‘One Tree Hill’ Vs. ‘The O.C.’ – The Friendship Test

There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who love The O.C. and those who adore One Tree Hill.

In the early 2000s, both teen series appealed to the same demographic and pledging allegiance to either show was seen as a big deal. Sure, it was possible to watch and enjoy them both equally, but where’s the fun in fighting internet strangers about which one is better then?

That’s not the purpose of this piece, though. Instead, it’s about taking a look back at the respective friendship groups and comparing them to see who would make the better pals in the end. In order to do this, they will be analyzed in three different categories. From there, the winner between The O.C. and One Tree Hill will be decided. Ready? Then let’s go! 

Which friendship valued trust and respect?

A good friendship is built on a solid foundation of trust and respect. It’s about knowing the others always have your back and won’t betray you. However, let’s add the caveat that people make mistakes, so it’s essential to forgive and learn from these incidents.

The friendship group in One Tree Hill contains one main problem, though: They can’t keep it in their pants. They have betrayed each other over and over again because of romance. Seriously, just think about how Lucas and Peyton didn’t just devastate Brooke once but twice with their sneaking around when Lucas was in a relationship with Brooke. At some point, everyone has dated everybody in this group, and that created turbulence and resentment.

In terms of The O.C., it’s clear who loves who here, and they don’t attempt to “cross-pollinate.” When they start new relationships, it’s often with people outside of the group, making it easier for everyone to accept the new romances. Seth, Ryan, Summer, and Marissa do get upset at each other throughout the series, but they’re able to resolve ordinary problems rather than wonder if they can leave their friends alone in a room with a bed.

Winner: The O.C.

Who opened the door for newcomers?

Friendships are all about making the circle bigger. There’s nothing worse than being a newbie who’s deliberately frozen out because you aren’t an O.G. So, for this category, it’s all about seeing which group welcomed newcomers with open arms.

The good news is both groups in The O.C. and One Tree Hill proved to be good at this. Seth, Ryan, Summer, and Marissa weren’t ever opposed to widening their friendship circle – whether it be through new romantic relationships or inviting the new kid at school to join them. That said, they weren’t the largest friendship circle and chose to keep their numbers small.

In One Tree Hill, it wasn’t unusual to see a packed auditorium or event with tens of friends all there for the same people. Lucas, Peyton, Brooke, Nathan, and Haley might have been the core five of the show initially, but they expanded and strengthened their group through the likes of Mouth, Skills, Rachel, and Chase. In other words, it wasn’t unusual to see new characters join the friendship group with each passing season.

Winner: One Tree Hill

Which friendship lasted longer?

Both The O.C. and One Tree Hill fast forwarded events to see what happens in the characters’ futures, and it’s clear that the pals stayed pals for a long time. However, this category is simply about the numbers game. The O.C. lasted only for four seasons, while One Tree Hill ran for nine. Whichever way someone looks at it, everyone got to know each other better in the latter than the former.

In addition to this, Variety revealed that a One Tree Hill sequel series is in development with Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton, and Danneel Ackles confirmed to reprise their roles as Brooke, Peyton, and Rachel. Essentially, this offers yet another chance for them to solidify their lifelong friendships and showcase what they have been up to since the last time viewers saw them on screen. Sorry, O.C.ers, but the crew from Tree Hill wins this pivotal round.

Winner: One Tree Hill

‘One Tree Hill’ vs. ‘The O.C.’ – which friendship is the best?

There’s no getting around it: One Tree Hill‘s friendship group beats The O.C.‘s here. Not only are they a warmer group of people who welcome others in, but they also keep their friendships alive. Even when they leave high school and become adults, they figure out a way to stay friends. Sure, there are moments where they drift apart and life happens, but when they reconnect, it’s almost like no time has passed between them. You know that saying, “People always come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime”? Tree Hill’s folks are all about the latter.

That said, it’s best to not form any romantic relationships in this group, because no one is safe when it comes to the matters of the heart. Most of their issues stem from them falling in love with each other while in a relationship with another friend, so yeah, just be wary of that, because it can get messy!

Final result: One Tree Hill defeats The O.C. 2-1 in the friendship test.