When the Phantom Planet drumbeat kicked off on August 5, 2003, few viewers knew they were witnessing a cultural earthquake. On paper, The O.C. sounded like a rerun: a troubled teen from the wrong side of the tracks gets adopted by a wealthy family. But within ten minutes of its pilot, it was clear this was no 90210 clone. It was a deconstruction of the American dream—sun-drenched, sarcastic, and deeply wounded.
(A+ for the soundtrack, A+ for the first season, B- for the fourth-wall-breaking fourth season, but we love it anyway.) The O.C.
"California, here we come... right back where we started from." When the Phantom Planet drumbeat kicked off on
So, here we come. Back where we started from. Welcome to The O.C., indeed. A+ for the first season