Editorial: The Sister Act
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To paraphrase, in the latest installment of the O.C. Marissa said that couldn’t possibly be my sister. But it is and her name is Kaitlin Cooper (AKA mini-Coop). And as Seth is so quick to point out more than once, mini-Coop is not so mini anymore.
While she may be shorter, yet filled out, she certainly is every bit like her sister. Perhaps more calculated in her moves, but she steals, breaks boys hearts, and messes with other boy’s minds. How that isn’t like her sister I don’t know. And the interesting and most in line point, is that just like her sister she’s being a spoiled brat for little reason. Not to say she had none. But what did it matter when the issue of her father jumping town wasn’t even addressed. And her mother’s new found lack of wealth was milked for effect, but only later it’s discovered Kaitlin knew all along. Whatever pain or shame she felt she used to her own advantage. And yes, that’s just like her sister too. These are two girls who are nothing to esteem or look up too and more alike than either of them care to admit.
They are also equally annoying and lacking a sense of depth. The scandal they procure is trivial and petty compared to what really goes on in Newport and beyond. It is feeble attempts for attention rather than to give any valid evidence either of these girls is of a demon seed. So instead of being dynamic and interesting, or perhaps filled with depth and validating reason it just comes off tired and uneventful. This was the case tonight as Kaitlin returned and tried to play the part of a misunderstood bad girl with a bit more edge.
Of course a number of factors were placed to help authenticate her position. One factor is the slight aging of Kaitlin. The writers had no qualms about exposing it. In one line Ryan states he hasn’t seen Kaitlin since she was 11 and riding ponies. In another line of dialog it’s stated that she is now 14. That’s a leap when since we last seen her it hasn’t even been three whole years. Then there is the dropping of things like teenage pregnancies. If all those crazy kids are having sex and getting pregnant then that has to be a foundation for scandal. Of course neither of these elements work to the extent in which they should. And worst of all the biggest factor to play in is her being introduced as a sexualized being at the age of 14. This wouldn’t bother me so much if characters like Johnny did more than just smile as she tried to flirt. Apparently the concept of being the closer to adult age in this situation doesn’t equate. Johnny simply smiles and casually embraces her sexuality. But that may just be the one vibrant moment of scandal. Yet it’s juxtaposed with Johnny suggesting he take her out for ice cream. However disturbing her advanced sexuality is, it’s almost equally disturbing that Johnny tell Marissa he would take her out for ice cream. Marissa simply smiled as though this was still the 11 year-old Kaitlin we were first introduced to in season one. They call them tweens for a reason. There’s a in-between stage between childhood innocence and innocence lost. How much more interesting and appropriate that would have been to see, if of course she got to play her actual age. It could have been a young woman dealing with the full trials of her family and embracing the formation of her teenage years.
I have to make note of what I mentioned last week. I still believe it would have been stronger to have seen her briefly in the last episode just after the pat moment between Marissa and Julie. A quick glimpse of her hitchhiking into town would of worked wonderfully. And then perhaps her introduction to the start of this episode is she in the Cohen kitchen. She's disarraying the bagels, eating the sugar cereal and drinking stale coffee. In other's words she's violating the volatile Cohen environment. Just think of the untapped angst and comedy that could of came out of that. Everyone comes down for breakfast. Sandy quickly rescues the bagels. Seth puts on a fresh brew of coffee and makes his 'my have you grown' jokes to which both Sandy and Kirsten give him the evil eye for. Kirsten acts like a concerned parent. Ryan broods and boils inside with a quiet anger over the fact that she's taken out all the sugar cereal and, yes, mixed them, spilled them and basically disregarded Ryan's true love Captain (no, not Oats) Crunch! I was getting a little misty eyed over something that never was. I miss those lost moments when Cohen kitchen time was genuinely funny and engaging and not seeming so forced.
My dear and always loved Sandy had a few great lines. “We don’t negotiate with the Newpsies.” But sadly, he had little to add to any one storyline. He was a prop. And with no pun intended, he was used merely to prop up other situations. That made me more than sad. It angered me first and foremost. I long for him to get his own fully functioning storyline that plays equally into the hands of his relationship as a husband and a father. Yet we rarely see that anymore. It’s deterring away from what little indisputable quality the show has left. Sanford was always the saving grace. This was the last glimmer of hope to a show that seemed to be becoming unredeemable. Now we barely have that.
Of course, for those who actually enjoy her, there is still the sparkle of Taylor. She may have been a tad over the top this time. But she was still equally lovable in her own unique way. She provided realistic humor. And she certainly brought believability to it all. She’s desperate for a loving family and a group of friends she can support. At her essence she is fueled by her need for love and her ultimately benevolent heart. That’s why in the end it’s so hard for Summer to turn her away.
They’re simplifying the connection and relationship between Johnny and Marissa. I like that. No longer do I have to hear that he loves her but rather simply that he misses her and she misses him. This makes more sense and gives a growing pace that I greater appreciate. And I have to give credit where credit is due and praise the fact that Johnny actually had the guts to stand up to Marissa. Of course he retracted later, but I think that’s more because he was starting to see the light, that being friends isn’t that hard or that bad after all, even if you are supposedly in love with the girl. But perhaps it’s a clear indication that if he can so easily retract what he said, and smile at the sexual advances of Marissa’s sister, he was never in love with her. It was a mere infatuation with someone who genuinely cared about him.
I’m having a hard time adjusting to a possible romance between Dr. Roberts and Julie. Perhaps this has moved a bit too slow for me. I normally like a bit of pace and building for a couple. But this is one of those things that should have just happened almost instantly. Instead of having Taylor’s mom as a vying force for Dr. Roberts affections I would of went right in to a rebound tryst with Julie and Dr. Roberts. Behind the backs of their children they scandalize a relationship that is soon discovered by all. It forces a lack of ease with the usually chummy best friends. Marissa and Summer have to deal with the possibilities of their parents together and the fact they could soon be sisters. In essence Summer only wants what’s best for her dad and she may not see Julie as a fine catch. This could cause some interesting friction. But I predict something different. Summer and Marissa will be so elated with being sisters and building a family together that it will just be one big happy, sappy, family love-fest. I seriously hope I’m proved wrong.
I seriously hope my other, undisclosed, predictions don’t come true either and this show can return to what it was slightly promising in the early parts of this season. I hope it comes out of this nonsensical structure and plotlines and creates something always shifting, entertaining, and keeping us clued to our screens to find out what happens next, because as of right now, I don’t really care.
*** out of ***** stars
