Episodic Classics: The O.C., "The Secrets and Lies," "The Day After Tomorrow," "The Dawn Patrol" | Season 3, Episodes 19-21
This really is a 25-episode season of television
To tell the truth, I’ve finally reached the point where I am severely burned out on writing about The O.C. Season Three.1 You’d figure that would’ve happened sooner, most likely during one of the umpteenth Johnny or Johnny-related scenes. But at least during that part of the season—the majority of the season—there was a righteous rage that could serve as fuel for my critical fire. Instead, it’s in this batch of episodes that it’s clear just how close yet seemingly so far away the end of the season is. That’s where the concept of running on mental fumes really comes in, despite so much of what happens in these episodes being head and shoulders above a lot of what this season has had to offer.
A large part of that feeling does continue to stem from how repetitive this season has been. For example, before I rewatched “The Secrets and Lies,” I tried to tell myself that there was no way this season actually featured another goon beatdown, after doing so earlier with Jimmy Coo…
