When tough, guarded, fiercely intelligent 16-year-old Ryan Atwood (series star BENJAMIN McKENZIE) is arrested for participating in a car theft, idealistic pro-bono public defender Sandy Cohen (series star... more
Now that Ryan's mother has abandoned Ryan and moved away, Sandy has no choice but to accede to Kirsten's wishes and remand Ryan to Social Services. Facing the prospect of living in a foster home, Ryan... more
Kirsten's company does not charge Ryan with arson for the model home burning, but he must remain in juvenile hall until he can be placed in the care of a guardian. more
Sandy and Kirsten convince child services officials to let them become Ryan's caretakers, and Ryan agrees to stay out of trouble. But with the upcoming cotillion, an old-fashioned formal event at which... more
After befriending a likeable busboy, Donnie (PAUL WASILEWSKI), at a casual seafood restaurant, Ryan takes a job there. more
Kirsten nervously prepares a magnificent birthday party for her widowed father, Caleb Nichol (recurring guest star ALAN DALE), an extremely successful and driven businessman for whom Kirsten works. more
It's the end of summer, and Seth convinces a reluctant Ryan to plan a trip to Tijuana, where hundreds of rowdy teens congregate to indulge in escapist excess before they have to begin school again. more
While Marissa recovers in the hospital from her overdose, everyone remains concerned about her. Julie (recurring guest star MELINDA CLARKE) vents her anger at Ryan, blaming him for all of Marissa's problems... more
The summer is officially over, and it's the first day of school. Summer (recurring guest star RACHEL BILSON) still ignores Seth in public, but privately she is jealous of Seth's burgeoning relationship... more
Having seriously dated for one week, Marissa and Ryan are progressing slowly. more
When Seth tries to choose between dating Summer (recurring guest star RACHEL BILSON) or Anna (recurring guest star SAMAIRE ARMSTRONG), he ends up in the middle of a very complicated situation. more
After Thanksgiving, Anna (recurring guest star SAMAIRE ARMSTRONG) and Summer (recurring guest star RACHEL BILSON) remain upset with Seth for his behavior on the holiday, and Seth struggles to reconcile... more
Seth excitedly introduces a skeptical Ryan to Chrismukkah, a Cohen family tradition that resulted from Kirsten being Christian and Sandy being Jewish. more
Kirsten's rebellious 25-year-old sister, Hailey Nichol (recurring guest star AMANDA RIGHETTI), comes to town on New Year's Eve, causing turmoil in the Cohen household. more
Kirsten's unemployed sister, Hailey (recurring guest star AMANDA RIGHETTI), moves in with the Cohens and disrupts the entire family when she behaves as the houseguest from hell. more
Ryan, Seth, Marissa, Anna (recurring guest star SAMAIRE ARMSTRONG), Luke and Summer head to Palm Springs for a parent-free weekend at the home of Marissa's new, troubled friend Oliver (recurring guest... more
Sandy and Jimmy begin a new business partnership when they buy The Lighthouse, a beloved Newport restaurant. more
Caleb (recurring guest star ALAN DALE) once again puts Kirsten in a difficult situation when he forces her to terminate Julie. more
Marissa tries to mend her relationship with Ryan, but he can't forgive her for the situation with Oliver. more
Marissa and Ryan try to start over as friends, but it's not as easy as they had hoped. more
When Theresa (recurring guest star NAVI RAWAT) decides to stay in Newport, Ryan is glad, but he feels obligated to help her find a job and a place to live. more
When actor Grady Bridges (COLIN HANKS - "Orange County," "Roswell") invites Summer and Marissa to his birthday party, the girls take Ryan and Seth to Los Angeles to join in the festivities. more
The Cohen family prepares for a visit from Sandy's mother, Sophie (LINDA LAVIN - "Alice"), for Passover dinner. more
Marissa isn't ready to speak to Luke or her mother, Julie, following her discovery that the two have been having an affair. more
Every bride-to-be must have a wedding shower, and Julie is going to have one to remember, thanks to Marissa. more
These are Caleb's (recurring guest star ALAN DALE) last days as a bachelor, and he's spending them in Las Vegas. more
It's Julie Cooper's wedding day, and it will be a day to remember for more people than just the blushing bride. more