The Best Episodes Written By Josh Schwartz

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   8.9/10(12 votes)

   #1 - Chuck Versus the Ring: Part 2

   S3:E195/24/2010

   Shaw returns to threaten everything that Chuck holds dear as his friends, family and the woman he loves are all put in mortal danger. Chuck has to find Shaw and stop him before his own world gets torn apart.

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   Writer:Josh Schwartz

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2. 

   8.6/10(12 votes)

   #2 - Chuck Versus the First Date

   S2:E19/29/2008

   Chuck's time as the Intersect is coming to a close as the CIA and NSA have completed construction of the new Intersect.

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   Writer:Josh Schwartz

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3. 

   8.4/10(7 votes)

   #3 - Valley Girls

   S2:E245/11/2009

   In a flashback to the 80s, 17-year-old Lily Rhodes gets kicked out of boarding school and runs away to Los Angeles, reconnecting with her parents, Rick and Cece, and sister, Carol. Back in present day, Blair and Nate attend prom together, but the evening doesn't turn out exactly as planned and Chuck and Serena have a little something to do with that. Serena and Lily don't see eye-to-eye over Serena's recent run-in with the law.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Josh Schwartz

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4. 

   8.2/10(12 votes)

   #4 - Chuck Versus the Third Dimension

   S2:E122/2/2009

   Chuck foils a plan to kill Tyler Martin, an international rock star. Chuck's night out with Tyler leads to trouble. Morgan holds a contest among his fellow employees.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Josh Schwartz

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5. 

   8.2/10(15 votes)

   #5 - Premiere

   S1:E18/5/2003

   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:N/A

   Writer:Josh Schwartz

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6. 

   8.1/10(7 votes)

   #6 - The Chrismukkah That Almost Wasn't

   S2:E612/16/2004

   It's Chrismukkah once again in The O.C. and this year, Seth wants to take it global. As Caleb is faced with the looming prospect of going to prison, Sandy convinces him to come forward and reveal the truth about his involvement with Renee. Julie and Jimmy spend some quality time together. Caleb's confession shocks the Cohen and Nichol family to the core, and nothing will be the same again.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Josh Schwartz

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7. 

   8.1/10(7 votes)

   #7 - The Dearly Beloved

   S2:E245/19/2005

   Kirsten hits rock bottom after Caleb's funeral, prompting Sandy to finally take action; Jimmy Cooper resurfaces and almost immediately renews ties with a mourning Julie; Jess bullies Trey into participating in a drug deal that turns into a shootout; Ryan finally learns the truth about what happened between Trey and Marissa, leading to a bloody confrontation.

   Director:N/A

   Writer:Josh Schwartz

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8. 

   8.1/10(8 votes)

   #8 - The Homecoming

   S1:E1111/19/2003

   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:N/A

   Writer:Josh Schwartz

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   Writer:Josh Schwartz
9. 

   8.1/10(8 votes)

   #9 - The Graduates

   S3:E255/18/2006

   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:N/A

   Writer:Josh Schwartz

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10. 

    8.0/10(25 votes)

    #10 - Pilot

    S1:E19/19/2007

    "It girl" Serena van der Woodsen has returned to Manhattan after a mysterious and self-imposed exile to boarding school. Serena's best friend, Blair Waldorf, has conflicted feelings about her friend's return since she has enjoyed being the Queen Bee during Serena's absence and might not be ready to relinquish her new position on the social ladder, not to mention the fact that she has always suspected there may be unspoken feelings between Serena and her longtime boyfriend, Nate.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Josh Schwartz

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11. 

    7.9/10(11 votes)

    #11 - Much 'I Do' About Nothing

    S1:E185/19/2008

    Blair takes matters into her own hands to help Serena with the manipulative and evil Georgina Sparks. Lily, while keeping Rufus in her mind, prepares for her wedding with Bart Bass that is designed to be the Upper East Side's social event of the year. Serena finally tells Dan the whole truth about her past and they try to work things out after Dan has cheated on her, but will it be too late? An unexpected guest shows up at Lily and Bart's wedding. Georgina is sent somewhere where she can do no harm. Blair plans to go somewhere with Chuck.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Josh Schwartz

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12. 

    7.9/10(8 votes)

    #12 - The Heartbreak

    S1:E192/18/2004

    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:N/A

    Writer:Josh Schwartz

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13. 

    7.9/10(7 votes)

    #13 - The Chrismukkah Bar-Mitzvahkkah

    S3:E1012/15/2005

    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:N/A

    Writer:Josh Schwartz

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14. 

    7.8/10(24 votes)

    #14 - Chuck Versus the Intersect

    S1:E19/24/2007

    Chuck Bartowski is an average computer geek until files of government secrets are downloaded into his brain. He is soon scouted by the CIA and NSA to act in place of their computer.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Josh Schwartz

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15. 

    7.8/10(8 votes)

    #15 - The Escape

    S1:E79/16/2003

    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:N/A

    Writer:Josh Schwartz

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16. 

    7.8/10(9 votes)

    #16 - The Avengers

    S4:E111/2/2006

    Seth works at a comic book store in Newport. Kirsten drops by the store to ask Seth if he has something to send Ryan in a "care package" she is preparing. Later, Seth tries to talk Ryan into coming to dinner at the Cohens' but the latter isn't easily persuaded, saying he works nights, etc. At her dorm, Summer and a friend named Che try to rally students for a protest. Summer gets a phone call from Taylor who seems to be in Paris.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Josh Schwartz

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17. 

    7.8/10(28 votes)

    #17 - I Hardly Recognized You

    S1:E110/11/2017

    When Blake chooses Cristal over his own daughter, Fallon sidles up to Blake's biggest rival, Jeff Colby, to seek her revenge. Meanwhile, when Cristal's nephew Sammy Jo comes to town, her carefully concealed history could bring her future crashing down - and who knows who else she might take down with her.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Josh Schwartz

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18. 

    7.7/10(7 votes)

    #18 - The Return of the Nana

    S2:E215/5/2005

    Sandy, Seth and Ryan travel to Miami to visit the Nana after she tells Sandy she is getting married. Unable to go because of work, Kirsten is left on her own to deal with her feelings for Carter. Trey misinterprets Marissa's friendship; Zach invites Summer to a home-cooked dinner.

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    Writer:Josh Schwartz

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19. 

    7.7/10(9 votes)

    #19 - The Goodbye Girl

    S1:E213/3/2004

    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:N/A

    Writer:Josh Schwartz

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20. 

    7.7/10(10 votes)

    #20 - The Ties That Bind

    S1:E275/5/2004

    Julie and Caleb walk down the aisle, as Ryan and Theresa face a difficult decision regarding their pregnancy. Marissa moves into Caleb and Julie's new castle on the cliff, and 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.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Josh Schwartz

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21. 

    7.6/10(11 votes)

    #21 - The Model Home

    S1:E28/12/2003

    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.

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    Writer:Josh Schwartz

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22. 

    7.6/10(7 votes)

    #22 - The Shape of Things to Come

    S3:E29/15/2005

    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:N/A

    Writer:Josh Schwartz

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23. 

    7.6/10(7 votes)

    #23 - The Aftermath

    S3:E19/8/2005

    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.

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    Writer:Josh Schwartz

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24. 

    7.5/10(14 votes)

    #24 - The Wild Brunch

    S1:E29/26/2007

    It's the day right after the Kiss on the Lips party and Serena receives a cold reception from her former best friend Blair. Blair reveals that she knows that Serena and Nate slept together, before Serena mysteriously went to boarding school. Then Serena decides to take Dan to Chuck's fundraiser brunch at The Palace. Meanwhile little Jenny asks Blair for advice, and Blair realizes that she maybe gains something by allowing Jenny into her inner circle.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Josh Schwartz

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25. 

    7.5/10(40 votes)

    #25 - Gimme Shelter

    S2:E112/21/2018

    The kids struggle with their new lives as Runaways, but find a hideout. Alex goes to work for Darius while PRIDE plots to kill Jonah. Jonah initiates a plan to build a new box.

    Director:N/A

    Writer:Josh Schwartz

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