venetia_sassy | Snowflake Challenge

Day 11

In your own space, share a favorite piece of original canon (a TV episode, a song, a favourite interview, a book) and explain why you love it so much. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

The O.C. was hardly a brilliant show but it had some fantastic moments, some heartbreaking moments, some hilarious moments - and many of the last involved Taylor Townsend (the gorgeous Autumn Reeser) who went from neurotic, possibly mean girl, socially awkward antagonist of S3 to the more confident and delightfully odd protagonist and love interest of S4.

I watched The O.C. casually during S1 but it became all too angsty and all drama, all the time, and I just can't deal with that. (If a show like that finally lets two characters get married, you can guarantee that either both will move away or one will have a nervous breakdown/get cancer/die. I start yelling at the screen, 'JUST LET THEM BE HAPPY FOR A FEW EPISODES, WHAT IS SO WRONG WITH THAT?!?!?!?!' Ahem. There was a reason I was so into procedurals for years, until I burnt out on the crime.)

But I watched the S3 finale to see how they'd write out Marissa (I cried, even though I didn't like her) and then watched the first couple of S4 episodes to see the reaction of the other characters. Once I'd stopped laughing incredulously (cage-fighting? Really?), I realised to my surprise that this odd, fast-talking character I'd barely been aware of had hooked me in. And the show was getting good again. And then it became awesome. And I found of my few OTPs in Ryan/Taylor. I went out, bought the first three seasons, watched them all, possibly killed brain cells on S2&3 (Summer was really the only redeeming feature), learned to my disgust that S4, the final season, was being cut short (we do not talk about the utter bullshit of the 'Ryan's dad' storyline okay? I can't remember if it was speculation or statement that it would have played out differently if the season hadn't unexpectedly been cut short but it was BULLSHIT. Otherwise, S4 was ridiculous magic. And feautured Ryan's biceps. Always a plus.) and watched the finale and sobbed happily at the utter fanservice of the flashbacks and final montage.

Below, I offer vids of some of the pivotal moments (and great music) of The O.C. from:

*The pilot, when Ryan first makes the trip from Chino to Newport (and we hear the theme song, Phantom Planet's California for the first time.)

*The S1 finale, when Ryan is about to leave Newport and he and Marissa dance together (to Jem's Maybe I'm Amazed.)

*The final montage from the S1 finale, when Ryan starts the trip back to Chino with Theresa, to the dismay of several persons (and the strains of Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah.)

At this point, you will have a good idea of the angst levels the show can reach and a good grasp of Ryan's facial expressions - angry, sad, stoic, and stubborn.

Now, you will meet Taylor. And her many facial expressions. This is followed by a Ryan/Taylor vid in which you will discover that Ryan has other facial expressions - amused, awkward, adorably confused and happy. He smiles!

To finish off, two vids of the final flashbacks of Ryan mentally saying goodbye to the Newport house (OMG, bb!Ryan!) and the final glorious fanservice montage that ends with Ryan paying it forward. The first vid just has the flashbacks and montage, the second has the setup scene with a lovely bit between Ryan and Seth but it also has subtitles which I found a bit distracting.

Also, Captain Oats/Princess Sparkle 4EVA!