#tell me marissa wasn't good for ryan

[wikiangela]

"you spent all last year trying to drag me down with you"

"you want to make a mess out of your own life? fine, you're doing a pretty good job of it"

truer words haven't been spoken on this show lmaooo

why is everyone looking at Ryan like he's wrong 😂

I am LIVING for Ryan who's not in love with Marissa omg

don't tell me he's gonna apologize to her now jfc nothing he said wasn't true - maybe she didn't force Lindsay to drink but everything else was spot on (and she is an alcoholic who provided the alcohol and encouraged it anyway sooo)

Marissa and everyone around her always making a victim out of her jfc 😂 I'm getting so sick of it 😂

like I know she has her issues but come on, at this point seeing it over and over again is just annoying - she should really go back to therapy jfc - also, someone pls do something about her drinking - Summer sees it all the time and mentions it but like, tell her mom???? she's gonna hate Summer and Julie will probably get her checked into rehab or smth but at least they'll try to help her??? that girl has problems and needs help and everyone around is just watching her spiral deeper and deeper

don't get me wrong, I like her character, but I'm getting annoyed and also it's mind blowing to me that even her best friend, who knows so well what's happening, isn't concerned

[theroseandthebeast]

Yuletide Recs, Batch Four

18 recs for North and South, The OC, Ocean's 8, Ocean's Eleven, Only Murders in the Building, Penny Dreadful, Peter Pan, Piranesi, Point Break, and Poker Face

Keeping True, Gen, John Thornton + Hannah Thornton + Fanny Thornton + Maria Hale + Nicholas Higgins + Mill Workers

Five views of Mr Thornton.

"if you weren't real i would make you up", Ryan Atwood & Summer Roberts + Seth Cohen/Summer Roberts

Tell the truth, but tell it like it’s a lie. Ryan Atwood grows up, and his relationships grow up with him.

Magpie, Ryan Atwood & Sandy Cohen + Ryan Atwood & Kirsten Cohen + Ryan Atwood/Marissa Cooper

Going fast enough, there was motion to it, and shape. The wires dipped in-between the poles, then curved back upward, then back down again - a never ending parabolic curve, like a child's drawing of ocean waves. He would imagine different creatures running on top of the wires - tigers, pandas, lions, cheetahs, or even a little miniature version of himself - running and leaping, keeping up with the car. He'd follow the horizon this way too - holding up one of his toy army men and lining up its legs with the line where the land met the sky. On the interstate, outside of the city, driving past farms and craggy hills and suburban enclaves, bunches of houses crowded up in little clusters like fungus erupting through the cracks in a tree's bark - everything looked like a toy. Like he could roll down the window and just scoop everything up, pull the whole world inside to look at it closer.

Encountering the Nova, Lou Miller/Debbie Ocean

Galaxies of women, there doing penance for impetuousness. Debbie and Lou meet cute.

somebody else's wallet, Danny Ocean/Rusty Ryan

When you look at another man for too long, you risk giving several things away.

What Really Happened with Marco, Danny Ocean/Rusty Ryan

Rusty visits Danny's grave, and remembers. Meanwhile, everyone has a story to tell about Danny and Rusty.

in the meantime, wait and see, Oliver Putnam/Charles-Haden Savage

Mabel Mora loves her old guys dearly, but she is getting tired of them sabotaging each other’s love lives.

1/3 Of What You're Saying, Theo Dimas/Mabel Mora

She dreams of puzzle pieces again, that first night at Theo’s. (Mabel and Theo as roommates, figuring it out.)

An Ingenue Looks at Seventy, Loretta Durkin/Oliver Putnam

Maybe this time, Loretta will get everything she ever dreamed of. Or at least a bigger piece of it.

ignition, Theo Dimas/Mabel Mora

“So, do I need to be worried about you getting with a murderer too, or can I reserve that particular worry for Charles and Charles alone?” Or, everyone seems to know before they do.

Dark Days Coming, Ethan Chandler/Vanessa Ives + Ethan Chandler & Vanessa Ives + Vanessa Ives/Hecate Poole + Ethan Chandler/Hecate Poole

Hecate makes a plan.

Somebody to Watch Over Me, Wendy Darling/James Hook

The Hook she had made up would never smile at a girl as if she were the most interesting person in the world and then tell her that of course, he would patiently await her decision.

Growing Pains, Wendy Darling/James Hook

Wendy knew Hook wasn't propositioning her to join his crew out of the non-existent goodness of his heart. Enchanting his eyes might be, but the coldness in them seeped right into her bones.

The Sixth Statue, Gen, Piranesi | Matthew Rose Sorensen + The House

Matthew Rose Sorensen explores the House.

The Reality of Shadows, Gen, Sixteen | Sarah Raphael

"And when he remembered his old habitation, and the wisdom of the den and his fellow-prisoners, do you not suppose that he would felicitate himself on the change, and pity them? Certainly, he would. … Yes, he said, I think that he would rather suffer anything than entertain these false notions and live in this miserable manner." - Plato, The Republic

The Waters below the Nineteenth Eastern Hall, The House + Piranesi | Matthew Rose Sorensen

Between the Eleventh and Fifteenth days of the Sixth Month in the Year the Albatross Came to the South-western Halls, there are days for which nothing was recorded. To fit into that space: a reflection on certain surprising Elements of the House.

lay my heart down, Bodhi/Johnny Utah

“Hey,” Bodhi says, soaked right down to the bone. “Room for an old friend?” Johnny takes a step back like he’s seen a ghost. “What the fuck?”

Ways to Disappear, Charlie Cale/Original Female Character

Charlie finds a place to stay awhile.

[mischas]

I'm late to this post as I'm revisiting all things Ben and Mischa since the news break (ofc). I've been wondering if Cam's confusion about Ben "being mean" to him even though he "didn't do anything" could be tied to him being an asshole to Mischa at the time. Even if she and Ben were in a weird spot maybe he was annoyed the new guy was either 1. in close proximity to her whether that be just in filming or irl or him being an asshole towards her. It's the only rumor I ever heard about Ben being "mean." Any other problematic Ben convos revolve around relationship drama so it makes me wonder. I feel like it has to do with Mischa.

Well yes, but also no. Forgetting Cam for a second, Mischa herself said "he was really angry with me to begin with and I felt the punishment of that". That's a deranged way to treat the 18 y/o girl who broke up with you. Especially as 90% of that relationship occurred when she was 17.

I think a lot of people have never paid attention to the rumors surrounding the s2 set, that Mischa essentially broke up the cast's happy-go-lucky dynamic of "work hard, play hard" together and how she courted fame separately by hanging out with people in LA party circles. There was a lot of deep-rooted resentment that manifested in the writing (and acting) and Mischa confirmed that on CHD (having referenced it earlier in Harper's Bazaar and E). Melinda said on the show podcast that Ryan's angry outburst to Marissa in 209 felt personal between the actors. If Alan Sepinwall tells us in his substack that this bombshell was not really a bombshell to him because it seemed everyone knew and talked around it, I imagine Melinda knew about the rancid s2 vibes. A lot can be gleaned just from that alone. It's not just romantic/sexual tension and anger, it's, as Mischa said to E! News in 2021, and I feel comfortable saying with the added context of CHD... bullying. The rawness in that one scene alone is nasty work. I can only imagine what was said or implied off-camera.

As for s3, the kids were all tired of being there and acting out in various ways. There was a lot of backtalk and bitching and Adam is the only one coming out of the book looking like an honest person about that. And we know Mischa wasn't going to be spilling her guts in a book telling half-truths to a subjective journalist with questionable history with her.

There are instances on the podcast (a very Ben-positive pod) about him being a dick to extras and guest stars. "Mean" is a relative term. Ben's own future wife got the cold shoulder from him. Nikki Griffin was reading on set and he remarked that he was surprised she could read at all. And Nikki made sure to note it wasn't said as a joke. And I really don't care about Cam Gigandet. I think Ben is allowed to be strangely jealous or confused and whatever s3 behavior (I don't think it's the worst thing in the world to shutter a guest star, like it's not great but it's whatever), but there are other accounts of Ben not being the best to work with if he's not in a good mood. The director Patrick Norris said on the podcast that he didn't know if Ben was going to punch him or take direction. And Norman had his issues with him too. So like. I wouldn't want to be on the other end of that.

[ryanatwoodenthusiast]

ranking the oc characters in different seasons bc why not

yeah so what the title says basically

ryan atwood

season 1 - i guess this was ryan's best season bc we saw him change from the sad boy with trust issues who uses violence as a response to everything to a mature person who is actually kind of happy sometimes. his savior complex was bad this season though. but like wasn't it always?

season 4 - ryan from s4e4 onwards was awesome - he no longer felt the need to save everyone, he was happy (apart from the whole thing with marissa ofc), him and taylor worked really well together. all in all, i loved him then - also with expressing his emotions and everything like his growth is amazing

season 2 - tbh i feel like i've forgotten most of s2's plot but from what i remember ryan was awesome in it

season 3 - ryan's worst season. especially the whole thing when johnny died and he felt almost no empathy and started dating his cousin ?? also the whole jess plot was so random and unneccesary. but ryan after his breakup with marissa or his breakup with sadie was great again

marissa cooper

season 3 - okay this is a reallyyyyyy unpopular opinion but s3 was marissa's best season imo. she seemed a lot more mature, even during her relationship with volchok. she was working on her relationship with her mother and also with her sister. she was being honest with ryan and told him the truth about what was happening with johnny. she was a good friend to summer, just like in all the other seasons. she experienced a lot of growth !!

season 1 - marissa was great in s1. but i've started rewatching s1 and tbh it kind of annoys me how naive she was in the first few episodes, not noticing what position it put both ryan and luke in to invite ryan to parties and stuff. i guess that pattern kind of was repeated in her relationship with ryan

season 2 - she seemed the most immature in this season (it makes sense bc she obviously went through a lot)

season 4 - i mean. yeah.

seth cohen

season 4 - he became an honest character who was actually working on himself and his relationship with summer

season 1 - the classic seth season i guess. but the whole summer and anna plot... yeah.

season 3 - he was good this season but there was the whole college thing where he wasn't telling summer the truth

season 2 - the whole zach and summer relationship... yeah no

summer roberts

season 4 - she was the most mature this season even though i did kind of miss how she used to be

season 2 - whenever all the zach and seth drama was going on she was just like yeah no i'm not dealing with that and tbh i love that for her

season 3 - great season for her

season 1 - obviously summer was great in s1 and i love the development she went through but that growth is what made her character so good in the other seasons

i might make a part 2 with the other characters !!

[iloveu-thanku]

I just felt like I was living somebody else’s life. And, um, then I heard the news... I don’t know, it’s like boom, back to being me.

[andsmile]

Idk if you remember since you watched the oc but LM reggie is like luke marissa's first boyfriend he was a dick at first then later became more likeable cuz they showed his nice side the boy really cares for marissa and was in love but it wasn't mean to be she cared about him too but also had growing feelings for ryan and the past rs was just too messed up to go back to what it was ( tell me this aint lm archie/veronica/reggie) ryan was the new guy too!

HMMMM of course I remember! I hadn’t made this comparison so far, but it really does fit. I just remembered how much I loved Ryan/Marissa back in the day lol. Of course, Ronnie is less problematic, Archie is not Ryan, and Reggie is… Well, he’s on his way to some redemption, that’s for sure.

I loved The OC. Good times.

[mischas]

Ah, thank you for your thoughts! I've read it and will re-read a few more times. Would love your thoughts on the lifeguard scene in 3.02 - which I think is the last time they are there together? - Marissa is so mature and understanding, I find it frustrating. I want Ryan to have to explain himself to Marissa but he never does. It's interesting how S1 Ryan is so protective of her and in S3 how he completely fails to understand her and is shut down completely.

I wanted to answer this when I had more time so sorry for the wait! I promise I wasn't ignoring it. Technically they are there together in 3x19 when Ryan is brooding about Sadie leaving and Marissa shows up. He's undoubtedly waiting for Marissa IMO, knowing it's her sacred spot. But I digress.

The lifeguard stand scene in 3x02 needs to be viewed independently of the fight scene that precedes it but they are important to one another. Sandy tells Ryan to go back and listen, and Ryan doesn't really do that, but instead gives us his POV on how he thinks this is his mess to fix. And it's the most we get from him about that whole situation so we have to take it at face value but also contextualize it with how he's been acting. I like that he opens up about being scared of screwing up the chance the Cohens gave him by taking him in. I don't think the show was this intellectual but we could possibly connect this to his s2 characterization. Maybe he thought the Theresa situation at the end of s1 was his 'screw up' and he told himself if he were to somehow make it back to Newport he'd keep his head low and avoid confrontation. I'm not sure, but maybe.

Ryan viewing the shooting as his fault, thus "Now I screwed things up for you" tells us that he really does put this on himself. The entire thing. And he shouldn't. He knows Marissa had no choice but to pull that trigger. When she says in 3x02, "So I was supposed to watch you die?" I think Ryan is really shook that she put it so plainly. Ryan approached the fight in 3x02 with rose-colored glasses and I think he was avoiding that Trey was truly killing him. So Ryan knows she saved him, and feels like he put her in that position. I think his shame in that is partly why he kept his distance during the summer. Not just 'I brought Trey into your life but I made you care for me enough to shoot a fucking gun at someone's back' Like, that's fucking love. And it's an overwhelming feeling.

The earlier fight scene has shades of blame he harbors for Marissa, which he is also ashamed of. No matter what, Ryan still finds it hard to let Trey go and be honest about who Trey is as a person. Thus "There are consequences for me too, he was my brother." He saw the fight between the two of them as back to their old ways, hashing it out with their fists, and in some ways it wasn't even about Marissa's assault. It was the idea that Trey threatened the life Ryan had made for himself. Breaking the trust of the Cohens and of course assaulting Marissa. But it became an allegory for taking from Ryan. In 2x24 Trey says "Yeah, well, you have the good life" and it tells us that Trey's pre-meditated assault did at least partly come from a place of wanting to hurt Ryan. Because he's jealous that Ryan has this new life. This new chosen family. This privilege. Like I said in my 3x01 analysis, Trey can pull Ryan's strings pretty easily. No matter how mad Ryan got at Trey in s2 pre-assault, he always came back around. Other characters interfered, sure, but Ryan knew how manipulated he'd been in the past by his brother but kept forgiving him and kept believing in him. Trey doing what he did meant that the cycle was supposed to stop, that Ryan was supposed to feel comfortable cutting Trey off in his heart. But it wasn't so easy, which is where that 3x02 fight comes in. He snaps, and he knows it was a shitty thing to say but at least it was honest.

"I don't need you to protect me. I don't now and I didn't then" says Marissa. AKA you didn't need to go fight Trey. And in some ways she's blaming him too, which is a thought I don't consider often when I think about s3. We know she's not a fan of his fighting and never has been. I love this scene because we actually get some perspective into how they're both feeling and something RM needed to do was verbally communicate. And they're both ashamed of the things they say.

When it comes to the lifeguard stand, they've both let their guards down and it's nice seeing them so serene and just holding hands. Because no matter how they're feeling deep down about the blame they're placing on one another, they know it's unfounded and they know what's between them is stronger than those things they're ashamed of. Marissa reassures Ryan that Harbor is not the end all be all of her life and he needed to hear that. She's bummed about being kicked out but it hasn't devastated her. I think part of his idea in 3x01 and the summer preceding it was that everything would go back to normal once Trey awoke and school was part of that promised normalcy. And dealing with the school issue was easier than dealing with Trey and everything that came with that.

It's nice to think that Ryan did end up convincing Marissa to go with him to the carnival. I like picturing that. They're both so so into the mythology of their own relationship and it's sick!!!