The O.C. had it all, from drama to a hit soundtrack. Whenever you listen to Phantom Planet’s “California,” you promptly consider of negative boy Ryan Atwood, the OG daddy Sandy Cohen, and of study course, Newport queen Marissa Cooper, who was played by Mischa Barton. The people on The O.C. produced the demonstrate a good results for 4 seasons from 2003 to 2007, but time and re-watches have not been sort to Marissa. In excess of the years, she’s located herself on a couple lists for the worst Tv set display figures at any time — she’s noticed as a selfish and privileged teenager who results in complications for everyone about her. But after rewatching the series now as an grownup, I’m specified that Marissa Cooper does not are entitled to the loathe she gained on The O.C.

Sure, Marissa appeared to be a spoiled, rich girl from Newport Beach, California, at to start with look, but you know by now that you shouldn’t choose a book by its cover. Even if you pass judgment on the social chair of Harbor Higher University, you just can’t deny she was a Y2K trend icon. If you need a lesson on how to decorate an OOTD of lower-increase denims and layered tank tops, glance no more than Marissa — even her wavy hair and frosted eyeshadow lewks had been place on. (And really do not you dare forget her prom gown from Chanel’s Spring 2006 collection.)

Underneath the Chanel dresses and designer baguette baggage, Marissa was just a teen who craved adore and assistance immediately after dealing with undesirable dad and mom. Just after re-observing The O.C. as an adult, Sheri, 33, tells Elite Day by day that Marissa was “the solution of a really twisted spouse and children who didn’t treatment about her.” In point, Sheri argues that Julie Cooper, Marissa’s mother, was “the top villain of the present.” In the to start with time, Marissa’s mother and father get divorced right after her dad cons all of her neighbors for income. Julie rebounds quickly with Caleb Nichol, followed by Marissa’s ex-boyfriend (and significant university pupil), Luke.

Marissa’s rebellion was often justified by her situation.

Marissa’s father, Jimmy Cooper, doesn’t accurately should have any awards for best dad. In fact, he may possibly have prompted much more emotional hurt to Marissa. “Jimmy Cooper was a deadbeat who deserted his loved ones,” Sheri claims. Anytime he would get into financial difficulties, he would skip town without having any remorse for the loved ones he left driving. In Year 3, Marissa eventually tells her father that if he leaves once more, she does not want him to arrive again. Ouch, but good. “Marissa’s insurrection was often justified by her instances,” Sheri claims.

And let us not neglect about the boys who took edge of her. That’s proper, even Ryan Atwood, who was painted as a misunderstood man from Chino, was basically a not-so-great boyfriend with a savior elaborate and anger concerns. Keep in mind when he punched the dean of self-control at the university fair for creating Marissa leave? He fights enough individuals in the clearly show to feed enthusiasts seeking to build undesirable-boy Ryan edits. Natalie, 29, tells Elite Everyday he was a poisonous boyfriend. “He was fast to anger, possessive of Marissa,” she suggests. In the end, the two Oliver Trask and Johnny Harper were being not good “friends” to Marissa — since they wanted extra — but Ryan experienced issues with any man she put in time with. Supporters like to imagine Marissa and Ryan had been MFEO, but it’s a lot more like they had been built for any individual else. Ultimately, they must share the blame, but Amelia, 32, believes that due to the fact Marissa is “beautiful and abundant,” she is manufactured out to be the villain “when her steps negatively affect Ryan.”

Marissa’s boyfriends have been really virtually her downfall (*ahem* Volchock), but she had one particular partnership that granted her icon standing — when she dated Alex, played by Olivia Wide. Alex and Marissa’s marriage was a person of the couple illustrations of queer illustration on Tv set in the early 2000s. Everyone with simple cable could see their undeniable chemistry, and Amelia admits, “Marissa and Alex’s is the first queer kiss I can bear in mind viewing.”

Wanting back, Marissa was a small-rise jean-carrying, misunderstood “queer icon” who warrants so considerably far more than her villain-edit standing. If it’s been a warm minute considering the fact that you previous visited Newport Beach, it could possibly be time to re-look at The O.C. and see exactly what the relaxation of us Marissa apologists see.