The O.C. (season 3)

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The O.C. Season 3
"The Graduates," the third season finale
Country of origin	United States
Network	Fox
Original run	September 8, 2005 – May 18, 2006
No. of episodes	25
DVD release date	October 24, 2006
Previous season	Season 2
Next season	Season 4

The third season of The O.C. premiered on September 8, 2005 in the United States, featuring a total of 25 episodes. Season three's regulars consisted of Benjamin McKenzie (Ryan Atwood), Mischa Barton (Marissa Cooper), Adam Brody (Seth Cohen), Rachel Bilson (Summer Roberts), Peter Gallagher (Sandy Cohen), Kelly Rowan (Kirsten Cohen), and Melinda Clarke (Julie Cooper).

1 Plot Overview
2 Episodes
3 Notes

[edit] Plot Overview

The season begins with Kirsten still in rehab and Trey in a coma. Trey eventually comes out of his coma and, after Julie Cooper briefly attempts to blackmail him into blaming Ryan for the shooting, he leaves town. Also in the beginning of the season, after they have waited a long time, Ryan and Marissa have sex the night before she is to move to Hawaii. But her father Jimmy has serious troubles with a mafiosi he can't pay back, and he has to flee without his family to Hawaii, while he was about to marry Julie again. Marissa escapes charges over the shooting, but is expelled from Harbor and is forced to attend Newport Union, a nearby public school. There she meets Johnny, a surfer and his sidekick Chilli. Ryan is also thrown out of Harbor after punching the Dean because he manhandled Marissa. Johnny falls in love with Marissa, and she eventually has to choose between him and Ryan. Ryan is re-admitted to Harbor as it is revealed that the Dean was currently having a sexual relationship with Taylor Townsend. Marissa is re-admitted to Harbor after her friends stage a campaign, with the assistance of Marissa's former rival Taylor. Marissa's younger sister Kaitlin returns from boarding school and takes a liking to Johnny but Marissa can't deny that she has feelings for Johnny; she loves Ryan but her crush on Johnny makes her relationship with Ryan shaky. After Marissa chooses Ryan, a drunk Johnny falls to his death from a cliff on the beach. After the death of Johnny; Kaitlin, distraught with his death returns to boarding school away from the terror. Seth and Summer continue their relationship. Problems include Seth smoking marijuana and skipping his college interview but the two work things out and their relationship stabilizes.Ryan and Marissa become more distant from each other and they both agree that despite the fact that they love each other it isn't working so they break up. Ryan then has a short relationship with Johnny's cousin Sadie before she moves back to her home town. While everything is going on with Marissa, Julie finds comfort with Dr. Roberts, Summer's father, and they finally tell Summer and Marissa about their relationship. Unable to come to terms with Johnny's death and the break up with Ryan, Marissa becomes involved with Kevin Volchok another surfer with a "bad boy" reputation. However, she catches him cheating on her during the prom and ends their relationship. In the third season finale, an intoxicated Volchok, still reeling from his break-up with Marissa, rams Marissa and Ryan off the road and over a cliff. Ryan survives the crash and pulls Marissa from the wrecked car. A sad Ryan looks to Marissa, while she asks him to stay instead of go and get help , they both in love look at each other and then Marissa Cooper dies in Ryan Atwood's arms.

[edit] Episodes

#	Title	Writer(s)	Director	Original Airdate	# season
52	"The Aftermath"	Josh Schwartz	Ian Toynton	September 8, 2005	1
It has been a couple of months since the shooting. Trey has been in a coma all this time leaving the District Attorney impatiently waiting for his side of the story. Feeling the pressure from the community the D.A. continues to put pressure on Ryan, Marissa, Seth, Summer and others for more information. Meanwhile Julie is steaming mad because Caleb’s accountant won’t give up the goods on Caleb’s will and Kirsten is still in rehab.
53	"The Shape of Things to Come"	J. J. Philbin	Tony Wharmby	September 15, 2005	2
Social Chair Summer tries to plan this year’s carnival but is having much difficulty due to a little pest named Taylor. Sandy is surprised to find Kirsten has been released from rehab but instead of informing him, she has been living with another woman named Charlotte who she met in rehab. Later Ryan and Marissa partake in a similar meeting. Elsewhere Jimmy meets a man and feels more than open to discuss his money problems with him.
54	"The End of Innocence"	Stephanie Savage	Michael Lange	September 22, 2005	3
Jimmy must make once more the difficult decision to leave or stay with his family; Kirsten returns to the Cohen household while Charlotte has to leave her house; Marissa and Ryan face a possible separation; Taylor lords over the school musical and makes Summer and Seth her stooges.
55	"The Last Waltz"	John Stephens	Ian Toynton	September 29, 2005	4
Marissa begins her first day at Newport Union Public School and Ryan doesn't seem to take a liking to the new friends she's made; Charlotte's true intentions towards Kirsten are revealed; Summer finds out the horrifying truth between the Dean and Taylor; Kirsten has a big decision to make regarding the Company.
56	"The Perfect Storm"	Mike Kelley	Tony Wharmby	November 3, 2005	5
Ryan decides to make a life-changing decision that Sandy surprisingly supports, and Marissa turns to her new public school friends for help with Ryan. Meanwhile, Harbor High's Dean of Discipline, Dean Hess, continues his crusade to ruin Ryan's future, and Summer and Seth go on their own crusade to reveal Dean Hess's secret. Meanwhile, Charlotte makes Julie an offer she cannot refuse.
57	"The Swells"	J. J. Philbin	Michael Fresco	November 10, 2005	6
Taylor Townsend locks up Seth's night when she throws a Harbor School event that keeps Summer at a distance. Meanwhile, Marissa's new friendships at public school worry Summer and she enlists Ryan's help. Meanwhile, Sandy works on a plan for the Newport Group and forms a new partnership, Charlotte convinces Julie and Kirsten to edge back into Newport society while Julie figures out Charlottes real intentions.
58	"The Anger Management"	John Stephens	Michael Fresco	November 17, 2005	7
When the gang heads to The Bait Shop to see The Subways, Taylor's horsing around causes a major rift between Seth and Summer. Marissa, determined to end the potentially explosive rift between Ryan and Volchok, does whatever it takes to watch out for Ryan. Meanwhile, Matt, Sandy's Newport Group partner, goes above and beyond the call of duty; Julie Cooper reigns supreme as the only "bitch" in Orange County; and Ryan needs to use his head for once.
59	"The Game Plan"	Cory Martin	Tate Donovan	December 1, 2005	8
As college options are weighed, Seth looks east, Summer west and Taylor looks happy with their possible separation. Ryan, meanwhile, tries to persuade Marissa to go to school at all before Johnny proposes another direction. Elsewhere, Kirsten offers Julie a business opportunity.
60	"The Disconnect"	Stephanie Savage	Tony Wharmby	December 8, 2005	9
Ryan takes an internship working for Sandy and Matt at the Newport Group, but he ends up working harder to save Matt's reputation. Summer and Seth, determined to get accepted to Brown University, do whatever it takes to stand out at Harbor School. Johnny finally tells Marissa how he really feels. After Ryan and Marissa cross paths, they end up telling each other the truth.
61	"The Chrismukkah Bar-Mitzvahkkah"	Josh Schwartz	Ian Toynton	December 15, 2005	10
After the gang spends hours picking out the perfect Christmas trees, they devise a special plan to help a friend in need. Meanwhile, the holidays bring out a sombre Summer who misses her mom, and Johnny's sudden misfortune forces him to take matters into his own hands. And when a reminiscing Seth vows to put a little "mukkah" into Ryan's "Chris," Ryan gets Bar-Mitz-vahkkahed on the third annual O.C. "Chrismukkah" episode.
62	"The Safe Harbor"	Mike Kelley	Tony Wharmby	January 12, 2006	11
Summer, Seth and Ryan launch a mission-impossible campaign to get Marissa back into Harbor, and Johnny struggles between a friend's happiness and his own feelings. Meanwhile, Sandy must make an ethical decision that could change Marissa's fate, and Julie Cooper and Dr. Roberts are apprehensive about admitting to the lies they have told their daughters.
63	"The Sister Act"	Leila Gerstein	Ian Toynton	January 19, 2006	12
Kaitlin Cooper returns to the O.C. during her winter break from an exclusive Montecito boarding school, bringing a lot of attitude and a few secrets of her own. Much more in the mould of her mother Julie Cooper than her sister Marissa, Kaitlin turns heads as she tries to get closer to her family the only way she knows how.
64	"The Pot Stirrer"	John Stephens	Norman Buckley	January 26, 2006	13
While Marissa does all she can to get to know her sister, Kaitlin just stirs up trouble for the gang as she prepares to celebrate her birthday. Sandy encourages Seth about college, but Seth finds a better alternative. Sandy and Matt work together to secure a contract for the new hospital. And Julie continues her quest to put her family back together again.
65	"The Cliffhanger"	J. J. Philbin	Michael Lange	February 2, 2006	14
Summer discovers the truth about Cohen, while Sandy and Matt encounter an obstacle with their hospital project. Meanwhile, Kirsten and Julie take their matchmaking business a little too far, causing Julie to go into hiding. Marissa finally tells Johnny how she truly feels and Kaitlin wonders which "Cooper" Johnny really likes. When Johnny and Kaitlin head to the beach, Kaitlin finds Johnny at the edge of reason.
66	"The Heavy Lifting"	Stephanie Savage	Ian Toynton	February 9, 2006	15
Tragic news forces the gang to sort out their problems and face the reality of the situation. After Sadie arrives in Newport, Ryan helps her move and get rid of Volchok, causing Ryan to question his and Marissa's relationship. Meanwhile, Kaitlin's winter break is over - just as she gets close to her family, she once again has to say goodbye. And in the wake of Newport's latest events, Kirsten and Julie press on with their Valentine's Day party.
67	"The Road Warrior"	Mike Kelley	Michael Fresco	March 9, 2006	16
Summer asks Julie and Kirsten, via their matchmaking company, to find a woman for her father. Ryan helps Sadie find her trouble-ridden uncle Jack, and Sadie wants to collect. Marissa is yet again involved in another police investigation, and she and Ryan break up.
68	"The Journey"	John Stephens	Roxann Dawson	March 16, 2006	17
Summer and Julie talk about the latter's relationship with Dr. Roberts. Sandy goes to jail to visit Dawn Atwood. Volchok insists a little too much to have a talk with Marissa. Matt comes to her rescue. Later, she decides not to go to Ryan's birthday party, goes to the beach and rings Volchok, to talk to him. The episode ends with Marissa resting her head on Volchok's shoulder.
69	"The Undertow"	Mark Fish & J. J. Philbin	Robert Duncan McNeill	March 23, 2006	18
Ryan has problems opening up to Sadie. Henry Griffin drops by the Newport Group and wants to talk to Sandy about problems with Matt's personal life. Taylor helps Seth and Summer deal with their couple problems. Marissa shows weakness towards Volchok, and one thing leads to another.
70	"The Secrets and Lies"	Stephanie Savage & Josh Schwartz	Michael Fresco	March 30, 2006	19
Julie and Dr. Roberts announce their engagement; Marissa seeks solace with some bad company. Ryan tries to move on with Sadie, Kirsten surprises Seth with a night out, and Sandy's woes with Matt continue.
71	"The Day After Tomorrow"	Leila Gerstein	Norman Buckley	April 6, 2006	20
The college acceptance and rejection letters arrive leaving the kids to consider their future. Taylor organises a college bonfire party; Summer and Marissa fix their problems. Seth tells Summer she should go to Brown but he will go elsewhere causing them to break up
72	"The Dawn Patrol"	Mike Kelley	Ian Toynton	April 13, 2006	21
Ryan visits his mother but there's a problem. Taylor and Summer aim to find out Seth's secret. Julie helps Marissa out of a bad situation. Sandy solves his work problems but hurts Kirsten in the process.
73	"The College Try"	J. J. Philbin	Tony Wharmby	April 20, 2006	22
Graduation is just weeks away and Ryan, Seth, Summer and Marissa leave Newport to attend their respective pre-frosh orientations at UC Berkeley and Brown. Kirsten is surprised by who she sees at the airport. Seth is surprised by who he meets at Brown. Later, Sandy and Kirsten attend a hospital benefit where Kirsten returns to an old habit.
74	"The Party Favor"	John Stephens	Michael Lange	April 27, 2006	23
Taylor hits a high at the prom, while Summer falls flat with her date. Seth and Anna plan to win Summer back. Marissa convinces Volchok to go to the prom and Ryan brings an unexpected old flame. When one of the girls is elected prom queen, it truly becomes a night to remember. Later, Taylor's prom funds are missing and Ryan returns to his old ways.
75	"The Man of the Year"	Stephanie Savage	Tony Wharmby	May 4, 2006	24
Ryan and Volchok make a deal after a fallout at prom. Sandy is chosen as Man of the Year, but this sparks the DA to dig deeper into his involvement with the hospital problems. Marissa goes and visits Kaitlin at her boarding school and Theresa has to make a difficult decision about her child.
76	"The Graduates"	Bob DeLaurentus & Josh Schwartz	Ian Toynton	May 18, 2006	25
The kids look back on the amazing journey that has brought the four of them this far. Ryan's proud mom arrives with a surprise for him. Marissa receives an astounding proposal that may radically change her plans. An intoxicated Volchok, still reeling from his break-up with Marissa, runs her and Ryan off the road and over a cliff. Ryan survives. He tells her that he is going to go get help. She tells him to stay, and slowly dies in his arms.

[edit] Notes

This marks Mischa Barton's final season of The O.C. due to Marissa Cooper's death in the series finale, although many references are made to the character in season four.