Welcome To Syndication, Bitch
THE O.C.August 5, 2003 - February 22, 2007
It's not nice to speak ill of the dead, so I'm not going to talk about the finale that much. At least not the first forty minutes. I did notice the trailer for Adam Brody's upcoming movie, and I kind of can't wait to see it. I know, I know, email me if you find my testicles.
I will say that Taylor was great as usual, and it was nice to see that last montage: Ryan's flashbacks as he walked around the house one last time, Sandy as a law professor, Julie finishing college, Seth and Summer getting married... it was happily ever after, and for that, I am happy.
Anyway, I know many of you stopped watching this show a long time ago, but my moniker is Captain Oats for heaven's sake, so bear with me as I wax nostalgic.
I started watching this show when I first moved to NYC. I lived in Greenpoint, Brooklyn at the time, it was winter, and it was quite a trek to the G Train, which shouldn't even be considered a real subway train. Thus, I stayed in and watched a LOT of OC episodes. Hot, I know. Ladies?
While in the NBC Page Program, I was leading a group of high-schoolers through 30 Rock and a few 14 year old girls turned to me and said very loudly, "God, you're SO Seth Cohen!!!" I smiled, took it as a compliment, and looked up to find another Page shaking his head at me in disgust. I would later be beat down by all the Pages.
A year later, I went to a Halloween party dressed as Seth Cohen from "The Rainy Day Women" episode. Again, a group of 19 year old girls walked in and screamed, "O.M.G. You're Seth Cohen!!!" They took pictures with me, I smiled, then looked up to find that all my friends had deserted me. I would later be beat down by Jose Cuervo, as I got very, very drunk.Oh yes, we had ours up and downs, but my dear show and I stuck by each other until the very end, braving all the naysayers and bullies out there. No one else could understand what we had, O.C. Thanks for the good times (Taylor) and the bad (Johnny). I will remember you. Especially when in syndication on SoapNet. R.I.P. old friend. R.I.P.
Click below and you'll find my top ten musical moments and the tunes from last night. Leave your thoughts and goodbyes in the comments!
"The End's Not Near, It's Here"
"Shine On" - Jet [buy album]
"The New Seeker" - Clinic [buy album]
"On A Saturday" - Jacob Golden [buy album]
"Life's A Song" - Patrick Park [buy album]
TOP
11. The Rainy Day Women
"End of the Road" - Boyz II Men [buy album]
The song plays while Seth mopes under the covers in his bed. Ryan enters.
RYAN: You're listening to Boyz II Men.
SETH: I can think of no sadder song in the world.
Then, Eureka... Eu-freakin-reka.
And the kicker is when we cut to Summer's bedroom, and she's listening to Boyz II Men as well.
ZACH: You're listening to Boyz II Men, this song is so sad.
10. The Heartbreak
"Hello Sunshine" - Super Furry Animals [buy album]
9. The Dearly Beloved
"Hide and Seek" - Imogen Heap [buy album]
8. The O. Sea
"Fix You" - Coldplay [buy album]
*UPDATED*
7. The End's Not Here, It's Here
"Life's A Song" - Patrick Park [buy album]
6. The Goodbye Girl
"If You Leave" - Nada Surf (covering OMD) [buy album]
5. The Rainy Day Women
"Champagne Supernova" - Matt Pond PA (covering Oasis) [buy album]
4. The Countdown
"Dice" - Finley Quaye & William Orbit [buy album]
3. The Pilot
"Honey and the Moon" - Joseph Arthur [buy album]
2. The Heartbreak
"Wonderwall" - Ryan Adams (covering Oasis) [buy album]
1. The Ties That Bind
"Hallelujah" - Jeff Buckley (covering Leonard Cohen) [buy album]
HONORABLE MENTIONS
*The Heartbreak
"Night Moves" - Bob Seger
One of the funniest OC scenes ever. The song plays as Julie opens the door with a glass of wine to find Luke standing there.
LUKE: Mrs. Cooper, you are an amazing girl.. woman.. lady, uh, and if Mr. Nichol doesn't appreciate you...
*The Chrismukk-huh?
"California" - Mates of State (covering Phantom Planet) [buy album]
I know many of you didn't like this episode, but I actually found it to be one of the best episodes of Season Four. And this cover of "California" during the opening credits perfectly sets the eerie tone for the rest of this "alternative universe" episode.
*The Metamorphosis
"Love You 'Till The End" - The Pogues [buy album]
Hands down, the best episode of Season Four. This song was perfect for the end montage. Absolutely loved Taylor's expression outside the pool house.
*The Power Of Love
"Don't Give Up On Me" - Peter Gallagher [buy album]
Sandy sings this at the bait shop to Kirsten for their suprise anniversary party at the end of the episode.
SETH: He sounds good huh?
KIRSTEN: You know you've created a monster.
SETH: Yeah I do, so there's somebody I want you to meet.
Seth introduces Alex.
KIRSTEN: Oh, lovely tattoo.
ALEX: Thank you. Your husband rocks by the way. I mean...[puts her hand to her chest]...wow.
KIRSTEN: Well, please don't tell him that.
32 Comments:
The O.C. will be missed.
This season made me fall back in love with it, really.
And I can share my own story of moving to a new city/country and watching a lot of O.C. instead of doing other stuff & how it helped etc. but you know how that goes;).
Favourite Moment: The End. The show coming full circle. Ryan realizing what the Cohen's did for him... as he's about to help out someone else in need.
Yes, it was cheesy, but nothing beats a great bookend.
OMG...as a long time fan of all kinds of tv shows, I hate watching series finales. It´s so sad to see a friend go.
I really did enjoy this episode...so much I couldn´t see anything during the last couple of scenes due to all the tears streaming down my face.
I started watching the OC when I moved to a new town on my own to pursue my studies, I watched it all the way through my college years and now that the show came to an end, I will move again to another city to live and work there. I am frightened (again) to leave this home but this episode really gave me some confidence. It´s an end and the beginning of something new.
90210 during my early school years, Dawson´s Creek during my high school years and now The OC is gone as well right about when I finished my education.
I´ll miss it.
so. sad. awesome soundtrack picks... it's so hard to choose just a few (the show really made me love music again). the show was amazing. i was IMing my friend throughout it and right before the marissa locket she said something like, "okay, I'm not alright! I'm about to turn into a flippin' fountain! don't leave me!" The future fast-forward thing was incredible - they did it really well.
I wish that they didn't just drop us out there though - they could have rolled the credits over interviews or scenes from the wrap party or something instead of really shitty commercials for new, uncool shows. but yea, amazing.
Yes, it was a great ending. Made me cry too. Thanks for the songs. Took them so I can remember Ryan in the last scene.
Any VM music this week? I still love this show-it is going to get better, just watch and see!
Oats what are you thinking... that ending was great. the first three acts were hilarious OC Season4 goodness and the final 10 minutes were truly incredible.
I think all this time failing in Hollywood has left you bitter cause that was a tearjerker!
While most of the finale was filler, the last 15 mins or so more that made of for it. For all of its faults, ridiculous plot lines, and its unlimited amount of incest, I could never (for the most part) miss an episodes and turn my back on the show. That's how much I truly loved this show and probably the only show I loved through its time on the air. Watching the ending montage makes me somewhat yearn for a reunion episode just to see what else happened. But I digress, I was fully satisfied with the episode. I'll really miss it and I said it before, but I'm still in denial.
Long time reader first time leaver of comment...er. I'm surprised I don't see Patrick Park Something Pretty on this list. I thought we were on the same page as every other hopeless romantic..C'mon Seth jumped on a coffee cart and declared love, that was amazing. Also I must say the story of me, which is about you, inspired me. Great writing and I wish you continued success. Wow Dr. Cox is going to take away my man card for commenting about sappy moments on the OC...
I agree not to speak ill of the dead. I also realized that the whole episode was really for the last ten minutes. They wanted to show what happens to the characters in the future - they were essentially done with their present stories, and obviously couldn't introduce any real conflict. Loved the end though, and how it all came full circle, and showed what the real focus of the show was.
I'm sad to see it go, but I also know it was time for it to end.
Love your musical countdown, although I would have included 'Running up the Hill' - you got all my other big ones (Hide and Seek, Hallelujah, Fix You).
Now to find a new addiction ...
Maybe it's because I started re-watching Season 1 of The O.C. last weekend and got super nostalgic, but last night's finale really got to me. Obviously I fell in love with the show during the 1st season, and watched the following seasons, though with far less interest. Watching the 1st season again after all that time really made me realize how much I love the show and how much the characters really meant to me--it sounds so cheesy and I never thought I'd be affected by a show that much, but I was definitely crying like a girl last night! The scene with Seth and Summer saying goodbye, their facial expressions...GOD. And the flashbacks with Ryan, and the shot of Marissa just really did me in. Anyways, thanks for letting me vent my cheesy OC nostalgia, I know I won't be totally ridiculed here :)
p.s. I don't know you, but I found your site through Pat's blog, whom I don't know either, but found through my friend Lauren who used to be an NBC Page as well. I love your blog and thanks for all the songs!!
I am sad to see the OC go, but it was nice to say goodbye on a high note. We drank tequila in Marissa's honor and sang along to California one last time. *tear*
Did you see that Josh picked some of his favorite musical moments, and they are pretty much in line with your list:
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20013240,00.html
Now if only I still had my S1 DVDs to comfort me, but no, they were stolen from my bag that the airline sent to Korea instead of New York. Thanks, Lufthansa!
Topic? I will really and truly miss this show but thankfully have many, many great songs from it that will bring back fond memories.
I've basically cried for the last 24 hours.
Thought the episode was damn near perfect. It was definitely uneven during the first half, but everything from Seth and Sandy sitting on the porch onward was as good as it could ever be (okay, could have done without Frank, but it did lend itself to a mindblowing resolution for Julie), and it was beyond perfect, which is how the entire episode averages out as perfect.
I, too, first started watching the OC in NYC. I had just moved to New York a month or so before.
I will miss this show, but I liked the series finale.
Thanks for the songs!
Sonny :-)
I love the song "Night Moves." Didja know Matt LeBlanc and Daphne Zuniga are in the video?
"Fix You" is one of those Coldplay songs that I didn't get at first, and then I put into constant rotation.
The writing is going well and I'm busier than ever. Lots to discuss. Cheers for you and Patrick's writing success... let's meet up soon, when the dust of February settles.
Scribe
I'm all typed out from leaving a reponse to Tuesday's post, so I'll just say, "Goodbye, O.C.. We loved ye well."
The end was really perfect, it was happy, the way that it was meant to be. I can't believe it's over though... "it's the end of an era!" The O.C. started this whole TV music phenomenon and I am so grateful. The music made the show.
Is there any chance you have the Jacob Golden song, "On A Saturday" as well? :)
PS. FNL is amazing. Thanks.
I will miss my weekly oc section definitely...it is just so sad a show like this got cancelled...so sad...sigh
Thanks for all the songs you've provided.
It’s good to come here and reading that other people are as sad as me…i can’t believe The OC is over! i had a hard time watching it because tears came all the time lol. but i really liked it,it ended like it was supposed to. when the last shot of Ryan ended i was like NOOO but it had to come. the song finale is great,thanks for posting !my new oc-depressing song,very grateful =). I will still continue reading your blog,it’s great,thanks for everything,you’re great !
Great post, great songs, great show. I thought the end was so sadly satisfying.
thanks for those moments. I completely agree. If there were more spaces i would have added maybe i'm amazed or flying high by jem. and dont you think marissas death last season deserves a mention? and something pretty - patrick park.
loved the last ten mins of the episode though. thanks for this!
I am impressed what you do here! I do appreciate your work and I hope others will, too.
O.M.G. O.C. R.I.P.
Just one last question: does anyone of you know the song which was played during Ryan and Taylor were going to have sex and being interupted by the actual owner. It was just like 5 seconds of the song!
With greetings from Germany
Stephan
I have never watched an entire episode of The O.C.. Ever.
I switched back and forth between the O.C. finale and Grey's (because Grey's was disturbing/disgusting/boring me for some reason I haven't been able to articulate yet).
Even though I only knew a little bit about the characters of The O.C., I started crying at the end (I'm a total sap), and I was relieved and overjoyed to see Seth and Summer ended up all happily ever after (hopeless romantic too). And the final moment with Ryan and the kid was touching.
Then, I switched back to Grey's and started bawling loudly with the final Izzie/Denny moment.
But I'm not sure I would have done that if the O.C. hadn't softened me up first.
Anyway, I meant to thank you for the music. Especially for the "Hello Sunshine" song (because I'm a sucker for "Sunshine" songs too).
As a Obsessed Completly fan,
I have to say, I still cannot believe its over. That theres no more. I still keep thinking that this is all some kind of dream, and that Josh, Fox and the media are gonna say "sike!" but umm yeah, I guess tomorrow will be the first thursday I spend without The OC. I still think Fox made a HUGE mistake replacing it with a are you smarter than a 5th grader show....*yawn*
Best thing thats ever happened to history. The OC is clearly and always will be the definition of *Drama*.
-Elizabeth
Love this post. Thanks for all the awesome links! If anything, "The OC' has made me a big fan of Imogen Heap. And I looked forward to the "songs played on tonight's show" bit.
Thanks to Pop Candy I found you btw. :D
As a male it's heartening to know I'm not the only bloke who left his testacles at the door once The O.C came on TV.
I will miss it, but at least its ending was swift and it finished on a high, unlike Dawson's Creek.
Like the list of music... Does ANYBODY, ANYWHERE know where I can get Jason Schwartzmann's "West Coast", which was used towards the end of Deason 4, episode 10...?
You left out a good one. When Jimmy left town and Marissa goes over to the Cohen's and they are having bagels, I think it was Modest Mouse in the background.
love the list of songs. the OC definitely holds a special place in my heart and i'm glad someone else out there appreciates it just as much as i do (:
There're two songs missing:
Sufjan Stevens - For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti
and South - Paint The Silence
c'mon, yyou've to add this songs to your score :)
the OC is the only one show i've been following diligently this past years, and now with the OC gone, i am left lost in darkness.
please help and recommend a good series i can watch to replace the OC, coz i dont really watch anything other than the OC. and please don't suggest Grey's coz i watch it here and there and it doesnt spark that "wow" interest in me.
p.s. my girlfriend loves me coz i cry whenever i watch the OC, she thinks i'm sentimental, i think the show pushes the right buttons of my control panel for feelings.
Hi 5 for Dice. That song, that moment, that show, my favourite throughout high school. And now as i near the end of my 4 years, they've ended. Great Post, as always.
Paint the Silence is a definite MUST for me. I also would have put Caught By The River by Doves in there, as that is one of my favorite scenes ever on the show. Everyone was so young and free and everything was so new.
I also agree with Running Up That Hill by Placebo. So many great songs. I think two of the better songs ever on the show are also Speeding Cars by Imogen Heap and Forever Young by Youth Group. It's just impossible to list them all, but the songs I've listed would be in my top ten musical moments, along with Something Pretty by Patrick Park.
Reruns of the O.C. on Soapnet keep me sane. Ironically. Thank you!
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home