The O.C.

10 Best Episodes of The O.C.

Ryan Atwood, a teen from the wrong side of the tracks, moves in with a wealthy family willing to give him a chance. But Ryan's arrival disturbs the status quo of the affluent, privileged community of Newport Beach, California.

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The O.C. - S4E16

#1 - The End's Not Near, It's Here (Season 4 - Episode 16)

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.

The episode was rated 8.59 from 174 votes.

The O.C. - S2E24

#2 - The Dearly Beloved (Season 2 - Episode 24)

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Familiar faces show up for a final farewell to Caleb. Meanwhile, Sandy takes action to help Kirsten. And when Ryan learns about the Trey-Marissa incident, a showdown - if not a tragedy - is inevitable.

The episode was rated 8.53 from 197 votes.

The O.C. - S2E14

#3 - The Rainy Day Women (Season 2 - Episode 14)

Rain - and it seems there are as many problems as raindrops. Kirsten, Sandy...and Rebecca. Julie, Marissa...and Alex. Lindsay, Ryan...and Chicago. Summer, Seth...and Italy. Can't rain forever, can it?

The episode was rated 8.35 from 214 votes.

The O.C. - S2E6

#4 - The Chrismukkah That Almost Wasn't (Season 2 - Episode 6)

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Friends, festivities, 8 days of gifts, another day with a whole lot of gifts. Seth's formula for the perfect Chrismukkah may come undone when Caleb's confession rocks the Cohen world.

The episode was rated 8.30 from 203 votes.

The O.C. - S1E1

#5 - Pilot (Season 1 - Episode 1)

Just a freeway's drive 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.

The episode was rated 8.24 from 463 votes.

The O.C. - S1E27

#6 - The Ties That Bind (Season 1 - Episode 27)

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Summer 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 critical crossroad. Just the same, Newport society rises to the occasion when Caleb and Julie do the "I do."

The episode was rated 8.22 from 220 votes.

The O.C. - S2E23

#7 - The O.Sea (Season 2 - Episode 23)

Heads: Seth takes Summer to the prom. Tails: Zach does. Whoever's dateless takes a meeting with George Lucas to discuss Atomic County. That'll settle things, right? The Julie-Caleb union ends...not the way anyone expected.

The episode was rated 8.16 from 174 votes.

The O.C. - S1E14

#8 - The Countdown (Season 1 - Episode 14)

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As the New Year looms, Ryan doesn't know how to respond when Marissa says those three meaningful words. Sandy and Kirsten are wallflowers at a swingers' party. And at home, Seth thinks of what might have been.

The episode was rated 8.16 from 254 votes.

The O.C. - S2E8

#9 - The Power of Love (Season 2 - Episode 8)

Sandy didn't forget his 20th anniversary. Honest. Just ask him. And just watch him squirm as he tries to make things right. Also, Seth and Ryan are grounded; DJ calls it quits with Marissa.

The episode was rated 8.15 from 198 votes.

The O.C. - S3E25

#10 - The Graduates (Season 3 - Episode 25)

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Graduation: A time for friends, family, celebration, remembrance, letting go, and moving on to tomorrow. Odd man out in all the events is Volchok. Then, it happens...

The episode was rated 8.12 from 162 votes.

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    The O.C. - S3E24

    #11 - The Man of The Year (Season 3 - Episode 24)

    Sandy's picture will be on the cover of Riviera. Or, if the DA has his way, on a mug shot. More troubles: Volchok blackmails Ryan into a crime, Kirsten is drinking, and Seth burns down his dad's office. Didn't mean to. Honest.

    The episode was rated 8.08 from 135 votes.

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    The O.C. - S3E1

    #12 - The Aftermath (Season 3 - Episode 1)

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    Trey'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.

    The episode was rated 8.07 from 170 votes.

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    The O.C. - S1E4

    #13 - The Debut (Season 1 - Episode 4)

    Ryan promised to stay out of trouble. But trouble finds him as he, Seth, Marissa and others take part in one of the biggest events on the Newport social calendar: the Debutantes Ball.

    The episode was rated 8.07 from 325 votes.

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    The O.C. - S4E15

    #14 - The Night Moves (Season 4 - Episode 15)

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    Everything's okay. As okay as anything can be after a major earthquake. Now come coping, staying calm, helping...and somehow getting Ryan to the hospital before he bleeds to death.

    The episode was rated 8.06 from 143 votes.

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    The O.C. - S1E13

    #15 - The Best Chrismukkah Ever (Season 1 - Episode 13)

    It'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 time away from Marissa's personal problems or Caleb's business tactics.

    The episode was rated 8.06 from 279 votes.

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    The O.C. - S1E11

    #16 - The Homecoming (Season 1 - Episode 11)

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    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.

    The episode was rated 8.01 from 270 votes.

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    The O.C. - S4E14

    #17 - The Shake Up (Season 4 - Episode 14)

    Make 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 floats rumours about Frank and clown porn. Make way for Mother Nature...everyone!

    The episode was rated 8.01 from 136 votes.

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    The O.C. - S2E1

    #18 - The Distance (Season 2 - Episode 1)

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    Come home, Seth! If Sandy can't persuade his alienated son to return to the family perhaps Ryan can. Meanwhile, Theresa realizers her relationship with Ryan is on life support. Time to pull the plug?

    The episode was rated 8.01 from 226 votes.

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    The O.C. - S4E13

    #19 - The Case of the Franks (Season 4 - Episode 13)

    Julie and Gordon? Or Julie and Frank? Summer and Seth? Or Summer and George? No, make that GEORGE. Mysteries of the heart (and the meddling of others) unfold as Valentine's Day nears.

    The episode was rated 8.01 from 125 votes.

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    The O.C. - S1E9

    #20 - The Heights (Season 1 - Episode 9)

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    Calculus. AP Enlgish. 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.

    The episode was rated 8.01 from 302 votes.

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    Last updated: feb 02, 2023

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