Editorial: The End of Innocence
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Let me start by introducing myself. I apologize for not doing it in the last reviews, but those were posted elsewhere before. My name is Jenni, and I guess the summary on the Editorial page pretty much sums me up. I write extremely long reviews, that I guess you would call rather sarcastic and/or cynical. But in a good way, if that makes any sense. I am a perfectionist, a grammar freak, and a spelling freak. Just to warn you. Most of the time, my reviews will not come until Friday evening or Saturday because I can not watch the episode until Friday afternoon. Sorry. Trust me, I wish I could watch them with the rest of the world on Thursday. I hope that over the next 22 episodes, we get to know each other very well. Or at least, I can entertain you and make you think.
I’m not really sure where to begin on this episode. It was very good, no doubt, but how good was it? How should I divide this review? I liked the way I did it last week, but that doesn’t really work this week. Sorry, just kind of thinking out loud. The storylines this week, once again, all mingled together. Not quite as nicely as they did last week, but definitely better than last year. I think the best way to do this is to divide it by couples. That way, every factor can be encompassed. (Told you I write long reviews.)
1: Ryan and Marissa
While I think that their story line was good, it wasn’t the best. The parents telling them to stay apart was totally uncalled for in my book. Well, at least Sandy telling Ryan to take a break was. Julie, not so much. What was Sandy thinking? Ryan wasn’t as pissed off as I had thought he would (or should) be, but I guess it was a respect issue. Which I suppose I can understand. I thought this issue was going to be the huge thing between the two of them. Hawaii? Definitely the biggest issue.
Admit it. We all knew they wouldn’t actually move to Hawaii. That doesn’t mean they weren’t going to move somewhere else, though. Part of me actually thought they might leave Newport for a while. I thought it was sweet of Ryan to go up to Sandy and ask if Marissa could stay with them. I was positive Sandy was going to chew Ryan out for it, but instead he agreed. Alas, Marissa proved once again that she doesn’t need Ryan to protect her.
Now comes the part that apparently we have all been waiting for two years. I hated the way they said that in the previews. Sure, we have been waiting for them to have sex, but that is not the sole reason we watch the show. Anyway, this was so cute. Fans, myself included, were waiting for this scene to rival the sex scene between Luke and Marissa. Having said that, I think it did. I mean, they were showing them while having sex. I think. It was a little strange to be shooting in and out of Jimmy being beat up, but it was pretty cool nonetheless. It was nice to end with the two of them making a deal to stick together. You know what that means? It means that a bunch of stuff will come between them for the next...10 episodes, then Theresa or Oliver will come back, most likely in succession, causing mayhem for…10 episodes. The last episode will involve them being happy until something totally unexpected comes up. Mark my words, people. Marissa and Ryan will have problems during the entire season. Last year it was Seth and Summer, this year it is Ryan and Marissa.
2: Seth and Summer
Once again, not too much to say here. The Dean of Discipline thing is a nice twist. What does this guy have against the Fantastic Four? Perhaps Jack Hess had a bad experience with a group of four, gorgeous (okay, three gorgeous and one…geek-in-a-cute-way), rich kids. Or maybe he had once been a tool himself, but, unlike Seth, had not found a best friend and become a teen heartthrob and had been doomed to a high school life of urine filled shoes and football shaped bruises. (What? He’s from the east coast. They don’t play water polo there. Actually, I can’t think of any other place they do play water polo.) Whatever the case, this guy has something against these two. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Taylor has Jack wrapped around her little finger. Which is just…bizarre. Seriously, what is going on with these two? The little pout Taylor gave him was just too much. Does anyone else feel a Julie-Luke vibe here? Face it, we already know Taylor will go to any lengths just to gain power.
I want to address Adam Brody’s performance. Most reviews I have read have called it terrible these past couple of episodes. Honestly, I haven’t really noticed. Don’t get me wrong, I love Brody just as much as the next person. He is hilarious, and makes the show so much better. So has he really been lacking? I tried to watch closely this episode, and I couldn’t find anything that really sucked. Okay, back to the actual episode. The Seth and Summer storyline has really been downplayed so far, but I see potential for it to reach full speed very quickly. How many times was it mentioned that life would be a living hell for Seth? Too many to count. (Okay, not that many times, but too many to be said just for comic relief. And I’m really just too lazy to do the math. It’s the weekend, not math class. That’s what I have sixth period for.) Maybe a little Luke thing, turned friend and involvement with the step-monster? Did that make any sense? I didn’t think so. Seth has to find a new Atwood, which will be very hard to do. Wait, what am I saying? I just remembered Zach. A water polo player who befriended Seth last year. Why can’t Zach just protect Seth? Seriously, the writers have got to keep their kicked off characters in mind.
3: Sandy and Kirsten
What was the best storyline, you may ask? (Although, if you’re asking, you are talking to an inanimate object. Which is just very 21st century.) Sandy, Kirsten, and Charlotte. Holy crap. I did not see the little Charlotte twist at all. She bought someone off so she could keep Kirsten locked up? What if her plan didn’t work? What the hell was her plan anyway? Of all the storylines, this is the most intriguing. If I had to pick just one reason why I come back every week, this month it’s this plot.
So, the will is being read. Doesn’t Kirsten have to be present? It was nice of Sandy to give Kirsten the option, though. (In case you are wondering, the actual reading of the will comes later in this review. So just humor me and read the rest.) Not getting anything means nothing to Sandy and Kirsten. The note, although a nice twist, shouldn’t have been that big of a deal. I mean, it’s a freaking note. (What is creepy is that Caleb sent it to his lawyer the day he died. Did he know he was going to die? Why couldn’t he just slip it under the door of Kirsten’s office? He was essentially talking from the grave, without actually being buried.) Even I knew that it was an apology. We know from just two years that if Caleb had wanted to say mean things to Kirsten, he would have done it to her face. I did think, though, that Kirsten would come home drunk. Don’t ask me why. I just did. It’s nice that Kirsten is home, although I have to wonder if it’s because they didn’t want to shoot on two locations or because it was actually the right time.
4: Jimmy and Julie
Also not a bad story line. Generally, I’m not a huge fan of Julie, and Jimmy has his days. But this showed a nicer, more human side to Julie. As for Jimmy, it just proved he was an idiot. A pure, old fashioned idiot. Moving the wedding up was a smart idea, and honeymooning in Hawaii an obvious way to escape the mobsters. I actually felt bad for Julie by the end of the episode. Just when things were finally going to be better, even without Caleb’s money, Jimmy leaves. She was left at the altar, with only the ring and her daughter. (That whole wedding doesn’t make sense though. Why wouldn’t Marissa be wearing a bridesmaid dress? And, once again, where the hell was Caitlin? I’m beginning to think that she is just a figment of my imagination.)
Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy. Where to begin? That fight scene was pretty intense. Not sure I would classify it as parental discretion advised, but definitely more than they have ever shown. The look on his face after they slammed his head into a post, at the very beginning, was haunting. Seriously. Freaking. Haunting. And leaving him just floating him in the water? I thought he was dead. When it was revealed he wasn’t, I had to gasp at the make-up job. The first time I watched the episode, his face was gruesome and frightening. The second time, it was just as frightening, but I had to wonder who did his makeup. Because it was so freaking good. Tate did an amazing job of acting there, being hunched over, talking through a broken nose… Marissa’s line was great too. Although we all know Jimmy has to come back at some point.
The Will:
Yes, that’s right, an entire section devoted to the will. This was very anti-climactic. However, I would like to point out the fact that I was right about Julie not getting any money. Albeit, it wasn’t the way I predicted, but what does it matter? Julie has no money and Jimmy’s money problems were not resolved. Am I good, or am I good? One thing they didn’t address in this was who got the Newport Group. Should it be Kirsten? Is she ready to jump back into a life full of alcohol and conniving? Then again, that pretty much sums up the Newpsies. Maybe she should have stayed at Lake Arrowhead. Sandy obviously can’t deal with the Newport Group. I know I said earlier that not getting any money doesn’t affect the Cohen’s, but what if it does? Caleb paid for their house, but was he actually making house payments or had he just given it to them? The Newport Group is going broke, so what does that leave Kirsten with? One more note—what about Lindsay? Was she being included in getting an equal share? Maybe they mentioned this, and I missed it. I apologize if they said it and I was just too…oblivious to notice. Finally, I think my version of the will was better. It was more humorous and more entertaining. Although, I am kind of biased, seeing how it was my idea…
Random Thoughts to End With:
How come school started for Harbor, but not public schools? How come Sandy hasn’t been working to find a school for Ryan? Furthermore, how come it shows Ryan as dropping Marissa off at school, alone? Why wouldn’t the two go to school together?
How will Charlotte be able to stalk Kirsten now that she is gone? Leave it to the writers, they will get it done.
What was up with Marissa’s sweater? I’m sorry, but as a girl I have to say something. Usually, Marissa has impeccable taste. Not stuff I would wear, but all quite fashionable. This sweater was not. I apologize to those who thought it was. No offense meant, but it was just plain ugly.
Since we’re on the note of clothes, has anyone else noticed a pattern in Kiki’s clothing? All beiges, whites, blues, and pink. Mainly pink and beige. They all look great on her, but what happened to the really stylish Kirsten? (Although that blue tank top she was wearing on the first day was really cute.)
Why was Ryan the first to hug Kirsten? Shouldn’t it have been Seth, the biological son? Oh well, it was still a touching moment.
Playoffs start in one week. That means we have one week left, before a four week break. The upside? I no longer have to watch the Mariner’s lose. Wait, who am I kidding? I don’t watch sports, I just complain about them.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10. It was a good episode, but not quite as good as last week’s. What would have put it at a 9? A closing with Charlotte. Something with Charlotte, anything with Charlotte. Everything ended happy again. I don’t like happy.
--Jenni
Comments, suggestions, or simply a desire to fill up my inbox? Email me at perfectionisty@gmail.com.
