| February 19, 2004 Goodbye The O.C., we had some good times, but I hardly knew ya... *I’m assuming that if you’re reading this that you saw last night’s episode or have an inkling of what the O.C. is about in general. You can update yourself on the goings ons of Newport Beach by checking out the official websites episode guide here. • Before I start this article on a serious approach, (well I guess this is serious, well at least to me) I’d like to point out one major, ghastly, mishap (one of many as a whole I may add, but not of any moral nature) on last night’s episode of the O.C. The scene in which Seth approaches Summer whilst playing Galaga at the Harbor School lounge, the ambient sounds and music emitting were most definitely not that of Galaga! Due to the multitude of early 80’s video game-esque (Robotron: 2084??) sounds that we did hear (clearly the viewer was meant to hear something), which were most definitely counterfeit, I can only assume the show’s creators/producers/directors/sound engineers purposely neglected using real Galaga sounds and music. Whether it was trademark infringement issues with Namco or what, this blunder is unforgivable concerning such a classic and venerable video game iteration like that of Galaga. This mishap is one of many reasons while I will not be watching The O.C. anymore. No, you read that right, Keith Wojciech has decided to call it quits on his The O.C. addiction and teenage girl infatuation. But not for the reasons you’d think. Read on to find out why... (for a sample of what Galaga does sound like, listen to this) --Here’s the deal, when I started watching The O.C., I found it attractive on a number of levels. I thought the acting was genuine; the characters seemed like they were real people unlike a soap opera or something. I thought the premise was good; “good-hearted boy from the wrong side of town gets thrust into a world of glamour, superficiality, and Benjamins”. I thought the circumstances were believable and appropriate; definitely situations both teens and adults go through. And I thought the girls were hot, so naturally my visual senses were piqued. But ultimately it contained within in it a sort of innocence and authenticity not apparent in most of today’s teen dramas/TV shows. It had a variable cast that evoked emotions from me personally, whether I liked the character or hated them. A couple episodes in, it feel liked this show was “different”, cast in the same mold as 90210, but completely different in it’s presentation and representation. This was a real Newport Beach, CA, not a fake, unrealistic Beverly Hills, CA. Sadly I think The O.C. has strayed from the ideals it was founded upon. Whether it’s been the pressure to cave into it’s blossoming success or writers are just a loss for new material, The O.C. has seemingly become a “normal” teen drama. But what was I to expect? Keith, did you really think a television company would come out with a show full of advocating high moral standards yet maintaining it’s relevance to everyday living in a lost and fallen world? Well no I didn’t, but darn those first few episodes! They gave me a false hope. And I take blame for getting so emotionally involved in the show. Deep down I knew I’d be eventually disappointed and it was just a matter of time I knew before my heart would be broken. I feel like the girl that starts dating that guy she likes but knows has low standards thinking she can somehow “change” him to be a better guy. Deep down she knows it’s never gonna happen, but her skewed perception of what love is gives her a false hope that through they’re supposed “love” (which is no form of love at all, just lust and superficial attractions base in fantastical aspirations for one another) things will be alright. Ten years down the road, two kids, and a divorce later, she reflects on her ill-advised decision. For me it took about 8 months, but it came. I’d invested so much time and effort into The O.C.’s characters and the writers had to just steal them away from me. Screw you writers! Oh well, life goes on. (Side story: Back in 1999, a “teen” soap opera called Passions came out on TV. I got addicted and spent much of the first half semester watching it everyday. I don’t know why I liked it other than the hot chicks. The acting was terrible and the stories were ludicrous. Anyways, I just stopped watching it. Life went on.) So I figured I’d provide a critical analysis of last night’s episode to show my general disdain for it and for the series’ direction as a whole. I’ll also let you know why I decided to stop watching the show. It’s a combination of personal reasons and has nothing to do with an “official” boycott of the Fox network or any other “holier than thou” futile attempt at righteousness. Anyways, I’ll start each section off from a quote from the show (quotes may not be word for word, just what I remember) and elaborate upon that. “Warning, this show contains scenes and content of sexual nature. Parental discretion is advised.” –pre-show message -I blame this one on Fox. Sure, most of the other episodes didn’t require a warning like this, but you don’t all the sudden begin an episode in the middle of the season with a message like this. Despite their efforts to hold some sort of standard in the programming they offer, this random admonition probably had little to no effect because I doubt there were any parents watching it to provide discretion. The problem with all the sudden having an episode with blatant sexual content is that the parents have already most likely deemed the show watchable or not to their children (I’m most likely referring to the 9-14 year old age crowd. I doubt parents these days are regulating what their 15+ year olds are watching on network television.). And barring the unlikely possibility that a parent watches every episode of The O.C. with their pubescent child to regulate viewable content, I doubt any parent was there to see the warning. They might have watched the first episode (which was very innocent comparatively...those nefarious writers), or maybe watched an episode after their child expressed interest in the series, but by now (like the 20th episode or something) they probably had based their decision on an earlier, less provocative episode. Had they known the show contained sexual content and scenes from the outset, they may have had more concern with their young teen watching it. The crux of my argument here is that because Fox subtly stuck in that warning, which is usually reserved for the most crass of late night television programs, they seemingly exonerated themselves from any blame when 13 year old Johnny wonders why he won’t be considered a “man” until he loses his virginity, or why 10 year old Sally thinks the only way to “get” a guy is to offer him sex. But this guy wasn’t fooled by you Fox. I can see you’re plan here. You started off the series nice and innocent, but now because you’re getting the big advertising dollars from Neutrogena, L’Oreal, and Maybelline, you gotta push the envelope and do your best to make these highly impressionable viewers to feel insecure about their appearance and social status. Boo on you Fox. “Don’t you want to?” –Marissa Cooper Ah poor, poor Marissa, just another unassuming pawn of the world’s (er...Satan’s) game. She thinks to herself....oh what better way to get Ryan back in my arms than offer him sex! Great idea huh?! No. So Marissa gallivants over to Ryan's pool house playing the part as the seductive seductress. Surprisingly I must admit, Ryan refuses, the pain of her allegiance to Oliver still too near. So another awkward moment ensues (wasn’t this show full of them?) and the sex-filled romp continues. Here’s my problem with this scene; it epitomizes the psyche of the general (please bare in mind I said “general”, which obviously doesn’t include all girls) teenage girl too well. I’m not gonna say they’re stupid for thinking that giving sexual favors and reveling lots of skin will get them boys because it will, lots of em. But when was the last time deep in a human heart, a person honestly desired quantity over quality? Any girl would much rather have a guy that’s warm, compassionate, honest, trustworthy, pure, and humble than a guy that would tell them they “love” her just cause she gives him what he wants. Marissa thinks that if she lowers herself to completely superficial standards that Ryan will fall all over her again. Now I’m not saying Ryan is the pillar of purity and understanding but I gather that he was almost offended by her uninitiated maneuver. I would’ve been offended percieved me to be that shallow.. To think we guys are devoid of making a moral choice and are only pawns of our carnal lusts... Well I guess we are. Well I am. Well apart from Christ that is... Anyways, Marissa insulted herself and the namesake of teenage girls everywhere by assuming Ryan would fall head over heels again over her. I mean how shallow can you get Marissa?! Here’s an idea, if you like Ryan so much, how bout pouring your heart out to him and asking for forgiveness? I won’t neglect the fact that she kind of did do this, but after trying to seduce him. I guess it was better late than never. I could go into how girls put way too much stock in having a boyfriend and how Marissa is gonna be all torn up inside over some stupid guy (sorry Ryan) that she’ll totally not care about 5 years down the road, but I'm tired. Ok, next gripe. “I became a man. I had sex, with a girl!” -Seth Cohen (aka “PAB that looks and talks like a nice guy on the outside”) Ah, the greatest fallacy of them all...the ol’ You’re not a man until you lose your virginity clause. I mean I guess that makes sense right? Um...I’m trying to find any logical substance to this supposed corollary between manhood and sexual penetration. I’m not finding anything...am I missing something here? Well I guess on pop culture dominated planet Earth that is indeed the case. Well Seth I’m sorry you feel that way because in actuality you are so far from being a real man not even one of your overly annoying quips could make this funny. The past couple weeks I’ve accepted Seth’s suprising and confusing morph from a nice, funny, smart, sweet guy into a not-so-funny, selfish, lustful, jerk, @$$hole. Though I ask why? to the writers, I’ve come to hate Seth Cohen. His fornication with Summer didn’t help matters and his declaration of false manhood irks me the most. Now FPAs (Future PABS of America) everywhere will be testing Seth’s (well it’s not Seth’s per se but a common mentality among most men) theory that they’re somehow not a “man” until they’ve “conquered” the barrier that is sexual intercourse. And who get’s hurt? Well the guy themselves get hurt because by fornicated before marriage they’ll never fully understand or experience the penultimate physical expression of love that was meant to be sex, but the insecure girl the guy used as a “hurdle” to jump over will fall deeper into a chasm of low self worth, low moral standards, and hopeless future pure romantic aspirations. (well apart from divine intervention) Damn you Satan for propagating that lie to young guys everywhere! Damn you back to Hell! I hate you and I will curse you with my last breath. This false notion of the prerequisites of manhood has destroyed lives all over and marriages crumble at its foundation. Now my favorite show the O.C. is subscribing to this theory; one of the doctrinal facets of the Way of the PAB?!?! Sigh....a sad say in EbbWorld...a sad day. “Do it again.” –Ryan Atwood Poor, poor Ryan, just another sexual ignoramus. But you’d be surprised at how many guys buy into the mentality that girls are like a used car lot, you test drive a couple to find out what’s best for you. Ryan is of course giving Seth sexual falsehood, err I mean advice, in response to Seth’s dismay in his sexual prowess. What surprises me the most though is not how most guys believe this but how most girls let themselves play the part of the used car. I mean what girl here wants to volunteer to be an “object” that a guy “uses” just to find out if he likes it...or to practice on?!?!?!? Ewwww! I can’t believe I’m even writing such demeaning statements. I mean can a girl honestly denigrate herself to just being a sexual, humanely worthless, means to a selfish, egotistical end? And people wonder how I can feel so passionately about a topic...sheesh....sigh... (PLAIN AND SIMPLE GIRLS: If a guy doesn’t put you on the highest pedestal of love, respect, and purity then he does NOT in fact love you. He may think he does, you may think he does, but don’t deceive yourself. Actions speak louder than words...and non-action sometimes speaks a lot louder than words. If a guy pressures, expects, or blatantly desires “sexual” relations with you he DOES NOT...i repeat DOES NOT LOVE YOU. He is only interested in getting in your pants and.....and well if you’re not deep and secure enough to react to that sort of egomaniacal behavior....well you need Jesus. Please don’t confuse natural desires with our human ability to make moral choices. There is a time and place for sexual relations and outside marriage is not the time nor place. Just tough it out guys! Just take those desires in the chin.....go beat a drum or punch a speed bag...do whatever you can to lose that sinful desire and never let a girl step down from that pedestal of beauty, purity, and sanctity. Run away from them if you have to. Don't be a wuss. You’ll thank me later.) Ya see, it’s all about “you” in the world’s definition of sexual happiness. It’s all about fulfilling and pleasing oneself. There’s no room for selflessness. And so Ryan gives the advice we’ve come to expect from pop culture today. If you fail, try, try again. I mean doesn’t anyone else see the complete idiocy and egomaniacally (great word for us PAB males) induced thinking of that disposition?!?! AAAARRRRRGGGHHHH!!! I HATE my world! It completely sucks! That Ryan said it doesn’t surprise me. He grew up in a not so nurturing environment and though he seems like a “nice” guy in the outside, his PAB qualities stick out like a sore thumb in the advice he gives to Seth. Seth in this case is just completely lost. I don’t know any other way to describe his utter ineptitude and wayward school of thought. And did anyone else notice how mundane this whole interaction was? I mean here Seth has just had sex, the most important, quintessential, and unabashed expression of love (depends on the situation), and Ryan is almost apathetic at the news and Seth feels inadequate. Not the feelings they tell you you’ll feel huh? I mean how awkward and sad was that scene with Summer and Seth in bed after they had sex? It made the act seem....seem....so....normal. I almost pitied them that it was just “alright”. It seemed like they just saw a movie together, or got dinner. How mundane! The moment my sex life (if I ever get married that is....which only carries “potential” status at the moment) gets mundane....well gee...just stick a fork in me because what’s the point when sex becomes rote or just a “hurdle”? And finally another thought about this stuff. Seth’s feelings of inadequacy are one of the main reasons waiting till marriage is the most logical idea from a sexual fulfillment standard. If you wait till marriage you’ll have no prior sexual experience to compare to (aka no other “used cars) therefore you’re experiences in marriage will be the optimal and most pleasing moment you’ll ever spend. You spouse will always be the “best” you’ve ever had because with no comparisons to mull over, inadequacy, disappointment, and fear are null and void. See people, God is not stupid when he tells us to guard our heart and sexual feelings towards others. He designed us and knows the optimal situations for sex to be most efficient and pleasing. If we can just wrangle our freaking selfish desires for a couple years and not be wusses, he allows us to really bask in his creative pleasures. *One aspect I must acknowledge that the O.C. got right though is the whole awkwardness. Though I feel most of the “awkwardness” Seth and Summer felt was a result of their suppressed guilt of fornicating, I do feel two virgins will experience some awkward situations. No doubt it won’t be very long before things are smoothed out, but it’s only natural that there will be some “awkwardness” the first time. But don’t tell me that BS that it’s a good idea to practice as to avoid awkward situations or not knowing what to do. Believe me, I’m a virgin and I know what to do. And I guarantee you every other virgin knows what to do also. That’s BS to assume that inexperience will have a negative affect on the sexual relationship....complete BS! Not only will it strengthen a burgeoning sexual relationship, it will act as a foundation for reconciliation when later relational complications arise. “You dog.” -Sandy Cohen -What a prime example of a dead-beat dad. I won’t even mention how fornication is a direct violation of Mosaic Law (Sandy’s Judaism dragged in the dirt here by himself), but his fatherly advice and reaction is so sad and idiotic it makes me wanna punch him. And I really liked Sandy, so that makes this even harder to take. I like his chill nature (in a show that shows a lot of surfing related stuff, Sandy is the only one that actually surfs...though we’ve yet to see any action), I like his seemingly good moral standards (he was a great father figure to Ryan), and I liked the way he treated his wife. He’s subtly funny also (guess that’s where Seth gets it). But he really failed this time around. Here Seth comes to him for help, in his moment of complete moral disorientation, and Sandy fills him with a whole lot more bullcrap about life, love, and why. What were you expecting though Keith? I mean really. Well I wasn’t expecting a purity talk, but I was expecting some consternation on the part of Sandy, the father. This isn’t the Cleaver family I realize that, I guess it was good of Sandy to at least be concerned that Seth wasn’t having unprotected sex...though that defies all that I stood for in the aforementioned paragraphs. Yet we don’t get an authoritative figure from Sandy this time. No, we get a wet noodle that acts like he’s back in the high school locker room. I kinda feel bad for Seth at this point because if his dad has been this lax on morals and standards up to this point in his life, no wonder Seth is the moral rebel that he is. But what an opportunity for Fox to endorse the “loving yet tough” father mantra. They blew it though. Instead of a wise elder giving advice to a brass and immature youngling, they depict Sandy a sex-crazed confidante that not only accepts Seth’s unbridled fornication, but endorses it also! He even gives props to Seth for #$@#$!* Summer!!!! Can you believe that!?!? What a crappy dad, and a bad representation of father’s everywhere. But I guess that’s the way fatherhood is going. Father’s are afraid to step on their kid’s toes and are afraid that if they make their kid mad at them then they’ll really do something crazy. We got a bunch of wussie parents out there nowadays afraid to punish their children and these consequence-less environments are producing a populations headed for moral anarchy. “I wish we had waited” -Summer -Those famous last words... Ok, poll time. How many married couples wished they had waited to have sex until marriage? Ok, I see a couple hands...ok I see you guys back there....and some others over there....I see you...thanks...ok there’s another...well I substantial amount of you I see. Next, how many married couple wished that hadn’t waited and had sex before they got married? Ok......um....anyone....anyone at all wish that hadn’t waited......just raise your hand.....you don’t have to hold it up, I’m just trying to gauge how many people regret waiting.....it’s ok, I don’t know you so you don’t have to be afraid....ok...no one apparently regrets waiting...interesting. Hopefully my little poll story above explains my case beyond reasonable doubt of mistake. Come on folks, let’s not fool ourselves. We know we’re designed to wait and we know marriage was designed for a unique opportunity. Summer is just feeling what we all feel when we sin...we wish we hadn’t. The topic at hand here is sex before marriage of course but it’s not restricted to that (read my abstinence article if you wanna know how I feel about it). I guess it’s the whole innocence factor. It’s so much more attractive most of the time. And I guess it stems from the curiosity of the first man and women. We were created with free will and with that free will comes the capacity to make moral choices. Adam and Eve were so enamored by the unknown (though they knew it’d be bad....just like we know the things we do are wrong or bad for us) that they lost the battle with that damn snake and succumbed to sin. We’ve been spiritually dead and bankrupt ever since. And so we always wonder to ourself, “Why did I do that? If I just had the chance over again...” No doubt Adam and Eve were kicking themselves in the butt realizing to completely idiotic decision they made. And we do the same thing everyday with our moral decisions. Unfortunately I don’t think Summer was able to put 2 and 2 together in terms of how her sin separates her from God and she’s in need of a Savior’s perfection, but there was a fundamental human quality that she experienced in regretting sin and it’s emotional (and physical) consequences. I feel bad for Summer. She seems authentically upset at the situation and almost angery...as if she was lied to about how sex would feel. Oh sure, she prolly got some physical pleasure from it, but she’s realizing YM magazine and MTV never told her how she’d feel emotionally afterwards and the pain and disappointment that accompanies that. She was never told about that stuff that actually lasts and hangs around after the physical moments....the stuff she’ll never really get out of her head. And so Summer reveals in her mundane virginal sexual act and gets to live the rest of her life wondering how it “could’ve been”. Those dreams of a knight in shining armor are long gone and the fantasy of a wonderful wedding night is a distant memory... I guess I could go on about how the show disappointed me time and time again but I’m tired of getting down about this. I was starting to like Luke again because I think he was starting to see things properly, but no, the stupid writers have to dive the show deeper into a melodramatic mess by hooking him up with Julie Cooper. Whatever Fox, you toss Luke’s character around like football. And then when I think Jimmy is the only sane one left in the show, he goes off and entertains a relationship that 1) He knows can’t work and so many levels and 2) How can he not see that a relationship with Haley will explode like Haley’s Comet because she is the most uncommitted, immature, immoral, and un-motherly character in the whole show!? You think she’s gonna “settle” down with you Jimmy....well you’re in for another broken heart buddy....and you knew it was coming the whole time. I feel a bit betrayed by the O.C. It started off so well and I invested so much in it. Now it’s torn me apart limb from emotional limb. I said in the beginning, of this now much longer dissertation than I intended, that I won’t be watching the O.C. anymore, at least for the foreseeable future. For some of the same reasons I couldn’t take college life anymore. It’s too tormenting and burdensome on my soul to see peers make very ill-advised decisions concerning their sexuality and concerning relationships. I couldn’t take it in college and I can’t take it anymore in the O.C. What I’m not doing is taking some self-righteous stand against the Fox network and the O.C. itself. The sort of provocative entertainment the that O.C. has become is nothing new to this already tarnished mind, and resisting watching it will not clean up the trash that resides in EbbWorld anyways. Though it might relieve some of the lust-ridden battles that go on in the carnal recesses of my mind, this is no fix-it. I can’t stand people that boycott a mass market company just to show people how apparently “righteous” (which is just blatant unrighteousness) they are. Case in point being my dad (though I love him). He doesn’t support Disney (ok, fine that’s cool) because they provide gay benefits for employees and the company as a whole generally supports the gay community. But he drives it as far as not going to see Finding Nemo just cause Disney is associated with it. How stupidly self-righteous can you get? I mean if I boycotted every sinful company or organization that came across my path I wouldn’t be able to survive. Heck, I’d have to boycott living with myself if I wanted to be consistent. Though his motives are good I think, he’s chosen the wrong battle. So no, I’m not trying to take a self-righteous stand against the O.C. I just need to take an indefinite break from it and its associates. You may say Keith it’s just a stupid television show, you’re getting waaaaaaay too worked up over a stupid teen drama. Well maybe you’re right, and maybe I set myself up for this disappointment. But I don’t take relationships lightly and I got attached to these characters, rightly or wrongly. So for now I must say au revoir to The O.C. I must say goodbye to Newport Beach and the happenings over at Harbor School. To the homies over in Chino. To the hot chicks that walk by on the pier shots. I really thought there was something different with the show from the outset. I thought it had done the necessary things to set itself apart. I was attracted to the “fish out of water/refined rebel” theme that was attached to Ryan. I like his temperance (except when Luke or Oliver was around) generally and loved how he’d start throwing punches when punches were deserved. I’ll never forget that first episode when he waylaid Luke on the beach...classic. I liked his gentle and shy approach to Marissa. He didn’t court her like a PAB would and I respected that. He just let the chips fall as they may and reacted accordingly. I wanted to be Ryan’s friend. I had wished he’d come hang out in Northern Virginia for a while. And I liked Seth in the beginning. I felt a real connection with him; the sort of cool nerd type. He loved video games, cool music, and had an appreciation for the sea. He was very kind to others and had a brilliant mind that was able to crank out subtle yet tasteful jokes. His interest in Summer and later Anna seemed to be genuine and I could really relate to his bashfulness. I always was attracted to Marissa physically, but I found her graceful attitude very attractive. She wasn’t loud and obnoxious like Summer (pretty faces are a dime a dozen) but her decision making skills were definitely suspect. But I felt for her because look at her background. She basically had a dead beat dad and a horrendous mother. Despite her upbringing I still think Marissa turned out very well. Unfortunately though society’s pull on her was too strong and she is just a pawn, like so many pretty girls out there, to its painful and hurtful operations. I’ll definitely miss these and the other characters and my anger and disappointment isn’t as much directed at them specifically (because I know they’re just actors) but it’s towards the writers and producers who have stooped to moral lows just to get ratings and advertiser dollars. And I know you’re getting very annoyed at my going on and on so I’ll bring it to a close now. I just wanted people to know that you know what, sometimes enough can be enough. I refuse to let the O.C. to dictate how I feel anymore. And I refuse to let the world win in conforming us all into its way of thinking. The O.C. is a great show, no doubt, but it’s not gonna pull a fast one on me. I won’t be scammed into believing that how life is. No, there is a better way and it’s not found on the television airwaves. Maybe I’ll continue to read the show synopsis at the official site to keep on with what’s going on, but I doubt it. I almost don’t care anymore. Every character has dug themselves into such a deep hole I can already tell how things are gonna turn out without even watching. The only X-factor in the whole thing though is Anna. Apparently she comes back on the show and I must admit, despite her bad taste in Seth (a very deceiving PAB though), she still seems like the only character with any standard of living. What becomes of her and how she reacts to Seth newfound PABism is the only thing remotely interesting me to keep watching. But if I do Fox will have beaten me, just like college tried to. I can’t though...it will kill me...my soul can only take so much burden. And so now I say goodbye one final time to the O.C., we had some good times, but I hardly knew ya... We've been on the run Driving in the sun Looking out for #1 California here we come Right back where we started from Hustlers grab your guns Your shadow weighs a ton Driving down the 101 California here we come Right back where we started from California! Here we come! On the stereo Listen as we go Nothing's gonna stop me now California here we come Right back where we started from Pedal to the floor Thinkin' of the roar Gotta get us to the show California here we come Right back where we started from California! Here we come! -California, by Phantom Planet |
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