Viewers wait to see how ‘OC’ replaces Marissa
By Kassie Kallner
IV Leader Staff, Oct. 19, 2006
At the end of last season, FOX shocked “O.C.” viewers with
the death of Mischa Barton’s character Marissa Cooper. Just as the scene where
Ryan Atwood first comes to the O.C. and spots Marissa as they drive along a
street represents the beginning to the drama, the image of Ryan carrying
Marissa’s body away from the burning car will symbolize a turning point for the
popular teen drama.
This unexpected death has left viewers wondering, how will
the show even continue without her? After all, the constant on-again/off-again
relationship between Ryan and Marissa has kept the show interesting and the plot
line moving for the first three seasons.
FOX’s “O.C.” Web page hints at her replacements. Kaitlin
Cooper, Marissa’s rebellious sister, and Taylor Townsend, the know-it-all class
president who befriended Seth last season, are now featured in the main credits
of the show as regulars.
Additionally, the actors who play Kaitlin and Taylor, Willa
Holland and Autumn Reeser respectively, are featured on the bios page along with
Benjamin McKenzie and Adam Brody. However, even if these two characters play
larger rolls in the plot line during the fourth season, it is hard to imagine
life in Newport Beach without Marissa Cooper.
Fortunately, the series may take place in locations other
than “The O.C.” as the high school grads leave for their first semesters at
college.
Hopefully, the writers can take these wonderfully-written
characters out of their homes and successfully put them in new situations
without ruining what made the show so magical to begin with.
To find out what happens in the ever-dramatic world of the
O.C., catch the season premiere of season four Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. on FOX.