The OC

                The OC has always been one of my favourite TV series.  I started watching it when I was  about 10 years old.  Now I really shouldn't have been a loud to watch this show, but by the time my mom decided that I shouldn't be watching this I was already hooked and refused to leave the TV. It was odd that I developed such a liking to this show, as at the time I didn't understand much of what was going on.  After doing some research about archetypes and Greek mythology, I've discovered that The OC shares many of the same archetypes that classical fairytales have, which maybe why I feel in love with this show.  Ryan one of the main characters is a troubled teenager from Chino. He is brought into the privileged community of Newport Beach, California after his mother  throws him out of their family home. Ryan is taken in by his public defender, Sandy Cohen.  Being in this new community is like being in a whole new world for Ryan. He struggles to find his place and feels like an outsider. He is conflicted on either  choosing to stay known as the kid who steels cars and it from Chino or to become a spoiled rich kid who plays water polo. This decision is one type of an archetypal journey such as the quest for identity. Some of the heroic archetypes Ryan possesses are the many physical challenges he faces with his enemies, throughout the series . An example would be in the first season the fights Luke and Ryan have. Another  heroic archetype is when Ryan and Marissa  first meet  and there is an instantaneous attraction. Ryan makes winning over Marissa this his quest .  Ryan is constantly taking the blame for others and suffering their consequences, which is another heroic archetype Ryan demonstrates. The OC has many situation archetypes as well, one being the task Ryan is give the day he becomes part of the Cohen's family and that is to make something of his life and not follow the path of his mom or brother.