“It Did Not Feel Good”. Showrunners of The O.C. Explain a Decision They Still Regret After More Than 15 Years

As a fan who grew up with The O.C., I can’t help but feel a pang of regret when I think about Marissa Cooper’s tragic end. The show was a big part of my teenage years, and Marissa was one of those characters that you couldn’t help but root for. Her death was undeniably shocking, and it left a lasting impact on the show and its fans.


The TV series “The O.C.” was incredibly popular, captivating audiences with its portrayal of teenagers in Orange County. It primarily focused on the romantic exploits of the characters, but occasionally delved into heavier and even ominous themes. For instance, it explored the tragic story of Marissa Cooper, particularly her heart-wrenching conclusion.

When actress Mischa Barton, known for her role as Marissa, chose to depart from the TV show, the producers were faced with the challenge of gracefully parting ways with one of their central characters. They opted for a daring move, writing Marissa’s character off under sad and unfortunate circumstances. During an interview with Vanity Fair, they admitted that this choice was regrettable, even though the decision wasn’t entirely within their control.

Josh Schwartz: In the book, we discuss it frankly. What happened is something we now regret, and if we could go back in time, we’d choose a different approach. At the moment, we didn’t perceive any other route available, which is why we chose that particular path. However, considering what we know now, there were undoubtedly multiple paths we could have taken to write the character off the show while also providing Mischa with the break she desired and sought – all without entirely ruling out a potential return for the character.

When Marissa killed Trey, everyone reacted with a mix of emotions, which was intriguing to observe. They were taken aback, and I learned that some parents had their children in tears due to the incident. However, it was the response we intended to evoke from our audience. But when we witnessed the reaction of the audience after Marissa’s death, it was far from satisfying. It seemed as though our intention to engage and respect our audience wasn’t met, which left us feeling remorseful at that moment.

Stephanie Savage mentioned that they faced immense stress to create something dramatic with such intensity. It was mandated from above that killing a main character was necessary if they wanted to continue the series for another season.

It appears that the choice made higher up stemmed from an anticipation for a significant and surprising turn of events within the TV show, aimed at maintaining viewer interest and motivating them to tune in for the next season. This is similar to what happened with The O.C., as it persisted even after Marissa’s death.

In a chat with E!News, Barton finally explained her reasoning behind departing from the television show. For quite some time, the actress had been hesitant to discuss this matter, but in 2021, she opened up about difficulties both on and off the production set.

The situation became quite challenging due to several factors. Firstly, the introduction of Rachel Bilson as a series regular towards the end of the first season, which led to an adjustment in everyone’s pay and caused some tension. Additionally, there were instances of harassment from certain male colleagues on set, which I found unpleasant. Moreover, the sudden fame that came my way brought about an excessive invasion into my personal life, making me feel vulnerable. In summary, it was a complex mix of professional and personal challenges that I had to navigate.

Regarding Marissa’s death in the series, she found it poetic and thought it was a fitting conclusion for her character. What surprised her, though, was the intense emotional response this event sparked among fans. They were saddened by the exit of one of the original characters who had been with us since the beginning of “The O.C.

Initially, viewers felt let down when the character integral to the show’s origin, who was named Ryan, unfortunately didn’t get to experience a happy ending with Atwood. Even though the TV series continued for another season following Marissa’s demise, it struggled to regain its former glory after that tragic event.

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2024-10-28 21:32