The O.C.

The lives of a group of friends and families have been forever changed by the arrival of an outsider to their affluent oceanside community of Newport Beach in Orange County, California.

Summer is over, and school is in session. Seth and Ryan hope to win back the attention they once had from Summer and Marissa.

At the Bait Shop, the new music club on the pier, Seth gets some help from his attractive and tough-talking manager, Alex, to prove that his friends don't know him as well as they think.

Seth, who is now without a girlfriend, and Sandy, who has just been fired from the law firm, embark on new eras in their lives and vow to take the whole family with them.

The winter season finally comes to Newport, and Seth, Ryan, Summer and Marissa attend the annual SnO.C. Winter Ball.

The whole gang is invited to Chrismukkah at the Cohens' house, but Seth's favorite holiday is nearly ruined as secrets are revealed that will change the Cohen family forever.

Ryan tries to come to terms with his feelings for Lindsay (recurring guest star SHANNON LUCIO). Now that she may become a member of the Cohen family, their attraction is rather awkward.

Lindsay and Ryan grapple with their new relationship: Is Lindsay Ryan's step-aunt or his girlfriend? Meanwhile, Summer meets Zach's family, and it doesn't go so well.

It's girls against boys when Marissa and Summer decide to plan a girls' night out and include Lindsay (recurring guest star SHANNON LUCIO) in the festivities.

Seth and Zach (recurring guest star MICHAEL CASSIDY) decide to create a comic book based on their lives in Newport Beach.

Summer decides to take an active role in creating the comic book, but Seth doesn't know if he can handle spending that much time alone with her.

Sandy tries to make amends with Kirsten for keeping Rebecca's (recurring guest star KIM DELANEY) return a secret by showering his wife with Valentine's Day gifts.

While Rebecca (recurring guest star KIM DELANEY) pays her last respects to her father, Kirsten grows impatient with Sandy's long absences from home and decides to visit Rebecca.

It's raining in Newport. Marissa tells Julie that she and Alex (recurring guest star OLIVIA WILDE) are dating and decides she has to get out of Caleb's house.

Although she is trying hard to make her new living situation work, Marissa feels she needs a break and agrees to join Summer, Seth and Ryan at the mall.

Seth is determined to bring back the spirit and fun times of last year. Alex's jealousy is fueled when Marissa enlists an unlikely partner to help her with the school bonfire.

When someone from Ryan's past comes for a visit, he worries that nothing good can come of it; while the Cohen family welcomes the Chino visitor with open arms.

When Sandy becomes the honorary chairman of the Newport Beach charity yard sale, he solicits help from Trey, who has his first confrontation with the Newpsies.

Eager to help Trey and Ryan repair their relationship, Marissa hosts a birthday party for Trey at Caleb's mansion that quickly gets out of control.

Sandy, Seth and Ryan devise a plan to save another Atwood from going to jail. Kirsten and Carter, fulfilling more than their editorial duties, take a trip to the wine country.

Sandy, Seth and Ryan travel to Florida to visit Seth's Nana, Sophie (recurring guest star LINDA LAVIN - "Alice"), who is living in Miami Beach.

Since Carter's departure, Kirsten has been drinking more than just tomato juice for breakfast, and when Sandy questions her, he's left to sleep alone in the bedroom.

Sandy and Caleb confront Kirsten about her behavior. Ryan heads home to Chino, as he looks for the truth about Trey (recurring guest star LOGAN MARSHALL-GREEN) and Marissa.

In the season finale, Sandy must make a life-changing decision to save his marriage to Kirsten.