Editorial: The Chrismukkah Bar Mitz-vahkkah
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It wasn’t as effective and naturally flowing as the first Chrismukkah. And it wasn’t as affective and gripping as last year’s Chrismukkah. Still, this year’s holiday spectacle aimed to please and charm. And, in occasional cases it did hit the mark.
In most cases it didn‘t even come close, starting with Julie. I love Julie’s return to her past and trailer parks. But somehow this reeks of more than just stereotypes but of blatant copying. With Julie perched on her couch, chewing tobacco, and adorning her trailer with holiday lights (that I have a feeling might stay up all year long), you’d almost think she was a pre-country superstar Gretchen Wilson. Well, except for the fact that Julie didn’t seemed primed to scream a “hell yeah!” out of sheer redneck pride. And I can only assume somewhere in her trailer her Gucci outfits and Coach bags were stashed somewhere. That doesn’t seem much like Wilson. But essentially, I felt a certain parallel. There certainly wasn’t enough to distinguish her from other female, self-proclaimed, rednecks. And I have to take shot, again, at the fact that we haven’t been seeing anyone outside of Julie’s trailer. There’s a whole park out there with what I presume could be interesting characters that could add to interesting storylines provided the writers did their part.
I was also taken back when so much effort was made by Kirsten to get Julie to come clean with to her daughter about where she was really living, but yet we never saw Julie have a talk-to-talk with Marissa. It’s just another thing the writers leave for us to presume had happened. Having Marissa connect with her mother with a bit of honesty would have been a wonderfully touching Chrismukkah moment.
The other key issue to bring this episode down was the structural take on Johnny’s part in the story. It seemed too set up and primed for the Chrismukkah ‘miracle’ to just fall into place at the end. It had this paint-by-numbers approach that left the events surrounding Johnny to be predictable. The pure joy of the first Chrismukkah is the way the theme naturally fell into place while the other storylines weaved in with ease.
I read other people’s comments where they stated that Johnny was overwhelming and downright stealing a show that should have been more about Ryan, the Bar Mitzvah, and Ryan’s acceptance and adjustments into the religious aspects of the Cohen family. I couldn’t agree more. Yet, with a Bar Mitzvah that was done in poor taste and with little regard for the sacred teachings and purposes, there was literally no way they could of given any real justice, besides a little faux warmth and comic relief, to this storyline. But it’s the O.C., not Joan of Arcadia. I have to except that religion is to be satirized rather than taken seriously.
The sheer warmth and brightness Taylor was starting to bring to the show was once again missing. It would have been nice to see her introduced to the Chrismukkah traditions. And it would have been especially nice seeing both Summer and Seth doing a good deed by allowing her to join in on their holiday fun. But I didn’t have any reason to expect her to be in this episode.
In other missing characters, where was Chili? All of the internal and external issues involving his best friend and he’s nowhere to be seen? Perhaps I missed a slight reference to him being away for the holiday. Perhaps there wasn’t one. Either way it still seemed rather pointless to have worked in Chili’s character through out this season, and structured him as Johnny’s best friend, but not use him when it’s most crucial.
There was a genuine, complaint free, bright spot. That would be Summer’s back-story and the relationship with her dad. Truly, I have to give acclaim to Rachel Bilson and Michael Nouri, as Summer’s dad, for amazingly bringing real depth and an honest approach to their acting. They were absolute gems in an episode that could have been perceived to be intolerable had they not inadvertently swept in to save the day. Personally, I think Bilson and Nouri should give joint acting classes to other parent-child relations on this show. Ryan Donowho, and the actress playing his mother could certainly take a few notes from these two. Perhaps even Mischa Barton and Melinda Clark.
Dr. Roberts also shinned along side Julie. I was impressed with their scene back at the Robert’s mansion. There’s a slight hint that this could evolve into something greater. Maybe as a love interest or perhaps just as deeper storyline. I’m not sure how I’d feel about the writers progressing a love story for these two. But I’d love to see more of Summer’s dad and have him connect with all of our important adult characters. With Caleb dead, and Charlotte missing, it’s crucial that the O.C. bring in established adults characters to rotate into the fold.
Kirsten so admirably called this year “The Best Chrismukkah Ever.” That’s not even a statement I’ll come close to making when I have the memories of two superior Chrismukkah episodes fresh in my mind. I can’t come near to saying this is the worst episode ever, but I firmly say it’s the worst Chrismukkah.
*** 1/4 our of ***** stars
