The show launched the careers of bands like The Killers ("Smile Like You Mean It" appears later) and revived interest in alternative rock.
You cannot discuss The OC - Temporada 1 without discussing its music. Before Grey’s Anatomy or Shazam, the show used to list every song played during the episode in the closing credits—a revolutionary act.
Oliver (a creepy friend of Marissa’s) is revealed as a liar. Ryan punches him. Marissa collapses. The drama is Shakespearean.
Let’s look at the legacy.
The first season ran for 27 episodes—a massive order by today’s standards. Yet, it rarely dragged. Here are the essential episodes:
Episode 7: "The Escape" This is the episode that turned casual viewers into fanatics. Ryan, Seth, Summer, and Marissa steal a yacht to go to Catalina Island. Stranded together, Seth finally kisses Summer (while she’s wearing a pink wig), and Ryan and Marissa admit their feelings. It’s sunny, romantic, and perfect.
Episode 14: "The Countdown" The New Year’s Eve episode. The show’s reputation for killer music cues peaks here with Jeff Buckley’s "Hallelujah" playing as Ryan races to save Marissa from a dark situation with her ex, Luke. The final scene, where the ball drops at the Cohen house and Ryan kisses Marissa at midnight, remains a tear-jerker. The OC - Temporada 1
Episode 20: "The Telenovela" Arguably the funniest episode. Seth writes a comic book about his family’s drama, and Summer helps him sell it. Meanwhile, Julie Cooper (Melinda Clarke), Marissa’s brilliantly manipulative mother, tries to seduce Luke. It is soapy, absurd perfection.
Episodes 26-27: "The Dearly Beloved" and "The Escape" (Finale) The two-part finale is devastating. Marissa shoots her mother’s boyfriend, Trey (Ryan’s brother), to save Ryan. As the police sirens wail, Marissa collapses in Ryan’s arms. The episode ends not with a cliffhanger, but with a quiet moment: Seth sailing away alone, leaving a note for Summer, and Ryan getting into a car to leave town. Then, the song: "Hallelujah" again, but this time slowed down. Utter heartbreak.
Modern shows like Euphoria (the emotional devastation), Gossip Girl (the wealth porn), and Never Have I Ever (the neurotic Jewish male lead) owe a debt to The O.C. Season 1. It was the first teen drama to acknowledge 9/11 (via Seth’s insecurity), the Iraq War (via Luke’s father), and class warfare without preaching. The show launched the careers of bands like
Rewatching The OC - Temporada 1 in 2025 is a nostalgic trip, but it’s also surprisingly fresh. The dialogue is snappier than most current teen shows. The issues—class warfare, addiction, parental neglect, mental health—are treated with genuine pathos, not just drama for drama’s sake.
Yes, the pacing of a 27-episode season is slower. Yes, the "Oliver" arc (episodes 18-21) drags a bit. But the emotional payoff is unmatched. When Sandy tells Ryan, "You don't have to earn our love," you feel 22 years of TV history crystallize into one perfect moment.