This year’s finale?
Most definitely a bigger shock than last year’s. Why?
Simply because the person whose life was infinitely changed was not
some character we thought deserved it but someone we had grown to accept
and, ultimately, love.
Where to begin? First,
let me warn you that this review may sound extremely bitter. As
you may know, I am a humongous Ryan and Marissa shipper. And,
obviously, the death of Marissa Cooper puts a slight strain on that
relationship. So yes, I am bitter and upset and ready to rant
about the cliffhanger of the year.
At the same time, there is
so much potential as a result of this. Ryan’s insecurities
and actual emotions could be explored here and there is absolutely nothing
stopping Josh from doing this. Except, of course, for his idiocy
which only seems to come into play at the best opportunities.
Seriously, this show could totally transform itself from a dim blip
on the radar to a bright light. It could be darker and deeper
than any other teen soap out there. There could be actual
issues present.
Alright, let’s start the
actual review. Basically, in quick overview format, not that much
happened until the end. Little things here and there, but it was
a happy episode until the last ten minutes. So, I’ll address
the small things first and finish with a bang.
1: A Letter of Hope
First, Seth got into RISD.
Yay! That is good, but we all knew it would happen, so why even
bother acting surprised? What I personally wasn’t expecting
was the fact that he wasn’t accepted for the fall term. Brilliant
move on the writer’s behalf.
This leaves Seth behind for
the first couple of months. Can anyone smell trouble? There
are several ways this could go. Option A, Seth and Summer grow
apart in the months apart. Option B, the writers beat the love
triangle into the ground even more and Seth or Summer cheat on the other.
Actually, I kind of like this angle. Summer finding someone at
college to challenge her love for Seth. Like I’ve said in the
past, we have yet to Summer start the screw-up chain that follows these
two around. I am still waiting to see that.
The actual presentation of
the letter to Summer was very cute. The box and the letter inside?
Precious. Kudos to Seth for always having the cutest moments with
his girlfriend.
2: New Kid on the Block
Kaitlin Cooper is the epitome
of trouble. We thought Marissa was dangerous? At least she
had good intentions and a heart. Kaitlin? Yeah, no good
intentions there. She seems to follow in her sister’s footsteps
about not thinking before acting. And being overly dramatic.
She has come back to rule Harbor.
I know it sounds mean, but I honestly don’t care. Josh said
that the show will focus on a new generation. Personally, I come
every week to watch the fab four, not the brat pack.
I will totally get on board
with this as long as it does not take over the entire show. This
could put a funnier spin on things and balance out the darkness of Ryan’s
storyline. Kaitlin could get into all sorts of regular teenage
trouble that the core four couldn’t because they had other issues
to deal with. We have already seen that she does marijuana and
that she lived in a place full of lipstick parties and lacrosstitutes.
Drinking? Partying? Hardcore drugs? I can’t wait
to find out.
3:
Roots
In a surprising, and delightful,
twist, Sandy Cohen is returning to the PD’s office. I am thrilled
by this, for it means that we will get to see Sandy in storylines that
actually interest us and remind us of the first season. Plus,
perhaps Sandy and Kirsten will have smoother sailing. Maybe Sandy
will bring home a “stray puppy” or will meet someone who will endanger
them all.
Or maybe we will actually see
Sandy Cohen in court.
4: End of an Era
They finally graduated.
Only took them an extra year… The graduation ceremony was great.
Taylor’s speech was also very good. I like the way her speech
was intertwined with each of the four getting their diplomas.
When Julie stood up and pumped her fist for Marissa, I was touched.
It just shows how far these two have come in the past three years.
Once again, The O.C. captured
pictures better than any other shows out there. They look real
pictures, some posed and some not. Brighter lights, black edges.
I just loved it all. There were no pictures of Ryan and Marissa
alone, though. That upset me a bit because even though they aren’t
together, they are still really close and deserved one last picture
together.
Now is the time to address
what was going to happen, until some idiot with an idiotic name decided
to drink out of his idiotic flask and run his idiotic love off the idiotic
road with his idiotic blue van. (I think you get the point.)
Marissa is not made for college?
I have mixed feelings about that. Part of me can see Marissa at
college easily. The other part understands where she is coming
from. She went through more crap in a short amount of time than
most people ever go through in their entire lives. After all that
stuff, going to college and pretending to be normal just wouldn’t
feel right for her. But is sailing really the way to go?
It started to feel like just
another lame excuse to get a character off the show. (Besides,
if Jimmy is sailing boats for rich people, why would they need someone
to peel potatoes? That made it sound as if they would be on a
crappy ship in the middle of nowhere.) A better way would have
been her going to Japan with Hailey or Paris to jumpstart her modeling
career. Guess it doesn’t really matter, seeing how it never
actually went anywhere….
I loved the Model Home montage.
The four of them were reliving the early years and were realizing just
how much they had really changed over this crazy journey. Watching
it, it was just sweet. But thinking back on it now, I want to
cry. There have been first loves, broken hearts, tears shed, punches
thrown, and bullets shot. And they are still here (at that moment
of the show). They are still best friends.
I want to have friends like
that.
Finally, the last minute of
calm before the storm. I could kill Josh for doing this to me.
Ryan and Marissa in the Model Home reignited the Ryan-and-Marissa-forever!!
candle inside me. I started picturing all sorts of emotional goodbyes
at the airport. Their last hug or an unplanned, passionate kiss
that would make her stay. All that sort of mushy stuff that never
actually happens on this show. And of course, they never even
made it to the airport.
5: The Big Bang
I honestly did not expect Volchok
to play a big role in the episode. I wonder if the cops really
were after him… Of course, I really liked Ryan and Marissa working
together “one last time”. Which brings me to my next point.
Volchok is not the type to
fall in love. He never has been. Yet, along came Marissa,
breaker of all hearts, and he can’t seem to help himself. Maybe,
it wasn’t quite love. Nothing like what Ryan and Marissa had.
But she was the best thing that ever happened to him. And I didn’t
realize it until Heather said it.
Does that make me just as stupid
as him? Or does that just mean that a storyline was actually good
for once? It wasn’t a head over heels sort of thing, so it made
sense for once (not like, say, Johnny). And I can completely understand
him wanting to talk to Marissa. He screwed up and wants to talk
to her before he goes. What he thinks she will say is beyond me,
though.
We’re coming to the climax
of the episode. In fact, it is the climax of, quite possibly,
the entire show’s three years. We first met Marissa Cooper at
the end of her driveway, looking just out of innocence’s reach.
She has had the most dramatic storylines of the show and the most serious
problems that never seemed to truly go away. It is only fitting
that she die in a most dramatic death.
I was sobbing. Downright
sobbing into my sweater and screaming at the television. Of course,
my first thoughts were for Ryan to get the hell away from the car.
Screw Marissa, the car was on fire!
Honestly, I think the scene
of Ryan carrying Marissa out of the car was the best in the history
of this show. The flashbacks to the two other times Ryan has carried
the love of his life, felt her weight in its entirety (both physically
and metaphorically), was incredible and sparked more emotions than I
thought possible. And the song! I am in love with that song.
It was the song played both times Ryan drove away from Marissa, only
to return later. It was so symbolic because we know that he will
not be returning to her anymore.
Time to wipe away the tears
because I have some serious complaints about Mischa Barton’s acting
skills. Ben was absolutely amazing through out the entire scene.
Mischa made me want to punch the television set. It was terrible!
Everything was so fake looking, especially the fluttering eyelids.
Bring back on the waterworks,
because Ben got even better (didn’t know that was possible) when Marissa
exhaled her last breath. His silent whispers of “no” and the
look of utter torment on his face sent me even more over the edge.
Whoever edited this episode was also a genius. I didn’t actually
expect them to put the scene from the pilot where Ryan drives away with
Sandy. It was deeply symbolic, a last tribute to Marissa Cooper,
the sunlight blocking out our view of her. It was truly one of
the best moments I have ever seen.
6: Excuses, Excuses
This is the part where my bitterness
shows through. There was no reason for Marissa to die. None
at all. In an interview I read, Josh said that they had nothing
left for the Ryan and Marissa storyline.
Bullshit.
There would be plenty of stuff
for Ryan and Marissa, had Josh not decided to invent the idiotic character
of Johnny Harper. And there were plenty of things for Marissa
to do. It would have been very interesting to see her try to adjust
to college life, or some other lifestyle.
Now, with Marissa gone, we
will never see the return of Oliver, something I have hoped for.
We will never see Ryan and Marissa again, which is devastating, seeing
how they are the core couple. Without them on the show, the only
real love problems will be because of comic books and college acceptance
letters.
Here’s to hoping that Marissa
stays dead. Honestly. I didn’t want her to die, but now
that she is dead don’t bring her back. That would be
cheesy, lame, and would make me want to stop watching. Anyone
who doesn’t see how amazing this show could be now is obviously not
as addicted as I am. Anyone who will stop watching is also not
a true fan.
Go ahead, sign the petition.
It won’t do any good. I’m glad you are showing your support
for the character and if that was all the petition was saying, I would
gladly sign. But since it goes on to say more, I signed the “Screw
Marissa Cooper” petition. Mischa Barton’s acting has become
worse over the years, as has her character most of the time. It’s
time for a change.
I have much more to say on
what is to come next year, so I am going to write a speculation piece.
It is not a review of this season, although I am considering doing that
as well if I have the time and enough things still to say. Anyway,
look out for the speculation piece sometime within the next week or
so.
Rating: 10 out of 10.
This episode was not as amazing as The Ties That Bind or The
Dearly Beloved, but it did make me sob. Anything that makes
me sob deserves the highest rating possible. There were some adorable
moments in this episode and some exciting new promises. It is
hard for me to give this episode such a high rating because they killed
off Marissa, but it was done excellently and has so much potential.
And Ben was superb.
Random Thoughts to End
With:
Why would Kaitlin need Marissa’s
room? Summer lives in a freaking mansion. Surely there is
at least one room for the poor girl.
Cam Gigandet is one lucky guy.
He signed up for one or two episodes and ended up coming back from another
go around in the next season. Definitely lucky.
Why was the water in the pool
so hot? You could seriously see steam coming off of it.
Where did the fast food come
from at the Model House?
Why was no one else on the
road to the airport? It couldn’t have been that late.
And why was there no shoulder to pull over on? They were leaving
Orange County, not driving down a dirt road.
Where was Dawn’s boyfriend
at graduation? I thought she bought two plane tickets.
Only at Harbor are you allowed
to sit with your friends at graduation instead of alphabetical order.
Josh deserves serious praise
for the foilers he put out. I searched them and actually bought
the ones about Theresa and the baby coming back. That is, until
I didn’t see Navi Rawat’s name in the credits.
I know it has been a bazillion
(and one) years since I last put out a review. And I’m extremely
sorry. I’m surprised I haven’t been fired from the site yet….
I have started editorials for half of the episodes but I never finished
them. Hopefully this summer I will.
Josh has said that the fourth
season will air in November. November! That is an extremely
long wait again, two months longer than this year. I don’t know
if I will be able to make it…I hope you all survive and return in
the fall, when I will hopefully write more regularly.
I hope you have enjoyed this
third season. Admittedly, it wasn’t the best of them—not even
close. But it was still a great run and most of it was enjoyable.
Thanks for reading the few editorials I have put out this year.
I hope to see you next year!
--Jenni
Comments, suggestions, or
simply a desire to fill up my inbox? Email me at perfectionisty@gmail.com.