Peter Gallagher is just fantastic in his role. He's one of those TV dad's that you wish you had (not that I would trade my father for Peter Gallagher, but you know what I mean). The scene with Marissa was written very well. Enjoyed the uncomfortableness of his "sex talk" scene with Seth.

Summer and Seth were great. Seth's speech to Summer, about how she was always the one for him was as you said very John Cusack. Loved the awkwardness and eagerness of the first two attempts at sex. The fact that Summer was also a virgin, gave a nice twist to the situation.

Julie and Luke. Funny. I love Julie, so any situation that they put her in always tickles me. The whole going home and listen to Bob Seger kind of threw me (I had no idea of what that meant). With "Night Moves" playing, and Luke at the doorstep, Bob Seger took on a whole new meaning. Luke is pretty - but the producers should limit his "serious" acting scenes.

Jimmy is kind of the Dixon of The O.C. He's present in most of the episodes, but doesn't really have much of his own storyline. Let's just get the restaurant up and running so we don't have to hear about him rebuilding his life anymore. Kirsten's sister is just annoying.

Alright, Ryan, Marissa, and Theresa. In any other episode, Ryan would have yelled, hit a wall, punched someone, but he's now calm and deliberate about his feelings for Marissa. For a character to be believable, they need to be written consistently. Also, what was up with the little, short scenes with Ryan and Marissa. The say like three sentences to one another, and then one of them leaves? And as an actor, Benjamin MacKenzie needs to work on his facial expressions. They are on the verge of hilarity; he looked as if he was constipated in the last scene.

One of the main problems with "soaps" is that young couples can only be happy for a few continuous episodes at a time, before another roadblock is thrown into the mix. I have a feeling that Ryan and Marissa will end up being more apart than together on the show.

The best part of the previews for the next episode was the Spanish soap opera reference. That is why I love the show; it doesn't take itself too seriously.

My friend Susan has a theory on the Ryan, Marissa and Theresa storyline:

You remember Kristin said there was going to be a proposal?? They are playing up Ryan missing his old life and not fitting in. What do you think if he sleeps with Theresa and then decides he really wants to Marisa. She goes off for a few episodes after he tells her it was a mistake.

Gradually he takes M back and then season finale comes and Theresa shows up and she's pregnant? So he has to choose between his old and new life, doing the right thing, and at the end of the season he leaves. Especially since the first part of the year was all about Marissa and her BS and them getting together.

What do you think? I think it makes sense for the character to be pulled back to his old life at the end of the season.