For me there are some episodes where I really actively feel Marissa needs to disregard Johnny, but on the whole, I don't hold very much of it against her. I can see your point, but ultimately for me, it is harmless from Marissa. The intent is definitely without harm. It's just in her nature to be that kind of person who is constantly trying to help others. Especially with Trey, I don't think she has any fault at all. She was basically helping him because he was Ryan's brother and when she tells Trey no, he has to accept that and his actions there on are his responsibility.

I think with Johnny, part of her prolonged persistence with the friendship is the fact that she probably feels indebted because of his earlier support. And in a sense, if the support he offers helps her get through an incredibly tough time in her life, I can't condemn it entirely. I think the biggest problem was the execution of the entire thing. Johnny was a boring character, the SL played out in a pretty dull manner and so you actively wanted Marissa to ditch him. It made it hard to see a justification for the friendship and the show didn't help by setting it up as a very either or type situation. Like to be Johnny's friend she has to be a bad girlfriend to Ryan and in order to be a good girlfriend she has to stop being friends with these guys. And I don't think it has to be that defined, it can be balanced.