Editorial: The Last Waltz
Delise's Editorials | Editorials Home
I’m fresh off the heels of watching this episode. I’m not even waiting till morning to type my review up.
Before I get to the thought out wordy logistics of my review I want to first take a moment to express my more childish nature. Dean Hess and Taylor kissing in an empty classroom k-i-s-s-i-n-g. First comes classroom hanky panky then comes after hour sex! Dean Hess and Taylor will be getting it on!
Now I’ll take a moment to breath and calm myself down from the excitement of this revelation being revealed. There, all settled. I think I have a clear head now and can assess this episode in an objective manor.
This is the first episode this season where I felt a genuine, honest, tone to the writing. It didn’t seem forced or watered down. The newest characters entered our screen with effortless ease. The existing characters continued to shine or finally came back into their own.
I felt Seth had returned to himself. Not only did I find my self once again laughing at his lines, I enjoyed his delivery of them.
Did you feel like the last season coming into this season The O.C. was often trapped in an alternate universe? I know there were plenty of times I sure did. So how refreshing was it to see the writers actually create a literal alternate universe via Union High. We had an anorexic (or heroin chic rocker) version of Ryan, a Jerry Lewis version of Seth, and a grittier version of Marissa. I for one loved it. Marissa’s new gang wasn’t without it’s flaws, but they eased so easily into Marissa’s life, especially anorexic Ryan. Little about them seemed planted. I’m not trying to imply the newest characters were clones of our existing characters. Their relations to our main four we’re subtle. It was clear enough to define, but wasn’t overdone.
I wasn’t at all bothered or surprised by how, with little trouble, Marissa inadvertently left Ryan in the dust and clung to her newest group of friends. Nor did it surprise me how easily Ryan mistrusted Marissa and misread her situations with her new group. Evidence has been mounting through out the first two seasons of how well, or rather how well they don’t function with external drama. They haven’t created a solid case for survival. So why would now suddenly be different? In addition, this obvious shift in their relationship was built around the distinct personalities of Ryan and Marissa individually. Ryan has continually been showcased as a mistrusting, cautious, and an ultimately fragile boy. Marissa has continually been showcased as a guarded, affection starved girl who has been constantly fighting for acceptance and her survival. Even when they try to uphold a sense of dignity and say they just don‘t give a dam it‘s glaringly obvious they do…
…The closing montage with their obligatory song and dance was perfect symbolizing of the calm before the storm. Plus it brought our two divided characters temporarily back into each other’s arms sharing the dance they couldn’t before. It was affective.
Sandy and Kirsten were a wonderful illumination to this show. Finally they were back to fully functioning as a couple. To be honest their joys blinded me from remembering last week’s loophole of Kirsten suddenly knowing what had been happening over the summer with her boys. I enjoyed the issues of the Newport Group not being ignored. And of course I enjoyed how Sandy supported whatever her decision would be concerning whether the company should fold. It was touching to see her mull over the company’s history and reflect on Caleb. His presence remains.
Finally Charlotte’s purpose was exposed. I can’t say it surprised me. Her scheme was far more fitting then what both me and my husband first assumed the storyline would be, the story of a lesbian stocker. I did begin to wonder, however, how Kirsten could be so blindsided. Surely she must start to catch on soon. Kirsten has never been that naïve before.
The closing scenes with Julie were both profound and touching. Just when we think she can be no more then an evil bitch the writers start to humanize her in the most affecting ways. When the repo man first came to her house I wondered if she would quickly pull a Gabrielle (Desperate Housewives) and move all of her stuff to the Cohen’s house for safekeeping. She didn’t. Instead she played dumb when the repossesses returned seventy-two hours later. Her absolute refusal to face reality until she completely bottoms out is typical Julie.
Seth and Summer, even though they didn’t command the show, were much more endearing than weeks pasts. Even if their storyline wasn’t as impacting as Ryan and Marissa’s they were given almost equal screen time. And this time their storyline wasn’t directly connecting to Ryan and Marissa. Our fantastic four were forced into functioning without each other. It worked to my surprise. It was freshening to see Seth not have to mope or whine over the fact that Ryan couldn’t attend the Harbor High dance. In fact, Seth barely whined about Ryan not being by his side during the school days. Summer seemed to sustain him though it all. Now that was truly refreshing.
“Young teacher, the subject
Of schoolgirl fantasy
She wants him so badly
Knows what she wants to be
Inside her there's longing
This girl's an open page
Book marking - she's so close now
This girl is half his age.”
Are you singing along yet? My husband and I were humming the classic Police tune as Summer played the part of Veronica Mars (she’d make the perfect partnering sleuth don‘t you think?), following Taylor down the barely lit hallways of Harbor High. We knew what was coming, what Summer would soon discover. It had been obvious to me since Taylor and Dean Hess were seen in a scene together that they had an agenda and a bucket load of sexual tension. There was little shock over Summer’s discover but great jubilation on my part. Elicit affairs between a student and a teacher, now that’s a Newport scandal. You could argue it’s all been done before. I too remember Dawson’s Creek’s Pacey and English teacher Tamara’s affair. But the writers of that show tried so hard to convince us their affair was grounded in more than physical feelings and sociological mind play. It’s doesn’t appear The O.C. is trying to send Hess and Taylor down that road. Sociological mind play seems perfect for Dean Hess and Taylor Townsend. And I believe the writers recognize that.
It may of taken three episodes, but now I feel The O.C. is returning to form. It kept my interest from start to finish all while it made me laugh and more importantly left me warmed, pleased. Let’s hope the show can only go up from here.
*** ¾ out of ***** stars
