The O.C.

Even though it lacks an original take on teen angst, The O.C. functions well enough for its target audience, churning plenty of soap storylines out of a talented cast. Read critic reviews

The O.C. (2003 – 2004)

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Episodes

• 1. Pilot

  Air date: Aug 5, 2003

  A troubled young man (Benjamin McKenzie) makes waves in a wealthy harbor-front community where the residents lead secret lives.

• 2. The Model Home

  Air date: Aug 12, 2003

  Seth conspires to hide Ryan in a vacant house in an unfinished development.

• 3. The Gamble

  Air date: Aug 19, 2003

  Sandy represents Ryan after his arrest for the model home fire; Ryan gives his mother a second chance to change her ways.

• 4. The Debut

  Air date: Aug 26, 2003

  Ryan becomes a member of the Cohen family when Kirsten and Sandy take full legal responsibility for him.

• 5. The Outsider

  Air date: Sep 2, 2003

  Seth is eager to attend a party in Ryan’s old neighborhood; Ryan finally works up the courage to ask Marissa out on a date.

• 6. The Girlfriend

  Air date: Sep 9, 2003

  Kirsten is dismayed when her father, Caleb, arrives at his birthday party with a girlfriend; Kirsten endures a barrage of criticism from Caleb; Marissa wavers in her feelings for Ryan and Luke.

• 7. The Escape

  Air date: Sep 16, 2003

  Ryan, Marissa, Seth and Summer drive to Tijuana, Mexico, where Marissa makes a potentially fatal decision; Sandy entertains a job offer; Jimmy draws Kirsten into a compromising position.

• 8. The Rescue

  Air date: Oct 29, 2003

  Julie warns Ryan to stay away from her daughter; Kirsten disapproves of Sandy’s friendship with his new co-worker, Rachel; the dean makes Ryan take a placement exam to determine his future at Harbor High School.

• 9. The Heights

  Air date: Nov 5, 2003

  Summer ignores Seth at school but wrestles with feelings of jealousy; Rachel offers Sandy a case against Kirsten’s father; Ryan brawls with Luke over Marissa; Ryan and Marissa are stranded on a ferris wheel.

• 10. The Perfect Couple

  Air date: Nov 12, 2003

  Summer tries to deny her true feelings for Seth, while Anna and Seth are getting closer; the case against Caleb continues to cause friction between Sandy and Kirsten.

The O.C.: Season 1 Photos

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Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for The O.C.: Season 1

Audience Reviews for The O.C.: Season 1

• Started re-watching the show last month. It’s fun but I forgot how annoying Marissa is.
• Was good until the Oliver storyline that derailed everything. The love triangle between Cohan, Summer and Anna was a stand out storyline throughout the season.
• The OC Season 1 is a master class in genre reinvention with some of the most satisfying story arcs of any series of its ilk — perfectly executed from pilot to finale.
• One of the best teen dramas of all time.
• A balanced and cohesive Season of The O.C, the serie’ family drama has a taste for more.
• So my review dissapeared but a gave this a 3.75-4/5. really liked this season
• The characters are boring and make their interpreter seem silly, mainly the stereotyped Summer, the plot is predictable, the story is unoriginal and formulaic. I absolutely don’t remember anything good to say about this show. Definitly stop watching after this unnecessary stupid season.
• One minute this show is jam packed with emotion and originality, the next moment it is just the opposite. It is better than many “teenager shows” with its memorable cast and their performances, but it is also one of those shows that starts off strong and loses its fire in the later seasons.
• Although it’s gets cheesy and isn’t exactly original, it’s easy to become addicted to and binge watch. The acting is pretty good, and even when it’s a bit too dramatic, it’s still more watchable than most teen shows today.
• The O.C.-one of the best shows ever and forever, and thats why: not only is it an encouraging, positive show that lifts you up when you need to watch something to forget the world and its cruelty, it does so without being destructive/not at the cost of other people/values. There is no clumsy, obvious affirmative action (which is always reverse racism underneath), there is no bashing of Europeans/non-Americans for the sake of a nasty political agenda/clumsy propaganda, there is no twisting of historical facts (especially European ones), no turning European legends into villains and so on. And yet, it is a thrilling, entertaining, sometimes thought-provoking show yes, it can be done, and it can be done successfully and artfully. True, there have been shows about teenagers in rich neighborhoods before, true, there have been shows about unlike couplings/brothers. There have been shows about noble criminals and teenage romance. But this show unites it all in a unique and charming way, and adds a lot of heart and soul and smartness. This is not just a dumb teenie/romance/hypocritical family show, these are beautifully written, round (and perfectly cast) characters with heart and wits entertaining and educating at the same time (without being overly didactic). This is the show I would recommend to parents to show their kids in order to show them how to behave in the world. A truly uplifting, funny and also instructive show for viewers and writers alike, this is how it is done, you can entertain/be entertained without violence and xenophobia. A plus!!