The O.C.

Just a freeway's ride 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.

When Ryan is faced with being shuffled into the child-services system, Seth comes up with a plan: Ryan can secretly live in an unfinished home owned by Seth's mom. It's a foolproof plan - for a while.

Luck is in the house during a Vegas Night fundraiser: Seth becomes Summer's lucky charm and Marissa reconnects with Luke. In the aftermath of events involving Ryan's mom, Kirsten takes a chance and opens her home to the boy.

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 of the Newport social calendar: the Debutantes Ball.

Ryan hangs out with a youth not from the moneyed Newport set, causing Seth to feel blown off. Jimmy's family faces hard choices beause of his business crimes.

Every Newport guy needs a Newport girl. Seth finds a way to impress Summer, Luke and Marissa share a night of passion and the mid-20s girlfriend of Kirsten's father has a predatory eye on Ryan. Julie drops the D-bomb on Jimmy.

What happens in Mexico stays in Mexico. But the secrecy surrounding a summer's-end teen trip to Tijuana can't stop Marissa from feeling the way she feels when she sees Luke with Holly.

It can't stay in Mexico. Not after heartbroken Marissa took all those pills. And not with Marissa's mom trying to have her institutionalized - something Ryan, Seth, Summer and Marissa don't want to happen.

Calculus. AP English. 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.

Work keeps Sandy and Kirsten apart, Rachel makes a play for Sandy, Julie's secret lover is revealed and - omigod! - Summer realizes she likes Seth (but don't tell anyone).

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.

No one was supposed to see what happened. But Luke did. And so did Ryan. Now, somehow, all of Newport knows that Luke's dad has been living a lie. And subsequent gossip raises questions of secrecy and trust.

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.

As the New Year looms, Ryan doesn't know hot 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.

Ryan doesn't know much about Oliver, Marissa's therapy friend, but he knows he doesn't like him. Yet, Ryan still assists Oliver when he runs into trouble with the law at a Rooney concert.

He says he's a friend. But who can believe a word Oliver says? During a group getaway in Palm Springs, Ryan is sure he's wise to Oliver's game. Marissa is just as sure Oliver is a friend who needs help.

People who won't be on each other's Christmas-card list: Ryan and Oliver. Their rivalry for Marissa intensifies, with Ryan risking his standing at Harbor to unmask Oliver's true character.

Julie wears out her welcome with Caleb: true. Seth thinks Summer's hot: true. Oliver is crazy-mad about Marissa: true. Now sure of it, Ryan races against time to keep Oliver from hurting himself or Marissa.

Time to forgive and forget - or so Marissa thinks. But Ryan isn't ready, and the presence of former love Theresa at the Valentine Dance adds to Marissa's concerns. Summer and Seth work on the, um, mechanics.

That Ryan-Marissa thing is more iffy than ever when Theresa hangs in Newport. The telenovela-like suds-o-rama overflows with the Summer-Seth follies, the Luke-Julie fling and an insider who may be a threat to the Caleb-Kirsten biz.

Anna is leaving. Theresa is staying. Seth thinks he's the reason for Anna's planned return to Pittsburgh. And Ryan knows he's why Theresa is staying. But what is either guy going to do about it? Caleb is Riviera's Man of the Year (uh-oh).

Operation Protect Marissa! Seth and Ryan plan to keep Marissa from finding out about her mom's affair. It also becomes Operation Rescue Hailey when they inadvertently attend a Hollywood party where she's a stripper.

OPM didn't work. Marissa knows about Julie/Luke and vanishes. Ryan finds her at Theresa's engagement party, where he's not a welcome guest. Meanwhile, cranky, opinionated, California-loathing Nana Cohen arrives in Newport and she's strangely... nice.

Engagement announcements are joyful news, right? Not when it means the one person Kirsten despises will become her stepmom. And not when Marissa will have a new family arrangement she doesn't want.

Kirsten. Marissa. Neither is the hostess with the mostest. But they reluctantly host Julie's wedding show just the same. Seth's get-acquainted lunch with Summer's dad is a FEMA-sized disaster.

"I love the Vegas," Seth says. But Seth is a player who's played when he, Ryan, Sandy and Jimmy hit the gambling town for what's presumed to be Caleb's bachelor bash. And claws are out when Julie and Hailey attend the Newport bachelorette party.

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."

With the end of summer quickly approaching, tension fills the air in THE O.C. The Cohen family is desperate to convince Seth, who ran away at the beginning of the summer, to return home. Meanwhile in Chino, Ryan is working construction while a pregnant Theresa waits at home. Back in Newport Beach, while Summer is finding ways to deal with Seth's disappearance, Marissa is distancing herself from the world and masking her problems by reverting to old habits.

It's back to school for Seth and Ryan, who want to win back the attention they once had from Summer and Marissa. With opportunity beckoning, Hailey tells Jimmy about her plans to move in order to pursue her unfulfilled ambitions with fashion. Hoping to keep her near, Jimmy does something unimaginable. Meanwhile, Sandy explains to Julie that the district attorney is keeping a close watch on Caleb, and without representation, he might be in for a confrontation. Julie threatens Sandy to do something about Caleb's mess, or else.

Seth gets some help from Alex to prove that his friends don't know him as well as they think. Meanwhile, Summer gives some thought to how she really feels about Seth after she learns new information about Zach. Marissa is happy to share an evening with Ryan. But at school, Ryan finds himself embarrassed and frustrated after a run-in with new classmate Lindsay. Caleb's legal problems threaten to leave both Sandy and Kirsten unemployed as Julie makes sure she stays on top even if Caleb goes down.

As Seth and Sandy embark on new adventures, they take the rest of the family along for the ride. Ryan and Seth go on an awkward double date to see The Killers perform in concert, with unexpected results. Meanwhile, Julie finds herself overwhelmed by her new role at the Newport Group and, as usual, is forced to turn to Kirsten for help.

Winter finally comes to Newport, and Seth, Ryan, Summer and Marissa attend the annual "SnO.C. Winter Ball." Julie and Jimmy spend some quality time together as the chairs of the host committee and Sandy continues to close in on the truth Caleb has been hiding. Meanwhile, Julie discovers Marissa's secret when Marissa goes home at lunch to meet D.J.

The whole gang is invited to Chrismukkah at the Cohens, but Seth's favorite holiday is nearly ruined as secrets are revealed that will change the Cohen family forever. Summer and the gang make a plan to save Chrismukkah.

As one family strengthens, another will be changed forever. The Cohens, after Caleb's revelation, decide to try to accept Lindsay as a member of the family, while another family is heartbroken over the news that one of them is leaving Newport Beach. Meanwhile, Seth tries to be a "bad boy" like Ryan to improve his relationship with Alex.

After Caleb's reveal, Lindsay and Ryan grapple with their relationship: Is Lindsay Ryan's aunt or his girlfriend? Meanwhile, Summer meets Zach's family and it doesn't go so well. In the end it's an anniversary to remember as Sandy Cohen surprises Kirsten with a serenade at the Bait Shop. But Marissa ends up alone as D.J. leaves Newport Beach.

It's girls against boys when Marissa and Summer decide to plan a girls' night out and include Lindsay in the festivities. Ryan, Seth and Zach, left to their own devices, have their own bonding session over video games and pizza, but find it hard to stay away from their female counterparts. Julie and Kirsten collaborate on an idea to help the image of the Newport Group while Sandy and Caleb try to convince them there may be a better way.

Zach and Seth decide to start their own comic book based on their lives in Newport Beach. While browsing the sketches, Summer questions why she's been left out. Sandy decides to help an old friend find his daughter, but the search leads to even more questions. While Julie is away, Marissa's contempt for Caleb grows as she looks for new ways to rebel. Meanwhile, Ryan tries to help Lindsay satisfy her curiosity about Caleb.

Summer decides to take an active role in the making of the comic book, but Seth doesn't know if he can handle spending that much time alone with her. Sandy and Rebecca reminisce about days gone by as Kirsten tries to convince Caleb that he could have a relationship with Lindsay. As Caleb decides what kind of future he wants to have with his daughters, Alex asks Marissa where their friendship is going.

Sandy tries to make up for keeping Rebecca's return a secret from Kirsten by showering her with Valentine's Day gifts. Zach, Summer and Seth head to San Diego to pitch their comic book idea, and Seth is determined to use the trip to get Summer back. Julie returns from her European vacation and has decided to reconnect with Marissa. Meanwhile, Ryan wants to spend Valentine's Day with Lindsay, but her loyalty to Caleb gets in the way.

While Rebecca pays her last respects to her father, Kirsten grows impatient with Sandy's long absences from home and pays Rebecca a visit. Alex invites Marissa to hang out with her friends. Meanwhile, Caleb decides to remove all doubt that Lindsay is his daughter.

It's raining in Newport. Marissa tells Julie that she and Alex are an item and decides she has to get out of Caleb's house. Summer is faced with a big decision as she prepares to go Italy with Zach. Ryan convinces Lindsay to take the paternity test and everyone anxiously awaits the results. Meanwhile, Sandy finds himself stranded in a motel room with nothing but a few snacks, champagne and Rebecca.

Lindsay's actions have left Ryan and Caleb confused. Marissa is trying hard to make her new living situation work, but she needs a break and agrees to join Summer, Seth and Ryan at the mall. Julie and Kirsten await the arrival of Carter, the new editor of Newport Living, but Julie is distracted when she's visited by Lance, an opportunistic man from her past. Meanwhile, Sandy and Caleb finally bond over all of their recent experiences.

Seth is determined to bring back the spirit and fun times of last year and won't stop until his plan is fulfilled. Alex's jealousy is fueled when Marissa enlists an unlikely partner to help her with the school bonfire. Meanwhile, Kirsten wants Carter to stick with the magazine despite his reservations and Sandy helps Julie keep her blackmailer at bay.

When Ryan's past comes for a visit, he is worried that nothing good can come of it. Meanwhile, the Cohen family has welcomed the visitor from Chino with open arms. Marissa and Ryan continue to explore their newfound friendship, while Seth and Summer face some unforeseen news. Meanwhile, Julie admits her mistake to Kirsten and looks to Caleb for help.

When Sandy becomes the honorary chair of the Newport Beach charity yard sale, he solicits help from Trey, who has his first run-in with the Newpsies. While Sandy auctions off Newport's finest, Kirsten and Carter share a table. When one of the auction's most expensive pieces goes missing, it's Ryan and Seth who also could use some help. Meanwhile, Trey looks for a more permanent place to live as the Cohens welcome yet another houseguest.

It's Trey's birthday and Marissa, anxious to help Trey and Ryan forge a relationship, throws a birthday party for Trey at Caleb's mansion that turns out to be a rager. Sandy and Carter hit the waves together and decide to double-date and Summer discovers Reed's true identity, leaving Seth in hot water. Meanwhile, Julie leaves town on the heels of her disgrace, but comes home and reminisces about the Whitesnake concert with an "old" friend.

After the rager at Caleb's mansion, Sandy and the boys devise a plan to save another Atwood from jail time. Kirsten and Carter, fulfilling more than their editorial duties, take a trip to the wine country. Meanwhile, Caleb returns from Europe and is ice-cold to Julie's hot advances.

Sandy, Seth and Ryan travel to South Beach to visit the Nana, who is living in Miami Beach, FL. While playing shuffleboard at the Nana's coastal-living retirement community, Seth and Ryan meet Mary-Sue, who helps Seth get center stage on "Music Video Nation's" Spring Break 2005 television show hosted by Swerve and Pixie, star of "Sherman Oaks: The Real Valley." T.I. performs his hit single "Bring Em Out" in the episode. Meanwhile, on the Pacific Coast, Carter packs his bags and leaves Kirsten alone at "Newport Living" and Trey misinterprets Marissa's friendship.

Since Carter's been gone, Kirsten has been drinking more than just tomato juice for breakfast and when Sandy questions her, he's left alone in the bedroom. When Marissa acts nervous around Ryan, Ryan wonders if something has happened between Marissa and Trey. Summer, tired of Seth and Zach acting foolish, confronts Reed about the graphic novel and finds herself center stage at the "Atomic County" launch party. Meanwhile, Caleb shows Julie that a picture is worth a thousand words.

Sandy and Caleb confront Kirsten about her behavior. Ryan, looking for the truth about Trey and Marissa, heads home to Chino. Meanwhile, Summer won't let her three-way relationship with Zach and Seth get in the way of her attending the prom. And, Julie and Caleb toast to their final evening together as husband and wife.

Sandy must make a life-changing decision to save his and Kirsten's marriage. Seth, Summer, Marissa and Ryan are caught in the crossfire at The Bait Shop and Jimmy Cooper, worried about Marissa and his family, rushes home to Newport Beach.

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.

Senior year. But not for everyone. Marissa is expelled. Julie scrambles for cash, Sandy scrambles to make sense of Kirsten's rehab and, to top it all, Ryan loses his cool and gets himself expelled, too.

Ryan. Marissa. A romantic beach hut. You do the math. Meanwhile, the math in Caleb's will is easy: Julie gets zilch, Kirsten gets nada. Caleb was broke and that adds up to a new dynamic for the Cohens, Coopers and The Newport Group.

Public school? No problem. Marissa's glad to be at a school where no one knows about her. Oops. Everyone knows. Charlotte closes in on Kirsten. And Summer spies someone lip-locking with Taylor.

Is Ryan shipping out? Sandy's mind-meld persuasion skills fail to convince him to stay. But where there's a will, there's another Cohen way. Charlotte's now zeroes in on Julie; Summer outwits Taylor.

Party by night. Surf by first light. The Dawn Patrol beach blast is the backdrop for a developing Marissa-Johnny attraction. Meanwhile, Taylor has a crush on... Seth?! And Ryan again lets his fists do his talking.

Divide and conquer. Taylor schemes to separate Summer and Seth. Volchok tries to goad Ryan into a fight. Julie upends Charlotte's charity scam.

Time to think about the future - college applications are due. Seth's eager, especially if the school is as far from Newport as possible. Will Summer go with him? Marissa has another plan: She won't apply.

Maybe Seth should accompany Summer to college. She's the one who (surprise!) aces the SAT. Another surprise: Sandy's right-hand man jeopardizes a Newport Group account by hanging out at a strip club.

Seth's a man with a holiday plan: Hold an honorary bar mitzvah for Ryan and donate the funds to Johnny's surgery. Now try to convince Ryan to do it... and persuade Johnny to accept it. Also: Julie + Summer's dad? Stay tuned!

One semester to go. Wouldn't it go better if Marissa returned to Harbor High? Seth, Ryan, Summer and even Taylor campaign for her readmittance - and Johnny steps out of the way. For now.

Mini-Cooper isn't so mini now. Kaitlin, Marissa's younger sister, returns to O.C. - and she carries lots of emotional baggage. Plus: Kirsten-Julie dating biz is blackmailed into setting up a date for Veronica.

Little sister. Big problems. Kaitlin feels she's spent her whole life in Marissa's shadow - maybe now it's time for some payback. Seth, meanwhile, may be seeing his college plans go up in smoke.

The Johnny-Kaitlin-Marissa-Ryan situation finds closure, perhaps, and tragedy for sure. Summer may be running out of forgiveness for Seth's half-truths. And Dr. Roberts makes a startling admission to Julie.

Life goes on. Love goes on. But how can anyone focus on Valentine's Day after Johnny's tragedy? Well, maybe love and understanding are the medicines everyone needs now. Even so, nothing will be easy.

Ryan road-trips with Sadie. Strip poker, anyone? Summer learns - ew! - about her dad and Julie. Kirsten worries that The Newport Group is corrupting Sandy. And Marissa is a suspect in Johnny's death.

A little Cohen arm-twisting convinces Ryan that, yeah, he should do something special for his 18th birthday. So who's he going to invite to the party at The Bait Shop? Sadie? For sure. Marissa? Well...

Trouble's at the door. It's Jess, Trey's sometime girlfriend, and she's coming on to Ryan like Little Miss Vulnerable. Seth and Summer discover a, uh, wheelbarrow. And all those burning Volchok-Marissa glances ignite a bonfire.

A race to the bottom: Marissa's ties with Volchok may send her into substance-abuse freefall... but not before she gathers herself enough to save the Ryan-Sadie match. The Newport Group events turn violent.

The Sweatshirt Bonfire is the party where all the seniors wear the sweatshirt of the college they'll be attending. Hey, Seth's not wearing a sweatshirt. What's up with that?

No party, no surf. It's a different Dawn Patrol: Ryan's off to Albuquerque to invite his mom Dawn to graduation (maybe). Seth quits Summer (oops). And, at Volchok's party, Marissa sees something secretly poured into a drink (uh-oh).

Some go East, some stay West for freshman orientation weekends. Ryan and Marissa arrive at Berkley, and Summer and student/poseur Seth visit Brown. Familiar faces also surface. Anna is at Brown. And doesn't Theresa's baby look like... Ryan?

Right dress. Wrong date. If you can't go to prom with the person you like, go with someone who makes the person you like jealous. There'll be many memories for the Core 4 after this prom. Not all of them will be happy.

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

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Kaitlin and Julie eye the same himbo.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Taylor's ex-hubby writes a hot-selling erotic novel. Who's the lead character? Three guesses and the first two don't count. Seth seeks Dr. Roberts' permission to marry Summer. Kirsten uncovers Julie's biz scam.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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.