By: Julia Rubin
To me, 2000’s Teen Dramas are timeless. Although created over 20 years ago, they have a sense of comfort and authenticity that many shows today lack. From dramatic scandals to heartfelt moments, shows like “Gossip Girl,” “One Tree Hill,” and “Gilmore Girls” are just as popular now as they were then. Yet somehow, everyone’s missing out on one of the best teen dramas, “The OC.” Let me show you what it has to offer.
The Cohen Family Dynamic
Right from the jump in Season 1, “The OC” prioritizes the importance of family. Ryan Atwood, the main character, is a poor teenager from Chino who was sent to juvenile detention for being a sidekick in his brother’s car-stealing act. In the Cohen household, parents Sandy and Kirsten, and son Seth have a rocky and distant dynamic. When Sandy, a defense attorney, takes upon Ryan’s case and offers to adopt him, it is seen that Ryan is the family’s missing piece. “The OC” portrays parental moments that many shows don’t, like when Sandy punched Ryan’s biological father in Season 4. There was never a moment where parenting was not a priority for Sandy and Kirsten, specifically Sandy.
Sandy Cohen is known as one of the best TV dads of all time. His compassion, loyalty, and support are the reason why Ryan was able to have the life he did. He treated Ryan like his own son, while still giving Seth the love and attention he needed. Sandy wasn’t just a dad, he was a father figure to all, including Ryan and Seth’s friends. When someone was struggling, Sandy was there as both a lawyer and father figure to be by their side. It is hard to find a parent like this anywhere else on television.
Combines Comedy with Drama
While “The OC” is a teen drama, there is a comedic side that can lighten the mood in serious situations. This comes from the casting choices. Peter Gallagher (Sandy) and Adam Brody (Seth) can flawlessly include humor in their acting. They are always able to make me laugh and create a balance between serious and lighthearted moments.
However, the show’s biggest moments come from its most dramatic – spoilers incoming. For example in Season 2, when Marissa shoots Trey to save Ryan. This created an iconic scene that is also known for its song choices of “Whatcha Say” by Jason Derulo and “Hide and Seek” by Imogen Heap. Another scene that catches the eyes of viewers is Marissa’s overdose in Tijuana, occurring early in Season 1. Ryan carrying Marissa down the alley is the first big moment that gives everyone an idea of the depth of this show.
The Best Music
What “The OC” might be the most known for is its longstanding and unique soundtrack. In many of the episodes, the show promoted bands like the Killers and Death Cab, but what truly made the impact was the theme song, “California” by Phantom Planet. The director, Josh Schwartz, dug through his own playlist to find this song and believed it represented Orange County perfectly. This song, and every song, resonated with viewers and was a big part of why people watched the show. Instead of having trending pop songs like “Gossip Girl” did, Schwartz took a different route and went for indie/alt-rock. This made “The OC” stand out and attract a different type of audience.
The reasons are endless, but these three stick out as the most important to me. I believe Gen-Z would love a show like “The OC,” which has a little bit of everything. I recommend watching it in the summer because of the warm weather and ocean waves that Orange County exhibits, however “The OC” has iconic Thanksgiving and Chrismukkah (a term you will learn if you watch) episodes that are perfect for the holiday season. Basically, enjoy it whenever and with whomever you want, you won’t regret it!