Oliver Trask
Oliver Trask | |
---|---|
The Truth" (episode 1.18) | |
Created by | Josh Schwartz |
Portrayed by | Taylor Handley |
In-universe information | |
Gender | male |
Occupation | High school student |
Residence | Newport Beach, California |
Oliver Trask is a fictional character on the
Character development
Concept and creation
Oliver was created by Josh Schwartz, whose concept for the character was "based on a guy...a friend of mine dated who faked having cancer to [hang on to her]." Schwartz said of the guy "That kind of desperation and loneliness was really fascinating to me, and that's what inspired the Oliver character."[1]
Characterization
"Instead of being poor, he was extremely wealthy. Instead of being a good guy, this was a guy with an agenda and a little bit, ummm... not well. He was a lonely, lonely kid who was really going to get in the way and disrupt the relationship between Ryan and Marissa" |
— Josh Schwartz on the character Oliver[1] |
Taylor Handley says of his character that "Oliver is very intelligent, (...) and intelligent people are good manipulators."[2] Handley also elaborated that "[his] character is very needy due to his past" which would take some of Marissa's attention away from Ryan,[2] and that, by request, he dyed his hair dark for the show to give "a more sinister look".[3]
Oliver used to go to a school referred to as "Pacific".[4] At his former school Oliver was obsessed with a girl and cut his wrists.[4] She had a restraining order filed against him, and later attended rehabilitation.[4]
Storylines
According to Schwartz the storyline was "designed as a six-episode arc where we would bring in a character whose circumstances coming into this world were not unlike Ryan's".[1]
Season 1
Oliver Trask is a rich kid who lives in the penthouse of a hotel. His parents own a chain of hotels, and are largely absent from his life. He left his last school, Pacific High, because a girl took out a
In the episode "
Reception
TV Guide described Oliver as a "clichéd plot device" and a "cookie-cutter villain",[1] but Schwartz said that reception was mixed with viewers loving the character as "someone that we love to hate."[1] Other reception noted that he was irritating but "addicting person to watch",[5] that he "was able to exude as much hate that a writer could place on a single character",[6] and that he was an "audience-infuriating nut".[7] Entertainment Weekly included him their list of "21 Most Annoying TV Characters Ever", commenting: "Oliver (Taylor Handley) was around for only six episodes, but it seemed like much longer. Just the mention of Oliver's name still makes us brood."[8]
Effect
Oliver's appearance lasted only a few episodes - from "
Rumors
It was rumoured that Oliver would return for the
References
- ^ a b c d e Ausiello, Michael (2004-02-11). "O.C. Exec Defends Oliver". TV Guide. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
- ^ a b Katner, Ben (January 7, 2004). "Meet The O.C.'s New VIP". TV Guide. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
- ^ Coleridge, Daniel R. (April 22, 2004). "The O.C.'s Finale Bash". TV Guide. Retrieved August 6, 2008.
- ^ .
- ^ "The OC Season 1 Review". DeROK. 2004-05-31. Archived from the original on 2008-09-22. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
- TV Squad. Weblogs, Inc.Retrieved 2008-08-06.
- ^ Armstrong, Jennifer (2007-01-12). "'The O.C.' Wipes Out". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
- ^ "21 Most Annoying TV Characters Ever". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. April 1, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ Ausiello, Michael (2005-04-20). "Ask Ausiello". TV Guide. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
- ^ "Today's News: Our Take". TV Guide. 2004-12-12. Retrieved 2008-08-06.