News that The O.C., the popular aughts era teen drama, is being made into a musical has spread like wildfire and my sixteen year old self is losing her mind. The creators behind the Unofficial Cruel Intentions Musical are responsible for this stroke of genius, and have been leaking script teases and castings on the production's official twitter account @OCmusical.
As the anticipation builds I can't help but reminisce on some of my favorite elements from the show, the most memorable of which was the turbulent on again off again epic teen romance that was Seth Cohen and Summer Roberts. The story of the perfectly quirky yet crush-worthy comic book nerd winning over the heart of the completely unattainable sassy but bubbly popular girl quickly became one of the most addicting parts of watching the show. I sat with baited breath each week as their stark differences and the ever so difficult Orange County lifestyle threw dramatic curveballs at their relationship, tearing them apart only for them to get drawn back together by the magnetic force that was their undeniable chemistry, and reigniting faith that love conquers all in the process.
While some of the occurrences in the show were a little OTT, there were some genuine lessons to be learned about love and relationships from these two star-crossed lovers. Its these kinds of up and down experiences that reveal to us a lot about ourselves and force us to become better people for ourselves and for the people we love. So in anticipation of seeing this tumultuous affair played out in musical numbers, I've put together some of the most awe-inducing Seth and Summer moments and the lessons they displayed from their will to endure for their love.
1. Validation is key.
A big part of what makes a successful relationship is being able to meet the basic human needs of your partner, and one of the most important of these is the need to be validated. We all have it, and if the person we love doesn't acknowledge it, the relationship will fizzle out pretty quickly. When Seth stands on the coffee cart and demands to be acknowledged in front of all of their peers, Summer feeds his need to be validated by getting up there with him and proclaiming their love in front of everyone she is afraid of being judged by.
2. If you love something, let it go.
Seth and Summer always supported and encouraged each others endeavors, rather than stifling the relationship with over dependency. They knew that loving each other meant giving the other person the space to develop their own passions and create a life of their own. Having something to draw energy from outside of your partner gives you something to bring back to the relationship, rather than solely feeding off of the other person, which will inevitably cause them to withdraw. Listen when your partner shows signs of needing space, and give it to them in every capacity. As the infamous Christina Aguilera once told me, "if it comes back, it's yours, that's how you know".
3. Be with someone who makes you a better person.
A lot of your success in life depends on the people you surround yourself with. The person you choose to be with should be someone who lifts you up and inspires you in ways you've never imagined. A healthy relationship is one that forces you to grow and become a better person, not just for your partner, but for yourself.
4. Loving someone means loving all of them, even their flaws.
Loving someone means loving every part of them, even their flaws. No one is perfect, everyone has bad habits, little quirks, and baggage. But love transcends the physical world, it goes beyond the human experience. Love is two souls connecting to form an unseen bond. It's important to remember this whenever those little annoyances pop up, and instead of dwell on your partner's imperfections, replace those thoughts with reminders of what made you fall in love with them in the first place, and better yet, learn to love their flaws too, because one day you might even miss them.
5. Never settle for less than you deserve.
Accepting someone for who they are is important, but never lower your personal standards for someone who refuses to do the same. Seth and Summer's relationship was filled with grand gestures and proclamations of love from both sides. Love is a two way street, and both people need to learn how to drive.
6. That includes mediocrity.
Seth and Summer were destined for each other. Even strangers could see it. If you want an epic love story, don't settle for the first person that pays you any attention. Focus on being the best version of yourself first. Know your boundaries and expectations and don't just expect them from other people, meet them too. Inevitably you will attract the type of person who lights a fire in you that the whole world can see burning.
7. Fall in love with your best friend.
The person you choose to be with should be someone you can talk to for hours, about anything and everything. You should feel comfortable being your goofy, uninhibited self in front of them, and they should feel the same way about you. Companionship is the lasting ingredient in any relationship. After things like physical attraction fade away, we all just want someone we can trust and get along with for the rest of our lives.
Princess Sparkles + Captain Oats Forever
