The O.C. Sundays – Volume Ten – Season One: Episode Ten – The Perfect Couple

Recap by Holly Hill

 

Why Rewatch The O.C.?

The O.C. premiered on August 5, 2003 and ended on February 22, 2007. Or May 18, 2006 if you like to pretend that the fourth season never happened (a lot of people do, it’s okay). The O.C. not only introduced a lot of people to some fantastic music through its heavily bought mix tapes (this is before YouTube, Spotify, & Apple Music), it also created Chrismukkah, and inspired a decades worth of ‘THE REAL’ reality shows.

Not sure what I mean by that? Well The O.C. prompted the reality show Laguna Beach: The Real O.C., and a thousand other spinoffs to it. The catch phrase ‘The Real O.C.’ morphed into The Real Housewives of fill in the blank rich people cities.

Needless to say, despite its shortcomings, The O.C. had some great writing, a fantastic soundtrack, and truly inspired a generation worth of TV, for better or worse. The O.C. is the only TV show I own on box set. I haven’t watched it in awhile, so why don’t we watch it together? Whether you’re new to The O.C. (you can stream it on Hulu) or a long time fan, it’s a show anyone with a love for the dramatic can enjoy.

Recap:

The episode begins with some pretty heavy making out from Ryan and Marissa. Ryan asks if they can have their first official date together this weekend, but he’s really implying that they should have sex soon. You’ve been dating for like five minutes Ryan. Relax. They continue to make out until Kirsten walks in on them who has clearly NEVER had to deal with this situation before with Seth.

The next morning Kirsten asks Sandy to talk to Ryan about sex in the house. Sandy says that’s not a problem because there is no sex in the house based on his recent experience. Low blow. They’re half joking though and start making out until RYAN comes in and interrupts them. Lotta cock blocking in this house.

At school Seth finds out from Ryan’s implied looks that he’s had sex with multiple girls. Seth is so very behind on the sex thing.

Summer and Marissa talk about Marissa and Ryan maybe having sex soon and Marissa is clearly wanting to take things slow with Ryan.

At work, Rachel makes Sandy work late so he has to cancel his sex date with Kirsten. Kirsten walks into her office to find Julie talking with Caleb. She was there to talk about the Children’s Hospital benefit which was supposed to take place on Julie’s yacht, which she no longer owns. Caleb has offered up his instead.

Ryan, Seth, and Anna talk about what Ryan is going to do for their date. He has no idea and is kind of freaking out. Anna asks Seth to stop talking about Summer so much. Impossible.

Marissa comes home to her Dad’s place to find her Mom waiting. She asks Jimmy and Marissa to come to her stupid benefit. She wants the party to show that The Cooper family is ‘back’ and better than ever. Eye roll. Julie says she wants them all to feel like a family again so I guess she regrets asking for a divorce? Not very likely.

Marissa asks Ryan to cancel all the big plans for their date (he had none), to accompany her on a yacht for the charity kids thing. Marissa thinks her Mom has changed and the whole family could get back together. She says that she needs Ryan there because he is her boyfriend now, which is news to Ryan who’s never really had a girlfriend, just girls he has banged.

The next morning Seth talks to Ryan about how he doesn’t actually talk about Summer that much.

“So get this. Anna thinks all I do is talk about Summer. I mean that’s crazy right?”

“You want me to lie?”

Sandy apologizes for missing his date with Kirsten. He says if their meeting with his firm and her firm goes well today they could both be home by 6. Just in time for boom boom. Kirsten asks if that’s a bribe. This is definitely a conflict of interest. No huge surprise the meeting does not go well. Caleb accuses Sandy of sleeping with Rachel in front of Kirsten. He says since their offer to him sucks they clearly haven’t been working all those late nights, just bangin.

Ryan convinces Seth to take Anna to the yacht charity event. Anna asks if Summer is going to be there, and Seth says he has no idea and doesn’t care. Anna agrees to go. Ryan tells Marissa he’s worried about going to the party because he usually ends up punching someone. Julie asks Marissa to see if Caitlin is ready so she can apologize to Ryan alone. He accepts her apology and they awkwardly hug. Marissa walks in and seems thrilled.

Summer walks up to Seth and Anna wanting to talk to Seth. She makes some joke about missing classes for a clothing sale, and Anna makes a sarcastic remark back.

Summer: “Are you making fun of me, because I can’t tell.”

Anna: “Oh, most of the time, Summer, you do my job for me.”

Summer: “Again, not following.”

Pretty harsh Anna. Summer asks if Seth can catch her up on history tomorrow, and Seth says he can’t cause he’s going to the charity thing with Anna. Summer is clearly upset that they are going together. Summer randomly says she’s going to, with him! Some random polo guy named Chip that she suddenly sees and grabs. Just to make Seth jealous.

Later that night Sandy comes home pretty pissed that Kirsten was talking to her Dad about her relationship with Sandy. She says he’s the only one she can talk to about it and it isn’t her fault he brought it up in a professional setting.

Ryan goes to take out the trash and hears Julie’s doorbell ring. It’s Caleb and they have a quick make out sesh on the porch and Julie sees Ryan watching at the last minute. So clearly the whole family thing is a ruse. Marissa shows up the next day and says she’s really happy and she hopes that her parents get back together.

Sandy is working on a Saturday with Rachel who seems determined to not do any work. She stretches so you can see her entire stomach and every time Sandy tries to bring the conversation back to work, she brings it back to play. She bends over to grab some papers and he does too. They joke that it’s like twister. Rachel basically crawls over to Sandy and tries to make out with him and he turns her down. Good man.

Everyone arrives at the yacht. Seth introduces Anna to his grandfather. Julie tells Ryan to not tell anyone about her and Caleb. Summer shows up with Chip and is clearly very jealous of Anna and Seth.

Chip: “The ocean is like so vast. So endless. I feel so…”

Summer: “Insignificant? Go figure.”

Marissa: “How’s it going with Chip.”

Summer: “Well he’s surprised that the ocean is big. Go smoke another beer Chip.”

This all helps Summer come to her own realization.

Marissa confesses to Ryan that she wants her parents to get back together and it looks like they will. Ryan says they won’t get back together. Marissa doesn’t understand why he can’t be happy for her. Ryan tells her that her Mom is seeing Caleb, which is news to Marissa. Of course this sends Marissa into a downward spiral because she can’t ever just take bad news like an adult and let it go.

Summer grabs Seth at the first opportunity and makes out with him. She says that if Seth tells anyone she’ll kill him.

Julie goes to make a speech about how much money they’ve raised tonight. She sees Marissa and asks her to join them at the front. Marissa grabs the mic and asks the room if they think that Julie and Caleb make the perfect couple. Because they are one! Right in front of her little sister. Nice going. Ryan looks impressed for some reason. Jimmy is pissed and Caitlin announces the winner of the raffle as Sandy and Kirsten. The irony isn’t lost on Kirsten who rolls her eyes at the entire event and the fact that whore face Julie is sleeping with her Dad.

Anna fills Seth in on what he missed while he was making out with Summer. Anna asks where he was and he lies and says he was buying raffle tickets. Marissa says she’s ready for her and Ryan’s first date as the party breaks up.

At home, Kirsten fills Sandy in on the nights events and they finally bannnnnnnng.

Sandy: “So in theory, Julie Cooper could eventually become your step mother.”

Kirsten: “Don’t even say it.”

Ryan and Marissa make out heavily on his bed because I guess that qualifies as a date now.

Best Song of the Episode:

“Strange and Beautiful” by Aqualung

Best Quote:

Kirsten: “You guys ready?”

Seth: “Almost. The girls are peeing.”

Kirsten: “Seth, don’t say pee.”

Number of Non-White People with Actual Lines in This Episode:

This episode took place on a yacht so there abso-fucking-lutely are no minorities in this episode.

Weird 2003 thing:

Marissa and her Mom reminisce about seeing Catherine Zeta Jones out in LA while they were eating lunch one time. Today most teenagers wouldn’t recognize her or care.

Best Fashion Statement:

Marissa’s fugly dress