The O.C.

Season 1 Episode 10

The Perfect Couple

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Episode Summary

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The Perfect Couple
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Couples are plentiful in 'The O.C.' It is a night of firsts. Now that they are free to love one another, Ryan and Marissa plan their first official date. Kirsten sees her father with a new woman, and fears Sandy has found a new woman of his own. Seth takes matters into his own hands with a girl, and is taken by another girl.moreless
FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (14)

SUBMIT REVIEW

  • this was a good ep

    9.0
    By cube2k8, Jun 05, 2010
    in this ep of the show the oc sandy is dealing with his case on the highets and is spending more time with the girl he is working with late nights at the office and there not spending time with each other like they used to be and she thinks he is falling for the office lady and also in this ep ryan and marissa are planing there first date and seth is tring to hangout with another girl but there is antoher girl invovled with him this was a good ep i thought and that is why i gave it a 9moreless

  • I guess the central subject here in this episode is cheating amongst adults.

    8.5
    By ZaleIsBackAgain, Oct 31, 2009
    The drama, the conflict, the deceit and lies, I love it! The Cooper finally once again becomes the center of attention as Julie is using her seduction and manipulation to bring back her former glory as a member of New Port society. Meanwhile with Kirsten and Sandy forced to legally battle against each other, it's driving their relationship apart. For once Ryan wasn't directly involved in all of the drama, but was merely a part of it--and after what he witnessed, he became a pretty big part of it! Ryan and Marissa's relationship hasn't gone very far yet so that was a little disappointing to see, but the whole love triangle relationship between Anna, Seth, and Summer has been developing beautifully. The clever writing and the witty comebacks and disses, I can't imagine The O.C. without Seth Cohen's sarcastic remarks. Overall not the best episode, but still a very good one.moreless

  • Couples will accumulate...for charity

    7.8
    By Perhaps21, Dec 02, 2008
    As I have said before,this is a teen drama.There are certain things that one have come to expect from a teen drama.One of such things are romantic couplings of popular characters.(Actually,this happens in most dramas)So it is a given that there will be an episode specially dedicated to the couples that have graced us on-screen.This episode breaks no ground but was at the very least,it was adequetly done.



    The Perfect Couple has Ryan and Marissa being a couple,while an unexpected couple comes into the limelight.Seth makes a move on Anna, while Summer makes a move on him.Also,Sandy and Kirsten's relations grow strained.



    Ryan give dating his best shot(a first-time thing for him), but he has his plans interupted when Julie asks Marissa to attend a charity benefit.Marissa is psyched but Ryan is apprehensive.Ryan then catches Julie with Caleb,and comes clean to Marissa about it.



    I'm very mixed about this apparently romantic relationship between Julie and Caleb.This was a great surprise.(The only hint we got was a kiss between them on the cheek)I hope the writers know what they're doing.There has to be something good that comes out of this.



    I also take issue that Ryan was the one who caught them.Ryan seems to catch and notice things like this wayyy to often.Its like he's spying on everybody in Newport.Its Freaky!(He also caught Marissa drunk,Jimmy crying and Luke's apology)I do realise the conception of the series was a fish-out-of-water scenerio,but there must be better ways of handling it.



    Seth and Anna could have made a perfect couple.Unfortunely,Summer had a surprise up her sleeve.This romance(if you could call it that)was probably in the heads of the writers from day one.Rachel Bilson plays a wonderful Summer as she comes to terms with her feelings towards Seth.Before this episode,I was quite sure that Summer served little to no purpose except to bounce around and bore me.After this,I cant wait to see what she does next.



    Sandy and Kirsten's relationship took a beating when the case got personal and press got involved.Rachel is unapologetic and tries to come on to Sandy.But,Sandy did not fall for it.This is Sandy at his best.It was not out-of-character nor was it too haphazardly done.Sandy,naturally goes back to his wife.



    Kirsten,on the other hand,had her father as a confidante.In the end,she is shocked at the revelation of Caleb's new relationship.Kirsten then returns to Sandy for comfort.This is the strong foundation of the Sandy-Kirsten relationship.Tested,tried and true.



    On a side note,I found Tate Donovan taking up minimal screen time.If you're gonna get a character like Jimmy,please get him something to do.With a character like that,he must be comic-relief,able to sprout one-liners like a paintball gun or be good eye-candy.Tate Donovan,however,is neither.



    An average episode which gave us surprises and bores us with expecteds.An episode which probably could have been done up better with niftier writing.



    "You like Seth Cohen"moreless

  • We put on smiles when we have things to hide, but sometimes the things that look to good to be true, really are.

    9.4
    By Dark_Davis, Jul 22, 2007
    Ryan and Marissa prepare for their first official date, and Seth still doesn’t see that Anna likes him. Ryan gets his first actual girlfriend, and from the looks of it Julie has changed. But when things look too good to be true, sometimes they are. It seems Julie is just putting on a fake smile, while behind everyone’s back she is going out with Caleb to most likely get back at Jimmy. Things get interesting with Julie and Marissa as Ryan tells Marissa the truth about her mom. Kirsten’s relationship with her dad goes down the drain when she finds out her dad was using her to get to Sandy, and that he didn’t tell her about him and Julie. The thing I like about this show is you know some of the things that are going to happen, but then you get hit with a surprise, just like in real life. Also, it seems the avoiding Summer that Seth is doing is making Summer go more crazy abut Seth. Seth went from having no girls interested in him, to having 2 girls fighting over him, and it was all because of his friendship with Ryan. So we see that not only can Ryan change and benefit from his new family, but so can Seth (Though it’s not a new family for Seth).moreless

  • A fantastic episode of The OC, a lot happening and plenty of firsts!

    10
    By dyle123, Jul 17, 2007
    This episode is such a pleasure to watch, thoroughly enjoyable. It is nice to see Ryan and Marissa working for a change and planning their "first date"! Unfortunately not everything goes to plan when Julie Cooper is involved! This Queen Newpsie is creating trouble for just about everyone! She fools Marissa into thinking there's a chance of her getting back with Jimmy and therefore Marissa goes to her Charity Event. Does Ryan mind that he can't give her the "best date ever" Seth had promised? Of course not! Some great Ryan/Seth scenes in this episode, very funny!

    But Julie Cooper has a secret, and Ryan knows, should he tell Marissa? I was glad that he did and it shows that they are becoming a great couple. Still, Marissa is angry and decides to tell everyone about Julie and Caleb! Kirsten is not happy, luckily Sandy abandons his tempting colleague Rachel and arrives in time to take her home!

    Seth and Summer also share a moment with Summer finally realising she has feelings for Seth, "I like Seth Cohen!", but no one can know! But Seth came with Anna, this love-triangle is so enjoyable to watch and ectremely fun!

    At the end of the night Marissa comes home with Ryan and they decide to "sleep together", literally, and Marissa declares it the "best date ever!" A truly wonderful episode.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

Ben McKenzie

Ben McKenzie

Ryan Atwood
Mischa Barton

Mischa Barton

Marissa Cooper
Adam Brody

Adam Brody

Seth Cohen
Peter Gallagher

Peter Gallagher

Sanford "Sandy" Cohen
Kelly Rowan

Kelly Rowan

Kirsten Cohen
Tate Donovan

Tate Donovan

James "Jimmy" Cooper
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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

Kelly McCracken

Kelly McCracken

Photographer

Guest Star

Josh Kloss

Josh Kloss

Chip Saunders

Recurring Role

Rachel Bilson

Rachel Bilson

Summer Roberts

Recurring Role

Melinda Clarke

Melinda Clarke

Julie Cooper

Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • TRIVIA (4)

    • Goof: When Marrisa gets up to leave the pool house, after Kristen interrupts her and Ryan, she never takes her shoes.

    • Goof: When Ryan and Marissa get interrupted by Julie when they are about to kiss, Marissa pulls away before you can hear the knocking.

    • Goof: Marissa says to Ryan at the end of the episode that she has never "slept with someone before" (literally), but in episode 7 "The Escape" when they go to Tijuana, they share the pull out couch and wake up snuggling! So in this episode when Ryan asks if Marissa snores he should know since he has slept with her before.

    • Goof: Ryan and Marissa keep saying that they've never had a date, but they did have a date. In "The Outsider" they had a date by the Cohen's pool.

  • QUOTES (15)

    • Summer: Are you making fun of me because I can't tell?
      Anna: Most of the time, Summer, you do my job for me.
      Summer: Again, not tracking.

    • (Kirsten walks in on Ryan and Marissa making out)
      Kirsten: It's never happened with Seth.

    • (Summer got jealous of Anna and Seth being together, and Marissa came by)
      Summer: What is Seth Cohen doing with Tinkerbell? She's from Pittsburgh. That's like the 909 of the East.
      Marissa: Anna's cool.
      Summer: She's a little scammer. First thing she does is go after Caleb Nichol's grandson. Have you seen the way she looks at him?
      Marissa: No, but clearly you have.
      Summer: That's only because it's like totally obvious.
      Marissa: Yes, it is that you're jealous. You like Seth Cohen.
      Summer: Eww no.
      Marissa: (in a singing tone) You like him, you like him. You love him.
      Summer: Stop, I do not like Seth Cohen. I mean I can't like Seth Cohen. He's like Seth Cohen.
      Marissa: Well, it's too bad, 'cause he likes you.

    • Marissa: I forgot I had this dress.
      Ryan: Happens to me all the time.

    • Seth: What? It's Anna. I could have said pop a squat if I wanted to.
      Ryan: Sometimes I think you talk just to make sounds.
      Seth: Sometimes I do.

    • Seth: Oh I get it. I'm just here for the comic relief.

    • Summer: What does Chino know about first dates? Where he came from, they don't even have a PF Cheng's.

    • (Sandy arrives at the charity event)
      Sandy: I'm here.
      Kirsten: We're leaving.
      Sandy: Uh, but I wore a jacket.

    • (Ryan and Seth talking about Marissa)
      Ryan: I don't really have a choice, since she's my girlfriend.
      Seth: What? Girlfriend? Thought that you didn't do girlfriends. Well I mean you did 'em, but, you know.

    • (Summer kisses Seth)
      Summer: I...I just can't help it. And I certainly can't explain it - You didn't tell anyone?
      Seth: Of course not.
      Summer: 'Cause I'll kill you.
      Seth: No, I believe you.

    • Marissa: After all their work on behalf of the children's hospital, if anybody deserves a romantic getaway for two it's my mom and Caleb Nichol. I mean, aren't they just the perfect couple? They've been keeping their romance a secret, but tonight - the secret's out.

    • Seth: I have to go. Summer, I'll walk you to bio?
      Summer: I can walk myself.
      Seth: Great, then you can walk me too.

    • Sandy: So, in theory, Julie Cooper could eventually become your step-mother.
      Kirsten: Don't even say it.

    • Marissa: I've never slept with somebody before.
      Ryan: Me neither, I'm usually climbing out the window or back into the front seat.

    • Seth: (to Ryan) So, when you lost your virginity, I was - I was playing Magic: The Gathering.
      Ryan: Dude, you still play Magic.
      Seth: Yeah, but not as much.

  • NOTES (2)

    • Chris Carmack (Luke Ward) doesn't appear in this episode, although he is featured in the opening credits. This marks the first episode of the series not to feature Luke.

    • Music:
      "Strange and Beautiful" by Aqualung
      "A Fine Romance" by Stacy Kent
      "Breathe" by Leaves

  • ALLUSIONS (0)

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Season 1 Episodes

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Ep 27
The Ties That Bind
Ep 26
The Strip
Ep 25
The Shower
Ep 24
The Proposal
Ep 23
The Nana
Ep 22
The L.A.
Ep 21
The Goodbye Girl
Ep 20
The Telenovela
Ep 19
The Heartbreak
Ep 18
The Truth
Ep 17
The Rivals
Ep 16
The Links
Ep 15
The Third Wheel
Ep 14
The Countdown
Ep 13
The Best Chrismukkah Ever
Ep 12
The Secret
Ep 11
The Homecoming
Ep 10
The Perfect Couple
Ep 9
The Heights
Ep 8
The Rescue
Ep 7
The Escape
Ep 6
The Girlfriend
Ep 5
The Outsider
Ep 4
The Debut
Ep 3
The Gamble
Ep 2
The Model Home
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