TVSquad

Every once in a while The O.C. likes to have episodes that are sort of a downer. I think of them as bummer episodes. Nothing goes right, and all the characters are really bummed out about their lives. There is usually a sad music/blank face montage at the end of the show to make us feel sad and bummed out about our own lives too. This was one of those episodes. It's Kaitlin's 15th birthday, but nobody cares. Nobody feels much like celebrating, including Kaitlin, who would rather spend her time seducing Johnny. Does she like Johnny or is she just trying to make Marissa jealous?

She's trying to make Marissa jealous. It turns out that Kaitlin has always despised her sister a little bit, which makes sense considering all the attention a beautiful, gun-firing, lesbian-kissing, Tijuana-ODing older sister usually gets. I just can't believe it's already Kaitlin's 15th birthday. I've decided that they didn't make the new Kaitlin too sexy, but rather, they made the old Kaitlin too unsexy. They made the old Kaitlin act too much like a little girl, and not enough like a pre-teen or what are they calling them now, tweens? I know she was only 12-years-old, but I've seen tweens in the mall and they're pretty high maintenance. I think the new Kaitlin reflects something that is a bit more realistic.

And realistically, she's seducing Johnny. Last week, it was her midnight "impromptu" dip in the ocean and this week they've been taking a lot of walks along the pier. Marissa almost figured out the whole thing when she picked up Kaitlin's cell phone and Johnny was on the other end. Luckily, Marissa is a moron and believes anything that anybody tells her. And in this case, Johnny told her that he was just calling Kaitlin in order to reach her. Marissa is a dingbat. Kaitlin decides to get more obvious and brings Johnny to the Baitshack where she knew Marissa and Ryan would be hanging out. Marissa obviously was jealous and got pretty upset. Ryan played it cool as always.

Meanwhile, Seth and Summer were preparing for their Brown interviews. Summer wasn't nervous at all, but Seth went through some sort of emotional breakdown this week. Apparently, he's not ready for his time in Orange County to come to an end. He doesn't want to move to the East Coast. All those years of plotting to escape Orange County, and now all he wants to do is remain securely in the belly of the beast. Prep for his interviews went horrible and during a midnight stroll he runs into a pot-smoking Kaitlin, who offers him some weed to take the edge off. At first, Seth just says no, but it's only a matter of time before he falls into Kaitlin's evil little drug ring. (Okay, not so sinister. She gives him two joints.)

So apparently, this episode marks the beginning of Seth as a pothead. I know I should say that it's bad, but I sorta like pothead Seth. The scene between Seth and Ryan while Seth was high was the best scene of the whole episode. It was pretty hilarious to see mellow Seth and snooping Ryan interact. Adam and Benjamin played that scene beautifully. My only problem is that I don't know how many kids today would understand references to Encyclopedia Brown and Rupert the Monkey Boy, but I appreciate them nevertheless. Seth ends up being too stoned to go to his interview and Ryan tries to sober him up. It works, but then Seth ends up standing up his interviewee anyway. He just sissies out. The final scene of the episode (during the sad montage) shows Seth smoking weed in his room alone again. Apparently, he has fallen into the evil clutches of hardcore pot use. Sorta lame, sorta funny.

Julie Cooper is still trying to work her magic on Dr. Roberts, Summer's dad. When they can't find the time to schedule a date, Dr. Roberts offers up his home as a locale for Kaitlin's birthday party. Julie wastes no time in imagining herself among the regal pool and fine china, but in a very low-key way. Is it me or has Julie lost her edge this season? The old Julie would have clawed her way into Dr. Roberts' heart. The new Julie is very mellow and insecure. Almost like a real woman. At the party, Kaitlin pulls Johnny into an upstairs bedroom and kisses him. He doesn't look like he minds too much. And I even think I saw a little bit of eye closing on his part. Kaitlin tells Marissa, of course, and they get into a bit of a fight, ending with Kaitlin storming off. Dr. Roberts takes note of the baby mamma drama and tells Julie that maybe they should cool it for a while. Get those claws out, Julie.

There is another storyline with Sandy and The Newport Group, but it's such a boring recycled plotline that I'm not even going to go over it. They really need to kick up the storylines with the Cohens or they are gonna fall of the show. They are such great characters and the writers are really letting them go to waste lately. I think it's time they have another "bump in the road" of their happy, perfect marriage storyline. Something needs to kick up some fire.