Remember this was kinda big my senior year in HS, and I watched some of it, but not constantly or chronologically
Running some back and it's pretty rough. Very glossy and slick, the theme is perfect, but they try to do way too much in each episode. The sets are kind of mismatched and it isn't really Newport like 60% of the time, but it's an ok watch, more fun than it was as a kid, beacuse I know Newport a lot better and get the references. Thought Summer was so bad as a kid. Didn't remember her being this insufferable.
Adam Brody really shines. Mckenzie is actually a good actor, but his character is played so down here, he barely has any life to him.
also interesting is the show's attempt at class commentary, while they kinda obliviously clumsily make their own, the character who works a more blue collar job, as a blue collar name, and is from Corona, is a pyschotic criminal who shoots someone at a party as soon as he gets to Newport.