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{{Character
{{Character|full_name = Ryan Francis Atwood Cohen|nickname(s) = Chino, Ry, Atwood|occupation = Architect <br>Busboy <small>(formerly)</small> <br>Construction worker <small>(formerly)</small> <br>High School student <small>([[Harbor High School]] ; graduated)</small> <br>College student <small>(University of California, Berkeley ; graduated)</small>|residence = [[Newport Beach]], [[California]]|home_town = [[Chino]], [[California]]|family = [[Sandy|Sandy Cohen]]<small> (adoptive father)</small> <br>[[Kirsten|Kirsten Cohen]]<small> (adoptive mother)</small><br>[[Seth.|Seth Cohen]]<small> (adoptive brother)</small><br>[[Sophie Rose|Sophie Rose Cohen]]<small> (adoptive younger sister)</small><br>[[Frank Atwood.|Frank Atwood]]<small> (biological father)</small><br>[[Dawn]]<small> (biological mother)</small><br>[[Trey Atwood.|Trey Atwood]]<small> (biological older brother ; estranged)</small><br>[[The son of Julie and Frank|unknown name]]<small> (biological paternal half-brother)</small><br>[[Caleb Nichol|Caleb]] and [[Rose|Rose Nichol]]<small> (adoptive maternal grandparents ; deceased)</small><br>[[Sophie]] and [[Sandy's father|unknown name Cohen]]<small> (adoptive paternal grandparents ; deceased)</small><br>[[Summer.|Summer Roberts]] <small> (sister in law; flash-forward)|image1 = Ryan_.gif|image2 = Ryan .jpg|status = Alive|portrayed_by = [[Benjamin McKenzie]]|love_stories = [[Theresa Diaz]]<small> (ex-girlfriend)</small> <br>[[Marissa Cooper]]<small> † (ex-girlfriend ; still in love with ; deceased)</small><br>[[Lindsay Gardner]]<small> (ex-girlfriend/adoptive aunt)</small> <br>[[Sadie Campbell]]<small> (ex-girlfriend)</small> <br>[[Taylor Townsend]]<small> (unclear ; but still in love with each other)</small> <br>[[Chloe]]<small> (one night stand)</small>|friends = [[Seth.|Seth Cohen]] <small>(best friend)</small> <br>[[Marissa|Marissa Cooper]] † <br>[[Summer.|Summer Roberts]] <small>(close friends)</small> <br>[[Taylor|Taylor Townsend]] <small> (with benefits) </small> <br>[[Luke|Luke Ward]] <small> (good friends) </small> <br> [[Sadie|Sadie Campbell]] <br>[[Theresa Diaz]]<br>[[Julie]] <br> [[Kaitlin|Kaitlin Cooper]]<br>[[Anna Stern..|Anna Stern]]<small> (good friends)|enemies = [[Kevin Volchok]] <br>[[Oliver Trask]]<br>[[Heather]]<br>[[Caleb Nichol]] † <br>[[Jack Hess]]<br>[[Luke Ward]]<small> (formerly)</small><br>[[Julie Cooper]]<small> (formerly)</small>|first_appearance = <small>1.01:</small> "[[Premiere]]"''|last_appearance = <small>4.16:</small> "[[The End's Not Near, It's Here]]"|caption1 = Benjamin McKenzie in the Pilot Episode|caption2 = Benjamin McKenzie in the Last Episode}}
 
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|title1=Ryan Atwood-Cohen
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|image1=RyanAtwood-S4-3.jpg
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|full_name=Ryan Francis Atwood-Cohen
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|aliases=Chino<br>Ry<br>Atwood<br>Peaches
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|birth=March 19, 1988
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|occupation=Architect<br>Busboy <small>(former)</small><br>Construction worker <small>(former) Newport Group Intern (former) </small><br>Berkeley Student <small>(graduated)</small><br>[[Harbor High School|Harbour Student]] <small>(graduated)</small><br>[[Chino Hills High School|Chino Hills Student]] <small>(former)</small>
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|status=Alive
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|gender=Male
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|residence=[[Newport Beach]], California<br>[[Chino]], California <small>(former)</small>
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|family=[[Sandy Cohen]] <small>(adoptive father)</small> <br>[[Kirsten Cohen]] <small>(adoptive mother)</small><br>[[Seth Cohen]] <small>(adoptive brother)</small><br>[[Sophie Rose Cohen]] <small>(adoptive younger sister)</small><br>[[Hailey Nichol]] <small>(adoptive aunt)</small><br>[[Lindsay Gardner]] <small>(adoptive aunt)</small><br>[[Dawn]] <small>(biological mother)</small><br>[[Frank Atwood]] <small>(biological father)</small><br>[[Trey Atwood]] <small>(biological older brother)</small><br>[[Julie and Frank's son|unknown name Atwood]] <small>(biological youngest paternal half-brother)</small><br>[[Caleb Nichol|Caleb]] † and [[Rose Nichol]] † <small>(adoptive maternal grandparents)</small><br>[[Sophie Cohen|Sophie]] † and [[Mr. Cohen]] † <small>(adoptive paternal grandparents)</small><br>[[Summer Roberts]] <small>(adoptive sister-in-law)</small>|portrayed_by=[[Benjamin McKenzie]]|romances=[[Taylor Townsend]] <small>([[Ryan-Taylor Relationship|in love]])</small><br>[[Marissa Cooper]] † <small>([[Ryan-Marissa Relationship|ex-girlfriend]])</small> <br>[[Theresa Diaz]]<small> ([[Ryan-Theresa Relationship|ex-girlfriend]])</small><br>[[Sadie Campbell]]<small> ([[Ryan-Sadie Relationship|ex-girlfriend]])</small><br>[[Lindsay Gardner]]<small> ([[Ryan-Lindsay Relationship|ex-girlfriend]])</small><br>[[Chloe]]<small> (one night stand)</small><br>[[Gabrielle]] <small>([[Ryan-Gabrielle Relationship|hook up]])</small>|first_appearance=<small>1.01:</small> "[[Premiere]]"|last_appearance=<small>4.16:</small> "[[The End's Not Near, It's Here]]"|seasons=[[Season 1|1]] • [[Season 2|2]] • [[Season 3|3]] • [[Season 4|4]]}}{{Quote|Let me tell you something, okay? Where I’m from, having a dream doesn’t make you smart. Knowing it won’t come true? That does.| Ryan Atwood to [[Sandy Cohen]] |Premiere}}
   
'''Ryan Atwood''' (adopted '''Cohen''') is the main protagonist of the "[[The O.C.]]". It is portrayed by [[Benjamin McKenzie]].
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'''Ryan Atwood''' (adopted '''Cohen''') was the main protagonist throughout the [[Season 1|first]], [[Season 2|second]], [[Season 3|third]], and [[Season 4|fourth]] seasons of the [[Fox]] drama series '''''[[The O.C.]]'''''. He was portrayed by [[Benjamin McKenzie]].
   
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==Background==
Ryan was a teenager from [[Chino]]. When the boy was caught stealing a car with his brother [[Trey Atwood.|Trey]], he was sent to juvenile detention, and it was there that he met attorney [[Sandy|Sandy Cohen]]. Subsequently, Ryan is abandoned by his mother : [[Dawn]], and this is how despite some initial grievances from Sandy's wife, [[Kirsten]], he is eventually welcomed by his family. However, to the woman, it did not take long for her to become attached to the boy, and since then, the young man has lived with them, in [[Newport Beach]]. Subsequently, it will be officially adopted by [[The Cohen's|the Cohen]]. Ryan begins a love affair back-and-forth, with [[Marissa|Marissa Cooper]], the classic: "girl next door". He is part of [[The Core Four|''The Core Four'']].
 
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Ryan was a poor teenager from [[Chino]]. When he was caught stealing a car with his older brother [[Trey Atwood|Trey]], he is sent to juvenile detention, and it is there that he meets lawyer [[Sandy Cohen]]. Subsequently, Ryan is abandoned by his biological mother, [[Dawn Atwood]], and this is how despite some initial complaints from Sandy's wife, [[Kirsten]], he is eventually welcomed by [[The Cohens|the Cohen Family]]. However to the woman, it did not take long for her to become attached to the boy, and since then, the young man has lived with them in [[Newport Beach]]. Subsequently, he will be officially adopted by the family.
   
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==Personality==
== Story of the character ==
 
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Ryan is a brooding, tough, cynical and quick-tempered young man, yet compassionate, a good listener, sometimes sarcastic (mostly to Seth) and empathetic towards people in trouble and those less fortunate than himself. Ryan is a nice guy who likes to help people and likes to defend people's honors. He has a very good relationship with the Cohens. During his first months in Newport, he had the tendency to physically express his anger at the incessant teasing from his schoolmates by punching them, which led them intentionally goad him even more, but he gradually calmed down, after some serious lecturing from Sandy and being sent to anger management counseling.
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He at times appears burdened by an almost-compulsive need to rescue others at the expense of his own well-being, however, and is overly protective of Marissa and Theresa, his main love interests on the show. The product of an abusive household, he has difficulty trusting or getting close to people emotionally, which could also be due to the fact that his mother Dawn refused to get help for her alcoholism and brother Trey continuously broke his promises to stay out of trouble. He is extremely loyal to his family, both biological and adopted, and those he cares about.
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The fact that he rarely smiles or says much is something of a running joke among other members of the Cohen household; early in the first season when he first moves in with the Cohens, he often looks down and avoids making eye contact, likely a habit of self-preservation born out of his upbringing in an unstable home and would stiffen when hugged; by the final season, he becomes more open to his adoptive family. Despite his reticent nature and emotionless exterior, Ryan can be quite transparent, often "convey[ing] everything with just a look", and is virtually incapable of lying, as Sandy proved in the episode "The O.Sea" when he caught Ryan trying to cover-up for Seth and Ryan's "guilty face" gave it away.
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==Throughout the Series==
 
===[[Season 1]]===
 
===[[Season 1]]===
Ryan has the tendency to punch people in the face and constantly has to back up [[Seth.|Seth]] - a good example of this is at Holly's beach party after Holly's party, where Ryan punches [[Luke]], the captain of the water polo team and boyfriend to [[Marissa]] Cooper, because his friends and he are pushing Seth around. Ryan falls in love with Marissa much to the dismay of Luke. Marissa is secretly attracted to Ryan as well, but remains with Luke and becomes very jealous when she sees Ryan kissing the girlfriend of his adoptive granfather, [[Caleb Nichol]]. She then proceeds to lose her virginity to Luke as a way of getting back at Ryan. Later on in the season, Marissa's parents get divorced and she finds Luke cheating on her in Tijuana, causing her to overdose of painkillers, only to be saved by Ryan. When they return to Newport Beach, Ryan and Marissa become involved, although Luke desperately tries to get back with her. They date steadily, but the arrival of the manipulative [[Oliver Trask]] drives a wedge between them, as the mentally ill and obsessive Oliver falls in love with Marissa, although she insists that they are friends when Ryan begins to suspect him; when he turns to Seth for support, Seth sides with Marissa. However, Oliver is eventually exposed as a fraud when he confesses his love to Marissa and threatens to shoot himself if they don't get together. Marissa is desperately sorry and apologises to Ryan, imploring that they "start over" - Ryan is unable to do so, and so they break up for the first time in the series. Ryan then becomes involved with an old girlfriend from Chino, [[Theresa Diaz]], whilst Luke begins to have a casual sexual relationship with Marissa's mother, [[Julie]]. Marissa finds out and flees to Chino to Theresa, who she had met when she was in town with Ryan. Ryan finds her and convinces her to return, but she states that she hates them both and that she never wants to return to Newport. However, Ryan convinces her and she returns home, but does not forgive the two for what they did. Ryan and Marissa get back together after a kiss that they share on the boardwalk. Julie becomes engaged to Caleb Nichol, much to the dismay of Luke, who gets drunk at their engagement party and drives away from Ryan, shouting "Don't make me" when the latter tries to stop him. Luke then "wraps his truck around a lamp post" and is taken to hospital after vowing to leave Newport forever in order to allow Marissa to continue to live her life. Ryan then leaves for Chino as he finds out that his ex-girlfriend Theresa might be pregnant with his child. Marissa is heartbroken and takes to drinking, whilst Seth leaves because Ryan was all that he had in Newport.
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In this first season, Ryan is introduced to us as a guy with a tendency to punch people in the face. He must also constantly defend Seth from the bullies - an example of this, he is at [[Holly Fischer|Holly's]] party on the beach, after the party, where Ryan punches [[Luke Ward]], the water polo team captain and boyfriend of [[Marissa Cooper]], because he and his friends were bothering Seth. Ryan falls in love with Marissa, despite the great dismay of Luke. Marissa is secretly attracted to Ryan, but remains with Luke and she becomes very jealous when she sees Ryan kissing his foster grandfather's [[Caleb Nichol]] girlfriend, [[Gabrielle]]. In an act of revenge, Marissa decides to lose her virginity with Luke, to make sure she comes back with Ryan. Subsequently, Marissa's parents divorce. Moreover, the girl finds Luke in Tijuana, while he is cheating on her with her best friend [[Holly Fischer]], for this reason, she ends up having an overdose on painkillers, before Ryan rescues her. When they return to [[Newport Beach]], Ryan and Marissa start a relationship, even though Luke desperately tries to get back with her. The relationship affair between him and Marissa is booming, until the arrival of [[Oliver Trask]], a dangerous and manipulative boy. Oliver's presence creates a great rift in their already fragile romance. Ryan starts to suspect him, so he turns to Seth for support, but his brother is on the side of Marissa. Later, also thanks to the Marissa's former boyfriend [[Luke Ward]], who does research on Oliver, we find out that the guy is actually an obsessive and mentally ill person, who thinks he's in love with Marissa, even though the girl insists on the fact that the two are friends, and she is in love with Ryan. Oliver is then discovered to be an impostor when he confesses his love to the young Cooper, and threatens to shoot himself, if he does not talk to Marissa. In the end, Ryan manages to save Marissa, however, he can't forgive her for trusting a madman instead of the one she says she loves. She begs him to "start all over again", but Ryan doesn't want to have anything to do with her anymore. The young woman is sorry and apologizes to Ryan, begging him to "start over" - Ryan cannot accept Marissa's apology, so they leave for the first time in the series. Ryan sees his old Chino girlfriend: [[Theresa Diaz]], with whom he starts a relationship, while Luke starts a casual sexual relationship with Marissa's mother, Julie Cooper. Marissa discovers the relationship and flees to Chino from Theresa, whom she had met when she went with Ryan. The boy, he finds her and wants to convince her to come back, but Marissa, claims to hate them both and not want to go back to Newport, never again. However, Ryan convinces her and she comes home, but she does not forgive her mother and Luke for what they did to her. Meanwhile, Ryan and Marissa return together after a kiss that the two share on the waterfront. Julie is engaged to Caleb Nichol, to the dismay of Luke, who gets drunk at the engagement party and moves away from Ryan when he tries to stop him. Luke then "runs into his pick-up truck, against a lamp post" and then is taken to the hospital after swearing to leave Newport forever to allow Marissa to continue living her life. Ryan then leaves for Chino when he discovers that his former girlfriend Theresa could carry her son in her womb. Marissa's broken heart leads her to drink, while Seth leaves because Ryan was all he had in Newport.
   
 
===[[Season 2]]===
 
===[[Season 2]]===
Not surprisingly, Ryan returned to [[Newport Beach]], after Theresa made him believe she had a miscarriage. He also convinced Seth to return from Portland to The Cohen household with him after he ran away too. Ryan is portrayed as much more mature in the second season. After he broke up with [[Marissa Cooper]], Ryan had a relationship with [[Lindsay Gardner]], who is soon discovered to be [[Kirsten Cohen]]'s sister and [[Caleb Nichol]]'s love child since he cheated on her mother for some time. After Lindsay moved, Ryan reunited with Marissa. Ryan brother, Trey, is released from prison moves to Newport Beach to be with Ryan. At the end of the season, Trey and Marissa were alone and they got drunk. Trey was high and attacked Marissa sexually. As she was struggling, she hit him on the head with a log, giving her time to get away. Eventually Ryan found out about the attempted rape which lead to Ryan turning to the "old Ryan" and to a confrontation between him and Trey. The confrontation turned and had Ryan pinned to the floor where Trey was strangling him. Marissa ran in and pleaded with Trey to let Ryan go. In a fit of rage Trey refused and Marissa shot him in the back as a result. It was left unclear whether he survived or not until the third season.
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Not surprisingly, Ryan returned to [[Newport Beach]], after Theresa made him believe she had a miscarriage. He also convinced Seth to return from Portland to The Cohen household with him after he ran away too. Ryan is portrayed as much more mature in the second season. After he broke up with Marissa, Ryan had a relationship with [[Lindsay Gardner]], who is soon discovered to be [[Kirsten|Kirsten Cohen]]'s sister and [[Caleb Nichol]]'s love child since he cheated on her mother for some time. After Lindsay moved, Ryan reunited with Marissa. Ryan brother, Trey, is released from prison moves to Newport Beach to be with Ryan. At the end of the season, Trey and Marissa were alone and they got drunk. Trey was high and attacked Marissa sexually. As she was struggling, she hit him on the head with a log, giving her time to get away. Eventually Ryan found out about the attempted rape which lead to Ryan turning to the "old Ryan" and to a confrontation between him and Trey. The confrontation turned and had Ryan pinned to the floor where Trey was strangling him. Marissa ran in and pleaded with Trey to let Ryan go. In a fit of rage Trey refused and Marissa shot him in the back as a result. It was left unclear whether he survived or not until the third season.
   
 
===[[Season 3]]===
 
===[[Season 3]]===
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Ryan was blamed by his brother Trey for shooting him. Subsequently, however, Trey retracted the confession, admitting that Julie had paid him to blame Ryan. With Ryan's charges dropped, Trey escaped from Newport. Marissa was expelled from the Harbor High School, seeing herself forced to attend public school instead. Here she makes friends with an amateur surfer : [[Johnny Harper]], Ryan becomes suspicious of their closeness, making sure that their relationship goes and goes, increases. After Johnny dies in an accident, Ryan "interrogates" Marissa about his feelings about Johnny, and the girl's answer, ends their relationship. After breaking up, the rivalry between Ryan and Volchok, increases, coming to cases of blackmail, extortion and violence.
After being in a coma for two months, Trey wakes up and was offered money by [[Julie Cooper]] to blame Ryan for the shooting, in an attempt to save Marissa's future. He then however cleared Ryan's name afterwards when confronted by Marissa and subsequently left Newport. Ryan and Marissa both faced a campaign to expel both of them from parents at the prestigious Harbour Valley School as a result of the shooting. It ultimately resulted in the school board and the new Dean of Discipline [[Jack Hess]] to expel Marissa, and later Ryan after he assaulted the dean. Marissa then ended up going to [[Newport Union]] the public high school, with Ryan eventually being re-admitted to Harbour after Dean Hess was blackmailed over having an affair with a student, [[Taylor Townsend]]. While Marissa was at Newport Union, (until she was readmitted again into Harbour that is), she made friends with another boy [[Johnny Harper]] and his friend Chilli, which later complicated Ryan's relationship with Marissa when Johnny fell in love with her & Ryan was suspicious about whether the feelings were reciprocated. Marissa confirmed her committment to her relationship with Ryan, and told Johnny although he was her friend and she cared for him she would never be in love with him. This rejection prompted Johnny to go on a drinking binge, which resulted in Johnny falling off a cliff despite both Ryan and Marissa trying to talk him down. This resulted in Ryan and Marissa becoming distant from each other, and both of them admitting their relationship was not working and breaking up. Ryan then started dating [[Sadie Campbell]], Johnny's cousin who moved down to Newport temporarily to help her aunt. The relationship was short lived however when Ryan was accepted into the [[University of California, Berkeley]]and they admitted they had little conceivable future together with Ryan due to leave for college in the fall and Sadie then left Newport. He recently became reacquainted with his waitress mother and had a one night stand with his mother's waitress co-worker. On graduation night Marissa told Ryan, that she's intending to leave Newport to work on her father's yacht in Greece. He wants to drive her to the airport, but then Kevin Volchok appears and tries to talk to Marissa. They have a terrible accident, in which Marissa dies.
 
   
 
===[[Season 4]]===
 
===[[Season 4]]===
5 months after Marissa's death Ryan's life has changed completely. He didn't attend her funeral and left The Cohen's house. He is in a very, very dark place and throws out all of the photos with Marissa on it. He’s working as a bartender, and lives in the slum behind the bar. He won’t see the Cohens, but eventually he moved back home at the end of ”The Avengers”. When Julie asks him to find Volchok and avenge Marissa, Sandy solves the problem. Ryan confronts Volchok one last time, before he's imprisoned. Ryan returns to The Cohen's house and has a new job, but he still can't think of anything else than Marissa. When he has problems sleeping Taylor offers him help. She falls in love with him, but he's not ready to let go of Marissa, but then in "A Christmuk-huh?" he receives a letter from her in which she tells him, why she had to leave and that she loves him, he finally can start over and starts to date Taylor. Several problems arise with this new relationship. Taylor's ex-husband [[Henri-Michel]] from France appears with a biography about his love to Taylor alias : '''Peaches'''. Ryan starts to compete with Henry-Michelle and in the end wins Taylor's heart with a sweet poem. The relationship continues a bit weird as Ryan still has the "I love you"-problem. When his father, Frank Atwood returns Ryan is reminded once again of his dark past. After a few difficulties he and his father get along pretty good and grow together with the help of Taylor. During the devastating [[The Shake Up|earthquake]] Ryan is seriously injured and rescued by Seth, who delivered him safe to the hospital and donated his blood as they are both "Type O".
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5 months after Marissa's death, Ryan's life has changed completely. He didn't attend her funeral, and left the Cohens' house. He is in a very, very dark place and throws out all of the photos with Marissa on it. He’s working as a bartender, and lives in the slum behind the bar. He won’t see the Cohens, but eventually he moved back home at the end of ”The Avengers." When Julie asks him to find Volchok and avenge Marissa, Sandy solves the problem. Ryan confronts Volchok one last time, before he's imprisoned. Ryan returns to the Cohens' house and has a new job, but he still can't think of anything else than Marissa. When he has problems sleeping, Taylor offers him help. She falls in love with him, but he's not ready to let go of Marissa, but then in "A Christmuk-huh?" he receives a letter from her in which she tells him, why she had to leave and that she loves him, he finally starts over and starts dating Taylor. However, several problems arise with this new relationship. Taylor's French ex-husband [[Henri-Michel de Momourant]] appears with a biography about his love to Taylor alias: '''Peaches'''. Ryan starts to compete with Henri-Michel, and in the end wins Taylor's heart with a sweet poem. The relationship continues to be a bit weird as Ryan still has the "I love you"-problem. When his father Frank Atwood returns, Ryan is reminded once again of his dark past. After a few difficulties, Ryan and his father get along pretty well, and grow together with the help of Taylor. During the devastating [[The Shake Up|earthquake]], Ryan is seriously injured and rescued by Seth, who delivered him safely to the hospital and donated his blood as they are both "Type O".
   
In the series finale, following a 6 month flashforward, Ryan aids in finding the Cohen's a new home, mirroring the offer they had extended to him in [[Season 1]]. Ryan goes on to rekindle his relationship with Taylor, as they both face up to attending college in different countries. As the series reaches its conclusion, Ryan reminisces on his time spent in Newport with [[The Cohen's|The Cohen Family]], thinking back to when he first stepped foot in the pool house, his first look at the famous Cohen-house view as well as his first encounter with Seth. As Ryan drives off, he pays homage to Marissa, as the iconic final scene from the : "[[Premiere]]" is once again revisited. The final montage leaves Ryan's relationship with Taylor somewhat ambiguous, as the two share a smile at Seth and Summer's wedding. The last scene brings the show full circle, as Ryan, now a successful architect, comes across a down-trodden youth dressed in the familiar Ryan Atwood grey hoodie, on his bike next to a phone booth - mirroring the situation Ryan found himself in the pilot. Realising this, Ryan asks the kid if he needs any help, and that's how the [[The End's Not Near, It's Here|series ends]].
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In the series finale, following a 6 month flashforward, Ryan aids in finding the Cohens a new home, mirroring the offer they had extended to him in [[Season 1]]. Ryan goes on to rekindle his relationship with Taylor, as they both face up to attending college in different countries. As the series reaches its conclusion, Ryan reminisces on his time spent in Newport with [[The Cohens]], thinking back to when he first stepped foot in the pool house, his first look at the famous Cohen-house view as well as his first encounter with Seth. As Ryan drives off, he pays homage to Marissa, as the iconic final scene from the episode: "[[Premiere]]" is once again revisited. The final montage leaves Ryan's relationship with Taylor somewhat ambiguous, as the two share a smile at Seth and Summer's wedding. The last scene brings the show full circle, as Ryan, now a successful architect, comes across a down-trodden youth dressed in the familiar Ryan Atwood grey hoodie, on his bike next to a phone booth - mirroring the situation Ryan found himself in the pilot. Realizing the situation, Ryan asks the kid if he needs any help, and that's how the [[The End's Not Near, It's Here|series ends]].
   
=== '''Personality''' ===
 
Ryan is a brooding, tough, cynical and quick-tempered, yet compassionate, a good listener, sometimes (mostly to Seth) and empathetic toward people in trouble and those less fortunate than himself. During his first months in Newport, he had the tendency to physically express his anger at the incessant teasing from his schoolmates by punching them, which led them intentionally goad him even more, but he gradually calmed down, after some serious lecturing from Sandy and being sent to anger management counseling. He at times appears burdened by an almost-compulsive need to rescue others at the expense of his own well-being, however, and is overly protective of Marissa and Theresa, his main love interests on the show. The product of an abusive household, he has difficulty trusting or getting close to people emotionally, which could also be due to the fact that his mother Dawn refused to get help for her alcoholism and brother Trey continuously broke his promises to stay out of trouble. He is extremely loyal to his family, both biological and adopted, and those he cares about. The fact that he rarely smiles or says much is something of a running joke among other members of the Cohen household; early in the first season when he first moves in with the Cohens, he often looks down and avoids making eye contact, likely a habit of self-preservation born out of his upbringing in an unstable home and would stiffen when hugged; by the final season, he becomes more open to his adoptive family. Despite his reticent nature and emotionless exterior, Ryan can be quite transparent, often "convey[ing] everything with just a look", and is virtually incapable of lying, as Sandy proved in the episode "The O.Sea" when he caught Ryan trying to cover-up for Seth and Ryan's "guilty face" gave it away.
 
 
==Relationships==
 
==Relationships==
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===Romances===
:''See: [[Ryan/Relationships|Ryan Atwood/Relationships]]''
 
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<tabber>Marissa={{Main|Marissa-Ryan Relationship}}
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|-|Taylor={{Main|Ryan-Taylor Relationship}}
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|-|Theresa={{Main|Theresa-Ryan Relationship}}
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|-|Lindsay={{Main|Lindsay-Ryan Relationship}}
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|-|Gabrielle={{Main|Ryan-Gabrielle Relationship}}
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|-|Chloe={{Main|Chloe-Ryan Relationship}}
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</tabber>
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===Family===
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<tabber>Seth={{Main|Seth-Ryan Relationship}}
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|-|Sandy={{Main|Ryan-Sandy Relationship}}
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|-|Kirsten={{Main|Kirsten-Ryan Relationship}}
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|-|Trey={{Main|Ryan-Trey Relationship}}
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|-|Dawn={{Main|Dawn-Ryan Relationship}}
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|-|Frank={{Main|Frank-Ryan Relationship}}
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</tabber>
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===Friends===
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<tabber>Luke={{Main|Ryan-Luke Relationship}}
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|-|Summer={{Main|Summer-Ryan Relationship}}
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</tabber>
   
==References==
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==Quotes==
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Marissa: "Who are you?"
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Ryan: "Whoever you want me to be."
   
===[[Season 1]]===
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==Trivia==
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*Before [[Premiere]], he got suspended twice for fighting and three times for truancy.
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*He scored in the 98<sup>th</sup> percentile on his SATs.
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*In [[The French Connection]], his birth date is shown as September 5<sup>th</sup> 1985. This is most likely a mistake, as his 18<sup>th</sup> birthday was celebrated and marked on Marissa’s calendar on March 19<sup>th</sup> 2006 in [[The Journey]]. This would make him a Pisces.
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*Ryan is an ex-smoker.
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*He has a wife-beater collection.
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*He’s afraid of heights. <ref>[[The Heights]]</ref>
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*Ryan has a fake I.D. His alias is Marty Nayfis. <ref>[[The Strip]]</ref>
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*His favorite band is Journey. <ref>[[The Journey]]</ref>
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*His graduation present from [[Dawn Atwood|his mother]] was a Toyota Land Cruiser. This gift would only last for about a day. <ref>[[The Graduates]]</ref>
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*Ryan’s favourite fruit is peaches. <ref>[[The Metamorphosis]]</ref>
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*He can hold his liquor. His favourite drink is a 7 and 7. He’s not a big wine drinker. <ref>[[The Shake Up]]</ref> <ref>[[Premiere]]</ref>
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*His blood type is O-. <ref>[[The Night Moves]]</ref>
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*[[Benjamin McKenzie]] is often said to resemble Russell Crowe. This is poked fun at when [[Marissa Cooper|Marissa]] says “I don't know... Russell Crowe, he just doesn't do anything for me. People say he's good-looking, but I don't see it.” <ref>[[The Countdown]]</ref>
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*Ryan has the final line on ''The O.C.'': “Hey, kid. Need any help?”
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*His [[Atomic County]] counterpart is [[Kid Chino]]. A kid from the wrong side of tracks, he uses his fists of fury for a good cause.
   
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==Appearances==
* [[Pilot]]
 
  +
{{Appearances1|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes}}
* [[The Model Home]]
 
  +
{{Appearances2|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes}}
* [[The Gamble]]
 
  +
{{Appearances3|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes}}{{Appearances4|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes|yes}}
* [[The Debut]]
 
  +
* [[The Outsider]]
 
  +
==Gallery==
* [[The Girlfriend]]
 
  +
<tabber>Promotional={{Scroll box|content=<gallery>
* [[The Escape]]
 
  +
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* [[The Rescue]]
 
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* [[The Heights]]
 
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* [[The Perfect Couple]]
 
  +
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* [[The Homecoming]]
 
  +
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* [[The Secret]]
 
  +
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* [[The Best Chrismukkah Ever]]
 
  +
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* [[The Countdown]]
 
  +
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* [[The Third Wheel]]
 
  +
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* [[The Links]]
 
  +
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* [[The Rivals]]
 
  +
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* [[The Truth]]
 
  +
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* [[The Heartbreak]]
 
  +
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* [[The Telenovela]]
 
  +
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* [[The Goodbye Girl]]
 
  +
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* [[The L.A.]]
 
  +
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* [[The Nana]]
 
  +
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* [[The Proposal]]
 
  +
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* [[The Shower]]
 
  +
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* [[The Strip]]
 
  +
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* [[The Ties That Bind]]
 
  +
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===[[Season 2]]===
 
  +
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* [[The Distance]]
 
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* [[The Way We Were]]
 
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* [[The New Kids on the Block]]
 
  +
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* [[The New Era]]
 
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* [[The SnO.C.]]
 
  +
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* [[The Chrismukkah That Almost Wasn't]]
 
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* [[The Family Ties]]
 
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* [[The Power of Love]]
 
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* [[The Ex-Factor]]
 
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* [[The Accomplice]]
 
  +
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* [[The Second Chance]]
 
  +
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* [[The Lonely Hearts Club]]
 
  +
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* [[The Test]]
 
  +
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* [[The Rainy Day Women]]
 
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* [[The Mallpisode]]
 
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* [[The Blaze of Glory]]
 
  +
</gallery>}}
* [[The Brothers Grim]]
 
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|-|Group Promos={{Scroll box|content=<gallery>
* [[The Risky Business]]
 
  +
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* [[The Rager]]
 
  +
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* [[The O.C. Confidential]]
 
  +
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* [[The Return of the Nana]]
 
  +
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* [[The Showdown]]
 
  +
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* [[The O.Sea]]
 
  +
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* [[The Dearly Beloved]]
 
  +
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===[[Season 3]]===
 
  +
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* [[The Aftermath]]
 
  +
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* [[The Shape of Things to Come]]
 
  +
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* [[The End of Innocence]]
 
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* [[The Last Waltz]]
 
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* [[The Perfect Storm]]
 
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* [[The Swells]]
 
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* [[The Anger Management]]
 
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* [[The Game Plan]]
 
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* [[The Disconnect]]
 
  +
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* [[The Chrismukkah Bar Mitz-vahkkah]]
 
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* [[The Safe Harbor]]
 
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* [[The Sister Act]]
 
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* [[The Pot Stirrer]]
 
  +
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* [[The Cliffhanger]]
 
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* [[The Heavy Lifting]]
 
  +
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* [[The Road Warrior]]
 
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* [[The Journey]]
 
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* [[The Undertow]]
 
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* [[The Secrets and Lies]]
 
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* [[The Day After Tomorrow]]
 
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* [[The Dawn Patrol]]
 
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* [[The College Try]]
 
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* [[The Party Favor]]
 
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* [[The Man of The Year]]
 
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* [[The Graduates]]
 
  +
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===[[Season 4]]===
 
  +
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* [[The Avengers]]
 
  +
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* [[The Gringos]]
 
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* [[The Cold Turkey]]
 
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* [[The Metamorphosis]]
 
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* [[The Sleeping Beauty]]
 
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* [[The Summer Bummer]]
 
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* [[The Chrismukk-huh?]]
 
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* [[The Earth Girls Are Easy]]
 
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* [[The My Two Dads]]
 
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* [[The French Connection]]
 
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* [[The Dream Lover]]
 
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* [[The Groundhog Day]]
 
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* [[The Case Of The Franks]]
 
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* [[The Shake Up]]
 
  +
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* [[The Night Moves]]
 
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* [[The End's Not Near, It's Here]]
 
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[[de: Ryan Atwood]]
 
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[[Category:The O.C.]]
 
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</gallery>}}
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|-|Screenshots={{Scroll box|content=<gallery>
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</gallery>}}
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|-|Gifs={{Scroll box|content=<gallery>
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</tabber>
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==References==
 
[[Category:Characters]]
 
[[Category:Characters]]
 
[[Category:Main Characters]]
 
[[Category:Main Characters]]
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[[Category:Atwood Family]]
 
[[Category:Atwood Family]]
 
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[[Category:Season 1 Characters]]
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[[Category:Season 2 Characters]]
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[[Category:Season 3 Characters]]
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[[Category:Season 4 Characters]]
 
[[Category:The Core Four]]
 
[[Category:The Core Four]]
[[Category:Residents in Newport Beach]]
+
[[Category:Newport Residents]]
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[[de: Ryan Atwood-Cohen]]
[[Category:Residents in Chino (previously)]]
 
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[[it: Ryan Atwood-Cohen]]
[[Category:Harbor Students (graduated)]]
 
[[Category:Students of UC Berkeley (graduates)]]
 
[[Category:Criminals (previously)]]
 

Latest revision as of 18:42, 15 April 2024

"Let me tell you something, okay? Where I’m from, having a dream doesn’t make you smart. Knowing it won’t come true? That does."
— Ryan Atwood to Sandy Cohen [src]

Ryan Atwood (adopted Cohen) was the main protagonist throughout the first, second, third, and fourth seasons of the Fox drama series The O.C.. He was portrayed by Benjamin McKenzie.

Background[]

Ryan was a poor teenager from Chino. When he was caught stealing a car with his older brother Trey, he is sent to juvenile detention, and it is there that he meets lawyer Sandy Cohen. Subsequently, Ryan is abandoned by his biological mother, Dawn Atwood, and this is how despite some initial complaints from Sandy's wife, Kirsten, he is eventually welcomed by the Cohen Family. However to the woman, it did not take long for her to become attached to the boy, and since then, the young man has lived with them in Newport Beach. Subsequently, he will be officially adopted by the family.

Personality[]

Ryan is a brooding, tough, cynical and quick-tempered young man, yet compassionate, a good listener, sometimes sarcastic (mostly to Seth) and empathetic towards people in trouble and those less fortunate than himself. Ryan is a nice guy who likes to help people and likes to defend people's honors. He has a very good relationship with the Cohens. During his first months in Newport, he had the tendency to physically express his anger at the incessant teasing from his schoolmates by punching them, which led them intentionally goad him even more, but he gradually calmed down, after some serious lecturing from Sandy and being sent to anger management counseling.

He at times appears burdened by an almost-compulsive need to rescue others at the expense of his own well-being, however, and is overly protective of Marissa and Theresa, his main love interests on the show. The product of an abusive household, he has difficulty trusting or getting close to people emotionally, which could also be due to the fact that his mother Dawn refused to get help for her alcoholism and brother Trey continuously broke his promises to stay out of trouble. He is extremely loyal to his family, both biological and adopted, and those he cares about.

The fact that he rarely smiles or says much is something of a running joke among other members of the Cohen household; early in the first season when he first moves in with the Cohens, he often looks down and avoids making eye contact, likely a habit of self-preservation born out of his upbringing in an unstable home and would stiffen when hugged; by the final season, he becomes more open to his adoptive family. Despite his reticent nature and emotionless exterior, Ryan can be quite transparent, often "convey[ing] everything with just a look", and is virtually incapable of lying, as Sandy proved in the episode "The O.Sea" when he caught Ryan trying to cover-up for Seth and Ryan's "guilty face" gave it away.

Throughout the Series[]

Season 1[]

In this first season, Ryan is introduced to us as a guy with a tendency to punch people in the face. He must also constantly defend Seth from the bullies - an example of this, he is at Holly's party on the beach, after the party, where Ryan punches Luke Ward, the water polo team captain and boyfriend of Marissa Cooper, because he and his friends were bothering Seth. Ryan falls in love with Marissa, despite the great dismay of Luke. Marissa is secretly attracted to Ryan, but remains with Luke and she becomes very jealous when she sees Ryan kissing his foster grandfather's Caleb Nichol girlfriend, Gabrielle. In an act of revenge, Marissa decides to lose her virginity with Luke, to make sure she comes back with Ryan. Subsequently, Marissa's parents divorce. Moreover, the girl finds Luke in Tijuana, while he is cheating on her with her best friend Holly Fischer, for this reason, she ends up having an overdose on painkillers, before Ryan rescues her. When they return to Newport Beach, Ryan and Marissa start a relationship, even though Luke desperately tries to get back with her. The relationship affair between him and Marissa is booming, until the arrival of Oliver Trask, a dangerous and manipulative boy. Oliver's presence creates a great rift in their already fragile romance. Ryan starts to suspect him, so he turns to Seth for support, but his brother is on the side of Marissa. Later, also thanks to the Marissa's former boyfriend Luke Ward, who does research on Oliver, we find out that the guy is actually an obsessive and mentally ill person, who thinks he's in love with Marissa, even though the girl insists on the fact that the two are friends, and she is in love with Ryan. Oliver is then discovered to be an impostor when he confesses his love to the young Cooper, and threatens to shoot himself, if he does not talk to Marissa. In the end, Ryan manages to save Marissa, however, he can't forgive her for trusting a madman instead of the one she says she loves. She begs him to "start all over again", but Ryan doesn't want to have anything to do with her anymore. The young woman is sorry and apologizes to Ryan, begging him to "start over" - Ryan cannot accept Marissa's apology, so they leave for the first time in the series. Ryan sees his old Chino girlfriend: Theresa Diaz, with whom he starts a relationship, while Luke starts a casual sexual relationship with Marissa's mother, Julie Cooper. Marissa discovers the relationship and flees to Chino from Theresa, whom she had met when she went with Ryan. The boy, he finds her and wants to convince her to come back, but Marissa, claims to hate them both and not want to go back to Newport, never again. However, Ryan convinces her and she comes home, but she does not forgive her mother and Luke for what they did to her. Meanwhile, Ryan and Marissa return together after a kiss that the two share on the waterfront. Julie is engaged to Caleb Nichol, to the dismay of Luke, who gets drunk at the engagement party and moves away from Ryan when he tries to stop him. Luke then "runs into his pick-up truck, against a lamp post" and then is taken to the hospital after swearing to leave Newport forever to allow Marissa to continue living her life. Ryan then leaves for Chino when he discovers that his former girlfriend Theresa could carry her son in her womb. Marissa's broken heart leads her to drink, while Seth leaves because Ryan was all he had in Newport.

Season 2[]

Not surprisingly, Ryan returned to Newport Beach, after Theresa made him believe she had a miscarriage. He also convinced Seth to return from Portland to The Cohen household with him after he ran away too. Ryan is portrayed as much more mature in the second season. After he broke up with Marissa, Ryan had a relationship with Lindsay Gardner, who is soon discovered to be Kirsten Cohen's sister and Caleb Nichol's love child since he cheated on her mother for some time. After Lindsay moved, Ryan reunited with Marissa. Ryan brother, Trey, is released from prison moves to Newport Beach to be with Ryan. At the end of the season, Trey and Marissa were alone and they got drunk. Trey was high and attacked Marissa sexually. As she was struggling, she hit him on the head with a log, giving her time to get away. Eventually Ryan found out about the attempted rape which lead to Ryan turning to the "old Ryan" and to a confrontation between him and Trey. The confrontation turned and had Ryan pinned to the floor where Trey was strangling him. Marissa ran in and pleaded with Trey to let Ryan go. In a fit of rage Trey refused and Marissa shot him in the back as a result. It was left unclear whether he survived or not until the third season.

Season 3[]

Ryan was blamed by his brother Trey for shooting him. Subsequently, however, Trey retracted the confession, admitting that Julie had paid him to blame Ryan. With Ryan's charges dropped, Trey escaped from Newport. Marissa was expelled from the Harbor High School, seeing herself forced to attend public school instead. Here she makes friends with an amateur surfer : Johnny Harper, Ryan becomes suspicious of their closeness, making sure that their relationship goes and goes, increases. After Johnny dies in an accident, Ryan "interrogates" Marissa about his feelings about Johnny, and the girl's answer, ends their relationship. After breaking up, the rivalry between Ryan and Volchok, increases, coming to cases of blackmail, extortion and violence.

Season 4[]

5 months after Marissa's death, Ryan's life has changed completely. He didn't attend her funeral, and left the Cohens' house. He is in a very, very dark place and throws out all of the photos with Marissa on it. He’s working as a bartender, and lives in the slum behind the bar. He won’t see the Cohens, but eventually he moved back home at the end of ”The Avengers." When Julie asks him to find Volchok and avenge Marissa, Sandy solves the problem. Ryan confronts Volchok one last time, before he's imprisoned. Ryan returns to the Cohens' house and has a new job, but he still can't think of anything else than Marissa. When he has problems sleeping, Taylor offers him help. She falls in love with him, but he's not ready to let go of Marissa, but then in "A Christmuk-huh?" he receives a letter from her in which she tells him, why she had to leave and that she loves him, he finally starts over and starts dating Taylor. However, several problems arise with this new relationship. Taylor's French ex-husband Henri-Michel de Momourant appears with a biography about his love to Taylor alias: Peaches. Ryan starts to compete with Henri-Michel, and in the end wins Taylor's heart with a sweet poem. The relationship continues to be a bit weird as Ryan still has the "I love you"-problem. When his father Frank Atwood returns, Ryan is reminded once again of his dark past. After a few difficulties, Ryan and his father get along pretty well, and grow together with the help of Taylor. During the devastating earthquake, Ryan is seriously injured and rescued by Seth, who delivered him safely to the hospital and donated his blood as they are both "Type O".

In the series finale, following a 6 month flashforward, Ryan aids in finding the Cohens a new home, mirroring the offer they had extended to him in Season 1. Ryan goes on to rekindle his relationship with Taylor, as they both face up to attending college in different countries. As the series reaches its conclusion, Ryan reminisces on his time spent in Newport with The Cohens, thinking back to when he first stepped foot in the pool house, his first look at the famous Cohen-house view as well as his first encounter with Seth. As Ryan drives off, he pays homage to Marissa, as the iconic final scene from the episode: "Premiere" is once again revisited. The final montage leaves Ryan's relationship with Taylor somewhat ambiguous, as the two share a smile at Seth and Summer's wedding. The last scene brings the show full circle, as Ryan, now a successful architect, comes across a down-trodden youth dressed in the familiar Ryan Atwood grey hoodie, on his bike next to a phone booth - mirroring the situation Ryan found himself in the pilot. Realizing the situation, Ryan asks the kid if he needs any help, and that's how the series ends.

Relationships[]

Romances[]

Family[]

Friends[]

Quotes[]

Marissa: "Who are you?" Ryan: "Whoever you want me to be."

Trivia[]

  • Before Premiere, he got suspended twice for fighting and three times for truancy.
  • He scored in the 98th percentile on his SATs.
  • In The French Connection, his birth date is shown as September 5th 1985. This is most likely a mistake, as his 18th birthday was celebrated and marked on Marissa’s calendar on March 19th 2006 in The Journey. This would make him a Pisces.
  • Ryan is an ex-smoker.
  • He has a wife-beater collection.
  • He’s afraid of heights. [1]
  • Ryan has a fake I.D. His alias is Marty Nayfis. [2]
  • His favorite band is Journey. [3]
  • His graduation present from his mother was a Toyota Land Cruiser. This gift would only last for about a day. [4]
  • Ryan’s favourite fruit is peaches. [5]
  • He can hold his liquor. His favourite drink is a 7 and 7. He’s not a big wine drinker. [6] [7]
  • His blood type is O-. [8]
  • Benjamin McKenzie is often said to resemble Russell Crowe. This is poked fun at when Marissa says “I don't know... Russell Crowe, he just doesn't do anything for me. People say he's good-looking, but I don't see it.” [9]
  • Ryan has the final line on The O.C.: “Hey, kid. Need any help?”
  • His Atomic County counterpart is Kid Chino. A kid from the wrong side of tracks, he uses his fists of fury for a good cause.

Appearances[]

Season 1
"Episode 1": "Episode 2": "Episode 3": "Episode 4": "Episode 5": "Episode 6":
Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears
"Episode 7": "Episode 8": "Episode 9": "Episode 10": "Episode 11": "Episode 12":
Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears
"Episode 13": "Episode 14": "Episode 15": "Episode 16": "Episode 17": "Episode 18":
Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears
"Episode 19": "Episode 20": "Episode 21": "Episode 22": "Episode 23": "Episode 24":
Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears
"Episode 25": "Episode 26": "Episode 27":
Appears Appears Appears
Season 2
"Episode 1": "Episode 2": "Episode 3": "Episode 4": "Episode 5": "Episode 6":
Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears
"Episode 7": "Episode 8": "Episode 9": "Episode 10": "Episode 11": "Episode 12":
Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears
"Episode 13": "Episode 14": "Episode 15": "Episode 16": "Episode 17": "Episode 18":
Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears
"Episode 19": "Episode 20": "Episode 21": "Episode 22": "Episode 23": "Episode 24":
Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears
Season 3
"Episode 1": "Episode 2": "Episode 3": "Episode 4": "Episode 5": "Episode 6":
Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears
"Episode 7": "Episode 8": "Episode 9": "Episode 10": "Episode 11": "Episode 12":
Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears
"Episode 13": "Episode 14": "Episode 15": "Episode 16": "Episode 17": "Episode 18":
Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears
"Episode 19": "Episode 20": "Episode 21": "Episode 22": "Episode 23": "Episode 24":
Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears Appears
"Episode 25":
Appears
Season 4
"Episode 1": "Episode 2": "Episode 3": "Episode 4": "Episode 5": "Episode 6":
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"Episode 7": "Episode 8": "Episode 9": "Episode 10": "Episode 11": "Episode 12":
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"Episode 13": "Episode 14": "Episode 15": "Episode 16":
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