The OC Series Finale

And so, last night, my favorite teen drama The OC wrapped up for good with a heart-warming and happy series finale. I was sad to see such a great show go but I was glad the way the characters were left off. The finale picked up six months after the events of the previous episode where an earthquake rocked Newport and left the Cohen home in ruins.

Things picked started off rather surprising. The Cohens had been unable to rebuild their home so they were living with the Coopers and Summer. Ryan and Taylor had broken up and Taylor had moved back to Paris. Julie Cooper was engaged and pregnant. Ths shocking part of that is she wasn't engaged to Frank but to Bullit! And, the baby was also Frank's. It seems that he freaked out and dumped her when he found out she was pregnant. Meanwhile, Summer and Seth were living like an old married couple in her bedroom.

So, since the Cohens could not rebuild their home, they go house hunting. Nothing in Newport really appeals to them. Ryan and Seth remembered how much their parents loved the house they used to live in over at Berkeley. They decide to go their and convince the owners to sell. The funny part was that the owners were a gay couple that just happened to be a midwife and a wedding planner, both of which will come in handy later.

Well, the guys are unsuccessful so they call in Sandy and Kirsten to help. When they arrive at the house, Kirsten's water breaks and has to give birth right there. Luckily, one of the guys is a midwife so he aids in the birth. Kirsten has a healthy baby girl named Sophie. Meanwhile, Taylor had returned from Paris and realized she still loved Ryan. Then Kaitlin found out that Julie's baby is really Frank's. When she realized her mom still loves him, she went to look for him and scolded him for not fighting harder to be with her mom. When the wedding arrived, there was a tearful moment between Summer and Julie as they remembered Marissa.

So when it comes time to walk down the aisle, Bullit tells Julie that Kirsten cannot make it since she just gave birth. Julie states that she cannot get married without her best friend so Bullit flies everyone to Berkeley. That is where the wedding planner comes in as the wedding will now happen in that house. Everyone is happy to be together, especially Ryan and Taylor who get it on in the bedroom. The couple that owns the house decides to let Sandy and Kirsten buy their home since they have such a beautiful family and group of friends. Well, the wedding is going well until Kailtin's phone rings. It's Frank and he wants Julie back! Julie runs off unsure of what to do.

Eventually we find out Julie did not choose anyone. I thought it was great that she decided to take care of herself for once. She would now devote her time to herself and her family. Ryan, Seth, and Taylor are saying goodbye to Summer who will be working with G.E.O.R.G.E in protecting the environment. It was touching when she told Seth that he was her destiny. I was surprised that she did in fact leave Newport. Taylor also heads back to Paris to continue her studies.

Meanwhile, the Cohens are all packed up and ready to move. They say their respective goodbyes. Seth heads off to the airport to go to Rhode Island while Ryan stays behind. I loved how they had him walk through the house, remembering all that went on. As he drives away, he remembers the first time he saw Marisa.

After all this, things flash forward a little. Ryan and Seth are at their respective colleges while Summer has become an environmental activist. Sandy was now a professor at Berkeley. Kaitlin had become a good student and Julie was a college student. Things then went even further and we got to see Seth and Summer get married! Julie also graduated from college. The best scene of the night was the last one. It showed how the show really went full circle. Ryan, now a successful architect, runs into a young teen boy who looks like he had gotten into a fight. He was sitting upset near a phone booth. Ryan flashes back to when Sandy first saw him as a young, troubled teen. He calls out to the kid and asks him if he needs help.

So that's how the show ended. This kind of reminded me about the Christmas episode when Ryan saw how bad things would have been if Sandy never adopted him. The finale showed how everyone ended up better off from having Ryan in their lives. Seth was an entirely different person with more confidence. Sandy and Kirsten lived ahppily ever after together. Summer became more than a ditzy rich girl. Julie also changed entirely. The perfect ending to a great show. It will be missed!

The best lines:

Seth: I've been doing some checking-up on your new roommate. His favorite book and movie are Da Vinci Code. He's no me.
Ryan: You say that like it's a bad thing.
Seth: At least I leave you funnier than when I found you.
Ryan: I'm a lot better off than when you found me.
Seth: Me too.

Kaitlin (to Frank): All I want is for my mom to be happy and for my little brother to have his dad around, but not if he's gonna be a coward!
(Kaitlin walks away, then turns around)
Kaitlin: You know, I thought Atwoods were good at fighting.

Summer: Just remember, this isn't goodbye. You're my destiny, Cohen!

Summer: I'm reading about The Valley.
Taylor: Oh my god, that show's still on?
Summer: It's got picked up for 5 more seasons. You know, these teen dramas, they just run forever.

Ryan: Taylor sent Kaitlin a griddle from France.
Kaitlin: With a super long note how I need to broaden my breakfast horizons. She's 6000 miles away and still annoying.

Kirsten: Ryan, have you talked to her (Taylor)?
Ryan: Oh, no, haven't read her blog, haven't looked at her scrapbook, it's over and I am OK. It's been months, I barely even think about her.
Sandy: Even though you're living in her room.