Oh, Cohen, those are your ribs.

[fenlings]

I've started watching The OC again because wistful_fever said it was good again. It's really not.

When Ryan is *in pain*, when he is on the outside looking in, when he is continually doubting his own self-worth and pathetically grateful for every scrap of affection but too proud to show it, when he is *bleeding* and raging and furiously hopeless. That's when it will be good. That's what made the first season good. Then they went back there for the second season premiere and got my hopes all up only to crush them with the pile of UTTER CRAP that was second season. Not that I watched much of it.

But I decided to start again with the ep where Ryan puts up the punching bag (307) because the description sounded hot. And yes, that was like ten episodes ago and those 90 seconds of punching bag are STILL THE BEST SCENE so far. God. (Although Marissa's sex with Volchok came close. The way it was shot - wow. Hot.)

And okay, the show has done well with the Seth angst at least, I'll give them that. His CUTECUTEADORABLE barmitzvah video with little dorky Seth like little Lex when none of the kids came to his party.

But let's face it: I'm here for Ryan.

Although I do adore Summer and Seth and their relationship. I love how real they are and their snark and snuggling. (Although CHRIST if ONE MORE PERSON on that show mispronounces "yakuza" I am going to choke a bitch. It not yaKUza or yaKYUza. It is YAkuza. YAkuza! (Like poor "ShiZUka" Arakawa. A name that means quiet (SHIzuka) made to sound like baZOOka.) U-syllables are UNSTRESSED OMFG. And I don't buy that Seth is such a BIG FAN and doesn't know how to PRONOUNCE THE GENRE NAME. JESUS.) Ahem. < /rant >

But seriously, comparing Sethummer to Ryan and Marissa, it's painful how Ryan and Marissa fall short. As a viewer I can always feel Seth and Summer's connection. I can feel that they care about each other. Ryan and Marissa, the epic, tragic romance - I mean, they set the relationship up for us to expect some Heathcliff/Cathy depth of connection here, and it's not even measuring up to *Sethummer*. Ryan and Marissa had more of a connection back in first season when they weren't going out than now when they are. They never touch each other, never talk to each other, never tease each other. It's like they're strangers. It's *weird*. First season I totally believed in them, mostly because I'm a sucker for the rich girl/poor boy archetype (I BLAME YOU JOHN HUGHES.). Now I'm just REALLY TIRED of these bland pod people, their lame, repetitive, self-indulgent drama, and the ANNOYINGLY CONTRIVED plot-device characters that appear just to threaten their relationship.

Also Sandy and Kirsten! Yay with the good marriage. But WTF is Kirsten still doing UNEMPLOYED?? The original career woman? She is *sober* now. *She* should be running her father's business, not allowing Sandy to compromise his ethics (HI WHAT THE HELL SANDY. STRIPPERS???) Even if there's some plot point I missed that precludes her running the Newport Group, she should be doing something more challenging than *catering* or a *dating service*. I REALLY REALLY LIKED the power dynamic between them first season, and having Kirsten become a Newpsie housewife just RANKLES.

Also not to be shallow (HAHA ON THE OC) but Ryan is *not as hot* now. His hair is *shorter* and his nose is *bigger* and just - ::waves hand::


But hey, this show is always good for the MOMENTS OF UTTER GAY.

-Seth *rolling around* in Ryan's empty bed omgwtf while talking phonesex to him on the phone.

-Marissa and Summer sleeping in the same bed. For months.

-This whole exchange, which proves Summer's awesomeness:

Ryan: So we'll be in Northern California, you'll be in Rhode Island. (Marissa touches Ryan’s arm)

Summer: Uh-oh, you and Seth are gonna have'ta do the long distance thing, you better not cheat on each other!

Ryan: Yeah that’s college, things happen.

Seth: (to Ryan) Are you questioning your sexuality?

Ryan: No, you could see how -

Summer: Have some toes. (wiggles her bare toes at Marissa)


-And then, just last episode, Seth perving on Volchok:

Summer: What does she see in that guy? He's so dirty and greasy.

Seth: He's got good abs. Women like abs. I've got a sixpack myself. I know.

Summer: Oh, Cohen, those are your ribs.

Seth: Oh. Well listen, let's just not tell anybody anything.

Summer: Alright. Heads down, lips sealed, smooth sailing.

Seth: He's also got really defined triceps. I like that.


O.O    Just, they had totally moved on and he *jumps right in there* again with the physical appreciation of Surf Nazi. "Hey, girlfriend-mine, I like defined triceps on boys!" And Summer's all cool with it, whatever. I love him and Summer SO MUCH sometimes. Mainly because I suspect they come off so much better in comparison to the other characters.

Comments

[fenlings]

I'm kind of afraid to ask how old he is.

is it a bad thing that I can sorta imagine having a conversation like this with some of my friends?
Of course not. That's why the dialogue seems real and funny. Because friends tease each other and flirt with each other all the time.

[paranoid-ninja.livejournal.com]

The problem is, not only is he pretty old for a high schooler, he looks old. And as one of my friends says, his current haircut doesn't help things.

[fenlings]

Generally, the older you get, the tinier your eyes get. And his eyes are tiny. So yeah he looks old, and the haircut definitely doesn't help. It's strange how old all these people look and how little they have to do with school. They're not focusing on tests or gossiping about teachers or classmates. They're not really involved in any extracurricular activities now. We don't see them in school nearly as often as we see them out of it. So there is a moment of dissonance sometimes when they mention school because it just doesn't seem like they should be in high school.