Episodic Classics: The O.C., "The Countdown,“ ”The Third Wheel” & ”The Links” | Season 1, Episodes 14, 15 & 16
Alright, let’s talk about the Oliver arc (and Rooney!)
We’ve left 2003 and have officially made it to 2004 in the world of The O.C. We’re in the second half of this 27-episode season, and with that comes the series’ most memorable yet controversial (not including bisexuality) storyline: the Oliver arc.
Despite how beloved and well-received The O.C.’s first season was, that’s never necessarily the case for the Oliver arc. Personally, I’ve always loved it1; I consider it just the right type of drama for the series and something that it’s unfortunately never able to repeat. I also think Taylor Handley is pitch-perfect in the role—playing up both the absurdity and creepiness just right, going all out every time—to the point where I’ve been disappointed every other time I’ve seen him in something, because this camp villain role is the outlier in his career. I’d argue though that the issue becomes the series’ attempts to replicate it, “it” being less the “psychotic character come to ruin Ryan and Marissa’s happy life” and more particularly the fu…