The OC S03 E04 – I Hear Poor People Theme Bad

Previously: Caleb’s will caused a ruckus. Because he was poor.
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The Last Waltz

Katie: I wanted to start off this recap by reminding readers, or telling those new to The O.C., that you have to look at Season 3 as the darkness before the dawn. Hang in there, because Season 4 is going to be SO much better. Too bad Season 3 scared away all the viewers and the show got canceled after the fourth season.

The core four drive up to Newport Union High School. Seth exposits that this is Newport’s answer to public education. Marissa, you see, having been kicked out of Harbor and left penniless by Caleb’s death, is now forced to endure the indignity of PUBLIC school.

The rest of them try pathetically to see the bright side, as if this is the most run-down, awful place one could possibly go to school.

I cannot emphasize this enough: it looks like a completely normal high school. It just doesn’t look like a country club the way Harbor does—I don’t know if this is supposed to emphasize the bubble Newport Beach kids live in or if it was a fail on the set people’s part. I realize that the quality of public schools varies widely depending on where you live, but still, it’s hard for me to believe that this school is really THAT bad. (M: BUT KATIE. THE REST OF THE PUBLIC GOES THERE.) It is also possible that I’m a little sensitive on this subject—recently, when I bought a car, I was making conversation with the salesman about where I went to school and he made some comment about how it was great that I got into that college even though I went to that (public) high school. I wanted to tell him that despite going to lowly public school, I beat Buffy on my SATs, dammit!

Marines: I know these feels. I went to a pretty crappy public high school that happened to share a very, very similar name with the notorious, local reform school. Yep.

Katie: My hometown actually has a good school system- it was weird that the guy had that reaction.

Ryan says she can go to school with him (really? Will the Cohens pay for her to be tutored, too?), but Marissa says it might be nice to go to school somewhere where people don’t know everything about her. She bids her friends goodbye and gets out of the car. Everyone stares at her, including this gang of girls in black shirts, the red-haired leader of whom comments, “Check out Newport Barbie.” Seth, helpfully, puts in, “And that was the last they ever saw of her!”

Californiaaaaaa….here we coooooooome!!!

The most populous state also has the most songs written about it. I have a whole playlist of songs about California. I don’t think I could do that with, say, New Hampshire.

Mari: I just Googled “songs about New Hampshire” confident it would give me some punchline or other, and found a whole list of songs actually about New Hampshire. Not sure you would want any of these on a playlist but: http://www.wmur.com/news/songs-about-new-hampshire/24537858

Katie: Ha, I stand corrected! I grew up ten minutes from the New Hampshire border. Massachusetts will make fun of NH behind its back, but we keep it around for the tax-free shopping.

Anyway: Harbor. Public school means you don’t have things like coffee bars, but Seth and Summer don’t have to worry about that. Summer whines that she always thought social chair was a ceremonial position and doesn’t know how Marissa ever did it all. Didn’t we recently establish that she was too busy brooding and Taylor Townsend actually did most of the work? The dean, aka Blonde Daniel Meade, comes over and says he was recently touring the boys’ locker room (uh, why?) and it’s disgusting and Seth has to clean it, including the toilets, for detention—unless he gives up his accomplice. After he walks away, Summer begs Seth to let her confess to her part in it, but Seth won’t. “You plan the dance. You leave the toilets to me,” he says, then adds, “I was hoping that would sound a little more heroic.”

Cohen house. Ryan is greeted by Sandy, who just got off the phone with Ryan’s new tutor. Ryan asks what Sandy would think about him going to Newport Union instead. Sandy sees right through that and says, “With Marissa?” Ryan goes on about what a tough time Marissa’s been having and Sandy tells him that’s not his responsibility. He tells Ryan he needs to start focusing on getting his life back on track, college, and SATs. While that is all true, and Ryan does need to back off on his need to save Marissa from every bad thing, I fail to see how going to Newport Union would hurt Ryan’s college prospects more than PUNCHING THE DEAN already has.

Mari: KATIE. A SCHOOL. WHERE POOR PEOPLE OTHER THAN RYAN MIGHT GO.

Katie: Kirsten is planting an herb garden. She’s been told to confront her fears in recovery, and her fear is her own cooking. Sandy: “So’s mine!” Hee. Kirsten says they’ll confront that fear together. They look at each other lovingly and end up making out, and Sandy sweetly tells her how glad he is to have her back.

Caleb’s palace. The doorbell rings, and a messenger tells Julie that the house is being seized for repayment of debt and she has forty-eight hours to get out.

Newport Union. Marissa is awkwardly trying to use a map to find her way around the school when she bumps into the redhead from earlier. She apologizes, but Bitchy Redhead will only let her go if Marissa tells her she thinks she’s better than her. Marissa’s like, “I…don’t,” and Bitchy Redhead gives more attitude when another girl comes over and tells “Heather” to cut it out. Heather walks away with a “whatever,” as Marissa thanks the girl who just helped her. She tells Marissa that her bag and shoes and Chanel necklace aren’t really helping things. The girl introduces herself as “Casey,” and Marissa tells her she’s the first nice person she’s met. Casey’s like, “I’m not even that nice,” before walking off. The bell rings, literally EVERYONE in the hallway disappears (seriously, one second they’re there, then they’re gone), and Marissa’s left there by herself holding the map.

Mari: Casey is Kayla Ewell, who looked really familiar. She played Vicki Donovan on Vampire Diaries and Some Girl on the dream episode of Veronica Mars.

Katie: Harbor. At the dance-planning thing, Summer is trying to tell some girl named Beth that a triangle is not an octagon (not sure why they’re using such specific geometric shapes for a beach-themed dance). Taylor comes over and asks if Summer needs any help. Summer’s like, uh, no, but Taylor goes on about how she doesn’t have friends because she doesn’t trust people and she’s working through it with her therapist. Man, I wish Marissa had continued with therapy—she could really use the kind of self-awareness Taylor has. Taylor was hoping being social chair would help with the no-friends thing, but Summer is unmoved. She does soften a bit when Taylor says she wants her senior year to be different and people to write nice things in her yearbook, and finally tells Taylor to show Beth what an octagon is.

Newport Union. Marissa tries to get a locker open when this friendly, long-haired dude comes over and tells her it’s actually his locker. He manages to work into the conversation that he has a lot of experience being sent to the vice-principal’s office, so that we know what a badass he is. Marissa’s like, thanks, but my boyfriend’s on his way, and the guy introduces himself as Johnny just as Casey and another guy call out his name. The other guy skateboards down a ramp, wipes out, and takes someone else down with him. As he calls out that he’s okay, Casey kisses Johnny and links arms with him—they are a couple. As the skateboard guy gets up, Johnny introduces him as Dennis. Dennis says everyone calls him “Chili” since his last name is “Childress,” but Casey and Johnny are like, yeah, no one calls him that. Chili, by the way, is played by Johnny Lewis, who was in the news a couple of years ago when he killed his landlady and then fell to his death. Knowing that awful story makes watching him in this kind of uncomfortable.

Mari: WHAT. That is a super sad story and I’m selfishly glad I already finished watching this episode because uncomfortable is right.

Katie: Casey asks if Marissa wants to get a bite to eat with them, but Johnny tells her what Marissa said earlier about her boyfriend coming. Chili says Marissa having a boyfriend is going to be a problem because he loves her and he falls hard and fast. If this is supposed to be cute, it fails miserably and just comes off as majorly creepy. After a little more convincing, Marissa decides to go with them. Just as Ryan pulls up to the school to pick her up, Marissa calls him and says she’s going to go get food with her new friends. Even though she’s standing right by the parking lot, she somehow doesn’t see Ryan there. I’m kind of baffled as to why she doesn’t just invite him to join them—not only would it discourage Chili from being a creep, you’d think having a boyfriend from Chino would improve her social standing at this school.

Mari: But then this plot would basically end like, “and Ryan had lunch with them, everyone used their words, and it was a normal day.” I mean, I for one would be pretty okay with that, but alas. We have more episode to go.

Katie: SO MUCH of this show’s plot is driven by people not using their words (like not telling Sandy about something he could help them with) and/or Ryan getting too involved in Marissa’s problems. This episode has both in abundance.

Caleb’s palace. Julie’s trying to avoid telling Marissa that they’re getting kicked out, but Marissa knows and tells Julie she doesn’t have to protect her. Julie says Marissa can stay with Summer until they get back on their feet. “And we WILL get back on our feet and we’ll be wearing very expensive shoes when we do it.” There’s actually a sweet moment where Marissa says she knows they will, because Julie is a survivor, and they hug. Marissa makes an off-hand comment about how Julie must have saved money over the years, and Julie’s like, “Uh…yeah,” in a way that means she hasn’t.

The Cohens’ doorbell rings, and an extremely attractive guy hands Kirsten flowers. Shortest scene ever.

Summer and Marissa drive up to Summer’s house and Marissa thanks Summer for taking her in. Summer says she always wanted a sister and it makes sense she’d get Marissa since Seth got Ryan as a brother. Marissa’s like, oh, right, Ryan! My boyfriend! Thanks for reminding me that he exists! She picks up her phone and calls Ryan, who’s sitting alone in a booth in the diner. “I am a terrible girlfriend,” she whines.

…

HALLELUJAH!

She finally gets it! She understands! She COMPREHENDS! YES! Yes, Marissa, you are a TERRIBLE GIRLFRIEND. You finally get the thing we’ve been saying for TWO SEASONS now! YOU CAN BE TAUGHT! (M: Now, let’s all wait and see if she’ll change…)

Marissa explains the situation with her getting kicked out of the house, which led her to forget about meeting Ryan for breakfast. Okay, that’s legit, and actually DOESN’T make you a terrible girlfriend, but there are about a million other things that do. Ryan looks sad, but says he’ll pick her up from school that afternoon.

Kirsten answers the phone, and it’s Charlotte from rehab. The flowers were from Charlotte, and Charlotte wants to meet for lunch. They make plans and Charlotte hangs up, and then from behind her comes…the flower delivery guy. Aha! I knew that dude was too attractive to have been cast in a one-line role! He says Kirsten had better come through with that money, and Charlotte assures him that she will.

Harbor. Continuing the way-too-much-time-before-school pattern of previous episodes, it seems that Marissa had enough time to have that conversation with Julie, pack, drive over to Summer’s house, and talk to Ryan all before school started. Good Lord. Taylor comes up to Summer in the hall and makes a big deal about being secretive before she tells Summer that she overheard Blonde Daniel Meade telling Dr. Kim that Seth will be suspended if he doesn’t give up the name of his tiki hut accomplice. When Seth comes up and asks what they’re talking about, Summer makes up a story about a teacher being found on a pedophile website. Really, Summer? That’s the first lie you thought of?

Sandy tells Kirsten that they need to make the decision about the Newport Group that they’ve been putting off. He assures Kirsten that their family is fine financially and her decision shouldn’t hinge on that. Kirsten says it’s time to let it go, and Sandy says he’ll handle everything. Again, it is SO NICE to see these two back to normal!

Summer knocks on Blonde Daniel Meade’s office and confesses to the tiki hut theft. BDM says she can’t stay on as social chair, and Summer’s like, “But who’d replace me? Taylor?” BDM’s like, well, she’s very well-qualified. Summer realizes Taylor set her up for this and looks like she’s about to go into one of her famous rage blackouts.

Mari: I’ll be over here rooting for Summer. Taylor and BDM need to get off my screen. 

Katie: Julie goes into Sandy’s office and asks if she could get a loan from the Newport Group, being a former officer and all. Sandy tells her that not only is that illegal, but the Newport Group will cease to exist pretty soon. Julie’s not happy, and Sandy tells her that he and Kirsten could lend her money if she needs it. Which is SUPER nice of him, especially considering that a couple of episodes ago, Julie tried to frame his kid for attempted murder. Ever notice how incredibly, kind of unrealistically forgiving Sandy and Kirsten both are towards pretty much everyone? Julie tells him she’ll be fine, but looks very freaked out.

Harbor. Summer goes up to Taylor in the hall and bitches her out, telling her that the war is not over. Taylor calls herself “a human quagmire” and walks away. In the funniest moment of the episode, Summer, after looking pissed off for a second, asks some random guy what a quagmire is. He ignores her, so she just stands there asking the general crowd. I kind of like to think that this is the moment that Summer decided to start studying for the SATs. At least she knows what an octagon is!

 

Newport Union. Marissa sees a poster for the upcoming school dance. Johnny asks her if she’s thinking of going. Marissa asks if it has a theme, which confuses Johnny because in public school they can’t afford themes. (M: A+) Marissa doesn’t think she’s going, but Johnny says she should go with him, Casey, and Chili. Suddenly, Heather appears and tells Marissa she wants to apologize for the day before. Marissa accepts, and then Heather says loudly, “So you’re not gonna SHOOT ME?” Marissa runs away in tears, and Johnny runs after her and tells her not to listen. She didn’t want anyone here to know, but because news travels, everyone already does. Johnny reminds her that she saved someone’s life, and as they’re standing there, Ryan drives up and for some reason decides that Marissa crying is Johnny’s fault. He runs up and asks Johnny what he did before Marissa starts to introduce them. Dude, I know you don’t like to see her unhappy, but take a chill pill, Ryan, and maybe don’t assume the worst about everybody? Johnny awkwardly shakes hands with Ryan and then runs off, and Marissa glares at Ryan and says, “He was just trying to be nice,” before stalking off.

Poolhouse. Ryan is doing work assigned by his (apparently invisible) tutor when Seth comes up and says it’s time for “old-fashioned Seth-Ryan time.” Yea! Seth asks what’s wrong, and Ryan explains the Johnny situation from the day before. Seth’s like, “Good luck,” and starts to walk away. Ryan’s wondering where the advice is and Seth’s like, “What advice? Call her, apologize. It’s not rocket science. Man, you homeschool kids are pathetic.” I remember Sweeney commenting last season that it’s like in each episode, only one of the core four can be really likable. This is definitely a Seth episode, which is refreshing because he was being a huge brat in  another episode I recapped.

    Mari: Wait, is Marissa ever the likable one?

Katie: NOPE. She might not come in last in every episode, but she never wins.

Marissa and Summer are sitting by Summer’s pool. Marissa’s doing the broody thing about how she’s not going to the dance anymore because now everyone knows she shot someone. The lesser-known Cinderella story. Summer reminds her that Johnny was cool about it, but Marissa’s wary of going without Ryan. Speaking of the devil, he calls. Marissa beats him to the apology (for once, he’s more wrong than she is, though), but she does turn down Ryan’s offer to go to the movies so she can do homework. Really. Way harsh, Tai.

At the yacht club, Kirsten is sipping water when Charlotte comes up to her. They chat about the lake house and Charlotte mentions wanting to turn it into a kind of upscale halfway house and asks Kirsten to invest. Kirsten declines, citing how broke her father was and the end of the Newport Group, and this of course ruins Charlotte’s less-than-brilliant scam. She does attempt to talk Kirsten out of selling the Newport Group, and Kirsten looks like she’s considering.

Mari: Wait, so Charlotte isn’t going to try to steal Kirsten’s life? DAMMIT.

Katie: Nope, she’s just a really terrible con artist. I feel like Hercules.

Caleb’s palace. Julie has somehow not prepared for the property seizure and the reality hits her as the movers show up and start taking everything. (M: 48 hours girl; what did you think that meant?)

At Summer’s, Marissa’s sitting outside when the doorbell rings, and there stand Johnny, Casey, and Chili, like the poor man’s Ryan, Summer, and Seth. (See what I did there?) They’ve decided to fill the fairy godmother role and take Marissa to the dance.

Cohen kitchen. Sandy and Kirsten ask where Seth, who’s all dressed up (but wearing shorts with his jacket and tie?), and Ryan are going—to the dance and to see Marissa, respectively. After they walk off, Kirsten looks deep in thought, and Kirsten asks if she’s doing the right thing closing the Newport group. Sandy assures her that she is.

It’s dark now, and Seth and Ryan pull up to Summer’s house, where Marissa and her new friends stand outside. Ryan is sad because this is definitely not studying, but Marissa tells him she really needs these friends.

Newport Union dance, where themes are replaced by actual record players and punch spiked by Chili. Over on the bleachers, Heather smirks and makes a shooting motion at Marissa, and this is enough to make Marissa walk out. But the new friends manage to talk her back in by comparing public school kids to dogs- they smell fear and like Frisbees. Seriously. This might have been a more touching scene if we cared about any of the new friends, or if anyone in it could act.

Beach dance. It’s very nicely decorated but I don’t see any octagons. (M: Maybe that girl never figured them out.)  Taylor takes the mic and greets the crowd, taking credit for the whole dance, thanking BDM, and making a pointed comment about “the end of Summer.” Seth has to physically restrain Summer by the end of the scene.

At the motel, Charlotte and Hot Flower Guy are arguing about their poorly planned scam, and Charlotte kisses him and assures him she hasn’t run out of ways to use Kirsten.

Kirsten looks at old pictures and reminisces with Sandy about her first renovation and rehashes some daddy issues. Sandy says they can keep the company, but Kirsten says she just needed to say goodbye. They decide to have a picnic.

Ryan is alone and forlorn in the diner for the second time this episode when Seth calls to check on him. They talk about Marissa- Seth says Ryan shouldn’t worry about losing Marissa, but Ryan’s apparently not convinced because he gets up and leaves, running over to Newport Union. Either non-students can come or they can’t afford to make sure they don’t, because he gets right in and sees Marissa apparently having a good time. Seth, holding a skateboard  (he brought that to the dance with him? How’d he do that when they took Summer’s car?) is right behind him. Seth is trying to stop Ryan from doing something he’ll regret that might cause him to lose Marissa, and he’s successful. They leave just as it looks like Marissa might have noticed them.

Back at the dance, Summer is on the phone with Seth asking where he is when she notices Taylor slip out of the room. She follows Taylor and…surprise! There’s Taylor making out with BDM. Because we needed to fill this season’s pedo-lationship quota. Taylor and BDM don’t notice Summer, though.

Mari: And Summer doesn’t use that sweet flip-phone to gather any photo documentation. Total fail.

Katie: Julie’s unpacking in a cheap motel. She breaks down crying and…well, damn, show, you’ve made me feel sorry for Julie.

Seth comes back to the dance and Summer runs up to him. She starts to tell him about what she saw, but Taylor and a guy she’s found to dance with (despite her lack of friends) are too close.

Ryan goes back to the poolhouse and finds Marissa already inside. She says she spent the whole dance wishing he was there. “My life just doesn’t work without you,” she says, because that’s not codependent or anything. They kiss, and Marissa tells him that when she turns the radio on, whatever song comes on will be theirs. That plan is shot when a loud rap song comes out, but when they switch the station, because this show loves 80s covers, they find Youth Group’s cover of Alphaville’s “Forever Young.” SO appropriate for them for a multitude of reasons. Also, it reminds me of another school dance—that of Napoleon Dynamite. They dance outside the poolhouse as we montage on sad Julie, the Harbor dance, Charlotte smoking and looking evil, and Kirsten and Sandy’s indoor picnic.

       

Thank you again for having me, my dear Snark Ladies! It’s been a pleasure.

 

Next time on The OC: The Cohens try to blackmail Ryan’s way back into Harbor in S03 E05 – The Perfect Storm.