But don’t expect ‘hot lesbian scene,’ guest star Wilde says
On last week’s episode of “The O.C.,” fans got a hint of things to come, when Marissa (Mischa Barton) got all hand-holdy with her new best pal, bisexual bartender Alex (Olivia Wilde).
Those awaiting the girls’ big kiss anticipated since series creator Josh Schwartz revealed the lesbian storyline may not have to wait much longer (February sweeps, after all, having begun).
“What’s interesting,” Wilde said, “is watching people’s reactions as all this unfolds. People might have expected ‘Girls Gone Wild,’ kiss-in-the-hot-tub type of thing, but what’s going to be interesting is when people realize that’s not what we did.
“I hope they don’t want that and expect that, ‘Oh, I want some crazy, hot lesbian scene.’ It’s not like that. It’s much more about Marissa discovering these feelings, and Alex tentatively welcoming her into this, and then what happens after is even more interesting.”
One has to assume the affair doesn’t last, because neither does Alex’s storyline on “The O.C.,” which ends with the March 17 episode.
“Right,” Wilde says. “Who knows who she goes to next, but I’m gone after Episode 16.”
Over the season-and-a-half of “The O.C.,” Marissa has gone through a few boyfriends, had issues with her mother, been a heavy drinker and attempted suicide. Overall, she has spent very little time being happy, but some of that time has been during her thus-far platonic adventures with the free-spirited Alex.
“So many people have said that to me that what they really like about Alex is what she brings out in Marissa, and what this situation brings out in her, a hint of happiness and another side to her character,” said Wilde, who sees the relationship as part of Schwartz’s larger plan for the entire cast. “He really was eager to show other sides of his characters. To do that, he had to put them in other situations. You’ll see that with every single one of them.”
Asked if the love scenes with Barton pushed her beyond her comfort zone, Wilde says, “No, no. It was definitely something I had never done, it was definitely a challenge, but it wasn’t something that ever made me feel uncomfortable.”
As to the ultimate resolution of the storyline, Wilde says, “I’m really satisfied with the way they handled the whole Marissa-Alex thing. The way it ended, it’s very heart wrenching. People will feel emotionally attached to them by the end.”
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale ([email protected]) and Kris Karnopp ([email protected])