Previously on The O.C., recaps. Including one by the most funny Demian. Thank you, Demian, for, amongst other things, adoring Adam Brody so spectacularly!
Kitchen. The Big House. The camera pans over piles of food ready for preparation as Seth implores, "Mom. Mom! No. No recipes. Put them away." Kirsten argues that it's Ryan's first Thanksgiving in the house, and that they should make the meal as a family. In the background, Ryan looks on in curiosity, as Seth says he can't believe Kirsten's serious, and asks where Rosa (who has changed her name, evidently from "Rosie") is. In the same godforsaken place as China, probably. And by "some godforsaken place," I do mean "Chino." When Kirsten announces that there will be no Rosa, a gape-mouthed Seth (he's frequently gape-mouthed in this epi, by the way, but sometimes with good reason -- because there's one tongue or another wedged in there) stares while Ryan tilts his head to the side. Ryan's got the head-tilt down. Sandy looks equally concerned. The eyebrows do, also. Kirsten announces that she's ready for "this challenge," while an adorably argyle-bedecked Seth hunts for takeout menus. Kirsten whines at Sandy for backup, which he doesn't provide, asking instead whether she's sure she wants to do this. Kirsten, who is awfully well-dressed to stick her hands up a turkey butt, looks hurt as Seth emphatically insists that they're not going to ruin Thanksgiving. He waits for Thanksgiving! It's his favorite holiday, and "everyone knows this!" Ryan pipes up to say that his family was never into the holidays. Kirsten announces that it's all the more reason to make this one special. Seth waves his arms around in a show of frustration as Kirsten asks if they have any pans anywhere, leading Sandy to comment, "Not inspiring a lot of confidence, darling." Aw, with the "darling." And Adam Brody, Ben McKenzie, and Peter Gallagher, by the way, would constitute a paralyzing game of "Marry, Screw, or Kill."
Seth continues, "You know what I dream about when I dream about Thanksgiving? Which is often? I dream about eating so much deliciousness that all the blood rushes to my stomach and I pass out at the table. Please don't deny me that!" Ryan mumbles, "That's just weird," and the two exchange funny looks. Kirsten, meanwhile, has located a pan, and walks toward the turkey, uncertainly guessing they should start with that. She makes a series of confused, grunting noises, and then gingerly picks up the carcass by its feet. If turkeys even have feet, that is. Last Thanksgiving, my friend was talking about the diminishing mental capacity of her grandmother and told us as proof, "She thinks turkeys have four legs." And I was all, "They don't?" So I'm not one to talk, but regardless, I'm down with said Thanksgiving deliciousness. Sandy watches in amusement and tells Seth, "Aw. That's just how she held you as a baby." Hee. Looking not entirely pleased still to be touching the turkey, Kirsten conjectures that they should "um, start basting." Ryan peeks around to watch her, and his expressions in this scene are priceless. Sandy's had enough and rushes to say that he'll baste. When Kirsten asks if he's sure, he responds, "Oh, I love to baste. You know that." Ryan beats Kirsten to her target, the cranberries; he claims he loves them and, as proof, pops one in his mouth. Kirsten announces that she'll peel the potatoes then, and Seth practically shoves her out of the way, claiming the peeler and announcing that "there's [sic] few things as therapeutic as peeling a potato." Kirsten whines over what she's supposed to do, and Sandy suggests that she set the table; Seth echoes that it's a good idea. The conversation is interrupted by the phone, and Kirsten volunteers to get it. The men are pleased to keep her occupied, and Seth agrees that she should answer it: "It's not gonna answer itself." Sandy shakes his head, grins, and insists, "You own the phone."