The Best Episodes of The O.C. Season 1
Every episode of The O.C. Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The O.C. Season 1!
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.
Season 1 Ratings Summary
The best episode of "The O.C." season 1 is "Premiere", rated 8.9/10 from 1667 user votes. It was directed by Doug Liman and written by Josh Schwartz. "Premiere" aired on 8/5/2003 and is rated 0.5 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "The Model Home".
8.9/10 1,667 votes#1 - Premiere
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 8/5/2003
A new life for Ryan Atwood, the Cohens and the Cooper families, and basically everyone else in the wealthy, picturesque, secretive, turbulent community of Orange County. Be prepared to meet spoiled rich kids and watch Ryan struggle to fit in with his new crowd...
Director: Doug Liman
Writer: Josh Schwartz
8.4/10 980 votes#2 - The Model Home
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 8/12/2003
Faced with the prospect of life in a group home, Ryan decides to run away from Newport, but Seth and Marissa convince him to stay and hide in a vacant building project. Jimmy discusses his recent financial woes with Kirsten, and she offers a solution. After Luke witnesses a close encounter between Marissa and Ryan, he confronts Ryan and a fight breaks loose. Ryan's presence in Newport is exposed in a big way, and two arrests are made.
Director: Doug Liman
Writer: Josh Schwartz, Allan Heinberg
8.1/10 844 votes#3 - The Gamble
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 8/19/2003
Sandy comes to Ryan's rescue once again, after he has a difficult stay in Juvenile Hall. Seth makes Kirsten aware of 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.
Director: Ian Toynton
Writer: Jane Espenson
8.2/10 832 votes#4 - The Debut
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 8/26/2003
It's time for the annual Cotillion ball. Cherished by many, hated by most, it's the time when Newport's 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.
Director: Daniel Attias
Writer: Josh Schwartz, Allan Heinberg
7.7/10 772 votes#5 - The Outsider
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 9/2/2003
Ryan takes a job 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.
Director: Jesús Salvador Treviño
Writer: Melissa Rosenberg
8.0/10 778 votes#6 - The Girlfriend
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 9/9/2003
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. Much to Ryan's disappointment, Luke decides he wants a second chance with Marissa... but who will Marissa choose? Summer makes the moves on Seth, who wonders if her feelings are real.
Director: Steven Robman
Writer: Josh Schwartz, Debra J. Fisher, Erica Messer
8.3/10 802 votes#7 - The Escape
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 9/16/2003
The Newport kids plan an end-of-summer trip down to Tijuana, Mexico (aka "T.J."). Jimmy has plans of his own, which don'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.
Director: Sanford Bookstaver
Writer: Josh Schwartz
7.9/10 707 votes#8 - The Rescue
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 10/29/2003
Everyone is back home in Newport, and Marissa is recovering. Julie points her finger at Ryan and forbids him from seeing Marissa, who does not appreciate the help. 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.
Director: Michael Lange
Writer: Melissa Rosenberg, Allan Heinberg
8.1/10 722 votes#9 - The Heights
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/5/2003
Back to school for the O.C. kids. No one really wants to be there, except for the gossips. Ryan doesn't feel like he fits in at his new school, and 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.
Director: Patrick R. Norris
Writer: Debra J. Fisher, Erica Messer
8.0/10 711 votes#10 - The Perfect Couple
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 11/12/2003
Couples are plentiful in 'The O.C.' It is a night of 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 taken by another girl.
Director: Michael Fresco
Writer: Allan Heinberg
8.6/10 769 votes#11 - The Homecoming
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 11/19/2003
It's Thanksgiving time in ‘the O.C.' It's time for family reunions, and Ryan gets called home by his 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.
Director: Keith Samples
Writer: Josh Schwartz, Bryan Oh
8.3/10 696 votes#12 - The Secret
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 11/26/2003
Seth and Kirsten want 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 to face negative reactions.
Director: James Marshall
Writer: Josh Schwartz, Allan Heinberg
8.5/10 784 votes#13 - The Best Chrismukkah Ever
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 12/3/2003
Ryan, and the World, are officially introduced to the bi-religious holiday Chrismukkah, thanks to Seth. And 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.
Director: Sanford Bookstaver
Writer: Stephanie Savage
8.3/10 754 votes#14 - The Countdown
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 12/17/2003
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.
Director: Michael Fresco
Writer: Josh Schwartz
7.6/10 629 votes#15 - The Third Wheel
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/7/2004
Hailey discovers 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, and Oliver noses, a lot. Trouble brews.
Director: Sandy Smolan
Writer: Melissa Rosenberg
7.4/10 621 votes#16 - The Links
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/14/2004
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, and Hailey and Kirsten butt heads. Ryan finds himself in the cold.
Director: Michael Lange
Writer: Debra J. Fisher, Erica Messer
7.5/10 630 votes#17 - The Rivals
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 1/21/2004
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 finds himself in an all too familiar position. Summer has a "big" new boyfriend... for a little while. And Julie gets a job.
Director: Ian Toynton
Writer: Josh Schwartz
8.1/10 639 votes#18 - The Truth
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 2/11/2004
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.
Director: Rodman Flender
Writer: Allan Heinberg
8.2/10 656 votes#19 - The Heartbreak
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 2/18/2004
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.
Director: Lev L. Spiro
Writer: Josh Schwartz
7.9/10 643 votes#20 - The Telenovela
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 2/25/2004
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.
Director: Sanford Bookstaver
Writer: Stephanie Savage
8.2/10 667 votes#21 - The Goodbye Girl
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 3/3/2004
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, and Theresa brings a bit of trouble from Chino to the O.C.
Director: Patrick R. Norris
Writer: Josh Schwartz
7.4/10 713 votes#22 - The L.A.
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 3/24/2004
When Summer and Marissa run into Grady Bridges, the star of Summer's favourite prime-time soap 'The Valley', he invites them to an LA party, and they accept. On the road trip to LA, 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.
Director: David Barrett
Writer: Josh Schwartz
7.9/10 607 votes#23 - The Nana
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 3/31/2004
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, and he finds her in the most unlikely of places. Summer tries to impress Nana. Jimmy and Hailey take a step forward.
Director: Michael Lange
Writer: Allan Heinberg
7.9/10 594 votes#24 - The Proposal
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 4/14/2004
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, and Sandy and Jimmy each strike deals with Caleb. An old O.C. friend moves away.
Director: Helen Shaver
Writer: Liz Friedman, Josh Schwartz
7.5/10 574 votes#25 - The Shower
Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 4/21/2004
Marissa plots to ruin her mother's happiness by inviting someone from her mother's past to the wedding shower, while Sandy attempts to hide Theresa's return to the O.C. from Ryan. When Ryan discovers Sandy's lies and Theresa's reasons for coming back, he puts himself in a dangerous situation. In the meantime, Seth's unimpressive first meeting with Summer's father leaves their relationship in doubt.
Director: Sandy Smolan
Writer: J. J. Philbin