be hard for her to give up her social status (gosh Seth, I’ve so been in your shoes....) He hasn’t called her out as a superficial person just yet because I think he’s finding out that deep down she’s really not and that she’s only playing the “pretty girl” part that her society has brought upon her (the reason I cry at night). I thought Summer was a total F-PAB from the first few shows, but when you get to know her, she really isn’t and I think there’s a kind, fun-loving girl underneath her. And I think Seth is gonna help her break away from her social quotas. I hope so because he’s such a nice guy. I just hope she doesn’t break his heart. That would be mean......sigh... Summer *See above mostly. Um yeah, who else votes that Summer wear either just her underwear or that nurses outfit every week??? I do!! Luke Luke is a perplexing character. One week I hate him, the next he sort of redeems himself. This week, even though his stint was short, he did a kind hearted thing. Yes Luke is definitely a PAB, but I believe he’s a misguided PAB. Like Summer sort of, he’s just playing the part his society has put him in. The peer pressure just beats him down. I wanna say there’s no hope for Luke on this show, but maybe, just maybe a PAB like him can be converted... Sandy Sandy, whoa boy. That girl you work with ain’t kiddin anyone. We all know her plan. She’s one of them. Watch out man. You’re too cool a guy to be messing around with her and your wife Kristen is too cool and pretty. Go surfing instead of hanging out with her. Heck, quit that job if you have to. Kristen Not much going on this episode. Although I think her holding back of the truth from Sandy that she kissed Jimmy is gonna come back to bite her later on. She should be honest with Sandy. Jimmy Dead beat dad for sure, but you can tell he’s getting a little more backbone as the show goes on. Unfortunately his wife has the upper hand concerning legal issues, but he still shouldn’t back down when it comes to his family, which I think he’s trying. But you’re not fooling anyone Jim. We all know you still have the hots for Kristen. She’s the forbidden fruit now though dude, stay away. Julie If you looked up the word “be-arch” in the dictionary, Julie Cooper’s name would be right there. Uggh, I just wanted to slap her through the TV screen this past episode. What a selfish punk!!! I was cheering at the TV (is that weird? To cheer at a television??) when the Coens and Marissa confronted her at the end. Serves her right! Conclusions/Preview: So here we are at the end of another episode. Maybe I’m too into this show, you could be right. But man, you watch one or two episode and you’ll get hooked too. Hot chicks, nice cars, and relational tension; very intriguing entertainment. This episode ended on a happy note, but I forsee much tension coming. Legal battles, relationship battles, and soon school battles. Can’t wait. Fox touted the next episode as the “First Kiss” episode; seems to be taking place at a carnival of some sort. I’m not sure what to expect but I’m sure looking forward to it. Maybe I’m living vicariously through Ryan and Seth andthis is the next step......sigh... Well so long from Newport Beach....err...I mean Virginia.....sigh... Everything The O.C. |
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| Ryan-Super cool dude that the girls like and the guys wanna be like. Keep it real bro! |
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| Marissa- So pretty :) |
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| Seth- So much in common. I'll play GTA III with you bro! |
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| Summer- mostly just drool on the keyboard |
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| Luke = PAB |
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| Sandy- Just a cool guy. |
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| Kristen- Just a cool girl. The Coens are really cool. |
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| Jimmy- Come on man, get a spine. I know you got it in you. |
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| Julie- You might be really hot for like 38, but you're still a big time be-arch. |