Customer Reviews

The O.C.: The Complete Fourth Season

5 star:		(60)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

And with these final 16 episodes, the once pop-cultural phenomenon "The OC" finally fades to white. It had been a rocky road for the series and the characters over the 4-years that `The OC' aired on the FOX network, but through it all the series persisted.

The theme of season 4 was essentially `going back to the beginning' and that was exactly what happened in this final season. Since all the main characters either died or graduated high school in the third season finale, the four season premier seemed more like a pilot than a season finale of a show near its end. And for 15 additional episodes the writers brought the humor, wackiness, and pop cultural refrences that made the series so popular to begin with back, leaving the melodrama at a bare minimum.

I'm sad to see `the OC' go, it will always be a part of my history because for better or for worse I watched the show through every-one of its 94 episodes, and I will remember these characters fondly. I also need to mention the series finale, which to my amazement didn't dissapoint in the least, it was lighthearted, fun, zany, and had all the right ingredients, and definitely worth a rental if you just want to see how the series comes to a close.

This DVD set contains all 16-episodes on 5 discs, in additional to deleted Scenes, Gag Reel, 2 Featurettes, as well as a commentary on the final episode, `The end is not Near, it's Here'

I deeply regret both that FOX didn't order a slate of episodes for THE O.C.'s final season and even more strongly regret that they cancelled it when it still had a lot of life left in it. Season Three had been a thudding disappointment that both chased off a lot of previous fans and made FOX consider ending it. The network never really gave it a chance in its final season, putting it in a timeslot in which it couldn't possible maintain strong ratings. Nonetheless, after the dismal third season, it was great to see the series regain the charm that had made it so much fun to watch in its first and most of its second season.

One of the reasons for the success of the show in the fourth season is that they finally seemed to realize that the endless number of hated characters that popped up over the years were simply that: hated. They were not characters we loved to hate, we simply didn't like them. It all started with Oliver and then mushroomed in the next two seasons, exploding in Season Three. But this year they managed to avoid introducing any truly awful characters. I never really warmed up to Ché and Taylor's French ex-husband was not very likable, but neither approached the loathsome characters of the first two season. Instead, we were left mainly with the same characters that were the real reasons we enjoyed the show all along.

I must admit that at first I was leery about the reappearance of Taylor and Kaitlin. The latter in Season Three seemed to be on the verge of being as self-destructive as Marissa had been. With Marissa gone I was certain that Kaitlin was going to go down her path. Instead, the writers took her character in a number of unexpected ways and she ended up being a delightful character. But even more shocking was what they did with Taylor. Even in Season Three they had done a great deal to redeem her character. Taylor had started out as one of the least likable characters on the show, but they gradually made her sympathetic. Still, at the end of Season Three she at most could be described as irritating. This year they managed to make her actually likable. And by the time that we realized that they were actually going to have her and Ryan get together I had actually warmed to her. She was still high strung and obsessive, but she was also shown to be someone with a large heart. And in a way that Marissa never was, she turned out to be good for Ryan.

All in all, the show had a good four-year run. I think it had another year or two in it and would have enjoyed seeing it come back. But given how terrible Season Three was, I must confess that my overwhelming feeling about Season Four was gratitude. The most abused and meaningless phrase in talking about television is "jumped the shark." If any show ever had truly jumped the shark, that was THE O.C. in Season Three. But Season Four was a wonderful return to form. I'm not sure that any other show ever had such a terrible year and then followed it with such a great one. So it ended, but at least it ended well. Not many series can make that claim.

For those who aren't sure if Season 4 would be good after a terrible season 3, I assure you that this is a great rebound. I didn't expect much after Marissa's death, but the show rebuilt itself from the ground up in the 4th Season. The show was dying on its old legs and dynamics, but with the colossal event that changed the series, Marissa's death, new life was breathed into the show.
You'll find much more comedy this season than in Season 3, much like in the show's glory days in Season 1. So if you strayed from this show after a mediocre to decent Season 2 and a terrible Season 3, your faith should be restored with this one.

Many people loved the 4th season. I was disappointed. I guess because of the crash in the ratings - partly because of Grey's Anatomy - the writers thought they had to take the series in a new, direction, and so they turned the series into a farce.

Let me back up a bit. I loved the start of the 4th season, the conflict of Ryan trying to find Volchok, but once Volchok turned himself in there was no central, compelling conflict to propel the action. Instead there was an endless parade of comedy, most of which I didn't think worked.

Again we were introduced to more unbelievable characters: Che and Bullit that made me groan.

Yes, it was nice to see Kaitlin and Taylor grow, but I still found Taylor somewhat annoying and unrealistic.

Sandy Cohen became more of a spectator than someone taking part in the action. I don't know why he wasn't given a stronger, dramatic storyline. For exammple, now that he was back in the Public Defender's office, why couldn't he have a new, compelling client, perhaps a young woman who shares a bond with Ryan?

I liked the way Summer and Julie evolved for the better.

Finally, I loved the way the series ended. (Yes, I had tears in my eyes.) Afterward, I listened to Josh Schwart'z commentary, and heard him say he was definately going for comedy in season 4. I suspect he forgot that one of the things that made the O.C. so addicting was the way it went back and forth from comedy to drama. Also, I rewatched the pilot. It was a compelling, dramatic episode that got the series off to a bang - viewers loved it and became addicted to the show - and yet the pilot wasn't that funny.

IMHO, what sunk the OC was a bad, first half of the 3rd season, where we were introduced to several unlikeable characters and unbelievable storylines.

I suspect is the writers of The OC never figured out where they lost their way.

Anyway, that's my two cents. It's certainly a lot easier criticizing a series than writing one.

Thanks Josh and everyone else who worked on the show for some great tv!

I must say, this was probably the best season yet. Of course, it was pretty much an entirely different show, seeing as how the characters were no longer in high school, and it just went in an entirely different direction than the previous seasons (it reminded me of 90210 after they had all graduated high school, and the cast was almost an entirely different group of people) but it was, in all honestly, the first season where all the characters were actually likeable. The only downside being that some of the episodes were extremely corny (come on, the christmas episode was completely ridiculous)

And Ok, I know a lot of people will probably hate me for saying this, but I was kind of happy that Marissa was gone, and I was interested to see what the show would be like without her. I've always had an extreme love/hate relationship with her character. Ill admit, that in some ways, the show really wasn't as good without her on it, and at times I missed her, but at the same time it was a big relief, and a much needed change with the depature of her character.

I'm sorry, but it was always the same old story with Marissa. Every season, she whined and cried about how hard her life was, and always, ALWAYS there was some guy that would fall in love with her, come between her and ryan (think oliver and johnny!), and Marissa, the ditz that she was, would always deny it, even though everyone told her different and it was extremely annoying. I really don't know why ryan kept going back to her to be honest!

But don't get me wrong, she wasnt the only character that I disliked.

Summer (although I love her now)was extremely annoying in both the first and second season. In the first season she was annoyingly ditzy, and completely different than the summer you see in later seasons. the entire love-triangle between summer, seth, and anna during season one was extremely irritating.

Need I even mention Oliver, who was, and probably always will be, the most annoying character I've ever seen on a TV show.

Then in season two you have the extremely dull Zach, who bought nothing of interest to any of the storylines, and of course there was Jess, the character you wanted to just reach through the screen and bitch slap.

Ryan was irritating, just for the mere fact that all during the first three seasons, he did nothing but get in fights with people. I actually lost count of how many fights he got into during season one alone!

Julie Cooper was also a highly despicable character, especially during season one. She came to grow on me as her character changed little by little, until she finally became a great character in season 3, and especially during the 4th season. You can't help but be touched as you watch her grieve over the loss of her daughter, yet you also can't help but feel bad for kaitlin, the daughter she ignores.

Seth is the only character I've actually liked during all four seasons. The show definitely wouldn't have lasted as long as it did without the humor you get from his character.

Another good thing was Taylors transformation, from being one of the most annoying characters ever on the show (I despised her during season 3), to becoming an actual likeable character. During this season I found her to be quite funny, and found myself actually coming to appreciate her presence.

I think my favorite character of them all is Kaitlin Cooper, who is as different from Marissa as day and night. The only thing I didn't understand was why they didn't show her, along with the rest of the characters, grieving over the loss of her sister. You get no emotion from her whatsoever on that particular issue, which is extremely odd.

All in all, the fourth season is one I would definitely recommend. The first episode is briliant. Even my mom, who has never liked the show, was impressed with the way they did the first episode. Everything from the characters grieving, to the music they play, is nothing short of amazing.

I believe that the show could have gone on even longer than it did, atleast for a season or two more, but nevertheless, I was satisified with the series finale, as well as the rest of season 4.

****SPOILERS****


The O.C. is a great show, but this season loses that O.C. feeling. It's a good season, it just feels like a different show. With the death of their best friend Marissa, Ryan, Seth and Summer must cope with the tragedy. Julie is affected greatly also. Let me say that the third season finale with Marissa's death TOTALLY shocked me. I couldn't even believe that it was happening...literally. I don't understand why they had to kill her. I mean, why her? She was awesome! But if you loved her also, you will be affected by the emotion of this season.

Everyone's trying to deal with her death and it really upsets you as a viewer. The dialogue is sometimes heartbreaking, and even being a guy it is really sad. Taylor becomes a main character this season and having her and Ryan have a serious relationship is kind of upsetting. I guess he has to move on and everything...but I mean come on, Marissa is his girl and will always be his girl. They were soul mates. I mean really, on TV dramas like this, you usually know who's gonna end up with who. Before Marissa died, you totally thought that by the series finale they would be together. But in this case no. Some of the relationships are kind of disappointing (Julie-Frank, Taylor-Ryan). I like Julie and Frank and all...but it just doesn't seem like The O.C. It feels like they were pushing it a little.

That being said, this season is really good and has really good episodes, all good storylines. The best episode this season is The Cold Turkey. It's really sad and really affects you if Marissa was your favorite character.

P.S. I still can't believe The O.C. is over. It was described as such a "phenomenon." But phenomenons don't last only 4 seasons. I still think it was because Mischa Barton leaving.

The season started out awful and there were only a few glances of the show from past.

Ryan is a cage fighter!!! Come on, yes you heard me right a CAGE FIGHTER. Isn't this the same person who gets beat up almost everytime he got into a fight with someone? I also think that no matter how good of a speech Sandy Cohen can give you, if you go months trying to locate someone to kill them you aren't going to find them and only punch them.

Summer decides as a way to avoid dealing with Marissa dying she will go to Brown and become a hippie activist, and apparently stop grooming.

Julie must have some secret power which she uses on men. How do you throw a man out of his own house and him apparently just accept it. Also you go from a state of cationic to being alright about your daughter's death in a span on 2 episodes.

Taylor just seems to be filler. She shares too much with people that she barely knows. She just moves into Summer's room and no one seems to notice or care that she is there.

Kaitlin comes home so she can rule the school since Marrisa was going to be graduating, but and scenes they show of school most people don't really like her unless she is throwing a party, except for the twins.

Seth is just Seth

I usually I have to fight to go to bed cause with the show I want to see the next episode and with this season I fought to get through it just so I can be done with it

The second best season out of the four. It really got me loving the show again. Even though it is a shorter season, with 16 episodes instead of the usual 24 or 25, it makes up for content with quality. This season has a fantastic primiere and a great finale which caps off the show so if you love the O.C., then you will want to buy this DVD set.

The fourth season of The O.C. was one of the highlights of the 2006-2007 season. After a good but not outstanding second season and a very bad third one, the show finally began to face the sun that made its fame during its first speech perfect season. Yes, killing Marissa Cooper was a tough decision to make and the way it was taken care of wasn't really thrilling or good even if you hated that character. But then you watch the season premiere and you feel like her death was just useful.

The show finally focused on three characters portrayed by three amazing actors : Julie (Melinda Clarke), Summer (Rachel Bilson) and of course Ryan (Ben McKenzie). And it was just great again. The awesome and beautiful Autumn Reeser and Willa Holland were made regulars and they were a great addition to the cast, making sure the balance between drama and comedy was respected. In fact the season is more funny than dramatic. Because all the plotlines revolve about quality and light stuffs : new romances, old romances, babies, weddings, French talkshows, fun natural disasters, slutty aliens and of course family.

With great indie music, Christmukkuh and all the things that made The O.C. the phenomenon that redefined a generation, you will not want to miss this season which will only leave you with anger concerning the network that cancelled the show, Fox. But again you will think this is the perfect way to end this history. Rating : A

"The O.C." was a great show full of memorable characters and performances, great wit and satire, and best of all - it was very heartfelt. Season 4 was cut short by Fox and as a result the show suffered in its last 5 to 8 episodes, but really pulled through with an emotional and uplifting series finale. Just keep in mind the season 3 finale is actually the real final episode (cause in essence the show has always been tragic) and Season 4 is the epilogue - its basically to just follow up what happened in that season. In the end, order all four seasons and you will realize why "The O.C." is great and possibly one of the most underrated shows in television history.

Season 1- A-
Season 2- B-
Season 3- B
Season 4- B+