Editorial: The French Connection/The Dream Lover
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The O.C. comedy hour continues sometimes unrefined and overbearing, as was the case with “The Dream Lover” But with ‘The French Connection” the humor was more refined, structured and mixed with the perfect amount of dark rhythms and complex emotions to balance things out.
For those who follow the contemporary philosophies of Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo [ ““He’s Just Not That Into You”] they may be spent with Ryan and Taylor. They are shaping to be a couple where mixed messages and unnecessary challenges abound. I, on the other hand, am still baited and hooked. There’’s an underlining natural passion that can’t be squelched and whatever challenges arise and lies told you have the sense that this is more in respect to loving the other person rather than themselves respectively.
Still, I have to wonder if it is too much to ask that they not be alienated by something trivial and needless as intellectual standing. However Ying and Yang they appear on the surface, a deeper look in and you see just how perfect they are for each other and more importantly how well they mold together. While Ryan can’t seem to utter an “I Love You” when push comes to shove he’’s more honest and forthcoming than he’s ever been in the past. And best of all, his mere joyously and angst is filled with more nuances than with any past relationship, bringing in to context just how much he cares and is invested in Taylor.
Will is mild-mannered and not the least bit genuinely neurotic let alone neurotic at all. He’s a new kind seen in the halls of Harbor. But rather than appearing fresh and novel he comes off with as much complexities of an average second-rate Disney live-action-show character. And the acting challenged whiners who come under the facade of mean girls are nothing more than insecure band prima donnas. If it wasn’t for Kaitlin’s sly dark humor and her love for smoking pot I wonder if one could tell the difference. But with little connection to her family and those outside Harbor, besides Ryan who she offers love advise to, her snarky bite and love of the herb are in vein, nothing more than cheap attempts to darken her character.
Che still offers genuine even if blatantly overused comedic charm. But with the short-lived charm and subtleties of Summer as a Newpsie-Wed, which was played with brilliant comedic timing from Rachel Bilson, Che can come off over-the-top. And in addition the show’s overall comedic overload can be a blow to the senses to those who remember how season one deftly used hilarity to highlight the joy, heartache and angst rather than overpower it.
Julie in all her foils and follies. It’s hard to maintain and repair relationships. But when you love someone or they are truly all you have it’s even harder not to move forward or forgive. This is the case with Julie and Kirsten. But dig a little deeper and you see that in a sea of Newpsie egocentrics that couldn’’t muster a genuine emotion Julie is a welcomed friend, even if she tricks you into believing your clients are victim of the clap. Their failed business adventures will likely never take ground again and for good reason. But I’d like to think they will be a continued pillar of support in their now separate ventures.
The writers have a just way of knowing how to use a plotline such as this and when to cut it short. Had this over extended it would have become inflated and weighted. Still, I’d be solidly pleased if the woman Kirsten had to inform about the mishap provided she wasn’t in on Julie’s trick, came back and sued for duress. Imagine Sandy taking on the case. Hilarity ensues. Sure it’s over-the-top, but no more than Seth freeing his animal spirit, the otter.
But there in lies how the show has shaped my thinking. No longer do I think of how to refocus and create drama and emotional weight, but rather how to make the show funnier and more ostentatious than before. How to make it more ostentatious than the Newpsie Weds, more audacious than a smelly French ex-husband and more flamboyant than Che’s love for Seth.
“The French Connection” *** 3/4 stars out of ***** stars
“The Dream Lover” *** 1/2 out of ***** stars
