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The Best Episodes of The O.C. Season 3

Every episode of The O.C. Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The O.C. Season 3!

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.

Genre:Drama
Network:FOX

Season 3 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "The O.C." season 3 is "The Aftermath", rated 7.9/10 from 554 user votes. It was directed by Ian Toynton, Doug Liman and written by Josh Schwartz, Allan Heinberg. "The Aftermath" aired on 9/8/2005 and is rated 0.5 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "The Shape of Things to Come".

  • The Aftermath
    7.9/10 554 votes

    #1 - The Aftermath

    Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 9/8/2005

    In the season three opener, we start off with senior year starting in a few days. It has been a couple of months since the shooting. Trey has been in a coma all this time leaving the D.A. impatiently waiting for his side of the story. Feeling the pressure from the community the D.A. continues to put pressure on Ryan, Marisa, Seth, Summer and others for more information. Meanwhile Julie is steaming mad because Caleb’s accountant won’t give up the goods on Caleb’s will and Kirsten is still in rehab.

    Director: Ian Toynton, Doug Liman

    Writer: Josh Schwartz, Allan Heinberg

  • The Shape of Things to Come
    7.4/10 507 votes

    #2 - The Shape of Things to Come

    Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 9/15/2005

    Social Chair Marissa tries to plan this year’s carnival but is having much difficulty due to a little pest named Taylor. Sandy is surprised to find Kirsten has been released from rehab but instead of informing him, she has been living with another woman named Charlotte who she met in rehab. Julie and Sandy meet with the Dean and Dr. Kim to discuss Ryan and Marissa’s future at Harbor High. Later Ryan and Marissa partake in a similar meeting. Elsewhere Jimmy meets a man and feels more than open to discuss his money problems with him.

    Director: Doug Liman, Tony Wharmby

    Writer: Josh Schwartz, Allan Heinberg, J. J. Philbin

  • The End of Innocence
    7.6/10 484 votes

    #3 - The End of Innocence

    Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 9/22/2005

    Jimmy must make once more the difficult decision to leave or stay with his family; Kirsten returns to the Cohen household while Charlotte has to leave her house; Marissa and Ryan face a possible separation; Taylor lords over the school musical and makes Summer and Seth her stooges.

    Director: Michael Lange

    Writer: Stephanie Savage

  • The Last Waltz
    7.7/10 481 votes

    #4 - The Last Waltz

    Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 9/29/2005

    Marissa struggles with attending a public high school, and her new friends make Ryan jealous; Charlotte's ruse is up when she learns that Kirsten did not inherit any money from Caleb; Julie's mansion is repossessed, leaving her with nothing; Taylor's power play dethrones Summer as commitee chairman, who then learns an interesting secret about her and Dean Hess.

    Director: Ian Toynton

    Writer: John Stephens

  • The Perfect Storm
    7.6/10 456 votes

    #5 - The Perfect Storm

    Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 11/3/2005

    Ryan decides to make a life-changing decision that Sandy reluctantly supports; Marissa looks to her new friends to help with her latest crisis with Ryan; Summer and Seth go on a mission to reveal a secret between Taylor and Dean Hess; Charlotte makes Julie an offer that she can't refuse.

    Director: Tony Wharmby

    Writer: Mike Kelley

  • The Swells
    7.3/10 466 votes

    #6 - The Swells

    Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 11/10/2005

    Marissa discovers something in Johnny that Ryan lacks and Charlotte convinces Julie and Kirsten to throw a charity event. After discovering fake IDs in Charlotte's purse, Julie confronts her.

    Director: Michael Fresco

    Writer: J. J. Philbin

  • The Anger Management
    7.8/10 468 votes

    #7 - The Anger Management

    Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 11/17/2005

    When the gang heads to The Bait Shop to see The Subways, Taylor's horsing around causes a major rift between Seth and Summer. Marissa, determined to end the potentially explosive rift between Ryan and Volchok, does whatever it takes to watch out for Ryan. Meanwhile, Matt, Sandy's Newport Group partner, goes above and beyond the call of duty when he learns he has to cut Newport Group staff.

    Director: Michael Fresco

    Writer: John Stephens

  • The Game Plan
    7.7/10 455 votes

    #8 - The Game Plan

    Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 12/1/2005

    Ryan, Summer, Seth, and Marissa think about what they'd like to do with their lives as they compile their college applications, but they run across several obstacles; Johnny's surfing career takes an unfortunate twist; a revealed secret complicates Julie's friendship with Kirsten.

    Director: Tate Donovan

    Writer: Cory Martin

  • The Disconnect
    7.4/10 441 votes

    #9 - The Disconnect

    Season 3 Episode 9 - Aired 12/8/2005

    Marissa visits Johnny at his house after his accident to see how he is doing. Julie and Kirsten get a contract for their new catering business while Sandy, Ryan and Matt meet with investors.

    Director: Tony Wharmby

    Writer: Stephanie Savage

  • The Chrismukkah Bar-Mitzvahkkah
    7.6/10 467 votes

    #10 - The Chrismukkah Bar-Mitzvahkkah

    Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 12/15/2005

    Chrismukkah has returned to the Cohen house and Seth suggests to have a Bar Mitzvah to Ryan to raise money for Johnny's knee surgery after his accident but Ryan then pulls out after seeing Johnny and Marissa get too close.

    Director: Ian Toynton

    Writer: Josh Schwartz

  • The Safe Harbor
    8.0/10 454 votes

    #11 - The Safe Harbor

    Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 1/12/2006

    Ryan, Seth and Summer launch a campaign to get Marissa back into Harbour. With the help of Dr. Kim they get the board of trustees to hear the case will Marissa be permitted to return for her final semester?

    Director: Tony Wharmby

    Writer: Mike Kelley

  • The Sister Act
    7.5/10 452 votes

    #12 - The Sister Act

    Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 1/19/2006

    It's winter break and Kaitlin Cooper has returned home from her Montecito boarding school.

    Director: Ian Toynton

    Writer: Leila Gerstein

  • The Pot Stirrer
    7.3/10 433 votes

    #13 - The Pot Stirrer

    Season 3 Episode 13 - Aired 1/26/2006

    Kaitlin starts going out with Johnny with the sole motive of making Marissa jealous. Seth starts getting nostalgic as he prepares for his Brown interview.

    Director: Norman Buckley

    Writer: John Stephens

  • The Cliffhanger
    7.7/10 454 votes

    #14 - The Cliffhanger

    Season 3 Episode 14 - Aired 2/2/2006

    Sandy and Matt's hospital project hits a roadblock. Kirsten and Julie run into troubles of their own with their matchmaking business. Marissa confesses her feelings to Johnny. Summer finds out out about Seth.

    Director: Michael Lange

    Writer: J. J. Philbin

  • The Heavy Lifting
    7.1/10 472 votes

    #15 - The Heavy Lifting

    Season 3 Episode 15 - Aired 2/9/2006

    Kaitlin prepares herself to head back to school. Ryan has doubts about his relationship with Marissa after helping out Sadie. Kirsten and Julie make plans for a Valentine's Day party.

    Director: Ian Toynton

    Writer: Stephanie Savage

  • The Road Warrior
    7.1/10 464 votes

    #16 - The Road Warrior

    Season 3 Episode 16 - Aired 3/9/2006

    When Ryan and Sadie go on a road trip to search for one of Johnny's relatives they end up in Ryan's old neighborhood in Chino, which brings the two closer together. While the two are away Marissa is implicated in Johnny's death and Seth and Summer learn the truth about Julie and Dr. Roberts new secret.

    Director: Michael Fresco

    Writer: Mike Kelley

  • The Journey
    7.5/10 464 votes

    #17 - The Journey

    Season 3 Episode 17 - Aired 3/16/2006

    Ryan thinks about not inviting Marissa to his 18th birthday after their falling out but Sandy tries to get him to invite a relative. After months of avoiding telling Summer and Marissa the truth Neil and Julie tell Summer and Marissa the truth.

    Director: Roxann Dawson

    Writer: John Stephens

  • The Undertow
    7.2/10 473 votes

    #18 - The Undertow

    Season 3 Episode 18 - Aired 3/23/2006

    When an old friend returns to Newport, Ryan decides to help her, which causes problems for him and Sadie. When Summer and Seth run into another rough patch Taylor tries to help them out. Sandy has to deal with more problems with the Newport Group and Marissa must deal with being alone.

    Director: Robert Duncan McNeill

    Writer: J. J. Philbin, Mark Fish

  • The Secrets and Lies
    7.2/10 459 votes

    #19 - The Secrets and Lies

    Season 3 Episode 19 - Aired 3/30/2006

    Julie and Dr. Roberts announce their engagement and the Cooper ladies move in with Summer and her dad. Meanwhile, Marissa drifts away from the group and Summer when she seeks solace in the bad company of Volchok and his crew. Ryan tries to move on with Sadie, but Seth's concerns for Marissa get in the way. At the Newport Group, Sandy's woes with Matt continue and Kirsten surprises Seth with a night out.

    Director: Michael Fresco

    Writer: Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage

  • The Day After Tomorrow
    7.5/10 461 votes

    #20 - The Day After Tomorrow

    Season 3 Episode 20 - Aired 4/6/2006

    When college acceptance and rejection letters are received the kids must consider what path they are going to follow. Ryan and Sadie are trying to decide what they will do after high school. Taylor holds a college party and Summer and Marissa fix their friendship problems.

    Director: Norman Buckley

    Writer: Leila Gerstein

  • The Dawn Patrol
    7.5/10 462 votes

    #21 - The Dawn Patrol

    Season 3 Episode 21 - Aired 4/13/2006

    Ryan decides to go and invite his mother to his graduation party. Taylor and Summer work together to try and find out what Seth is hiding, but Summer ends up getting hurt. Marissa realises she is in bad company after she finds out how low Volchok's friends can go. Sandy is able to fix his work problems with Matt but while doing so he hurts Kirsten.

    Director: Ian Toynton

    Writer: Mike Kelley

  • The College Try
    7.7/10 459 votes

    #22 - The College Try

    Season 3 Episode 22 - Aired 4/20/2006

    Graduation is just weeks away and Ryan, Seth, Summer and Marissa leave Newport to attend their respective pre-frosh orientations at UC Berkeley and Brown. While dropping the boys off at the airport, Kirsten is surprised to see Theresa and her all-too-familiar-looking baby boy. While visiting Brown, Seth runs into Anna on the quad and they instantly connect. Could this be the end of Summer and Seth? Meanwhile, Kirsten and Sandy attend a hospital benefit where Kirsten vents her frustrations and falls back into an old habit.

    Director: Tony Wharmby

    Writer: J. J. Philbin

  • The Party Favor
    7.9/10 489 votes

    #23 - The Party Favor

    Season 3 Episode 23 - Aired 4/27/2006

    Harbor School's Senior Prom brings out the best and the worst in everyone. Taylor hits a high at prom, while Summer falls flat with her surprising prom date. Seth and Anna come up with a prom plan to win Summer back. Meanwhile, Marissa convinces Volchok to go to the prom and Ryan brings an unexpected old flame. When one of the girls is elected prom queen, it truly becomes a night to remember. Later, when Taylor's prom funds are missing, Ryan returns to his old ways and prom night turns brutal.

    Director: Michael Lange

    Writer: John Stephens

  • The Man of the Year
    7.8/10 503 votes

    #24 - The Man of the Year

    Season 3 Episode 24 - Aired 5/4/2006

    Ryan and Volchok make a deal after a fallout at prom. Sandy is chosen as Man of the Year, but this sparks the DA to dig deeper into his involvement with the hospital problems. Marissa goes and sees Kaitlin at her boarding school and Seth visits the Newport Group HQ and lights up the joint.

    Director: Ian Toynton, Tony Wharmby

    Writer: Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage

  • The Graduates
    8.7/10 804 votes

    #25 - The Graduates

    Season 3 Episode 25 - Aired 5/18/2006

    It is graduation day for Ryan, Seth, Summer, and Marissa at Harbor High School. After graduation they all went out to eat and celebrate their graduation. Ryan's mother gave him a new car as a graduation present. Marissa is going to spend a year on a boat with her father as her graduation gift. Seth finally got into RISD for second semester. Summer is still going to Brown University in the fall. Volchok is still mad at Marissa and Ryan so he decided to crash Ryan's car.

    Director: Ian Toynton

    Writer: Josh Schwartz, Bob DeLaurentis