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"The Undertow" is the eighteenth episode in the third season of the Fox drama series The O.C.. The episode aired on the twenty-third of March, in 2006.

Synopsis[]

Jess returns with news about Trey. Kirsten helps Ryan confront his savior complex. Seth and Summer receive sex counseling from Taylor. Marissa is lonely and finds company from an unlikely source.

Plot[]

Ryan, Seth, Summer and Sadie are all playing video games when Jess shows up. Jess gives Ryan Trey’s belated birthday gift to him and say she can speak with Ryan if he wants to later. Sadie ask who she is but Ryan doesn’t tell her.

Ryan, Seth, Summer - The Undertow

Ryan, Seth, Summer, and Sadie hanging out and playing video games.

The next day, Ryan opens his gift from Trey and it’s a toy car. Seth sees it and asks what it’s for to which Ryan says it’s a long story. Kirsten walks in telling the boys about breakfast when she sees the toy car as well. Ryan tells her it’s from Trey that was given to him by Jess. Kirsten asks if he is okay which Ryan says he doesn’t care as he isnt in his life anymore.

Volchok shows up at Marissa’s and gives her back the watch she gave him in exchange for Volchok to leave Ryan alone in The Swells. He stares at her for a minute and says he will be at the beach later that night and hopes to see her.

Marissa - The Undertow

Marissa is visited by Volchok who returns her watch.

Seth leaves his Brown interview very pleased and Summer is even happier for him as he leaves to go tell his parents. Summer runs into Taylor and says they should throw a party. Summer wants to hang out with Seth alone in the house and Taylor makes a big deal about it. Summer says it will just be the usual and Taylor apologizes saying she didn’t realize her and Seth lost “the magic” as they get ready for college life. Summer assures Taylor they will be fine in college and that they have a healthy sex life.

Ryan is still looking at his gift when Sadie walks in. Sadie brings up Jess from last night and asks Ryan. He refuses to tell her the story and Sadie says she will listen if he wants to talk to her and leaves.

A doctor, Henry Griffin, for the new hospital comes to visit Sandy. He talks about the board meeting and tells Sandy about the complaints with Matt. Sandy says he will talk to Matt but Dr. Griffin insists they want Matt off the project. Sandy says he can’t do that to Matt to which Dr. Griffin says they won’t be able to go forward with the hospital if he stays. Dr. Griffin tells Sandy to not blow his chance with the new hospital on Matt.

Ryan is worrying about Trey and if he should go talk to Jess. Seth says that he can either live in the past and go talk to Jess or live in the now and call his sometimes girlfriend, Sadie.

At the lifeguard tower, Marissa is looking at her watch Volchok gave back to her, obviously thinking about him and leaves. She visits Matt and he offers his place for her to use for the weekend while he is in L.A. Summer and Seth are watching movies when Summer tries to seduce Seth. Seth tries to as well but it just isn’t working with them.

Ryan makes a call to Sadie telling her he will pick her up soon before he walks up to Jess’ door. Ryan asks if Trey is okay and she says he misses Ryan. Jess tells Ryan Trey’s new job which is dealing for blackjack in Las Vegas and seems to be staying out of trouble. Jess encourages Ryan to stay as she has more to tell him about Trey.

At the Cohen’s, Ryan takes to his punching bag as memories of his brother resurface. He envisions the shooting from The Aftermath, when they stole a car together in the Premiere, and the shooting and fight they had in The Dearly Beloved. Kirsten walks in and she asks if Ryan is okay. Kirsten asks if Jess is giving him a problem and Ryan says yes including his brother. Kirsten points out how Ryan is trying to save a girl again, bringing up Marissa. Ryan says that most of it was his fault but agrees with Kirsten in that he can’t argue with it. Ryan says he is trying to spare Sadie and Kirsten encourages him to not let Jess get in the way of his new life.

At Matt’s, there is a knock at the door when Marissa is in the kitchen and answers it to find Sandy. Marissa tells Sandy she wasn’t comfortable sleeping in the trailer by herself so she came to Matt’s. Sandy tells her she can always sleep at the Cohen’s but Marissa says how things are hard with Ryan. Sandy says how she doesn’t belong there and Marissa tells Sandy that Matt went to L.A.

Taylor surprised Summer at the diner and points out her morning glow but realizes her and Seth didn’t do anything and tries to give her sex advice. Ryan visits Sadie and she asks about why he missed out on last night. Sadie forgives him and demands dinner.

At the trailer alone, Marissa picks up the phone and calls Summer buts gets no answer. Kirsten and Sandy are having a moment when Ryan and Seth walk into the kitchen. Ryan gets a call from Jess and she sounds like she is in a panic. Ryan goes to see her when Kirsten walks out thinking he won’t be a hero again and he tells her he’s done after this. Marissa and Summer are hanging out and Summer talks to her about Seth. Summer tells Marissa they have been having intimacy issues and asks if her and Ryan ever had an issue with sex. Marissa says no even though they had many other issues. Marissa makes eye contact with Volchok across the room and says that the more emotionally unavailable you are, the more you want someone else. Summer notices her staring and Marissa says they should leave.

Jess asks if Ryan saw Jim and she says that he has been coming around more often even when she ended it earlier that day. A car pulls up and Jim comes to the door looking for Jess and Ryan defends her. Jim leaves and Ryan asks Jess if she will be okay. Ryan doesn’t seem to believe her and she tells him she is trying to change. Ryan leaves but finds a picture of Trey in her purse as he’s walking out, Ryan goes back to talk to her.

Ryan spent the night and Jess offers breakfast when she gets a call from Trey. Trey asks to speak with Ryan and he declines. Jess says Trey wants her to come back. Her parents are awol and doesn’t have many friends to keep herself away from Trey.

Jess House - The Undertow

Jess and Ryan talking more about Trey and her life.

Sandy and Seth talk about the Brown interview when Seth asks about his mom and dad’s sex life in college. Sadie walks in with breakfast looking for Ryan. Kirsten can’t lie to her about what’s going on and leaves Seth to tell her. Sadie guesses what happened and Seth tries to cover for Ryan but Sadie reads right through it. She says she isn’t jealous but isn’t sure they are right for each other due to Ryan’s intense issues. Seth defends Ryan bringing up his past and that Sadie should cut him some slack.

Taylor visits Summer talking about a theme for prom. Matt and Sandy are arguing about Matt’s behavior issues and Sandy brings up Marissa and how inappropriate it is that she is there. The board is waiting for Matt to screw up which he continues to do and Matt asks him to stop them.

Summer gets to school and asks where all the girls are at when Seth walks in, it’s an ambush. Taylor is trying to help Summer and Seth with their sex life. Seth gets up to leave but Summer makes him stay and try to work it out. They both aren’t feeling it.

Ryan and Sadie are out for dinner. Ryan gets a call from Jess who turns out to be Kim, Jess’s friend who is calling to get him to help Jess. Ryan leaves Sadie and she tells him she doesn’t get it but he needs to go deal with it.

Marissa runs into Volchok again and she tells him to stop playing games. Volchok notices that Marissa is lonely but he can help her through that. Marissa tells him she is doing fine on her own and leaves. Ryan finds Jess who has been crying and she tells him that she was missing Ryan. Jess says that Ryan takes care of her unlike Trey and Jim. She hugs him and he consoles her but she starts to kiss his neck. Jim storms in and wants to fight Ryan. Jim punches Ryan and he tries to talk him down. Ryan leaves and he tells Jess he can’t date girls like her anymore.

Marissa & Volchok - The Undertow

Volchok notices a lonely Marissa and offers to "help" her.

Taylor visits Seth again to give him more advice. Sandy is having dinner with Dr. Griffin and tries to convince him that Matt should stay. Sandy figures out that it’s because of Maya and Dr. Griffin gives him a choice to choose. Marissa calls Summer in hopes of hanging out but Summer can’t since Seth is coming over to talk. Marissa understands and asks her to call later.

Sandy gets home and Kirsten tells him Matt called a lot when Sandy gets yet another phone call from him that he doesn’t answer. Kirsten finds Ryan and she assures him it’s never too late with Sadie. He just needs to talk to her. Ryan visits Sadie and he tells her about his brother, his mom, and more about his past. He tells her the story about the Camaro they tried to steal and how he doesn’t talk to his brother anymore. Ryan says he wants to start over with Sadie. Ryan kisses Sadie and they sleep together.

Seth visits Summer and tries out Taylor’s advice on sex. Summer gets upset and tries to hit Seth, he stops her and that turns her on. They make out and yeah.

Seth & Summer - The Undertow

Summer and Seth get their spark back.

Marissa goes home to find Volchok waiting for her and he leaves the door open for him to walk in. They make out and also sleep together.

Cast[]

Starring[]

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Music[]

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