Episodic Classics: The O.C., “The Family Ties,” ”The Power of Love,” ”The Ex-Factor” | Season 2, Episodes 7, 8, & 9
Jimmy Cooper's out and so is Alex (in a different way)
Episode 9 is when the downward shift starts to happen with this season of The O.C.
I wrote extensively in last week’s review about how, when this particular stretch of episodes originally aired, I had made ABC’s Life As We Know It my priority Thursday night teen drama. That series’ first season didn’t make it to February 2005, so I then returned to The O.C. fully, bummed and rather resentful that it continued on as a new show I’d really come to love essentially died by its “hands.” And come that February, The O.C. gave me plenty of reason to be bummed and resentful.
Rewatching these particular episodes for this review, they still mostly serve as proper examples of how strong early Season Two of The O.C. really is. However, the cracks and hurdles start to really show in Episode 9 (“The Ex-Factor”).