Movies

Why You Shouldn’t Feel Sorry for This O.C. Character After 22 Years

BBG News

20 years after its initial airing, revisiting the popular teen drama series The O.C., created by Josh Schwartz and set in Orange County, California, leaves no room for sympathy towards one particular character who was truly despicable. The show was teeming with drama and surprising moments during its peak in the 2000s teen drama genre.

Ryan experienced an abrupt shift in lifestyle and surroundings, transitioning from a life marked by abuse and poverty to the lofty confines of upper-class society. Alongside him were Sandy’s teenager, Seth (Adam Brody), their neighbor and friend Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton), and Marissa’s best friend, Summer Roberts (Rachel Bilson). Across four seasons, the viewers and Ryan encountered numerous characters, some of whom the show attempted to depict as victims despite being truly despicable individuals. There is one such character in particular who it’s difficult to empathize with.

The O.C. Tries To Make Us Feel For Jimmy Cooper, But He’s A Horrible Person

Jimmy Cooper Was Played By Tate Donovan

In The O.C., it’s challenging to empathize with Marissa’s father, Jimmy Cooper (Tate Donovan), because of his complex relationship history. He was close to the Cohens, particularly Sandy’s wife Kirsten (Kelly Rowan), and they had a past romance. Jimmy worked as a stockbroker, managing the portfolios of Newport Beach’s wealthy residents. However, during a period of stock market instability, he sold his clients’ portfolios and misappropriated the earnings, finding himself in dire financial straits.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigated Jimmy, but Sandy stood up for him in court. As a result, Jimmy avoided going to jail, but he had to pay back his clients, causing him to go bankrupt. This bankruptcy also led to his divorce from Julie (Melinda Clarke). The situation affected Marissa negatively. Later, Jimmy moved into an apartment and went into business with Sandy in the restaurant industry, but was forced to give up his shares. Eventually, he rebuilt his fortune and purchased a mansion in Newport Beach.

Jimmy faced an investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, but Sandy represented him in court and helped clear his name, keeping him out of jail. However, due to the financial repercussions, he had to pay back his clients which resulted in bankruptcy. This bankruptcy also caused his divorce from Julie (Melinda Clarke), which impacted Marissa negatively. Jimmy then shifted to a new apartment and partnered with Sandy in a restaurant venture, but was compelled to give up his shares. Subsequently, he regained his wealth and bought a mansion in Newport Beach.

In the second season of The O.C., Jimmy became entangled with Kirsten’s sister, which, along with other complications, prompted him to depart from Newport Beach. However, he eventually returned for Caleb’s funeral. Jimmy and Julie attempted to rebuild their family in the following season, but by the start of season 3, Jimmy was once again embroiled in dubious dealings. When he failed to settle a debt that led to his being beaten up, he left Newport Beach again, leaving Marissa heartbroken. The show frequently portrayed Jimmy Cooper as a sympathetic character, encouraging viewers to feel compassion for him and even support him.

The show, “The O.C.”, attempts to portray Jimmy as a character worthy of audience sympathy and backing, primarily through his connections with Marissa and Kaitlin (Willa Holland). However, despite this effort, it’s revealed that Jimmy is far from being a good person. His actions include repeatedly exploiting his clients, breaching their trust, and stealing from them. Furthermore, he leveraged the Cohen family, Caleb, and Julie to resolve his own issues, causing significant distress to Marissa in the process.

Jimmy Cooper’s Fate Makes It Even Harder To Care About His Problems In Hindsight

Jimmy Cooper Didn’t Pay For Everything He Did

What makes Jimmy Cooper difficult to sympathize with is his self-destructive behavior. Despite abandoning his family repeatedly and committing crimes without proper consequences, he managed to avoid jail time due to Sandy’s intervention. However, this didn’t seem to inspire any change in Jimmy’s ways. In season 3, when he continued swindling people, he was brutally beaten by the angry victims of his latest scam. Yet, instead of facing the consequences or making amends, he once again opted for fleeing the scene.

Jimmy managed to stay out of jail (otherwise, he wouldn’t have been present at Marissa’s funeral), but he might have carried on with his questionable activities elsewhere, always eluding the authorities. However, what Jimmy really lost was his family. In fact, Marissa explicitly told him not to come back because the frequent goodbyes were too agonizing. Given his past actions, it’s difficult to feel sympathetic towards him about this, as it seems like the right decision for Marissa, Kaitlin, and Julie in the long run.

This O.C. Storyline Would Never Have Worked For A Modern Audience

Some Things About The O.C. Haven’t Aged Well

As a seasoned movie reviewer, I must say that revisiting “The O.C.” from 2003 to 2007 feels like stepping back into a different era. While the show was undeniably successful in its time, there are certain aspects that might not resonate with today’s audience.

Take the character of Jimmy Cooper for instance. His storyline, which started with the stock market turmoil (a concept that became alarmingly real with the global financial crisis in 2008), could be problematic for modern viewers. Having witnessed the devastating effects of such economic instability unfold globally, it would be jarring to see someone like Jimmy Cooper navigate through such situations without significant repercussions.

Jimmy’s deceit, illegal actions, and frequent desertions of his family might not resonate with contemporary viewers, as they would likely find him highly dislikable. In fact, such a character might not endure long on screen due to audience antipathy. Jimmy Cooper unfortunately added more hardship and tension to Marissa’s life, but The O.C. attempted too zealously to elicit sympathy from viewers for a truly reprehensible individual.

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2025-05-26 22:27

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