[31] Alan Dale, as newly wed Caleb Nichol, joined the main cast, having previously been a recurring role.

), Michael Cassidy (as Zach Stevens), Shannon Lucio (as Lindsay Gardner) and Olivia Wilde (as Alex Kelly) all took up recurring roles in the show as love interests of existing characters,[32] Marissa, Summer, Ryan and Seth, who are all single now.

[33] Actors returning as guest stars included Amanda Righetti (as Hailey Nichol), Michael Nouri (as Dr. Neil Roberts), Navi Rawat (as Theresa Diaz), Brian McNamara (as Carson Ward), Kim Oja (as Taryn Baker) and Linda Lavin (as The Nana).

[36] Other guest stars in new recurring roles included Billy Campbell, as magazine editor Carter Buckley,[37] Kim Delaney, as Sandy's ex-fiancée Rebecca Bloom,[38] Johnny Messner, as Julie's ex-boyfriend Lance Baldwin,[37] Kathleen York, as mother of Caleb's illegitimate child Renee Wheeler,[39] Nikki Griffin as party girl and drug addict Jess Sathers[40] and Marguerite Moreau, as Reed Carlson the Vice President of a graphic novel company, and Max Burkholder as a child in airport, with a toy similar to Captain Oats, in "The Rainy Day Women" [41] The second season was widely received as inferior to the first,[42] but it has been noted that this may be slightly unfair.

[43] The show moved to "ultra-competitive Thursday" nights,[44] which Schwartz described as a "real vote of confidence [from] the network",[45] but many attributed placing The O.C.

Kelly Rowan won a PRISM Award for Performance in a Drama Series Episode, with Peter Gallagher also getting nominated.

[52] Mischa Barton was criticized for her acting skills in portraying Marissa, alongside other noted flaws including "flavorless plots", and "flat new characters who failed to grab the audience's interest".

[53] IGN faulted the move to quickly rekindle the Ryan and Marissa relationship and "abruptly write off Alex and Lindsay, after [making] them a pretty big part of the show" but commended a "compelling story centering on Ryan's brother Trey coming to town, leading to a very dramatic season finale"[43] Tate Donovan, who played Jimmy, credited a drop in ratings to "the show moving away from the family dynamic to focus more on the kids".

As well as every episode from the season, the DVD release features bonus material including a gag reel, audio commentary and a fashion featurette.