The O.C.

Did You Know?

• Chrismukkah later received mention in the television series Grey's Anatomy.
• For the fourth season, episodes were available via on demand streaming through Fox Interactive Media's MySpace and MyFoxLocal stations before broadcast.

Plot

The first season centers on Ryan Atwood's arrival in Newport Beach to live with Sandy and Kirsten Cohen after his mother kicks him out. A major theme is the culture shock Ryan experiences moving from poverty and domestic abuse to a superficial high-class society. He befriends Seth Cohen and begins a romantic relationship with Marissa Cooper, supporting her through her parents' divorce.

Ryan takes a protective role over Marissa, revealing a stable personality. Other storylines include Seth's development from a loner to having two romantic options, the arrival of troubled teen Oliver Trask, and the return of Ryan's former love interest Theresa Diaz. Sandy Cohen frequently clashes with wealthy industrialist Caleb Nichol.

Cast and characters

Peter Gallagher plays Sandy Cohen, an idealistic public defender who takes in Ryan Atwood. He is the husband of Kirsten, father of Seth, and legal guardian of Ryan. Gallagher described the character as a leftie Jewish guy from the Bronx. Sandy deals with conflicts such as gaining acceptance from his father-in-law while being financially supported by his wife.

Kelly Rowan portrays Kirsten Cohen, former CFO of the Newport Group, Sandy's wife, and Seth's mother. She dated Jimmy Cooper before meeting Sandy and has struggled with alcohol triggered by her deteriorating relationship with her father. Kirsten opens a dating service with Julie and becomes a mother of two by the end of the fourth season. Her politics are conservative, contrasting with her husband.

Ben McKenzie plays Ryan Atwood, a troubled teenager from Chino taken in by Sandy Cohen after his mother throws him out. He bonds with Seth and Marissa, completes high school, and continues to university. Casting director Patrick Rush noted McKenzie inhabited the character with a sense of mystery and danger. Chad Michael Murray was originally offered the role but turned it down for One Tree Hill.

Production

In 2002, Josh Schwartz met with McG and Stephanie Savage, who wanted a TV series set in McG's hometown of Newport Beach. Schwartz first pitched a romance between Ryan Atwood and Lucy Muñoz, but Warner Bros. asked for changes because other shows that year had a similar interracial couple. Schwartz and Savage then reworked the idea, calling it The Breakfast Club inside an Orange County gated community.

They took the pitch to Fox in August 2002. The network wanted a summer debut, and Doug Liman directed the pilot after McG had to drop out due to his work on Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. Fox confirmed the show for the 2003–2004 season in May, and set the premiere for August 5, 2003, the following month.

Reception

Critics generally praised the first season of The O.C., often calling it the show's high point. MSNBC's Gael Fashingbauer Cooper singled out the bond between Ryan and Seth as the most promising storyline. The New York Times noted that creator Josh Schwartz managed to sneak a genuinely intelligent show past network gatekeepers by dressing it up as something commercial and trashy, avoiding both Aaron Spelling-style camp and the overly earnest tone common in teen dramas.

IGN found the season more engaging than earlier teen shows, highlighting its humor and respect for viewers, though it considered Mischa Barton the weak link. Time Magazine's James Poniewozik enjoyed the premiere, believing the series had enough heart, talent, and wit to sustain several seasons of high-quality soap opera. However, the San Jose Mercury News criticized the plots and casting, arguing that Benjamin McKenzie looked too old to play a teenager and that storylines relied on predictable drug issues and lost virginity arcs.

The second season was seen as weaker than the first but still got generally positive reviews. IGN felt it contained some of the series' best moments, particularly praising the bisexual romance between Alex and Marissa for effectively portraying her confusion and excitement.