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Thursday, April 20, 2006

Episode 22 - The College Try


By Daniel Barron for AllPop

It's pre-frosh week time for Seth and Ryan as they stand with their bags in the airport, ready to go to their respective colleges. Seth's plan is to - well fly to Brown, after that, he has no idea what he's going to do. He knows Summer is going to be there and that's all that matters to him. Kirsten shows up and does the 'mom' thing, telling them how proud she is of them. Sandy unfortunately couldn't be around to see them off, as he's at yet another 'important' meeting. The boys say goodbye and Kirsten gives a few extra comforting words to Ryan as he seems even more nervous than Seth (if that's possible!). They leave and Kirsten turns around to see none other than Theresa - and she's holding a baby in her arms!!

Summer and Marissa talk in Summer's room, as she tries to figure out what kids at Brown wear. She wonders if she should get some kind of strange piercing so she'll fit in more. Summer says that this is all wrong, with her going to Brown without Cohen. We find out that Marissa and Volchok are over.

The girls go downstairs and talk to their parents. Julie is worried about Marissa but Marissa insists she's ready for a change. Julie tells her that Cooper women have nine lives - and she's just glad Marissa is onto her next one. The girls leave and Julie asks Neil what he'd like to do this weekend as they have the house to themselves. Neil says there's a retirement party for one of his co-workers. Julie doesn't really want to go but ends up agreeing to it.

Marissa visits with Volchok at the diner and he demands to know why Marissa bailed on him. Marissa tells him they have nothing in common but Volchok thinks it's because she has money and he doesn't. In her sure-to-be-Emmy-nominated scene, Marissa tells Volchok all about how her and her sister Kaitlyn used to watch the Sound of Music when they were kids and Marissa always wished that's what her life would be like when she grew up, with the perfect boyfriend and the perfect life. Marissa says she isn't ready to give up on that dream just yet, and her perfect live definitely doesn't involve doing cocaine and sleeping with a guy she's never had a real conversation with (that would be Volchok).

Kirsten comes to Sandy while the boys are still at their respective schools and tells him about seeing Theresa with the baby in the airport. The two completely disagree with what action to take. Kirsten wants to tell Ryan but Sandy thinks they should keep it quiet, since they have no real proof that it's Ryan's baby.

Meanwhile, Seth and Ryan are having interesting times at their schools. Seth calls Ryan and tells him how much he's enjoying himself at Brown. They chat for a bit when someone behind Seth says hi. Ryan hears the voice and asks who it is. Seth says he doesn't know and he's too scared to turn around. Well, he doesn't have to - the girl who said hi to him comes up to him - and it's none other than Anna!!

Seth and Anna talk later on about what they've been doing. Anna tells Seth she saw his Atomic County comic, then asks him how he's doing with Summer. It wouldn't be a Seth answer if he didn't lie, and he of course doesn't tell Anna about them breaking up, saying how they're doing just fine. Seth does come clean about not getting into Brown though and asks for Anna's help, to which she agrees.

At the same time, Kirsten and Julie are having a little heart-to-heart of their own. Julie asks Kirsten to go with her and Neil to the retirement party. Kirsten isn't too keen on going since her and Sandy are having such a tough time right now. Julie tells Kirsten that she needs her so Kirsten breaks down and says she'll go.

Back at Berkeley, Ryan is talking to his 'freshman buddy' Wes and having a bite to eat when Marissa walks in. The guys at their table all stop and stare, obviously completely unaware that Ryan knows her. They soon find out though when Marissa sees Ryan and goes over to the table to say hi. Ryan introduces everyone to Marissa and she leaves to go to another table. Ryan tells them quickly about his and Marissa's history together. Wes asks Ryan if it's okay to talk to Marissa and Ryan insists that it's not a problem.

At Brown, Anna shows Seth the head of admissions. Seth is extremely nervous to talk to him but goes over to him and makes a remark about anime (since this seemed to work with his Brown interviewer). The dean only looks perplexed and Seth changes the subject, asking him if he could have a few moments of his time. The dean agrees to meet with Seth the next afternoon.

A moment after talking to the dean, Seth gets spotted by none other than Summer, who wants to know why he's at Brown if he's not planning on going there. A moment later, Anna shows up (excellent timing, as always). Summer jumps to conclusions and wants to know what's going on. Before either can explain, Summer leaves.

Marissa and Wes seem to be hitting it off pretty well, as they chat at a party. Ryan shows up and says hi to them and talks to Marissa alone for a moment. They both agree on trying the friendship thing

Things aren't going so well for Seth though. He doesn't want to be just friends with Summer. Anna never realized Seth was on a 'Summer mission' and she tells him she'll help him in away she can to get him back together with Summer.

At the hospital dinner, Ryan calls Kirsten to see how things are going. He quickly passes the phone back to Kirsten though, as he gets a call on his own cell phone and has to leave. Kirsten comes right out and tells Ryan about Teresa and the baby she saw. Ryan decides he's going to come back home the next day.

The next day, Seth follows Summer to a campus tour, where he does his best to annoy everyone, including the tour guide and of course Summer. He almost gets kicked out of the tour for not being able to prove he's a student at Brown, but steals a nametag - which just happens to say 'Kumar.' Seth insists that's his name - in fact, he's Kumar Zimmerman the HinJew. Seth tries his best to talk to Summer and convince her that he made a mistake, but she's having none of it and yells at him to leave her alone. Poor Kumar.

Later on, Seth talks to the dean, who never realized that Seth isn't actually enrolled at Brown. He gives Seth only a few minutes to talk. Seth does his best to try to talk the dean into letting him into the school - even admitting it's about a girl - but unfortunately, it's too late and there really is nothing he can do.

Back in Newport, Ryan comes home and Kirsten tells him they're behind him no matter what. Sandy sees Ryan and asks Kirsten to explain what happened. They argue and Sandy leaves, angry and upset, to go to - where else? - the office.

Marissa sees Wes at Berkeley where it's pouring rain, and asks where Ryan is. Wes tells her that he left early that day. Ryan, meanwhile, finds out where Theresa is staying and knocks on her door. Another woman answers and is holding the baby - whom we find out is named Daniel (awesome) - and she tells Ryan that Theresa isn't home. Ryan says he'll come back.

Seth and Ryan talk later on and Seth tells his buddy that he's leaving Brown, both to be with Ryan and for 'other' reasons. Seth gets in the cab to take him to the airport and finds Anna in the backseat. She has another great backup plan for him. She has a cousin at a design school near Brown and tells Seth he should go there and show his Atomic County stuff to help him get in. They stop off there before going to the airport despite Seth being worried he doesn't stand a chance.

The two couples arrive at the hospital retirement party and there's obviously much tension between Sandy and Kirsten. Julie asks Kirsten if everything is okay, to which Kirsten tells her it's a 'long story.'

Marissa shows up in Newport at the Cohen's house. Turns out she also decided to leave early when she heard about Ryan. Ryan tells her about Theresa and the baby. They know it could be Eddie's but Ryan wants to find out for sure, from Theresa.

At the party, Sandy makes a speech and introduces his wife. She makes a very bitter, snide remark about how women often marry their father when they grow up, though Kirsten sarcastically says that she thought she had escaped that. She gets up and leaves the table and chugs a glass of wine outside.

Summer is the fourth and last of the gang to decide to leave early (seeing Seth with Anna left a bad taste in her mouth). She calls Marissa, who asks Summer if she actually heard either of them say they were seeing each other. Summer says she isn't positive, as 'the rage makes it hard to listen.' They hang up and as Summer walks through the airport, she spots Seth and Anna hugging. It's completely innocent, but of course Summer doesn't know this.

Marissa later on goes to Volchok's to get some stuff she left behind there. When she arrives, she sees a copy of The Sound of Music. Inexplicably, this draws her somehow back to Volchok, and she lays down on the bed beside him as he sleeps quietly.

In the final scene of the episode, Theresa shows up by the pool where Ryan is sitting. She tells Ryan straight up that Eddie is the father; she had a paternity test and everything. They catch up quickly and find out what each other is doing. Theresa got a job at a hotel and basically climbed her way up the ladder there and after a few promotions, she's doing very well. After a few moments, Ryan suggests they grab a bite to eat and talk about Daniel. Who knows where this may lead?

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