Ryan Atwood got swept up in the rich kids’ drama when he moved in with Sandy, Kirsten, and Seth Cohen. Ryan shook things up for more than just the Cohens, making an impact on next-door neighbor, Marissa Cooper, and her best friend, Summer Roberts.
The drama unfolded continually throughout the series from family problems, romantic struggles, friendships, and long-held grudges. No character was safe from drama as it came from every angle and did not stop for anyone. By the time the series ended, all the characters had been through the wringer. Yet, only a few received fitting endings.
Fitting: Summer Roberts
After discovering she was smarter than she thought, Summer was excited about the academic possibilities that were open to her. Developing from a more shallow person to one who genuinely cares for people and the environment took some time, but Summer’s changes were for the better. Unfortunately, some of them came at the expense of mourning her late best friend, Marissa Cooper.
Summer’s future involved traveling to participate in causes that focused on saving the planet and advocating for animals. Her ending also includes her marriage to Seth Cohen. After all the obstacles in the way of their relationship, it made sense that they would end up together.
Deserved More: Taylor Townsend
Taylor had a difficult time making friends in school. As a way of forcing relationships, Taylor tries to make her peers participate in events to spend time with her, under the guise that it was school-related. She latched onto Seth after he was kind to her and interfered in his relationship with Summer.
Yet, as Taylor became more comfortable with the group, she calmed down, knowing that she had friends, which was all she had wanted to begin with. Afterward, she sparks a short-lived relationship with Ryan. The ending does not give a clear picture of what became of Taylor. Although she does attend Seth and Summer’s wedding and seems to be on good terms with Ryan, there is not a specific moment that identifies what Taylor did as a job or any other relationships she may have had.
Fitting: Julie Cooper
The string of failed relationships finally ends when Julie decides to put herself first. On Julie’s wedding day, with two possible romantic options, Julie chooses to place Kaitlin and herself above another marriage.
Julie went on to attend school and get a degree. It was a fitting conclusion for a character that had spent so much time jumping from one broken romance to the next. Showing how Julie kept secure relationships with both of those men in her life nicely showed that Julie did not need them as anything more than friends and supporters.
Deserved More: Johnny Harper
Johnny was not a long-time character on The O.C. Marissa met Johnny when she began Newport Union School instead of going back to Harbor High School. They became friends, and Johnny developed romantic feelings for Marissa as their friendship grew. His biggest dream was to be a professional Surfer, but Johnny’s aspirations were put on hold when he got hit by a car.
However, that would not be the worst thing to happen to Johnny. He later drunkenly fell to his death. Johnny had a hopeful future that was tragically taken away from him.
Fitting: Sandy And Kirsten Cohen
Through easy or hard times, Sandy and Kirsten remained the rock-solid romantic relationship of the series. Nothing was ever too much that they could not work through it together, even when the odds did not look in their favor. Their relationships with each other as well as with Seth and Ryan transcended with each hurdle thrown at them.
Sandy and Kirsten end the series with a new addition to the family in the same home that they had once lived. They are present for Seth and Summer’s wedding at their house, and their influence continued to impact Ryan.
Deserved More: Marissa Cooper
The O.C took a chance when they killed one of the original main characters, Marissa Cooper. Killing off a central figure on a show can fall under dangerous territory, and Marissa Cooper was no exception. Unfortunately, perhaps what makes Marissa’s death worse, storyline-wise, was that she had already decided to leave Newport Beach anyway.
Marissa was set to begin a new life out with her father, a life that was stolen from her during a dangerous car accident. It was uncertain what would’ve become of Marissa’s future, but she deserved more than the ending she got.
Fitting: Trey Atwood
Ryan’s troubled brother could never entirely separate himself from the problems he had before getting arrested. Once he was out, Trey stirred up trouble for Ryan, Marissa, and many others. Trey’s conclusion showed him leaving Newport Beach. After Trey leaves, there are references to him and what happened after he left.
However, Trey’s life had been wrapped in drama and always on the edge of illegal behavior. Given all that Trey had done to Ryan and Marissa, it was fitting that their life differences would change them so much that there would not be a sturdy connection holding them together.
Deserved More: Kaitlin Cooper
After Marissa’s death, Kaitlin returned home to become a central character in The O.C’s last season. The opposite of Marissa, Kaitlin, and Julie had a much different relationship. Kaitlin and Julie would take to try and one-up each other rather than screaming fights.
When Julie was deciding which man she wanted to be with between Bullet and Frank, Kaitlin made it clear she preferred Bullet. However, Kaitlin also tried to explain to Julie that she did not love Julie’s constant relationship jumping. Overall, Kaitlin’s journey deserved more screen time.
Fitting: Ryan Atwood
Ryan needed a home when he found that his mother and her boyfriend had packed up and moved, leaving him behind. Without hesitating, Sandy welcomed Ryan back into the Cohen’s home. Although Ryan occasionally had problems stopping himself from entering a fight, he eventually managed to control his temper, at least somewhat.
After the ups and downs that life had handed him, Ryan finally lands back on his feet and tries to make the best out of his life. In a flash-forward, Ryan is an adult and notices a younger, teenage boy, seeming in trouble. Just as Sandy had opened his home for Ryan, Ryan paid it forward and asked the boy if he needed help.
Deserved More: Seth Cohen
Seth’s art and relationships with Ryan and Summer took up a lot of Seth’s significant storylines. While the series finale reveals what Summer and Ryan would become as they got older, it does not grant Seth the same courtesy. While Summer’s job is at least showed, Seth gets a brief scene in a college dorm before time skips ahead to his wedding.
Seth had briefly considered becoming a movie critic, but it is never confirmed if anything became of that idea. While Seth is happy to be marrying Summer, it did not make sense that Seth’s profession did not get more acknowledgment.