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"The New Era" is the fourth episode in the second season of the Fox drama series The O.C., and the thirty-first episode overall. The episode aired on December 2, 2004.

Synopsis[]

Seth and Ryan go on an awkward double date where Seth goes with Lindsay and Ryan goes with Alex. However, Seth has eyes for Alex while Ryan would rather be with Lindsay. Marissa's feelings for DJ still linger but she isn't sure how he feels. Meanwhile, Julie finds herself overwhelmed at the Newport Group and turns to Jimmy for advice while Kirsten and Sandy struggle over Caleb and Julie's most recent decisions.

Plot[]

Ryan is trying to prepare for his upcoming physics exam while Seth is hounding him to talk about his issues. Seth says how Zach and Summer are fully dating now and that he needs to show her up. Seth asks Ryan to help him find a new girl to date but he refuses. Sandy is grateful to have been fired from his law firm since he doesn't have to answer to anyone anymore. Kirsten points out that Caleb is Sandy's only client and Sandy says that Kirsten works for Caleb's wife now. Sandy is very enthusiastic about this new era he is heading toward along with Seth as he pulls out the yearbook looking for a new girlfriend. Kirsten and Ryan aren't sure Seth is ready to date after everything with Summer but Sandy and Seth remain united against them both. Seth asks if they would rather have him find a new girl or continue to talk about Summer, they all cheers to The New Era.

The Cohens - The New Era

The Cohens cheers to the new phases in their lives.


At Harbor, Seth has already begun asking out some of the girls in their class who have so far all rejected him or he has found flaws in them. Ryan is trying to help him when Lindsay shows up and figures out what they are doing. Ryan introduces Seth to Lindsay. Seth becomes interested in dating Lindsay but Ryan tries to sway him the opposite way. Seth is determined to go out with her and asks Ryan to help him. Marissa and Summer also embrace the new phases in their lives. Marissa says she no longer has boy drama since her and Ryan are just friends and doesn't even know where DJ is. Summer then says how well lunch went with Zach and her dad. Zach greets Summer and offers to set Marissa up, which she refuses.

Summer and Marissa - The New Era

Summer and Marissa embrace the new phases in their lives.


Sandy and Caleb are meeting for lunch to discuss the case. Sandy asks Caleb about the trust fund that he puts money into every month. Caleb dodges the question but Sandy says it seems like he is bribing. Caleb then denies it and claims it is for charity. Sandy asks about the woman who runs the trust fund, Renee Wheeler. Caleb claims to never have heard of her and changes the subject to food. Caleb says how an old secretary set up the trust and gives the name to Sandy.

Ryan approaches Lindsay and very awkwardly asks if she would go out on a date. Lindsay assumes Ryan is asking her out until he says that she will go out with Seth. Lindsay reluctantly agrees to go out with Seth. Julie barges into Kirsten's office willing to lighten her load. Kirsten is reluctant in giving Julie any work due to the presentation they have to present soon. Julie takes charge in giving a good presentation. Marissa visits DJ who doesn't seem to want to talk to her. She tries to ask him out to see The Killers the next night. DJ doesn't want to be friends but Marissa is willing to try. DJ assumes she is just there because Ryan is no longer her boyfriend. She tries to explain herself saying she wasn't aware he was coming back but leaves the invitation open to DJ.

Marissa - The New Era 2

Marissa tries to make it up to DJ but he doesn't seem interested.


As Seth is working another shift at The Bait Shop, Ryan drops by to let him know about his date that Lindsay "agreed" to. Seth is surprised she even said yes and suggests a double date when Alex walks in. Ryan notices that Seth is thinking he should go out with Alex but Ryan refuses. Seth makes an argument with it and suggests a "group hang" and shares this with Alex separately. She thinks it is ridiculous and refuses since it is not how she wants to spend her night off. Seth starts talking up Ryan and thinks her and Ryan would be a good match. Seth starts messing with Alex making her laugh as she pushes him out of her office.

Kirsten is in her meeting with investors when Julie barges in. Kirsten fills her in and asks her to contribute if necessary. Julie then asks them if they have any questions for her. The investors ask about Caleb's legal issues and she answers in a very simple manner. Kirsten steps in and answers for her but Julie kicks her out of the meeting. Julie is left alone with the investors and they ask her a very in depth question about interest rates and Julie doesn't know how to answer it.

Julie and Kirsten - The New Era

Julie kicks Kirsten out of a very important meeting with investors.

Seth tells Ryan at school how Alex agreed to their double date. They continue talking about it but Ryan stops Seth because Summer is approaching. She says hi to both of them and as she is leaving, Seth yells out to her that he has a date. Summer laughs when she finds out it is with a girl just as Marissa joins them. Marissa asks Ryan what he will be doing and asks to hang out but she figures out he is also going out on a date. Ryan tells her it's sort of a double date and he asks about how things are going with DJ. Marissa says they aren't going at all and rushes to class, wishing him fun on his date.

Ryan and Marissa - The New Era

Marissa tries to ask Ryan to hang out but she figures out that he already has a date.

Julie visits Jimmy after her disastrous performance at the meeting. She asks Jimmy for his advice and he says that she is very savvy with good instincts. Jimmy encourages her to do things her own way and Julie thanks him for the confidence boost. Ryan and Seth show up to The Bait Shop and Seth spots Lindsay waiting for them. Seth asks Ryan to talk him up with Lindsay while he goes to find Alex. Lindsay asks Ryan what he is doing there and he says that he also has a date. She figures out that it is a double date and it could not be more awkward. Alex says that Ryan is cute while also mentioning that Seth also is cute. They meet up with them both and everyone introduces each other. Seth says it should be fun and not at all awkward, except it is entirely awkward.

At the Cohen's, Sandy is enjoying his time not working by watching T.V., maybe enjoying it a little too much as Kirsten notices. Sandy tells her how they are going to loose Caleb's case since he isn't telling the truth. Kirsten tells him how Julie seems to be trying to wreck the company. Sandy encourages her to give up so they can enjoy their time together. Kirsten tells Sandy that Caleb is hiding something and encourages him to figure out what that is. Julie comes to the door and brings in caterers for an impromptu party.

The Killers begin their performance opening with Smile Like You Mean It. Seth is trying to get along with Lindsay but she isn't feeling it and Alex is trying to get along with Ryan but they figure out they have nothing in common. Seth and Ryan sneak away and they both say how terribly it is going. Just when they think it couldn't get any worse, Ryan and Seth spot their ex's, Marissa and Summer.

Double Date - The New Era

Ryan and Seth's double date is not going well at all.

As The Killers continue to perform, Summer and Marissa make their way through the crowd with Zach following close behind. Summer, Marissa and Zach run into Seth, Lindsay, Ryan, and Alex. They all introduce each other and they all silently judge each others dates. Seth holds Lindsay close while Summer holds Zach close as well. Summer, Marissa and Zach leave to go watch the band while Seth fills Lindsay in on who they just met.

The Killers

The Killers performing some of their top songs at The Bait Shop.

At the last minute party Julie decided to throw at the Cohen's without asking, Kirsten is stressing and drinks as much as possible while telling Jimmy how crazy Julie's idea was. Jimmy encourages her not to worry about it and Julie is doing things the way she believes works and tells Kirsten to have a little bit more faith in her. Back at The Bait Shop, Summer is obviously jealous of Seth on his date and Zach notices. He calls her out on it but she denies it. Marissa notices Ryan isn't speaking with Alex while Ryan notices Lindsay isn't enjoying her one-sided conversation with Seth.

Zach and Summer - The New Era

Zach calls out Summer on her obsession with Seth who is on a date with someone else.

Sandy finds Caleb speaking with a woman and giving an envelope of cash to. The woman drives off but Sandy catches her license plate. He writes it down and approaches Caleb. Sandy asks him to stop playing games and asks who the woman was. Caleb says she was an old friend and Sandy guesses it was Renee Wheeler. Caleb warns Sandy to stay away from her but Sandy asks if Caleb is having an affair. Caleb dodges the question and tells him to leave it alone.

As The Killers finish up the performance, Seth continues to talk to Lindsay about Summer. Marissa spots DJ at the show and they talk briefly before she leaves. Alex has noticed how Ryan has been watching Lindsay all night and encourages him to tell her how he feels. Ryan feels bad but she tells him not to worry because she isn't feeling it. They laugh about their failed date and Ryan leaves. As Summer and Zach leave, they are still arguing about Summer obsessing over Seth just as Seth comes after her. As Seth is trying to talk to her, Zach is walking away and Summer is going after Zach. She leaves with Zach and Seth is disappointed. Lindsay runs into Ryan but she does not want to talk to him. Lindsay blames Ryan for her terrible date with Seth and leaves.

Julie grabs Kirsten at the party as she continues to mingle with the investors. Julie really seems to be hitting it off with the investors. Kirsten tries apologizing about the meeting just as Julie talks her up. Kirsten is impressed and Julie knows it. Seth and Ryan find each other and share just how badly it went with their chosen dates. Ryan asks to go after Lindsay and Seth gives him the okay. Seth asks to go after Alex and Ryan gives him the okay as well. Seth finds Alex and tells her how badly he failed with not one, but two girls. He apologizes to her about his idea and says goodnight. Alex goes after him saying how immature he can be and then starts complimenting him. Seth asks her to get ice cream with him which she agrees to and gives him a kiss as they are leaving.

Seth and Alex

Seth and Alex share their first kiss.

DJ spots Marissa's car parked near the beach but she isn't inside. DJ finds her at the lifeguard station looking at the ocean. He kisses her but isn't sure where their relationship stands. Ryan finds Lindsay waiting at the bus stop. Lindsay reveals that the only reason she said yes to the date was because she thought Ryan was asking her out. Ryan then tells her that he wanted to ask her out but she didn't think he would say yes. She then says it might be possible that she would go out with him one day.

Ryan and Lindsay - The New Era

Ryan and Lindsay both reveal their feelings for each other.

Sandy finds Kirsten getting ready for bed and they are both impressed by how Julie handled the party. Sandy tells Kirsten she thinks Caleb is guilty of something and plans on figuring it out. Summer and Zach end the night watching her favorite show, The Valley. Marissa and DJ watch the ocean together. Alex and Seth enjoy their ice cream cones together. Lindsay and Ryan talk at the bus stop.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Quotes[]

  • Seth Cohen: Her with the tattoo, you with the wristband, that's like the ultimate wrong-side-of-the-tracks love story. Seriously, you are the Sid to her Nancy, the Kurt to her Courtney, the 50 Cent to her ... Mrs Cent.
  • Lindsay: I'm guessing we just met some ex-girlfriends.
  • Seth: Well, Ryan and Marissa, that's an epic tale right there but Summer and I are equally as fascinating. She was my shorty last year but then she got served.

Music[]

Gallery[]

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