The O.C.

1. S01E01PilotAugust 5, 2003 7.4Just a freeway's ride away. And yet worlds apart. Rejected by his parents after a brush with the law, Ryan Atwood moves temporarily into the
2. S01E02The Model HomeAugust 12, 2003 7.4When Ryan is faced with being shuffled into the child-services system, Seth comes up with a plan: Ryan can secretly live in an unfinished ho
3. S01E03The GambleAugust 19, 2003 7.0Luck is in the house during a Vegas Night fundraiser: Seth becomes Summer's lucky charm and Marissa reconnects with Luke. In the aftermath o
4. S01E04The DebutAugust 26, 2003 7.3Ryan promised to stay out of trouble. But trouble finds him as he, Seth, Marissa and others take part in one of the biggest events of the Ne
5. S01E05The OutsiderSeptember 2, 2003 6.7Ryan hangs out with a youth not from the moneyed Newport set, causing Seth to feel blown off. Jimmy's family faces hard choices beause of hi
6. S01E06The GirlfriendSeptember 9, 2003 7.0Every Newport guy needs a Newport girl. Seth finds a way to impress Summer, Luke and Marissa share a night of passion and the mid-20s girlfr
7. S01E07The EscapeSeptember 16, 2003 7.6What happens in Mexico stays in Mexico. But the secrecy surrounding a summer's-end teen trip to Tijuana can't stop Marissa from feeling the
8. S01E08The RescueOctober 29, 2003 7.0It can't stay in Mexico. Not after heartbroken Marissa took all those pills. And not with Marissa's mom trying to have her institutionalized
9. S01E09The HeightsNovember 5, 2003 7.6Calculus. AP English. History. The ways of the human heart. Not everything learned at Harbor High is on the schedule of classes. The Cohen c
10. S01E10The Perfect CoupleNovember 12, 2003 7.3Work keeps Sandy and Kirsten apart, Rachel makes a play for Sandy, Julie's secret lover is revealed and - omigod! - Summer realizes she like
11. S01E11Season's bestThe HomecomingNovember 19, 2003 8.0Used to be Seth couldn't find a girl. Now he has two - Anna and Summer show up for Thanksgiving. Ryan also has double trouble, as he and Mar
12. S01E12The SecretNovember 26, 2003 7.9No one was supposed to see what happened. But Luke did. And so did Ryan. Now, somehow, all of Newport knows that Luke's dad has been living
13. S01E13The Best Chrismukkah EverDecember 3, 2003 7.4It's part Christmas, part Hanukkah and totally a Cohen-family way to celebrate the holidays. But a time out for the holidays doesn't mean ti
14. S01E14The CountdownDecember 17, 2003 7.3As the New Year looms, Ryan doesn't know hot to respond when Marissa says those three meaningful words. Sandy and Kirsten are wallflowers at
15. S01E15The Third WheelJanuary 7, 2004 7.3Ryan doesn't know much about Oliver, Marissa's therapy friend, but he knows he doesn't like him. Yet, Ryan still assists Oliver when he runs
16. S01E16The LinksJanuary 14, 2004 7.6He says he's a friend. But who can believe a word Oliver says? During a group getaway in Palm Springs, Ryan is sure he's wise to Oliver's ga
17. S01E17The RivalsJanuary 21, 2004 7.6People who won't be on each other's Christmas-card list: Ryan and Oliver. Their rivalry for Marissa intensifies, with Ryan risking his stand
18. S01E18The TruthFebruary 11, 2004 7.6Julie wears out her welcome with Caleb: true. Seth thinks Summer's hot: true. Oliver is crazy-mad about Marissa: true. Now sure of it, Ryan
19. S01E19The HeartbreakFebruary 18, 2004 7.5Time to forgive and forget - or so Marissa thinks. But Ryan isn't ready, and the presence of former love Theresa at the Valentine Dance adds
20. S01E20The TelenovelaFebruary 25, 2004 7.4That Ryan-Marissa thing is more iffy than ever when Theresa hangs in Newport. The telenovela-like suds-o-rama overflows with the Summer-Seth
21. S01E21The Goodbye GirlMarch 3, 2004 7.3Anna is leaving. Theresa is staying. Seth thinks he's the reason for Anna's planned return to Pittsburgh. And Ryan knows he's why Theresa is
22. S01E22The L.A.March 24, 2004 7.1Operation Protect Marissa! Seth and Ryan plan to keep Marissa from finding out about her mom's affair. It also becomes Operation Rescue Hail
23. S01E23The NanaMarch 31, 2004 7.0OPM didn't work. Marissa knows about Julie/Luke and vanishes. Ryan finds her at Theresa's engagement party, where he's not a welcome guest.
24. S01E24The ProposalApril 14, 2004 6.7Engagement announcements are joyful news, right? Not when it means the one person Kirsten despises will become her stepmom. And not when Mar
25. S01E25The ShowerApril 21, 2004 6.8Kirsten. Marissa. Neither is the hostess with the mostest. But they reluctantly host Julie's wedding show just the same. Seth's get-acquaint
26. S01E26The StripApril 28, 2004 6.8"I love the Vegas," Seth says. But Seth is a player who's played when he, Ryan, Sandy and Jimmy hit the gambling town for what's presumed to
27. S01E27The Ties That BindMay 5, 2004 7.0Summer is near and that means sun, surf and rejuvenation. Or to Ryan, Seth and Marissa, it may mean none of the above as each faces a critic

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

1. S02E01The DistanceNovember 4, 2004 7.2With the end of summer quickly approaching, tension fills the air in THE O.C. The Cohen family is desperate to convince Seth, who ran away a
2. S02E02The Way We WereNovember 11, 2004 7.0It's back to school for Seth and Ryan, who want to win back the attention they once had from Summer and Marissa. With opportunity beckoning,
3. S02E03The New Kids on the BlockNovember 18, 2004 7.2Seth gets some help from Alex to prove that his friends don't know him as well as they think. Meanwhile, Summer gives some thought to how sh
4. S02E04The New EraDecember 2, 2004 7.2As Seth and Sandy embark on new adventures, they take the rest of the family along for the ride. Ryan and Seth go on an awkward double date
5. S02E05The SnO.C.December 9, 2004 7.1Winter finally comes to Newport, and Seth, Ryan, Summer and Marissa attend the annual "SnO.C. Winter Ball." Julie and Jimmy spend some quali
6. S02E06The Chrismukkah That Almost Wasn'tDecember 16, 2004 7.6The whole gang is invited to Chrismukkah at the Cohens, but Seth's favorite holiday is nearly ruined as secrets are revealed that will chang
7. S02E07The Family TiesJanuary 6, 2005 7.3As one family strengthens, another will be changed forever. The Cohens, after Caleb's revelation, decide to try to accept Lindsay as a membe
8. S02E08The Power of LoveJanuary 13, 2005 7.3After Caleb's reveal, Lindsay and Ryan grapple with their relationship: Is Lindsay Ryan's aunt or his girlfriend? Meanwhile, Summer meets Za
9. S02E09Season's bestThe Ex-FactorJanuary 20, 2005 7.7It's girls against boys when Marissa and Summer decide to plan a girls' night out and include Lindsay in the festivities. Ryan, Seth and Zac
10. S02E10The AccompliceJanuary 27, 2005 7.3Zach and Seth decide to start their own comic book based on their lives in Newport Beach. While browsing the sketches, Summer questions why
11. S02E11The Second ChanceFebruary 3, 2005 7.0Summer decides to take an active role in the making of the comic book, but Seth doesn't know if he can handle spending that much time alone
12. S02E12The Lonely Hearts ClubFebruary 10, 2005 7.2Sandy tries to make up for keeping Rebecca's return a secret from Kirsten by showering her with Valentine's Day gifts. Zach, Summer and Seth
13. S02E13The TestFebruary 17, 2005 7.2While Rebecca pays her last respects to her father, Kirsten grows impatient with Sandy's long absences from home and pays Rebecca a visit. A
14. S02E14The Rainy Day WomenFebruary 24, 2005 6.9It's raining in Newport. Marissa tells Julie that she and Alex are an item and decides she has to get out of Caleb's house. Summer is faced
15. S02E15The MallpisodeMarch 10, 2005 6.9Lindsay's actions have left Ryan and Caleb confused. Marissa is trying hard to make her new living situation work, but she needs a break and
16. S02E16The Blaze of GloryMarch 17, 2005 7.3Seth is determined to bring back the spirit and fun times of last year and won't stop until his plan is fulfilled. Alex's jealousy is fueled
17. S02E17The Brothers GrimMarch 24, 2005 7.2When Ryan's past comes for a visit, he is worried that nothing good can come of it. Meanwhile, the Cohen family has welcomed the visitor fro
18. S02E18The Risky BusinessApril 7, 2005 7.3When Sandy becomes the honorary chair of the Newport Beach charity yard sale, he solicits help from Trey, who has his first run-in with the
19. S02E19The RagerApril 14, 2005 7.3It's Trey's birthday and Marissa, anxious to help Trey and Ryan forge a relationship, throws a birthday party for Trey at Caleb's mansion th
20. S02E20The O.C. ConfidentialApril 21, 2005 7.2After the rager at Caleb's mansion, Sandy and the boys devise a plan to save another Atwood from jail time. Kirsten and Carter, fulfilling m
21. S02E21The Return of the NanaMay 5, 2005 7.0Sandy, Seth and Ryan travel to South Beach to visit the Nana, who is living in Miami Beach, FL. While playing shuffleboard at the Nana's coa
22. S02E22The ShowdownMay 5, 2005 6.8Since Carter's been gone, Kirsten has been drinking more than just tomato juice for breakfast and when Sandy questions her, he's left alone
23. S02E23The O.SeaMay 12, 2005 6.9Sandy and Caleb confront Kirsten about her behavior. Ryan, looking for the truth about Trey and Marissa, heads home to Chino. Meanwhile, Sum
24. S02E24The Dearly BelovedMay 19, 2005 7.1Sandy must make a life-changing decision to save his and Kirsten's marriage. Seth, Summer, Marissa and Ryan are caught in the crossfire at T

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

1. S03E01The AftermathSeptember 8, 2005 6.4Trey's in a coma, Marissa pulled the trigger, who's going to take the fall? Ryan? But maybe there's a way out for Kid Chino.
2. S03E02The Shape of Things to ComeSeptember 15, 2005 6.3Senior year. But not for everyone. Marissa is expelled. Julie scrambles for cash, Sandy scrambles to make sense of Kirsten's rehab and, to t
3. S03E03The End of InnocenceSeptember 22, 2005 6.4Ryan. Marissa. A romantic beach hut. You do the math. Meanwhile, the math in Caleb's will is easy: Julie gets zilch, Kirsten gets nada. Cale
4. S03E04The Last WaltzSeptember 29, 2005 5.4Public school? No problem. Marissa's glad to be at a school where no one knows about her. Oops. Everyone knows. Charlotte closes in on Kirst
5. S03E05The Perfect StormNovember 3, 2005 6.6Is Ryan shipping out? Sandy's mind-meld persuasion skills fail to convince him to stay. But where there's a will, there's another Cohen way.
6. S03E06The SwellsNovember 10, 2005 6.3Party by night. Surf by first light. The Dawn Patrol beach blast is the backdrop for a developing Marissa-Johnny attraction. Meanwhile, Tayl
7. S03E07The Anger ManagementNovember 17, 2005 6.5Divide and conquer. Taylor schemes to separate Summer and Seth. Volchok tries to goad Ryan into a fight. Julie upends Charlotte's charity sc
8. S03E08The Game PlanDecember 1, 2005 6.4Time to think about the future - college applications are due. Seth's eager, especially if the school is as far from Newport as possible. Wi
9. S03E09The DisconnectDecember 8, 2005 6.3Maybe Seth should accompany Summer to college. She's the one who (surprise!) aces the SAT. Another surprise: Sandy's right-hand man jeopardi
10. S03E10The Chrismukkah Bar Mitz-vahkkahDecember 15, 2005 6.6Seth's a man with a holiday plan: Hold an honorary bar mitzvah for Ryan and donate the funds to Johnny's surgery. Now try to convince Ryan t
11. S03E11The Safe HarborJanuary 12, 2006 6.3One semester to go. Wouldn't it go better if Marissa returned to Harbor High? Seth, Ryan, Summer and even Taylor campaign for her readmittan
12. S03E12The Sister ActJanuary 19, 2006 7.0Mini-Cooper isn't so mini now. Kaitlin, Marissa's younger sister, returns to O.C. - and she carries lots of emotional baggage. Plus: Kirsten
13. S03E13Season's bestThe Pot StirrerJanuary 26, 2006 7.5Little sister. Big problems. Kaitlin feels she's spent her whole life in Marissa's shadow - maybe now it's time for some payback. Seth, mean
14. S03E14The CliffhangerFebruary 2, 2006 7.5The Johnny-Kaitlin-Marissa-Ryan situation finds closure, perhaps, and tragedy for sure. Summer may be running out of forgiveness for Seth's
15. S03E15The Heavy LiftingFebruary 9, 2006 7.0Life goes on. Love goes on. But how can anyone focus on Valentine's Day after Johnny's tragedy? Well, maybe love and understanding are the m
16. S03E16The Road WarriorMarch 9, 2006 7.0Ryan road-trips with Sadie. Strip poker, anyone? Summer learns - ew! - about her dad and Julie. Kirsten worries that The Newport Group is co
17. S03E17The JourneyMarch 16, 2006 7.0A little Cohen arm-twisting convinces Ryan that, yeah, he should do something special for his 18th birthday. So who's he going to invite to
18. S03E18The UndertowMarch 23, 2006 7.0Trouble's at the door. It's Jess, Trey's sometime girlfriend, and she's coming on to Ryan like Little Miss Vulnerable. Seth and Summer disco
19. S03E19The Secrets and LiesMarch 30, 2006 7.0A race to the bottom: Marissa's ties with Volchok may send her into substance-abuse freefall... but not before she gathers herself enough to
20. S03E20The Day After TomorrowApril 6, 2006 7.0The Sweatshirt Bonfire is the party where all the seniors wear the sweatshirt of the college they'll be attending. Hey, Seth's not wearing a
21. S03E21The Dawn PatrolApril 13, 2006 6.0No party, no surf. It's a different Dawn Patrol: Ryan's off to Albuquerque to invite his mom Dawn to graduation (maybe). Seth quits Summer (
22. S03E22The College TryApril 20, 2006 7.0Some go East, some stay West for freshman orientation weekends. Ryan and Marissa arrive at Berkley, and Summer and student/poseur Seth visit
23. S03E23The Party FavorApril 27, 2006 7.0Right dress. Wrong date. If you can't go to prom with the person you like, go with someone who makes the person you like jealous. There'll b
24. S03E24The Man of the YearMay 4, 2006 7.5Sandy's picture will be on the cover of Riviera. Or, if the DA has his way, a mugshot. More troubles: Volchok blackmails Ryan into a crime,
25. S03E25The GraduatesMay 18, 2006 7.5Graduation: A time for friends, family, celebration , remembrance, letting go, and moving on to tomorrow. Odd man out in all the events is V

Season 3 ranked & reviewed

1. S04E01The AvengersNovember 2, 2006 7.0Marissa is gone but not forgotten. Definitely not forgotten: Julie has hired a detective to find Volchok, who caused Marissa's death... and
2. S04E02The GringosNovember 8, 2006 7.0South of the border... Ryan slips away to Mexico to search for Volchok. Seth rides shotgun. And worried parents Sandy and Kirsten soon follo
3. S04E03The Cold TurkeyNovember 9, 2006 7.0Julie is no longer invited. But guess who is coming to dinner: Homeless men, recruited by Summer, show up for the Cohen Thanksgiving. Ryan w
4. S04E04The MetamorphosisNovember 16, 2006 7.0Great news, Seth: The real artificial Summer is back! Her eco-activism is just a way of coping with Marissa's death. Or is it? Ryan isn't re
5. S04E05Season's bestThe Sleeping BeautyNovember 30, 2006 7.5Taylor is sure the remedy for Ryan's sleeplessness is... Taylor! Plus: Summer is set up to take the fall for lawbreaking activism at Brown.
6. S04E06The Summer BummerDecember 7, 2006 7.5Love is a funny thing: Che handcuffs himself to the newly expelled Summer. And a sexy thing: Ryan fantasizes about Taylor. And a tender thin
7. S04E07The Chrismukk-huh?December 14, 2006 7.0Sandy is married to Julie. Kirsten is Mrs. Jimmy Cooper. Summer is engaged to Winchester. Seth is in full geek mode. It's a parallel Newport
8. S04E08The Earth Girls Are EasyDecember 21, 2006 7.0Seth is clueless about what to do for New Year's Eve. Solution? Crash the Ryan-Taylor road trip to Vegas. Now add pregnancy tests, a space-a
9. S04E09The My Two DadsJanuary 4, 2007 7.5Warm hearts, cold feet: Seth and Summer each look for a way to call off the wedding. Who will crack first? Ryan's biological father plays th
10. S04E10The French ConnectionJanuary 11, 2007 7.0Taylor's ex-hubby writes a hot-selling erotic novel. Who's the lead character? Three guesses and the first two don't count. Seth seeks Dr. R
11. S04E11The Dream LoverJanuary 18, 2007 7.0Take her, I want her. Ryan overcomes his indecision and competes with Henri-Michel for Taylor's affections. Che leads Seth on a trek of spir
12. S04E12The Groundhog DayJanuary 25, 2007 7.0Free Newport Chuck! Che - with more than activism on his mind - enlists Seth in a plan to spring a groundhog from it's Feb. 2 rites. Kirsten
13. S04E13The Case of the FranksFebruary 1, 2007 7.5Julie and Gordon? Or Julie and Frank? Summer and Seth? Or Summer and George? No, make that GEORGE. Mysteries of the heart (and the meddling
14. S04E14The Shake UpFebruary 8, 2007 7.0Make a movie: Summer challenges Seth's passivity. Make a move: Taylor wants to hear Ryan's profession of love. Make a mess of it: Kaitlin fl
15. S04E15The Night MovesFebruary 15, 2007 7.0Everything's okay. As okay as anything can be after a major earthquake. Now come coping, staying calm, helping... and somehow getting Ryan t
16. S04E16The End's Not Near, It's HereFebruary 22, 2007 6.7Six months after Mother Nature grabbed everyone by the neck and shook, events return to normal. Very normal. But complacency is never the Co

Season 4 ranked & reviewed