The Third Wheel (The O.C. episode)
Encyclopedia
"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.
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.
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
television series, The O.C.
The O.C.
The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
. The episode was written by Melissa Rosenberg
Melissa Rosenberg
Melissa Anne Rosenberg is an American screenwriter. She has worked in both film and television and has been nominated for two Emmy Awards, and two Writers Guild of America Awards. She won a Peabody Award...
and was directed by Sandy Smolan
Sandy Smolan
-Early career:He started his career by directing the 1987 Rachel River, which took two awards at the Sundance Film Festival.-Directing Credits:* Descending from Heaven* The Middleman* Men in Trees* Eli Stone...
. It originally aired on Wednesday January 7, 2004. The band Rooney
Rooney (band)
Rooney is an American rock band from Los Angeles, currently self-produced and formerly signed to Geffen Records. The band is now composed of Robert Schwartzman , Louie Stephens , Taylor Locke , Ned Brower , and Brandon Schwartzel...
made a special appearance. They were the first band to play and make a special appearance on the show.
Guest starring
| Actor / actress | Character |
|---|---|
| Samaire Armstrong Samaire Armstrong Samaire Rhys Armstrong is an American actress, fashion designer and model. She is best known for her roles in Stay Alive, The O.C. and It's a Boy Girl Thing. Her best known role to date is portraying the role of Juliet Darling in the ABC television series Dirty Sexy Money... |
Anna Stern Anna Stern Anna Stern is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Samaire Armstrong. Initially intended to appear in only one episode, she was brought back at fan request for several episodes of the first season... |
| Taylor Handley Taylor Handley Taylor Laurence Handley is an American actor.In 1998, Taylor played Rory Buck in the movie Jack Frost. In 2000, Handley starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie, Phantom of the Megaplex. Handley appeared in three episodes during the last season of Dawson's Creek and guest starred during an... |
Oliver Trask Oliver Trask Oliver Trask is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Taylor Handley. Oliver appeared in the series' first season as thorn in Ryan Atwood and Marissa Cooper's relationship, soon developing a severe obsession with the latter... |
| Amanda Righetti Amanda Righetti Amanda Righetti is an American actress and film producer. She is best known for her roles in The Mentalist, Friday the 13th and The O.C. In 2008, Righetti was the winner of the Best Actress award at the New York International Independent Film Video Festival for the Short Film category.-Early... |
Hailey Nichol Hailey Nichol Hailey Nichol is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Amanda Righetti. Seen as something of a black sheep of the family, Hailey is the younger daughter of Caleb and Rose Nichol, younger sister to Kirsten Cohen, and older half-sister to Lindsay Gardner... |
Plot
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
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
, 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 EelsEels (band)Eels is an American indie rock band formed by singer/songwriter Mark Oliver Everett, better known as E...
- "Popular Mechanics For Lovers" by BeulahBeulah (band)Beulah was an indie rock band from San Francisco, California, often associated with The Elephant 6 Recording Company.-Early Years: 1996-1998:...
- "Sorry Sorry" by RooneyRooney (band)Rooney is an American rock band from Los Angeles, currently self-produced and formerly signed to Geffen Records. The band is now composed of Robert Schwartzman , Louie Stephens , Taylor Locke , Ned Brower , and Brandon Schwartzel...
- "Blueside" by RooneyRooney (band)Rooney is an American rock band from Los Angeles, currently self-produced and formerly signed to Geffen Records. The band is now composed of Robert Schwartzman , Louie Stephens , Taylor Locke , Ned Brower , and Brandon Schwartzel...
- "Want In" by LaptopLaptopA laptop, also called a notebook, is a personal computer for mobile use. A laptop integrates most of the typical components of a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device and speakers into a single unit...
- "Burn Baby Burn" by AshAsh (band)Ash are an alternative rock band that formed in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1992. The band has sold 8 million albums worldwide.-Band beginning, Trailer and 1977 :...
- "Should I Know" by Buva
- "I'm Shakin'" by RooneyRooney (band)Rooney is an American rock band from Los Angeles, currently self-produced and formerly signed to Geffen Records. The band is now composed of Robert Schwartzman , Louie Stephens , Taylor Locke , Ned Brower , and Brandon Schwartzel...
- "Popstars" by RooneyRooney (band)Rooney is an American rock band from Los Angeles, currently self-produced and formerly signed to Geffen Records. The band is now composed of Robert Schwartzman , Louie Stephens , Taylor Locke , Ned Brower , and Brandon Schwartzel...
Trivia
- RooneyRooney (band)Rooney is an American rock band from Los Angeles, currently self-produced and formerly signed to Geffen Records. The band is now composed of Robert Schwartzman , Louie Stephens , Taylor Locke , Ned Brower , and Brandon Schwartzel...
become the first musical guests on the show. - Though credited in the opening credits, Melinda ClarkeMelinda ClarkeMelinda Patrice Clarke is an American actress who has primarily worked in television. Clarke is best known for playing Faith Taylor on the daytime drama Days of our Lives, the manipulative and cunning Julie Cooper-Nichol on The O.C., and the professional dominatrix Lady Heather on CSI...
(JulieJulie CooperJulie Cooper is a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C., portrayed by Melinda Clarke.-Background:...
) does not appear in this episode. - This episode contains numerous references to The Golden GirlsThe Golden GirlsThe Golden Girls is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris, which originally aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992. Starring Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, the show centers on four older women sharing a home in Miami, Florida...
, 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
- Recap from Official Website
- Recap from Television Without Pity