Orange Crushed

The television season ended a good month ago and I’m still trying to catch up. This is what happens when I decide to leave the country the day before the season finale of “Lost.” Anyway, a quick take on one of my favorite shows and how it fared this season.

The OC
Sad to say, but this season was disappointing. The first season was the like second coming of 90210. My main problem is they brought in way too many new cast members. Then they didn’t know what to do with them. Did we not learn anything from Emily Valentine, Ray Pruit or Gina Kincaid? At least these characters had a purpose. Marissa’s Yard Guy (D.J.) stood around looking even older than Marissa. I think the guy played a married cop on “Third Watch” or something, oh wait it was “Law & Order: SVU.” Ryan's new girlfriend, Lindsay was actually Kirsten’s half sister. This makes everything really weird because Kirsten is Ryan’s sorta Mom. Why make everyone related Josh Schwartz? She was “smart” making her automatically too boring and shipped off to Chicago. Then there was Alex who started off as Seth’s girlfriend, then became Marissa’s, then left because… not sure, but they needed Marissa back with Ryan. They brought in creepy Bill Campbell (with sideburns no less) and let him flirt with Kirsten, gave her a hideous gold necklace, then got the boot. Sure, it sounds exciting, but the execution not so much. See, a lot happened but without much result. They rehashed a triangle with Seth, Summer, and Zach but it worked so much better when it was Seth, Summer and Anna (who I didn’t even like but in hindsight is much better for Seth). Once again, she was shipped off. Where does everyone go? Certainly Chino can’t hold them all.

The producers think the viewers have a short attention span (which we do) so each storyline lasts about 2 episodes. I find this insulting, I’ll keep tuning in as long as the stories are good. Heck, I’ll even tune in if they’re bad. Just carry them through. I think “The OC” was trying to find their footing their second season, but it took too long. The show still had cute and funny Seth and gave Julie Cooper the best lines ever, but that can only go so far. I hope next season they develop the stories a little bit more. I’m not asking for “The West Wing” or anything. The last 3 episodes fared better with the arrival of Ryan’s brother, Trey #2. He attacked Marissa, and then got in a brutal fight with Ryan, only to get shot by Marissa. Whoa. Good stuff right?

I also hope Ben McKenzie masters a few more stares than just the vacant one. Sure it may work for a multitude of situations, “Seth you are annoying me,” “Marissa I think I love you again,” or “I’m going into my fighting mode now.” His one stare is getting a little old. I also STILL can’t believe how much he looks like Russell Crowe. I find myself watching “Gladiator” with “California… here we come…” running through my head. Not so good.

I’m not the only one that felt this way about the second season of “The OC.” Read this.