The O.C. - The Complete Second Season DVD Review:

It seems that every generation has its own primetime teen soap opera to obsess over and become addicted to, which Beverly Hills 90210 and Dawson’s Creek were for the generations past. The O.C. would undoubtedly make sense as this generation’s soap, but it has something unique that the others did not have. The O.C. decided from the very beginning to make the adult figures in the show have just as much to do with the plot as the heartthrob teenagers, a move which seems risky but ended up paying off brilliantly. Not only does it add a new dynamic to the show but it also created a larger fan base when adults were quickly addicted to the show as well.

The second season of The O.C. starts us off at the end of summer, a few months after the close of season one. Ryan is still living in Chino and working construction and because of that Seth is still refusing to come home. Meanwhile the girls are trying desperately to get over the boys leaving them, Summer by complaining and Marissa by drinking. Of course the show would not be able to continue without the return of everyone to the title county, so inevitably Ryan and Seth return and the drama continues to unfold.

When The O.C. first began it was about an inner city boy coming to live in a rich neighborhood, essentially just a fish-out-of-water storyline, but the second season moves away from that. Ryan has been in The O.C. long enough that his return is more of a homecoming than anything else. The O.C. is clearly where he belongs and this makes it impossible for him to seem as if he doesn’t fit anymore. Every once and a while we are reminded of his roots but the storyline usually drifts into new territory.

What makes The O.C. so successful is a combination of raw talent and good casting. However ridiculous the story might be in The O.C. we never question it because the dialogue is so perfectly written and convincingly delivered. Even when all of the love triangles seem completely absurd I find myself drawn in, a task that says a lot about the show. They say that anyone can make you buy something you want, but only a great salesman can get you to buy something that you don’t need or want. If this is the case then the creators of The O.C. are true salesmen. Even when I want to dislike the show I can’t seem to help loving every minute of it.

Adam Brody seems to have received the most attention from this show as Seth Cohen. Brody’s comedic delivery as the self absorbed comic fan is dead on. In many ways Brody reminds me of a young Vince Vaughn. Paired with veteran Peter Gallagher as his father, there could not be better timing on some of the jokes.

Season two brings new characters, new romances, and always more drama. There was quite a bit of buzz when a lesbian relationship began to develop in the show during this season, but in many ways this was necessary. The O.C. works off of its ability to draw fans in with new twists but because of the long first season many twists have already been used. This meant doing something drastic. I can only imagine what will come next for the teens of The O.C. not to mention the adults.

Season two has twenty-four episodes, all of which are packed into seven discs in this set. Two of the episodes have commentary by Josh Schwartz and other cast and crew members and there are other bonus features as well, such as a featurette on the fashion, a retrospective documentary, and gags and goofs from seasons one and two. The box set comes with a color booklet as well, describing each episode and listing the directors and chapter stops.

Overall much of the set seems to be similar to the season one package. The menu is nearly identical with updated photos and clips and the packaging looks similar as well, if only slightly improved. Since the season one package was so well put together this should make fans rather happy.



Ryan Izay