The O.C. – Episode 4-10 – “The French Connection”
Seth is off to Seattle to visit Dr. Roberts and ask for his permission to marry Summer. Of course, Seth knows that Dr. Roberts is going to say no, so it will give him an easy way to “get off the hook”. He won’t have to marry Summer, because Dr. Roberts won’t allow it. That way he won’t have to “lose” to Summer. But while he was there he finally realizes that he does really want to marry Summer and he makes Dr. Roberts see it as well. Roberts still tells him to go to college first and then get married to Summer.
Meanwhile, Summer is becoming a “Newpsie-Wed”. You don’t really want to know that is, but I will tell you anyways. You remember slutty Holly from the first season? Well now she is a “trophy wife”. She and other women like her call themselves the “Newpsie-Weds”. They shop all day, go to yoga, tan, etc. They contribute nothing to society. Their sole job is to look pretty. Summer gets brought into that world, but starts having second, or is it third or fourth, thoughts on getting married. Her conscience keeps showing up in the form of Che. A little silly, but Che’s character is silly, so it works.
The heart of this episode was Ryan and Taylor relationship. We get the introduction of Henri-Michel, Taylor’s ex-husband from France. He has come to Newport to sell his book called “A Season for Peaches”. That’s the book about Taylor. It’s a cross between a love story and porn story. I didn’t really like this whole storyline one bit. I did like that the differences between Ryan and Taylor were being pointed out, but bringing in Taylor’s ex-husband and having Taylor automatically seem to fall right back in love with him was ridiculous. They made it seem like Taylor was so much smarter than Ryan. That’s not good at all.
There was certainly too much focus on Henri-Michel and Taylor. That didn’t work for me. I did like the moment at the end where Ryan got into his Jeep and ran, slow-motion style, to the arms of Taylor and “saved” her from Henri-Michel. Reminds me of a first season episode called “The Countdown”, where Ryan arrives seconds before Midnight to kiss Marissa on New Year’s Eve. Too bad that was just a dream squence for Ryan and Taylor. I don’t know why it had to be a dream, but hopefully something good will come out of it in future episodes. Ryan should follow Sandy’s excellent advice. “At the end of the day, you either focus on what separates you or you focus on what holds you together.”
Kirsten finally finds out what Julie has been doing to their dating service. This may actually cause a rift in their friendship. Not only was she lying, but she was breaking the law as well. I don’t have much more to say about that right now, though.
Will and Kaitlin seem to be getting into a relationship. Kaitlin admits that she likes Will. A little odd, but whatever. Nothing more to say about this either except for a funny like from Kaitlin. It’s straight from Laguna Beach. “I just can’t believe this winter clothing drive is salting my game.”
Now back to the engagement of Summer and Seth. Seth is certain that he wants to marry Summer. Summer has doubts. Not about marrying Seth, just the timing of it. I don’t think Che was needed to help make Summer’s decision, but if he made sense to her when he said “for two halves to be whole, both halves have to be whole first”, then so be it. That’s good advice any way you look at it. The conclusion of their engagement war ends like this…
Seth: “Here is the deal. I went up there knowing your dad would have said no, so I could get out of this; but I realize I don’t want out. I want it with you. Forever, you know. So I think we should stay engaged. It doesn’t have to be today, but… someday.”
Summer: “Wow. Seth, I realized something too, while you were gone. It turns out I have no idea who I am. In the past few months I went from being a hardcore environmentalist to a Newpsie-Wed in training.”
Seth: “You were a Newpsie?”
Summer: “For 48 hours, uh. The point is I don’t think you can be with someone until you can be with yourself. I think it’s something I need to figure it out.”
Seth: “Oh. That sounds like a…”
Summer: “I guess it’s a no. I’m sorry.”
Seth: (mumbles) “I think I’m going…”
Summer: “But I’m going to see you tomorrow. Okay? (takes off her ring) Hey, you should take this. Because we may make it someday.” (Seth takes the ring and walks out of the room)
So Seth and Summer aren’t getting married right now, which is a good thing. Summer really needs to figure out who she is first and she needs to do it alone. Now I don’t mean without being with Seth, but certainly not being married to him. I would rather they focus on that than the whole French aspect of Taylor’s life.
