The End of An Era

Tonight, the night we have all been waiting for (okay, that this librarian has been waiting for) has almost arrived. Yes, the series finale of the O.C. will be airing on Fox tonight at 8:00 PM CT. Sadness, right? I don't know. I was reading Sarah Dessen's blog today, and then watching her YouTube clip of the first season finale of The O.C., and all of a sudden I remembered how good the show was when it started out. Don't get me wrong, I've actually watched most of the current season. (I wanted to watch last season, but because "Everwood" was on at the same time, I never could. Still, I plan to watch the DVDs of it.)

Watching the YouTube video brought me back to first season, when the show was both popular and quirky, when Seth Cohen made girls all over the country swoon for, well, a (TV) nerd! Someone who loved comic books and action figures, and had held the same crush on Summer Roberts for waaaay too long. I don't know what happened over the past three years, as the show plunged in ratings and quality, but I'm able to overlook that tonight, to say goodbye to some characters that were at times brilliantly written, witty, but also flawed and human. Julie Cooper, Seth Cohen, Ryan Atwood, and Summer Roberts were my favorite characters. I'm going to miss them.

So what to watch, now that The O.C. is (about) over? If you're like me and were drawn to the show for the funny characters, for the geekiness of Seth Cohen, and for aspects of family drama, here are some shows you might want to check out. They're all out on DVD and available at libraries in our system.

For the Seth Cohen geek in you:


Freaks and Geeks. An amazing show that lasted just short of one season on NBC. Set in 1980, it focuses on an older sister and younger brother, Lindsay and Sam Weir, as they deal with high school from two different perspectives. Lindsay's ditched the Mathletes to hang out with "the freaks," while Sam is perpetually in fear of getting beat up, since he's a nerd. One of the best television shows. Ever.

For the Seth-Summer, Ryan-Marissa, Ryan-Taylor, Kirsten-Sandy, Julie-Everybody(?) fans:


Everwood. Amy and Ephram are this fine show's Marissa and Ryan. The friendship/relationship of these two characters is at the center of this show set in small town Everwood, Colorado, about a New York City neurosurgeon who moves his family, including his son Ephram, to Colorado after the death of his wife. All the drama of small town life plays out brilliantly in a show that last year ended it's four year run on the WB (now the CW).

For those who can't get enough of the references, quips, and sad Cohen jokes:


Veronica Mars. Still on the air (CW, 8 PM, Tuesdays), Veronica Mars helps out her dad, a private eye, even though she's just in high school. Set in Neptune, an affluent made-up California town home to celebrities and the uber rich, the show follows Veronica as she slips down from the A-list to the who?-list when her dad is kicked out of the Neptune police department because of his belief that one of the wealthiest fathers in the community is responsible for his daughter Lily's death -- Lily was also Veronica's best friend. Like our friend Seth Cohen, Veronica is a quippy fast-talker.

Hope these suggestions help you get through the post-O.C. blues, in case they afflict you! Or, you could always re-watch season one of "The O.C." In tribute, I'll think I'll watch the series premiere right before I watch the series finale, for added effect. Happy watching!