Episodic Classics: The O.C., "The Rivals,“ ”The Truth” & ”The Heartbreak” | Season 1, Episodes 17, 18 & 19
The Oliver arc ends, so now we’re working on our night moves
Let me tell you all the truth: A big reason I remain so high on the Oliver arc (despite realizing why so many others are not) is that I’m far less high on the next arc in this season’s Ryan/Marissa saga. It’s disappointing, really: despite a solid character introduction in “The Homecoming,” the baggage that comes with Theresa moving forward is nowhere near as compelling as the baggage that came with Oliver. My problems with this upcoming arc have always been the problems you tend to get when you have a very white writers’ room taking on a story that heavily involves a person or people of color. (Think about the rare times Angel would attempt to dive into Gunn’s past, before giving up on all that and eventually giving him a basketball to hold in the Season Five premiere.) Despite how things go in “The Rivals,” the Oliver arc—in addition to the camp aspect of the character that I previously praised—does a lot of work in defining the series’ teen friend group. There’s still a lot of fun …