That's what I forgot!

[hackthis_archive]

There was something that bugged the hell out of me about last night's The O.C.


So, everybody's think back to season one (a very long time ago) -- and remember Ryan Atwood, Playa-at-Large? Remember the making out with Gabby, Cal's girlfriend in the poolhouse, and the whole 'Who are you? Anybody you want me to be' exchange? Remember how Ryan's had sex -- ostensible with more than one person?

Okay.

Is that firmly entrenched in everyone's minds?

Good.

So explain to me how Ryan went all virgin!Seth at asking Lindsey out? That boy displayed no skills whatsoever. It was like watching somebody else. It *pained* me.

WTF, Josh!

Comments

[corimari.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I thought that was kinda weird, too. But I attempted to explain it away because he likes her likes her. If yaknowwhaddamean. LOL I agree, thought. The Dork!Ryan thing is weird. He needs to brood more often--the EEK! face he made when he spotted Summer, Zach and Marissa was just, wrong. And Marissa's clothes this season are making me want to tear my eyes out. *ahem* :D

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Indeed. I will think on this, yes.

[screaming-mimie.livejournal.com]

i think he's intimidated by her. not only because he likes her but because she's extremely intelligent and has in the past made it known that she thinks he's an idiot... though she did take that back, but only after he proved he wasn't.

[screaming-mimie.livejournal.com]

and there's the fact that earlier in the day she'd come right out and said she wouldn't date him or Seth and thought they were pigs for the whole datable girl search thingy.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, the rating system. ::whaps Seth::

[callmesandy.livejournal.com]

I think he's never really asked girls out - he's slept with lots of girls but that's a different set of skills from inviting out on a date. Chatting up vs. asking out, maybe?

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Good point!

[amber9245.livejournal.com]

I too explained it away saying he didn't really care about those other girls, and it was different when he actually cared for Lindsey.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

::nods::

Ryan/Lindsay: an in-depth opinion

[the-rocklobster.livejournal.com]

I'm going to go a step further in the he likes her, likes her thing.

Theresa and Ryan had past history. Growing up together history. Marissa and Ryan had... *strives* uh. Oh, I don't know, the whole opposites attract thing.
Gabrielle was just hot.

Enter Lindsay, who is obviously striving to be better than what life has unfairly handed her (like Ryan), she is intelligent (like Ryan), she is bold and confidant in most areas of her life (very unlike Marissa, which you can imagine Ryan wants to move past) and she is also able to make him laugh though we don't know how.

So, she has similar goals in life, she's intelligent, and confidant, and she makes him laugh, plus she's pretty and not anorexic and surely wouldn't need his (very cute) Chino ass to save her from turmoil -- she'd do it her own damn self.

In closing, she is the polar opposite of Ryan's ex, who he desperately wants to leave behind along with all the damn drama. (Remember Marissa, to DJ, telling him to prepare for drama or whatev'? Yeah.) But beyond that - he is attracted to her for all the right reasons, for all the things that one mature person finds attractive about another mature person. I, personally, think it makes him nervous because he knows that. He knows this relationship is a real relationship and based upon mutual respect, and common interest, and I think Ryan and Lindsay kind of just understand each other, at this point.

Plus, after his friendship with Seth thus far, it deserves lip service that Lindsay being able to admit and apologize for being wrong probably didn't hurt. She seems more sincere than Seth.

Re: Ryan/Lindsay: an in-depth opinion

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Rock on! You have totally made a brilliant case here for Ryan/Lindsey. I will now have to give this serious thought and consideration, thank you :)

Re: Ryan/Lindsay: an in-depth opinion

[the-rocklobster.livejournal.com]

Oh, anytime! I really like R/L, it's just that.. I think the writers are going too much on EVERYTHING this season. If they toned down Lindsay's attitude, I think more people would like her. I have looked past that, though, and love her for making lil' Ryan smile at the bus stop. hee.

[mel39.livejournal.com]

Ryan was just as awkward when asking Marissa out last year when he worked at the Crab shack. Remeber he got all flustered when he asked her if she wanted to "hang out?". I didn't think it was too out of character. But his edge has definitely gone.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Was he really? I must've blocked that from my mind as a traumatic memory.

[tigress35.livejournal.com]

They're like, flipping Seth and Ryan. Ryan is all, "Oh, must study, no time for socializing and love" and "oh, girl I like, how nervous you make my tummy feel" and Seth is all, "Hey, last year I discovered that I have a penis and that some girls might like it too, so how about I hit on everyone until I get laid"

Okay, Ryan was never really like that. But close enough.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Yes! I have totally noticed this -- tis v confusing.

[elzed.livejournal.com]

Yeah, definitely up with all the others here. Ryan may have fucked a lot of girls (for a 17 year old) but he told Seth he was new at all the dating thing. He can handle the getting laid on the backseat of a car, not so much the going out. Plus he likes Lindsay, and respects her, and thinks she hates him (well, until she tells him she has the hots for him). So he's awkward. Maybe a little more than necessary - but she is a bit of a forbidding character in some ways - so I buy it.

Plus he looked so damn cute when he was hesitating - couldn't resist him. Bugger Lindsay, Ryan, pick me! I may suck at physics but dude, I have a pretty sharp brain (although it may not be in evidence right now. Blame the booze. Goodnight now).

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Plus he looked so damn cute when he was hesitating - couldn't resist him. Bugger Lindsay, Ryan, pick me! I may suck at physics but dude, I have a pretty sharp brain (although it may not be in evidence right now. Blame the booze. Goodnight now).

My sentiments exactly. ;)

[avid-slacker.livejournal.com]

I agree that Ryan's awkwardness seemed out of character, and I really don't want to believe that he was intimidated by her intelligence because that's just pathetic as all hell.

The *really* likes her theory would work if he hadn't pulled out the mad skills on Marissa. I know it makes everyone crazy, but it's still canon that Ryan truly cared for Marissa, and had more reason to be intimidated by her because she was the unattainable rich girl. Yet after that first bumbling attempt at asking her out he did come back and say, "Earlier I was asking you out on a date, just to be clear cause I'm gonna ask you out again." He was very self-confident, bordering on arrogant.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I know it makes everyone crazy, but it's still canon that Ryan truly cared for Marissa, and had more reason to be intimidated by her because she was the unattainable rich girl. Yet after that first bumbling attempt at asking her out he did come back and say, "Earlier I was asking you out on a date, just to be clear cause I'm gonna ask you out again." He was very self-confident, bordering on arrogant.

I don't deny he had feelings for Marissa [insert chest pains here] but I do think he was so much more arrogant and this season he's being very, well, Seth. It's confusing, but I think everybody's making good points that I fear I will have to consider quite a bit. Oh, Ryan you are so complex! Damn you!

[crimsonclad.livejournal.com]

It may just be his super brilliant strategy to make sure that the whole Marissa trainwreck never happens again. She was all- we started with bad boy vibes and angst- let's stay there forever!

So, if he starts out as silly teenaged boy, maybe he can just date a girl and fall in love and have it be nice, instead of misery-inducing.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

But what's the OC without misery and angst?!

[crimsonclad.livejournal.com]

Cancelled?

[maybedarkpink.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I thought Ryan's characterization was kinda off this ep, and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why... and there it is. Also? Was greatly pained by that horrid hat of Marissa's...

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Marissa, looked like she'd missed the turn-off for the golf course.

[serenada.livejournal.com]

Just to agree with most everyone else -- Ryan's not an asker-outer. He freaked when he had to ask Marissa on a date, and they never actually went on a real date, did they? Not one that didn't involve showing up to something they both had to go to anyway.

As far as I can recall -- this might have been his first actual date.

I like to think that if Lindsay hadn't been in the picture, he might have boffed Alex. During the concert, even.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

You know I did notice some Ryan/Alex sparks. Not of the relationship variety, but more of the, 'you are a familiar person I can pigeon-hole as a one-night stand. We should fuck.'

[chicklet-girl.livejournal.com]

Have you seen the movie A Home at the End of the World? I rented the DVD a few weeks ago, and Colin Farrell's character, Bobby, really reminded me of Ryan; both are taken in by their friends' families as teenagers, and go through much of their lives trying to be whatever every other character needs them to be, molding their actions and personalities to fit everyone else.

Through much of S1 I thought Ryan was very passive, and oddly so. He seemed to be trying to fit whatever role he thought various people expected of him, whether it was the thuggish kid from Chino, or the knight in shining armor, or the brother in arms, or the responsible father, in order to be allowed to stick around; hence the "I'm whoever you want me to be" comment. Now, in S2, with the Teresa-pressure off, and his place in the Cohens' home assured, he can be himself. And his self is much more unsure, even dorky, than he's ever let on. I mean, it seems like he would have had to put up a front to live in Chino, right? And be serious in order to take care of his mother, and be tough to put up with her deadbeat boyfriends. But now that he has Sandy and Kirsten to take care of him, he can let go of that. Maybe that hidden dorkiness is part of why Ryan is drawn to Seth.

I see the behavior with girls, especially Lindsey, as an aspect of that. Like lots of people have said above, Ryan's never really asked anybody out; Marissa and Gabby strongly came on to Ryan, so it's easy to imagine his pre-Newport sex life was much the same. I think part of why Ryan was so nervous asking out Lindsey is he figured she would react badly to what was, let's face it, a pretty pathetic request: Will you go out with my friend because he's too chicken to ask you? And of course, he already liked her but didn't want to admit it.

Wow, did I ever overthink this. *g*

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Colin Farrell gives me a rash so I will pretend you didn't mention him, but you thought so hard about this I am so proud. Go team you! I may have to utilize your intelligence for a story at some point.