Escape to a Much Happier Coastal City

I'm sitting in front of my computer screen as if the life has been drained out of me; delving deeper into depression with each newswire or blog post that I read. To help turn things around, I thought I would try and change the subject to something light. Something like, say, The O.C.

Let's just get it out in the open right now: The O.C. is my favorite show on television. I love it! And it's not a so-bad-it's-good kind of love. It's more like a so-good-that-I'm-telling-you-it's-my-favorite-show-on-tv-when-technically-I-should-be-embarrased-that-I-watch-it kind of love. The O.C. is just plain GOOD. If you don't agree, you haven't seen it. That's right, I said it. There are few audience members that The O.C. cannot woo, few cold hearts it cannot penetrate. Here's how:

Bitchy teenage girl (even at heart)? The outfits, the hair, the boys, the beach... I don't need to tell you why you'll love this show. But Marissa Cooper's attempts to piss off her mother are some of the most effective you'll ever see.
Indie-rock comic book-loving 35 year old? Watch Seth Cohen relive your past but with more money, better writing and a girlfriend.
Drunken frat boy/Aging drunken frat type? Ryan, the kid from the wrong side of the tracks, gets into lots of fights. Marissa, his hot girlfriend, gets into a lot of drinks... and pills... and trouble.
Desperate housewife? Choose between evil Julie Cooper, who sleeps with her daughter's boyfriend while simultaneously marring the richest man in Newport, or good-girl Kirsten Cohen, who drowns her lustful sorrows in Pinot Grigio when the principled magazine editor with whom she wants to become an adulterer gets away.
Capitalist pig? These people are Filthy Rich - the richest family in Newport Beach.
Tree-hugging liberal? Sandy Cohen is a Jew who fought for civil rights at Berkeley before becoming a public defender/surfer and adopting a tough kid from the wrong side of the tracks.

I could go on and on... have a gay dad? lost money in the stock market? considering a lesbian affair? like Death Cab for Cutie? been to a Scorpions concert? been visited by an unwelcome family member? love Star Wars or Wonder Woman? ...there is something in this show for you.

I started watching the show by accident. About two years ago I was putting off a writing assignment (read: lying face down on the carpet, wailing about how I'm stupid and worthless and don't know how to do this job), when I decided to take a "tv break." It was a Saturday afternoon and the FX network was trying to promote the then new show by running an all-day marathon of recent episodes. I came in on episode one and didn't stop until it was over about six hours later. OK, that's an exaggeration. I did stop to take a "writing break" during the episode where they went to Vegas. I still regret it. I have no idea what the hell I was writing - whether I finished it, whether it was published, whether it was good - but to this day I think about how I haven't seen that Vegas episode, pondering all I might have missed.

I know, I know, I could just Netflix Season One, but it's not the same. I'll never have another chance to see the first episodes, in order, for the first time. But you still have the chance. Just watch it. Although Season Three began last night, I recommend starting with Season One and moving on from there. No one has to know, and you don't have to thank me. When I run into you on the street one day and you are humming the unabashedly cheesy but catchy "California" theme song, it will be thanks enough.

And if you could maybe tell me what happened while they were in Vegas? That would be great.