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The O.C. Season 2 Episodes
Season 2 Episode Guide
24 Episodes 2004 - 2005
Episode 1
The Distance
Thu, Nov 4, 200444 mins
It's been three months since Ryan left to live with the pregnant Theresa in Chino, and Seth subsequently sailed off to Portland to live with Luke and his divorced, gay father. With one week before school will start, Kirsten is furious that Sandy has yet to bring Seth back to Newport. Sandy says that they can't bring him back kicking and screaming, because that will only make him want to run away again. Also in the Cohen household, there's a group of re-modelers led by macho man Archie, creating a new family room and re-designed kitchen, a project that apparently was used to distract Kirsten from going from having two sons in the house, to none. Meanwhile, Summer tells Marissa that she's been hanging out with a new kid, but refuses to get close to him, saying she'll never get close to a boy again. Marissa knows just how she feels. She misses Ryan but just can't bring herself to call him to see how he's doing. Caleb's paranoia about being indicted is growing all summer long. Back at the Cohen household, Kirsten calls Seth in Portland and begs him to come home. Seth refuses, saying Newport is an awful place. Sandy decides to fly to Portland to possibly use reverse psychology to convince Seth to come home. He also visits Ryan in Chino to deliver him a plane ticket to Portland, thinking maybe the two could deliver an unbeatable one-two punch combination. It's apparent to everyone in Chino, including Theresa, that Ryan is miserable, and doesn't consider it to be his home anymore. Before heading up to Portland, Sandy speaks with Caleb in a parking garage, as Cal is paranoid his home, the office, and other places might be bugged and the phone lines tapped. Once in Portland, Sandy is shocked to see the level of hostility Seth shows his father. Seth seems content to stay in Portland, and continuing to resent his parents for letting Ryan go, and Ryan for leaving. Back in Newport, Jimmy and Marissa join Kirsten for dinner to keep her company, and Marissa goes into the pool house further fueling her missing Ryan. Sitting on the beach that night, she calls Ryan in Chino, but can't bring herself to say anything, so he lays there listening to her breathe, knowing it's her. Julie tells Marissa she's grounded because she's sick of being ignored. Marissa has a meltdown screaming, crying, and throwing lawn furniture into the pool unable to stand anymore of her evil mother or her evil stepfather. Summer visits the Cohen household with a box of Seth's stuff, telling Kirsten she's there to get rid of anything that ever reminded her of Seth. She dumps the box on the bed, and leaves. Later, just before Sandy leaves Portland he tells Seth that he's fine with him staying in Portland, as long as he knows he's safe and happy. As Sandy is leaving, Ryan is showing up, making his best attempt to convince Seth to go back. It doesn't seem to work until Theresa calls Ryan at Luke's house, and tells him she's lost the baby, saying the doctor couldn't find a heartbeat. Theresa's mother later reveals that Theresa was lying, and she never lost the baby. It's the next morning as Ryan is to leave that the two, Seth and Ryan, decide maybe going back to Newport would be the best thing for the both of them-and the two return to the Cohen household.
Episode 2
The Way We Were
Thu, Nov 11, 200443 mins
Ryan and Seth return to Newport and have their first day back at Harbor High School. Seth runs into Summer, who will not forgive him for running way and not calling her, and she shows off her new boyfriend Zach; a WASP-version of Seth whom they first meet at Seth's new comic book club. Ryan catches Marissa in a clinch and her tryst with the new gardener D.J. Meanwhile, Caleb calls upon Sandy for help when he's arrested for bribery charges. Sandy and Kirsten deal with their re-modelers whom are like a wrecking crew. Also, Hailey decides to leave town for a job offer in Japan and has an emotional goodbye with Jimmy, now living aboard a sailboat in the Newport marina.
Episode 3
The New Kids on the Block
Thu, Nov 18, 200443 mins
Caleb spends the night in jail until Sandy bails him out, and all of Orange Country finds out about his troubles via a front page newspaper spread. Seth realizes that he really does make everything about him, as Summer previously suggested, so he decides that he needs to become selfless, for the greater good of man, and just in case Summer might want him back. He decides to get tickets to a Walkmen show at The Bait Shop, but they're sold out. So he accepts a manual labor job at from the co-manager, a punk rock princess by the name of Alex, of cleaning toilets to be rewarded tickets so that he can give them to Summer and Zack to prove his selflessness to her. Summer realizes that Zack is the perfect guy, though he may not be perfect for her, and agrees to arrange a lunch where Zack can meet her Dad, hoping it will go better than when Seth met him last year. Ryan gets assigned a lab partner in his AP Physics class, a new girl named Lindsey, though he's already met her. Earlier that day he had spilled coffee all over her shirt, accidentally slammed his elbow into her nose and spilled the belongings in her purse all over the floor. They are less than thrilled to be working together, but are forced nonetheless. They are given their first assignment, an assignment they are to work on together, but Lindsey distrusts Ryan's level of smarts, assuming he's another dumb, rich kid from Orange Country, and hands the assignment in without consulting Ryan or letting him contribute in the slightest. Kirsten, Sandy, Julie, and Caleb are all fretting over Caleb's current state, and what it is to come if he does get sent to jail. But Sandy is hot on the trail of finding ways to get Caleb out of hot water. And Sandy has plenty of time to deal with the matter now that he has quit his job at his top law firm; because the partners agreed that as long as he was representing Caleb, he wasn't working there. Later, Seth finds out this his new boss, tough girl Alex, is only 17, got kicked out of three different high schools and her parents' house. He earns the tickets, and gives them to Summer, but Zack convinces her to go to the concert alone, see Seth and talk about their status. Everything is going fine and a friendship is forming, until he tries to kiss her, and ruins it all. Caleb announces to Kirsten and Sandy that he will be stepping down from his position in the Newport Group, and appointing a new CEO-Julie. Kirsten is furious, and quits, saying she refuses to have Julie as her boss. Caleb convinces her to come back, saying it's just a figure-head position, and Kirsten will continue to run the show as Chief Financial Officer. Seth goes to talk to Marissa about his problems with Summer, because he's burned out anyone else who was willing to listen. She tells him it would be best just to apologize if he really wants a friendship with her. He shows up at the restaurant where she's having lunch with her father, but is crushed to see Zack also joining them, and having an enjoyable time. Meanwhile, Marissa sees Ryan at Harbor doing his Physics homework with Lindsey, laughing, flirting, and smiling. Turns out, Seth and Marissa are floating in the same boat of loneliness and making several attempts of not sinking.
Episode 4
The New Era
Thu, Dec 2, 200443 mins
Wanting to move on with their lives, Ryan sets Seth up with Lindsay. Seth sets Ryan up with Alex (Alexandra) Kelly, the punk rock teenage manger of the Bait Shop. But during their first outing, Ryan has eyes for Lindsay, while Seth has eyes for Alex. Meanwhile, Julie throws her weight around as the new CEO of Newport Group and gets on Kirsten's nerves fast. Sandy also discusses more of Caleb's case and about charges of him bribing a city official named Renee Wheeler, whom Caleb claims it's for a trust fund.
Episode 5
The SnO.C.
Thu, Dec 9, 200443 mins
Summer's relationship with Seth strains her relationship with Zach. Ryan asks Lindsay to go to the SnO.C. dance. Meanwhile, Julie finds out about Marissa and D.J.'s relationship and turns to Jimmy for advice. Sandy gets closer to the truth Caleb's been hiding.
Episode 6
The Chrismukkah That Almost Wasn't
Thu, Dec 16, 200444 mins
Seth plans yet another Chrismukkah. This time, Ryan has drama with the ladies. If Marissa comes by, then his new interest Lindsay can't come. If Lindsay comes by Marisa can't. Well, Ryan invites Lindsay, but Seth invites Summer and Marissa. At the same time, Julie is having an affair with Jimmy and Caleb and Renee still haven't revealed the secret. In the third act, it all comes to a head when all the pieces come together with everyone in the kitchen of the Cohen house. Kirsten is devastated to learn Lindsay is her sister, Julie is angry, Seth's holiday is ruined and Lindsay wants nothing to do with Ryan or any of his family. Ryan talks with Kirsten, while Seth talks to newly-known Aunt. The new family member is introduced in a loving, caring way by Sandy and Kirsten.
Episode 7
The Family Ties
Thu, Jan 6, 200544 mins
Time to move on: Jimmy decides to relocate to Maui. Time to make a choice: Ryan and Lindsay wonder about their relationship status, given recent revelations. Time to bust a move: Seth turns bad boy in an attempt to impress Alex, getting drunk and stealing cars. Time to make a scene: Marissa discovers the truth about her parents' affair and lets them have it at Jimmy's going-away party.
Episode 8
The Power of Love
Thu, Jan 13, 200543 mins
Sandy forgets his 20th wedding anniversary, creating tension with Kirsten. Not even a romantic getaway will fix this one. Sandy's chance for redemption is impaired when the boys seem to be out of control, forcing him to resort to some tough-love parenting with the boys, after Seth is caught sneaking out and Ryan is caught making out with Lindsay. Sandy pays Alex a visit, causing her to later get angry at Seth for not appreciating having a father who cares. Meanwhile, Ryan and Lindsay must confront their relationship when she feels pressured to choose between having a family or a boyfriend, Summer meets Zach's family, and Julie is determined to run D.J. out of town.
Episode 9
The Ex-Factor
Thu, Jan 20, 200544 mins
Alex's ex is in town, which makes Seth paranoid. A discovery makes him even more so. Meanwhile, Marissa, Summer, and Lindsay have a girls' night out, while Ryan, Seth, and Zach have a guys' night in. When things get out of control in both camps and the two intersect, the relationship drama escalates.
Episode 10
The Accomplice
Thu, Jan 27, 200544 mins
Tensions heat up between Sandy and Kirsten when Sandy decides to help Max Bloom, his mentor from law school, find his daughter, Rebecca, whom was Sandy's first love. Meanwhile, Seth and Zach start up a comic book based on their lives in Newport, while Summer questions why she's been left out. Ryan makes an attempt to unite Lindsay and Caleb after Lindsay tells Ryan she is curious in getting to know her "new" father. But the dinner with Caleb does not go as planned. While Julie is in Paris, Marissa looks for new ways to rebel, and in doing so, her friendship with Alex increases leading to an excursion to Los Angeles so Alex can pack up some of her belongings at Jodie's apartment.
Episode 11
The Second Chance
Thu, Feb 3, 200543 mins
After hearing about Lindsay and Ryan's failed attempt at dinner with Caleb the night before, Kirsten arranges a dinner that she can supervise. But her presence makes no difference when the hot-tempered Ryan and the egotistical Caleb immediately butt heads and disaster strikes when Caleb collapses from a sudden heart attack. Meanwhile, Sandy keeps Rebecca's presence in Newport a secret from Kirsten after deciding to take her case to court. Marissa and Alex's relationship intensifies, while Seth and Summer spend a lot of time together at Zach's insistence.
Episode 12
The Lonely Hearts Club
Thu, Feb 10, 200543 mins
On Valentine's Day, Sandy and Kirsten's conflict about Rebecca continues. Ryan tries to make peace with Caleb in order to spend Valentines Day with Lindsay. Meanwhile, Seth, Zach, and Summer head to San Diego in hope to make their comic book idea succeed. But it all falls apart when Seth has a emotional breakdown and he ends up in a lonely state. Marissa and Alex decide take a step forward in their romantic relationship, while Julie returns from her trip to Paris in a vain and futile hope to reconnect with Marissa.
Episode 13
The Father Knows Best
Thu, Feb 17, 200543 mins
As Sandy continues working on Rebecca's case, Kirsten questions how strong their feelings are for one another. Meanwhile, Seth continues his downward spiral in the aftermath of Zach and Summer's night together, while Marissa tries to confront her fear about her relationship with Alex. Also, Caleb offers Lindsay a place in his family, but not without a paternity test.
Episode 14
The Rainy Day Women
Thu, Feb 24, 200543 mins
During a rainy day in Newport, Lindsay decides to take the DNA test and makes a difficult choice regarding her life with Caleb while Ryan helps her through it. Elsewhere, Sandy still wants to help Rebecca with her case and tries to convince her not to run again. But he ends up running with her and ends up stranded for the night in a run-down motel. Kirsten is still upset and confides in Julie about her problems and wishes her marriage would go back to normal and for Rebecca's case to be over with. Meanwhile, Seth thinks he's lost Summer forever until Summer is unable to hide from her feelings once and for all, when she considers leaving Newport with Zach for a trip to Europe. Marissa moves out of the Cooper-Nichol mansion and moves in with Alex after she tells her mother about Alex being her girlfriend.
Episode 15
The Mallpisode
Thu, Mar 10, 200542 mins
The gang get the chance to have a few heart-to-hearts when they're accidentally locked in a mall for the night. Marissa and Summer catch up about the state of their current love lives, while Seth tries to help Ryan get over Lindsay's departure. Meanwhile, Julie receives a visit from a figure of the past, Alex questions her relationship with Marissa, and Sandy is determined to right his wrongs with Kirsten.
Episode 16
The Blaze of Glory
Thu, Mar 17, 200543 mins
Marissa recruits Ryan to help her with Harbor School's Pep Rally Bonfire. Alex accepts that her and Marissa are from two different lives and knows she is fighting a lost cause. Seth is stuck and misses last year's good times while Summer disagrees and tells him it's time to move on. Meanwhile, Julie still doesn't know what she is going do about her blackmailer and seeks some advice from Sandy. Also, Kirsten wants their editor, Carter, to stick with the magazine despite his reservations.
Episode 17
The Brothers Grim
Thu, Mar 24, 200543 mins
When Ryan's brother, Trey, gets out of jail and gives Ryan a call, the Cohens give him a warm welcome. Though, Ryan knows nothing good can come from it. Zach returns from his trip to Italy and gives some news that he has a new girlfriend which makes Summer curious and Seth is not really sure what to think. Meanwhile, after Julie admits her naked mistake to Kirsten, they both agree to get Caleb in on it for more help, unaware that Caleb as always, has a hidden agenda. Also, the Newport Living magazine is officially launched, but Julie's blackmailer, Lance, makes an appearance after Caleb had stiffed him for his blackmail money.
Episode 18
The Risky Business
Thu, Apr 7, 200543 mins
Sandy reluctantly agrees with Kirsten to serve as host/auctioneer at yet another OC benefit. Meanwhile, Trey lies to Ryan to prove that he can be self-dependent when he steals one auction exhibit leading Ryan and Seth on a mission to recover it before anyone finds out. Carter reinvigorates Seth and Zach's comic book dream, much to the annoyance of Summer. Also, Marissa moves in with the Cohens, unwilling to stand anymore of living with Julie or Caleb.
Episode 19
The Rager
Thu, Apr 14, 200543 mins
On Trey's 21st birthday, Marissa, anxious to help Trey and Ryan forge a relationship, throws a birthday party for Trey at the Cooper-Nichol mansion that turns out to be a rumble when one girl nearly drowns from a drug OD. Meanwhile, Seth is left in hot water by both Summer and Zach. Sandy wants to continue his friendship with Carter, leaving a confused Kirsten. Also, a distraught Julie shares some memories with her blackmailer Lance, and in the process learns a few things and gains a few ideas about the future of her marriage to Caleb.
Episode 20
The O.C. Confidential
Thu, Apr 21, 200543 mins
Sandy, Ryan, and Seth devise a plan to save Trey from going to jail after he took the fall for supplying drugs at his birthday party. Kirsten and Carter, fulfilling more than their editorial duties, take a trip to Featherbrook's winery for a wine tasting party. Meanwhile, Caleb returns home from another long business trip and questions his marriage with Julie, and Seth, Summer, and Zach attend a party for the upcoming graphic novel.
Episode 21
The Return of the Nana
Thu, May 5, 200543 mins
Sandy, Seth and Ryan travel to Miami, Florida to visit Sandy's mother, the Nana, after she tells Sandy she is getting married to a much younger man. Back in Newport, Kirsten, unable go to Miami with Sandy because of work, is left on her own to deal with her feelings for Carter. Trey misinterprets Marissa's friendship as a sexual advance. Also, Zach invites Summer to a home-cooked dinner at his house.
Episode 22
The Showdown
Thu, May 5, 200543 mins
Seth and Zach declare war when they compete against each other for Summer's affections. Meanwhile, Marissa is still reeling from being nearly raped by Trey, and refuses to confide in Ryan about the incident. Sandy confronts Kirsten when her drinking problem becomes very apparent. Also, Caleb hands divorce papers to Julie.
Episode 23
The O.Sea
Thu, May 12, 200543 mins
Seth and Zach squabble over who should take Summer to the prom and who will meet George Lucas for dinner over the publishing of the graphic novel. Meanwhile, Sandy takes drastic actions with a recovering Kirsten. Ryan starts to piece together what happened between Trey and Marissa, while at the same time, Ryan run into his old girlfriend Theresa. Also, Julie decides to murder Caleb to avoid going broke. But her attempts to poison Caleb take a surprise turn.
Episode 24
The Dearly Beloved
Thu, May 19, 200543 mins
Kirsten hits rock bottom after Caleb's funeral, prompting Sandy to finally take action by staging an intervention. Meanwhile, Jimmy Cooper returns to Newport and almost immediately renews ties with a mourning Julie, while Hailey Nicole also returns to town for the funeral. Trey's girlfriend/partner-in-crime Jess bullies him into participating in a drug deal that turns into a shootout at the Bait Shop nightclub. Also, Ryan finally learns the truth about what happened between Trey and Marissa, leading to a bloody confrontation.