Currently Rewatching The OC (Up to Season 2)- Some Thoughts on Lindsay Gardner

Hi! So I'm new to this sub, but I've always loved The OC and it's one of my favorite shows.

Right now, I'm doing a rewatch and I just finished the episodes right after Lindsay left. I know she's not a popular character, but I didn't think she was that bad for her short time on the show. She and Ryan started out rough in her first episode, but I thought they were kind of cute together (before the Caleb plot) and I liked how she brought out his studious side. And her plot with being Caleb's illegitimate daughter added another interesting dynamic to the show. I enjoyed the scenes with Lindsay and Kirsten bonding as sisters and the way everyone welcomed her into the family. And even Caleb seemed to be warming up to her after a while to the point of wanting to adopt her.

It's a shame she ended up leaving in the middle of the season. It would've been interesting for her and Hailey to meet, and for her to come back for Caleb's funeral at the end of the season. It's just so weird to me that she left in the middle of the school year and how everyone seemed to forget about her after one episode. Especially when Ryan was so crushed over her departure.

What do you all think?