[lasha4god]

Delighted is just one word to describe myself after finishing this episode, which, I had almost missed do to Canada’s CTV altering the schedule because of American Idol and CSI. I don’t think I had been this engaged, entertained and satisfied at any other point in this season.

It’s strange to say when talking about an episode that included a voice-over from Summer, flashbacks from Marissa, oh and Julie Cooper as Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct. Those elements combined could leave a person wondering how this episode could ever work or sustain a viewer. It sounds campy at best. But the truth was, it all succeeded.

This episode was fulfilling because it perfectly balanced all the elements that strengthen an episode of The O.C. It had Chino-like drama, sexy flirtations, valid and genuine comedy, great character development, implied Seth and Ryan jokes and the list continues. Except for Marissa refusing alcohol from Volchok, little seemed forced or out of place.

Besides Seth, Summer is the only character that could pull off a voice-over. She truly is a person who over-thinks and is probably having conversations in her head more often them she’s making out with her boyfriend. I took the voice-over as being an in-the-moment action. This was the voice literally going off, in her head, and, at that moment. I’ll admit, when I first started to hear Summer’s voice float over the scene I thought I was transported to an alternate version of The O.C. Combine that with the ease into Marissa, Seth and Summer cozying up in a hot tub and I was sure something was awry. But then it occurred to me to just go with the flow. And I’m glad I did.

Choices, was the main theme of Summer’s voice-over. It was at the moment Ryan made the choice to take to the road with Sadie I knew he had made his preference and it certainly wasn’t Marissa. There was no question in my mind Ryan and Marissa were to come to an end. Ryan’s adventures with Sadie simply sealed the deal.

Sadie and Ryan were a pure joy to watch. They had a natural chemistry and a certain way with each other. I was absolutely embodying the feeling of joy as they almost took on the role of a great comedy duo. Gracie Allen and George Burns, maybe they weren’t, but Ryan’s sly rebuttals and one-liners put a wide grin on my face. It was a refined and toned down version of what he had with Lindsay. It was more believable.

The drama and physical side of their story brought a genuine feeling of Ryan’s Chino past. Ryan was fighting for a reason and a purpose. And it aligned so well with his true character. Not the shirt and tie wearing Ryan who can’t shut-up, but rather the Ryan who knows when to folds his cards, talks based on necessity, and fights for those he loves just as much as he questions his relationships.

While all this went down, Marissa took to moping and hanging with Summer. Two things she does well. Somewhere mixed in was a lack of effort in trying to save her relationship with Ryan and being stalked by Volchok. Both things allowed for Marissa to be apathetic almost through the whole episode. She never told Volchok off or took his alcohol to drown her sorrows. She never did more than give Ryan a phone call. And when they finally did talk, she couldn’t stand her ground or declare her true feelings. Ultimately, Ryan had to do all the work for her. She simply waited upon him to make the final choice. It was both sad and pathetic.

This is why I may have not been so empathetic to the fact that Ryan broke up with her over the phone. Still, I longed for Ryan to say his perfect and straightforward words to her face. It was never about Johnny, or anyone person. It just wasn’t working. Those words were so simple, yet, so powerful and spot on. I wonder how Marissa would have reacted having had to deal with this face-to-face. Would she still have been a mix of indifference and tears?

Marissa’s flashbacks of Johnny and her police questioning with Sandy unexpectedly worked for me. The choice of scenes and the editing strengthened the purpose and brought context. It was definitely stronger than the flashbacks in this season’s premiere, which, in contrast, came off muddled and confusing.

It was a pure delight to see Taylor back and being used appropriately. She offered more than a cheap laugh and bubbly presence. She actually furthered storyline, but wasn’t so interfering in the Julie and Dr. Robert plotline that you would feel she overpowered. She highlighted at just the right moments. She’s essentially the perfect female sidekick to Seth and Summer who, unpredictably, I thoroughly took pleasure from.

Summer was her most charming trying to play matchmaker and happy-source-finder for her dad. It was gratifying to watch, seeing how warm, funny and sweet each scene she inhabited was. Seth, both on his own and with Summer, was equally funny and pleasing to watch. From his reaction to the hot tub time, to his shocking comments about Julie, and finally with his bizarre sleep habits when Ryan was away, it all charmed me. I never thought I could still be this enamored by Seth Cohen. I was pleasantly proved wrong.

I also thought I couldn’t of been so interested in Sandy’s character development, or lack there of, as I once was. While it may have been more subdued, and arguably the weaker storyline, there was still something engaging about Sandy loosing a bit of his moral ground. Once again he’s fallible and imperfect, but not to the point of losing his character. He genuinely feels he’s doing these morally unsound things for the right reasons. It’s complex. The biggest disappointment for me wasn’t Sandy choices, but rather how condescending Kirsten was with him. I hope she can be more understanding and nature him back to the path of righteousness without making him feel as though he failed his supposed standard of morality.

I sometimes wonder if Julie has peaked, but them I’m instantly shown wrong as a new episode passes. She was amusing and comical as she tried to deal with her affair with Dr. Roberts. I couldn’t imagine her actually taking on the role of Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct. But she did. I was first taken aback. But then I took it for what it was, a classic Julie Cooper moment. She was going to do what ever it took, no matter how foolish she looked doing it, to keep the affections of Dr. Roberts. Their relationship has stunned me. When first they were interacting I never had an inclining for them to be a couple. Now I can’t imagine one without the other.

The ultimate positive to flourish from Dr. Roberts and Julie’s relationship is we got to see a growth and adult nature in Summer. She could have easily disbanded their union. But when she discovered just how happy Julie made her father she relented. She knew her father’s happiness is what mattered most, and she quickly learned to temporarily accept Julie as the woman who was making him happy.

The ending almost felt essential as we came back to the same song that had played over an initial scene from an earlier episode that hinted all would not be well with Ryan and Marissa. It was the Youth Group’s cover of Alphaville’s “Forever Young”. It was the perfect way to end had it simply stopped on that note. Unfortunately Marissa’s closing scene was slightly marred by an appearance of Volchok. I would have left his continued presence to be implied. Having him loom over her as she cried was too foreboding and direct.

I can surmise by simply stating, The Road Warrior, in my opinion, is the strongest episode of the season. All the essential elements were present. It progressed with solid flow and had me eagerly awaiting the next episode. It’s a shame the ratings have dropped from last week, now, just when the show is improving. I seriously hope the quality of the show continues and viewers can give it the chance it now deserves.

**** ½ out of ***** stars