Lindsay Gardner

Infobox character | colour = #ffaa44
name = Lindsay Gardner
other_names =


caption =
portrayer = Shannon Lucio
creator = Josh Schwartz
species =
gender = Female
first = The New Kids on the Block (episode 2.03)
last = The Rainy Day Women
(episode 2.14)
cause = Moved to Chicago
episode = 12
age = 19 (2006)
16-17 (first appearance)
occupation = Student
title =
spouse = Ryan Atwood (ex-boyfriend)
family = Caleb Nichol (father)
Renee Wheeler (mother)
Kirsten Cohen (half sister)
Marissa Cooper (step-half sister)
Hailey Nichol (half sister)
Seth Cohen (half nephew)
children =
relatives =
footnotes =

Lindsay Gardner is a fictional character who was featured during the second season of the FOX series, "The O.C.", played by Shannon Lucio. She is the daughter of Renee Wheeler and Caleb Nichol.

History

Conception

Creator Josh Schwartz described Lindsay as "a working-class, middle-class girl who comes to Harbor School, who's really smart and may challenge Ryan to use his brain instead of his fists." [cite web|url=http://www.teenhollywood.com/d.asp?r=82329&cat=1035&p=7|title="O.C." creator Josh Schwartz: California Dreamin'|last=Barker|first=Lynn|date=2004-10-25|publisher=TeenHollywood.com|page=7|accessdate=2008-07-27]

eason 2

As Lindsay is introduced to Newport and viewers of "The O.C." in season 2, she is shown as a studious and socially-struggling new arrival at Harbor High School. In comparison to most students, she is also shown to be from a less economically-advantageous upbringing. Her contrast with fellow students somewhat mirrored the acclamation of Ryan Atwood during the previous season. Over the course of the season, Ryan becomes a love interest for Lindsay. The relationship between the two — at first tense — begins to blossom, only to be derailed by the revelation that Lindsay is potentially the illegitimate daughter of local real estate magnet Caleb Nichol. With his finances in upheaval, Caleb has apparently made regular payments to Lindsay's mother, bringing the question of paternity to light. By extension, the news about Lindsay causes Caleb to clash even more with his daughter Kirsten, though Kirsten is compassionate to Lindsay (almost zealously so, at one point).

Disputes within the Nichol family subside to the point that Caleb seriously considers legally adopting Lindsay, and thus making her an heir. The discussion is much to the chagrin of Caleb's current wife, Julie, who begins to fear for her own potential as an heir to Caleb's supposed fortune. Julie stalls the adoption proceedings with the suggestion of a DNA test to prove Caleb's paternity.

Caleb eventually caved into the insistence of Julie into demanding a paternity test. Lindsay was devastated by this, particularly as it was at the very same party Caleb was about to announce his adoption of Lindsay to the Newport community. The test went ahead, and proved conclusively that Lindsay was Caleb's daughter. However, despite this, Lindsay and her mother moved to Chicago, leaving both Ryan and Caleb behind.

References

Trivia

* Lindsay did not appear at Caleb Nichol's funeral at the end of season two.
* It is not known if Lindsay ever met her other half-sister Hailey or her stepsister Kaitlin, since none of the three characters ever appeared in an episode together.