What was the real reason for Marissa’s departure from The OC?

More than half a decade has passed since the finale of The OC, and yet some fans cannot get over Marissa Cooper's death. While the series kicked off with a focus on Ryan Atwood, it also introduced fans to other key figures including Mischa Barton's character.

Marissa gradually became a fan-adored character, known for her emotional ups and downs. She's a wealthy teenager, who seems to live a perfect life from the outside, but the reality is completely different.

Like most teenagers, Marissa also encounters personal struggles, including a growing addiction to drugs, alcohol, and even involvement in a murder. Her parents' divorce played a big role in transforming her into a tragic personality.

The OC debuted in 2003 and ran until its fourth season in 2007, but fans didn't get to see one of their favorites, Marissa, due to her unfortunate fate. As seen in The OC Season 3 finale, Ryan and Marissa's car crashed with Kevin's, resulting in Marissa's death.

While her death was a major shock to many, it was significant for the character. As explained by the creator Josh Schwartz, Marissa's tragic fate was always a part of her story. Not only this, but Mischa Barton had also spoken about her character's death before.

Continue reading to know what the creator and actress say about Marissa.

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The reason behind Mischa Barton's exit from The OC

Following Marissa's death in The OC, rumors claimed that the actress wanted to leave the series. While Mischa Barton didn't talk about any conflict or issues, she did express her desire to leave, thinking she had done everything for the character.

While talking about her popular roles as Marissa Cooper in an interview, Barton said:

"Well, I was really excited that I get to die, to be honest. I've done pretty much everything else with the character. It was better than one of those lame farewells."

Additionally, in 2013, the creator of The OC also talked about most of the fans asking him about Marissa's death. Considering it one of the most asked questions, Josh Schwartz said (via The Beast):

"It’s a complicated, multifaceted question. It had as much to do with creatively feeling like this was always in the cards for this character and she was an inherently tragic heroine..."

He continued:

"For a lot of critics, that character was a source of frustration. For a lot of audience members, that was their favorite character."

Schwartz explained that Ryan tried to save her from a fate she couldn’t escape, and that was the core of Marissa's story. Her death did hurt many fans, but it was the best way to conclude her story arc in the TV series.

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