The Worst Episodes of The O.C.
Every episode of The O.C. ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The O.C.!
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.
Lowest Rated Episodes Summary
The worst episode of "The O.C." is "The Dream Lover", rated 6.8/10 from 472 user votes. It was directed by Patrick R. Norris and written by Leila Gerstein. "The Dream Lover" aired on 1/18/2007 and is rated 0.2 point(s) lower than the second lowest rated, "The French Connection".
6.8/10 472 votes#1 - The Dream Lover
Season 4 Episode 11 - Aired 1/18/2007
Ryan overcomes his indecision and competes with Henri-Michel for Taylor's affections. Che leads Seth on a trek of spiritual renewal. Meanwhile, Kirsten and Julie have to do some damage control.
Director: Patrick R. Norris
Writer: Leila Gerstein
7.0/10 476 votes#2 - The French Connection
Season 4 Episode 10 - Aired 1/11/2007
Taylor's ex-husband comes to Newport and causes a rift in her relationship with Ryan. Seth goes to Seattle to obtain Dr. Roberts blessing, while Summer "travels to the past" for 48 hours. Kaitlin finds love, while Julie finds problems with Kirsten.
Director: John Stephens
Writer: J. J. Philbin
7.1/10 472 votes#3 - 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
7.1/10 464 votes#4 - 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
7.2/10 473 votes#5 - 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
7.2/10 459 votes#6 - 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
7.3/10 466 votes#7 - 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
7.3/10 433 votes#8 - 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
7.3/10 464 votes#9 - The My Two Dads
Season 4 Episode 9 - Aired 1/4/2007
Kaitlin is assigned a tutor after she presented a ruffled report to her class. Julie comes clean to Kirsten about who Frank really is. Summer and Seth continue their recent commitment despite how they really feel about it. When Ryan's dad comes to the Cohen's for dinner things don't go as planned.
Director: Michael Schultz
Writer: Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage
7.4/10 621 votes#10 - 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
7.4/10 713 votes#11 - 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
7.4/10 509 votes#12 - The Father Knows Best
Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 2/17/2005
As Sandy continues working on Rebecca's case, Kirsten questions how strong their feelings are for one another. Seth continues his downward spiral in the aftermath of Zach and Summer's Valentine's night together, while Marissa confronts her fear about her relationship with Alex. Caleb offers Lindsay a place in his family, but not without a paternity test.
Director: Michael Lange
Writer: John Stephens
7.4/10 507 votes#13 - 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
7.4/10 441 votes#14 - 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
7.4/10 476 votes#15 - The Groundhog Day
Season 4 Episode 12 - Aired 1/25/2007
Sandy, Ryan and Seth prepare for Kirsten's upcoming 40th birthday party, however Kirsten learns some news that will change her life forever. Kaitlin tries to stop her mother having a secret love affair. Taylor visits a therapist and Ryan pretends that he doesnt miss her. Elsewhere Che finally learns that Seth isn't his soulmate.
Director: Ian Toynton
Writer: Mark Fish
7.5/10 630 votes#16 - 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
7.5/10 574 votes#17 - 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
7.5/10 543 votes#18 - The Accomplice
Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 1/27/2005
Things heat up between Sandy and Kirsten when Sandy decides to help his mentor in law school find his daughter, Rebecca, whom was Sandy's first love. Seth and Zach start up a comic book based on their lives in Newport, while Summer questions why she's been left out. Ryan makes the attempt to unite Lindsay and Caleb after Lindsay tells Ryan she is curious in getting to know her "new" father. While Julie is in Paris, Marissa looks for new ways to rebel; in doing so, her friendship with Alex increases.
Director: Ian Toynton
Writer: Allan Heinberg
7.5/10 519 votes#19 - The Second Chance
Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 2/3/2005
After hearing about Lindsay and Ryan's failed attempt at dinner with Caleb the night before, Kirsten arranges a dinner that she can supervise. But her presence makes no difference when Ryan and Caleb butt heads and disaster strikes. Sandy keeps Rebecca's presence in Newport a secret from Kirsten after deciding to take her case to court. Marissa and Alex's relationship intensifies, while Seth and Summer spend a lot of time together at Zach's insistence.
Director: Tony Wharmby
Writer: Josh Schwartz, Drew Z. Greenberg
7.5/10 538 votes#20 - The Lonely Hearts Club
Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 2/10/2005
It's Valentines Day 2005 in O.C. when Sandy and Kirsten's conflict about Rebecca continues. Ryan tries to make peace with Caleb to spend Valentines Day with Lindsay. While Seth, Zach, and Summer head to San Diego in hope to make their Comic Book idea succeed Seth has a breakdown and ends up in a lonely state. Marissa and Alex take a step forward in their relationship while Julie returns from her trip in hope to reconnect with Marissa.
Director: Ian Toynton
Writer: J. J. Philbin
7.5/10 506 votes#21 - The Blaze of Glory
Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 3/17/2005
Spring has flung in Newport where Marissa recruits Ryan to help her with Harbor School's Pep Rally Bonfire. Alex accepts that her and Marissa are from two different lives and knows she is fighting a lost cause. Seth is stuck and misses last year's good times while Summer disagrees and tells him it's time to move on. Meanwhile, Julie still doesn't know what she is gonna do about her blackmailer and seeks some advice from Sandy. Kirsten wants Carter to stick with the magazine despite his reservations.
Director: Robert Duncan McNeill
Writer: Mike Kelley
7.5/10 504 votes#22 - The O.C. Confidential
Season 2 Episode 20 - Aired 4/21/2005
Sandy and the boys devise a plan to save Trey from going to jail after he took the fall for supplying drugs at his birthday party. Kirsten and Carter, fulfilling more than their editorial duties, take a trip to Featherbrook's winery. Meanwhile, Caleb returns home and questions his marriage with Julie.
Director: Tony Wharmby
Writer: Mike Kelley
7.5/10 452 votes#23 - 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
7.5/10 464 votes#24 - 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
7.5/10 461 votes#25 - 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