‘Life Sentence’ Premiere Recap: Introducing the Abbotts, Your New Fave TV Family

Life Lessons From "The O.C."

1. A homemade breakfast can cure anything that ails you — and is pretty much guaranteed to make you more popular in any situation

A major tension in the first few episodes is the conflict between Sandy and Kirsten Cohen about whether or not Ryan should be allowed to stay in that beautiful pool house on a more permanent basis. True to form, Sandy the “Crusader for Justice” wants to give the kid from Chino a shot, while Kirsten thinks he’d be better off in foster care. While Ryan’s homemade breakfast doesn’t mark the final conclusion to this conflict, it definitely eases tensions between him and Kirsten. It just goes to show — there are few things that perfectly scrambled eggs can’t fix!

2. Hiding from a problem is typically not the best solution

As any group of high schoolers — or, at least, any group of high schoolers with easy access to empty mansions — would do, Seth and Marissa decide that the best way to avoid having Ryan sent to foster care is to hide him in one of Kirsten and Caleb’s model homes. Great idea, right? Wrong! I’ll spare you the dramatic details of the fight, the fire, and the awkward revelations about the history between Marissa’s dad and Kirsten, but suffice to say that hiding from potential consequences is rarely the answer...even if you are planning to do it in a mansion.

3. Share your dreams with the people you love

While Seth is open with Ryan early in the season about his dream to sail alone to Tahiti, it’s unclear whether or not he’s been as clear with his parents about it. This comes back to bite him in the you-know-where later in the season (and into The O.C. season 2), when he decides to flee Newport in pursuit of his lone journey. Don’t you think it would’ve been handy for people to know his dreams so they could support him in a more meaningful way?

4. Be open about your exes

Oh, where do I begin with this one? There are countless instances in this series where untold secrets about a previous relationship rear their ugly head at very inopportune times for the people involved, but let’s call Ryan, Marissa, and Theresa Exhibit A. If Ryan had been honest with new flame Marissa about his romantic past in Chino from the get-go, he would have avoided an extremely uncomfortable Thanksgiving encounter...and who knows what else? If you’ve had a tendency to be cagey about your exes with a current bae, watching Ryan’s example should make you want to be more honest.

5. People are rarely as intimidating as you think they are

For years, Seth was so enamored with Summer that all he could do was pine for her and secretly bestow her name on his boat, but when they finally met and start flirting, he learns that he’s not the only student at The Harbor School who sleeps with a toy horse next to their bed. (Princess Sparkle and Captain Oats are still so meant to be.) Think of how much less time our boy Cohen would have spent feeling sorry for himself if he’d thought for even one second that Summer was potentially his own kind of dork.

6. It’s important to know when to bring in an expert

Marissa got in way over her head in The O.C. when she tried to tackle Oliver’s health issues on her own, and while she probably needed a real grown up, even adults can learn from the cautionary tale that played out in the penthouse of that fancy hotel. It’s important to learn what you can handle and what’s above your pay grade. There’s no shame in admitting that you can’t get through something on your own. Rather, there’s only shame in knowing that a problem exists and that you didn’t seek the help that’s really needed.

7. Making a choice is almost always necessary, even if it seems like you can have it all

Teenagers everywhere swooned at the thought of being in Seth’s shoes (Chuck Taylors, obviously) and having twoseemingly perfect suitors vying for their attention. Remember those awesome Chrismukkah gifts Seth got from both Summer and Anna? Well, it seemed too good to be true at the time…and it was, because in the end, Seth had to make a choice, and his inability to do so in the first place really damaged his credibility.

8. When people show you who they are, believe them the first time

Sandy and Kirsten spend a lot of time in The O.C. season 1 trying to put their faith in Caleb, even though he continually proved he couldn't be trusted. While it’s nice to give people the benefit of the doubt, this dysfunctional family dynamic should serve as a reminder to all of us that people’s actions speak a whole lot louder than their words.

9. It takes a lot longer to rebuild trust than it does to destroy it

Ryan is basically the poster child for trust issues, and every time he’s let down by one of his friends (ahem, Marissa), we get a front row seat to the inevitably long process of the aforementioned disappointing friend trying to win him back. Life would be much easier — and TV much less interesting, I guess — if we didn’t tamper with people’s trust in the first place.

10. Appreciate family members and all of their quirks

No relationship better demonstrates this truth in The O.C. than that between the Cohen family and The Nana. By the time Sandy’s mother has arrived in Newport, we’ve already been treated to tons of family folklore about how intimidating and, well, mean she is. So when we find out later in the episode (spoiler alert!) that she actually has cancer, it’s like a punch to the gut for us too. This particular emotional roller coaster should serve as a lesson to us all that it’s important to appreciate the good, the bad, and the ugly in our family members because our time with them isn’t guaranteed.

1. I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007)

Adam Sandler may be a comedy legend, but it's no secret that his seemingly fun-loving material can toe the line of offensiveness.

One of the biggest examples is his 2007 film, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry. Starring alongside Kevin James, the pair portray two straight firefighters who pretend to be a married gay couple in order to secure health benefits.

The movie relies on outdated gay stereotypes, ranging from exaggerated mannerisms to jokes that depend on the mere idea of queerness being inherently funny. If it were made today, this film would definitely be viewed as tone-deaf.

2. Manhattan (1979)

It's hard to think that Manhattan would ever be made today in the post-#MeToo era. The plot's central romance revolves around Isaac Davis, a 42-year-old man dating a 17-year-old high school student named Tracy.

Sure, the movie acknowledges the ethical concerns of the relationship. Nonetheless, the fact remains that this dynamic is the core of the film, and many have questioned how such a story was ever normalized in the first place.

3. Borat (2006)

When this mockumentary came out in 2006, it raked in over $260 million at the box office and became one of the most quotable films of its time.

Regardless, this satirical film leans into a lot of offensive stereotypes to get laughs. The title character is misogynistic, mocks feminists, adopts exaggerated Black stereotypes and expresses antisemitic beliefs.

While the movie's intention was to expose ignorance and prejudice, many would probably miss the joke (and only see the offense) in today's climate.

4. Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971)

Written in 1981 by Gene Roddenberry, Pretty Maids All in a Row follows a high school gym teacher who seduces multiple female students. It's deeply unsettling.

There is a serial killer subplot, but this attempt to balance the story does little to condemn the predatory behavior. And it wouldn't go over well with audiences today.

5. Rain Man (1988)

Rain Man was a huge success in 1988, but its portrayal of autism hasn't aged well. This comedy-drama is about a car dealer, played by Tom Cruise, who finds out his estranged father died and tries to make sure his late dad's $3 million estate is left to him instead of his brother, Raymond, who has autism.

Dustin Hoffman's performance as Raymond might've helped win the film four Academy Awards, but it also fueled misconceptions about autism.

6. Stagecoach (1939)

Stagecoach was a landmark in movie history, but today, its portrayal of Indigenous people is impossible to ignore.

Directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne, the film reduces Indigenous people to violent antagonists who are just obstacles for the white cowboys to overcome. It reflects the deep racism of early Hollywood and would never be made in the same way today.

7. Freaks (1932)

Freaks is one of the more controversial horror films of the 1930s. It's set in a circus and follows a group of sideshow performers played by real people with disabilities who take revenge on a cruel trapeze artist and her strongman after they plot to murder one of their own.

This film has been applauded for its sympathetic portrayal of the performers as more humane than their able-bodied counterparts. Still, it also sensationalized their differences, so it's unlikely a major studio would attempt anything similar today.

8. Howard The Duck (1986)

The 1980s undoubtedly produced plenty of bizarre films, but Howard The Duck took things to the next level. It was marketed as a family-friendly adventure despite its raunchy humor, adult themes, and bizarre moments.

The movie left parents horrified even back in the 1980s, so you can probably imagine how much outrage it would spark today.

9. Home Alone(1990)

Home Alone is still a favorite holiday classic, but its premise would definitely cause some major controversy today. The idea of two parents accidentally leaving their young son behind and not noticing until they're halfway across the world wouldn't be played for laughs.

Add in the fact that Kevin McCallister is left to fend off two burglars by himself, and it's easy to see why audiences now might view the film more critically and have concerns about child neglect and endangerment.

10. Tropic Thunder (2008)

Finally, Tropic Thunder may be a cult classic that was intentionally provocative and used satire to critique Hollywood, but there is no way it could hit big screens today.

The character Kirk Lazarus, played by Robert Downey Jr., along with the film's outdated humor and portrayal of race (like the use of blackface), just wouldn't fly.