The O.C.

10 Best Episodes of The O.C. - Season 4

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.

Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 02, 2023.

PS: The following content contains spoilers!

PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!

Advertisement
The O.C. - S4E2

#15 - The Gringos (Season 4 - Episode 2)

South of the border...Ryan slips away to Mexico to search for Volchok. Seth rides shotgun. And worried parents Sandy and Kirsten soon follow. Meanwhile, Summer has a surprise dorm visitor at Brown.

The episode was rated 7.59 from 147 votes.

The O.C. - S4E4

#14 - The Metamorphosis (Season 4 - Episode 4)

Advertisement

Great 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 ready to be Ryan the Rescuer again. But Taylor needs rescuing.

The episode was rated 7.61 from 133 votes.

The O.C. - S4E11

#13 - The Dream Lover (Season 4 - Episode 11)

Take her, I want her. Ryan overcomes his indecision and competes with Henri-Michel for Taylor's affections. Che leads Seth on a trek of spiritual renewal. Embrace your inner otter, Seth!

The episode was rated 7.65 from 134 votes.

The O.C. - S4E6

#12 - The Summer Bummer (Season 4 - Episode 6)

Advertisement

Love is a funny thing: Che handcuffs himself to the newly expelled Summer. And a sexy thing: Ryan fantasizes about Taylor. And a tender thing: Sandy and Kirsten share a recommitment ceremony.

The episode was rated 7.71 from 135 votes.

The O.C. - S4E12

#11 - The Groundhog Day (Season 4 - Episode 12)

Free 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 has a 40th birthday party...and reveals another reason to celebrate.

The episode was rated 7.73 from 127 votes.

The O.C. - S4E9

#10 - The My Two Dads (Season 4 - Episode 9)

Advertisement

Warm 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 the Big-C Card in hopes his son will see him.

The episode was rated 7.79 from 132 votes.

The O.C. - S4E5

#9 - The Sleeping Beauty (Season 4 - Episode 5)

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 Kailtlin and Julie eye the same himbo.

The episode was rated 7.80 from 133 votes.

The O.C. - S4E1

#8 - The Avengers (Season 4 - Episode 1)

Advertisement

Marissa is gone but not forgotten. Definitely not forgotten: Julie has hired a detective to find Volchok, who caused Marissa's death...and she wants to make sure the P.I.'s report ends up in the hands of angry Ryan.

The episode was rated 7.82 from 158 votes.

The O.C. - S4E7

#7 - The Chrismukk-huh? (Season 4 - Episode 7)

Sandy 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. And Ryan, stuck there after a conk to the head, must change it.

The episode was rated 7.86 from 141 votes.

The O.C. - S4E3

#6 - The Cold Turkey (Season 4 - Episode 3)

Advertisement

Julie is no longer invited. But guess who is coming to dinner: Homeless men, recruited by Summer, show up for the Cohen Thanksgiving. Ryan will be there, too - if he doesn't first commit murder when he learns where Volchok is.

The episode was rated 7.92 from 133 votes.

The O.C. - S4E8

#5 - The Earth Girls Are Easy (Season 4 - Episode 8)

Seth 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 alien rave, thefts, misunderstandings, pursuits and a marriage proposal and it's time to welcome 2007!

The episode was rated 7.96 from 137 votes.

The O.C. - S4E13

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

Advertisement

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.

The O.C. - S4E14

#3 - 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.

The O.C. - S4E15

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

Advertisement

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.

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.

Latest articles

Search for TV shows...

About Series with Sophie

Welcome to our community!

We are a community of women who are passionate about our favorite series and want to share that passion with others.

Our mission is to create a space where women can discover new content, connect with like-minded individuals, and engage in meaningful discussions about the series we love.

We believe that everyone should have access to reliable and trustworthy information about their favorite shows, and we strive to be the premier destination for women seeking that information. Whether you're looking for recaps, fan theories, or just want to connect with other fans, we've got you covered.

So join us and be a part of our growing community of series enthusiasts!