The show focuses on Ryan Atwood, a troubled youth from a broken home who is embraced by the philanthropic Sandy and Kirsten Cohen. His surrogate brother Seth and ryan, a teenager that is socially embarrassing yet quick-witted, deal with life since outsiders from Newport Beach's environment. Seth and ryan spend the loner Taylor Townsend, Seth's youth conquer Summer Roberts, and also time navigating their connections with all Marissa Cooper. Story lines deal with the culture clash between your Cohen family that is idealistic members and the shallow, materialistic, and also closed minded community where they live. The show comprises functions as a mixture of melodrama and comedy, and elements of postmodernism.