'Laguna Beach' Turns 10: How The Viewing Experience Has Changed, Episode By Episode

— -- intro: Ten years ago today, MTV premiered "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County," a reality TV show that documented the lives of high school students in Laguna Beach, Calif. The show made instant stars out of Lauren Conrad (L.C.) and Kristin Cavallari, and made words like "dunzo" part of the vernacular for a time. But was the show, which was not panned at the time ("This show, which elegantly sidesteps overplayed popularity issues by concentrating only on beautiful kids, simply gets it," the New York Times reported at the time) the guilty pleasure fans remember it to be? We re-watched all eleven episodes of season one to find out.

quicklist: 1title: Episode 1, "A Black & White Affair..."text: This was the episode that started it all. It was the one where we met Lauren, her BFF Lo, her two brunette friends Morgan and Christina, “serious” Trey, hook-up master Talan, and the king and queen of drama, Stephen and Kristin. Lauren says she is the nice girl. You will notice right away that is not at all true. See, she and her friends are throwing a party and are trying to decide who to invite and Lauren doesn’t really want Kristin there because, well, she hates Kristin. (Fear not, the feeling is mutual.) Lauren is in love with Stephen. Stephen is currently hooking up with Kristin. This is the Laguna love triangle that will dominate every episode.

They introduce Morgan by revealing her goal in life: ‘To save herself for the right guy’

What we thought then: Ha. Sure you are.

What we think now: Ha. Sure you did.

The ‘Black & White Affair’ is held at a hotel that rents for $700 a night.

What we thought then: That’s so cool. I wish I could’ve had a hotel at a party when I was in high school … or college … or now.

What we think now: Oh Jan, Jan, Jan. Why on earth would you rent a hotel room to a bunch of high school kids? And how on earth do they have $700 to pay for a hotel room for one night?

Lauren and Stephen go see the new house that her parents are building.

What we thought then: Wow, that house is going to be amazing.

What we think now: Wow, that house is going to be amazing. We had no idea that they literally drop palm trees into the landscape. Also, it cannot be safe for two kids to be walking around an open construction site.

Kristin and Stephen fight because Stephen lied about seeing Lauren and Kristin knows it and is pissed.

What we thought then: Stephen is being such a jerk. He’s totally lying to Kristin and it’s not fair. Either be with Kristin or be with Lauren but you can’t be with both.

What I think then: Relax. You’re not going to marry this guy anyway so just have fun.

Stephen and Kristin exchange glances as very telling music plays in the background. Later, Stephen and Lauren exchange glances as very telling music plays in the background. Repeat.

What we thought then: Their facial expressions say it all. I so wish that there was music playing in the background of my life.

What we think now: Oh my God, I loved this song 10 years ago!

The girls get ready to go out.

What we thought then: They have the best clothes. I would totally wear those jeans with the layered tanks. I wish I had a friend who could do a smoky eye as good as Lo.

What I think then: Holy crap! I totally forgot chokers were a thing! And truthfully, everyone bashes the ‘80s with their horrible trends, but the early 2000s are equally disastrous. None of us should ever be forgiven for the dark liner, nude lip look.

Stephen runs over Dieter’s bottle of cologne as they’re leaving for the black & white party.

What we thought then: CK One!

What we think now: Vodka!

At the party, Kristin keeps complaining about how she wants to leave and that Stephen said they’d only be there for 5 minutes and she really wants to leave. Can they please leave?

What we thought then: Kristin needs to leave. She’s being so annoying.

What we think now: Oh my God. Kristin needs to leave. Why did she even go in the first place? Also, high school girls are really, really mean.

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quicklist: 2title: Episode 2, "The Bonfire"text: While Lauren and Lo get ready for a night out at Trey's open mic night, Kristin and Stephen hit a rough patch when she balks at learning to surf. Luckily, she and Jessica are making dinner for him and Dieter, which seems to smooth things over -- until things get tense and they have to talk things over at a bonfire. Meanwhile, best friends Morgan and Christina chat about their futures.

What we thought then: Lauren and Lo are so sophisticated, getting their makeup done at the mall. And they’re going for sushi and then to an open mic night?!

What we think now: How did the adult makeup artist keep a straight face talking to teenagers about having “a ball and chain”?

Stephen takes Kristin surfing, but she's not having a good time.

What we thought then: Kristin was so whiny during her surf session with Stephen.

What we think now: Why didn’t Stephen help her?

Christina sits with Morgan while she opens up her letter from dream school, BYU.

What we thought then: It sucks that Morgan didn’t get into BYU.

What we think now: Morgan only applied to BYU? And she didn’t get in? What’s she going to do?! Who let that happen?!

Kristin and Jessica make bowtie pasta with chicken for their boyfriends, Stephen and Dieter.

What we thought then: It’s so cool that Kristin and Jessica are cooking dinner for Stephen and Dieter.

What we think now: Where are Dieter’s parents during this dinner party? Why didn’t Kristin and Jessica look up a recipe? Why didn’t the boys know what feta was?

After Stephen and Kristin get into a tiff after their dinner, Stephen seems more interested in seeing Lauren at the bonfire. Kristin blows him off again, and again, he goes right back to Lauren.

What we thought then: Stephen and Lauren are meant to be.

What we think now: Lauren is so obvious about how much she loves Stephen. (Did she really say, "Stephen if you wanted someone, you could have them"?) Stephen is not a nice guy.

At the end of the bonfire, the boys share their ideas for a senior prank. One of them involves putting goldfish in a swimming pool.

What we thought then: Putting goldfish in a pool so they all die immediately? That’s a terrible senior prank.

What we think now: Is that animal cruelty?

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quicklist: 3title: Episode 3, "Fast Cars and Fast Women..."text: Stephen is still getting over the fight he had with Kristin, so he heads with his friend Trey to a fashion show in Los Angeles and Lauren tags along. Meanwhile, back in Laguna, Kristin’s car breaks down and she tries to figure out if she wants Stephen back or would rather be with the new hottie Sam. The whole time, Lauren pines for Stephen and gets a angry when he hangs with a model.

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Stephen stops by to make plans with his friend Trey, who is sporting a mesh trucker hat and t-shirt with only one of the sleeves cut off.

What we thought then: Cool hat Trey, and I’m kind of digging the look. You look like Ashton Kutcher.

What we think now: Put a proper shirt on. What's up with that ridiculous hat?

Kristin goes car shopping with her guy “friend” Sam and one of her girlfriends.

What we thought then: Ditch that old Izuzu and get a sweet Porsche!

What we think now: Her Izuzu runs perfectly well and will get her to school, but she's looking for a new car? Where are her parents? What kid goes car shopping for $100,000 rides by themselves?!

Lauren says her mood determines her makeup; when she wears dark eye makeup, she’s sad and when she matches her makeup to her outfit, she’s happy.

What we thought then: Lauren is so deep. I could listen to her talk for hours.

What we think now: What is she talking about?! Run, Stephen, run!

Lauren leaves the fashion show after party because Stephen is hanging with a “hot” model.

What we thought then: If you are going to hate, go home!

What we think now: If you are going to hate, go home! But be safe.

Stephen goes out to dinner with Kristin to end the episode and he gushes about the cool fashion show to make her jealous. Then, he gets jealous when she tells him she went to dinner with a guy friend – who ended up having a girlfriend anyway.

What we thought then: Wow, Stephen has the life and he gets all the girls!

What we think now: Stephen, shut up! You sound like a complete jerk. And stop asking her questions about how she knows the guy has a girlfriend! You sound like a stalker!

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quicklist: 4title: Episode 4, "18 Candles..."text: It's Christina's birthday, and she invites everyone to her party except for Lauren and Lo. (Spoiler alert: They find out.) As a special gift, Christina's parents send her to New York City with her friend Morgan, where Christina meets with a Broadway casting director. Meanwhile, Lauren's bad grades get her in trouble with her parents.

What we thought then: Christina is having an 18th birthday party without her parents and going to NYC for spring break? So cool.

What we think now: Christina’s parents are so naïve.

At Christina's birthday dinner, Kristin sends over a note to a cute boy at the next table.

What we thought then: Passing a cute guy a note at a restaurant? Smooth.

What we think now: The screaming, the “oh my God”’s and the “he’s so hot”’s are giving us headaches. We cannot watch this.

Per usual, the first time we see a character his/her name flashes on the screen. This time, Dieter is identified as "Stephen's 'Wingman.'"

What we thought then: Dieter is known as “Stephen’s ‘Wingman’”? Lame. So lame.

What we think now: Dieter is known as “Stephen’s ‘Wingman’”? Lame. So lame.

Lauren's dad confronts her about her bad grades and tells her she's grounded.

What we thought then: Jim, Lauren’s dad, said, “We know this is a throwaway year. You can get C’s. C’s are fine.” Her parents are so lenient.

What we think now: JIM! Push her a little harder. Also, on a separate note, who knew Lauren Conrad failed a bunch of classes?

Morgan tells Christina that her parents are so worried about their trip that her dad has been quizzing her about what to do in dangerous situations.

What we thought then: Morgan’s dad is so overprotective, giving her disaster scenarios to prep her for her NYC trip.

What we think now: Why isn’t Morgan’s dad chaperoning this getaway?

After purposely leaving out Lauren and Lo, Morgan and Christina are mortified to run into them at the nail salon the next day.

What we thought then: Morgan and Christina were wrong not to invite Lo and Lauren to Christina’s birthday party. This run-in is so awkward.

What we think now: Morgan and Christina were wrong not to invite Lo and Lauren to Christina’s birthday party. This run-in is so awkward. And was probably staged by producers.

Lauren meets up with junior Talan, and they discuss her bad grades and how excited she is to go to college.

What we thought then: Lauren seems weirdly nonchalant about failing all these classes, and Talan, you're wrong: You do not want to be a high schooler for six years.

What we think now: Does anybody in this school care about their grades? Talan, stop talking.

Christina goes to her audition, and the director gives her a lot of constructive criticism.

What we thought then: Christina didn’t care about that audition at all.

What we think now: We're still amazed that Christina's parents, knowing that this was a big opportunity, didn’t come with her to make sure she took it seriously. Did she really walk out and ask Morgan to go sight-seeing?

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quicklist: 5title: Episode 5: “What Happens in Cabo”text: It’s spring break and the entire Laguna Beach crew is going to Cabo to drink, er, relax and have fun. Let the drama begin.

Lauren and her friend Jen go shopping for bikinis to wear in Cabo. Jen is mumbling about someone stepping on a $200 hair straightener and how they don’t have a maid right now and she can’t be expected to pick up after herself.

What we thought then: Jen is super annoying. Thank God she’s not on the show much. Ooooh cute suit!

What we think now: Jen can’t be serious, right? Like, no one really talks that way do they? They do, don’t they? Oh God, what is wrong with this world.

Kristin and her friend Alex go bikini shopping too and then go tanning so they have a base for Cabo. They call each other on their cells from their tanning beds.

What we thought then: Probably nothing.

What we think now: DANGER! DANGER! DANGER! First, why would you go tanning? It’s so bad for you! Second, why would you use your cell phone from inside the tanning bed?! It’s like you are asking to get some form of cancer.

Kristin is visibly drunk and is dancing on the bar. She’s flirting with Sam and Stephen gets really angry. He starts yelling at Kristin and calls her a slut before he finally leaves. Kristin screams an obscenity at him as she walks back to the bar.

What we thought then: Kristin clearly is trying to make Stephen jealous by flirting with Sam and dancing on the bar. It’s not cool, but Stephen shouldn’t be calling her a slut. After all, isn’t he supposedly fooling around with Lauren on the side?

What we think now: First of all, WHERE ARE THESE KIDS' PARENTS??? Who lets their kids go away to Mexico alone? (See below for that answer.) Second, Kristin, Kristin, Kristin … have a little self-respect. Don’t dance on the bar or try to make out with another guy just to make Stephen jealous. It’s only going to backfire. Third, flashback to our early twenties … (Sorry, mom!).

Lauren’s dad and Kristin’s dad talk about what their daughters are doing in Cabo. Lauren’s dad says he heard that they arrived safely. Kristin’s dad hasn’t heard anything.

What we thought then: Wait, Kristin and Lauren’s dads are friends? How ironic.

What we think now: [shakes head]

It’s the night after the bar drama and the whole gang is having dinner together. Stephen is sitting next to Lauren and clearly flirting with her. She’s playing the role of mama bear, telling Stephen to slow down with the drinks and that she’ll make him a plate of food. Kristin is feeding some random dude in retaliation. Stephen tells Lauren he’s going to stay in with her and watch a movie tonight instead of going out. Then he mouths “I love you” to Kristin before leaving with Lauren.

What we thought then: Stephen is such a jerk. I can’t believe he’s doing that to Kristin. And Lauren is so dumb. Why does she keep falling for his act?

What we think now: Kristin and Lauren, let’s talk. Why are you letting Stephen treat you guys this way? He’s being a total jerk and having his cake and eating it to. You guys should be friends and tell him to leave you alone. But I get it, he’s too cute. Still, you’ll look back on this and think, wow, this was all so silly.

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quicklist: 6title: Episode 6, "The Best Part of Breaking Up..."text: Kristin and Stephen are on the rocks yet again after he caught her hooking up with Sam in Cabo. However, this doesn’t stop them from going to a Blink 182 concert together and guess who happens to be there? Lauren and Lo! Meanwhile, Trey is planning a fashion show for Active Young America, a youth organization that he’s intimately involved with.

The episode opens with Kristin’s friend Alex giving her some sage advice about hanging out with Stephen again.

What we thought then: You never know, maybe it will work out this time.What we think now: Enough is enough! How many times are you two going to do this. I’m over it, please don’t tell me anymore how confused you are, you guys should not see each other or even be in the same room. Let it go! Is Alex, the only sane one in the group!

Kristin and Stephen make plans to go to the Blink 182 concert down in San Diego and have to leave by 3 p.m. the next day to make it.

What we thought then: Cool, wish I was going. Sounds like a blast.

What we think now: Wait, doesn’t Stephen have a job or school work he needs to do. He can just decide to head out of town like that, on a whim.

Stephen talks to his co-worker Cara about whether he should get back together with Kristin, or what Lauren would think.

What we thought then: Such a tough choice, both are pretty girls. Maybe you just should be free and single?

What we think now: Does anyone care what’s going on in Cara’s life? Stephen just blabs about Kristin and she just nods and gives advice. How about asking her about her love life?

This guy hits on the girls after the concert and basically says vulgar things to the guys and the girls when his advances are shut down. Trey stands up for the girls and almost gets into a fight.

What we thought then: Good for you Trey, that’s so disrespectful.

What we think now: What are you thinking, that guy could have a knife or a gun! Leave it alone and go home. Also, where are the producers to step in and stop this?

Kristin’s brother Mike asks her about Stephen and if they “still hook up?”

What we thought then: Whose brother asks that?

What we think now: Whose brother asks that?

Trey organizes a legit, big-time fashion show.

What we thought then: Wow, great job Trey. (How hard could that be though?)

What we think now: Trey is so impressive. What 17-year-old organizes a fashion show?

Lauren and the girls have a viewing party for “The OC.”

What we thought then: “The OC” is the best show!

What we think now: Aw man, we miss “The OC.”

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quicklist: 7title: Episode 7, "The Last Dance"text: It's time for prom! Stephen and Kristin are officially back together, so it makes sense for them to go together -- but when a mystery suitor starts leaving her flowers on her doorsteps, she's thrown for a loop! Meanwhile, Lauren is planning to go with her friend David and all the other girls worry about who will ask them.

Lauren and Lo go to the mall to buy prom dresses.

What we thought then: Lauren has such great fashion sense.

What we think now: Who is paying for Lauren to buy the same dress at Laundry in every color?

Someone left Kristin flowers and a note on her doorstep, and she has to figure out who it is. Stephen tells Dieter it was him, and it's part of his prom proposal.

What we thought then: How exciting and sweet!

What we think now: Dieter is making a love sign for Jessica and sending a limo for her, and you're sending your girlfriend pretend-stalker notes? Get it together, Stephen.

The boys pull out all the stops for prom proposals, spelling out "Prom" in candles surrounded by rose petals and, in one especially extravagant instance, writing a note about "fish in the sea" above a kiddie pool full of goldfish.

What we thought then: These prom proposals are so sweet.

What we think now: Ladies, listen up: Not even your marriage proposal will be that extravagant. This whole experience is probably setting you up for a letdown later in life. Also, who is cleaning up the rose petals, goldfish, etc.? (Are those the goldfish for the senior prank discussed earlier?!)

While the group wast taking photos, Lauren made a beeline for Stephen.

What we thought then: Stephen and Lauren are so sweet.

What we think now: I can’t believe Lauren is flirting so flagrantly with Stephen in front of Kristin at prom. Girls can be so catty.

Kristin doesn't want her parents to know that she and Stephen got a hotel room for prom night.

What we thought then:

Totally makes sense, Kristin.

What we think now:

It would have been amazing if MTV had gotten the conversation between Kristin and her parents on tape. Where do they think she's going after prom, with her boyfriend, who's about to leave for college?

The group goes to prom and presumably had a great time. In the limo home, they're wearing hats and shouting, and then Kristin and Stephen have a talk about their future. (In one especially catty moment, Kristin and Stephen discuss the possibility of him joining her at her prom next year, and Lauren screams out, "Last prom ever!") Anyway, it ends with Kristin and Stephen going back to a hotel, Lauren discussing taking a photo with Stephen, and Lo confessing that she made out with Talan.

What we thought then: Oh man. Best night ever. Kids drank at our prom. Did they drink at prom?

What we think now: They all look drunk. And they sound drunk. Is it gross that we're watching this?

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quicklist: 8title: Episode 8, "Grin and Bear It"text: Prom is in the past and the only thing standing between the gang and college is their senior trip. But the trip could get rough for Lauren, as Lo's father wouldn't give her permission to go. Looks like it's Stephen, Kristin and Lauren hanging out together yet again -- awkward!

Lo's father doesn't feel comfortable with her going on the senior trip because there's no parents going.

What we thought then: What!? Really, you are going to be like that and not let your daughter hang with her friends one last time before college.

What we think now: Way to go, Lo's dad! Man oh man, did he get this one right. (You read all about the prom episode, right?)

Dieter and Stephen are talking about what they are going to do for dinner on the senior trip, which includes camping. Dieter says, "Let's just get faded and let the chicks cook."

What we thought then: We're not even sure we caught that line the first time.

What we think now: Did he really just say that? They let that on TV?!

The gang boards a ridiculous 100-foot yacht for their senior "camping" trip.

What we thought then: Wow, this looks amazing.

What we think now: Wow, this looks amazing. We can totally rela--wait, no we can't. We had a party in the gym for our senior bash.

Lauren stays back at the camp site and calls Lo to complain about life and love at 18, while Stephen kayaks with Kristin and the gang.

What we thought then: Lauren, I could talk to you for hours and be your shoulder to cry on.

What we think now: Oh my God, if we have to hear this girl complain one more time, we're just going to get all worked up, scream and ... yeah, we'll just keep watching. But, we're not happy about it.

Lauren is sitting with Kristin and her friends at a campfire, while the guys are hitting golfballs into the water.

What we thought then: Poor Lauren. We wish she had Lo there to hang with her and keep her company.

What we think now: What ... is .... she ... doing? So confused right now.

Back in Laguna, Lo is on a date with Mike, who really isn't looking at her and even answers a call, while commenting on the date -- that's he's currently on! -- at the table! Then he makes a mouth joke when she offers him gum.

What we thought then: Wow, this guy is the biggest jerk on Earth!

What we think now: Wow, this guy is the biggest jerk on Earth and we want to Google him to hopefully find out his "baseball" career didn't pan out the way he expected! So many questions!

While camping, Stephen dresses up as a bear to scare the girls.

What we thought then: Awesome!

What we think now: Awesome, but how did he sneak a huge bear costume onto the boat and into his little duffle bag with no one seeing it?? Come on, MTV!media: 25762086

quicklist: 9title: Episode 9, "Graduation Day"text: It’s the day all of the seniors have been waiting for – graduation! The episode is a countdown of how they spend their final day as high schoolers, culminating with the cap toss.

Lo and Lauren go through their yearbook as they talk about how they can’t believe they’re finally done high school. Lauren is voted ‘most irresistible’ and Stephen is voted the ‘life of the party.’

What we thought then: We totally remember getting our senior year yearbooks and reading the superlatives. So much fun.

What we think now: We totally remember getting my senior year yearbooks and reading the superlatives. Funny how you thought they were such a big deal at the time and no one talks about them ever again.

It’s graduation day and everyone’s parents come and wake them up to get ready for the day. And by get ready, they give them presents. Lo gets a brand new car. Christina gets a new Bible. It’s like nothing she’s ever had before. Morgan gets a computer. Trey gets speakers.

What we thought then: Lo got a freaking car! That makes everyone else’s gifts look so little! We cannot believe her parents gave her a car. So jealous.

What we think now: Lo got a freaking car … for graduating high school, which is technically something she has to do to grow up. We get it, they’re proud. But isn’t it a little extreme? Still, she’s really thankful and excited and truthfully, she’s one of the most down-to-earth of all of the Laguna kids, so if anyone was going to get a car, we're glad it’s her. Also, TREY HAS PARENTS. We really had been thinking he was one of those kids who was emancipated because they were never, ever around.

They’re filming a senior film and Morgan is asked where she thinks she’ll be in 10 years. She says married, maybe with a kid, owning a little fashion boutique and definitely back in Laguna.

What we thought then: Totally makes sense. Married with a kid at 28. Owning a boutique doesn’t exactly seem like your thing, but hey, to each their own.

What we think now: Don’t do it. Live. Travel. Work hard. Meet different people. Enjoy your life. Don’t put yourself on a timeline because you’ll only be disappointed. Take what life gives you and make it work. And it will all work out exactly like it should. We still don’t think owning a boutique is your thing.

Kristin and Stephen aren’t going to stay together when he goes to college because he’ll be 300 miles away. Stephen and his guy friends talk about how much sex they’ll be having with the experienced college girls. Kristin is excited to be single and a senior. But of course, she’ll be pissed if he hooks up with Lauren.

What we thought then: It’s smart that Stephen and Kristin are going to split. They don’t always handle things well, but they seem to have a good grasp on reality when it comes to this. But FYI Kristin, he is totally hooking up with Lauren.

What we think now: Is this really how high school guys talk about girls? If we have sons, we swear we're going to teach him not to talk about women that way ever.

It’s graduation. Their parents are sad and excited all at the same time. The girls are trying to get their hats just right. Everyone is all smiles and cannot wait to graduate. Jonathan gives a speech about how Laguna is like a cocoon and now it’s time for them to shed their cocoons. Everyone cheers, tosses their caps in the air and it’s time celebrate.

What we thought then: We totally remember that feeling. We have no idea, but we may have even cried at this episode because we totally remembered that feeling. And I hope Kristin and Stephen can make it work because we secretly love them together.

What we think now: We miss high school. Well, parts of it.

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quicklist: 10title: Episode 10, "The First To Go"text: Well, summer is ending soon and Trey is leaving first for college. Before he goes, he spends quality time with Lauren, goes skateboarding with Stephen, and even hosts a big dinner party to say goodbye to the gang before he goes. Meanwhile, Christina makes a big announcement about her future and Kristin talks to her friend Alex about her future without Stephen.

Alex tells Kristin that she and Stephen are so cute together and asks if they're going to stay together when he goes to college.

What we thought then: They really are cute together, but they'll obviously break up when he goes to college. Good call, Kristin.

What we think now: Kristin is being weirdly mature about this, saying she wants to have fun with Stephen while he's still there. Had that been us, there may have been some melodramatic tears. Just saying.

Trey, who’s about to go to college, talks to Lauren about her relationship with Stephen. He basically tells her that he hates dramatic relationships and he's sure that she'll become friends with Stephen again eventually.

What we thought then: Trey is the most mature one on this show.What we think now: Trey is the most mature one on this show.

Christina tells the group that she's not going to go to college. Instead, she's going to move to L.A. to pursue acting full-time.

What we though then: This will not end well.

What we think now: OK. First her parents sent her to an audition without any supervision and now they're bankrolling this move? This is insane.

Trey hosts a dinner party to say goodbye to his friends.

What we thought then: We're sad that Trey’s leaving. It means things are really changing for these guys!

What we think now: We're sad that Trey’s leaving. He’s the only one who doesn’t make us angry.

Lauren, Lo, Christina and Morgan brainstorm where they'll be in ten years. Spoiler: They think Morgan will be living with her family in Laguna, Lo will be a "high executive businesswoman" with furs and jewels, Christina will be at the Oscars and Lauren will be driving a silver Mercedes, living at a beach house and have a billionaire husband.

What we thought then: We could see all that, maybe. Except for the Oscars.

What we think now: Hm. Lauren didn't say she wanted a career? Is anybody else as surprised as we were?