The essential episodes of The O.C.
Watch these 15 in order and you've got The O.C. — each pick states its reason.
- 01
Just 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 pool house of his attorney's posh Newport Beach home... and finds both friends and foes among the privileged O.C. youth.
- 02
What 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 way she feels when she sees Luke with Holly.
- 03
Calculus. AP English. History. The ways of the human heart. Not everything learned at Harbor High is on the schedule of classes. The Cohen casa is a house divided when Sandy takes an environmental case against Kirsten's father.
- 04
Used 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 Marissa visit his old neighborhood and encounter an ex-flame.
- 05
No 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 a lie. And subsequent gossip raises questions of secrecy and trust.
- 06
He 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 game. Marissa is just as sure Oliver is a friend who needs help.
- 07
People who won't be on each other's Christmas-card list: Ryan and Oliver. Their rivalry for Marissa intensifies, with Ryan risking his standing at Harbor to unmask Oliver's true character.
- 08
Julie 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 races against time to keep Oliver from hurting himself or Marissa.
- 09
Time 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 to Marissa's concerns. Summer and Seth work on the, um, mechanics.
- 10
The Chrismukkah That Almost Wasn't
The whole gang is invited to Chrismukkah at the Cohens, but Seth's favorite holiday is nearly ruined as secrets are revealed that will change the Cohen family forever. Summer and the gang make a plan to save Chrismukkah.
- 11
It's girls against boys when Marissa and Summer decide to plan a girls' night out and include Lindsay in the festivities. Ryan, Seth and Zach, left to their own devices, have their own bonding session over video games and pizza, but find it hard to stay away from their female counterparts. Julie and Kirsten collaborate on an idea to help the image of the Newport Group while Sandy and Caleb try to convince them there may be a better way.
- 12
Little sister. Big problems. Kaitlin feels she's spent her whole life in Marissa's shadow - maybe now it's time for some payback. Seth, meanwhile, may be seeing his college plans go up in smoke.
- 13
The Johnny-Kaitlin-Marissa-Ryan situation finds closure, perhaps, and tragedy for sure. Summer may be running out of forgiveness for Seth's half-truths. And Dr. Roberts makes a startling admission to Julie.
- 14
Taylor is sure the remedy for Ryan's sleeplessness is... Taylor! Plus: Summer is set up to take the fall for lawbreaking activism at Brown. And Kaitlin and Julie eye the same himbo.
- 15
Six months after Mother Nature grabbed everyone by the neck and shook, events return to normal. Very normal. But complacency is never the Cohen or Cooper way. Time to follow the head and heart to what's right.
Shows like The O.C.
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
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