The series follows Ryan Atwood, a troubled teen from a dysfunctional family who is taken in by the affluent and charitable Sandy and Kirsten Cohen. Alongside his adoptive brother Seth, a socially awkward but sharp-witted teen, Ryan navigates life as an outsider in the elite environment of Newport Beach. Together, they explore their relationships with the girl-next-door Marissa Cooper, Seth’s longtime crush Summer Roberts, and the outspoken loner Taylor Townsend. The narrative explores the cultural clash between the idealistic Cohen family and the superficial, materialistic, and narrow-minded community they inhabit. The series blends elements of postmodernism, combining melodrama with comedy.