It’s still on. It’s still good. Are you watching?
After only five eps, Kaitlin (Willa Holland, pictured) and Julie have already become a way better (also: believable, tolerable, interesting, juicy, couture) mother-daughter pairing than Julie and Marissa. I have no problem conceiving of Kaitlin as a main character now — a major improvement over last season, when she was annoying and sported inordinately severe hair parts. Remember those? Some of them were as low as her eyeballs. Kaitlin’s proved to be just like Julie — a bitch with a heart — by hyping up her mom to Bullit, the owner of Texas and a lot of cigars, after Julie literally horned her way into Kaitlin’s pseudo-romance with Bullit’s son, the tennis instructor. Yeah, it’s totally far-fetched. It doesn’t matter.
Not far-fetched? Ryan and Taylor as a couple. Apparently. But it works: the more she’s all over the place, darting between perky know-it-all and chirpy self-loather, the less effort he has to put in. The restless griever’s been in no condition to react to most of his sleep therapist’s 5,000 advances — excluding, of course, this week’s well-timed ass swivel and parting kiss. I was terrified at how jittery and animated Taylor was on the lean-in. Really nervous. Her face twitched like 20 times. Maybe three. But we know the smooch worked, because Ryan pulled a non-spastic Joey Lawrence as soon as he plunked down.
As an aside, this was a big week for asides. Julie and Taylor bothhad to rein it in ("Easy, girl!") upon glimpsing their beefy man prey.Ryan had his "Whoa!" And my favorite moment of the night was when thewoman Ryan was waiting on not-so-subtly checked him out. Did anyonecatch that? Her eyes did a sneaky little abs-arms-face triangle. A nicedetail.
Summer’s college scene is becoming a little trite. Now that hersvengali-like bud Che did a complete 180 by ratting her out to thedean, she might get to come home. That was convenient. Maybe I’m asdense as the espresso brownie I have lodged in my left cheek, but Ireally thought Che was kidding as he went on and on about how his ownimportance to "the movement" was enough to risk Summer’s college careerover. What a turd. Speaking of which, I love how the rabbit Summer keptin her dorm room caused no mess whatsoever. It was more like a stuffedanimal — a new stand-in best friend, perhaps? Its name is Pancakes,and that’s what Marissa used to always order and supposedly eat at thediner. Mmmm… pancakes. The writers definitely have their foodfetishes. Bagels, pico de gallo, shrimp pad thai, Gold Medal Ribbon…What else, readers? This is very important.
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wow! I’m the first post…and I hope not the only one…I loved last nights ep..humor is back in the OC…and talk about eye candy..Spencer, the tennis instructor…yummy!!
It’s really unfortunate that Fox has kept The OC in its time slot because it is SO great this season. The Ryan/Taylor pairing is one of the best things the show has ever done, and Kaitlin is much more tolerable than ever. The show is really back on track and I’d hate to see it die in that Thursday slot.
Great episode last night. I love Taylor! She’s so funny and just brings so much more to the show than Marissa ever did. I’m glad I didn’t break up with this show like I said I would.
The executives at FOX should be dragged into the street and beaten over the head with television sets. They have on their hands one of the great creatve resurrections of a one-time hit show and they have KILLED it. This show is deader then Marissa Cooper 6 mos later and yet… it’s never been funnier. Smarter. More romantic. I keep telling people (who think I’m crazy) that character for character, joke for joke, and song for song this is better than the turgid smug Grey’s Anatomy. I hope people discover this show on DVD or cable at some point because it has become so damn good. And no one is seeing it. F-off FOX!!
I wasn’t sure about watching this season but it has proved to be a huge improvement over the last one. I totally agree that I can now think of Kaitlin as a lead character, she’s amazing. I just hope we get more shirtless Ryan scenes. Yum!
More Taylor please!!! Her character is so great and not to mention, super hot.
Taylor + Kaitlin – Marissa = a MUCH better show
Hooray! That was such a fun episode. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the “just one kiss”. Ryan has been depressed since the first episode of the first season. I hope Taylor can snap him out of it! Last season was dismal and I was wondering how they’d recover without a main character, but the OC rocks again!
Sadly, with “Scrubs” on, and “Grey’s” new, I had to skip…. maybe next week when “Grey’s” is a repeat.
I understand why viewers abandoned this show after last year’s mess. But The O.C. is fantastic this season!! How are we going to get people back?? Fox has got to save this show!
Listen…to anyone reading this that walked away from The O.C. last year…COME BACK. The acting, the writing, everything is back to awesome!
They have got to move this show to a different time slot. I stopped watching half way through last season but i am really surprised by how good the show has been this season..it’s not great again, but it’s crawling it’s way out of the season 3 hole and getting back to what i liked about the show in the first place. That being said, it will never regain even a little of it’s fan base if it’s forced to go up against greys anatomy; a show which draws the same demographic audience. I know they wouldn’t risk hurting house’s ratings by moving it out of the tuesday at 9 timeslot when AI comes back on in january but if they really wanted to give the OC a real shot at a comeback, that’s where they have to put it, and keep it, at least for a while.
I agree that the show has definitely become great again. Yet, I also cringe at the thought that I have to choose between O.C. and Grey’s…..because I’m sorry Grey’s wins hands down. Please for the sake of my sanity, move the O.C. to a different time slot
I’m so disappointed, I keep having to miss The OC for a night class. I know the pilot was available online, but are any of the other episodes?
Last night was a great episode, but the previews for next week with Ryan’s Tawny Kitaen / Whitesnake video fantasies of Taylor look hilarious.
WAKE UP FOX and move this show to a kinder time slot. Thank god I have a tivo.
I know this sounds insane, but I dropped ‘Gray’s Anatomy’ and went back to the OC. It’s as good as, or maybe even better than, it was in its first season. The dialogue is snappy, the adults aren’t stupid, and Taylor thinks Ryan is funny. Even my husband, who has never liked it, laughed out loud during last night’s episode while pretending to do a crossword puzzle. My advice to Fox is to find a better time slot for this show, and my advice to EW is to bring back a TV Watch. Something this good should not be ignored.
Thank goodness I live in Canada. Up here we get the O.C at 7, Grey’s at 8 and CSI at 9. No conflict whatsoever.
One of the best episodes of the O.C. ever! Taylor is such a great character, and its great to see her squirm, plan, attempt to seduce, become vulnerable, and scheme again to win Ryan’s heart. A great reminder of the universal travails, butterflies, and excitement that everyone has gone through to get someone to like you. Loved how Kaitlin came in and just simplified it all for Taylor, and how it totally works all the time!! Seth’s “Jedi mind trick” on Taylor was awesome, as you know that would really push her buttons. And the fat bunny named “Pancakes” is the cutest thing!!
Great episode…i actually skipped Grey’s Anatomy and watched it online instead for the O.C. I stopped watching the O.C last season because it just got so depressing and boring…it’s great to see the show back to lighter and funny story lines…I love the new pairing of Taylor and Ryan, Taylor is hilarious. But i agree with the other posters, FOX should change the time slot.
Totally skipped Grey’s for this. The OC has been amazing this season and it’s become must-see TV for the first time since season 1.
Fox, why must you kill this show? =/
Grey’s Anatomys’ got NOTHING on this show, and I used to be a diehard Grey’s fan. It’s become a bore, and The OC is the best thing on TV these days (next to Battlestar Galactica… yes I watch a lot of varied TV!) I really wish EW would do a TV Watch, and I too really wish Fox would put it on in a time slot in which more people would watch… but I’m watching this live and tivoing NBC comedies. Yay for Ryan and Taylor!
Ok, The OC is back and in a big way. I totally skipped Grey’s on Thursday and I don’t even care. I think I smiled/laughed through most of the episode. I can’t remember the last time that happened. Taylor is awesome, Ryan is funny now, and Seth and Summer are back to being the cute and funny couple they used to be. If this show doesn’t get a full season, I’m going to cry.
I LOVE The O.C. this season! It makes me so happy that it’s good again. Really, I had no idea how sad I was over its demise last year until I gave it another shot and it was back and better than ever, thanks in no small part to the absence of Marissa and, more importantly, the Marissa/Ryan ship. Ryan is wonderful to watch whenever he’s not bogged down in that tiresome, clunky relationship. Long live Taylor/Ryan!
Marissa’s death was the best thing to happen to this show in a long time, along with the addition of and increased focus on Autumn Reeser’s Taylor.
Long live Ryan/Taylor!
I hate to say this as well but I think that Marissa’s death is the best thing that happened to the show because this new romance with Taylor and Ryan is now possible. So much more chemistry and a better match and NO ONE is more surprised than I about this pairing because I never saw it coming nor would have even considered it. All fans who have ditched this show must come back!!!!! I wish Fox would give this a chance on WED again, now that Daybreak is doing badly and DWTS is not on anymore. going up against Grey’s anatomy, CSI and Scrubs and Supernatural is too much — especially for a show that needs more support. It’s sad when a good show that is SO GREAT is not being watched.
I thought Che was totally kidding as well. He sucks. I”m all about some Taylor/Ryan coupling. I just hate when storylines like this get dragged out over several episodes. Make it happen, and make it happen soon!
I think this was the best OC of the season. It’s all about Ryan and Taylor now! The last scene after they kissed was the best moment of the season so far!!! Although, Taylor looked unsure as she left the pool house.
I BEG of you EW to use your magazine power to get Fox to not give up on this show and move it to another time slot. EW has always been a strong supporter of the OC and I hope that it has not changed. It’s all Fox’s fault anyway for moving it to Thurs way too early.
Awesome episode. This season has been season one good (if not better). Autumn Reeser is the new scene stealer of the OC (don’t worry Melinda Clarke we still love you). And the Julie/Kaitlyn are the anti Gilmore Girls!!! I love it!
I am so happy to say that I am officially obsessed with this show all over again! This season has been SO GOOD. And I agree with every other person posting here that Fox needs to move its time slot so it doesnt compete with Grey’s (which by the way I DVR so I can watch OC live). The OC is back!
The OC makes Grey’s Anatomy look like Joey. I’ll gladly give up on all the mushy self-centered selfishness of Grey’s for the sweet thoughful selflessness of The OC. Quite simply, if the characters on the OC were real I would want to hang out with them because they actually seem to care about other people besides themselves. If the characters on Grey’ Anatomy were real I would never go near a hospital again because I’m sure the doctors would be too busy worrying about their love life to complete the surgery I required.
The OC is so great right now. I even have my wife hooked. It is back to its Season 1 fun self and really moving in a good way. I thought Marissa was really weighing the show down and it turns out I was right because it is really revitalized with her gone.