A love-hate relationship with drama ‘The OC’
By now, millions of Americans are positively addicted to a new drug.
Fox’s “The OC” has swept the country, absorbing the lives of millions of young adults. I’m not sure if anyone has started support groups for people addicted to the ever-popular drama, but I don’t think anyone would attend even if one was created.
People love “The OC,” and for good reason. This show has everything one could ever dream of in a fantastic television show: drama, good-looking rich people and a character whom you just love to hate.
The one character I love to hate is the hypocritical Marissa. She pretends to enjoy living in her mother’s trailer house, but only because she knows her mom is going to hook up with a rich plastic surgeon soon.
After that, Marissa will again host cotillions and charity benefits for strange organizations like the Bulimic Bariatrics Society of Newport Beach. I’m sure she also plans on skipping out on college to mooch off her mom’s future husband. Marissa never talks about going to college except when it is to whine about how she’ll never get in because she shot Trey.
Now she’s dragging Johnny behind her like a puppy dog tied to her car bumper. It’s so back and forth with her. She wants him; she doesn’t want him. She loves Ryan; she loves Johnny. Marissa is the most indecisive character on the cast. She could have any guy she wants, but being the selfish brat she is, she takes two good ones: Ryan because he lives with the rich and powerful Cohen family and Johnny because she loves him.
I often dream of becoming an OC writer so I could add some input of my own. The writers for the show are amazingly talented. During every episode, I try to predict what will happen next, but almost every time I’m thrown for a loop. But there are times when I feel I could use my imagination to bring in a plot change in order to give the show some “zest.”
For instance, I wouldn’t have allowed Marissa back into the prestigious Harbor School. Then. she would graduate from Newport Union and get pregnant with Johnny’s baby in April of her senior year. Finally, Johnny’s leg would be amputated when he gets a bad case of the gout, and his surfing career would come to a screeching halt. Inevitably, he and Marissa would move to the “ghetto” where they would live off his welfare checks and Chef Boyardee.
Although I have thoroughly “dissed” her self-centered character, I do think Mischa Barton is a beautiful and decent actress. If I didn’t love to hate her Newport character, I would suggest she find a different job. Love it or hate it, there’s no denying “The OC” is addicting. I would quit watching, but I fear the withdrawals.
Columnists' opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of The Spectrum