The next morning Taylor has packed up her things (save for the Espresso Machine she bought - I love her), and is heading back to Newport, but not before she gives Summer a piece of her mind. Summer's not in the mood because she just spent the night outside for the first time: "Have you ever slept outside? There is so much grass and you can't turn off the stars." She tells Summer that she is going to ruin things with Seth, especially if anything happens with Che. You can see the old Summer struggling to come out as Summer almost forms those three magical letters "Eww" at even the prospect of cheating on Seth with Che. It's a testament to how far this show has already come this season (yeah, yeah, it's only episode 2), that I'm not even remotely annoyed by the self-knowing comment Summer makes about the false-appearance of a Seth/Summer/Che love triangle. "This isn't a love triangle! I don't DO love triangles, anymore." And I hope she's right. I like Che's character and what he's bringing out in Summer, but I hope it remains plutonic. I'm really buying the tension between Seth and Summer - I mean, long distance relationships are hard enough, add on the tragic death of a best friend? These kids barely stand a chance. They don't need Summer falling for someone else, which I really don't think she is.

Summer really gets on the defensive about both Che and Taylor's accusation that she is ignoring Seth. It's kind of heartbreaking when Taylor implores Summer to just talk to her. She doesn't want to talk to you Taylor! She wants Coop! Things get heated and Summer turns the whole thing around on Taylor saying that she supposedly had this huge problem, but all she's been doing is dissecting Summer's life. Taylor begins to storm off, but not until she's casually drops her bombshell: While in Paris she got married! Summer will have to hear the details another time, because Taylor is out of there!

South of the border, Ryan returns to the motel room, sans Volchok's head on a platter. Bummer. Ryan can't leave until he finds Volchok, so Seth gives up the information on his whereabouts. Seth tries to get Ryan to swear off violence, but that's like trying to get Mischa Barton to eat something. It's just not going to happen.

In Newport, Julie is sitting in front of the television watching Cops (you've got to get your violence fix somewhere, I suppose), which is exactly where she's been for the past 18 hours. Kaitlin is going to the clothing drive without her, but she gets one good parting shot in: "Some of us are still alive." Low blow Kaitlin, but JuJu needed to hear it.

Elsewhere, Sandy and Kristen can't sleep, as they are too damn worried about their damn kids. They both decide a trip to Mexico is in order. That morning, they are sipping coffee and formulating a plan. Kristen asks when they will have to stop bailing out their sons from allt heir stupid mistakes. If the rating keep slipping KiKi, it'll be sooner than you think...

Further proving that Prison Break's influence knows no bounds, we see Ryan getting ready to kill Volchok. With the lead pipe. In the dingy basement. Simultaneously, we see Volchok in his casa as he hears a banging on his door. Volchok grabs his hunting knife and answers the door, just as Ryan knocks a door in. Finally, Ryan and Volchok face-to-face! PSYYYYYCH! It was a little bit of misdirection (thus the Prison Break comment - that was soooo Michael Scofield), as Ryan ends up in an empty room, and it is none other than Seth at Volchok's door.

Seth is there to tell Volchok that Ryan is in town. Volchok foolishly thinks that Seth is looking out for him, but really he's just looking out for Ryan. If Ryan finds Volchok he'll kill him, and that will ruin Ryan's life. On the plus side it will finally make the "young Russell Crow" thing Seth mentioned last week complete as Ryan will stand over Volchok's body and scream; "Are you not entertained? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!?!?! Is this not why you are here!?!?!"

I BELIEVE THE EXPRESSION YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IS: BAD. BAD TO THE BONE.

Seth tells Volchok to turn himself in and stop running. He even offers Sandy's help in the surrender. Volchok gives him a big thanks but no thanks. Ehh, Volchok never really bothered me, even when he killed Marissa, although my Bad Boy tolerance is pretty low (yeah, I'm talking to you Austin on Desperate Housewives). I just wish that this kid was a better actor. You can tell that Volchok does feel remorse over what he did to Marissa, but it's not conveyed all that well.

Seth's sneaky, sneaky leads to a Ryan/Cohen parents reunion. Sandy and Kirsten beg Ryan to come home with them, but Ryan refuses while Volchok is still out and about, lovin' the ladies and ruinin' lives. Luckily, timing is on Sandy and Kirsten's side as Seth walks in to inform them that problem is solved: Volchok is gone!

At the airport, Taylor is ready to head back to Newport when Summer shows up to apologize. She acknowledges that Taylor was right when she said Summer was pulling away from Seth. Taylor completely understands, and knows Seth will too. She makes Summer promise that she will at least write to Seth to tell him as much. Before Taylor leaves she gives a brief rundown of her whirlwind romance in Paris with an older man, which ended with her married in his family's chapel, with Ethan Hawke looking on.

Posted by Umnata on November 10, 2006 1:00 PM