The Other Storylines
It's raining in Orange County, so apparently people can't drive. It's not just me who thinks this is ridiculous--Sandy does too. He goes out to find Rebecca after she calls and brings her back. Of course, the road is blocked, so they have to stay in a motel, and Rebecca tries to entice him with some Ding-Dongs. It fails. Back in Newport, Kirsten is worrying too, trying to distract herself by going into the office, where she finds Julie there, trying to distract herself from her 'lesbian' daughter (bisexual does not seem to be in their vocabulary.) What follows is alcohol and cigars, and the humorous qualities of Julie Cooper-Nichol finally coming through. They talk about Kirsten's marriage, which Julie declares cannot fail:

JULIE: Well, I will see your fugitive, former-girlfriend, flame, and raise you a lesbian daughter.
KIRSTEN: Marissa?! (Julie nods) Well, I'm sure it's just a phase.
JULIE: It was for me. (Kirsten looks a little shocked) And it is for you, too. You guys will work it out…I couldn't handle it if you didn't, you too are like the moral center of the universe; you're Sandy and Kirsten!

Apart for the obvious 'We're a TV show' in-joke, which is played on later, it's an interesting scene, although maybe reinforcing the whole "gay is a phase" mentality. (Julie with a woman? Interesting.) Later that night, Sandy and Kirsten make up after he arrives home on a Greyhound bus--Rebecca having gone on the run again after their car crashed.

Meanwhile, in the land of boring storylines, Lindsay plays her oboe until Ryan comes a knockin' in the rain, and persuades her to have her DNA test. She tells him that she was thinking of moving to Chicago with her mother, which he tells her is not an option. She takes the test, then they make out, then she finds out she is Caleb-spawn, then she moves to Chicago anyway. There is a cute scene after their make-out, involving Ryan and a hypothetical pizza, but generally, it's just plot fodder.

Unlike the Seth-Summer relationship, which is full of Spiderman references. Seth goes around to Summer's house where she is packing and trying on her meringue bridesmaid dress. Seth, who earlier on had looked like he had never seen rain before, doesn't do what he was going to do--tell her he still liked her. Maybe if he hadn't told her in last week's episode that he was over her it would be easier.

Seth leaves, wearing his spidey mask (it's the only thing keeping his locks dry, apparently) and they both look forlorn, both listening to Boys II Men. Seth and Ryan try and hatch a plan to win
her back, which involves Seth borrowing money off Alex to buy back his boat, Summer Breeze, which has been renamed to Gimme Sex. Seth calls Summer just as she is leaving, and she correctly points out that he had a chance when they were going out, and then hangs up on him, even
though she is having doubts about backpacking and bridesmaiding.

In the airport, Summer once again makes a conversational mistake (this time regarding Botticelli) with Zach's mother and "alienating and severe" sister. Seth calls, but she doesn't answer, instead listening to her voice mail by the newsstand. Just as she's waffling over whether to go to Italy, she sees a mini-Seth playing with his own horse doll and comic books on the airport floor. It's cheesy, but not nearly as cheesy as when Summer goes over to the Cohen's, and finds Seth hanging upside-down from the room in his Spiderman mask, after trying to fix the Satellite disk in the rain. The recreation of the famous Spiderman upside-down kiss scene may have been slightly cringe-worthy, but it was also sweet.

The Alex-Marissa Storyline
Thankfully, it wasn't just the straight couples kissing in this episode. We first see Alex and Marissa at Marissa's home (where Alex has stayed overnight), entering the kitchen were Julie is making bagels, because "if the Cohen's can do it, why can't we?" Julie greets Alex with "So you're the feisty young girl Caleb mentioned"' and hilariously tries to appear cool by discussing punk music and exclaiming 'Rock on!' when Alex leaves. While Julie has her back turned in the kitchen, Alex and Marissa quickly make out, then stop just before Julie turns around. After Alex leaves, Julie tells Marissa she should tell her when she has friends over, to which Marissa smirks "You didn't get the memo?" Julie gives her a look, and the following dialogue ensues:

JULIE: I don't think it's too much to ask to know what's going on under my roof.
MARISSA: Oh. You want to know what's going on with me? (Julie looks expectant.) I am going to tell you the truth. No screaming, no crying, just the truth.
JULIE: You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that.
MARISSA: Hold that thought. Alex is my girlfriend.
JULIE: I know, and I am so happy that you have made a new friend. Although, I hope you keep seeing Summer…
MARISSA: No, mom, not my friend who's a girl. My girlfriend. (Thunder rumbles, Julie looks shocked.) Yeah.

Played for comic effect, the scene can't but help make you giggle--plus, Marissa really didn't seem to be trying to upset her mom with the news. She finally seems somewhat beyond the need to annoy her mom, and seems genuinely happy to be with Alex.

Page 1 / 2 - Next