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The Best Episodes of The O.C. Season 3

Every episode of The O.C. Season 3 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The O.C. Season 3!

Binge this in 17h 31m•Peaking at 8.7/10

Ryan Atwood, a teen from the wrong side of the tracks, moves in with a wealthy family willing to give him a chance. But Ryan's arrival disturbs the status quo of the affluent, privileged community

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    The O.C. Season 3 Episode 1 - The Aftermath
    7.9/10(600 votes)

    #1 - The Aftermath

    S3:E1

    In the season three opener, we start off with senior year starting in a few days. It has been a couple of months since the shooting. Trey has been in a coma all this time leaving the D.A. impatiently waiting for his side of the story. Feeling the pressure from the community the D.A. continues to put pressure on Ryan, Marisa, 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.

    Directors:Ian Toynton, Doug Liman
    Writers:Allan Heinberg, Josh Schwartz

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  2. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 2 - The Shape of Things to Come
    7.4/10(551 votes)

    #2 - The Shape of Things to Come

    S3:E2

    Social Chair Marissa 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. Julie and Sandy meet with the Dean and Dr. Kim to discuss Ryan and Marissa’s future at Harbor High. 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.

    Directors:Doug Liman, Tony Wharmby
    Writers:Allan Heinberg, Josh Schwartz, J. J. Philbin

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  3. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 3 - The End of Innocence
    7.6/10(530 votes)

    #3 - The End of Innocence

    S3:E3

    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.

    Director:Michael Lange
    Writer:Stephanie Savage

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  4. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 4 - The Last Waltz
    7.7/10(526 votes)

    #4 - The Last Waltz

    S3:E4

    Marissa struggles with attending a public high school, and her new friends make Ryan jealous; Charlotte's ruse is up when she learns that Kirsten did not inherit any money from Caleb; Julie's mansion is repossessed, leaving her with nothing; Taylor's power play dethrones Summer as commitee chairman, who then learns an interesting secret about her and Dean Hess.

    Director:Ian Toynton
    Writer:John Stephens

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  5. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 5 - The Perfect Storm
    7.5/10(498 votes)

    #5 - The Perfect Storm

    S3:E5

    Ryan decides to make a life-changing decision that Sandy reluctantly supports; Marissa looks to her new friends to help with her latest crisis with Ryan; Summer and Seth go on a mission to reveal a secret between Taylor and Dean Hess; Charlotte makes Julie an offer that she can't refuse.

    Director:Tony Wharmby
    Writer:Mike Kelley

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  6. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 6 - The Swells
    7.3/10(510 votes)

    #6 - The Swells

    S3:E6

    Marissa discovers something in Johnny that Ryan lacks and Charlotte convinces Julie and Kirsten to throw a charity event. After discovering fake IDs in Charlotte's purse, Julie confronts her.

    Director:Michael Fresco
    Writer:J. J. Philbin

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  7. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 7 - The Anger Management
    7.8/10(511 votes)

    #7 - The Anger Management

    S3:E7

    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 when he learns he has to cut Newport Group staff.

    Director:Michael Fresco
    Writer:John Stephens

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  8. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 8 - The Game Plan
    7.7/10(500 votes)

    #8 - The Game Plan

    S3:E8

    Ryan, Summer, Seth, and Marissa think about what they'd like to do with their lives as they compile their college applications, but they run across several obstacles; Johnny's surfing career takes an unfortunate twist; a revealed secret complicates Julie's friendship with Kirsten.

    Director:Tate Donovan
    Writer:Cory Martin

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  9. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 9 - The Disconnect
    7.4/10(482 votes)

    #9 - The Disconnect

    S3:E9

    Marissa visits Johnny at his house after his accident to see how he is doing. Julie and Kirsten get a contract for their new catering business while Sandy, Ryan and Matt meet with investors.

    Director:Tony Wharmby
    Writer:Stephanie Savage

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  10. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 10 - The Chrismukkah Bar-Mitzvahkkah
    7.6/10(513 votes)

    #10 - The Chrismukkah Bar-Mitzvahkkah

    S3:E10

    Chrismukkah has returned to the Cohen house and Seth suggests to have a Bar Mitzvah to Ryan to raise money for Johnny's knee surgery after his accident but Ryan then pulls out after seeing Johnny and Marissa get too close.

    Director:Ian Toynton
    Writer:Josh Schwartz

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  11. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 11 - The Safe Harbor
    8.0/10(502 votes)

    #11 - The Safe Harbor

    S3:E11

    Ryan, Seth and Summer launch a campaign to get Marissa back into Harbour. With the help of Dr. Kim they get the board of trustees to hear the case will Marissa be permitted to return for her final semester?

    Director:Tony Wharmby
    Writer:Mike Kelley

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  12. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 12 - The Sister Act
    7.5/10(495 votes)

    #12 - The Sister Act

    S3:E12

    It's winter break and Kaitlin Cooper has returned home from her Montecito boarding school.

    Director:Ian Toynton
    Writer:Leila Gerstein

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  13. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 13 - The Pot Stirrer
    7.3/10(475 votes)

    #13 - The Pot Stirrer

    S3:E13

    Kaitlin starts going out with Johnny with the sole motive of making Marissa jealous. Seth starts getting nostalgic as he prepares for his Brown interview.

    Director:Norman Buckley
    Writer:John Stephens

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  14. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 14 - The Cliffhanger
    7.7/10(501 votes)

    #14 - The Cliffhanger

    S3:E14

    Sandy and Matt's hospital project hits a roadblock. Kirsten and Julie run into troubles of their own with their matchmaking business. Marissa confesses her feelings to Johnny. Summer finds out out about Seth.

    Director:Michael Lange
    Writer:J. J. Philbin

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  15. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 15 - The Heavy Lifting
    7.1/10(517 votes)

    #15 - The Heavy Lifting

    S3:E15

    Kaitlin prepares herself to head back to school. Ryan has doubts about his relationship with Marissa after helping out Sadie. Kirsten and Julie make plans for a Valentine's Day party.

    Director:Ian Toynton
    Writer:Stephanie Savage

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  16. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 16 - The Road Warrior
    7.1/10(508 votes)

    #16 - The Road Warrior

    S3:E16

    When Ryan and Sadie go on a road trip to search for one of Johnny's relatives they end up in Ryan's old neighborhood in Chino, which brings the two closer together. While the two are away Marissa is implicated in Johnny's death and Seth and Summer learn the truth about Julie and Dr. Roberts new secret.

    Director:Michael Fresco
    Writer:Mike Kelley

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  17. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 17 - The Journey
    7.5/10(507 votes)

    #17 - The Journey

    S3:E17

    Ryan thinks about not inviting Marissa to his 18th birthday after their falling out but Sandy tries to get him to invite a relative. After months of avoiding telling Summer and Marissa the truth Neil and Julie tell Summer and Marissa the truth.

    Director:Roxann Dawson
    Writer:John Stephens

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  18. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 18 - The Undertow
    7.2/10(516 votes)

    #18 - The Undertow

    S3:E18

    When an old friend returns to Newport, Ryan decides to help her, which causes problems for him and Sadie. When Summer and Seth run into another rough patch Taylor tries to help them out. Sandy has to deal with more problems with the Newport Group and Marissa must deal with being alone.

    Director:Robert Duncan McNeill
    Writers:J. J. Philbin, Mark Fish

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  19. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 19 - The Secrets and Lies
    7.2/10(500 votes)

    #19 - The Secrets and Lies

    S3:E19

    Julie and Dr. Roberts announce their engagement and the Cooper ladies move in with Summer and her dad. Meanwhile, Marissa drifts away from the group and Summer when she seeks solace in the bad company of Volchok and his crew. Ryan tries to move on with Sadie, but Seth's concerns for Marissa get in the way. At the Newport Group, Sandy's woes with Matt continue and Kirsten surprises Seth with a night out.

    Director:Michael Fresco
    Writers:Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage

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  20. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 20 - The Day After Tomorrow
    7.5/10(503 votes)

    #20 - The Day After Tomorrow

    S3:E20

    When college acceptance and rejection letters are received the kids must consider what path they are going to follow. Ryan and Sadie are trying to decide what they will do after high school. Taylor holds a college party and Summer and Marissa fix their friendship problems.

    Director:Norman Buckley
    Writer:Leila Gerstein

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  21. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 21 - The Dawn Patrol
    7.5/10(503 votes)

    #21 - The Dawn Patrol

    S3:E21

    Ryan decides to go and invite his mother to his graduation party. Taylor and Summer work together to try and find out what Seth is hiding, but Summer ends up getting hurt. Marissa realises she is in bad company after she finds out how low Volchok's friends can go. Sandy is able to fix his work problems with Matt but while doing so he hurts Kirsten.

    Director:Ian Toynton
    Writer:Mike Kelley

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  22. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 22 - The College Try
    7.7/10(503 votes)

    #22 - The College Try

    S3:E22

    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. While dropping the boys off at the airport, Kirsten is surprised to see Theresa and her all-too-familiar-looking baby boy. While visiting Brown, Seth runs into Anna on the quad and they instantly connect. Could this be the end of Summer and Seth? Meanwhile, Kirsten and Sandy attend a hospital benefit where Kirsten vents her frustrations and falls back into an old habit.

    Director:Tony Wharmby
    Writer:J. J. Philbin

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  23. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 23 - The Party Favor
    7.9/10(537 votes)

    #23 - The Party Favor

    S3:E23

    Harbor School's Senior Prom brings out the best and the worst in everyone. Taylor hits a high at prom, while Summer falls flat with her surprising prom date. Seth and Anna come up with a prom plan to win Summer back. Meanwhile, 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, when Taylor's prom funds are missing, Ryan returns to his old ways and prom night turns brutal.

    Director:Michael Lange
    Writer:John Stephens

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  24. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 24 - The Man of the Year
    7.8/10(550 votes)

    #24 - The Man of the Year

    S3:E24

    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 sees Kaitlin at her boarding school and Seth visits the Newport Group HQ and lights up the joint.

    Directors:Ian Toynton, Tony Wharmby
    Writers:Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage

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  25. The O.C. Season 3 Episode 25 - The Graduates
    8.7/10(876 votes)

    #25 - The Graduates

    S3:E25

    It is graduation day for Ryan, Seth, Summer, and Marissa at Harbor High School. After graduation they all went out to eat and celebrate their graduation. Ryan's mother gave him a new car as a graduation present. Marissa is going to spend a year on a boat with her father as her graduation gift. Seth finally got into RISD for second semester. Summer is still going to Brown University in the fall. Volchok is still mad at Marissa and Ryan so he decided to crash Ryan's car.

    Director:Ian Toynton
    Writers:Bob DeLaurentis, Josh Schwartz

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Season 3 Ratings Summary

"The Aftermath" is the best rated episode of "The O.C." season 3. It scored 7.9/10 based on 600 votes. Directed by Ian Toynton, Doug Liman and written by Allan Heinberg, Josh Schwartz, it aired on 9/8/2005. This episode is rated 0.5 points higher than the second-best, "The Shape of Things to Come".