He has a younger brother who is autistic. He dates Naomi at the beginning of season 1, although the pair break up several times before ending their relationship permanently. He and Dixon are rivals at first, but eventually become friends. Although Ethan is attracted to Annie and kissed her two summers before the start of the show, he does not become her boyfriend until "There Is No Place Like Homecoming." Ethan seems to carry traits of Dylan McKay from the original series since he dated both Annie and Naomi, just like Dylan dated both Kelly and Brenda.