The O.C. - The Complete Third Season (DVD, 2006, 7-Disc Set)

In 2003, the Fox Network aired The O.C. and it took viewers by surprise and quickly become of television's more popular series. Set in Orange County, The O.C. is teenage melodrama about a displaced, troubled youth who finds himself a recent adoptee of a wealthy family. The series focused on his cultural adjustment to the underbelly of one of the nation's wealthiest groups of people. This series has been said to be a modern Beverly Hills, 90210 by some critics. It has quickly become so imbued into current pop culture that other television series such House make reference to its existence. Regardless, the point is that The O.C. is a pretty well-known show and chances are you have heard about it in some way or another. For more details about the series, please refer to DVD Talk's reviews of season one and season two.

When I first started season three, I was exposed to the replays of the season two cliffhangers--Marissa shooting Trey and Kirsten heading off to rehab. From these two events, I thought I was in for a show that was going to be even soapier and over-the-top than One Tree Hill. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it was a quite a lot for me to take in as a first exposure to the series. Frankly, I found the aftermath on the hokey side and somewhat lackluster. However, towards the end of the first DVD (season three's fourth episode), I started to really get into the show. By that time, I had a good idea about who were the important characters and their relationship with each other and the supporting cast. Soon after, I started to realize what a solid production to this series was, especially in comparison to other series of the same caliber.

Season three is packed with drama. The stories range from the aftermath of Ryan, Trey, and Marissa shooting, Kirsten dealing with her alcoholism, Caleb Nichol's estate (or rather lack of), new friends and old faces, character deaths, con artists, the SATs and college, teacher/student affairs, teenage bad boy surfers, and more. While watching season three of The O.C., you are promised a couple things. First of all, the drama never stops. Something is always happening to the cast. Secondly, there is always a great bit of humor tied into the content to make the show that much more fun.

What sets The O.C. a part from other teenage melodramas is how intelligent it can be. It is something my fellow reviewers have pointed out in the show's earlier seasons, and quite frankly, it is true. The characters and dialogue get so intelligent that sometimes it is easy to forget it is a soapy, drama. This aspect is a distinct advantage over other soapy, melodramas. The reason is that you can easily get lost in the world of The O.C. and be entertained in a way that does not always stem from the storylines that are filled to the brink with unbelievable melodrama. Instead, we are left with an intelligent drama that still has its soapy, eye rolling moments. Tie all this together, and you have an excellent primetime drama.

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Posted by CK-Auctions

I love how the story just keeps going like it left off in season two. It's a great TV series! I LOVE every episode of The O.C....After I finish this season I am going to try to find a good deal on the final season. I have heard the third season is the best. Thanks Ebay for allowing me to find all the seasons at such great deals, especially when you can't find them in stores!

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS SHOW. ITS FULL OF DRAMA, EXCITEMENT, AND SUSPENSE!! LOTS OF HAPPY MOMENTS, LOTS OF SAD MOMENTS, AND THINGS THAT I MOST CERTAINLY DID NOT EXPECT. ITS JUST ALL THE WAY AROUND AN AMAZING SHOW. THE CHARACTERS ARE VERY GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO. I WATCHED THE ENTIRE THIRD SEASON IN A DAY & A HALF. I GUESS THE WHOLE POINT IS THAT I LOVE THIS SHOW AND ANYONE WHO HASN'T WATCHED IT NEEDS TO CAUSE YOU WILL BE ADDICTED JUST LIKE ME. TRUST ME!!! I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT I WILL JUST LEAVE IT WITH A FIVE STAR ***** REVIEW FROM ME. THANKS A BUNCH AND KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND MAKE SOME MORE KICK BUTT SHOWS!!! THANX!!!! *~AMBER~*

I love the O.C.! I had a friend loan it to me while they were still in the area for college, and I have been addicted to it ever since! It is my next TV Series to watch after I had finished watching Gilmore Girls (which I love very much also!).
Although there is always a lot of drama going on, it isn't like a soap opera show. =)

It is at times corny, melodramatic, predictable, unbelievable as hell and sugar-coated. And yet? It works.

This show, which by all accounts should have been written off as a redo of good ole' Bev Niners, is funny, quirky and absolutely delightful. Somehow, over the first few episodes, it turned from being a guilty pleasure to just a genuine pleasure. This is largely due to the combined talents of Peter Gallagher, Kelly Rowan, Adam Brody and Ben McKenzie. They work as a family. They're funny. They're sweet. And somehow, Peter Gallagher is hot!

Adam Brody's ad-libs, Ben McK's baleful glances, Kelly Rowan's endearing nature and Peter Gallagher's eyebrows all add up to a fantastic hour of television that I await all week. The writing is quick, the acting (for the most part) is great and the in-jokes crack me up. Despite its silly premise, this show is pretty smart. And endearing. And really, really funny.

Would a public defender ever adopt his young client? No. Would ador(k)able, funny, smart Seth Cohen ever be considered unpopular? Probably not. Does Tate Donovan even look old enough to drink, let alone have a teenage daughter? Nah. My advice? Get over all that, sit back, and enjoy being entertained.

Cause this is how we do it in Orange County.