When Wayne and I first moved to Nashville we got cable, something we hadn’t had in Florida. But Comcast had a deal that made it worth our while so that’s how we came to have MTV and get hooked on a show called Laguna Beach: The Real O.C. It followed a group of “wealthy, attractive teenagers” during their senior year of high school.
One of the stars from that show, Lauren Conrad, ended up getting a spin-off deal to star in a new show, The Hills. It follows her and her friends –Heidi, Whitney, and Audrina— living in Los Angeles and their adventures with college, jobs, and relationships.
The show is a hit with its demographic audience, but it also appeals to me because it’s interesting to see these young women navigating life’s waters. While they’re all very similar –beautiful, smart, and talented— they’re also different. Except for Lauren and Whitney (who are also co-workers) they have different career goals. They also have different attitudes and views towards relationships.
Lauren
At the end of the show’s first season, Lauren had to make a choice: take the summer internship in Paris with Teen Vogue or spend the summer at the beach living with her then-boyfriend Jason.
She chose Jason.
It didn’t work out, though. They broke up, she returned to L.A. and resumed living with her then-roommate Heidi. When she returned to Teen Vogue in the fall and her boss asked if she lamented turning down the job to live with her boyfriend, she solemnly nodded.
It’s taken her a while to get over Jason. She dates, but as she said in one recent episode, she’s “first date cursed.” She can’t seem to find anyone worthy of going on a second date with.
There was a guy named Brody she briefly dated during the second season. That didn’t go anywhere, but they’ve remained friends. Even though Brody is best friends with Spencer, Heidi’s boyfriend who Lauren despises.
Heidi
Heidi’s a party girl. She likes to have a good time, be the center of attention, and in general be adored. During the first season she had a semi-serious boyfriend she always fought with. One day she simply had enough and cut him loose for good. For a while she was single and enjoyed hanging out with her best friend and roommate Lauren, as well as their other friends like Audrina and Whitney.
But then Spencer came along. He’s, as Lauren once called him and I personally feel is true, “shady.” He pitted Audrina and Heidi against each other by dating them both at the same time, but denied it and made it look like Audrina was pursuing him. There was also an incident with playmates at a club that Heidi found out about.
They broke up, but she took him back.
This is where her and Lauren’s friendship took a turn for the worst. Being both outspoken and a good friend, Lauren (who comforted Heidi while she nursed her broken heart over Spencer) told her she wouldn’t ever hang out with him because he was no good and if Heidi was wise she’d drop him.
As these things do, it came down to a matter of choosing the best friend over the boyfriend. Season two ended with Heidi moving out to live with Spencer, and Lauren and Heidi no longer speaking.
The big news this season was that Spencer proposed. I have doubts they’ll make it all the way to the altar. (Or maybe it’s just wishful thinking.)
Audrina
Audrina’s never had a boyfriend. She’s dated and “hung out” with guys, but there’s never been anyone steady or serious.
Until this season, when Justin Bobbie came along. He’s a motorcycle riding bad boy with sultry eyes and a cavalier attitude. He hasn’t always treated Audrina kindly. He abandoned her in Vegas once, and this season stranded her at a barbecue. (Luckily Lauren was there to give her a ride home.)
But then he came back. Apologized even, and somehow wiggled his way back into her affections. But he gets really irritated when confronted with “labels.” One time he said something to the effect of “Why do we have to label ourselves boyfriend and girlfriend? It just wrecks everything. Let’s just be together and hang out and have a good time.”
Audrina was crushed, but she didn’t protest. Maybe this is why she’s never had a “boyfriend.”
Whitney
There hasn’t been too much focus on Whitney’s love life. But she’s sort of the friend they seek advice from. She’s got a tender ear and shares gentle outsider-looking-in wisdom they often find both useful and helpful.
What There Is About The Hills
After writing this, I think I realized why I like this show so much. It’s like a modern day Jane Austen tale. Except you get to see it in the making.
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