Editorial: The Perfect Storm
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Thank heavens for the internet. That is all I really have to say. Without the internet, I would not have been able to watch episode five, The Perfect Storm, so you would not be reading this editorial. Therefore, you too should be grateful for the internet.
Obviously, I survived the month long wait, as did you. So what did I think of The Perfect Storm? First off, I have absolutely no idea what the title is supposed to mean. I did not see anything that resembled a storm. Was I just missing it? I probably was. To be honest, the whole episode is kind of one big (but enjoyable) blur.
1: Kirsten and Sandy
[Quote] “Honey, I’m stubborn all the time.”--Sandy [End Quote]
There was barely any Kirsten and Sandy as a couple in this episode, which is both good and bad. It was nice to see how supportive the two are of each other, but shouldn’t Kirsten have been protesting more about Sandy just signing Ryan away? If they continue to call Ryan their son, they can’t just treat him differently. Now, before you get on my case, I understand why they let him go at the end of season one. And why they never pressured him to come back. But they should have fought harder to get him back in school in this episode. As guardians AND parents.
2: Marissa and Julie
[Quote] “She’s got all the right connections, and nothing else to lose.”—Charlotte [End Quote]
For the record, the shot of Julie’s sunbathing being interrupted by a cop and criminal was by far the best in the episode. It really showed her situation, in case we forgot. But how could we forget? I really like how the writers keep Charlotte interesting. Face it, deep down she is a cold hearted gold-digger, but she appears to be sweet and genuinely a good person. On the outside, of course.
I can’t quite see where the whole condo thing is going though. What good will buying Julie the condo do? Maybe it is just getting Julie on her side, so the two of them can team up against Kirsten. Whatever it is, I’m sure it is elaborate and well planned. This time, Charlotte’s scheme has to work, because if it doesn’t, this storyline will get old. Charlotte has tried like three methods to get money from Kirsten. By the fourth or fifth time, viewers will start to lose interest. Hopefully that won’t happen though.
3: Ryan and Marissa
[Quote] “I think I’ve kind of gone off of seafood for a while.”—Marissa [End Quote]
I have to admit that up until Marissa confronted Ryan at the wharf, I actually thought he would leave. Then, of course, after the confrontation, the rest of the scenes were predictable. Still, I can’t help but wonder what Ryan would have looked like at sea. Or how they would have shot those scenes.
Anyway, this couple really bothered me again. Except this time, it was Marissa bothering me. She was such a freaking hypocrite! I can understand her being upset about Ryan not telling her, I would be too, but she doesn’t have to completely go off on him. Although, that awkward dinner scene was the best scene. I loved all of Marissa’s snide comments (hence my quote). It was a side of Marissa we haven’t seen in a while. I used to sort of like that side, but now that it is directed towards Ryan, I don’t.
Marissa made plenty of decisions without ever consulting Ryan, yet he was still supportive of her. Remember when she was leaving for Hawaii and he planned the perfect goodbye? He was going to leave for a few weeks and she started a huge fight. I almost wish he had left and then got injured, just so that she could feel guilty. (What can I say? I like to put characters in difficult, and okay, mean situations simply because I can. And I know nothing like that would ever happen.)
What is going on with Marissa though? Why wouldn’t she want to go to the college fair with Ryan, her boyfriend? They already don’t spend enough time together. It would have been a perfect couple moment, where the hard questions would first be posed. You know, how are they going to do the whole college dating scene? What is this about Marissa now wanting to college? Seriously, it’s just public school.
Moving on to next week. If you recall from my last editorial, I said that I hoped Marissa would cheat on Ryan. Apparently, the universe was listening and interpreted it wrong. (That, or it was just really obvious where this was going.) So, just in case the universe (and/or Josh) is listening, I would like to rephrase it. I want Marissa to cheat on Ryan because of pure attraction (although Johnny isn’t all that attractive). The writers, it seems from the previews, have taken it farther. Marissa is contemplating cheating because Johnny is a better listener. DON’T DO IT. Seriously, no one wants to see Marissa cheat on Ryan because her connection with Johnny is deep. Anyone who wants to see her cheat wants it to be good old adultery. I refuse to believe that she is that misguided as to actually cheat on her first love because of her brain. Hormones are raging supposedly, not brain cells.
4: Seth and Summer
[Quote] “Taylor took the bait.”—Summer [End Quote]
Every week this storyline keeps getting more and more interesting. Technically, the title of this section should probably be Seth, Summer, Sandy, Taylor, and Dean Hess. But that is just too many words. Most of this couple’s relationship revolved around Taylor Townsend (Taylor Trash as Summer called her). And the many Sidekicks.
I liked how the drama to this part was pretty much old fashioned Orange County. Summer got revenge on Taylor, but then tried to grovel to make it up. Seth saved her with a brilliant plan and everything was resolved with a lot of humor. Also, I liked that Summer didn’t get really huffy just because Seth didn’t believe her. That is a relationship. There was definitely a point in their relationship, early on, where Seth had to tread carefully. No longer does he have to be afraid. Well, he does, but for the time being Summer’s rage blackout’s are directed towards Taylor.
5: Taylor (Townsend) and Dean (Jack) Hess
[Quote] “You were expecting someone taller, blonder, with a page-boy haircut?”—Seth [End Quote]
Yes, that’s right, Taylor and Dean Hess get their own section. Seeing how their relationship played a very important part in this episode, it is only fitting. It’s a shame we didn’t get to see more of their relationship just because it was so…disgusting. Catch my drift? Don’t worry, I didn’t expect you to. I gotta say though, that the whole texting thing was really quite funny. That, folks, is what we call acting with a phone. In this case acting with a Sidekick. (HAHA. I so did not intend that to sound like that.)
I never thought Sandy would actually come to blackmailing. Actually, that really was fighting for Ryan like a real parent. But Ryan will never know that. If Ryan does find out, that will just add to his ever growing guilt. On the other hand, we all knew Dean Hess would have to leave sooner or later—sooner rather than later knowing Josh. I rather like the fact that it was Sandy who took down the dean. It reminds me that he is a lawyer. (Hint, Hint: Personally, I would like to see some actual action in the courtroom this season.)
With Ryan back in school, what kind of things are going to be coming? Is Marissa really going to stay at public school? Will Ryan stay faithful to Marissa? (Do I even need to ask? It’s Ryan.) How will their relationship be affected? Do I really need to keep asking all these pointless questions?
Now that Taylor and the dean are broken up, what does that mean for Seth and Summer? I really hope that Seth doesn’t screw up again and end up cheating on Summer. Seriously, that storyline is a little old. How come, if Seth has been pining after Summer for years, he is always the one who messes up? If someone must screw up in this relationship, I hope it is Summer this time. I don’t know what would cause Summer to do that, or who she would cheat with, but that is my request. (Watch. This request will fall on deaf ears, unlike the ones I’m not serious about.)
Rating: 8 out of 10. This episode, although lacking in some areas (mainly Marissa), was full of well-scripted humor (both sarcastic and not) and meaningful lines. Is the tone set for the next month and a half? (This is just a guess, for I have no idea how long they will take off for Christmas. Or should I say Chrismukkah.) If all the episodes after this are like The Perfect Storm, I won’t complain. A blur, however blurry it may be, is always better than a vivid memory that hurts to think about.
Random Thoughts to End With:
Did anyone see
In Her Shoes? The guy who played Eddie was in it, playing a sleazy guy who wanted to take advantage of one of the characters. It must really suck to always be casted as a sleazy character.
In a recent episode of
CSI: New York, they investigated a murder of a debutante. Sadly, the ball was quite like that of our beloved show. There were conniving mothers only interested in getting revenge, through their own daughters, for something that happened at their own ball. Classic.
Did you catch the mention to Theresa’s baby? Definitely a reference to what could possibly come. Okay, not possibly, will come.
Also a reference were all the college things. Actually, college was sort of the backbone of the episode. I’m glad they are addressing the issue from the start, rather than attack it in the last four episodes.
It seems the writers have forgotten the sex appeal that this show is known for. Once again, the most physical contact was between Charlotte and her man. I’m not saying that we have to watch the couples making out or anything, but a kiss here and there between the teenagers can’t hurt.
On a totally random side note, in a lot of my magazines (which range from Teen People to The Rolling Stone), The O.C. has been mentioned. In one it was a protestor’s sign about gay rights. In another, The O.C. was mentioned multiple times in several different issues for its music. And they say The O.C. is losing interest!
--Jenni
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Email me at perfectionisty@gmail.com.
