The Third Wheel (The O.C. episode)

Infobox Television episode
Colour = #ffaa44
Series = The O.C.
Title = The Third Wheel


Season = 1
(2003-2004)
Caption = The gang and Oliver outside the Rooney gig.
Episode = 15
Airdate = January 7, 2004 (FOX)
Writer = Melissa Rosenberg
Director = Sandy Smolan
Production = 176514
Episode list = "The O.C." (season 1)
List of "The O.C." episodes
Prev = The Countdown
Next = The Links

"The Third Wheel" is the 15th episode of the FOX television series, "The O.C.". The episode was written by Melissa Rosenberg and was directed by Sandy Smolan. It originally aired on Wednesday January 7, 2004. The band Rooney made a special appearance. They were the first band to play and make a special appearance on the show.

Guest starring

Plot

Articleissues
cleanup = May 2008
fansite = May 2008
inappropriate tone = May 2008

Morning. The Cohens plus one gather for breakfast, only to find that Hailey has already beaten them to the punch, and the juice, and the bagels and the newspaper. The gang convenes in the other room to discuss getting Hailey out of the house.

Getting ready for school, Seth points out that "Ryan and Seth time" has been much compromised by Ryan's constant companion, Marissa. Maybe he's a little whipped. Seth reveals to Ryan his plan to tell Summer that he and Anna are dating now. Marissa bounds in with kisses for Ryan and it's time for school.

In the Harbor hallways, Marissa wonders if she and Ryan are becoming one of those couples that lose all their friends because they can't be apart from each other. They agree to spend the night apart for a change. In class, Summer enthusiastically asks Anna what she's doing this weekend. She and Seth awkwardly try to cover up the fact that they have a date. Anna wonders when Seth is finally going to spill it to Summer.

Elsewhere, Jimmy and Sandy struggle to come up with a resume for Jimmy to send around. Problem is, his only references are the clients he's ripped off. Hailey comes in, and she and Jimmy are quite happy to see each other indeed. They find out they have a lot in common. Sandy and Kirsten discuss Hailey. Outside, they commiserate over their mutual brokenness and single status. Then Hailey and Jimmy walk in on Kirsten and Sandy when they are about to kiss and Jimmy goes to pick up Marissa.

After school, Ryan catches Luke in the parking lot. Somebody slashed a tire on his truck, so Ryan offers to help him change it. Before they can get started, a "compassionate" fellow student makes fun of Luke for both his flat tire and his gay dad. Ryan suggests they just get out of there and leave the tire for later.

Back at the house, Seth is disappointed to find out "Seth and Ryan time" is now Seth, Luke and Ryan time. When are we going to talk, man?! Ryan then gets a call from Marissa. She's at Oliver's - wait, you're at Oliver's??? - and he's ordered way too much food. So come on over. She hangs up, leaving Ryan to fit his head around the fact that Marissa ran into Oliver at therapy and thought it would be a good idea to then go to his place. Ryan decides to take Seth and Luke with him to Oliver's.

Over sumptuous Moroccan dishes in Oliver's penthouse, Oliver and the other kids express their love of Paris and art and ski resorts and other fancy stuff, making Ryan feel a little, well, awkward. He's not really warming up to Oliver. And even when Oliver invites all of them to the sold-out Rooney show the next night, they all say yes, but Ryan still ain't buyin'.

Next morning, Seth is still fretting to Ryan about the Summer quandary. Seth ponders the various ways to deliver his message to Summer. Phone? Blackberry? Carrier pigeon? Ryan tells him to quit being a coward and go face to face. Then Hailey comes in and gleefully reminds Ryan of his own relationship problems re: Oliver.

Sandy and Kirsten discuss Hailey again and then talk about the Rooney concert and whether it is OK for them to be alone. But then they are happy because they are getting a night to themselves.

Getting ready for the concert, Ryan expresses his deepest Oliver concerns to Marissa, who snickers at his jealousy and smothers him with kisses. Upstairs, Sandy tries to coax his boy into finally telling Summer the truth, at one point dropping the wisdom of Steven Seagal on him to get the point across.

Ryan, Marissa, Luke, Seth and Anna are waiting outside the venue because the name "Oliver Trask" is not opening doors. And that's when Summer and a whole bunch of awkwardness come bouncing up. The group has given up on getting inside the show when Oliver catches them in the parking lot. Didn't I say meet at the back door? Oh, and here's a surprise. Oliver's "girlfriend" Natalie is a no show once again. Marissa says that's no problem. She and Ryan will be Oliver's date tonight. Ryan doesn't like this plan.

At home, Sandy and Kirsten's excitement about finally having a night to themselves is undone when they discover Hailey and Jimmy hunkering down on the couch for a Golden Girls marathon.

Backstage, Luke continues acting like a goofball while Anna continues telling Seth the time to spill it to Summer has come. When Summer approaches them, Anna skillfully slips away, giving Seth the perfect opportunity. Which of course he doesn't take. Out by the stage, Oliver continues to try and pick up Marissa right in front of Ryan. And when Anna finds out Seth didn't say anything to Summer, she goes to the bathroom with her. As she goes, she turns back to Seth and clues him that she'll be telling Summer the truth in the bathroom.

The quiet evening at home takes a turn for the worse when Connect Four isn't enough to stave off the tension Hailey is causing in the Cohen household. After she derides Kirsten's career selling McMansions and paving over paradise, Sandy snaps and points out she's been staying for free in one of those houses, using the money that comes from building those houses. Hailey isn't really the type to accept criticism well, and the whole thing ends in disaster.Jimmy and Hailey kiss but decide that it is better not to be together.

Ryan, not exactly rocking out, pulls Marissa aside for a little powwow. Left alone, Oliver starts getting a little twitchy. As if he, say, needed a fix. He slips outside and blows up his dealer's phone. "Make sure it's good and get it here quick!" Elsewhere, Ryan basically mentions that he doesn't like Oliver. Marissa defends him as somebody she can talk to and says she knows he didn't want to come tonight, so if he wants to leave, you know...Ryan takes the hint and takes off. That's not what Marissa had in mind.

In the bathroom, Anna and Summer are shocked to find out the other loves 'The Golden Girls' as well. Which diverts Anna from her truth-telling mission. Outside, Ryan is walking through the parking lot when he finds Oliver getting slammed up against a fence. He tries to come to his rescue, but Oliver's up against a cop. He just tried to buy three grams of cocaine, and the cop is going to take him for a little ride downtown. Ryan heads inside and gets keys and a phone from Seth, telling him it's something about Oliver.

Sandy gets a call at home. Ryan's at the police station. Back at the club, the Rooney show comes to a close and so does the Seth/Anna secret. Summer is surprisingly OK with it. Or so it seems.

Down at County, Sandy pops Oliver, who doesn't understand why Ryan would've helped him out. Ryan isn't so sure himself. And when Marissa finds out what Ryan did, she loves him even more. Then the gang hang out and you see Oliver by the door.

Music

*"Saturday Morning" by Eels
*"Popular Mechanics For Lovers" by Beulah
*"Sorry Sorry" by Rooney
*"Blueside" by Rooney
*"Want In" by Laptop
*"Burn Baby Burn" by Ash
*"Should I Know" by Buva
*"I'm Shakin'" by Rooney
*"Popstars" by Rooney

Trivia

*Rooney become the first musical guests on the show.
*Though credited in the opening credits, Melinda Clarke (Julie) does not appear in this episode.
*This episode contains numerous references to The Golden Girls, particularly the episode where Rose adopts the pig, and the one with the blackout. We learn that several characters affiliate themselves with characters from the show (Hailey - Sophia, Summer - Blanche, Anna - Rose).

External links

*imdb title|0663924|Full Cast & Crew
* [http://www.fox.com/oc/recaps/season1/115.htm Recap from Official Website]
* [http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/articles/content/a1615/ Recap] from Television Without Pity