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"The Rivals" is the seventeenth episode in the first season of the Fox drama series The O.C.. The episode aired on the twenty-first January, in 2004.

Synopsis[]

Ryan grows more suspicious of Oliver and his intentions when he suddenly transfers to Harbor High and closes in on Marissa. His attempts to expose Oliver's true character causes backlash from everyone he is close with, expect for one unexpected person, finding himself in an all too familiar position. Summer shows off her new boyfriend to Seth and Anna. Meanwhile, Sandy and Jimmy prepare to sign the lease papers for the Lighthouse restaurant, but Jimmy doesn't know if he is ready for this new business venture.

Plot[]

At Harbor, Seth and Ryan are talking about Oliver's "suicide" attempt and how Ryan didn't believe him. Ryan says that he doesn't trust Oliver and him and Marissa seem to be fighting about Oliver nearly every day. Seth thinks that Ryan's jealousy is getting in the way but Ryan says he isn't jealous. Seth encourages Ryan to make friends with Oliver and keep the peace or Ryan can keep arguing with Marissa. Seth says how him and Anna don't ever argue but Ryan can't relate. Ryan finds Marissa and he asks her about Oliver. Marissa tells him how Oliver feels bad that when he took a bunch of pills, her and Ryan fought about it. Marissa says she doesn't understand it either and Ryan explains himself and that if Oliver is Marissa's friend, Oliver is Ryan's friend. Ryan tells Marissa that he wants to try and she thanks and kisses him. A teacher calls out for them and introduces them to Harbor's new transfer student, Oliver Trask ...

Ryan and Marissa - The Rivals

Ryan and Marissa find out the new transfer student is Oliver Trask...


Anna and Seth are talking about what to do after school when Seth suggests they do something different. Seth seems to be searching for something new since they do the same thing over and over again. They run into Ryan, Marissa, and Oliver and tell them the news about Oliver's transfer. Oliver says how he has more friends at Harbor than he did at his old school as Ryan rolls his eyes. Oliver notes how him and Marissa have the EXACT same schedule and she takes him to help pick out his books. Ryan is freaking out and thinks it is extremely weird that Oliver transferred to Harbor but Seth demeans him and says there has to be a good explanation.

Sandy is going through his cases when Jimmy meets up with him. Sandy reveals to Jimmy about buying the Lighthouse and going into business together. Jimmy thinks it's crazy since they don't know anything about running a restaurant and Jimmy's limited experience with the restaurant in college doesn't count. Jimmy says it isn't a good time and Sandy says he has nothing to loose. Julie asks Kirsten to lunch but she is booked most of the week. Kirsten can tell Julie is asking for something and Julie finally admits. She wants the interior design job and has to go through Kirsten to get it. Kirsten tells Julie she isn't experienced or even qualified. Julie asks Kirsten for one shot and if she screws up, she can fire her.

At lunch, Seth finds Anna, Summer, and Luke all laughing about something or someone. Summer introduces them to her new boyfriend, Danny, and he cracks a joke about Seth's lunch. Everyone is laughing but Seth who is utterly confused as to what's funny. Seth tries to make a joke but no one laughs at it. Ryan is trying to do homework when Oliver joins him. Oliver says how behind he is in his junior year and Ryan questions this because he told him that he was a senior. Oliver says he isn't a good one and that none of his credits transferred. Ryan then asks him why he would even transfer if he was so close to graduation. Oliver says it wasn't working for him anymore and Ryan continues to interrogate him. Oliver backpedals and reveals to Ryan that there was an "incident." Ryan asks what happened and Oliver doesn't answer him. Oliver tells Ryan he has made some mistakes and asks Ryan to give him a chance like everyone else did when Ryan got there. Oliver says he wants to start over when Marissa walks in. She asks Ryan to come over to Oliver's with her since Oliver needs help with French. Ryan thought that Oliver had lived in Paris for a few years and questions why he needs Marissa's help. Ryan says he can't and as Oliver gets up, he offers his hand for Ryan to shake in front of Marissa and what other choice does he have but to accept. Ryan says bye to Marissa, saying he trusts her.

Danny - The Rivals

Summer has a new boyfriend, Danny, in her life that everyone finds funny except for Seth.


Ryan and Seth are playing video games and Seth says he does't trust Summer's new boyfriend. Ryan talks about how Oliver told him about an "incident" and Seth says how tired he is about hearing of Oliver. Ryan thinks that Oliver might be violent and how he needs Marissa's help with french when he lived in France. Ryan says how nothing is adding up and Seth isn't really listening to him. He tells Ryan he could steal his file as a joke or be a grown up, forget about it, and move on. Ryan leaves shortly after dinner and gets let into the school by a police officer. He goes into the file room, searching for Oliver's file. As he is looking for the file, he stumbles across it and finds a confidential page just as the police officer catches him.

The next day, Ryan, Sandy, and Kirsten are speaking with Dr. Kim about what Ryan did the night before. Ryan is at risk of being suspended or even expelled from school. Sandy goes on to say this isn't who Ryan is and Dr. Kim agrees since he has been doing so well at Harbor. Dr. Kim asks Ryan why he would do this and Ryan says that he doesn't trust Oliver. Dr. Kim says that he went through the same screening process and Ryan voices his concern regarding Marissa since Oliver is very unstable. Ryan then rehashes the confidential page that said Oliver was found in the bathroom with wrists cut over a girl. This girl filed a restraining order and it is why Oliver left. Kirsten and Sandy become concerned and Dr. Kim says that Oliver has been institutionalized and that this change in environment was good for him. Sandy is amazed that the school was so receptive of him and Dr. Kim fires back about how they let in questionable students with promise and it leads back to the time they let Ryan into Harbor in The Rescue. Ryan apologizes and he has to attend detention until the committee decides to suspend or expel him.

Ryan Atwood - The Rivals

Ryan's future at Harbor is at risk after he went snooping for Oliver's file.


Anna finds Seth with tickets to see the band, Bright Eyes, and Seth is excited. Summer runs into them with Danny by her side. Danny tries to make jokes with Seth but he isn't falling for it. Seth shows how annoyed he is with Danny and Anna assumes he is jealous. Seth refuses and Anna tells him the same thing Seth told Ryan earlier, "embrace the friend." Sandy and Jimmy are visiting the Lighthouse and Sandy demonstrates his plans. Sandy and Jimmy want to add their family meals to the menu. Julie takes over Kirsten's office as she attempts to take on the interior designer position. Kirsten tells Julie she has lost her mind since she is running out of time to complete the task at hand. Kirsten thinks Julie won't get it done in time.

At school, Ryan is walking through the halls when he spots Marissa and Oliver talking. He sees Oliver give Marissa an envelope that she puts in her locker. Ryan stands in front of her locker but doesn't open it. At the Cohen's, Sandy and Kirsten are trying to figure out why Ryan did what he did and if Ryan is jealous of Oliver. Ryan says he isn't even though no one believes him. Sandy says that Oliver is trouble but now Ryan is about to get into trouble of his own. Kirsten asks why Ryan didn't go to them and he says he wanted to deal with it himself. Ryan says that he screwed up and asks if he is getting kicked out. Sandy says that just because he screwed up, doesn't mean they are giving up on him. Sandy says that Ryan is part of the family now and will feel the full weight of that.

Ryan sits alone in the dark in the pool house when Seth walks in. Ryan says he deserved it and Seth asks if he is over it now. Ryan doesn't answer and tells Seth about the letter Oliver gave Marissa and takes out the letter from his backpack. Seth assumes that Ryan didn't steal it but Ryan says he did. Seth asks what is wrong with him and asks if he read it. Seth tells him to put it back and that Oliver hasn't done anything to Marissa but be her friend. Ryan tries to tell Seth that Oliver is after Marissa but Seth asks him to stop because Ryan is starting to freak him out. Seth leaves and Ryan puts the letter back in his bag and it takes everything in him to not read the letter. Ryan can't help it and begins reading the letter.

Ryan goes to Seth the next day about Oliver's letter and Seth says he doesn't want to hear it. Ryan says he is being serious and looks utterly defeated that Seth won't listen to him or believe him. Seth tells Ryan that if she finds out what he took, they will break up. Marissa knocks at the door and asks Ryan if he wants to join her and Oliver after school, Ryan makes up a lie and they head off to school. Julie is crying in Kirsten's office when Kirsten walks in. Julie tells Kirsten it is a disaster and Kirsten asks what happened. Julie says she has nothing for the open house and that she drove away all the fancy venders. Kirsten offers to help her. At school, Summer walks in with Danny as they greet Anna and Seth. Seth is so annoyed that he can't even hide it on his face and Anna sees it. Seth unwillingly invites Danny over.

Sandy goes to Jimmy's to give him the good news about the restaurant. Sandy put a downpayment for the Lighthouse and that they can sign the papers the next day. Jimmy isn't so sure about it since he won't be able to pull his own weight. He goes on to say how fast it all happened and doesn't seem ready. Back at Harbor, Ryan attempts to put the letter back in Marissa's locker unnoticed but someone sees him. It's Oliver. He questions why Ryan is at Marissa's locker when Luke shows up. Oliver brings up and idea apparently him and Marissa thought of a camping trip and Luke and Ryan lie saying it would be great. Oliver heads back to class and Luke says how much he does not like Oliver. Luke says that Oliver is here for Marissa and Ryan finally found someone to back him up. Luke tells Ryan he needs to tell Oliver to back off of Marissa and offers to do it for him. Ryan says he will keep it in mind and Luke tells him to let him know when and he will have Ryan's back.

Ryan and Luke - The Rivals

Luke is the only one who has Ryan's back.


Danny and Seth are hanging out playing video games when Sandy gets home. Danny makes a joke about Sandy's name and Sandy gives Seth a look. In the kitchen, Sandy says that Danny is not funny and Seth is grateful to find someone who agrees. Seth says that Danny makes Ryan and Marissa look funny and Sandy tells him to find funnier friends. Seth returns to the video games when Danny asks him to be less funny around Summer. Danny goes on to say how all Summer talks about is how funny Seth is and he is the funniest guy she has ever met. Danny tells him how he is trying so hard to hang onto her and Seth is more than pleased with what he is hearing. Seth gives Danny advice about how he needs to up his comedy game.

Dr. Kim asked to meet with Marissa after school and they talk in her office. Dr. Kim wanted to be honest with Marissa about a transfer student's instability. Marissa says she is aware of Oliver's issues but Dr. Kim tells her she isn't talking about him, SHES TALKING ABOUT RYAN!!! Ryan comes out of detention to find Marissa waiting for him. Marissa says she thought he was with Kirsten and she asks why he got detention. Ryan lies about both and Marissa knows about his break-in. Ryan tries to explain himself to her, saying that he did it to protect Marissa. He says that he doesn't trust Oliver and has a history about obsessions with girls. They continue to argue and Ryan reveals that Oliver is in love with Marissa. She says that they are just friends and Ryan gives her the note. Marissa asks how he got it but Ryan doesn't say. She figures out he stole it and is disappointed in him. Ryan then asks how she can say he isn't in love with her given the note, and she tells him that Oliver wrote it to Natalie. Oliver wants to get back together with her and he wanted Marissa to read it before he gave it to Natalie. Ryan doesn't know what to say other than apologize and she tells him she can't do it anymore because she doesn't trust him. They break up and Marissa leaves in tears.

Ryan and Marissa 1st breakup

Ryan and Marissa break up after she feels she can't trust him anymore.


The next morning, Sandy is upset he isn't signing the papers to the Lighthouse anymore since Jimmy backed out. Kirsten talks about Julie's mess with the interior designing of the model home when Seth walks in. Sandy asks if he has talked to Ryan when Ryan walks in. Seth asks when Marissa will be there to take them to school and Ryan tells him she isn't coming. Julie waits anxiously in Kirsten's office for a phone call from Caleb. Instead, Caleb walks in saying how much they loved Julie's designs. Kirsten and Julie are both shocked Caleb is happy about it and Julie says it is her passion. Caleb says that Julie will be the new interior designer for the Newport Group and will work with Kirsten by her side.

At school, Seth finds Summer who is upset about Danny's new comedy game that he has taken way too far now. Seth is so pleased as Summer tells him they are over. She says she will end up alone and Seth apologizes. Anna joins them and is wearing the same scarf as Seth and they talk about their plans for the night. Seth comforts Summer and she watches him leave. Ryan and Marissa make eye contact and she turns around to walk with Oliver. The owner of the Lighthouse doesn't want to sell it yet since he has so many memories. Sandy encourages him not to and asks for more time to find a partner. The owner says he has other offers and he can't wait any longer when Jimmy walks in. Sandy grabs the papers and starts signing when Jimmy says how it could fail and reveals his insecurities in regards to always failing. Sandy encourages him to sign without listening to a word. Jimmy signs the papers.

At Harbor, Ryan is playing pool while Oliver continues to creep around Ryan and watches him. He confronts Ryan about his breakup with Marissa. Ryan apologizes to him and admits he was wrong about him. Oliver then questions if Ryan thought he came to Harbor for Marissa and that he is in love with her. Ryan says it was crazy but Oliver doesn't disagree. Oliver then tells Ryan how he connects with Marissa and she understands him. He goes on to say how when he is with Marissa, it feels like they belong together. Ryan is getting angry especially when he talks about Ryan and Marissa being from different worlds. Ryan tells Oliver to stay away from Marissa. Oliver then says that Ryan can't fight fate and that he didn't even have to lift a finger to come between Ryan and Marissa. Oliver says that Ryan and Marissa aren't supposed to be together and blames Ryan for Marissa's need for therapy and for meeting Oliver. Ryan says he won't let this happen when Oliver asks who will believe him. Oliver tells him he is sorry and starts walking away when starts punching Oliver. Other students grab Ryan off of him when Marissa walks in as Ryan is yelling at Oliver to stay away from Marissa.

Oliver - The Rivals 3

Oliver only shows his true character and feelings for Marissa to Ryan since no one believes him.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

Quotes[]

Music[]

Gallery[]

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