Ep 15. The Third Wheel

Ryan Atwood gets called into Principal Gringrich’s office at the Harbor School and is surprised to find his former flame, Theresa Diaz, waiting for him there. It turns out Theresa is in town for a few days, and she’d like to catch up with Ryan. At first, Ryan’s hesitant to see her, but Seth and Marissa both encourage him to hang out with her, and he eventually agrees. When he does meet up with Theresa, they have a great time walking around Newport Beach.

Meanwhile, Seth is trying to figure out how to win back Summer, who’s still reeling from the revelation that he’s been faking his interest in her. Seth turns to his father, who counsels him to just be himself. So Seth decides to take Summer on a day out that’s completely unplanned and unscripted, in the hopes of showing her the real him. Summer is a tough nut to crack, but Seth’s persistence eventually pays off, and she starts to see him in a new light.

Over at the Cohen house, Kirsten is dealing with an unexpected visitor of her own. Her father, Caleb Nichol, has come to town for a business appointment and has invited himself to stay at the Cohen’s for a couple of days. Kirsten is understandably wary of her father, who she’s always had a strained relationship with, but she agrees to put him up anyway. While Kirsten grapples with her father’s presence in her home, her husband Sandy is dealing with his own set of problems. Namely, he’s come up against the formidable Julie Cooper, who’s determined to get a new hotel project off the ground, no matter what it takes.

As the day wears on, all of these storylines start to converge in unexpected ways. Ryan and Theresa are enjoying a romantic sunset at a local beach when they run into Seth and Summer, who’ve just had a disastrous day out. And when Caleb Nichol joins Sandy and Julie for dinner, things get tense fast, as they start to argue over the proposed hotel project. Through all of this, the episode’s title, “The Third Wheel,” rings true, as various characters try to navigate their relationships and find their place among shifting dynamics.

Ultimately, “The Third Wheel” is another solid episode of The O.C. that delves into the show’s core themes of family, love, and loyalty. While some of the storylines may be predictable, the ensemble cast is so charming that it’s hard not to get sucked into their various struggles. Fans of the show will find plenty to enjoy here, from Ryan’s rekindled relationship with Theresa to Sandy’s ongoing battle with Julie Cooper. And even if you’re new to The O.C., this episode is a great introduction to a beloved show that’s sure to keep you entertained.