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Hey, this episode is pretty good! First, we have Marissa finally being called out on her feelings for Johnny, with Ryan telling her that he doesn't want to see her until she makes up her mind. And it's Kaitlin, of all people, who gets Ryan to do it! And then she tells Marissa to get over herself already and just make a freaking decision about Ryan or Johnny. Go Kaitlin! She also tells Johnny to figure out what he's going to do about his feelings for Marissa, which doesn't end up working out too well. But more on that later. Meanwhile, Sandy has to make a decision, too, as his smarmy little protégé wants to use his manly wiles to make their hospital project go through. But Sandy wants to be honest and good and right! And it's not like Kirsten's giving him any meaningful advice. Julie forces Dr. Neil's hand by setting him up with one of her dating company's clients and then sulking when Dr. Neil's date goes unexpectedly well. Fortunately for her, Dr. Neil has a taste for wine coolers and Hot Pockets and winds up at Julie's door. Seth's interview-ducking is found out when the Harbor guidance counselor, apparently desperate for some screen time, tells Summer everything. Seth's growing pot addiction is revealed soon after when he gets stoned and a suspicious Summer searches his room and finds his supply. Meanwhile, Marissa writes Johnny a Dear John(ny) letter that sends him on a tequila/bonfire/rock-climbing bender. Marissa and Ryan are in the middle of making up and making out when Kaitlin calls, frantically begging them to come and rescue Johnny and make everything better again. But when they get there, Johnny's just a little bit too close to the cliff's edge to be saved. He falls and it looks like he'll out of our lives forever. Which I'm just a little bit sad about, because I almost liked him in this episode with his angry drunken railing against Marissa. Want more? The full recap starts right below!
Ryan is rudely awakened by Sandy, who worriedly reports that Seth has disappeared. Usually, it's Seth who's being told that Ryan is gone, so this is quite the change-up. You have to wonder how long Seth was gone before Sandy "Wait, I Have Kids?" Cohen noticed. Seth could be anywhere by now! Ryan -- a quick thinker even before his morning black coffee -- is able to cover for Seth and tell Sandy that he probably just went to school early to do some last-minute studying. Although, given how early these kids already get up before school so that they can have their usual breakfast at the diner and run other assorted errands around town, it must be, like, 3 in the morning. Or maybe that's not the sun coming up we see through Ryan's window -- it's the sun going down. Last week. Sandy suspects that Ryan isn't telling him the truth, because someone who sleeps in what appear to be street clothes like Ryan does should never be trusted.
Ryan finds Seth on the pier, contemplating life. He asks Seth to tell him what's wrong, and Seth says that Ryan isn't the only person in his family who's allowed to brood. Unlike Ryan, though, Seth immediately lets loose with all his recent problems: he skipped the Brown interview and lied to Summer about it. He insists that he does not have a problem with pot, since that would be too much of an "after-school special." Yes, it would be. And yet, here we are. Because Ryan knows that Seth is at the pier for reasons besides watching the sun rise and/or set, and that is to buy some more weed. No, Seth! Not at the pier! Everyone knows it's lousy with undercover cops (except for the times when Kaitlin is openly smoking pot).
We get an exterior shot of the trailer park, which still looks like it was just hit by a tornado, what with the leaves scattered all over the ground and the electrical pole splayed across the sidewalk. I know this trailer park is supposed to be for poor people, despite its proximity to the ocean and Newport's finest mansions, but you'd think that someone from the Department of Light and Power would have stopped by to fix that power line. Maybe they're waiting for May sweeps to do it. Also, I really don't think it's fair that the power line has now gotten more screen time than Gus, unless we get to see Marissa accidentally stepping on it and electrocuting herself. Inside the trailer, Kaitlin is looking through the thirteen thousand bathing suits she brought home from school, apparently anticipating spending her winter break somewhere a lot warmer and wetter. Instead, she gets to use them for a morning surfing lesson with Johnny. Marissa pretends not to care, but when Kaitlin presses her about fifteen times, she can't admit that she has no feelings for Johnny.