Editorial: The Day After Tomorrow
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I feel a little resentful for my negative attitudes about the future of The O.C. But the truth is this show is so hard to read. One week it’s anti-climatic, boring and cliché and the next week it can be a pure joy to watch. This week was bit in the middle. It was definitely more engaging and entertaining then I assumed it would be. It was also a positive step in the right direction. It’’s a direction that could transform the closing episodes of season three.
The transformation starts where the oddities and pat storytelling faded away. Finally we are seeing unique resolves between divisions and interesting opposition between what I presumed was an established norm of season three, Seth and Summer as a unified couple. I was quick to put my stamp on Ryan and Marissa coming to an end. And they rightly did. But I never would have assumed that at this moment, Seth and Summer would break-up. Granted Seth lied about not getting into Brown. I shouldn’t be surprised about that. Nor should I be surprised in the fact that in supposedly putting Summer’s future first he’s really put it last and established himself as being selfish. And he’s established as being fundamentally moronic for not seeing that all Summer really wants is a future with him. But when has Seth been the smartly un-foolish one? This is clearly an in character moment. He can’t process the moment. Nor can Summer see beyond the surface. These are the inevitable barriers of their relationship. And it always comes back to these essential truths at some point.
Still, I felt torn about their release. I felt genuinely saddened by the events unfolding. This is not a statement I would have made in the past. But it was hard for me to ignore the anguish in Summer’s eyes as she saw the one thing she always wanted fade before her. And worse yet she knew that she wasn’t directly responsible. She didn’t set a standard that Seth had to live up to like she had in the past. She just wanted him to be honest. And isn’t that an essential core to any relationship? But time and time again he lies and then masks the painful truths with even more painful lies. How much more of this is Summer suppose to bear? That’s yet to be determined. Their split could be short-lived, or it could foster and fester into deeper wombs and a colder detachment. But I find it profoundly moving and fascinating to watch.
My concerns for Sandy and Kirsten were obviously founded. There’s a new form to Kirsten’s character. She no longer comes off as condescending, but rather as genuinely concerned for her marriage and family. Seeing her walk out the front door was both poignant and necessary. Her obvious distaste for Sandy’s business dealings and the impact it will have on their family is enough for her to walk right out the front doors and give Sandy a scare. I hope it snaps him into place before real damage is done. I have to admit, however, that this unease in their relationship is becoming more natural and believable than that of what they had in the second half of season two.
It was about time Marissa came to her senses and established herself as a friend through action. It’s hard for me to pinpoint a moment, even when they were not fighting, that Marissa actually did something for Summer. It seemed their friendship, although touching and sweet at times, was ultimately one-sided. That’s why it was joyous to see her embrace a heartbroken Summer and offer what little comfort she could.
It was becoming stale, this way Marissa was losing herself in a pointless downward spiral all for reasons that were old and over-used. When would she take the step to grow out of her pain rather than drown in it? Maybe now she was starting to turn around. She was becoming more apprehensive of her relationship with Volchok. She was actually listening to her mom and started to embrace the newly formed family unit that is, in my opinion, the healthiest family unit she’s had to date. I await the final choice of direction she will make.
Her scene with Ryan was misplaced to me. It’s not that I didn’t imagine them again interacting and having to face each other. But I wasn’t keen on hearing Ryan say that she could still come to him to talk. As if it was only that easy. But the truth was that he wasn’t a strong listener and was rarely willing to allow Marissa to fully express her feelings and give her the time to process them. But it’s clear he still cares about her well-being. Their uniquely averse connection will always be there, even if it’s not productive or healthy to adopt.
Ryan and Sadie were obviously moving too fast. There was nothing that I could see that brought them to the status of building a future together. Yet that’s what they were starting to do. So I shouldn’t of been bothered by their inevitable break-up. But I was, mainly because their break-up didn’t feel essential to the storyline. It seemed as though this was an easy exit for, a character the writers had used up and, an actress who likely didn’t extend her run. It was convenient and formulaic. But at the same time, I look forward to the fresh slate this will give Ryan and whatever future storyline is to come. He’s not bound to Marissa or a stereotypical second option female. All he has now is an equally lonely Seth and a stronghold family. And that’s what brings this show back to the critical elements that made it appealing. It’s stripped down to its essence. I can only hope this newly rediscovered spirit can foster and create a solid ending to a depressingly mediocre season.
*** ¾ / **** out of *****
