The fourth and final season of the Fox drama series The O.C. is made up of 16 episodes. It ran from November 2, 2006 - February 22, 2007.
Synopsis[]
Nearly 6 months after Marissa's death, Ryan, Julie and Summer struggles to move on. Seth tries to find his calling in life after not going to college. Taylor returns to Newport after a mysterious trip around Europe, and starts developing feelings for a grief stricken Ryan. Kaitlin returns and tries to get acclimated to Newport for her sophomore year. Meanwhile, Julie meets someone that pulls her out of her grief, but has a twisted history with Ryan. With Ryan and Seth all grown up, Kiersten and Sandy consider retiring, but their plans are threatened by an unexpected development.
Main Cast[]
- Benjamin McKenzie as Ryan Atwood
- Adam Brody as Seth Cohen
- Rachel Bilson as Summer Roberts
- Peter Gallagher as Sandy Cohen
- Kelly Rowan as Kirsten Cohen
- Melinda Clarke as Julie Cooper
- Autumn Reeser as Taylor Townsend
- Willa Holland as Kaitlin Cooper
Episode Guide[]
# | Image | Title | Writer | Director | Air Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
401 | "The Avengers" | Josh Schwartz | Ian Toynton | November 2, 2006 | |
Ryan works and lives in a bar, Seth works in a comic book store, Taylor lies about being in Paris and Summer has become a tree-hugging vegan. What madness is going throughout Orange County? | |||||
402 | "The Gringos" | Josh Schwartz John Stephens |
Patrick Norris | November 8, 2006 | |
Seth tags along with Ryan who travels to Enseniada, Mexico to look for the fugitive Volchok, and tries to hold off Ryan from doing something drastic. Back in Newport, there is a clothing drive at Harbor High, where Julie persuades Kaitlin to participate in it, until she learns Kaitlin's true agenda. At Brown University, Taylor pays Summer a surprise visit, but does not want to confide in her about her problems of her own back in France. | |||||
403 | "The Cold Turkey" | Josh Schwartz | Michael Lange | November 9, 2006 | |
Volchok turns to Sandy for advice, without Ryan's knowledge. Summer prepares to face life in Newport as she returns from Brown. Meanwhile, Julie finds herself alone on Thanksgiving when she is not welcome in the Cohen's house. | |||||
404 | "The Metamorphosis" | Josh Schwartz Leila Gerstein |
Norman Buckley | November 16, 2006 | |
Summer soul-searches during a visit from Seth. Taylor pleads for Ryan's help with her marriage. Sandy longs for a guys' night. Julie vows to turn over a new leaf in moving on from Marissa's Death. | |||||
405 | "The Sleeping Beauty" | Josh Schwartz | Ian Toynton | November 30, 2006 | |
Ryan can't sleep, and a smitten Taylor tries to seduce him by becoming his sleep therapist. Meanwhile, Seth vows not to call Summer, and Kaitlin struggles when Julie has a fling with her tennis instructor. Summer and Che take their activism to a new level, but pay the consequences later. | |||||
406 | "The Summer Bummer" | Josh Schwartz | Ian Toynton Michael Lange |
December 7, 2006 | |
Summer gets kicked out Brown, thanks to her friend Che. Seth leaves Newport to visit Summer at Brown, but runs into Che. Ryan has fantasies about Taylor after kissing each other. And Kaitlin throws a party at Dr. Roberts house to get even with a popular girl. Meanwhile, Julie learns NewMatch is no longer just a dating service. | |||||
407 | "The Chrismukk-huh?" | Josh Schwartz | Ian Toynton | December 14, 2006 | |
Ryan and Taylor fall off a ladder and end up in the hospital. Taylor confronts Veronica about her attitude. Meanwhile, a letter from Marissa is sent to the Cohen house. | |||||
408 | "The Earth Girls Are Easy" | Josh Schwartz | Norman Buckley | December 28, 2006 | |
Ryan plans a surprise trip for Taylor, but Seth comes along and brings Summer, whose future is at stake. Meanwhile, Bullit gets an old friend to take care of Julie's accounting, much to her displease. | |||||
409 | "The My Two Dads" | Josh Schwartz | Michael Schultz | January 4, 2007 | |
Kaitlin fails a class presentation and is forced to work with a smart classmate, whom she ends up liking. Seth and Summer move forward with their plans, regardless of how they really feel. Sandy confronts Frank on why he's in Newport. | |||||
410 | "The French Connection" | Josh Schwartz | John Stephens | January 11, 2007 | |
Henri-Michel tells Ryan about Taylor's life in France, forcing him to question their relationship. Seth seeks Dr. Roberts' permission to marry Summer. Kaitlin realizes she likes Will. Summer reconnects with Holly and worries about her future. Meanwhile, Kirsten makes a shocking discovery at NewMatch. | |||||
411 | "The Dream Lover" | Josh Schwartz | Patrick Norris | January 17, 2007 | |
Che brings Seth on a trip to the forest. Taylor decides she should no longer see Ryan. Julie begs for Kirsten's reconciliation. Kaitlin shuts Will out of her life. | |||||
412 | "The Groundhog Day" | Josh Schwartz | Ian Toynton | January 25, 2007 | |
Ryan tries to act like he doesn't miss Taylor, who is seeing a therapist. Kirsten's turning 40, but has her mind focused on other things. Julie is having an affair that Kaitlin does all she can to stop. Che makes a discovery about Seth. | |||||
413 | "The Case of the Franks" | Josh Schwartz | Norman Buckley | February 1, 2007 | |
Ryan and Taylor devise a plan to bring Julie and Frank closer. Summer begins to have doubts in her relationship with Seth. Kirsten opens up about her past with Jimmy to Sandy as they prepare for their new baby. | |||||
414 | "The Shake Up" | Josh Schwartz | Ian Toynton | February 8, 2007 | |
Taylor prepares for her birthday celebration but frets over the fact Ryan has still not told her that he loves her, while trying to ruin Frank and Julie's relationship. Summer encourages Seth to find something he's passionate about. Kirsten realizes what Newport's society is all about. | |||||
415 | "The Night Moves" | Josh Schwartz | Patrick Norris | February 15, 2007 | |
After the violent earthquake, Orange County purges into an all wide blackout which cuts off the Cohens and loved ones. | |||||
416 | "The End's Not Near, It's Here" | Josh Schwartz | Ian Toynton | February 22, 2007 | |
Six months after the earthquake, The Cohens and their friends are rebuilding their lives, resolving unresolved issues, making important decisions, and undergoing serious personal changes. |
Trivia[]
- This is the last season, due to the very low ratings.
- It's the first season to have less than 20 episodes coming up at only 16.
- This is the only season in which Mischa Barton doesn't appear.