The OC – Season 4, Episode 16 – The End’s Not Near, It’s Here

Well that’s it.  The end of The OC.  No question the show’s run its course but I’m going to miss it.  I’m just glad that Josh Schwartz had the chance to wrap it all up and give us closure.  I admit I even teared up a little at the end.

So how are we leaving our OC friends?  Seth and Summer get married after a little break where Summer goes off to save the world like the Wonder Woman we know she is, the Cohens have a new family member and move to Berkeley with Sandy becoming a teacher, Julie’s pregnant and chooses herself over the 2 men who want her graduating from university with her family watching her and Ryan becomes an architect.  The final scene where he sees a kid who needs help was the perfect way to end the show.

Here’s a link to an interview with Mr. Schwartz where he looks back at his show.

So goodbye OC, I’m sure this isn’t the last we’re going to see of any of you but I’m definitely a little sad that it’s the last time we’ll see you all together.

Avi’s episode rating: A

The OC – Season 4, Episode 9 – The My Two Dads

By now you’ve probably heard the news that the OC is ending at the end of February.  I have mixed feelings on this.  On the one hand I think the show had run its course but on the other this season has been really entertaining and may have enough new life to sustain it. After tonight’s fantastic episode I’m leaning towards the latter perspective over the former.

The scenes with Summer and Seth trying to one up each other in planning their marriage so that the other caves were classic OC.  It reminded me of another classic TV episode, when George tried to get out of his marriage to Susan on Seinfeld.  The conversion to Judaism complete with Torah and Hebrew lessons (as an aside Julie sure does have that Hebrew accent down), the cooking lessons, the elope to Vegas, the bunny hand off.  All great.

This episode also brought back the other best part of The OC – the focus on family layered with some good soap opera fun.  Ryan’s father returned to make amends with his son and comes to blows with Sandy after he lies about having a terminal illness.  All of this is really just to remind us that Ryan is now a real part of the Cohen family ending with a formerly familiar scene of them sitting down together for dinner and then in front of the TV.

It’s also worth again acknowledging the amazing Taylor who brings an energy to the show and more importantly to Ryan and even Summer that has been missing since the show’s early days.  Other generally unimportant but still mildly funny stuff happens with Kaitlin, her book report and the dog from Call of the Wild.

In a nutshell, this was a fun episode and unlike what I thought at the end of the last season, I’ll definitely miss the show when it’s gone.

Avi’s Episode Rating: A-

Fox Cancels OC after 4 Seasons

It’s now been made official.  Zap2It has confirmed that Fox has cancelled the OC.  This Thursday is the beginning of the end for the show with a finale date set for February 22nd.

It’s not quite a surprise given that it was only renewed for 16 episodes and was scheduled against CSI and Grey’s Anatomy.  The unfortunate thing is that this season the show has actually had a return to form after the horrible season 3.  It’s amazing what getting rid of Marissa, who was frankly just depressing to watch, did to lighten characters like Ryan.  Replacing her with the complete opposite in Taylor and adding in my favourite Everwood refugee Bright didn’t hurt either.

But alas, it’s coming to an end and hopefully this announcement gives Josh Schwartz the opportunity to bring the show to a conclusion that it truly deserves.

Fox denies rumors that the OC is cancelled and The Loop has its order cut – Updated

Update: OC has now been officially cancelled despite what this article said a couple of months ago.  Click here to see my updated posting.

Now here’s my original post:

TV Guide has an article today with Fox refuting rumors in a Montana paper that The OC has been cancelled.  Fox says that the show will complete its 16 episode order.

What does this say to me?  The show may finish out the short season but don’t expect The OC to be back next year.  I’ve actually enjoyed the show much more this season than either of the last 2.  I never really like the Marissa character and with her gone the show seems to have “found its funny” again.   Still, I don’t think it’s that bad if the show ends this year.  It’s had a good 4 season run and generally been a fun program to watch as a viewer but a show like this can’t go on forever.  Look how Dawson’s Creek and Beverly Hills 90210 went way past their primes.  My only hope is that the show gets notice that it won’t be coming back and the creators take advantage of that to wrap up the storylines in a way that the show and viewers deserve.

Other news has Fox cutting The Loop’s order from 13 to 10 with the explanation that there are other shows that Fox wants to air.  I guess after such a lackluster fall season the network needs to spread out its risk by launching a few shows.  Either that or we’re going to be seeing all American Idol, all the time.  I’m disappointed in The Loop getting a lesser order.  It really grew on me last year and had me laughing consistently throughout every episode.  10 episodes are better than none though.

The OC – Season 4, Episode 3

Who would have thought that Marissa’s relationship with the characters of the OC would be more interesting with her dead than alive.  Tonight’s episode, even more than the first 2, focused on the aftermath of Marissa’s death and at a true OC holiday.  Ryan in full brooding mode came face to face with Volczek (sp?) and let his better nature prevail (after hitting him of course) opting for sending him to prison over killing him.  Summer meanwhile came to realize that she is running away from anything that reminds her of Marissa including Seth but still left at the end.  Julie is a mess but we saw a sliver of her old self as she threatens Neil as he runs away to Seattle Grace (the hospital from Grey’s Anatomy).

But don’t think the whole episode was depressing.  We also got lots of good OC humor including homeless Thanksgiving guests (it’s funnier than it sounds), Battlestar Galactica references, Taylor, Taylor and more Taylor.

The season is off to a promising start.

Avi’s Episode Rating: B+

The OC – Season 4, Episode 1 & 2

Wow did last season suck. There I got that out of my system just as the OC seems to have gotten Marissa out of its system.

Two episodes into the new season and they really are starting to recapture some of the things that made this show the guilty pleasure that it was in its first season. Let’s review. We had cage matches, Luke’s weird brothers, working in a comic store as a profession that lets you yell at little kids who aren’t as geeky as you, hippy Summer, hippy prophet Bright (still love him), a reunited Cohen family, secret deals, married Taylor, slutty fight the double standard roommates, a trip to Mexico, tattoos, an inspired Julie, Marissa’s little sister and a whole bunch of great one liners. Welcome back to my weekly viewing schedule bitch.

I’m not sure how the show is going to survive against CSI and Grey’s Anatomy but maybe this move to Wednesday will be permanent where it will have a fighting chance until Lost returns.

Avi’s Episode Rating: B+