The OC: The Journey (episode 17)

Ryan's turning eighteen! Woo hoo! Now he can join the military or...uh...have sex legally! But I think the actor that plays Ryan has probably turned 27 this year, and it shows. Back to the story...Ryan doesn't want to do anything special for his birthday to his OC family's chagrin. But they plan a party anyway. Later, Kirsten suggests to Sandy that they track down Ryan's mom to attend a birthday party for Ryan. I guess with his dad in jail and his brother "somewhere," his mom will have to represent.

The latest drama with Johnny's death seems to be the death knell for Marissa and Ryan's relationship and they break up! Aaaa-gain! Hopefully it'll take this time. Summer tries to force Seth to care and get them to get back together, but he's planning Ryan's birthday party. Summer would do it herself but she's trying to break up Julie her dad. Add a further monkey wrench into the works is when Summer discovers her dad is taking Julie on a cruise. This wouldn't be so odd for people who have only dated a few weeks EXCEPT her dad proposed to his last girlfriend this way and we all know how that turned out (as an aside, it was odd that Stepmonster left Dr. Neil and never came back for her stuff or to say anything to her stepdaughter. I can't blame Summer for wanting her dad to stay single for a while).

Ryan continues to bond with Sadie, helping her fix up Johnny's mom's house to sell. I think they're circling each other, especially once Ry lets it slip that he's not seeing Marissa anymore. Move in for the kill, Sadie!

Ryan is thinking about inviting Marissa to his birthday party. But if he invites her, she may think they are getting back together. But if he doesn't, she'll think they're enemies. On the flip side, Marissa is wondering if she should give Ryan a birthday present: she does=back together, no present=enemies!

Later that day, Julie is over at manse de Doctor Neil for a booty call, but he doesn't show up. Unfortunately Summer does! Before Julie can come up with a lie, Summer tells her she knows about Jules dating her dad AND about the trip where he's planning to propose...which Julie knew nothing about until that moment. Julie, predictably, gets excited about all this. Husband #3 is coming soon!

More action at Sadie's aunt's fixer upper. In between spackling and sawing, Sadie gives Ryan a birthday present. So Ryan invites her to his birhtday party. She declines, because she's going to Oregon to see her ex-boyfriend and let him know it's over. What "it" is we can only guess, but Ryan seems very disappointed by this.

Sandy tracks down Ryan's mom. But he didn't think he'd have to go the Albuquerque city pen to find her! Passing bad checks or something. Of course Sandy waves his attorney wand and gets her out (apparently he's familiar with New Mexican law too) only to have her bail before they can drive back to Newport.

Ryan goes over to the trailer, still mulling over inviting Marissa to his party. The trailer is unlocked, so he walks in and sees the mix CD she's making for his birthday. We know this as "Ryan's Birthday Mix" is written on the front. The memories wash over him of happy times with Marissa. When those three seconds are up, he leaves an invitation to his party on her desk.

Julie comes clean to Marissa about dating Doctor Neil. Marissa is surprised, but doesn't stand in her mom's way. At least not yet. Also, Marissa's weird subplot with the police and Johnny's death/suicide note has come to an end. And Volchok keeps trying to talk to Marissa about what she's going through with J's death. She tracks him down to a construction site where a McMansion is going up. Just when she's getting overly dramatic, the Foreman tells the smoking Volchok to stop, saying the house "burned down once before." Right then Marissa realizes this is the same house in season 1 that she helped Ryan hide out in. The mix CD... the scented candles...Ryan forcing her to leave in tears... the curtains catching on fire and Ryan almost dying at Luke's hands...memories of when this show was actually good. Though Marissa falls down the stairs, making the show at least somewhat interesting. Volchok takes her back to the trailer and fawns all over her. She pushes him out the door, but we all know she's an attention whore and now that her " John"-ny is dead, and Ryan isn't around, it's only a matter of time before Volchok is around for good.

Ryan's birthday party. Sandy comes back and explains that his mom "couldn't make it" to his party but left a nice note. Ryan is sad, but relieved his mom didn't come to embarrass him again. But all is forgotten when Sadie shows up! She blew off her old boyfriend for Ryan.

Marissa finds the invitation to Ryan's b-day party. Before she can say anything, she sees Ryan with the Cohens, and his new low-maintenance girlfriend. Mariss wanders away without saying anything. Wait, isn't that Volchok under the pier? And doesn't he have a flask of booze? Well, Marissa can't jump-start her drinking problem on her own.