This episode begins where so many others have - in the Cohen kitchen. But it's not the usual bad jokes by Seth that kick-start this week's drama. It's the Nana, calling from South Beach to announce her engagement. Sandy promptly announces that he is heading to Miami with Ryan and Seth in tow. The trio's departure sets in motion a series of events involving illicit romance, scandal, drugs and intrigue - with shock waves resonating throughout the Orange County.
Summer, who sometime in the past day had a punching bag installed in her bedroom and decided to take up boxing, tells Seth that she needs a time out from their relationship. With his eyes on the prize, Zach moves in swiftly and asks her over to dinner. Apparently, the silver spoon-fed pretty boy's parents are out of town, and he knows how to prepare homemade pasta from scratch. Marissa vows to take care of Tre while the Cohens are out of town. Carter announces that he has accepted a new job in New York and - hey - since Sandy is going out of town, Kirsten invites the scraggly editor over for dinner. The plot thickens.
Miami. The Nana arrives for a heartwarming reunion with Sanford. Seth, meanwhile, meets an attractive young co-ed, Mary Sue. She has entered a contest to win $5,000 and needs a partner. Oh, and the contest involves him licking whipped cream off her naked stomach. Ri-i-i-i-ight. Anyway, back in the O.C., Marissa helps Tre land a sweet job at the Bait Shop. The new friends plan a night of margaritas and movies at Tre's apartment, where he has been laying pipe (and blowing lines) with skanky Jess on the side. But more on that later. With love (and food) on their minds, Kirsten and Zach make respective dinner preparations.
Introduced to Bobby, who the Nana plans to marry next month, Sandy smoothly but forcefully conveys his suspicion of Bobby's motives. Ryan encounters a group of Bible college students, one of whom dates Mary Sue. The contest begins, and amazingly, Summer and Zach are watching on an MTV-style network during their romantic dinner. After getting a full view of Seth tonguing Mary Sue, Summer embraces Zach. Cream puff Seth is cornered by the gang of muscle-bound, pissed off Bible school thugs. Fortunately, they're just Bible school thugs, so all that results is minor abuse involving whipped cream.
Bobby mysteriously calls the Nana to state that he is leaving town, indefinitely. The Nana is upset, but knows that Sandy did the right thing. Carter arrives at Kirsten's and the tension builds. As the wine flows and the evening winds down, they share a passionate kiss, but nothing more. An emotional Mrs. Cohen sends him on his way, then pours herself a stiff vodka martini (hold the vermouth). Tre and Marissa play drinking games and are just about to settle in and watch her favorite movie, The Notebook, when Tre suggests they get some air. After clandestinely raiding his cocaine stash when she isn't looking, he meets her on the beach.
What follows is perhaps the most graphic, upsetting scene in O.C. history as a coked-up Tre attempts to seduce Marissa. After his initial advances are rebuffed, Tre becomes increasingly aggressive and pins her down. Paying no attention to her screaming, he attempts to have his way with her. Fortunately, Marissa is able to grab a piece of driftwood and smash it against Tre's dome. While he writhes in pain, she makes a break for it and escapes. How Marissa's relationship with Ryan, and her general mental health, will be impacted by this horrible event will likely be the subject of many future episodes.
NOTE: While this Episode Guide is dated April 28, it was not posted until May 5, when our staff first viewed the episode. While the show takes place in the Orange County, our site is based on the East Coast, where a presidential news conference preempted The O.C. last Thursday. We recognize that social security reform is hard work, but apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. We've split up the two May 5 shows in order to post the recaps faster. It has been a pleasure for Stephen Marsi to author this episode guide while friend and colleague Matthew Richenthal tackles the second installment of the rare doubleheader.
"The Return of the Nana" File: