Top Five: "Laguna Beach" Season Two moments

source: MTV.com

I'm back with the second installment of "Laguna Beach" moments. In my first post, I ruminated on my favorite moments of the first season of "Laguna Beach: The Real O.C.," which, in retrospect, seemed an altogether more wholesome and earnest endeavor. All this went down the drain in the show's second season, when MTV realized it had found its sweet spot in what teenagers really wanted to see -- and that was drama, drama, drama.

Bad Girl Kristin Cavallari took over as protagonist and main narrator in the reality show's second season, and in my opinion, that was probably among the smartest moves MTV made between 2004 and now. Aside from riding on the not-so-well-intentioned coattails of "Teen Mom"'s success. Team Kristin or not, I honestly don't think "The Hills" and all its successors would have come to be if Kristin hadn't taken over Lauren Conrad's role in the second season.

That said, my top five favorite moments of the second season of "Laguna Beach" won't be as heartfelt or sappy as my top five from the first season. They'll be more ridiculous, over-the-top, and maybe even ironic. The second season brought along the likes of the paradoxically dull Bad Boy Jason Wahler, tough girl Alex Murrel, doll-faced Taylor Cole, the insufferable Casey Reinhardt, and more screen time for Talan Torriero and Kristin's BFFs, Alex Hooser and the ever-lovable Jessica Smith.

Without further ado, here are my top five favorite moments ...

5. Episode 10 - 10:00
Casey decides she wants to talk with Alex M. about the alleged rumors she's spread about Alex's "hygiene problem." Things escalate when Casey calls Alex "an evil person" and Alex shuts down all talks.

Bonus moment from the same episode, at 1:02, when Kristin advises Alex H. that the way to get all the guys is to be a bitch.

4. Episode 7 - 7:30
Jason takes Alex M. out on their first on-screen date, and Alex whispers sweet nothings like "I like your face" to him over a romantic surf 'n turf dinner. Plus, it's fun to see both the awkwardness and sweetness of the early stages of a relationship. Even if that relationship only lasts two episodes.

3. Episode 14 - 12:45
Okay, so I had to stuff a little mush into this list, because otherwise, I'd be admitting that "Laguna Beach" is completely void of substance. Is it just me or does the LBHS valedictorian have a Jersey accent? Anyway, I actually teared up when I watched the little Laguna Beach High School seniors graduate. The Chantal Kreviazuk song didn't help.

2. Episode 4 - 9:15
JP, recurring background character, makes his second appearance on "Laguna Beach" here. He is undoubtedly the hottest member of the Laguna Beach community we've been introduced to -- I don't care how good-looking you think Jason or Stephen are. JP has got that skater boy laidback-ness to him, and in a minute's time scales the distance between Men from Mars and Women from Venus. It's always fun to hear a man's (or boy, in this case) perspective on why women do what they do.

Bonus moment from earlier in this episode, at 7:40: we see Kristin and Talan at dinner, alone together. It's clear that Kristin has some feelings for him, though it's unclear just how deep those feelings are. It's just nice to see Kristin kind of disarmed, and "giddy" in her detached, Kristin Cavallari way.

1. Episode 11 - 6:30
There are two reasons I love this clip so, so much. One, Jessica is happy for once in her freaking life. Two, Kristin is finally drunk enough to have let go of her inhibitions, and it's really refreshing. Not that I'm condoning underage drinking or anything, but it's rare that we see Kristin without some sort of front. I love the bonding being achieved here by Jessica and Kristin. Too bad it lasts for only about, oh, half a scene. Followed by unmatchable humor, courtesy of Alex H. Fiiiiiiestaaaaaaa!

source: MTV.com