One Tree Hill “We Three (My Echo, My Shadow, and Me)” 6.11

This week’s episdoe of One Tree Hill was not only a few steps away from the season’s plot, but a few steps away from present day. The episode, which was written by Lucas’s real life counterpart Chad Michael Murrary, brought us back to the 1940s, when swing music was in.

How does OTH go off on this kind of tangent without being absolutely ridiculous? The episode opens with Lucas sitting at home while a storm is going on. He and Peyton are on the phone and she informs him that she has to stay late at Tric. So while she’s gone, Lucas falls asleep and dreams of he and his friends 1940s style.

Now what setting would Lucas put his 1940s dream in? A “Casablanca like” place, instead of it being named “Rick’s Cafe”, it’s Karen’s Cafe. The corniness begins. Lucas is the Bogart character who started up the cafe to bring in people and money. Skills, who hasn’t been in an episode in a long time, finally appears as Lucas’ “Sam” playing on the piano. Who would he play for but the talented Haley James who takes to the Tric stage every night. She pulls out a swing number, actually about the cafe, and looks the part while she’s doing it. Brooke has never looked better as a classic ’40s bombshell who seems to be wooing Lucas without any luck. However Lucas doesn’t seem to dislike her nor ignore her which is an absolute step for the people who are pissed Mark has basically ignored that the two were ever in love. Nathan plays a bartender, who only has eyes for Haley (of course) but is too shy to make his move. Peyton, Dan, and Julian make up an entourage that becomes the foil of the episode’s storyline.

The basic plot of the episode has Lucas meeting Peyton at the club. Assuming she’s Dan’s girl, he doesn’t really make a move, although it doesn’t stop both of them from making eyes at each other as she walks out the door. Peyton plays more of a victim than ever as a girl who is being watched carefully by Dan. She wants to know what its like to be free, to fall in love, to live for herself. She reveals this all to Lucas when she comes to the bar later that same night and the two go for a walk. “Do you think I’m pretty?” she asks Lucas during their walk. Honestly, what do you expect him to say, that you’re ugly? Her lines are the worst of the episode since she’s barely given her own legs to stand on. Lucas however does think she’s pretty and the two continue to see each other.

Meanwhile, we learn that Dan is a mobster of sorts who has lent money to Brooke so she can start her own garments line. She has problems getting the money, but once she sees Lucas and Peyton together, she wastes no time in ratting them out to Dan. Nathan finally gets up the courage to talk to Haley and he asks her in the respectable way (that all men should!) if she’ll “step out with him”. She seems to like the idea and Nathan is even more insistant when he recieves a letter calling him into the army the following day. The two spend the night at Karen’s Cafe dancing and talking and of course falling in love. It’s usual Naley no matter what the decade .They get serious very quickly and decide to get married. While laying in bed, the two even bounce around the idea of naming their child James! Of course! In a classic airport scene, Haley swears to wait for him no matter what the cost. Theirs is probably the most touching part of the episode.

Dan decides to confront Peyton and Lucas . He corners them with his car and calls them out on their relationship. Brooke steps out of the car and in order to erase her debt, she must shoot Lucas. She doesn’t though and turns her gun to Dan. Come to find out the gun isn’t loaded and Dan pulls out his own gun and fires. He is intercepted by Skills but as he falls to the ground, a shot is fired. He doesn’t get Lucas…he gets Peyton. Lucas is heartbroken and there’s looks of shock on both Brooke and Dan’s face. Peyton is dead and of course the rain begins to fall.

The episode does include other familar faces such as Julian, Owen, and Mouth. Mouth’s character is particularly amusing as he plays a washed up journalist turned alcoholic. He sees all of Dan’s scheming and unfortunately does not live to warn anyone as he is thrown off a bridge by Dan. Owen gets beaten up by Dan pretty badly and Julian gets shot by Lucas. Chad Michael Murry pretty much makes sure no one gets a happy ending in this one.

Lucas eventually wakes up from his dream to another call from Peyton who informs him she’s on her way home. However, when she hangs up the phone, she falls to the ground in pain. What does this mean? Maybe if we hadn’t spent the whole episode inside Lucas’ mind (because frankly…who cares) we’d know.

Chad’s episode is mediocure at best – at least most of the characters made do with the lackluster script. Here’s hoping next week will bring some more (interesting) plot developments!

One Tree Hill – “Even fairytale characters would be jealous” 6.10

As a One Tree Hill fan, I’ve always enjoyed their concert episodes. On this week’s episode, guest star Angel and Airwaves did not disappoint!

The episode opens at a USO concert sponsored by Peyton’s label (honestly though who knew she had enough money to put something on like this!) and Haley is about to get up on stage. She can’t seem to get the words out to her song…come to find out she’s only having a dream. She’s terrified she won’t remember the words to her song and she’ll be terrible.

Brooke wakes up to find breakfast made by Sam. It looks like she’s finally coming around to living with Brooke and doing the domestic things, although a call from an adoption agency telling Brooke know they have an infant for her to take care of seems to get Sam a little worried.

Millie makes a surprise visit to Mouth’s apartment only to find Gigi lying on their bed in Mouth’s shirt. She finds Mouth sleeping on the couch but of course assumes the worst. A few minutes later, Mouth wakes up to a phone call from Millie, sweetly asking him if it’s ok if she stops by. Mouth of course is ok with this but is nervous due to Gigi’s presence. Millie, knowing this, ends the conversation though simply by saying “get that slut out of my bed!”

Peyton is upset that Lucas has no real reaction to her relationship with Julian, other than to say “ok”.  Little does she know, Lucas does have a reaction when he proceeds to go to Julian’s apartment and punches him in the face. He’s decided that he does not want to be involved with the making of the movie.

Nathan plays a prank on Haley by coming into the room in a wheel chair. He tells her he’s fine and wants to watch her perform but she won’t allow it. When she leaves, he ends up getting a visit from Q’s ghost. The visit isn’t all smiles though – Q is upset that Nathan seems to be giving up his dream of basketball. Nathan is annoyed by the visit because he doesn’t see it that way. He doesn’t want to end up the wheel chair again and Q only sees that as an excuse.

Millie comes to Brooke freaking out about Mouth’s possible infidelity. She admits to Brooke she’s still a virgin (to Brooke’s surprise and amazement) and hopes Mouth isn’t trying to find sex with anyone else. Brooke assures her that Mouth wouldn’t do something like that. We find out that Gigi got drunk at work and Mouth didn’t think she could make it home so he allowed her to stay over while he slept on the couch.

The USO concert begins and Haley is the first performer. She’s still nervous, but when she goes on stage, her nervousness floats away and she sings her heart out. The guys seem to enjoy it and she comes off the stage with a smile on her face. While she’s singing, Lucas approaches Brooke and askes her what she knows about Peyton and Julian’s relationship. Brooke tells him that he needs to get over it because rebounds don’t count.  Julian also bothers Brooke but she simply tells him he has no chance in a Lucas/Peyton triangle and if he doesn’t anything to compromise their relationship, she’ll hurt him.  Julian approaches Lucas and asks him to reconsider participating in the movie.

Sam and Kate Vogel connect and Sam asks her questions about life on the road, probably trying to see if it works for her since she’s afraid she’ll be leaving Brooke’s house soon.  Brooke gets wind of this and tells Sam there’s no way she’s going to have to leave and she can stay as long as she wants. Sam seems genuinely happy about this.

After a lackluster performance by Kate Vogel, (“I’m single!” who cares!) Angels and Airwaves comes on and sings “secret crowds”! It is during this song that Nathan watches the end of the Slamball game and tells Q his family is enough of a prize. Q tells Nathan to never let anything come between his dreams, but he seems to understand Nathan’s point of view. Mille tells Gigi to back off, and all she really gets out of Gigi is a smirky smile. Julian approaches Peyton and asks her to try to get Lucas to get onboard with the movie and she agrees to help.

As the episode winds down, Peyton and Derek share a family moment and Derek promises to keep in touch with her. Millie watches Gigi and Mouth hug outside her car. Gigi was only saying she didn’t want to mess with Mouth and Mille’s relationship, but the scene looks suspecious to Millie. Brooke calls back the adoption agency about the baby and learns that since she’s participating in foster care, she’s cannot watch an infant. There’s nothing but sadness in Sam’s face. Nathan prepares a romantic night for Haley after the success of her show. Lucas and Peyton talk and she convinces him to take part in the movie. She also admits she’s happy about Lucas getting jealous, since Julian informed her of the punch he recieved. But will the movie create more drama for these two? Until next week!

One Tree Hill Season 6 Episode 9 “Sympathy for the Devil”

This week’s One Tree Hill had us in the present, but gave us flashbacks into the past. Lucas is excited for his movie and begins working on his screenplay. He asks Peyton what she thought of Julian and we’re given the first of a few flashbacks that explain Julian’s role in Peyton’s former LA life. It seems that Julian was the first person to make Peyton smile when her relationship with Lucas fell apart.

 

As for other relationships on the show, Owen decides to bring a gift to Brooke every day as a way of making her see he’s a nice guy and in hopes she’ll take him back. Brooke grows to love the presents, but notices that there’s a fine line between taking the presents as a girl interested or just a girl who’s leading a guy on.

 

Nathan is still a Slamball player and manages to come out of the games without serious injury. However while watching TV with Jamie, Mouth interviews a player who says he’s out to get Nathan back into a wheelchair. Jamie wants know if his dad will win a trophy, which Nathan says isn’t possible. Jamie is disappointed by this and after Sam shows him how “economics” works, namely by selling candy out of a vending machine for more than he originally paid for it, he decides to go into this venue himself to raise money for his dad’s trophy.

 

Brooke still hasn’t decided what she’s going to put in the former Clothes over Bros location and while debating Peyton surprises her with a visit. Brooke wants to know when Peyton is going to tell Lucas who Julian is and another flashback begins where Peyton runs into Julian after seeing Lucas and Lindsey kiss at a book signing. Julian invites her to be his date to a party and we see where the relationship began.

 

Meanwhile, Lucas finishes the screenplay in three weeks and Julian is excited for him. He does however tell Lucas that he wants Keith’s death to be shown in the movie, telling him that he’ll have someone else write it if Lucas can’t. Lucas can’t seem to decide if its something he can write or not. Peyton tells him that he doesn’t have to protect Keith and that Keith would want Lucas to be the one to write the scene. Haley also gives Lucas some advice in a Tree Hill high hallway, telling him to make more of the scene. Lucas is still conflicted, not wanting to make Dan more than just what he sees him as: a bad guy.

 

Probably one of the most important flashbacks into the Peyton/Julian romance shows the two having a special moment in their apartment where they BOTH utter those three little words: I love you. However a later flashback has the two finishing up packing for the Sundance Film Festival and Julian comes upon Lucas’s book. He decides that the relationship is over because he can no longer compete with a book by Peyton’s ex.

 

Brooke goes to her car and finds Owen naked in the back seat, reminiscent of her naked backseat scene with him back in season 5. She however does not find it attractive and kicks him out of the car without any clothes. He comes by to her house later, with clothing on, and tells her that he won’t be coming around anymore because he cannot be led on. Brooke finally realizes she needs to make a choice.

 

Peyton spies Julian at an outside lunch table and approaches him to ask if working on Lucas’s book is a way for him to get closer to her, telling him that there’s no way she’ll get back with him. Julian informs her that he has no intention of getting her back, reminding her he was the one who dumped her, and is merely interested in making Lucas’s book into a movie. He does however ask Peyton the question we are all thinking: why haven’t you informed Lucas of our past relationship?

 

Lucas is still having problems figuring out how to write Keith’s death scene and so he goes to Keith’s grave. While sitting there, he decides to go to Dan’s grave and smashes a shovel against it. Still not satisfied, he goes to the basketball courts. Dan comes out of nowhere and inquires about the damage to his grave. Lucas asks Dan what happened the day he killed Keith and Dan merely says that Keith was shot in cold blood and that Dan will always be the villain in Lucas’s story. This finally gives Lucas the push to finish the screenplay and give the scene what it deserves.

 

Nathan plays another Slamball game and gets the final winning basket in the last seconds of the game. He’s managed to stay away from his aggressor on the other team, but as he’s walking along the edge of the court, the opposing player pushes him into the glass wall and Nathan falls off the court. Jamie and Haley run to him and Jamie asks his father not to play Slamball anymore. Nathan agrees, telling the two “if these are the two last trophies I ever get (Haley and Jamie) then I’ll be happy”. For the moment, it looks like Nathan’s basketball career is again on hold.

 

After the game, Owen finds Brooke in the backseat of his car, clothed, and the two talk about their relationship. Brooke say she cannot get involved because she has an obligation to Sam. However, she does say that she’d like to keep in contact and hopefully down the road get him back. Owen seems to understand and so the relationship is at a stalemate.

 

Lucas personally drops off the finished script at Julian’s house. Prior to Lucas walking in, Julian was looking at a picture of Peyton and him. When he opens the door, he gets a phone call which he takes in the next room. While waiting for Julian, Lucas looks at the picture and finally discovers what Peyton has not been able to tell him. He comes back to the house and confronts Peyton. Lucas says “so you two were together” and Peyton clarifies, “we were in love”. Is the Leyton romance in trouble? Until next week!

One Tree Hill Season 6 Episode 8 – “Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe”

Choices and consequences seem to be the theme of this week’s One Tree Hill.

Nathan has decided to join the Slamball team and the opening scene shows him excelling in practice, but having more trouble at the first game. Most of the cast comes to the first game and Haley’s cringing face as Nathan hits the ground over and over shows the struggle she’s having with him playing the game. Nathan is able to get a basket, but the triumph is overshadowed as Sam says what is running through the rest of our minds – “wasn’t he just in a wheelchair or something?”

While at the game, Lucas gets a call from his agent telling him that a man by the name of Julian Baker is interested in turning his first book into a movie. Lucas is apprehensive about this kind of a step – he’s worried that a movie won’t reflect what he was trying to convey in the book. He does however get positive feedback from his friends, especially Peyton who says she’ll stand by with whatever decision he decides to make.

Brooke has her hands full working on Peyton’s wedding dress and taking care of the rebellious Sam. Fortunately Millie is there for moral support which helps since Brooke is still questioning whether or not giving up her company was the right step. Of course she also must deal with Owen’s reappearance, which she seems to want to ignore as her friends comment on how hot he looked at the Slamball game. During this exchange involving Haley and Millie, Sam and Jamie are horsing around the store having fun together. Jamie asks if he can sleep over Brooke’s that night. Jamie has latched himself onto Sam and Haley gives the sleepover the ok.

Meanwhile, Peyton travels to see her brother, Derek, at a special ceremony for the Marines. He is surprised and happy to see her there and the two are able to spend some time together. Derek is Peyton’s half brother; they share the same father, so the subject of Mick comes up in their conversations. Mick has not been there for Derek either, and without using words, we can see how this has hurt Derek. Peyton commiserates and makes the offer to host a USO concert, something Derek wanted Mick to help him with years ago. He agrees, so it looks like Derek will be seen in Tree Hill again soon.

Mouth and Gigi, who was a high school girlfriend and is now his new intern, are working on a story about Nathan from the accident after high school up to his current comeback. Although Mouth tries to make clear that he has a girlfriend, Gigi continues to address him inappropriately during work saying “Hey Sexy” or “have fun with your ball and chain”. Millie does express some jealous, especially at the Slamball game, but Mouth does not seem to be interested in Gigi – for the moment anyway.

Jamie does stay over at Brooke’s house and initially he and Sam are just playing around the house while Brooke yells at them when necessary. With a knock on the door, Nathan appears, trying to coax Brooke into talking to Owen again. Brooke tells him that if Owen wants to talk he should just come find her and immediately Owen appears at the door. Brooke does invite him in, although she does seem uncertain. During this distraction, Sam tells Jamie about a party that’s happening and invites him to go with her. Jamie doesn’t seem too thrilled about the idea, especially not understanding why they must go out the window to get to the party, but he eventually agrees and the two leave without being noticed. While Owen is trying to tell Brooke he made a mistake by leaving her, another knock on the door brings Millie who says that Brooke’s store has been broken into. The three head to the store immediately to find that the store is the location of the party Sam and Jamie snuck off to. Brooke grabs Jamie and Owen helps her to stop the party. Unfortunately Peyton’s wedding dress is ruined and Brooke is more than a little angry at Sam.

Since Jamie is sleeping at Brooke’s, Haley and Nathan get to spend some quality time together. Haley tries out some of her new music and finally is able to tell Nathan that she’s afraid he’ll get hurt playing Slamball. Nathan assures her that he knows what he’s doing this time and he’ll be careful. Their relationship continues to remain open and honest keeping them in the top spot as One Tree Hill’s best couple.

When Brooke returns home, she finds Sam trying to wash out the stains on Peyton’s wedding dress. Sam is crying and tells Brooke she’ll leave, but to her surprise Brooke only grounds her, telling her to stop thinking that people are always going to give up on her.

After some thought, Lucas decides to meet with Julian Baker to discuss his book. The two meet at Tric where Julian raves about the book, wanting to make the movie happen as soon as possible. Lucas eventually commits and Julian makes the offer to allow Lucas to write the screenplay. The two celebrate with more drinks and a round of pool and Lucas gets the idea to invite Peyton to the bar to celebrate. She does come and when she meets Julian, a look of panic crosses her face – the two know each other. Although it isn’t fully explained in the episode, the viewer can gather the two probably had some sort of relationship in LA. Julian seems happy to see her and the episode ends with some uncertainty – will Julian bring the “Leyton” relationship into troubled waters? Until next week!

One Tree Hill Season 6 Episode 6 – Choosing my own way of life

Two weeks ago, we were left with the thrilling chase through the cornfield with Nanny Carrie and the climax of Dan shooting her to put a stop to the madness. This week gives much calmer story lines for the characters.

Lucas is off to do a tour for his book which begins in Omaha. Although no one seems to care about his book, including the new promoter which replaced Lindsey, he is able to see his old friend Mouth. If Lucas thought he was going to be popular in Omaha, he is surprised his friend is so well known as a sport’s caster. A fan comes up to Lucas to ask him to take a picture of him and Mouth. A young girl also comes up to Lucas’ table and asks him to sign her book – a gossip girl book. Glad to see that the show supports its fellow CW friends.

Sam, Haley’s student who was caught sleeping in the back of a car last episode, is having a tough time at her foster home and Haley is sympathetic. She approaches Brooke and asks her if she’d be interested in taking Sam in, but Brooke says no because she has so much to do now that she’s decided to start her life over.

Milly, who is back in OTH helping Brooke, comes up with a list of things Brooke can do. Confusion comes across Brooke’s faith as the suggestions range from sky diving to becoming a mom. When Brooke says these things are not good suggestions for starting a new company, Milly simply says they are good suggestions for Brooke to start to heal herself. Brooke embraces Milly and expresses her thanks for such a wonderful friend.

Brooke makes incredible strides this episode by finally admitting to Peyton that she was attacked instead of the fall back excuse she initially used which was falling down the stairs. Peyton and Brooke have a nice heart to heart, pledging to be best friends forever ,and sealing the deal by baking a batch of cookies.

Peyton however has her own troubles with her paternal father, Mick. She finds him sprawled on the pool table drunk, with a one year sober chip lying next to him. His only explanation to her is that he would have made a terrible father. Peyton is upset and tells him she wishes he never came to find her.

Dan has a moment with Nathan in Tree Hill High. Nathan tells his dad “you saved my family, but you killed my uncle, I’m not sure where we stand”. However Nathan does know Jamie loves his grandpa and Dan is allowed in Jamie’s life. Dan picks Jamie up from school. The two get ice cream and spot Deb and Skills sharing an intimate moment. A look of jealousy comes across Dan’s face for a moment, but he conceals it during their conversation. Skills later asks Nathan if there’s a chance Deb and Dan will get back together but Nathan doesn’t want to hear about it, nor does he want to hear about Skills’ relationship with his mom. Dan does still seem interested because Deb receives flowers from him, but Deb throws those out and takes Skills’ flowers instead.

Nathan, still undecided about taking the coaching position, gets another offer from a team to play. The trick is the team is called Slam Ball, which involves the players shooting hoops while jumping on trampolines. Jamie thinks it looks awesome, but Nathan has some fears about his back. Owen, Brooke’s ex boyfriend from last season, plays on a team and suggests to Nathan to give it a try. In the scene, Owen asks Jamie how he likes the game and Jamie says “Sorry Owen, I’m on team Brooke”. Nathan decides to play, but only after he gets Haley’s permission.

After Lucas’ book tour gets a terrible turnout in Omaha, the publisher decides to cancel the rest of his tour. Lucas is angry at first and wishes to speak with Lindsey, but he is rebuffed and decides to go home. Mouth surprises him by showing up at the airport and offering to go with Lucas on a road trip back to Tree Hill since Mouth decides to leave Omaha; being away from Milly is too hard.

Brooke decides to become a foster parent for Sam and brings her home. Although Sam is initially opposed to the idea, when she’s given her own room for the very first time, a smile spreads across her face. On the other side of the door, Brooke has a smile as well.

Peyton’s last scene with her father is an emotional highlight in the episode. He comes to see her and lets her know he’s going to bum off a friend of his while he’s on the last leg of his tour. Despite all the problems, she has tears streaming down her face as he walks away. Right before he walks out the door, she calls him and tells him she’s glad he gave her up so she could have a better life with more responsible parents. Later Peyton calls her adopted father and tells him she loves and misses him.

The only real mention of the Nanny Carrie fiasco comes at the end when Haley is talking to Jamie before bed. He admits to having nightmares and Haley does as well. She suggests she stay with him that night, and Nathan, who is looking on, jumps on the bed with his family and decides to stay too, giving the episode a much happier ending than last week. Till next time!

One Tree Hill – “You’ve Dug Your Own Grave, Now Lie in It”

Suspense and success are common themes on this week’s One Tree Hill.

Lucas has to go to New York to see the final product of his new book and that means coming face to face with his ex-fiancé Lindsey. He hasn’t told her about his engagement to Peyton, but he intends to do that when he sees her in New York. Nathan gets a call from a D league basketball team that is interested in meeting with him. Jamie exclaims “It’s the NBA” and we see a smile come across Nathan’s face that hasn’t really been there since the big Raven’s win in season four. Meanwhile, Nanny Carrie is digging a grave in preparation for Dan’s death and is keen on Jamie’s return.

Haley gets a call from someone who claims Dan is at the hospice and with only hours to live. Haley is torn as to whether or not she should take Jamie to see him. She wants to talk to Nathan about it, but he has left to talk to the D league recruiter so she decides to leave him a voicemail telling him to call her back. Of course we all know Dan is not at a hospice and Nanny Carrie’s plan has been set into motion.

Peyton continues to speak with Mick which makes her happy because he knows about her mother Elle. She wants to hear more about her dad; Mick says her parents fell in love at first sight. When she asks him why he thought her parents didn’t keep her, he noticeably slips by saying “we”. Peyton is now sure that this is her father, although he has still yet to admit it, and invites him over to her house for dinner to talk more about her family. He accepts.

Brooke continues therapy and admits feeling empty since she signed over the company to her mother, as though now she has no purpose in life and she’s “failed”. She feels even more defeated when a group of movers come and start to pack all of the clothes in the shop to bring back to New York. She’s afraid because everyone is moving forward and she feels like she isn’t. The therapist puts it into perspective and tells Brooke she’s a bright, intelligent girl and she’ll figure it out. Meanwhile, Sam, the girl who stole from the store and Brooke gave clothes to, comes into the store just before the movers come and wants to return the clothes. When the movers begin to pack things into boxes, Brooke, who initially would not give her the return, gives the money to her because the company is officially no longer hers.

Nathan meets with the basketball recruiter who ends up telling him that he wants him in a coaching position and isn’t interested in Nathan playing on the team. He tells Nathan that his playing days are over, but he should consider coaching. Nathan is discouraged but tells him he’ll talk to his family and think it over.

Lucas meets Lindsey in New York and as he begins to tell her about the engagement, she tells him she doesn’t want to get into an emotional discussion with him. Later when the two are in a marketing meeting and they’re reviewing Lucas’ book tour dates, he realizes he can’t make the Chicago date. He won’t give the reason specifically in the meeting and Lindsey pulls him into her office to discuss it. It finally comes out that the reason he can’t make the Chicago date is because it’s the day of his wedding to Peyton. Lindsey of course is a bit shocked and quickly just says she’ll get the date switched. She’s short with him and simply says she always knew this is what would happen. Lucas sees her in the bar later and apologizes for how things happened. Lindsey, with tears in her eyes simply says, “I was always pulling for the couple in the book.” She hands Lucas a copy of his book and later Lucas notices on the inside cover she wrote a small message telling him she’d miss him and always love him.

The climactic moment of the episode, and the moment we’ve all been dreading or possibly waiting for, comes as Haley pulls her car up to Nanny Carrie’s house. She tells Jamie to wait in the car and when she goes inside, she discovers Dan. She unties the straps on his wrists, but Nanny Carrie comes from behind and hits her on the head which knocks her out. Nanny Carrie then proceeds to go to the car and tells Jamie to open the door. Jamie won’t do it, “my momma told me not to”, and Nanny Carrie, getting frustrated, brings a sledge hammer to break the window. At this point, Jamie has escaped the car and is running toward a cornfield. A game of cat and mouse ensues as Nanny Carrie pursues Jamie in the cornfield, all the while saying she’s “his momma now.” Somehow Haley is revived and is able to grab Jamie in the cornfield and tells him to be quiet. Unfortunately right at that moment, Nathan calls Haley’s cell phone which helps Nanny Carrie find where they are. Both Jamie and Haley begin to run quickly out of the cornfield. Just as Nanny Carrie is about to catch them, Deb appears out of nowhere and smashes a bottle in her face. Deb found out Haley and Jamie was there because she saw a picture of Nanny Carrie and realized it was a trap. She proudly claims the bottle she hit Nanny Carrie’s head with was the bottle she saved for the day Dan died. As the two talk, Nanny Carrie rises and is about to hit them with the sledge hammer, when Dan appears on the porch and shoots her in the stomach. His only response? “God I hate the woods.” Dan, once the villain, becomes the hero.

Meanwhile, Brooke is eating at a diner and goes to pay when she’s told the check has already been taken care of. She finds Sam and thanks her. Sam says it was Brooke’s money anyway that paid for the meal since she used the money from the returned clothes. The two seem to form a bond. Later a shot shows Sam sleeping in the backseat of a car, suggesting the girl is homeless.

The final scene has Nanny Carrie somehow alive again, lying on the ground, telling Dan she isn’t dead. The speech seems ridiculous, Dan is still holding the gun, and he reminds her of the night in the hotel room when he promised her what he’d do to her if she ever came near his family again. She lays there laughing and Dan rightly shoots her again and the episode ends. Here’s hoping she’s finally dead!

One Tree Hill – “Bridge Over Troubled Water”

Episode 6.4 – September 22, 2008

by Barbara Ghilardi

Lucas opens this week’s One Tree Hill with the following: “The hardest part of saying goodbye is having to do it every single day.”

This quote seems to carry over into each of the character’s lives.  Nathan, Lucas, Skills, and Haley all find themselves picturing Q in the places where he would normally be.  Haley and Jamie go to the cemetery to put flowers on Q’s grave. The viewer is informed it’s been 8 days and it’s obvious this last week has not helped to heal anyone.

While walking out of the graveyard, Jamie see’s Dan’s gravestone and is confused. Haley explains to him that Dan had it made in preparation for the day he would pass away.  Jamie seems to understand, but again brings up the fact that he wishes he could visit his grandpa Dan. Haley gives in and they go to Dan’s house, only to find the door open and a stack of newspapers in front of Dan’s house. Haley seems to sense something is going on, and she asks Jamie to return to the car. Later she makes a phone call to the hospital and leaves a message asking if Dan is there.

Nathan, who in the last episode found out Skills and Deb are together, remains angry at his mother and tells her he wants her to move out. Brooke visits a therapist. When the therapist asks her who she thinks is behind the attack, and Brooke of course answers her mother Victoria.

A mysterious artist pops into Peyton’s recording studio, which turns out to be an idol of Peyton’s. He says he’s just stopping by to jam and really doesn’t have any material to write about. He tells Peyton he heard about her place from the CD she produced and…he knew her mother Ellie. He claims however that he does not know who her father is.

Nanny Carrie and Deb have a conversation on the playground, as Deb is confused about her relationship with Skills and what moving out might do to her relationship with Jamie. Nanny Carrie says if it were her, she’d do anything to stay in Jamie’s life and some people just don’t appreciate devotion. The real question is…why doesn’t Deb know what her grandson’s abductor looks like? Deb tells Skills she was kicked out of Nathan’s home and Skills asks her to move in with him. Deb decides that she needs to be with Jamie and tells Skills that their relationship has to end.

Brooke’s therapy session continues and we learn she went into business with her mother because she thought maybe it was the way to win her mother’s love. Finally the reason for the gun is revealed. Brooke says she doesn’t actually want to hurt her mother, but she has had thoughts of it. She says if her mother died, she wouldn’t miss her.

Haley breaks up a fight between two girls at school, one girl is Sam, the girl who stole from Brooke’s store. Haley tries to reach out to the girl but is rebuffed. Even when she brings clothes from Brooke as a gift to Sam, she rejects the gift, and it becomes clear that there’s more to this troubled girl than we are aware of.

Luke visits Q’s family and Q’s younger brother wants to know if he can be a Tree Hill Raven someday. It’s a cute moment and as Lucas embraces Q’s mom, Q’s death has created a relationship with his family.

Jamie asks Nathan why Deb isn’t around so much anymore, and says he saw Skills and Deb kissing. He tells Nathan he doesn’t mind them together and Nathan gives no response, just a look of frustration. Later, Skills tells Nathan Deb makes him happy and he hopes Nathan can learn to accept the two of them together.

The Ravens are back on the court and dedicate the game to Q. His jersey is displayed on the wall, and Lucas and Q’s mom give an emotional speech. Lucas tells the players to “let basketball heal you” because playing the game is what Q would have wanted them to do.  Each member of the team has #44 near their heart in memory of Q. In a risky move, Lucas decides only 4 guys will play during the game, one of the spots being “reserved” for Q. The team does end up loosing the game, but it was a tough fight and they all decide to play with only four players for the remainder of the season.

Nanny Carrie somehow breaks into Nathan and Haley’s home while they are at the game and takes some of Jamie’s things so he will be “comfortable” when he comes to live with her. At one point, she picks up Chester, Jamie’s bunny, and talks to him saying she’d glad he won’t give her away, because if he could, she’d have to eat him to keep him quiet. Why haven’t the police taken this woman in yet?

In one of the best scenes of the episode, Brooke comes to her mother’s home and confronts her about the robbery and attack. Victoria claims she would never physically harm her daughter and says Brooke is just paranoid. Then Victoria begins to explain apart of the her own story we’ve never heard: Victoria never wanted children, instead wanted to have her own clothing line and company but Brooke’s father always wanted a son. When she became pregnant, Brooke’s father cheated on her. So when she had a girl instead of a boy, Victoria made sure Brooke’s father’s dream of a son never came true, just like hers. Now knowing nothing is her fault, Brooke, in one of her strongest moments, tells Victoria she’s giving her Clothes over Bros because she does not want to become her mother and so in turn is giving Victoria her the dream she always wanted.

Haley calls the hospital to find out about Dan, and is told he does have a heart but he has not answered any of the hospital’s pages. Nathan gives Skills the ok to date Deb and allows Deb to move back in with him. Brooke reunites with her real “family”, her friends and Peyton’s mysterious artist friend decides to stick around in Tree Hill, saying he’s become inspired to write some new music. Nanny Carrie kisses the photo of Jamie and says “see you soon baby” and Skills joins Nathan on the court to help him practice because Q no longer can. Will Brooke really lose her company to her mom and will Nanny Carrie successfully abduct Jamie? And by the way, where’s Dan? Until next week…

One Tree Hill – “Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.”

Episode 6.3 – September 15, 2008

by Barbara Ghilardi

| View Show | Create Your Own

Last night, for the first time, One Tree Hill had me crying.

As last week’s episode ended with Q’s fatal gun shot, this week’s began with a conformation from Lucas to Skills that Q has passed away.  The scene cuts to the basketball court where Nathan is confused as to why Q hasn’t met him and Haley shows up, frazzled and red eyed with the news. Lucas and Skills break the news to the team, while Haley and Nathan struggle to let their young son Jamie know that his friend Q isn’t coming back. “So he won’t even be at practice?” Jamie asks. His small yet powerful expression upon hearing no shows even Jamie is going to have a tough time dealing with Q’s death.

Meanwhile, Brooke is having trouble dealing with the aftermath of her assault and story robbery.  She begins to throw her clothing out of Clothes over Bros and when Peyton tries to give the clothes back to Brooke, she lashes out at her.

Haley can’t seem to find the words to address her class on the subject of Q’s death, and is met with the response “what is the point?’ from one of her students. Haley cannot think of a better answer than, “I don’t know.” Nathan goes through Q’s locker, Jamie looks at a board with plays, and we see Q’s name written with a blue expo marker all over the board. Jamie’s expression shows he’s slowly realizing Q would no longer be apart of these plays. As Nathan takes out Q’s jersey, Jamie asks if he can have it, and Nathan simply replies “I think he’d like that.” Even though it’s too big, it looks perfect on Jamie.

Dan is still under the wrath of Nanny Carrie, who claims to have an even better plan to steal away Jamie. She tells Dan that she is going to lure Jamie to Dan’s bedside when it becomes known that Dan is dying. Nanny Carrie pulls out Jamie’s handmade card to Dan, grinning as she explains she’ll have no getting Jamie to come see his grandfather. Next, she gets her hands on Dan’s gun because whoever brings Jamie will be killed by Dan, which actually means they’ll be killed by Nanny Carrie. All Dan really asks is why Nanny Carrie cannot have children and she gives no real response. At this point everyone’s probably thinking, because she’s crazy!

The episode continues its little side stories: we watch as Brooke looks into a mirror with words like revenge covering it and pointing to the places where her bruises are; Brooke’s retaliation is not yet complete. Deb comes to talk to Skills and tries to comfort him, but he seems to brush off her help. Dan tries to escape Nanny Carrie’s house and does get himself free and outside, but falls onto a grave and as Nanny Carrie screams “Get off my son”, she inflicts more pain on him. Later she puts flowers on her son’s grave, and we begin to understand the motive Nanny Carrie has to abduct Jamie: she wants to replace her son.

Nathan, Haley, Jamie, Peyton, Lucas, and Skills all go to Q’s house to visit with his family. Jamie has a touching moment with Q’s brother about the loss, both commenting on the fact that they want to be basketball players someday. When he’s about to leave, Jamie runs back to the boy and gives him Q’s jersey. Inside, Q’s mother expresses her thanks to the adults for helping her son, especially Haley who gave him motivation beyond the basketball court and into his studies.

Haley, in order to help her student’s grief, tells her students to write about Q, even if they did not know him very well. He eyes follow to Q’s desk where someone wrote “I miss you Q”. She grabs the marker and writes a quote from Les Miserables and encourages her students to write a message as well. A brooding girl in the back, who looks just like Brooke’s young shoplifter two episodes back, shies away from the project, but we come to find out she’s the one narrating the episode. Haley also notices the shirt she stole and makes a comment.

Brooke, who did not know Q personally, does make a stop at the Scott residence where Jamie hears Brooke say “life sucks then you die”. She quickly leaves the room and Haley comes outside to see her. Haley tells Brooke that she should go to a therapist if she needs help resolving some of her issues. Later, in probably one of the more touching scenes of the episode, Nathan comes to Brooke and tells her that if she needs help to work through her problems, she shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. The always apparent similarities between Nathan and Brooke’s life are laid on the table and one can only hope Brooke will take him up on the offer.

The funeral closes out the episode – here comes the waterworks. Jamie, who originally was not allowed to come to the funeral, tells his parents he wants to go. It was adorable the way he held the box given to him by Q and the noticeable problem he had putting on his tie. Haley helps him straighten the tie and realizes that he should be allowed to say goodbye. At the funeral, the basketball team makes an entrance in their jerseys and Q’s brother, grabs Q’s old jersey, puts it on, and stands in the line up proudly.  Deb grabs Skills hand, signifying their relationship and the look on Nathan’s face isn’t necessary a happy one. When the procession begins to break up, Jamie comes to the coffin and pulls out the cape he made for Q. Brooke comes to stand beside him, and once Jamie drapes the cape over the coffin, Brooke begins to cry. Jamie silently grabs Brooke’s hand in comfort; probably one of the most heart trenching moments of One Tree Hill.

Although Q was only on the show for a short period of time, he definitely grew on OTH fans. His character will definitely be missed. Until next week!

One Tree Hill – “One Million Billionth of a Millisecond on Sunday Morning”

Episode 6.2 – September 8, 2008

by Barbara Ghilardi

Part 1

Bruises and Bullets on this week’s One Tree Hill

The drama continues to unfold on this week’s One Tree Hill. When Peyton and Luke decide to have their wedding back home with close family and friends, Peyton decides to tell Brooke first. As the conversation ends, the camera cuts to a badly black and blue Brooke, who looks as though the life has been sucked out of her, quite out of character for her.

When Peyton comes home, Brooke decides to lie to Peyton and tell her she fell while getting her laundry. Surprisingly Peyton believes her and Brooke decides to let someone else help – Deb. Brooke’s instructions to Deb however are not what one might expect – she doesn’t want Deb to let anyone else know she was robbed and assaulted including the police. In fact, she asks Deb specifically to teach her how to shoot a gun.

Part 2

Deb, who is still seeing Skills, gets caught kissing Skills by her grandson Jamie when Skills came over for breakfast. Jamie’s curiosity gets the better of him later in a car ride with Deb, asking her if she likes Uncle Skills. Deb denies everything, but Jamie assures her if she does its ok. He’d like calling him “Grandpa Skills”. The last shot of the scene shows Deb with a secret smile on her face.

Just because Jamie wouldn’t mind a “Grandpa Skills” doesn’t mean that he’s forgotten about his “Grandpa Dan.” One day after school, Jamie notices Dan’s black SUV in the parking lot and comments on it to Haley. Later, Haley tells Nathan she’s seen the car for the last few days and is worried Dan is once again trying to find a way back into their lives. However what she doesn’t know is Nanny Carrie is the one who is driving the car in order to lay down her plan of kidnapping Jamie. Nanny Carrie continues to torment Dan by force feeding him cockroaches.

Part 3

Nathan and Jamie continue to help out at basketball practices for the Tree Hill Ravens after school, and this week Jamie adorns his outfit with a red cape. Quentin, better known as Q, complements Jamie in a playful way, which gives Jamie the idea to make Q a cape of his own. Meanwhile, Q continues to excel at turning his academic life around, gaining an A+ from Haley and for the first time we see Q open up about what he really wants in life – a family.

Haley expresses concern about her own family after discovering a mostly empty bottle of pills. Her automatic response is to blame Deb, who once used to be a pill junkie. Deb, claims innocence, and when Haley asks why she’s been sleeping so much and keeping odd hours outside of the house, Deb simply says “I’m having sex”. When Haley confronts the only other suspect, Nathan, one couldn’t help but laugh at his cringing face when Haley mention’s Deb’s sex life. Nathan admits to taking all the pills, but claims it’s a prescribed amount. After a visit to the doctors, Haley’s initial fears are calmed, but the doctor does explain that if Nathan doesn’t take it easy with basketball, he risks another injury and the possibility of being in a wheel chair for life.

Part 4

Meanwhile, Nanny Carrie is still scheming and informs Dan that he will be the one to “take” Jamie and once she kills him, she will take Jamie for herself. She comments on how she loves that no one is looking for him, only one message on his beeper. Dan, who hasn’t been able to speak, all of a sudden manages to get out a few words, “your plan sucks.” For the first time this season, viewers see the Dan they’re used to as he laughs at Nanny Carrie. She of course does not understand, but it all becomes clear after she calls the number on his pager, and Dan explains he’s going to die if he doesn’t get a heart soon. As he continues to laugh, Nanny Carrie grabs a knife and threatens him. His response? Only more laughter and simply, “Go ahead and kill me, I’m already dead.”

Touching moments enter throughout the episode. Lucas asks Peyton to move in with him; a major plus for Leyton fans. Deb is able to share a moment with Skills when she is conflicted about telling Brooke’s problem to others. Nathan, who viewers know lives for basketball, informs Haley he’ll stop because he loves his family more than the game.

Part 5

Tragedy overshadows in the end of the episode as Q enters a convenience store. The suspense runs high as his eyes follow to a dead body in the back of the store. When Q turns around, the man at the counter pulls out a gun. As the trigger is pulled the shot goes to Brooke learning how to use a gun with Deb’s help. Q’s bullet brings his death, but what will Brooke’s gun do?

Until next week!

One Tree Hill – “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream, Part 1″

Episode 6.1 : September 1, 2008

by Barbara Ghilardi

One Tree Hill viewers were left with a major cliffhanger at the end of last season when they were left wondering who Lucas Scott would bring to Vegas for a shotgun wedding.

Lucas & Peyton

Audiences held their breaths Monday night as the show opened with 3 dream sequences involving each girl as Lucas’ wife. Lucas is told by a mysterious man to keep his eye on the Queen of Hearts as he shuffles them around. He then picks the Queen of Hearts signaling that his choice is based on what his heart truly desires. Fortunately we don’t have to wait long for his decision as the phone call ends and Peyton appears. The two remain in bliss throughout the rest of the episode and stay cut off from their friends, who only get a text saying “Don’t worry everything’s fine.”

Victoria & Brooke

Brooke however is not fine as she quickly learns firing Victoria, her mother, from her clothing line last season does not mean her troubles are over. Victoria comes back in full force, informing Brooke that she can take away Clothes Over Bros legally. Brooke, who is focused on making sure the fall line insures her position as head of the company, is determined to defeat her mother and calls on her assistant Millicent for help. However Millicent, who began a relationship with Mouth last season, has planned to join Mouth in his move to Omaha for work. Ultimately, she decides to stay on to help Brooke keep her companym, and in doing so, Brooke also confronts a girl who shoplifts, which seems to make her all the more determined to keep control over Clothes Over Bros.

Skills & Deb

Nathan Scott supports the Tree Hill Ravens at their basketball practices and continues to work to gain back his strength. Although he seems to be making strides, his back bothers him throughout the episode, which suggests the recovery will not come easily. He is, however, determined to find out who his mother Deb is seeing, after she began a relationship last season with a man online. Little does he know her new online boyfriend is his best friend, Skills. Skills’ relationship with Deb flourishes and the two spend most of the episode trying to keep their relationship a secret.

Dan, after car accident

The most dramatic and tense moments of the episode involve Dan and the results of his accident last season. The notorious Nanny Carrie comes back and we find out she hit him with the car as revenge for his brutality toward her when she kidnapped Jaime (Nathan and Haley’s son). Dan, who underwent major trauma, cannot speak or even scream as Nanny Carrie administers large amounts of morphine throughout the episode. She vows to kill him, but not before she gets Jamie back. In the most shocking scene, we see Dan crawling, trying to escape what he thinks is a hospital only to find out he is in Nanny Carrie’s home.

The episode counteracts its dramatic moments with light and funny scenes such as Jaime learning a hip hop dance from Quentin, and Nathan coming home to find Haley and Jaime enjoying the dance together. Oh, and Nathan is also embarrassed to find Deb topless in his pool. Lucas and Peyton fans get plenty of romance as Peyton brings Lucas back to the hotel room where he initially proposed, and the two relive the passionate moment, but this time, Peyton says yes to his marriage proposal.

At the end of the episode, Brooke decides to fire Millicent and tells her to go to Omaha with Mouth. As Brooke is leaving Clothes Over Bros, she is attacked by a robber and the episode ends as she falls to the ground, trying to protect herself from the brutal punches. Viewers were left wondering what will happen to Brooke and who orchestrated the break in…

Until next week!

* all photos courtesy of onetreehillweb.net