Once a week, the members of The OC Round Table will deliver their uncensored, unabashed, unwavering views on various issues affecting the show and its characters. Not so much knights as raucous fans of this FOX phenom, these pundits will comment on every aspect that hits the airways, from Ryan‘s bird-like facial expressions to Luke‘s transition from hotheaded jock to complete and utter loser. Agree with their views? Disagree? Send in your thoughts, comments, questions or harassing diatribes to any or all of the supposed sages. They‘ll publish viewer feedback in each subsequent edition of the Round Table. Now, it‘s time to pull up a chair, meet our panelists and dissect their takes on the shocking twists and turns that comprise The OC.

The panel:

Name: Matty R. Favorite character: Sandy The OC words to live by: Kirsten: So what do you want to be, now? Ryan: Seventeen. E-mail: Mattr@ocfiles.com

Name: Mr. Blue Favorite character: Kirsten The OC words to live by: Sandy: Face it, your mom‘s a hottie. And I got her. E-mail: MrBlue319@hotmail.com

Name: Leighton S. Favorite character: Seth The OC words to live by: Seth: What happens in Mexico stays in Mexico. Ryan: What happens in Mexico? Seth: I don‘t know because it stays there! That‘s why we must go! E-mail: Leighton_s_3@hotmail.com

THE ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION

Do you feel sorry for Anna?

Matty: Come on, are puppies cute? I don't mean those little poodles that look like strung out rats. How can people touch those, let alone buy them? I mean, Golden Retrievers. Are Golden Retriever puppies cute? Yes. Very. The same applies to the aforementioned question about poor Anna. Remember when she was talking to Sandy about how difficult it is to find a fellow comic book lover? Don't you see, the comic books represented her soul. Anna thought that she had found a mate for her soul, one who could relate to her affection for comic books, along with her dreams for future happiness. That's difficult for all of us to find. And then what happened to those dreams? They were crushed, crushed like an innocent lady bug that had accidentally gotten in the path of a rat-like poodle. Maybe Seth never intended to hurt Anna, and maybe he will be happier with Summer, but let's just take a moment to wish Anna all the best in her pursuit for that true fellow comic book connoisseur. He's out there, somewhere out there, wishing on the same bright star. And, Anna, when the night winds start to sing a lonesome lullaby, it will help to know you are sleeping underneath the same big sky .. with that comic book lover, who as I previously outlined, is really your soulmate.

Mr. Blue: Do I feel sorry for Anna? It's kind of like that time Zach Morris was walking around school, acting all cool with his GIANT cell phone. And then you start to realize, it's not the cell phone that makes him cool. It's the way he tucks his jeans into his sneakers. And here he is, thinking he's cool because of the phone that's bigger than one of those old keyboard guitars, but it's actually his look, but i digress. Seth blew it, only because, it seems, Anna never did. They fit together too well, it seems, too perfect for one another. Things weren't dynamic, so while I feel bad for her, in the long run, she'll be better off. And she should get back at Seth by hopping in the sack with Luke (don't think that thing with Julie will ever last).

Leighton: Nope. Not one bit. Sure, there was a second there when you knew Sandy was probably right in telling Seth that he wasn't being fair, but it's Summer! Everyone knows that opposites attract. Like Seth's upcoming quote, for me, "it's always been Summer." She's just more interesting than Anna. Seth and Anna make about as much sense as giving Prozac to Richard Simmons. It's just not right. Seth and Summer can learn from one another. I never saw Beauty and the Beast, but I'm imagining a similar outcome. The consummation of Seth and Summer's attraction will be, for me at least, the final chapter in all this Summer versus Anna nonsense. As a side note, am I the only one who's had Paula Abdul's "Opposites Attract" in my head since the second line of this paragraph? Stupid, Stupid, STUPID!!

Discuss "Pity for Anna?" on the message board.


Better red head: Julie Cooper or Britney Spears from her Toxic video?

Leighton: Britney is, well, Britney. And I always thought Julie Cooper looked better as a brunette in her dominatrix cameo on "CSI." But I have to say that the red hair getup in Ms. Spears' Toxic video is not one of her finest. This is not to say that she's the lesser of the two. Julie Cooper is manipulative, which, aside from being left-handed, is the worst personality trait a female can own. As such, I could never vote for Julie C. She's just too Julie Cooper-ish. On a side note, I can't wait to see this Luke/Julie C. thing come to a head. I can see it now:
Marissa: "Luke, what are you doing here?" Luke: "Actually, your mom."

Matty: I mean, I understand why they both wanna go with the red-headed look. They've seen Kate Richenthal, they know the true beauty of a true red head. Alas, neither Julie or the intoxicated Ms. Spears can pull this look off very well. Britney looks kind of like a neon sign exploded on her head, while I have never been particularly fond of Julie's appearance, red, brown, or whatever color her snobby Newport hair dresser can think of next. Luke, you can have her! If I had to choose, and here at The Round Table, we always have to choose, I'd go with Britney. Despite the utter absurdity of her Toxic video - she's a secret agent? In an airplane bathroom? Because the guy is, well, toxic? -- at least Britney can dance. Until Julie Cooper can shake it like a polaroid picture, or even like some sort of feverish flu patient, I'll take the princess of pop.

Mr. Blue: Britney, Britney, Britney ... but as soon as Beyonce goes red, give me a call.

Discuss "Julie v. Britney" on the message board.


Where was Jimmy Cooper in this episode?

Mr. Blue: Where was Kirsten's sister last night? Think about it...

Leighton: Buying a new daughter online.

Matty: A secret rendezvous with Kirsten's sister, Hayley. Where was he exactly? I don't know, in her bed, in the shower, upside down on her dining room table. You get the idea.

Discuss "Where was Jimmy?" on the message board.


What has undergone more transformations, Luke's character or Pamela Anderson's breasts?

Matty: Let's see, so far we have seethed at Luke The Hotheaded Jock, cackled at Luke The Pathetic Loser and now we are enjoying Luke The Good Friend and Seducer of Older Woman Who Happen to be the Mothers of his Ex Girlfriends. I like it! Every show needs that character that changes with the times, one who just pops into the occasional scene and does his thing .. whatever that thing may be. This week, he believed in Ryan when no one else did, and he was there to comfort Julie, with one glance, one touch of her tear-laden cheek, in her time of distress. Confidant and sex symbol, while fitting in dinner with his sexually confused father in between? I'd like to see Pamela Anderson's breasts try that. No, really, I would.

Leighton: Who Cares??? Luke's back! Luke is the glue that holds this group together. That's right. I said it. The glue. Think about it: he's a boyfriend, a teammate, a driver, a video game partner, a thug, an alcohol provider, an object of an older woman's desire and a confidant (that's just half of one season, kids). When the show has needed something to just work out, Luke has been there. Luke fooled around a bit, sure, but people make mistakes. But his tenacity to remain a part of this group -- ok, so he just shows up randomly -- makes Luke a character we, as, viewers wouldn't want to lose. To paraphrase Colonel Nathan Jessup, we want Luke there, we need Luke there.Ê

Mr. Blue: Luke's character, although Pam's chest seems more realistic. One day he's a tough guy, then a loser, then a sensitive ex-boyfriend and close friend of the guy who tried to kill him repeatedly. Reminds me a lot of Screech Powers, well, the loser part at least. I think that his current form is fantastic, a little funny, and he doesn't make you cringe every time he's on screen (experienced mainly during the Luke's gay dad phase). Now, he just seems like a good guy, and fairly normal, all fired up about the M.I.L.F. Fantastic drama, all around exciting.ÊÊ

Discuss "Luke's changes" on the message board.


Random thoughts/questions:
- It's a good thing Luke went to Marissa's mom's house to get her clothes .. seeing as she lives with her father and all.
- To quote a friend, "Kirsten looks awesome in her 'business cas[ual].'"
- Maybe Marissa should buy a cellphone that requires a password in order to access voice mail. Just a suggestion.
- Who do you think would win a match between the Pacific water polo team and the Bayside water polo team?
- When will we start seeing the second Cooper daughter on the side of a milk carton?