DVD Review: The O.C. – The Complete Third Season

DVD Reviews

By Patrick Luce Nov 5, 2006, 17:42 GMT

The O.C. – The Complete Third Season brings all the stress, challenges, and life struggle of being a rich, privileged kid in their senior year of high school to DVD. Fans of the show will enjoy the season on DVD, but the seven-disc set quickly lost my interest by disc three.

The seven-disc set comes with several special features that will keep fans happy including a script to screen look at one of the episodes; a making of video; gags and goofs; and selected commentary.Like similar teen shows that came before it (such as Beverly Hills, 90210), The O.C. features a cast of young actors (including Benjamin McKenzie, Adam Brody, Rachel Bilson, and Mischa Barton) playing a group of friends that are dealing with the pressures and changes that accompany making it through high school. They just also happen to have parents that are loaded with cash, and pretty much get away with anything – including murder, underage drinking, drugs and arson. Their parents (including Peter Gallagher, Kelly Rowan, and Melinda Clarke) wander in and out of the episodes helping to guide the kids, clean up their messes, and deal with a few problems of their own. Unlike 90210, O.C. does manage to make the main two parents (Gallagher and Rowan) a larger part of the overall story. For the most part, they remain more back characters to help the kids on their journey to that Holy Grail called a high school diploma. While Season Three is never a good place to start a series, it is easy to catch up on who all the characters are, and what has happened in the past two seasons (you can always do a quick Internet search too). By the third season, even the best series are often showing signs of slipping, and O.C. is no different. The season quickly starts to just rehash some of the same themes – which hurts its ability to draw new fans and hold their interest. Much of the season focuses on the romance between reforming bad boy Ryan Atwood (McKenzie) and sometimes bad girl Marissa Cooper (Barton), their break-up and the massive train wreck that follows in their wake. I am talking Shakespearian drama here people! Other plots follow Brody’s Seth Cohen character as he tries to get into Brown, starts dabbling in drugs, and tries to hold on to his dream girl.Again if you are already a fan of the series, then Season Three will probably continue to entertain. There just isn’t much there to really attract new fans to the series – especially if you find the Marissa Cooper character as annoying as I did.*The following is a brief description of the season’s episodes and does contain spoilers. Some readers may want to skip this part of the review.

Disc One episode 1: “The Aftermath” – Trey (Ryan’s brother) is in a coma following Marissa blasting him with a gun while he was choking Ryan. However, the cops think Ryan did it because he has a bad boy past. Episode 2: “The Shape of Things to Come” – It is senior year, but not for everyone. Marissa is expelled after the whole shooting Ryan’s brother thing, and Ryan loses his cool and decks the guidance counselor – which gets him kicked out too. Episode 3: “The End of Innocence” – Marissa and her mom find out they are broke, while the Choens try to figure out what to do with The Newport Group. Episode 4: “The Last Waltz” – Marissa has to deal with the pressures of going to a public school without a cappuccino machine. Summer (Bilson) catches the guidance counselor giving a female some bad guidance in a closet. Disc Two episode 5: “The Perfect Storm” – Ryan is looking to become a fisherman (I guess he never saw The Perfect Storm) to get away from Marissa and all his problems. Episode 6: “The Swells” – Marissa starts feeling some attraction to a surfer boy named Johnny, and Seth starts to have a stalker named Taylor. Episode 7: “The Anger Management” – Taylor schemes to break-up Seth and Summer. Ryan is tempted to return to his bad boy ways and fight another bad boy named Volchok. Episode 8: “The Game Plan” – It’s time to plan for college. Seth wants to go to Brown. Summer wants to go with Seth. Marissa’s not sure what she wants to do.Disc Three episode 9: “The Disconnect” – Turns out Summer has a brain and scores better than Seth on the SAT. Episode 10: “The Chrismukkah Bar Mitz-Vahkkah” – Johnny needs an operation, and Seth has a plan. Episode 11: “The Safe Harbor” – The kids rally together to get Marissa back in the rich kids’ school and save her from the horror of public high school. Episode 12: “The Sister Act” – Mini-Cooper is back and she is hot. She also brings a lot of trouble to the already troubled door of Ryan.Disc Four episode 13: “The Pot Stirrer” – Kaitlin feels she spent her whole life in Marissa’s shadow, but now it is her time. Seth starts smoking pot to get ready for college life, but it causes him to blow his chance into Brown. Episode 14: “The Cliffhanger” – The Johnny-Kaitlin-Marissa-Ryan problem finds closure after Johnny goes cliff-diving. Of course, tragedy follows (I am talking Shakespeare here people!). Episode 15: “The Heavy Lifting” – Life goes on, but in the wake of Johnny’s tragedy is it possible to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Of course it is. This is The O.C. Episode 16: “The Road Warrior” – Ryan hits the road with Sadie which starts putting some added stress on his relationship with Marissa. Disc Five episode 17: “The Journey” – It’s Ryan’s 18th birthday, but he doesn’t really feel like a party. Episode 18: “The Undertow” – Marissa finds a new love in Volchok and booze. Episode 19: “The Secrets and Lies” – It is a race to the bottom as Marissa falls further into drugs, alcohol and all things Volchok.

Disc Six episode 20: “The Day After Tomorrow” – Seth has to come clean when it is time for The Sweatshirt Bonfire, and Ryan has to make a decision about his new love. Episode 21: “The Dawn Patrol” – Ryan goes to Albuquerque to get his mom to come to graduation, and Marissa starts to see what a scumbag Volchok really is. Episode 22: “The College Try” – Ryan and Marissa go to Berkley to check it out, but leave early. Seth heads to Brown to try to find a way into the school. Episode 23: “The Party Favor” – It is prom time, but no one is with the date they wanted to take. Disc Seven episode 24: “The Man of the Year” Sandy’s picture will be on the cover of Riviera – even if he is being investigated as a criminal. Seth lights up a joint in Sandy’s office and burns it down. Episode 25: “The Graduates” – Well, it is finally graduation time and the season comes to an end with a death.Like I said, I quickly lost interest in the third season due to repeating storylines and characters that just become annoying. I am sure the series will continue to please its fans, but this is not a good place to start watching. I would recommend the set to fans, but otherwise you may want to give it a pass.The O.C. – The Complete Third Season is now available at Amazon and AmazonUK. Visit the DVD database for more information.

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amberNov 17th, 2006 - 01:44:35

Can you please put marissa cooper back on the computer because the oc'c not the same and just she didn't die she just went in a coma because then she wakes up she will be back on the show and i think ryan diserve's to kill volchik because he killed marissa my favourite character and can you take out kaitlan because shes a bit of a skank and what will marissa say and not to menchion when marissa comes back on her and ryan will get back together.

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hannahNov 21st, 2006 - 23:30:45

I totally agree amber!!!! im so mad that they killed off marissa she was so cool!! and im totally mad that summer became a tree hugger!!!! but im still going to be faithful to my favorite show ever!! i hope it will continue throughout the years.

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OC fan #658623Nov 24th, 2006 - 15:10:32

I can't see why people are having such a hard time with Marissa's death. Let's face it the character had run its course. A person can only take so much of the on and off again relationship the the writers have been force feeding us. there not ment to be and i couldn't be happier. i stopped watching the show halfway throught the second season because of Marissa. The truth is she bugged me in the first season when that whole Oliver thing happened. She was too stupid to see that he actually had a thing for her and it seams like the writers didn't want her to grow up.

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sullfaceDec 18th, 2006 - 23:11:54

actaully. surprisingly im happy marissa died. marissa brought to much more stress and drama to the show .. i mean it was still good. but i deff like this season so much more then last season. it has the drama but a more upbeat outlook. and its pretty amazing that the show can still be so good without a main character. im really enjoying season 4 :]

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OC Obsessed <33Jan 2nd, 2007 - 00:19:21

okay, i love this show soo much and i will watch it not matter what but i really think that some changes should be made. i think it was a hugeee mistake to take mischa barton off of the show. she was basically the whole reason this show is like a show. ok and the whole summer...activist..thing NEEDS TO STOP!! i lovee this show with like all of my heart and i dont want to see it crash and burn. oh and kaitlin..shes another story. she doesnt bother me that much but the whole joint thing..? shes not a skank either she is like all of the girls that i know. i think that people are getting a little bit to dramatic about how much she runined the show. she just added a little twist it not a big deal. but pretty pretty please bring marissa backkkkkkk..i mean i would be difficult..not to mention a little late..but you could at least like have these past to episodes be a dream or something. one more thing. get rid of taylor. she is a wannabee marissa and ryan and her are just not meant to be. keep ryan and seth the way they are..in other words hott haha. and dooooo NOTTT brake seth and summer up. they are the perfecttoo couple. i say find ryan a new girl and get autumn reesner off of the OC.
Thankkss!
OC Obsessed

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elleJan 4th, 2007 - 05:37:49

i luv the O.C sooooooo much but trust me the ratings have dropped scince Marissa Coopers death we really need her back cos shes da best any1 who insults the show is soooo dead and if u say u dont care abour Mischa well dont co i know wat u did last summer! the o.c rox and ive heard its gonna end this year on da season final its gonna b da last episode of the o.c ever!!!!!!!! please dont take my life and religion away its the only reason i live i luv the o.c sooooo much but still without marissa it kindda sucks but sill i will always luv the o.c.
R.I.P Marissa!!!!!!!!

R.I.P

In loving memory of,
Marissa Cooper
Beloved daughter,Loving sister,Caring friend.
You'll be missed by all.

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Allie.Jan 5th, 2007 - 00:51:20

When Marissa died. it ruined the whole thing why couldnt she just stay alive. and the whole ryan and taylor thing no way.shes really weird. like if they stay together idc because ryan needs someone. but i think ryan should kill volchik. ooh and one more thing i know the ratings have dropped sense the whole marissa dies thing but please dont stop the show. it is the best show and u shouldn't end it because there are a lot of ppl who love the show.

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jimJan 14th, 2007 - 23:21:33

the first episode of season 4 whas great but after that,it was only seth.they run out of ideas.maybe its better to cancel it,or to start
with a whole different cast.something new.with fresh ideas and faces.just a thought

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hayley jJan 15th, 2007 - 01:33:30

i just got dun watching the 3rd season adn marissa died i cried so much but i love her and she will be missed
peace n love to all
hayley j

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sarahJan 18th, 2007 - 12:13:54

You guys cant stop with the O.C ...O.C is my life ...Sucks that Mischas charater had to die but i guess she is not able to do the show anymore...
well i kinda think summer is changed and i kinda dont like it ..its kewl and all but i like the old summer.

please stay on O.C
we love ya guys
Mischa is my fav.

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DVD Review: The O.C. – The Complete Third Season

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