A Timeline of Seth Cohen and Summer Roberts' Relationship on "The O.C." in GIFs

The couple that gave every comic book nerd a glimmer of hope.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

So what if The O.C. fizzled out almost just as fast as it became a pop culture phenomenon? Off of the strength of one super-sized, twenty-seven episode season alone, Josh Schwartz (Gossip Girl, Chuck) cemented his at times hilarious, at times genuinely affecting nighttime soap opera as a significant entry in the high-school television drama pantheon and the aughts era of TV in general.

What helped make The O.C. such an instant classic (while giving us reason to stick around after it went off the rails somewhere around the middle)? That's a list unto itself, but the lynchpin of the series was breakout character Seth Cohen (Adam Brody), the endearing, neurotic, comic-book-loving emo geek with a wit unseen elsewhere on TV and eyes for the most unattainable girl in school: Summer Roberts (Rachel Bilson). 

While adopted brother Ryan Atwood (Benjamin McKenzie) is the de facto main character, Seth and his heroic quest to wife Summer steals the spotlight almost instantly, to the point where four seasons, two love triangles and a Wonder Woman costume later, it's crazy to remember that Roberts wasn't originally a main cast member.

Out of pure nostalgia for the show, which aired its final episode almost four years to the date, Complex has compiled a condensed history of one of TV's most entertaining courtships, in GIFs, for your viewing pleasure. Click through for A Timeline of Seth Cohen and Summer Roberts' Relationship on The O.C.

Compiled by Frazier Tharpe (@The_SummerMan

RELATED: Screen to Streets: 20 TV Couples Who Dated in Real Life 
RELATED: Gallery: The 25 Sexiest Neighbors In TV Shows & Movies

The Introduction

Not Available Interstitial

With Ryan's arrival as the catalyst, Seth's long unrequited thirst is finally given a proper introduction.

The Reintroduction

Not Available Interstitial

Allow him to reintroduce himself.

Cohen Who

Not Available Interstitial

It took a few episodes before it stuck.

The Gamble

Not Available Interstitial

Summer discovers Seth is her lucky charm at Casino Night, and orders him to repeatedly blow on her dice. He's more zooted than Ryan's mom at the open bar.

Anna

Not Available Interstitial

Summer continues to stunt at cotillion, leaving the field open for new girl Anna to swoop in.

First Kiss

Not Available Interstitial

Seth finally makes a lasting impression when he proves his worth by reciting Summer's mermaid poem from sixth grade. Instead of being freaked out that he still knows it by heart years later, she's turned on.

The Realization

Not Available Interstitial

Naturally, seeing Seth flex around Newport with another girl prompts Summer to accept the truth.

Thanksgiving

Not Available Interstitial

During the summer, he was the geek with no friends. By Thanksgiving, Seth Cohen had two dimes in his crib at the same damn time. Julie Cooper is impressed.

Wonder Woman

Not Available Interstitial

The Seth-Summer-Anna triangle hit a glorious peak when Summer gave the self-described comic book nerd the best Chrismukkah gift ever.

New Years Eve

Not Available Interstitial

The thirst has officially become mutual.

Love Triangle

Not Available Interstitial

Seth eventually chose Anna...

The Declaration

Not Available Interstitial

...A relationship that clearly had no shot at lasting longer than half a season.

The First Time

Not Available Interstitial

A cable season's worth of lust is consummated, in the most awkward fashion.

Summer's First

Not Available Interstitial

Seth reacts to popular girl Summer's confession that "there was more than one virgin in the room."

Summer's Insecure

Not Available Interstitial

Dimes have insecurites too.

The Coffee Cart 1

Not Available Interstitial

Cohen is not content with simply being the baddest girl in school's secret hook-up.

Coffee Cart, 2

Not Available Interstitial

The emo alternative geek is dating the popular girl, and now the whole school knows it.

Tahiti

Not Available Interstitial

The relative smooth-sailing of the Seth-Summer ship is interrupted by Seth's still-inexplicable overreaction to Ryan's indefinite departure from Newport. Best friend leaves but you've still got the girl of your dreams? Skip town and sail to Tahiti Portland—why not?

Zach

Not Available Interstitial

Enter Zach, the Anti-Cohen—Water polo! Popular! Great with parents!

Just Friends

Not Available Interstitial

And just as soon as one love triangle was conquered, another reared its ugly head.

Atomic County

Not Available Interstitial

A bid to create and sell a Newport-inspired comic book puts Seth, Summer and Zach on the same page. It's not quite Wonder Woman but still...damn.

Spider-man

Not Available Interstitial

Inevitability strikes, Summer forgoes a romantic trip to Italy with Zach and returns to Cohen during an epic Newport rainstorm, where they recreate the famous kiss from the original Spider-Man. Cute, but the show didn't even try to give a good reason for Seth wearing a Spidey mask.

In a Nutshell

Not Available Interstitial

Seth and Summer, in a nutshell.

Prom

Not Available Interstitial

Seth bum-rushing the stage to proclaim himself the king to Summer's prom queen officially pushes Zach out of the picture. Literally, he never appeared again despite the show remaining at the same high school for a full season more.

College Applications

Not Available Interstitial

Application anxiety is assuaged with some early Eastern seaboard shopping. Summer gets into Seth's first-choice Brown, while Cohen settles for RISD.

Enviromental Summer

Not Available Interstitial

Summer goes to Brown, and goes green.

The Return

Not Available Interstitial

After a fall spent hiding from Marissa's death by going full-on granola at Brown, Summer Roberts finally grieves, then returns to Newport.

The Proposal

Not Available Interstitial

A pregnancy scare prompts Seth to do the honorable thing.

The Marriage Game

Not Available Interstitial

True to their sparring nature, neither wants to be the one to back out of a marriage they both aren't ready for yet.

Flashback

Not Available Interstitial

A late series flashback takes us back to the Mermaid poem reading that started it all, and reveals that Summer stole it.

Destiny

Not Available Interstitial

Summer accepts a job with a fake Greenpeace. At this point, the relationship is strong enough to withstand the time and distance.

Finale

Not Available Interstitial

This is the last we see of these two, as it was fated.

Pals

Not Available Interstitial

But here's a bonus, just because.

Latest in Pop Culture