By Daniel Barron for AllPop

This episode is titled The Last Waltz, and as the episode ends with Ryan and Marissa dancing closely in the poolhouse, one can't help but look for hidden meaning in that title.

The episode starts with Marissa being dropped off by the gang at Newport Union, the local public school where she hopes to blend in and have a new start.
Good luck with that. As Marissa, Ryan, Seth and Summer sit in their big, black Land Rover saying their goodbyes for the day, plenty of students are already staring in their direction. And what's the first thing someone says about Marissa as she walks by? "There goes Newport Barbie." Cue the theme music.

Things aren't going much better over at Newport High. Seth is told by Dean Hess that detention at the end of the day will involve scrubbing the bathrooms - toilets first. Seth tells the Dean he thinks this is a little excessive for a simple detention and the Dean replies by saying that if he gives up his accomplice in the tiki torch fiasco, things will become a lot easier for Seth. With Summer sitting right beside him, Seth keeps his mouth tightly shut (well, as shut as possible for him). Summer meanwhile is busy, busy, busy with social chair stuff. She's planning the next dance and is quickly realizing this is more than just a ceremonial position.

Back at the Cohen's place, the ever-smitten Ryan asks Sandy if he could enrol at Newport Union as well. Sandy says the same thing he said in Episode 1 - Ryan needs to focus and get his life back in order and start thinking about colleges and S.A.T.s, not Marissa.

Meanwhile, Sandy sees that Kirsten is back doing every day chores. He spies her gardening and Kirsten tells Sandy she was told to face her biggest fears - in her case, cooking. Not surprisingly, Sandy's biggest fear is also Kirsten's cooking.

If Marissa thought things would get better anytime soon at Newport Union, she quickly finds out she's very wrong. She accidentally bumps into a not-so-nice looking girl named Heather in the halls who says she'll stop bothering her if Marissa says she's better than her. A confused-looking Marissa says she doesn't think that, so Heather says "so what, you're a liar? You think I'm stupid?" Luckily, a mystery girl named Casey steps in and gets Heather to back off and leave. Marissa thanks her and says she's the first nice person she's met so far at the school. Casey confesses she isn't even that nice.

Things are hectic for Summer at Newport High as she plans the big dance. She bumps into Taylor, who says she's really sorry about how she's acted toward Summer since the beginning of the school year. Taylor admits she doesn't have many friends and would really appreciate some understanding from Summer. Of course Summer breaks down and gives her a chance. She'll soon find out that's a big mistake.

Zoom back to Newport Union where Marissa now can't even find her own locker. The owner of the locker she's currently trying to get open comes up to Marissa and let's her know she has his locker. The guy, who we find out is called Johnny, is actually going out with Casey. They make nice with Marissa and their friend also introduces himself as 'Chili.' Casey and Johnny tell her that no one calls him that. His real name is Dennis and he's like the court jester of Newport Union. At this point you may be smelling something...something that reeks like.....A SETH COHEN RIPOFF!!! This is Dennis in a nutshell. A poor man's Seth in every way. Newport Union is now almost like an alternate-universe O.C. Casey and Johnny ask Marissa if she wants to grab something to eat. She says she'd like that and quickly calls Ryan to see if he's okay with that, as he was going to pick her up after her first day of school. Turns out he's driving through traffic on his way to get Marissa, but being the great guy he is, he simply says she should go and have fun.

Things aren't much better for the other female Cooper, as Julie is visisted by the Repo Depot, telling her she has 48 hours to pack up her personal belongings before they take the house and anything that belonged to Caleb. Julie asks Marissa if she could stay with Summer while Julie gets things 'sorted out.' Marissa actually supports her mom and says if anything, she's a survivor, and she'll stay with Summer for as long as it takes to get them back on their feet, complete with designer shoes. Besides, Marissa says, Julie must have saved plenty of money over the years, right? No comment, Marissa....

Kirsten opens the front door of the Cohen's house to find a man delivering her flowers - which were sent by Charlotte. She later calls Kirsten to see if she'd like to meet up for lunch, which Kirsten says she would love to do. This makes Charlotte and her boyfriend - the flower deliveryman - quite happy. It turns out Charlotte is after Kirsten's money and even after Kirsten tells her at lunch that she received nothing in Caleb's will (since he was flat broke when he died), Charlotte later tells the mystery man that it doesn't matter - she's getting some money out of Kirsten no matter what it takes.

Back at Newport High, the suddenly sugar sweet Taylor tells Summer that she overheard the Dean saying that if Seth doesn't tell the Dean who his accomplish was by the end of the day, Seth will be suspended. Summer goes in to tell the Dean that it was her that helped 'Noodle-arms' after all. The Dean appreciates her owning up to it, but with something like that on her record, she couldn't possibly continue on being social chair. Summer is crushed, but the worst is yet to come. It turns out that Taylor - surprise, surprise - will be the new social chair. A Summer rage blackout seems all but assured at this point.

At Newport Union, Heather comes up to Marissa to tell her she's really sorry for how she acted on the first day of school. Marissa says all is forgiven and Heather replies by saying 'so you aren't going to shoot me?' The cheapest of cheap shots, which sends Marissa crying. Johnny, who overheard the exchange, tells Marissa she should go to the school's dance that night so she isn't looked at as an outsider. As Marissa debates this, Ryan shows up and sees the two talking. He goes up to Marissa, sees her with a strange guy and notices the tears in her eyes and makes sure everything is okay. Marissa assures him everything is fine and introduces him to Johnny, who offers his hand. Ryan hesitates and gives the death glare but eventually shakes his hand. Later on, Ryan calls Marissa up to apologize for how he acted. Before he can get the words out, Marissa says it was her fault and she won't let it happen again. Surprised, Ryan asks if Marissa would like to go to a movie later that night. Despite standing Ryan up at breakfast earlier, Marissa says she can't because she has homework to do.

While Marissa is doing said homework in her temporary home at the Roberts' residence, the repot guys show up at Julie's home to collect everything. Julie grabs literally a bag full of clothes and is forced to stay out of the movers' way.

At Summer's house, Johnny, Casey and Chili...errrr, Dennis show up to surprise Marissa and take her to the dance. Marissa isn't sure she wants to go but the three talk her into it. Just as she's about to leave in their car, Ryan - who also comes to surprise Marissa - shows up to a shock of his own. As far as he knew, Marissa was at home studying and he was showing up to give her a short break. Now she's off to party with these new people from Newport Union. For about the 12th time this episode, Ryan quietly says 'okay' and lets Marissa do her thing with her new friends. Everyone at once now: "awwwwww!!!"

Now, back at the Newport High beach-themed dance, Taylor takes all the credit for what was essentially Summer's hard work. Taylor does have someone to thank though, because without this person she couldn't have got everything done ... and she calls out Dean Hess. Seth manages to hold Summer back from rushing the stage and punching Taylor out Ryan-styles. Summer may have the last laugh though, as she later sees (in one of the unfortunately most predictable plot twists yet on the O.C.) Taylor and the Dean playing tonsil hockey in a dark hallway. She doesn't say anything yet to either Taylor or the Dean. We'll have to wait until next episode for that.

If you're disappointed we haven't visited a shady motel yet, fret not - Julie rents a room for the night at a scuzzy motel as she tries to gather her thoughts. She ends up collapsing on the bed, sobbing. Things are going downhill for her.

Ryan returns to the poolhouse to find Marissa waiting for him (how she beat him there from the dance we don't know ... let's just assume he was enjoying an extra-long brooding session somewhere). She tells Ryan that the whole time she was at the dance all she was thinking about was that she wanted to be with him. She tells him that the next song that comes on the radio will be 'there song.' After a failed first attempt featuring something that sounded like 50 Cent or C + C Music Factory, they hear a version of 'Forever Young.' We fade out to see Seth and Summer slow dancing, Julie in the motel and Sandy and Kirsten having a picnic in their house. Things seem mostly calm, but I feel a rare storm ready to hit the O.C. very soon.

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