Episode Guide - Season 1

A new life for Ryan Atwood, the Cohen and the Cooper families, and basically everyone else in the wealthy, picturesque, secretive, turbulent community of Orange County.

Faced of a life in a Group Home, Ryan decides to run away from Newport, but is convinced by Seth and Marissa to stay in secret, and hide out in a vacant building project. Jimmy discusses his recent financial woes with Kirsten, and offers a solution.

Sandy comes to Ryan's rescue once again, after he has a difficult stay in Juvy. Seth makes Kirsten aware if his anger over Ryan's situation, and Kirsten makes a compromise. Ryan's mother, Dawn, makes a surprise visit to Newport and things don't go quite as she and Ryan may have planned. The monetary secret involving Julie, Jimmy, Kirsten and Sandy comes to a head.

It is that time of year...Cotillion. Cherrished by many, hated by most, it's the time when Newports finest young ladies enter society. More information about Jimmy's business trouble comes to light and Kirsten's loan to Jimmy is not happy news for Sandy.

Ryan takes a job serving at the Crab Shack diner. A co-worker at the diner might mean bad news for the Newport kids. Ryan asks Marissa out on a date. Sandy attempts to help Jimmy sort out his life and gives him some bad news. Julie reveals a long-held secret to Kirsten. Disaster strikes at another one of Holly's parties.

Kirsten's father, Caleb Nichol, comes for a visit along with his new girlfriend, Gabrielle. 24-year-old Grandma Nichol has arrived. Kirsten finds her job in jeopardy, while Sandy considers making a change. Luke decides he wants a second chance with Marissa, to Ryan's disapointment. But who will Marissa choose? Summer makes the moves on Seth but is it for real?

The Newport kids plan an end-of-summer trip to Tijuana, Mexico. Jimmy has plans of his own, which doesn't sit well with Marissa. Sandy gets a new job which Kirsten can't understand. Summer, Seth, Ryan, and Marissa find themselves in a strange place together. Jimmy takes it too far. Disaster strikes one of the O.C. kids.

Everyone is back home in Newport now and Marissa is recovering. Julie points her fingerand takes action which Marissa doesn't like. Sandy starts his new job but finds himself surprised by the case work. Kirsten finds herself surprised by Sandy's new co-worker. Ryan enrolls at his new school with conditions. Julie gets an intervention and Jimmy gets a new roommate.

Back to school for the O.C. kids. No one really wants to be there except the gossips. Ryan doesn't feel like he fits in at his new school. Luke doesn't make the situation any better. Sandy accepts a case at his new job, a case that will test his relationship with Kirsten and her father. Anna and Seth hatch a plan. Marissa chooses her man.

Couples are plentiful in 'The O.C.' It is a night if firsts. Now that they are free to love one another, Ryan and Marissa plan their first official date. Kirsten sees her father with a new woman and fears Sandy has found a new woman of his own. Seth takes matters into his own hands with a girl, and is taking by another girl.

It's Thanksgiving time in 'The O.C.' It's time for family reunions and Ryan gets a call home from family. Is it because of the holiday or is it for a favor? Marissa decides to go along for the ride but ends up going down Ryan's bad memory lane instead. Seth plays the player role but not very well.

Seth and Kirsten wants to avoid facing the world after their respective displays at Thanksgiving. Sandy has some advice for Jimmy which doesn't sit well with Julie. Ryan and Luke find themselves getting along after an O.C. loved-one comes out of the closet with negative after effects.

Ryan and the world are officially introduced to the bi-religious holiday Chrismukkah, thanks to Seth. Seth insists he has two Godly forces helping him as he plays two girls. Marissa has some 'discount shopping' to do and finds herself in an embarrassing situation, or two, or three. Kirsten does something that could cost her more than just her job. Summer and Anna each have very special gifts for Seth but which one will he like the most? And a new boy enters the Newport scene.

It's New Years and "love" is in the air. A sister returns home and throws a party. Oliver casts his spell. Sandy and Kirsten find themselves in a rut and out of their environment. Seth finally makes a decision between Summer and Anna. 2004 is born.

Hailey doscovers she isn't as welcome as she might have thought. Perhaps the Cohen house is full? Luke makes some new friends, while Seth and Anna try to tell a friend about their decision. Rooney sings, a lot, Oliver noses, a lot. Trouble brews.

Oliver plans a trip for the gang but things don't go as well as everyone might have hoped except for Oliver of course. Summer really plants herself into "friendship" within Anna and Seth's relationship. Jimmy and Sandy decide to go into business together. Caleb and Julie return from Europe. Hailey and Kirsten butt-heads. Ryan finds himself in the cold.

Sandy and Jimmy have plans to sign papers for the Lighthouse...but is Jimmy ready? Oliver makes his plans official to Ryan, but Ryan just cannot catch a break from anyone and fins himself in an all too familiar position. Summer has a "big" new boyfriend for a little while. Julie gets a job.

Changes are happening within the couplehoods of the O.C.ers. Lines seem to be blurred. Oliver reveals himself as he falls apart but not before Ryan is completely left in the cold. Someone loses school, one loses work, two lose their partners, and one more loses it all.

It's Valentine's Day in Newport and everyone is preparing for the Valentine's singles benefit. Luke has a new crush, while Sandy gives Seth some sex advice. An old friend of Ryan's shows up in town, which forces Marissa to lay her feelings on the table. Seth and Summer take their relationship to another level.

Ryan and Marissa begin their life together as "friends," but both discover that it might be harder to do than to say. Theresa drops into Newport for work and another visit. Julie and Luke realize the meaning of "booty calls," and Seth and Summer make a declaration.

Anna announces that she is leaving Newport to go back to Pittsburgh, which leaves Seth feeling saddened and guilt-ridden. Legal troubles brew for Caleb and Kirsten while Sandy works to solve them. Luke and Julie's secret romance is getting harder to contain. Theresa brings a bit of trouble from Chino to the O.C.

When Summer and Marissa run into Grady Bridges, the star of Summer's favorite primetime soap 'The Valley,' he invites them to a L.A. party, to which they accept. On the road trip to L.A., Seth, Summer, Marissa and Ryan run into Hailey, now working at a strip club. Jimmy and Sandy present their restaurant to Newport's finest and approach Caleb for some financial help.

Nana Cohen comes to California for passover with some sad news. Ryan searches for Marissa who'd gone missing after learning Julie and Luke's secret, he finds her in the most unlikely of places. Summer tries to impress Nana. Jimmy and Hailey take a step forward.

Jimmy and Sandy run into a roadblock in their effort to re-open the Balboa Lighthouse restaurant. Summer and Seth take it upon themselves to finally make Marissa feel more at home at Jimmy's. Everyone is shocked when Caleb makes a proposal, which sparks a near-fatal accident for Luke. Marissa, Sandy and Jimmy each strike deals with Caleb. An old O.C. friend moves away.

Everyone is still reacting to the surprise engagement of Julie and Caleb. Kirsten is shocked and a little burdened to find she's been asked to be Julie's Maid of Honor. Kirsten and Marissa end up in charge of throwing Julie's wedding shower and Marissa invites an unwanted guest. Theresa calls Sandy for help and tries to avoid Ryan. Jimmy and Hailey continue their romance. Seth awkwardly meet's Summer's father.

It's Bachelor and Bachelorette party time for Caleb and Julie. Caleb and the boys head off to Las Vegas while Kirsten organizes an evening at the Cohen house for Julie, strippers included. Seth and Ryan get themselves into a tricky situation in Vegas while back home, Summer prines over lost love and Marissa comforts Theresa. Jimmy and Sandy learn of Caleb's true motives. Julie and Hailey take a swim, while Theresa has some shocking news for Ryan and Marissa.

Julie and Caleb walk down the isle as Ryan and Theresa face a difficult decision regarding their pregnancy. Marissa moves into Caleb and Julie's new castle on the cliff. Seth struggles to find himself when things around him seem to fall apart. Life in the O.C. comes full circle from one year before.