Episodic Classics: The O.C., “The Blaze of Glory,” ”The Brothers Grim,” ”The Risky Business” | Season 2, Episodes 16, 17, & 18
What’s new is old again, as Big Brother Atwood comes to Newport
Seth: “I mean, look—we all tried some new things and that was fun.”
Ryan: “Mmhmm.”
Seth: “Uh, yard guys, illegitimate daughters, less fighting, more live music.”
Ryan: “Well, maybe you remember last year as better ‘cause it was all new.”
Seth: “So, you think I’ve sentimentalized the past all out of proportion?”
Ryan: “Yeah, come on, I mean, we can’t keep living in last year.”
Seth: “Sure we can.”
There’s so much talk within The O.C. Season Two about returning to the way things were in Season One, you kind of have to think the show somewhat set itself up to “fail.” The second episode of this season was “The Way We Were”—a pointed conversation about how this was a new season doing new things, which episodes like “The New Kids on the Block” and “The New Era” reaffirmed—and all that talk (of missing the good old days) would’ve been enough and fine if it had simply been confined to that episode. Instead, even in this season’s success—or what could’ve been success—with new elements…