Editorial: The Pot Stirrer
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It was a new week on The O.C. A new week indeed as all the major characters finally had to come to terms with the shifting dynamics that inhabited their lives. It’s with that realization that we got a greater sense of character development, storyline purpose, and structural advancement.
It was the structural advancement I first have to mention. For the first time, in a long time, the episode had a wonderful pace and continuing flow that carried through to the very last seconds of the show. And best yet allowed for the next episode to continue right from where the flow of this episode left off. It’s adopting those essential elements of a primetime soap opera again. How long they can keep this up is yet to be determined. Often I find a gem or near gem episode only to see that next week doesn’t match up. It’s a one off that appears every so many episode. It’s definitely not enough to sustain a whole season. Still, I have to applaud appropriate elements when they deserve to be applauded. And this is one of those times.
Character development was at a peak, even if a little hard to wrap my head around. Of course I’m directing my comments to Seth. I was bit taken back when I first saw the promo that suggested Seth would be token it up with Kaitlin. It seemed so random and clearly out of nowhere. But it’s an interesting shift from where Seth once was. Formerly he was a boy who did his best to detach himself from the Newpsies and Newpsies in training. He neither wanted to be the stoned slacker or the coke addled high school frat-like boy who teased him and pounded on him during his early high school years. That’s why I think he never dabbled into anything more than a bit of Jack, all for the greater purpose of, not realigning and defining himself, but to grab a girl’s attention, and of course to provide us with a great deal of comic relief. But this time around it was vastly different. He was neither his personal rendering of being stealth or a boy looking for the affections of a girl. He was now a boy lost in his own fears, temptations and anxiety, more so than ever before. He’s embracing an undetermined life away from all the things he always wanted and finally got. We are seeing, again, and rightfully so, that this world that’s built courtesy of Ryan first and Summer second is what has sustained him. He can’t sustain himself. And it’s that fear that puts him over the edge. I greatly quibble with the way being high was presented. And I have to hedge with the fact that the whole situation didn’t have a bit more tension and awkwardness for Seth in the beginning stages of him smoking the Marleys. But overall it was effective and progressed the character out of the safety zone and into a more believable stance as he approaches the end of high school and the beginning of a new life.
Kaitlin’s pot dealings added a bit of depth to her character as well. She started to seem a bit more edgy and defined rather than stereotypical and boring. I actually felt twinges of sympathy for her knowing that her own mother, who gave birth to her, couldn’t even remember it was her birthday. And her greatest scandal thus far is the sexualized flirting she’s wooing Johnny with. No longer is he merely smiling casually as though her actions are just, but rather now addressing the issue, with her at least. He’s not as direct with Marissa, but who can blame him. I actually liked what chemistry there was between Johnny and Kaitlin and find it far more interesting and animated than whatever romantic storyline they could create between Johnny and Marissa. But I’m not blind to what’s ahead.
It’s clear to me they are trying to set up an underlining, and relationship crippling, connection between Marissa and Johnny. I have a hard time processing it as such simply because I don’t really see how Marissa’s points of why Johnny and Kaitlin bothering her weren’t valid. They weren’t signs of love and jealousy, but rather that of her sister messing with someone older and lying to her. It’s not foundational enough to progress Marissa and Johnny into a relationship. But I’m sure the obvious tensions will be used as a divide between Ryan and Marissa. I hope sooner rather than later they can finally come to terms with the variable dynamics. In my opinion it’s less about Johnny and whatever direct feelings Marissa may or may not have for him. It’s more about the general relationship and how Marissa treats Ryan on a day-to-day basis. He’s second in line to whatever issues or drama she’s dealing with. She’s too often ignored him or simply not been direct enough to say what she’s really feeling. Granted their openness has improved. But Marissa is more selfish than selfless and I don’t think Ryan deserves that. He doesn’t deserve to be cast aside like he’s a bangle bracelet that’s not quite in fashion enough to be worn all the time.
I said it a few weeks back, but what is most interesting about Sandy and Kirsten is how they handle the classic morality tales. That’s why I was actually intrigued by Sandy’s current storyline and the weaving in of his ethics being questioned. Granted we had to endure Mr. Apprentice for one more week, which frankly surprised me. I thought he was fading out. But he served a purpose this time. He allowed us to see the inner workings of Sandy’s mind and heart. Some may question how Sandy even allowed the situation to progress as far as using strippers and hookers for making business deals. But that’s like asking how Kirsten could have given Jimmy the loan, allowed him to get to the point where he could kiss her, or how Sandy could have allowed his former law partner to flirt with him for as long as she had. These are not infallible characters. And while I may have never liked the romantic conflictions that came with Rebecca and Carter, I can respect the fact there was a conflicting nature in Sandy and Kirsten. And I can respect the fact that we saw a rightful shift in their relationship because of what had happen over the prior summer. Of course they came back to each other and to the essence of their relationship, which is why I don’t doubt Sandy will rediscover his moral compass rather than redefine it.
Dr. Roberts embraced Julie’s growing feelings for him and went so far as to allow her daughter to have a birthday party at his place. He eagerly gave Julie a key to the mansion with barely a second thought. It seemed things were moving paced but surely for these two. But the progression of Julie and Dr. Roberts came to a halting unease at the end of the episode. Some may say out of nowhere, or perhaps without validating reason. But it made perfect sense to me that after witnessing the faulted relationship Julie has with her children that he would give her a bit of the cold shoulder. Dr. Roberts is a father who always has had an open, loving and respected relationship with Summer. He’s likely to have second thoughts with Julie when he sees the detrimental behaviors and relationships between Julie and her daughters. I’m sure he’ll find a way to embrace her fallibilities and help her connect with her daughters over time. But for now things are at standstill leaving me to wonder how this could possibly move forward. But that’s a good thing. I like to question the future and how It will flow out of what’s evolving right now.
I rarely critique editing and camera direction. But it was so evident and in your face that I couldn’t ignore it. In one scene of mere dialogue, which, if I remember correctly, was between Ryan and Kaitlin, there must have been at least ten cuts most of which were unnecessary. If, when I was in college, I had returned an edited news report that had that many cuts between me and the subject, the person being interviewed, it would of have likely failed my report. Before either got out more than two or three words there was another cut. It was so distracting that I barely remember what the point of the scene was or what was discussed. When the editing is interfering with the intent and execution of the actual point of a scene then that’s a major problem. It was further escalated by the extreme close up contained before cutting to another extreme close up of Ryan and or Kaitlin. I was focused in on two giant heads constantly shifting for no reason or effect, except the likelihood there just wasn’t enough tape to let roll.
The Fox trailer for next week boasted in its final seconds the words, “you won’t be disappointed.” That’s a rather bold assertion. Here’s hoping they can actually live up to the remark and build off of what was surprisingly well established, even if slightly flawed, in this episode.
*** ¾ out of ***** stars
