The O.C. Apparently, three's the...

The O.C.
Apparently, three's the magic number on The O.C.

Ryan/Marissa/Johnny: Marissa isn't feeling like she can open up to Ryan, cause the broody one doesn't so much talk as shrug and avoid. But her new surf pal Johnny sure can open up. He tells her about his family problems, and Marissa just eats it up. "He gets me, y'know?" Actually, I understand why this guy, who can actually put several sentences together, would appeal to her. I'm just tired of the jealous games these people play. But making Ryan and Johnny get along that's cool by me. And was I the only one to flash back to the days of Luke after Ryan decked Volchek the Angry Surfer?

Summer/Seth/Taylor: Well, not much on this triangle front yet. Seth got locked in at the lockout with Terrible Taylor, who also seems eerily similar to perky Patty Simcox from Grease. ("Oh, I just love the first day of school, don't you!") Turns out she's got one of those perfect moms (Pacific Blue's Paula Trickey) who doesn't hesitate to tell her daughter what's wrong with her. Poor, poor Terrible Taylor. Cheer up, though, you're gettin' Seth to feel sorry for ya. I'm curious to see where this is going to lead. However, I don't think I could worship Summer any more. At the Newport Union party, Chili (the bizarro Seth), asked Summer why she doesn't like him. She said I'm already dating a dork. Hilarious.

Charlotte/Kirsten/Julie Cooper-Nichol: I really want to see this Psycho Charlotte story line come to a rapid conclusion  is that so wrong? I'm hoping that finding Psycho's multiple credit cards and IDs will give us back the Julie Cooper-Nichol that we know and love to hate. Not the I'm-beaten-down-by-life-where-am-I-gonna-get-some-money Julie. But the you-better-watch-your-back-or-I'm-gonna-cut-ya Julie Cooper-Nichol. Next week looks promising.   Bettina Charles

Smallville
Paranoid much, Clark? I loved this episode. We got delusional Clark. Clark on acid, or in this case, silver kryptonite. Plus, we got lots of our favorite teach, Professor Fiiiine. So when the professor was schooling us on the powerful men who were betrayed by their best friends, you just knew we were in for a doozy of an episode. And thanks to the silvery meteor rock, Clark saw his best friend, Chloe, betray him. His dad betray him. And even his girlfriend Lana betray him. Like kissing-Lex-Luthor betray him. All these paranoid delusions resulted in one seriously ticked off, and might I add, sweaty-faced Clark. The boy just up and flung, choked and generally caused mayhem and destruction wherever those betrayals led him. (OK, I'm being a bit melodramatic but not really.) By the way, I have to admit that when Clark was going after Lana all psycho-crazy, it kinda reminded me of one of my favorite episodes of Angel in a very, very good way. It was the one where woman-hating Billy's blood got into Wesley's system, causing the normally docile man to go all redrum on Fred (Best. Episode. Ever.). Anyway, you know the end where Professor Fiiiine used some of his Brainiac mojo to put the smack-down on Clark and rid the silver toxin from his system? That was awesome. And when he called Clark Kal-El? That was awesome, too.   BC

Everwood
Another cheerful episode of Everwood, not that I'm complaining, as the hard-hitting emotional stuff is one of the reasons I love this show. But I sure am glad that it is well balanced with some lighthearted dialogue. Just a quick funny observation: On Alias there was someone who thought Syd's dad was scary and then Andy told the young woman whose dad needed a kidney transplant that he thought her pops was "kind of scary." Odd coincidence. Thought it was great how they tied in the whole Andy-Ephram ongoing issues with this unusual case  very well executed. Especially with Ephram's revelation: "It's amazing, though, all this time I thought you were the worst dad in the world. It turns out... not so much." Sweet. Plus, Ephram helping Andy almost made up for him being a total idiot about Reid and Amy dating. Did anyone else laugh out loud when Bright referred to the shirtless and formerly presumed-gay roomie as Aladdin? Cracked me up. That, Nina's comment that she thought her son was watching Deadwood based on his new favorite vocab word and Louise's little throwaway line about how she used to be a masseuse and almost got fired for fraternizing with a client were all very snappy and great. But poor Hannah, losing her dad and realizing that she has to do the right thing and leave Everwood, right after she just found out that Bright was in love with her. That might break my heart. I had to reach for the tissue box just watching the previews for next week.   AC