The O.C’s legacy is no doubt a product of its quality writing and likable cast. But lost among the think pieces pontificating about why the show is important is the obvious answer to the question: The O.C. endures because of its unofficial spin-offs: Laguna Beach and The Hills.
From 2004 to 2010 (two years longer than The O.C. actually aired), the ladies of "The Real Orange County" carried on Summer Roberts’ torch, further romanticizing Southern California.
The main character and emotional core of Laguna and Hills was Lauren Conrad. LC was our avatar out on the gilded streets of the Governator's Ca-lee-four-nya.
LC's foil was femme fatale Kristin Cavallari.
While Laguna's mainly female audience might have seen a little bit of themselves in LC, Cavallari was the loose underclassman who undermined their one shot at true love.
Heroes are only as good as their villains and without a doubt, Laguna and Hills wouldn't have exploded into the cultural phenomenon that they became without Cavallari.
Once LC and Kristin matriculated to Los Angeles County, they were joined by Audrina Patridge of Yorba Linda, which is home to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library.
Audrina's most important contribution to Hills lore was her on-and-off dalliance with the legendary Justin Bobby.
Fortunately, she moved on.
And so the progeny of Summer Roberts live on.