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"The Best Chrismukkah Ever" is the thirteenth episode in the first season of the Fox drama series The O.C.. The episode aired on the third of December, in 2003.

Synopsis[]

Ryan is officially introduced to the bi-religious holiday of 'Chrismukkah', thanks to Seth who has set this up for his parents; the Christian Kristin and the Jewish Sandy. Seth insists he has two Godly forces helping him as he continues to play both Summer and Anna by claiming he has chosen the other. Meanwhile, Marissa falls more into depression and debauchery over her family life problems and gets arrested for shoplifting with Ryan. It gets worse when Ryan has to cover for her when she gets drunk at Seth's 'Chrismukkah' party. Kirsten risks more than just her job by speaking out about her father Caleb's shady business deals. Summer and Anna find out about Seth's two-timing them and decide to give him a 'very special gift' to make him choose which one he wants to be with.

Plot[]

Christmas has come to Newport and Seth introduces the concept of Chrismukkah to Ryan. Sandy and Kirsten are bringing in the Christmas tree when Kirsten tells Ryan they didn't know which holiday to celebrate as Seth was growing up. Seth tells Ryan that he created this holiday to solve which of his parent's beliefs to celebrate around the holidays. Seth talks about the 8 days of presents for Hanukkah and then one day of many presents for Christmas. Ryan says that it is great for their family and Kirsten, Sandy, and Seth say that he is now apart of it. Kirsten tells Ryan he could incorporate something from his family into their holidays as well. Ryan hints that he didn't have a great time around the holidays growing up which included his mom getting drunk and he got his butt kicked. Sandy tells Ryan that this year will be different for him. Kirsten and Sandy tell Seth to give Ryan some time.

Seth Cohen - The Best Chrismukkah Ever

Seth has Ryan choose between Christmas and Hanukkah but introduces his very own idea of "Chrismukkah"

As Seth is wrapping gifts in the pool house, Seth tells Ryan how he is getting Summer and Anna the same gift. Much to Ryan's dismay, he encourages Seth to make a decision between them. Seth refuses to choose since it defeats the meaning of Chrismukkah and encourages Ryan to lighten up a bit. Ryan and Seth go into the kitchen and Kirsten asks Ryan what his shoe size is. Ryan asks why and she doesn't answer. Seth asks if she is making a Chrismukkah list and Kirsten hides it from him. Sandy walks in getting off the phone saying Chrismukkah is ruined. Seth immediately gets offended and Sandy explains how Caleb refused the settlement offer. Sandy tells everyone that they have to go to court now and how he has to spend the holidays preparing for it.

Jimmy asks Marissa which tie he should wear to a job interview and she asks him about it. Jimmy assures her he will find a job. Marissa goes on to say that there doesn't have to be any holiday excitement and that they can skip Christmas. This raises concerns from Jimmy especially when she says that the holidays just make people depressed. Jimmy tells her they aren't skipping Christmas and tries to raise Marissa's spirits but it doesn't seem to do anything.

At school, Ryan finds out that Seth is taking both Summer and Anna to the Christmas party. Anna and Summer appear, asking about times to be picked up, and both end up feeling awkward in the presence of each other. Seth tells them they should all meet there and they all seem to agree. Ryan tells Seth to pray for a Chrismukkah miracle to which he argues he has Jesus and Moses on his side. Julie is arranging the Christmas party for the town. Kirsten talks to Caleb about him denying the settlement. Caleb wants way more than what is being offered. After being unsuccessful at convincing Caleb to settle, Kirsten declares that she's taking Christmas Vacation off for herself.

Seth & Ryan - The Best Chrismukkah Ever

Seth argues that he has support during the holidays from his good friends, Jesus and Moses.

Marissa tells Ryan how much she hates Christmas and Ryan tells her how Chrismukkah is not any better. Marissa tells Ryan she spends Christmas Eve with her dad and then Christmas Day with her mom and she is being forced to go to the Newport Christmas party. They agree to meet there and be miserable together. They leave to go Christmas shopping at the mall. Ryan looks at a watch but it is too much for him to afford. They don't find any luck and Marissa suggests somewhere cheaper. Marissa reminisces on how she can't afford buying anything from there anymore. As they are getting into the car, Marissa is stopped by a security guard asking to see inside of her purse, saying that if she refuses he'll have to call the police. Ryan tells the security guard to back off and Marissa gives him her purse. The security guard empties her purse to find the watch Ryan was looking at earlier.

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Ryan and Marissa walking through the mall together doing some Christmas shopping.

At the Cohens, presents for Ryan from his mom and brother arrive. Seth tells Kirsten he has no idea what to say to Ryan when he talks about the holidays. Kirsten is going through old records, trying to relax and ease herself into a work-free vacation, and finds something of interest. Julie shows up while Jimmy is talking to Marissa about the theft and it escalates into an argument between the three of them. The store decided to not press charges so they need a punishment for Marissa. Julie takes away Marissa's allowance, car, and going out privileges as punishment, meaning she can't go to the Christmas party. Julie asks why Marissa did this and she tries to explain herself but starts to cry. Julie reveals that she called the therapist for Marissa and she's going in the morning. Marissa tries to retaliate saying she can handle this. Julie tells her she loves Marissa but doesn't believe her.

As Ryan gets ready for the party, he tells Seth about Marissa's shoplifting incident. Seth is surprised and Ryan says he wishes there was something he could do for her. Seth reveals that he'd bought Ryan a stocking, with his name on it like the rest of them. Sandy comes home earlier than expected and reveals that he and Caleb have reached a settlement, which ended up being for two hundred and fifty million dollars. Kirsten gives Sandy a sheet of paper, which is what she found earlier, telling Sandy that she'd be fired for sure after giving it to him. Sandy looks at it and says how much it changes everything. Kirsten jokes that she will have a lot of free time.

Anna and Summer both show up to the Cohens house unexpectedly and begin to argue, but Seth solves the situation before it could grow out of control. All three of them decide to go together and awkwardly wait for Kirsten, Sandy, and Ryan. Anna tells Seth she has a gift that she will give him later to which Summer repeats. Kirsten and Sandy find the three of them and leave saying how crazy the party will end up being. Ryan is helping Marissa fasten a necklace and tells her that he thinks its a good idea for her to go to therapy. She gets offended and says no one can make her go. She apologizes to him and asks Ryan to get something for her upstairs. She takes a bottle of vodka and hides it in her purse.

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Seth is stuck between Summer and Anna and Kirsten and Sandy leave for the party.

At the party, Julie's nervous about whether or not she did a good job of organizing the party and what Caleb thinks of it. Julie interrupts a make out session between Ryan and Marissa, and they begin to argue. Marissa goes to the bathroom to get away from her mom. Sandy goes to Caleb and reveals what Kirsten had given him; a geological map of the wetlands. The map revealed that the entire area was geologically unstable, and that it was practically worthless, proving that Caleb was just trying to get money because he'd know that he couldn't possibly get a permit to build there. Sandy offers to buy the wetlands back for a dollar, and when Caleb refuses, gives him the money anyway, walking off.

Ryan and Marissa - The Best Chrismukkah Ever

Ryan and Marissa at the Christmas holiday party.

Meanwhile, Anna gives Seth his Christmas present ; a handmade comic by her, which he likes. They see Summer watching them, and it kills the mood before they could kiss. In the bathroom, Marissa locks the door behind her and starts drinking the vodka she'd stashed away. Summer takes Seth into a private room, and reveals her Christmas present to him; her, dressed as Wonder Woman under her dress. Anna walks in on them as Summer is looking at her present to Seth. They both realize that they're being stupid at trying to win Seth over, and Summer tells him that he needs to pick between them and leaves, Anna following Meanwhile, a drunken Marissa goes and dances with Ryan, showing him the bottle of vodka that she'd drank in the bathroom. They argue, and Marissa leaves. Ryan runs after her, and tries to get her to let him drive, standing in front of the car to prevent her from leaving. She backs up to get around him, and hits a car behind her. Caleb announces that he's giving the trust over to Sandy's company for a dollar.

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Summer's Christmas present for Seth, her dressed as Wonder Woman.

Tensions mount in the car as Ryan drives Marissa home. Marissa drops the top to the vodka on the floor, and as she's searching for it, the cops pull them over because of the broken tail light that Marissa caused when she'd hit the car. Marissa hides the bottle between her feet on the floor, and just as the cop was asking her to get out, he gets called away. Ryan gets off with just a warning for the tailight, to his relief. Ryan gets mad, throws the bottle away, and starts slamming the door to the car. Marissa tells him to stop, and he does, but not after he tells her that she's scaring him. The next morning, Seth fills Ryan in on what happened between him, Anna, and Summer, and Ryan tells Seth about the incidents with Marissa the night before. Ryan says he hates Christmas, and Seth declares it a Chrismukkah miracle that Ryan didn't get caught the night before, restoring his faith in the holiday.

Marissa and Ryan - The Best Chrismukkah Ever

Marissa's drinking problem fuels Ryan's anger as past memories arise for him.

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Sandy, Kirsten, and Seth watch Ryan hang his stocking next to theirs.

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The Cohen's Chrismukkah Card.

Later, Seth talks to Summer and Anna separately, telling them both that he just wants to be friends with them. Both of them tell him that they don't want to be just his friends, and gives him back the presents he'd given them. Caleb drops by to talk to Kirsten about what she'd done. Ryan decides to go with Marissa to go see her therapist, and Sandy talks him out of it. Marissa goes to the therapist office, and is about to leave so that she doesn't have to go see the therapist, when she gets into a conversation with a guy that knows her from school, Oliver Trask. Marissa is surprised when Oliver guesses everything that's happened to her, about nearly becoming an alcoholic, and overdosing on pills. Ryan ends up hanging his stocking, and him, Kirsten, Seth, and Sandy end up going to watch a movie.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Quotes[]


Seth to Ryan: "So what's it gonna be huh? Your menorah or your candy cane? Hmm? Christmas or Hanukkah? Ah! Don't worry about it buddy, because in this house, you don't have to choose. Let me introduce you to a little something I'd like to call...Chrismukkah."
Seth to Ryan: "Come on man...lighten up! -beat- Fine, stay dark. Dark works too."
Seth to Ryan: "I've got Jesus and Moses on my side man."
Oliver Trask to Marissa: "You really didn't want to hurt yourself. Now Kurt Cobain...he wanted to hurt himself."

Music[]

Gallery[]

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