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"The Family Ties" is the seventh episode in the second season of the Fox drama series The O.C.. The episode aired on the sixth of January, in 2005.

Synopsis[]

Marissa's parents continue to cause her anguish when she discovers their relationship. Jimmy realizes his relationship with Julie can only lead to trouble and decides to leave for Maui, but not before a big going away party at the Cohen's. Meanwhile, Ryan isn't sure how Lindsay and him can have a relationship given that she is now apart of the family. Seth changes his image, in attempt to impress Alex.

Plot[]

Ryan is studying in the kitchen when Seth asks him to punch someone for old times sake. Seth sits with him and shows Ryan old photos of Kirsten in hopes of finding resemblance to Lindsay. Ryan argues that just makes it more awkward for him but Seth says that they aren't even truly related, by blood anyway. Ryan says how Kirsten is like his mom and Lindsay is Kirsten's sister. Seth compares it to The Valley since Kirsten isn't aware that Ryan and Lindsay are dating. Just as Seth asks Ryan if Lindsay is his girlfriend or his aunt, Sandy walks in. Ryan isn't sure what to do and Sandy encourages him to give Lindsay space to decide if she wants to be apart of the family. Sandy says if she decides to be apart of it, Ryan and Lindsay can no longer date. Sandy says it is best Kirsten doesn't know they are dating just as she walks in. Kirsten assumes it is about the court case and the boys all agree to that. Kirsten isn't planning on forgiving her father and wants to do something for Lindsay. Kirsten then says to Ryan that he is just as part of the family and says that Lindsay is his aunt. Sandy and Seth laugh and thank her for clearing it up. Kirsten changes her mind then and says that Lindsay is so young, really, she's Ryan's sister.

Seth and Ryan - The Family Ties

Seth isn't use to Ryan's studious behavior and asks him to get in a fight for old times sake.


At Harbor, Marissa and Summer are having coffee talking about their boyfriends meeting their parents. Marissa is worried about introducing DJ to her parents but Summer reassures her. Zach watches from a distance and runs into Seth. He sent an apology letter to him over the break and Seth assures him that they are on good terms and can be friends. He then asks Seth if it is okay to talk about private things and proceeds to tell Seth about running into an old girlfriend on vacation that he kissed. Zach reveals to Seth that she is much older than him and was his math tutor when he was FOURTEEN. Seth is shocked and he encourages Zach to tell her the truth. Zach asks him to keep it a secret.

Marissa and Summer - The Family Ties

Marissa tells Summer she is worried about introducing DJ to her parents.


Ryan runs into Lindsay at school and they awkwardly hug and ask each other how they are. Lindsay is still having a hard time with the new revelation. Ryan thinks that she may need some more space but Lindsay says they need to find a place where they can hang out together. Lindsay considers the Cohens her friends and considers Ryan more than that. She says they aren't related at all ... Sandy and Caleb are coming back from the trial and Caleb has been dropper from all charges. Sandy says how it came at a cost since he strained things with his family. Caleb knows he needs to repair things with both of his daughters. He also mentions how he wants to go back to the Newport Group. Sandy says that will be hard given Julie hates him at the moment.

Caleb and Sandy - The Family Ties

Caleb tells Sandy he is glad to be free of all charges and is ready to get back to the Newport Group.

Julie gets off the phone with Kirsten who tells her that Caleb is free. She tells this to Jimmy and he assumes their affair is now over. Julie says that she is willing to see where their new feelings and relationship will take them. She kisses him and they sleep together. Kirsten visits Lindsay and asks to get coffee as friends. Marissa is taking DJ to meet her dad at his boat. As they are walking up to his boat, they catch Julie and Jimmy kissing. Marissa runs off with DJ before they see her. Seth visits Alex but is greeted by her friends instead. A hungover Alex is trying to explain to Seth that she came back to Newport early over break and cuts the conversation short, saying how nice Seth has been and wants to catch up at the show.

Julie and Jimmy - The Family Ties

Marissa catches Jimmy and Julie kissing.

Seth is telling Ryan and Sandy about his run in with Alex. Seth says how weird it was that Alex kept referring to him as "nice." Sandy asks him to keep getting dinner ready and Seth raises his voice and gives him attitude. Sandy and Ryan both laugh at this and sarcastically say how scared he made them feel. Kirsten walks in and is surprised to see the boys getting dinner ready. Lindsay follows in to have dinner with the Cohens. Lindsay and Ryan make awkward eye contact until he agrees with everyone else how nice it would be for Lindsay to be there.

Seth, Ryan, and Sandy - The Family Ties

Seth attempts to scare Sandy and Ryan but it backfires.

Marissa visits Jimmy and confronts him about Julie and his relationship. Jimmy tries to deny it but Marissa won't let him. He tries to explain himself but Marissa points out that Julie is remarried and asks how he could be with her again after she ruined his life. Jimmy says that things are different and Marissa says they aren't since he is back to his old ways. She goes on to say how she thought he was changing and making a new life for himself. She then leaves him with saying that she wishes he would be her dad.

Marissa - The Family Ties 2

Marissa to Jimmy: "For once, I wish you would just grow up and be like a real dad."

Ryan catches Seth going through his clothes and in a tank top of his. Seth explains how he is trying to be more of a "bad boy" but Ryan says that won't help. Ryan tells Seth how weird it still feels with Lindsay. Ryan says he can't stand in the way of Lindsay and Kirsten trying to build a relationship together. Seth then points out how Ryan is becoming more like him so Seth has a chance of being a "bad boy" now. Modest Mouse beings their performance at The Bait Shop starting out with Paper Thin Walls. Seth, Ryan, and Lindsay arrive and Seth goes to ask Alex with a flask of alcohol. He attempts to drink it but has a nasty taste in his mouth. He is obviously trying to prove to Alex he can be bad.

Seth - The Family Ties 4

Seth tries to impress Alex by getting drunk.

Jimmy tells Kirsten and Sandy that he has fallen in love with Julie. Kirsten wonders how he could feel this way, making similar comments about Julie's previous treatment that Marissa said. Jimmy says that he can't not be with Julie so he tells them how he found a yacht company in Maui. Jimmy goes through the past year and the mistakes he made. Jimmy says he will be leaving Newport in a few days. Back at The Bait Shop, Ryan is super careful about holding hands with Lindsay. She drags him out to talk as Summer and Zach talk about Marissa. As Zach is about to tell Summer about what he did over break, Seth interrupts drunk and loudly. Seth slips the secret out about Zach and his tutor but Zach had not yet told Summer.

Kirsten - The Family Ties

Kirsten realizes that Jimmy has fallen in love with Julie.

Lindsay asks Ryan why he has been so weird. He says that since the Cohens are his family then she is technically his family as well. Lindsay then says how it is like kissing his sister just as Alex yells after him, asking him to take Seth home since he puked everywhere and caused Summer and Zach to get into an argument. Ryan parks on the driveway and tells Seth to be quiet. As Seth opens the door, he falls out of the car with his seat belt still on. Sandy comes outside and asks what is going on. Seth shushes him and Sandy realizes how wasted Seth is.

The next day, Jimmy tells Marissa how she was right about him repeating his mistakes. Jimmy tells Marissa he needs to leave Newport. Marissa says how Jimmy is abandoning her but he says it won't be forever. He encourages her to visit and Marissa sarcastically wishes him luck and gets up to leave. Jimmy tells her about his going away party at the Cohens and asks her if she is okay. Marissa tells him that he was the last thing keeping her sane and leaves. A hungover Seth apologizes to Ryan but he should be directing the apology to someone else. Seth realizes he messed up with Zach and Alex.

Kirsten is organizing Jimmy's going away party as Seth walks in hungover, which Kirsten already knew. Seth asks to run an errand but Sandy and Kirsten tell him he is grounded. Zach visits Summer who plans on going to the party alone. At Jimmy's party, Julie and Caleb show up together and she is obviously having a hard time with it. Seth asks Ryan to cover for him while he goes to fix things with Alex. Sandy tells Jimmy how much he will miss him and asks how Julie took the news. Jimmy says he didn't exactly tell her one-on-one. Julie approaches him saying she wouldn't have known he was leaving if Kirsten hadn't invited her to his going away party. Jimmy asks to talk to her in private.

Ryan runs into Lindsay and Kirsten and as they are talking about their secret relationship, Caleb approaches. Ryan says how awkward it still is. Jimmy talks to Julie about their relationship, saying it wouldn't have gone in the right direction. Jimmy says that she deserves to be happy with Caleb even as she pleads she wanted to work it out with Jimmy. Julie starts crying and Jimmy embraces her. Jimmy tells her it is best he leaves soon before anyone realizes why and Kirsten walks in. Julie says goodbye to Jimmy and leaves.

Julie and Jimmy - The Family Ties 2

Julie cries in Jimmy's arms as she is devastated he is leaving for Maui.

Ryan and Lindsay find Summer alone who says how much she wants to hurt Seth. She says how boring of a party it is as Marissa stumbles in with DJ. She is drunk as she approaches her mom, calling her a witch. Marissa and Julie argue and she pulls DJ away from her mom, saying she might sleep with him next. Marissa calls Julie a whore as she goes after her. Everyone turns to watch and Jimmy tries to break them up. Marissa tells Jimmy he should tell everyone the real reason as to why he is leaving. Julie grabs her trying to take her away but Marissa pushes her off. Julie tells Jimmy that this is who she is leaving her with. Marissa says that it's obvious she is screwed up as she is the daughter of a thief and a slut. She says she hates them both and storms out.

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A drunken Marissa pushes Julie off of her at Jimmy's party.

Jimmy tells Kirsten he hopes that Marissa is okay and that he didn't expect her to react that way. Jimmy asks Kirsten to check up on Marissa when he is gone. He wants to make sure that someone is watching over Marissa and Kirsten upholds her promise and hugs Jimmy goodbye. As Caleb and Julie are desperate to get out of the Cohen's house, a valet worker tells Caleb his car has been stolen. Seth appears to have taken it and shows Alex. She notices that he has been trying to impress her and she says that she doesn't want to be with bad guys anymore. She says that Seth is a good guy and it is why she likes him just as the police show up.

Summer walks into her room to find Zach on her floor listening to her therapist. Zach says how important it was that they had their first ever fight that wasn't about Seth. He then apologizes to her, saying it didn't mean anything. Summer says she is more upset that he told Seth before telling her. Ryan and Lindsay find time alone to talk in the pool house. She suggests they try kissing and see if it feels like kissing your sister. They kiss and then start making out when Kirsten knocks on the door looking for Seth. She nearly caught them and they agree to keep it a secret and continue making out. Seth shows up at the front door with the cops and jokingly says hi to his dad who answered.

Jimmy finds Marissa at the lifeguard tower with DJ. He called Jimmy and leaves them to it. Jimmy sits down with Marissa and says how he never thought he would leave Newport. She doesn't say anything and Jimmy apologizes to her about letting her down and not giving her everything she deserves. Marissa starts bawling and asks her dad not to leave her. Jimmy says he has to leave and get a life. She asks him to sit with her for a while and he agrees, holding her close all night.

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Marissa breaks down in her father's arms, pleading with Jimmy not to leave.

The next day, Marissa goes to the Cohens and Sandy answers. She tells him she just sent her dad off and brought the Cohens bagels. Sandy invites her in and everyone welcomes her in and embraces her. Sandy starts to slice and smear everyone's bagels. Ryan hugs her and Sandy shows her the proper way of putting cream cheese on a bagel with Seth, Kirsten, and Ryan gathered around.

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The Cohens embrace Marissa with open arms after she said goodbye to Jimmy.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Music[]

Quotes[]

  • Seth Cohen: The story's old as time, really. Boy meets girl, boy likes girl, boy finds out girl is surrogate mother's illegitimate half-sister.

Trivia[]

  • The morning Seth is hungover, Ryan reminds him of vomiting the night before. Seth replies "All the vomit? How much vomit? Like, the little girl in Sixth Sense or the fat guy in Monty Python?" Mischa Barton, The O.C. co-star, played the little girl in The Sixth Sense (1999).

Gallery[]

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