The O. The series title, "O. The series centers on Ryan Atwood , a troubled and gifted young man from a broken home who is adopted by the wealthy and philanthropic Sandy and Kirsten Cohen. Ryan and his adoptive brother Seth , a socially awkward, quick-witted teenager, deal with life as outsiders in the high-class world of Newport Beach.
Ryan and Seth spend much time navigating their relationships with girl-next-door Marissa Cooper , Seth's childhood crush Summer Roberts , and the fast-talking loner Taylor Townsend. Storylines deal with the culture clash between the idealistic Cohen family and the shallow, materialistic, and closed-minded community in which they reside. The series includes elements of postmodernism , and functions as a mixture of melodrama and comedy.
The series premiered with high ratings and was one of the most popular new dramas of the β television season. It was widely referred to as a pop cultural phenomenon and received mostly positive reception from critics.
The low ratings led to its cancellation in early The first season focuses on Ryan Atwood's arrival in Newport Beach to live with Sandy and Kirsten Cohen, who take him in after his mother kicks him out.
A major theme of the first season is the culture shock Ryan feels as he adjusts from a life of domestic abuse and poverty to living in a superficial high-class society. He quickly befriends and bonds with Seth Cohen, and begins to have a romantic relationship with Marissa Cooper. Although coming from very different backgrounds, Ryan soon discovers that he deals with similar issues to his new peers, such as self-identity conflict and familial alienation.
