20 years in the past, youngsters Ryan Atwood and Seth Cohen attended a celebration at Holly’s seaside home on one fateful summer season night time. After Seth received into an altercation with the water polo workforce, Ryan jumped in to defend his new, helpless pal. Outnumbered, a fearless Ryan took the primary shot at Luke, punching the puka shell-wearing water polo captain within the face. Ryan and Seth didn’t stand an opportunity, as they obtained quite a few kicks and blows to the physique. As Ryan and Seth caught their breath with their backs on the sand, a cocky Luke puffed his chest out, smirked, and stated probably the most well-known line of the present, “Welcome to the O.C., bitch.”
This iconic phrase ushered in The O.C., Fox’s fish-out-of-water teen drama and non secular successor to Beverly Hills, 90210. The O.C. premiered on August 5, 2003, and launched the nation to Newport Seaside, a rich space populated with gated communities, Vary Rovers, and daddy points. Simply your typical wealthy individuals’s issues. Nevertheless, these points don’t apply to Ryan (Ben McKenzie), a misguided teenager from Chino whom we meet within the opening moments.
The O.C. pilot stays one of many best
After getting caught stealing a automobile along with his brother, Ryan is shipped to juvenile corridor, the place we first meet Ryan’s lawyer, Sandy Cohen (Peter Gallagher), a noble public defender from the Bronx who married into cash on the California coast. After his launch, Sandy tells Ryan to name him if he ever wants something. Ryan is quickly kicked out of his home and takes Sandy up on his provide. Sandy picks up Ryan in Chino and drives him to Newport Seaside again to his home because the theme track of the sequence, Phantom Planet’s California, kicks in.
The entire above occurs throughout the first 10 minutes of the pilot. Creator Josh Schwartz, on the time one of many youngest showrunners within the trade at 26, doesn’t waste any time in establishing the feel and appear of the present. Within the streaming period, the pilot has misplaced a little bit of its luster as a result of exhibits on Netflix or Disney+ are assured a sure variety of episodes, so there’s no sense of urgency within the first episode. In 2003, nothing was assured on broadcast tv, so if the pilot didn’t instantly resonate with an viewers, it confronted cancellation. With a compelling storyline, fleshed-out characters, and a killer episodic hook, The O.C. is likely one of the finest pilots of the final 30 years, rivaled solely by the much-lauded sequence openers from Misplaced and Friday Night Lights.
Each single predominant character (apart from one) and their motivations are established within the first episode. Ryan is a troubled teen with a superb coronary heart. Sandy is a devoted father and husband who can relate to Ryan as an outsider. Kirsten (Kelly Rowan) is a conservative mom who finally opens her house to a stranger. Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) is the woman subsequent door with deep-seated emotional points. The one factor lacking within the pilot is Summer time Roberts, Marissa’s finest pal that briefly seems within the again half of the episode. Summer time would change into one of many present’s beloved characters in its four-season run due to incredible work from Rachel Bilson.
Don’t fear. I didn’t neglect about Adam Brody’s Seth, the awkward and lovable son of Sandy and Kirsten. Once we first meet Seth, he’s a dorky teen with zero mates and no social life. Inside one episode, Seth instantly establishes himself because the standout member of the solid. The O.C. embraced nerd tradition via Seth, who video video games and comics cool. Seth was speaking in regards to the greatness of superheroes lengthy earlier than the MCU.
In earlier teen soaps, the jock or dangerous boy would get the woman, however in The O.C., Seth’s wittiness and magnetism (confidence, Cohen) made it doable for a tall, lanky geek to land somebody as common and enticing as Summer time Roberts. Brody turned an prompt heartthrob, leaping off the display screen as a larger-than-life character filled with charisma and allure. Brody’s profession post-O.C. is stable, however I can’t assist however assume what might have been for this gifted actor, who was on high of the world in his 20s. Brody ought to have been a megastar. Think about a world the place Brody received the position of Star-Lord as an alternative of fellow O.C. alum Chris Pratt.
The present’s music was its personal character
Together with Seth, one of many lasting reminiscences of the present was the music. Schwartz, co-creator Stephanie Savage, and music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas (who got here on after episode 7) curated an indie playlist (six to be actual) that turned the soundtrack to the lives of so many millennials watching the present. Schwartz stated he needed the music “to be an extension of the characters.” That begins with Seth, as his love for Loss of life Cab for Cutie and indie music spilled into every episode.
The present’s essential moments are endlessly linked to the track taking part in in every scene. The place to even start? Effectively, the 30 seconds of Phantom Planet’s California at the start of every episode is the reply for one of the best needle drop. Different basic needle drops embody Mazzy Star’s Into Dust, when Ryan carried Marissa out of a Tijuana alley after she overdosed on painkillers; Finley Quaye’s Cube to seal a New Yr’s Eve kiss between Ryan and Marissa; Matt Pond PA’s cowl of Champagne Supernova, when Summer time and Seth reenacted a Spider-Man kiss; Coldplay’s Repair You at The O.Sea; Imogen Heap’s Conceal and Search on the finish of season 2 after Marissa shot Trey (a fantastic SNL skit); and my private favourite, Jeff Buckley’s cowl of Hallelujah to finish season 1 with Ryan heading again to Chino.
After the success of Rooney’s live performance in season 1, The O.C. launched The Bait Store in season 2, a nightclub that will quickly change into a stomping floor for real-life bands. The Core 4 would often be seen at The Bait Store, and Seth even labored there for a number of episodes underneath the supervisor, Alex (Olivia Wilde). Bands who performed on the Bait Store embody The Killers, Modest Mouse, The Walkmen, Rachael Yamagata, The Thrills, and Loss of life Cab for Cutie. That lineup is a music pageant I’d attend in 2023. Even Beck, a Grammy Award winner for Album of the Yr, capitalized on the recognition of The O.C. by debuting 5 new songs in season 2’s The Mallpisode.
The O.C.’s legacy
The O.C. labored as a result of it embraced a ridiculous premise and satisfied the viewers that it could possibly be reasonable. Would an prosperous Orange County household absorb a child after he was caught stealing a automobile? Most likely not. Kirsten was the one rational member of the Cohen household to query this resolution, and but Sandy and Seth made her out to be a villain. (Kirsten was penalized for being a caring mom.) But, you rapidly purchase into the concept Sandy Cohen, who would change into a Hall of Fame TV dad, would absorb a struggling child and provides him a shot at a greater life.
Season 1 of The O.C. is as satisfying of a sequence as you’ll watch on tv. Contemplating most tv exhibits run anyplace from six to 12 episodes, the truth that The O.C. had 27 episodes in its first season* is an achievement in its personal proper. Schwartz properly determined to concentrate on the male relationships — Ryan and Seth, Sandy and the boys — because the focal factors of season 1. Frankly, anybody in a relationship with Seth was in a great place due to Brody’s expertise, which is why the present appropriately pivoted to concentrate on Seth and Summer time, not Ryan and Marissa.
Nevertheless satisfying the present was in that first season, and there have been moments of greatness, The O.C. wasn’t excellent. Schwartz and the writers had been creatively tapped by the tip of season 1 because of the excessive episode rely. The Oliver arc was a misfire of epic proportions. Many storylines felt rushed and burned out too rapidly. For instance, Julie Cooper (Melinda Clarke) had three separate relationships, Luke went from dangerous boy to Ryan’s pal inside a dozen episodes, and Anna (Samaire Armstrong) dated Seth for less than six episodes. In 2023, these arcs would final complete seasons, not a handful of episodes.
Shedding Luke and Anna in season two harm the present creatively. Nevertheless, season two skilled highs in The Chrismukkah That Virtually Wasn’t, The Wet Day Ladies, The O.Sea, and the complete storyline with Trey (Logan Marshall-Inexperienced), which could be one of the best dramatic arc within the sequence. I can’t, in good conscience, inform anybody to observe all 25 episodes in season 3, the worst season by far, due to Johnny, Volchok, and the controversial resolution to kill Marissa. (Marissa’s dying did give us Imogen Heap’s cover of Hallelujah, in order that’s a win.) Season 4 centered extra on comedy and tried to recapture season 1’s magic, which it did to some extent. Additionally, the emergence of Taylor Townsend (Autumn Reeser) was a godsend.
The O.C. was a particular second in tv when a present might form the cultural zeitgeist – music, motion pictures, comics, and vogue. (I’d love to speak to the costume designer and see what number of white tank tops, wrist cuffs, and low-rise denims they used for Ryan.) With out The O.C., there isn’t a Gossip Woman, Schwartz’s model of The O.C. on the East Coast. The Hills, Laguna Seaside, The Real Housewives of Orange County, Determined Housewives, Retaining Up With the Kardashians, and All American can all hint their roots again to The O.C.
So this 12 months, if you’re sitting right down to rejoice Chrismukkah, keep in mind to look again and thank The O.C. for its affect on tv, popular culture, and the complete millennial technology.
Stream The O.C. on Max and Hulu.
*I rewatched most of season 1 to arrange for this piece. 27 episodes is lots. I needed to skip some, however I knew which of them to skip. I’m taking a look at you, Oliver. My optimum season 1 lineup: Episodes 1-14, the Rooney clips in 15, the final 10 minutes of episode 18, and episodes 19-27. For an ever shorter season, watch episodes 1-7, 13, and 19-27.
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