The O.C.

The lives of a group of friends and families have been forever changed b y the arrival of an outsider to their affluent oceanside community of Newport Beach in Orange County, California. When Ryan Atwood was taken in from the streets of Chino by then public defender Sandy Cohen, the Cohens had no idea how Ryan's arrival would affect them and those around them.

Summer is over, and school is in session. Seth and Ryan hope to win back the attention they once had from Summer and Marissa. With opportunity beckoning, Hailey tells Jimmy about her plans to move in order to pursue her unfulfilled fashion ambitions. Hoping to keep her near, Jimmy does something unimaginable.

At the Bait Shop, the new music club on the pier, Seth gets some help fr om his attractive and tough-talking manager, Alex, to prove that his friends don't know him as well as they think. Meanwhile, Summer gives some thought to how she really feels about Seth after she learns more information about her new boyfriend, Zach.

Seth, who is now without a girlfriend, and Sandy, who has just been fired from the law firm, embark on new eras in their lives and vow to take the whole family with them. Ryan and Seth go on an awkward double date to see THE KILLERS perform at the Bait Shop, with unexpected results.

The winter season finally comes to Newport, and Seth, Ryan, Summer and Marissa attend the annual SnO.C. Winter Ball. Julie and Jimmy spend some quality time together as the chairs of the host committee, and Sandy gets closer to the truth Caleb has been hiding. Meanwhile, Julie discovers Marissa's secret when Marissa leaves school at lunch and goes home to meet D.J.

The whole gang is invited to Chrismukkah at the Cohens' house, but Seth' s favorite holiday is nearly ruined as secrets are revealed that will change the Cohen family forever. Summer, Marissa and Ryan make a plan to save Chrismukkah.

Ryan tries to come to terms with his feelings for Lindsay. Now that she may become a member of the Cohen family, their attraction is rather awkward. Although Sandy knows they're dating, Ryan and Lindsay keep the relationship hidden from Kirsten. Meanwhile, Caleb learns that the criminal charges against him have been dismissed.

Lindsay and Ryan grapple with their new relationship: Is Lindsay Ryan's step-aunt or his girlfriend? Meanwhile, Summer meets Zach's family, and it doesn't go so well. In the end it's an anniversary to remember as Sandy surprises Kirsten with a serenade at the Bait Shop.

It's girls against boys when Marissa and Summer decide to plan a girls' night out and include Lindsay in the festivities. Left to their own devices Ryan, Seth and Zach, have a bonding session over video games and pizza but find it hard to stay away from their female counterparts.

Seth and Zach (recurring guest star MICHAEL CASSIDY) decide to create a comic book based on their lives in Newport Beach. While browsing throug h the sketches, Summer wonders why she's been left out. Sandy decides to help an old friend, Professor Max Bloom, find his daughter, Rebecca, but the search leads to even more questions.

Summer decides to take an active role in creating the comic book, but Se th doesn't know if he can handle spending that much time alone with her. Sandy and Rebecca reminisce about days gone by as Kirsten tries to convince Caleb that he could have a familial relationship with Lindsay.

Sandy tries to make amends with Kirsten for keeping Rebecca's return a secret by showering his wife with Valentine's Day gifts. Zach, Summer and Seth drive to San Diego to pitch their comic book idea, and Seth is determined to use the trip to get Summer back. Julie returns from her European vacation and has decided to reconnect with Marissa.

While Rebecca (recurring guest star KIM DELANEY) pays her last respects to her father, Kirsten grows impatient with Sandy's long absences from h ome and decides to visit Rebecca. Alex (recurring guest star OLIVIA WILDE) invites Marissa to hang out with her friends. Meanwhile, Caleb decides to remove all doubt that Lindsay (recurring guest star SHANNON LUCIO) is his daughter.

It's raining in Newport. Marissa tells Julie that she and Alex are dating and decides she has to get out of Caleb's house. Summer is faced with a big decision as she prepares to go to Italy with Zach. Ryan convinces Lindsay to take the paternity test, and everyone anxiously awaits the results. Meanwhile, Sandy is stranded in a motel room with nothing but a few snacks, champagne and Rebecca.

Although she is trying hard to make her new living situation work, Maris sa feels she needs a break and agrees to join Summer, Seth and Ryan at the mall. Julie and Kirsten await the arrival of Carter, the new editor of Newport Living but Julie is distracted when she's visited by Lance, an opportunistic man from her past. Meanwhile, Sandy and Caleb finally bond over all of their recent experiences.

Seth is determined to bring back the spirit and fun times of last year a nd won't stop until his plan is successful. Alex's jealousy is fueled when Marissa enlists an unlikely partner to help her with the school bonfire. Meanwhile, Kirsten wants Carter to continue with the magazine despite his reservations, and Sandy helps Julie keep her blackmailer at bay.

When someone from Ryan's past comes for a visit, he worries that nothing good can come of it; while the Cohen family welcomes the Chino visitor with open arms. As Marissa and Ryan continue to explore their newfound friendship, Seth and Summer face some unforeseen news. Meanwhile, Julie admits her mistake to Kirsten and looks to Caleb for help.

When Sandy becomes the honorary chairman of the Newport Beach charity yard sale, he solicits help from Trey, who has his first confrontation with the Newpsies. While Sandy auctions off Newport's finest, Kirsten and Carter share a table.

Eager to help Trey and Ryan repair their relationship, Marissa hosts a birthday party for Trey at Caleb's mansion that quickly gets out of control. After surfing with Carter, Sandy suggests introducing him to a woman friend, to Kirsten's chagrin. When Summer finds out what Seth's potential graphic novel publisher, Reed, is really like, Seth is in big trouble.

After the wild party at Caleb's mansion, Sandy, Seth and Ryan devise a p lan to save another Atwood from going to jail. Kirsten and Carter (recurring guest star BILLY CAMPBELL), fulfilling more than their editorial duties, take a trip to the wine country. Meanwhile, Caleb returns from Europe and rebuffs Julie's romantic advances. The band DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE performs.

Sandy, Seth and Ryan travel to Florida to visit Seth's Nana, Sophie, who is living in Miami Beach. While playing shuffleboard at the coastal retirement community, Seth and Ryan meet Mary-Sue, who helps Seth get center stage on the Music Video Nation spring break television special, hosted by Swerve, along with Pixie, who is a star of "Sherman Oaks: The Real Valley."

Since Carter's departure, Kirsten has been drinking more than just tomato juice for breakfast, and when Sandy questions her, he's left to sleep alone in the bedroom. Marissa's nervousness around Ryan leads him to wonder if something has happened between her and Trey.

Sandy and Caleb confront Kirsten about her behavior. Ryan heads home to Chino, as he looks for the truth about Trey and Marissa. Meanwhile, Summer refuses to let her three-way relationship with Zach and Seth stop her from attending the prom. And, Julie and Caleb toast to their final evening together as husband and wife.

In the season finale, Sandy must make a life-changing decision to save his marriage to Kirsten. Seth, Summer, Marissa and Ryan are caught in the crossfire at The Bait Shop; and Jimmy Cooper (former series star TATE DONOVAN), worried about Marissa and his family, rushes home to Newport Beach.