Counting Down The O.C.’s Most Iconic Moments

The O.C. premiered greater than twenty years in the past — however California retains Us coming again for extra. 

The Fox collection, which ran from August 2003 to February 2007, adopted the secretly scandalous lives of households in prosperous Newport Beach, California. After Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie), an adolescent from the flawed facet of the tracks in Chino, will get taken in by Sandy and Kirsten Cohen (Kelly Rowan and Peter Gallagher), he finds himself bonding with their sarcastically offbeat son, Seth (Adam Brody), and falling in love with the mysterious lady subsequent door, Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton). 

Despite the solar setting on the Cohen household after solely 4 seasons, The O.C. stays a part of the popular culture zeitgeist. In a world of reboots and revivals, some members of the forged assume the present might make a comeback. 

“I’ve always said anything that [creators] Josh [Schwartz] and Stephanie [Savage] want to do, I’m on board for, but it’s kind of hard to figure out what you’d do with the characters and where they would be,” Rachel Bilson, who portrayed Seth’s love curiosity, Summer Roberts — and dated Brody in actual life whereas filming — informed Nylon in April 2021. “I will say if they ever wanted to do it, I would do it. But I just don’t know where you go [with the plot].”

Whether the collection makes a return to the small display or not, there’s no denying that The O.C. helped form the style of sweet sixteen drama into what it’s in the present day. 

Keep scrolling for The O.C.’s 10 most iconic moments: 

Welcome to the O.C., Bitch!

There was no higher solution to introduce viewers — or Ryan Atwood — into the world of Newport Beach than via Luke (Chris Carmack) punching him within the face on the seashore and yelling, “Welcome to the O.C., bitch!” within the collection pilot. 

While Luke finally grew to become a lovable, musically inclined Golden Retriever of a personality, he began out as Marissa’s stereotypical water polo-loving jock of a boyfriend that cheated on her a number of occasions. Oh Luke, how we loathed thee. 

New Year’s Eve with Ryan and Marissa – and Oliver’s Gun Moment

What’s extra romantic than a New Year’s Eve kiss? One that’s underneath a timer. Iconic TV couple standing was cemented in season 1 episode 14 when Ryan rushed to seek out Marissa earlier than the clock struck midnight — and she or he was pressured to share a smooch with creepy Oliver (Taylor Handley) as an alternative. Cue the fireworks and the confetti!

But wait! Ryan and Marissa weren’t out of the woods but. (Were they ever?) The twosome confronted down Oliver with a gun mere episodes later when his overwhelming obsession with Marissa received the very best of him. While the dramatic second had viewers on the sting of their seats, everybody was principally simply completely happy to see Oliver gone for good. 

The Tijuana Overdose

The gang’s journey to Tijuana in season 1 episode 7 cemented Marissa, Ryan, Seth and Summer because the core 4 of The O.C. — however they paid the value when Marissa, overwhelmed by her dad and mom’ divorce and seeing her boyfriend, Luke, dishonest on her, overdoses on drugs. 

The advanced and delicate nature of Marissa’s story juxtaposed with the lighter moments of the episode proved The O.C. was one thing particular — and gave followers a transparent concept of who the characters can be transferring ahead. Ryan’s now-famous stroll down the alley with a passed-out Marissa in his arms, which might additionally grow to be a staple of the collection, would even be revisited once more throughout her season 3 demise. 

Marissa Shoots Trey

It’s the “whatcha say” heard all over the world. In the climactic remaining moments of the season 2 finale, Marissa shoots Trey (Logan Marshall-Green) — who, whereas excessive on coke, tried to rape her in an earlier episode — to cease him from killing Ryan. While the second kickstarted what can be an extended, arduous and inarguably flat third season, it was fairly the cliffhanger. 

The scene itself — which performed out to the sound of Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap — has lived on in the meme-ified web tradition for many years. 

Marissa and Alex Get Together

While queer illustration is on the rise in media in the present day, seeing two girls romantically linked on display — in a means that wasn’t fetishized — was a defining second for teen dramas and TV generally. The two ladies, who developed reliable emotions for each other in season 2, received a spotlight just like any heterosexual romantic relationship within the collection that didn’t contain two members of the core 4. 

Still, not every thing concerning the Alex (Olivia Wilde) and Marissa story line was good. The present turned Alex right into a jealous, unhinged girlfriend when it was able to reunite Marissa and Ryan. The collection additionally dropped exploring Marissa’s sexuality completely after Alex’s exit. For its time, nevertheless, it was a refreshing method from a cable TV collection in an in any other case reductive media panorama. 

Seth Declares His Love on a Coffee Cart

Let’s be trustworthy — there are an countless quantity of epic moments between Seth and Summer all through The O.C.’s 4 seasons, however Seth’s preliminary, very public, declaration of affection stands out as a basic. 

While the pair began relationship within the again half of season one after a turbulent love triangle with Anna (Samaire Armstrong), Summer feels uneasy about being open about her new romance. She initially asks Seth to maintain the connection on the down low, however he refuses, leaping on a espresso cart in the course of faculty to announce his love for her. After asking Summer to hitch him, she climbs up with him and the 2 lock lips in entrance of their classmates. 

Summer would later recreate the grand gesture in season 3 — however nothing beat the unique triumphant second the place Seth formally will get the lady he’s been pining over for years. 

Chrismukkah

The TV present that sparked a wholly new vacation. Not realizing learn how to elevate him — Jewish or Christian — Kirsten and Sandy let Seth make up his personal faith. That included Chrismukkah, a mix of each Christmas and Hanukkah that will get launched in season 1 episode 13.

“Who wouldn’t want “eight days of presents, followed by one day of many presents?” Seth asks Ryan when exhibiting him how the Cohens rejoice. The fun-filled festivities, like most of the different O.C. runners, would make a return in future seasons. 

The Upside Down ‘Spider-Man’ Kiss

While the espresso cart was cute, Seth and Summer’s upside-down Spider-Man kiss could go down because the present’s most romantic second. After being aside for many of season 2, Summer realizes she desires to be with Seth earlier than leaving on a visit to Italy with boyfriend Zach (Michael Cassidy). Seth, for his half, is making an attempt to repair the TV cable throughout a thunderstorm — basic Seth — and finds himself dangling the wrong way up from the roof. 

Summer finally exhibits as much as save him, however not earlier than she peels down his Spider-Man masks, which Seth was sporting to remain dry, and emulates the well-known Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst smooch from the 2002 film. 

“What are you doing here?” Seth asks as Matt Pond PA’s cowl of “Champagne Supernova” performs within the background. “What do you think, Cohen?” Summer responds. 

Seth and Summer’s Wedding

The duo’s nuptials solely take up temporary seconds of The O.C.’s collection finale, however nonetheless really feel like the last word payoff for followers of the couple who’ve watched them go from enemies to pals to lovers and again once more. 

The intimate ceremony — which was shot shortly after Bilson and Brody referred to as it quits in actual life — sees the pair reuniting after happening their separate journeys to pursue their goals and even options. The scene even options Summer sticking her tongue out whereas strolling down the aisle as Seth rolls his eyes – a candy and sardonic second that matches them completely. The wedding ceremony additionally sees Ryan and Taylor (Autumn Reeser) share a longing look — hinting that these two is perhaps endgame, too. 

Marissa’s Death

Marissa Cooper’s journey was all the time a tragic one, however her demise was the collection’ most devastating second by far. With a hopeful future simply forward, Marissa will get tracked down by her vengeful ex Volchuck (Cam Gigandet) whereas en path to the airport with Ryan. The automobile chase ends in a deadly explosion which results in Marissa dying in Ryan’s arms. 

Marissa’s heartbreaking final phrases to Ryan? “I love you.” It’s OK, we’re crying, too.