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Season 1 – The O.C.

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – The O.C. Aug 2003 Drama Romance Soap Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
77% Tomatometer 31 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
This modern soap opera mines the intertwined lives of the Cohen, Cooper and Nichol families for drama, with a contemporary music soundtrack adding to the proceedings. Ryan, a teenager from the wrong side of the Chino tracks, finds himself in well-to-do Newport Beach -- an enclave of Southern California's Orange County. Taken in by a lawyer and his family, Ryan winds up in the midst of snarky, wealthy high schoolers and their sun-drenched angst.
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The O.C. — Season 1

The O.C. — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

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.

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Critics Reviews

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Chris Vognar Boston Globe Aug 4, 2026
“The O.C.” was one of the good ones, a witty, underdog fish-out-of-water nighttime youth drama with a heart and a brain, and it was sharp right out of the gate. Go to Full Review Geordie Gray The Australian Aug 17, 2023
Everything about this teenage soap opera is a cut above the rest – the creators were inspired by Ang Lee’s 1997 drama, The Ice Storm, and that moodiness courses through its otherwise sunny veins. Go to Full Review Karen Heller Philadelphia Inquirer Jul 7, 2023
The O.C. is a refreshing treat with television's most eye-pleasing cast. Go to Full Review Mary Colgan PopMatters Mar 31, 2020
The O.C.'s primary appeal is its implausibility, which offers respite from the moral swamp of reality TV. It's okay for fictional characters to be ridiculous and tacky. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Friend G @RT33887870 Jun 4, 2026 IDK WHAT TO SAY BESIDES THE EP1 IS PEAK See more Trey T @RT93210669 Apr 6, 2026 Just an amazing season and the best of the series See more Bianca T @RT57184046 May 30, 2025 My favourite show as a teenager. Just watched it again at the age of 44 and it still delivers 😄 See more Co D @RT83813455 May 17, 2025 high school me was obsessed, still got my dvds 🩷 See more Faiz D @RT95588871 May 14, 2025 Like the end of season 1 and from what I've read online, I think I should stop watching further and consider it a series finale. See more Brian D @Brianwd2 Feb 17, 2025 81%. 2/1/25. Starts off a little weird as Ryan's settling in. He's so quick to fight everyone. Summer's character is super strange. It is fun how they just go to Newport parties every weekend. Like to see Kirsten/Sandy/Seth's bond grow with Ryan. The Theresa/Eddie stuff is kind of annoying. See more Read all reviews
The O.C. — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Doug Liman

Director

Sandy Smolan

Director

Michael Fresco

Director

Patrick Norris

Director

Helen Shaver

Director

Peter Gallagher

Sandy Cohen

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Aug 5, 2003 Pilot A troubled young man makes waves in a wealthy harbor-front community where the residents lead secret lives. Details Episode 2 Aired Aug 12, 2003 The Model Home Seth conspires to hide Ryan in a vacant house in an unfinished development. Details Episode 3 Aired Aug 19, 2003 The Gamble Sandy represents Ryan after his arrest for the model home fire; Ryan gives his mother a second chance to change her ways. Details Episode 4 Aired Aug 26, 2003 The Debut Ryan becomes a member of the Cohen family when Kirsten and Sandy take full legal responsibility for him. Details Episode 5 Aired Sep 2, 2003 The Outsider 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. Details Episode 6 Aired Sep 9, 2003 The Girlfriend 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. Details Episode 7 Aired Sep 16, 2003 The Escape 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. Details Episode 8 Aired Oct 29, 2003 The Rescue 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. Details Episode 9 Aired Nov 5, 2003 The Heights 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. Details Episode 10 Aired Nov 12, 2003 The Perfect Couple 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. Details Episode 11 Aired Nov 19, 2003 The Homecoming Julie is incensed when she finds out her daughter accompanied Ryan to the prison where his brother is incarcerated; the Cohens host Thanksgiving dinner. Details Episode 12 Aired Nov 26, 2003 The Secret Seth struggles to make up for the way he acted over the holidays; Ryan and Luke become partners for a history project. Details Episode 13 Aired Dec 3, 2003 The Best Chrismukkah Ever Seth combines Christmas and Hanukkah to form his own holiday; Ryan worries that the holidays will once again lead to family fights and drinking. Details Episode 14 Aired Dec 17, 2003 The Countdown As the midnight hour approaches, Ryan endeavors to reach Marissa in time for their first kiss of the new year. Details Episode 15 Aired Jan 7, 2004 The Third Wheel Seth finally chooses between Anna and Summer but does not know how to break the news; Ryan debates whether to help Oliver out of a sticky situation. Details Episode 16 Aired Jan 14, 2004 The Links Sandy and Jimmy decide to go into business together; Caleb shuts off Haley's cash flow, putting her out of business; Seth and Anna bond over being single. Details Episode 17 Aired Jan 21, 2004 The Rivals Sandy and Jimmy buy a restaurant; Julie irks Kirsten by becoming the new model-home designer at the Newport Group; Seth is jealous of Summer's new boyfriend; Ryan is out to expose Oliver. Details Episode 18 Aired Feb 11, 2004 The Truth Caleb wants Kirsten to get rid of Julie; Sandy and Kirsten tire of Ryan; Ryan and Luke agree to work together against Oliver; Marissa learns the truth about Oliver. Details Episode 19 Aired Feb 18, 2004 The Heartbreak Ryan's ex-girlfriend shows up to cater a dance and ruins his attempt to reconcile with Marissa; Seth and Summer decide to take their friendship to a new level; Jimmy has a secret admirer. Details Episode 20 Aired Feb 25, 2004 The Telenovela Marissa and Ryan try to start over as friends; Ryan discovers Theresa has lied; Seth tries to teach Summer a lesson; Sandy is in another mess created by Caleb; Jimmy is suspicious of Julie and Luke. Details Episode 21 Aired Mar 3, 2004 The Goodbye Girl Theresa's decision to remain in Newport pleases Ryan; Jimmy witnesses an intimate moment between Julie and Luke; Seth races to the airport to stop Anna from leaving for Pittsburgh. Details Episode 22 Aired Mar 24, 2004 The L.A. Sandy and Jimmy, caught in a bind, get help from an unlikely source; Marissa, Summer and Seth go looking for a good time in Los Angeles. Details Episode 23 Aired Mar 31, 2004 The Nana The Cohen family prepares for Sandy's mother (Linda Lavin) to visit for Passover dinner; Ryan looks for Marissa. Details Episode 24 Aired Apr 14, 2004 The Proposal After Luke gets into a near-fatal accident, Marissa and Ryan decide it is time to hear what he has to say; just prior to the Lighthouse's opening, Jimmy and Sandy find out their liquor license has been denied; Caleb proposes to Julie. Details Episode 25 Aired Apr 21, 2004 The Shower Marissa makes sure her mother's wedding shower is unforgettable; Teresa turns Ryan's world upside down; Seth gets a chance to meet Summer's father. Details Episode 26 Aired Apr 28, 2004 The Strip Seth and Ryan join Caleb in Las Vegas for his last days as a bachelor; Kirsten plans a bachelorette party for Julie; Marissa learns something about Teresa. Details Episode 27 Aired Dec 20, 2024 The Ties That Bind All of Newport turns out for the wedding of Caleb Nichol and Julie Cooper; Jem performs during the ceremony. Details

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The O.C. — Season 1

The O.C. View more photos

Season Info

Director
Doug Liman, Sandy Smolan, Michael Fresco, Patrick R. Norris, Helen Shaver
Executive Producer
Josh Schwartz, Doug Liman, McG, David Bartis, Robert DeLaurentiis
Screenwriter
Allan Heinberg, J.J. Philbin, Liz Friedman
Network
Fox
Rating
TV-PG (D)
Genre
Drama, Romance, Soap
Original Language
English
Release Date
Aug 5, 2003
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