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Veronica Townsend is a recurring character in the third season, who became main in the fourth of the Fox drama series The O.C.. She was portrayed by Paula Trickey.

Veronica is the mother of Taylor. She worked as a sports agent throughout Newport Beach and southern California, and serves as chairwoman of the parents' committee at Harbor High School. Her daughter, Taylor, is a graduate of the prestigious school.

Background[]

Divorced from her husband, Taylor's father, an area auto dealer, Veronica has carved out her own financial success representing professional athletes in negotiations with their respective teams and additional interests. Her career highs have often come at the expense of Veronica's relationship with her daughter.

Throughout the Series[]

Season 3[]

When Taylor decided to take Marissa Cooper defenses, in the shooting that involved Ryan Atwood's older brother, Trey, she confronts her daughter, for putting herself against her. Veronica is the only member of the parents committee to vote against Marissa's reinstatement to Harbor for the spring 2006 semester, unmoved by Sandy Cohen's stirring speech on Marissa's behalf.

The episode following Marissa's reinstatement, Veronica appeared again, when she joined the dating site NewMatch, created by Kirsten Cohen and Julie. She was paired with Neil Roberts, father of Summer, her daughter Taylor's classmate and arch-nemesis. Julie set the couple up together, but as she too liked Dr. Roberts, she spied on their dates and eventually wins Dr. Roberts' affections. Seth Cohen eventually tells him a lie, telling her, that Dr. Roberts has a genital herpes, and that if she would continue to frequent him, she would surely pass it on to him. Dr. Roberts later begins a relationship with Julie.

Veronica is seen sitting next to a man at the Harbor School graduation, where Taylor gives the commencement speech as valedictorian. It is unknown whether it is Taylor's father or another man Veronica is dating.

Season 4[]

Veronica initially does not know that Taylor has returned to Newport instead of staying at the Sorbonne as planned. Taylor spots her mom at the Newport Beach Yacht Club after running into Summer and is able to escape before being spotted.

During Thanksgiving, Veronica discovered where her daughter was and also discovered Taylor had impulsively married an older man during her brief stay in France. Realizing that his daughter's behavior was immature and irresponsible, she made the decision to kick her out of the house. Taylor moves into the Roberts mansion with Julie and Kaitlin, and later, Summer following her suspension from Brown University.

When Taylor and Ryan later fell off the Cohens' roof and were both unconscious in hospital, she showed little concern for her daughter's health and was instead angry that her holiday plans had been disrupted by Taylor's accident. Summer, Julie and Kaitlin showed up at the airport to tell Veronica, who is making out with a much younger man, about the accident and to prevent her from boarding her flight to Mexico. Julie threatened to call airport security and tell them Veronica had a bomb if she didn't visit Taylor, so Veronica relents. After a brief visit, Taylor tells Veronica she's fine and to enjoy her holiday.

While Taylor and Ryan were unconscious, both ended up in an "alternative universe" in which Ryan never existed, and where Veronica had a son, instead of a daughter, also called Taylor. In this universe, "our Taylor", faced her biggest fear : Veronica. Thanks to her courage, she managed to return to "his reality".

After the earthquake, Veronica goes looking for Taylor. During the earthquake, she shot her in the foot by mistake with a flare gun after she was mistaken for a "zombie" by Taylor and Summer. Taylor rode her mother to the hospital on a bike with a wagon attached to the back of it. Veronica had to hold Summer's rabbit Pancakes, much to her dismay. On the way, they were noticed by Frank Atwood, Julie and Kaitlin.

At the hospital, the two reconciled when Taylor discovers that Veronica, had worried about her, and was looking for her daughter. The two telling each other "I Love You" for the first time, and share a hug. They then leave the hospital with the Cohens, Julie, Kaitlin Cooper, Frank Atwood (Ryan Atwood-Cohen's biological father) and Summer, with Veronica in a walking boot and on crutches.

Appearances[]

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

Gallery[]

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