During the first day of school, Summer continues to ignore Seth while in public, but privately she's jealous of his budding relationship with Anna. Kirsten also feels jealous when Sandy spends long hours at the office with Rachel, and things are made worse when Sandy is assigned to a case against Caleb. Luke continues to try to get Marissa back, but his attempts make Ryan jealous, resulting in a fistfight between the two. Later, Ryan tries to make up for the fight when he gets Marissa alone with him on a Ferris wheel.
Season 1 Episode 9 of The O.C. resulted in a 0.00 rating in the 18-49 demographic.
The O.C. - also known as Orange County, California - is an idyllic paradise, a wealthy, harbour-front community where everything and everyone appears to be perfect. But beneath the surface is a world of shifting loyalties and identities, of kids living secret lives hidden from their parents, and of parents living secret lives hidden from their children. 'The O.C'. tells the story of the Cohen, Cooper, and Nichol families, and Ryan Atwood, a troubled teen from the wrong side of the tracks, who is thrust into this world, and who will forever change the lives of the residents of The O.C.