Okay, okay, I have no business watching this show, much less commenting on it.
\nMy only excuse is that I used in live in Orange County, CA, in Seal Beach and then Laguna Beach, and worked in Irvine. In those days, traffic was tolerable and rentals were affordable. I did sometimes shop at South Coast Plaza, which is occasionally mentioned on the show, so I can at least relate to the place names if not the lifestyles.<\/p>
\nAt the start, I really enjoyed the OC, finding its plotlines intriguing and the characters extremely likeable.
\nOver the last two seasons, though, the show has become more and more of an irritant, like a piece of sand stuck in your eye.
\nFor one thing, the writers keep regurgitating the same plot. It’s amazing that they get away with it. The “Marissa” character gets involved with a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, and it turns out badly. Her boyfriend “Ryan” breaks up with her and takes up with a GIRL from the wrong side of the tracks. This has happened at least twice.
\nThe “Marissa” character is in a state of constant, long-term depression and as a result, has become unwatchable.
\n“Sandy”, a public defender turned real estate mogul via the death of his father-in-law, is the only person who actually seems to work, and he hasn’t made a dime since taking over the business. Since the father-in-law’s estate was probated into negative numbers, one wonders what these people live on.
\n“Sandy’s” wife “Kirsten”, a cipher turned interesting for a while as a recovering alcoholic, has become an unpleasant, self-righteous crank.
\nTheir long-time friend “Julie”, who used to keep our attention with her manipulative bitchiness, has become yet another run-of-the-mill golddigger, chasing (ho hum) a rich surgeon. Boring, boring, boring.
\nIn fact, the only interesting characters on the OC – the afore-mentioned father-in-law, a lesbian bar owner, “Marissa’s” long-lost ne’er do well younger sister, “Ryan’s” first girl-from-the-wrong-side-of-the-tracks, etc., are routinely written out or killed off.
\nIt’s as if the writers have never actually lived in Orange County. I say that because when I was there, you met interesting people just by walking down the street.
\nFor example, in addition to being the volleyball capital of the County and supposedly the home of the original “Hotel California”, Laguna Beach is a haven for artists, intellectuals and characters. One of my neighbors raised snakes, for example.
\nSurfing is a huge cultural influence, and the show writes off surfers as slackers – not true. Surfing requires incredible athletic ability and courage, and people make a legitimate living from it, same as motorcycling here.
\nOrange County is also a center of Libertarianism and Conservativism. Its politics alone would spin a half dozen interesting story lines.
\nYou get the point: I started watching the show out of sentimental attachment, but have become bored with it, sort of like happened with The Apprentice. I mean, how many times can you watch the same thing, over and over again? I think from now on, I’ll find something else to do on Thursday nights.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Okay, okay, I have no business watching this show, much less commenting on it. My only excuse is that I used in live in Orange County, CA, in Seal Beach and then Laguna Beach, and worked in Irvine. In those … Continue reading