Summer Roberts is fictional character on the FOX TV Show, The O.C. played by Rachel Bilson. The character and show are set in Newport Beach, California. She is often paired in scenes with her character's best friend, Marissa Cooper, played by Mischa Barton.

Character History

Season 1

In the first season of The O.C., she and Seth Cohen, played by Adam Brody, fall in love with each other. In the process of their characters' relationship, Summer and Seth experience many struggles because Summer thinks it will affect her reputation at their high school. Because the relationship does not go too well, Seth decides to take his chances with another girl, Anna Stern, played by Samaire Armstrong, who exhibits a similarly strong personality and shares his interest in comic books and sarcasm.

As the season progresses, Summer is affected by their relationship and is often jealous of Seth since he seems to be enjoying Anna's company greatly. As a result, Summer gets angry and starts dating a not-so-funny guy, but that relationship doesn't last long, and Seth is suddenly back on her mind. Towards the end of the first season, she and Seth become a couple (after Anna moves back to Pittsburgh) and they become very close. However, as soon as Ryan Atwood, Seth's adopted brother, moves away, Seth realizes that the immediate past and present are meaningless, because before Ryan moved to Newport Beach, Seth was considered a loser, and he was afraid that since Ryan had left, he would once again be a total loser. Seth then sails away at the end of the season, leaving his mother, his father, and Summer all heartbroken.

Season 2

Summer has a new boyfriend Zach. Zach is starting to become friends with Seth, yet their friendship is a little mixed since they both have feelings for Summer. Summer must make up her mind about "Cohen" and must weigh her options; whether she should get back together with Seth or stay friends with Zach. She eventually leaves him for Seth.