Blog CemeteryThe O.C. Chrismukkah
December 20th 2006 01:06
So, did you catch The O.C.’s latest Chrismukkah episode? Whatdidyathink?
For me, the eppy was reminiscent a little of those ol’ Sweet Valley “super special” editions, which were usually put out around holiday time (Christmas, Easter et al) and involved totally bizarre plots (giving the writers free reign) and never tied back to the real series at all. Still, the “super special” editions (not sure if they’re still doing them or churning out SV books at all) were totally indulgent and addictive nonetheless – like The O.C.’s Chrismukkah episode.
Chrismukkah (Christmas and Chanukah), by the way, is what the half-Jewish, half-Christian Cohen Family of The O.C. celebrates at holiday time
The biggest thing for me about this eppy – and maybe for you too? – was whether Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) was really going to “rise from the dead”, so to speak, and walk through the airport doors when Ryan Atwood (Ben Mackenzie) and Taylor Townsend (Autumn Reeser) were in “alt world” (or, in comas, in normal speak).
I was on the edge of my seat! Yelling out to my sister to come quick… Marissa, in all her fashion garb, was going to grace our screens again!!
But, alas, it seems no amount of Californian sunshine – or mega bucks – could lure the old ‘Maris’ back to the series.
She didn’t even provide a voiceover for the letter penned by her character, which got lost in the mail before her death, and was at last read by her mother, Jilly Cooper (Melinda Clarke), on the show.
Yup, Marissa’s presence still hangs in the air – like a Ralph Lauren doona - despite her existence in the series being long gone. But perhaps the Chrismukkah eppy served to extinguish her flame once and for all and help the characters – and viewers – move on, by showing that Marissa would have died from an overdose three years before anyway, if fate had its way, and Ryan was not to blame.
This, of course, also freed Ryan and Taylor to pursue a romance, without the guilt attached to Ryan’s not-long-cold girlfriend.
So, are we missing Marissa and her doe-eyed, moping presences? Er, not really!!
Since she has left, the series has regained its fun, one-liner style presence, which makes for hip, fast-paced viewing. With Marissa around, there was always some depressing Party of Five style feel to the series towards the end.
The O.C. has definitely pepped up again since she departed – though her sister in the series, Kaitlin (Willa Holland), could show a little more grief over her death. ‘Tis a little unbelievable that she would be so unconcerned about it and only think about “ruling harbour”, quote unquote.
Some of the Chrismukkah episode seemed to just hurry through the motions – such as, Ryan and Taylor having to fix things in “alt world” before coming out of their comas – but those bits would have been cringe-worthy if extended anyway.
And, what is with that hippie-turned-rich-boy Che character? In Summer Roberts (Rachel Bilson) speak - ewww!!!
As usual, Kirsten (Kelly Rowan) and Sandy (Peter Gallagher) added their presence to the episode. (The only soapie’s “parent” characters to be so cool and integral.)
Can’t wait until the next episode. And, yes I am a tragic O.C. addict to have written this much on an episode. What can I say? It touched me. Happy Chrismukkah!
For me, the eppy was reminiscent a little of those ol’ Sweet Valley “super special” editions, which were usually put out around holiday time (Christmas, Easter et al) and involved totally bizarre plots (giving the writers free reign) and never tied back to the real series at all. Still, the “super special” editions (not sure if they’re still doing them or churning out SV books at all) were totally indulgent and addictive nonetheless – like The O.C.’s Chrismukkah episode.
Chrismukkah (Christmas and Chanukah), by the way, is what the half-Jewish, half-Christian Cohen Family of The O.C. celebrates at holiday time
I was on the edge of my seat! Yelling out to my sister to come quick… Marissa, in all her fashion garb, was going to grace our screens again!!
But, alas, it seems no amount of Californian sunshine – or mega bucks – could lure the old ‘Maris’ back to the series.
She didn’t even provide a voiceover for the letter penned by her character, which got lost in the mail before her death, and was at last read by her mother, Jilly Cooper (Melinda Clarke), on the show.
Yup, Marissa’s presence still hangs in the air – like a Ralph Lauren doona - despite her existence in the series being long gone. But perhaps the Chrismukkah eppy served to extinguish her flame once and for all and help the characters – and viewers – move on, by showing that Marissa would have died from an overdose three years before anyway, if fate had its way, and Ryan was not to blame.
So, are we missing Marissa and her doe-eyed, moping presences? Er, not really!!
Since she has left, the series has regained its fun, one-liner style presence, which makes for hip, fast-paced viewing. With Marissa around, there was always some depressing Party of Five style feel to the series towards the end.
The O.C. has definitely pepped up again since she departed – though her sister in the series, Kaitlin (Willa Holland), could show a little more grief over her death. ‘Tis a little unbelievable that she would be so unconcerned about it and only think about “ruling harbour”, quote unquote.
Some of the Chrismukkah episode seemed to just hurry through the motions – such as, Ryan and Taylor having to fix things in “alt world” before coming out of their comas – but those bits would have been cringe-worthy if extended anyway.
And, what is with that hippie-turned-rich-boy Che character? In Summer Roberts (Rachel Bilson) speak - ewww!!!
As usual, Kirsten (Kelly Rowan) and Sandy (Peter Gallagher) added their presence to the episode. (The only soapie’s “parent” characters to be so cool and integral.)
Can’t wait until the next episode. And, yes I am a tragic O.C. addict to have written this much on an episode. What can I say? It touched me. Happy Chrismukkah!
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