You can tell a lot about a show from one episode.
The O.C. (2003-2007) is a high budget teen soap opera set in wealthy Orange County, California. In spite/because of its ridiculousness, this series is very popular. I enjoy mocking bad tv while secretly enjoying it, so I watched (most of) an episode.
Unfortunately, The O.C.’s terribleness baffles rather than amuses me. The choppy editing gives the impression that sections are missing. A boring, poor kid (Ben McKenzie) lives with a nerdy, rich kid (Adam Brody). The rich guy, who is smart because he is “writing a novel,” is codependent on the poor guy. The poor guy is in love with a rich girl (Mischa Barton) who is neither interesting nor believable. Their extremely original courting scenes involve giggling and falling into a pool.
The rich girl and a girlfriend (Rachel Bilson) discuss their fathers’ credit cards. Her girlfriend makes fun of someone for being poor. The rich girl’s ex (or is he?) boyfriend laughs at a poor person. Remember, they are privileged.
Also, you should know that parties with poor people are hardcore because they feature strippers and guns. Because of this, the poor guy has to babysit his rich friend.
Their parents are busy fulfilling other stereotypes. Mothers are bitchy, backstabbing gossips. Fathers are too boring to watch.
There are a few good lines and a few good actors. Most of the time, the writers’ and actors’ attempted manipulations of the audience were painfully evident. TV really IS bad.
Didn't make it past the pilot episode huh? :)
ReplyDeleteI admit that The O.C. was at times fantastically bad. But I still enjoyed the show (at least through the first season). As the episodes progressed, the writing got sharper and funnier. Sure the plot points and characters tended toward the cliched and ridiculous. However, the writers and actors eventually learned to make this conceit work for them, by "laughing at themselves" and the teen genre They did this through snappy dialogue and countless pop culture references.
Adam Brody's Seth Cohen starts off as awkward and grating, but he really begins to grow on you, as the season progresses. He is the show's heart and its humor. Seth's relationship with Summer was actuallyone of the most realistic teen couplings I've seen on television.
That being said, I can see why it's not a show for everyone. :) But I enjoyed the trip down memory lane nonetheless.
Most TV shows don't catch my interest. That's my excuse for becoming obsessed with shows that do. Adam Brody was one of the better actors and had a few decent lines. I'm glad you enjoyed the review nonetheless. I'm afraid I enjoyed making fun of it a bit. X )
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