The pilot, directed by Doug Liman (Swingers, The Bourne Identity), is iconic. Ryan Atwood (Benjamin McKenzie), a troubled teen from the wrong side of the tracks in Chino, is arrested for stealing a car. His public defender, Sandy Cohen (Peter Gallagher), takes pity on him and brings him home to the gated community of Newport Beach, much to the initial horror of his wife, Kirsten (Kelly Rowan).
What follows is the ultimate fantasy-meets-reality setup: Ryan is a fish out of water in a sea of McMansions, designer clothes, and parental neglect. He’s taken in by the Cohens—Sandy (the idealistic, baggy-sweater-wearing mensch), Kirsten (the repressed heiress to a real estate empire), and their neurotic, insecure, pop-culture-obsessed son, Seth (Adam Brody). Seth, who has spent his life as an island unto himself, finally has a brother. Their bond becomes the emotional anchor of the series.
The surprise. Summer begins as a vapid princess. By episode 10, she reveals layers of loyalty, intelligence, and hilarious sarcasm. Her slow-burn romance with Seth (the "Seth/Summer" ship) is the show's comedic and emotional relief. The OC - Temporada 1
The pilot episode opens with one of the most iconic lines in TV history: "Welcome to the OC, bitch."
We meet Ryan Atwood (Benjamin McKenzie), a troubled teenager from the wrong side of the tracks in Chino, California. After being arrested for stealing a car, his public defender, Sandy Cohen (Peter Gallagher), takes pity on him. Against the wishes of his wife, Kirsten (Kelly Rowan), Sandy brings Ryan into their luxurious, pristine world of Newport Beach. The pilot, directed by Doug Liman ( Swingers
The fish-out-of-water trope has never been executed better. Ryan is thrown into a world of private schools, $500 haircuts, and moral bankruptcy hidden behind picket fences. His savior is the Cohens' lonely, neurotic son, Seth (Adam Brody), a self-deprecating comic book nerd who finally has a friend. Across the street lives the girl next door, Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton), the beautiful but deeply troubled queen bee, and her best friend, the sarcastic, pragmatic Summer Roberts (Rachel Bilson).
Season 1 is the story of Ryan trying not to ruin the Cohens' lives while inevitably falling in love with Marissa. But it is also the story of Seth growing up, Sandy fighting for his soul, and Kirsten learning to open her heart. What set The OC apart from Dawson’s Creek
The tragic beauty. Marissa’s Season 1 journey is a relentless spiral: parental divorce, the shooting of her boyfriend, alcohol abuse, and a suicide attempt. She is the show’s heartbreak engine. Her whispered "Ryan... help me" in the finale is seared into TV history.
| Character | Actor | Description | |-----------|-------|-------------| | Ryan Atwood | Ben McKenzie | Loyal, quiet, troubled kid with a good heart. | | Marissa Cooper | Mischa Barton | Beautiful but emotionally fragile neighbor, Ryan’s love interest. | | Seth Cohen | Adam Brody | Quick-witted, comic-loving son of Sandy and Kirsten, Ryan’s surrogate brother. | | Summer Roberts | Rachel Bilson | Popular, sarcastic girl who becomes Seth’s love interest. | | Sandy Cohen | Peter Gallagher | Idealistic public defender, moral compass of the show. | | Kirsten Cohen | Kelly Rowan | Sandy’s wife, daughter of a Newport tycoon, balancing family and wealth. | | Julie Cooper-Nichol | Melinda Clarke | Manipulative socialite, Marissa’s mother. | | Jimmy Cooper | Tate Donovan | Marissa’s lovable but financially inept father. | | Luke Ward | Chris Carmack | Marissa’s jock ex-boyfriend, later becomes a friend. | | Anna Stern | Samaire Armstrong | Witty, kind girl who competes with Summer for Seth’s attention. | | Oliver Trask | Taylor Handley | Manipulative teen who befriends Ryan and obsesses over Marissa. | | Theresa Diaz | Navi Rawat | Ryan’s ex-girlfriend from Chino. |
What set The OC apart from Dawson’s Creek or Beverly Hills, 90210 was its balance. The show was just as much about the parents as it was about the teenagers.
And then there are Sandy and Kirsten Cohen. Sandy is the liberal Jewish public defender with a soft spot for lost causes. Kirsten is the WASP-y heiress who hides her vulnerability behind a clipboard. Their marriage is the rock the show builds upon.