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Ryan and Marissa meet for the first time - She asks who he is and he responds with the iconic, “Whoever you want me to be.” Remember, these kids are supposed to be in high school.

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And when Ryan tells Julie about it years later - “And I thought… I thought she was really hot.” Swoon!

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Let’s get it out of the way: Marissa’s epic death -

Ryan carries her limp body as the car explodes in flames behind them, and she then dies in his arms, in a moment that television will never forget.

Check out a list of the other most painful deaths in TV history.

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The off-screen drama -

Mischa Barton was notorious for her excessive partying, and herself admitted that she had spiraled out of control while playing Marissa. Her co-stars called her a diva, and the show’s writers had no choice but to kill off her character.

Read about which other characters were killed off because of their actors’ bad behavior.

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One infamous interview - Among many poorly received interviews, Barton chatted with ELLE and spoke all too carelessly about a wounded veteran’s fan mail. “Surely there are more important things in life than my stupid show.”

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Oh, and when she spoiled her character’s death - Rumors were flying, but the show had kept it under wraps. That is until Barton spoke to Access Hollywood and said, “It’s true. My character dies.”

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Luke’s introduction - A largely irrelevant character for the entire first season, Luke’s greatest contribution in season one is his heartfelt greeting to Ryan: “Welcome to the O.C., b***h!”

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When Summer first realized she liked Seth - It’s what every guy wants to hear when a girl realizes she likes him: “Oh, God, no.”

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Marissa’s overdramatic poolside tantrum - It's equally as terrifying as it is exhilarating.

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The moment Ryan considers the Cohens’ house his home - When he returns from his hometown, Sandy asks how everything was at home and Ryan replies, “You tell me. I was in Chino.”

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When Julie shows a sliver of humanity - Between sleeping with her daughter’s ex-boyfriend and marrying for money, Julie had brilliant moments of loyalty to Kirsten that almost made audiences like her.

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When Ryan makes his feelings clear - “You know what I like about rich kids?” he asks Luke. Then he delivers a hard hit and adds, “Nothing.” That was TV at its finest!

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Every outfit - Denim minis and polo shirts galore! The rich kid, West Coast, early 2000s style was often imitated but never duplicated. And don't forget Seth's many graphic tees!

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Ryan’s near proposal to Marissa - “Look, um, I don’t know what my future is… but I know it’s with you.”

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Marissa and Ryan’s Ferris wheel first kiss - Ryan is afraid of heights, but he still spills his heart and has a dreamy smooch session, thereby setting the bar way too high for young hearts everywhere.

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When both Seth and Ryan beg Kirsten to go to rehab - She breaks down both times, and so did viewers everywhere.

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Seth’s tabletop declaration of love - He tells Summer he likes her, then says, “And if you don’t feel the same way about me, someone’s gonna have to give me a hand down, because it’s really high up here and I could fall and that would be embarrassing.”

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Sandy Cohen’s sass - When Jimmy realizes he’s in love with Julie, he tells Sandy he’s fallen in love with his ex-wife. Sandy asks, “You were married before Julie?”

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Marissa and Summer’s friendship - It turned from immense annoyance towards early season one Summer to a beautiful friendship that everyone envied.

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The soundtrack - It introduced viewers to a plethora of indie music, including artists like Death Cab for Cutie, Rooney, and Phantom Planet (who perform the show's theme song). And fans will never forget the moment Marissa shoots Trey and all you hear is, “Mmm, whatcha say…”

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The cameos - From Chris Pratt to Olivia Wilde, the show saw some burgeoning stars with recurring roles. But in terms of cameos, Paris Hilton’s appearance reigns supreme. Especially because her character as a spoiled teen was particularly believable...

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The Spider-Man kiss - The envy of teenage girls everywhere, this rainy replica of the iconic superhero kiss became an iconic moment between Seth and Summer.

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The cringeworthy first “I love you” - Instead of saying "I love you" back, Ryan thanks Marissa for spilling her heart into his ear. And she replies, “Uh, you’re welcome,” before leaving for her curfew. It was all very awkward.

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The couple that’s a couple even when they’re not a couple - Though Summer had stints with other guys, she always went back to Seth (he did the same). “And you, with all your little flaws and your little quirks…somehow you keep drawing me back in.”

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When Summer made Seth’s fantasies real - In a Wonder Woman costume, no less. His expression, jaw slack, was priceless. Again, these kids were supposed to be in high school!

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Marissa’s honesty with her father - “If you leave, then I don’t want you to come back. It’s too hard to keep saying goodbye like this.” Anyone with a heart got misty-eyed at that line.

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The long distance relationship send-off - Summer says, “You’re my destiny, Cohen,” and he replies, “Go save the world, Summer Roberts.” It's because of lines like this one that many fans always believed Sethummer were the show's real endgame couple.

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Chrismukkah - Seth’s adorkable double holiday bridged two faiths together in a truly heartwarming display of imagination and naïveté. What's more, Chrismukkah festivities across the world have increased in popularity because of the show.

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The trip to Tijuana - Some of the show's most hilarious lines are from this episode, despite Marissa’s near-death by overdose. For instance, as Kirsten prepares to scold Seth about the trip to Tijuana, he corrects her pronunciation with flare, adding, “You’re so white, Mom.”

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Marissa and Alex’s romance was ruined by the network - What was originally a sweet and tender experience between the girls was then marketed as a cheap chance to see two girls kiss. ‘The O.C.’ creator Josh Schwartz said his storyline for them was also heavily edited by Fox.

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Any time when the core four were happy - Whether they were all cuddled up in one bed, or hanging out at the best diner in Newport, their happiness, though rare, was special.

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The fan love remained even after its worst season - The series progressively got worse due to network demands of new characters and new kinds of drama, leading to its cancellation in 2007. But even though the lack of quality was by that time undeniable, over 700,000 people petitioned to keep it running. That deep love for the show is alive and well as fans think back on its series premiere 15 years ago.

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