Episodic Classics: The O.C., “The Father Knows Best,” ”The Rainy Day Women,” ”The Mallpisode” | Season 2, Episodes 13, 14, & 15
Schwartz & Savage finally break glass in case of the emergency that is Season Two
After taking such a spectacular downturn in the past four episodes of this season, it’s fascinating to see how this batch of episodes reads as The O.C.’s version of “break glass in case of emergency.” “The Father Knows Best” (especially) and “The Rainy Day Women” are both episodes marred by the mess this season has somehow become, but the latter—notably written by Josh Schwartz—gets the ball rolling on “fixing” things. The season arguably isn’t actually “fixed” moving forward, but it’s not hard to see all the moving pieces in trying to do so.
Because fixing the second season seemingly means returning things to how they were in the first season, and after having a good deal of this season involve characters wishing things could just be like they were “last year”—in addition to a viewing audience wishing the same thing—that is clearly the direction Schwartz and Stephanie Savage decide to finally take. But that direction still comes with the mess that is this second season…