A look back at great moments from ''The O.C.''

A look back at great moments from ”The O.C.”

PILOT
Aug. 5, 2003
A study in addiction-inducing television, with its archetypal characters (James Dean rebel Ryan), quotability (”ew”), and self-awareness (geeky Seth blathers about how it would be ”so cliché” for the jocks to kick his ass…just before the jocks kick his ass). We fall for The O.C. even faster than Ryan falls for Marissa.

”THE TIES THAT BIND”
Season 1, May 5, 2004
Theresa’s having Ryan’s baby! Julie’s marrying Caleb! We’re so wound up from this manic season, we shed real tears over the prospect of Ryan and Marissa splitting. And this season finale has one of the few montages ever to live up to ”Hallelujah” (or at least it does in the moment).

”THE GRADUATES”
Season 3, May 18, 2006
We had suffered through Marissa shooting Ryan’s brother, then driving surfer Johnny to his death, then taking up with Volchok. When Marissa dies in a Volchok-induced car crash with Ryan at her side, her death feels right — and not just because it means the end of all that brooding.

”THE METAMORPHOSIS”
Season 4, Nov. 16, 2006
Summer undergoing the five stages of grief in quick-cut sequence from her shrink’s couch is highly amusing. And our relief at her switch from granola-grunge do-gooder back into stylish socialite taps directly into the gooey guilty-pleasure center of our O.C. devotion.

”THE CHRISMUKK-HUH?”
Season 4, Dec. 14, 2006
A holiday present for the few viewers left. On this Chrismukkah episode, Ryan goes all It’s a Wonderful Life and sees the dire life the Cohens would’ve had (Sandy married to Julie — ew!) without him around. That his new love (true love?) Taylor sees it with him makes it all the sweeter.