Teen Drama New Year's Eve Episodes
3, 2, 1… Happy Teen Drama New Year’s Eve Episodes!
While Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are probably the most-covered holidays on the teen dramas, a few of our beloved shows did New Year’s episodes. In fact, “The O.C.” did two of them.
Before the ball drops, pop some bubbly, grab someone to kiss and take a look back at these momentous New Year’s Eve episodes. There’s no better way to end the year.
Beverly Hills, 90210
Episode 6.16, “Turn Back the Clock”
Episodes with storytelling gimmicks can be hit or miss, but I have to give credit to “Beverly Hills, 90210” for literally turning back the clock with its lone New Year’s episode. Using flashbacks, the gang fills Clare in on everyone’s New Year’s Eve, which was more dramatic than any of them anticipated. You won’t find this episode on streaming due to The Corrs performance — but you can watch a clip right here!
The O.C.
Episode 1.14, “The Countdown”
“The O.C.” is held in high regard for its four Chrismukkah episodes, but this New Year’s Eve episode earns its place in teen drama history for one of the most iconic music scenes of all time — and, I’d also say, one of the most iconic kisses of all time. Ryan races to reach Marissa by midnight as “Dice” by Finley Quay plays and then he barely has enough breath to tell her those three little words.
Episode 4.14, “The Earth Girls Are Easy”
Like much of season 4, this episode of “The O.C.” is more comedic than dramatic. Hijinks — including confusion about a pregnancy test — ensue as Ryan, Taylor, Seth, and Summer embark on a New Year’s Eve road trip. There are aliens, a rave, and a year-end bash hosted by none other than the Bullit. But there’s also a newcomer with a bombshell identity.
Gossip Girl
Episode 5.11, “The End of the Affair?”
Similar to the “Beverly Hills, 90210” New Year’s Eve episode, this “Gossip Girl” installment also relies on flashbacks. But the flashbacks here aren’t actually of New Year’s Eve and are far more emotional than anything in the aforementioned “Beverly Hills, 90210” ep. Rather, as New Year’s approaches, viewers learn more about Chuck and Blair’s fateful car accident from the midseason finale — which inadvertently pushes Serena and Dan together as midnight strikes.
Absent from this list, of course, are “Dawson’s Creek,” “One Tree Hill,” and “90210.” Given that the timeline on “One Tree Hill” rarely lined up with our real-world calendar, it’s not surprising the show never had a New Year’s Eve episode. But for “Dawson’s Creek” and “90210,” it feels like a missed opportunity.
But, hey, if you only have a few hours to kill before the clock strikes midnight, at least you can count down the time with these four episodes from “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “The O.C.,” and “Gossip Girl.” Cheers!
Want more holiday content? Check out the “Beverly Hills, 90210” Christmas episodes and the only teen drama Easter episode.