Ep 6. The Girlfriend

In the sixth episode of season one of The O.C., entitled "The Girlfriend," the focus shifts to Ryan's romantic life as he starts to develop feelings for his classmate Theresa. The episode begins with Ryan receiving a phone call late at night from Theresa, who is upset and in need of a place to stay. Against Seth's advice, Ryan agrees to pick up Theresa from her neighborhood and bring her back to the Cohen household for the night.

As the group begins to settle in, it becomes apparent that Ryan and Theresa have a bond that extends beyond friendship. They share stories about their pasts and confide in each other about their families. Even though Ryan tries to fight his growing feelings for Theresa, he is unable to resist her charm and beauty.

Meanwhile, Seth is struggling with his own romantic prospects. He has been crushing on his longtime crush, Summer, for years, but has never worked up the courage to tell her how he feels. When a new guy, Zach, shows interest in Summer, Seth becomes jealous and enlists Ryan's help to sabotage their potential romance.

Throughout the episode, tensions run high as the group navigates their romantic entanglements. Marissa and Luke continue their toxic relationship, with Marissa refusing to acknowledge the red flags that have been raised about Luke's abusive behavior. The adults in the group, Sandy and Kirsten, are also dealing with their own relationship issues as Sandy struggles to adjust to his new job as a public defender and Kirsten grapples with the pressures of running her family's business.

Overall, "The Girlfriend" is a tense, emotional episode that explores the complexities of relationships and the impact they can have on our lives. Through the eyes of the show's diverse cast of characters, we see how love, lust, and jealousy can lead to both joy and heartbreak. As the season continues, it will be interesting to see how these relationships evolve and what consequences they will bring to the group as a whole.