Rewatching Season One of One Tree Hill

Growing up, this was one of my favourite dramas about teens. I think most people said The OC back in the early 2000s or Gilmore Girls (which I definitely loved) but I don’t think any of them had what One Tree Hill had. There were some gimmicky storylines and unbelievable things that happened, but at the end of the day the show had a lot of heart and meant a lot to me, and I can’t give it up, even years later. It’s been a while since I’ve done a rewatch, so I thought I would give it a go, in the same vein as my Smallville rewatch.

Also, since every episode title is named after a song, I will put the titles up so you can make a playlist for each season if you want to listen to the songs.

But let’s just get into it, shall we?

Episode 1×01 Pilot

• Man everyone looks so young. Like just incredibly young compared to how they looked in their last seasons.
• Nathan and Peyton were such a dramatic couple. I forgot they even dated. So weird.
• Also I am basically Peyton. I was Peyton all throughout high school. We are one and the same.
• Nathan was such a dick. And I actually thought Lucas was decent. Oh how the tides turn.
• Oh OHT…mentioning a bunch of ravens together is an unkindness. Casually just mentioning the name of Lucas’s future book.
• “First of all, you don’t know me. Second of all, you don’t know me.” Eloquent words, Peyton.
• I really have to give props to Karen for how she deals with Lucas knowing about his father. It probably sucks for Lucas to know his father had another family and wants nothing to do with him, but at the same time I think it would hurt more if he didn’t know anything at all. Especially since she didn’t get together with Keith until later in the show.
• “If I wanted a daughter, I’d adopt one.” “What. So you could abandon her too?” Oh harsh Nathan. But also true.
• Peyton with that creepy webcam…no wonder psycho Derek happened years later.

Episode 1×02 The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most

• Yeah no Karen I don’t think Lucas will understand. He’s just gonna see that you’re not there to support his dream of playing basketball.
• Again, I am so Peyton. I would have yelled at Nathan about the imported cd too.
• Gods I love Whitey.
• Honestly Karen and Lucas got a raw deal and it was ahead on them but I love how open they are with each other. Karen knows it’s hard to talk about but she would rather Lucas know the truth, and I think that’d admirable.
• I get exactly how Peyton feels with her art. That’s how I feel about my writing. Sucks to be scared it doesn’t mean anything, that it’s not good enough.
• Nathan legit painting Peyton’s toes is one of the best things I’ve ever seen.
• Lucas taking off the name Scott on his jersey is iconic.

Episode 1×03 Are You True?

• So much secondhand embarrassment right now with Brooke in Lucas’s car.
• Wish we had a burning boat thing in my town.
• “Maybe he’s gay.” “No, I think he’s just nice.” Because a guy doesn’t automatically want to sleep with a random girl he’s never met who shows up half naked in his car it automatically means he’s gay?
• Jake was a good friend. I miss him.
• “Don’t say I never gave you anything.” Probably the most iconic line of the show.

Episode 1×04 Crash Into You

• Man I always liked Deb. She was a bit of a hot mess in the later seasons but I always thought she had a good heart and wanted what’s best for Nathan.
• I don’t know what Karen ever saw in Dan because from where I’m standing he’s always been an ass.
• I really don’t see why it’s such a big deal Haley is tutoring Nathan. But I guess loyalties or whatever.

Episode 1×05 Where I End and You Begin

• That people always leave drawing is my favourite that Peyton’s done on the show.
• Keith and Karen wasted so much of Lucas’s life not being together. I mean. Really, why weren’t they together?
• I just love Whitey so much. Tree Hill was so lucky to have a coach like him who genuinely cared. Man what a gift.
• Yeah I have a degree in English and I still don’t know whether to use the phrase “Peyton and I” or “Peyton and me”. Nathan shouldn’t feel bad because I don’t think most of the world knows either.
• No Haley is wearing that ugly poncho! Why!
• Peyton’s season one style was such a classic high school look for me. Band t-shirt with a (vegan) leather jacket and jeans with Converse was kind of my whole thing.
• Peyton: painting a black canvas. Nathan: what do you call that? Peyton: love. Wow what a mood.

Episode 1×06 Every Night is Another Story

• I watched this episode recently so I’m kind of skipping over this episode.
• But I will leave you with is that Brooke was…a lot in the first season.
• Also can you really siphon gas from a car the way Peyton and Haley do?
• I want 100% more Nathan and Lucas bonding.

Episode 1×07 Life in a Glass House

• Yeah Haley basically did the opposite of being careful when it comes to Nathan.
• Damn, Deb, keep going off on Dan.
• Whitey purposely eating all the cashews out of the trail mix gives me life.
• Commitment phobic Peyton is so relatable.
• You know I just really enjoy the fact Haley and Lucas have never been anything other than friends. It’s super refreshing to see a guy and a girl just be friends with no hint of anything more.
• I LOVE JAKE SO MUCH.

Episode 1×08 The Search for Something More

• “What’s your idea of a perfect date?” “Watching you get hit by a bus.” Iconic. Really.
• Dude is such an asshole spiking Peyton’s drink. I feel so bad for her.
• “What kind of loser pretends he’s in college?” Says the loser pretending she’s in college.
• Cliche moment where the girl says “nothing you can do or say can surprise me” and guy kisses girl and girl says “except that” and everything’s forgiven and they live happily ever after. Yes, that just happened.
• Fun fact, Karen left for Italy for a while because the actress was pregnant and had to have her baby.

Episode 1×09 With Arms Outstretched

• The pressure Nathan must feel to turn to amphetamines to get through a high school basketball game. Dan is literally the worst thing for Nathan.
• Fun fact, everyone got sick of covering up Chad’s tattoo so they just wrote it into the script.
• I was over the Lucas/Brooke/Peyton love triangle before it even started. I can’t believe I have to endure more years of this.

Episode 1×10 You Gotta Go There to Come Back

• Nathan literally admitted he took drugs and Dan is like no son of mine would take drugs. Okay but he did???
• Shameless insert of Gavin Degraw because he does the theme song.

Episode 1×11 The Living Years

• I feel so bad for Brooke that she’s self conscious about herself and her relationship with Luke and that they have nothing in common. Brooke is great and totally worthy of being with Lucas.
• Jenny is so freaking cute. Jake and Jenny are just amazing. Sometimes I wish Peyton had stayed with him instead of this whole love saga with Lucas.

Episode 1×12 Crash Course in Politeness

• Dan is an example of what not to do, and how you can take your parent’s worst qualities and adopt them as your own. It’s good to see Nathan moving away from that.
• Peyton Sawyer saying “I could live on pizzas” is basically me.
• Literally last episode Peyton was telling Brooke to trust her and Lucas and now she and Lucas are making out in hotel rooms. While he’s still dating Brooke.

Episode 1×13 Hanging by a Moment

• Haley trying to play basketball in her dream is me. Zero athletic ability.
• Poor Whitey. He’s most definitely made a difference.
• I have to agree with Haley here. What Lucas is doing is wrong and she should be mad at him for it.
• Gotta have a dramatic car accident, you know?

Episode 1×14 I Shall Believe

• What is the legal limit in Tree Hill (or I guess all of North Carolina since Tree Hill isn’t real)? Also how much did Keith even drink? Because all we saw him drink was one beer three hours before he left for the airport. That not enough to pin the accident on drinking.

Episode 1×15 Suddenly Everything Has Changed

• Lucas is such a fuckboy idiot disguised as the nice guy and I can’t believe anyone would actually like him. Like I don’t know I’ve never liked Lucas and going back and rewatching all of the shit he’s pulled just reinforces how much I do not like him.
• Deb and Dan playing Nathan against each other in the divorce sucks. And it’s not fair to Nathan. Unfortunately that happens all the time.

Episode 1×16 The First Cut is the Deepest

• “I got DSL. Wanna come over?” Early 2000s before WiFi was a thong alert!
• Ugh not Nicki. I feel bad saying I’ve never liked a single character Emmanuelle Vaugier has played. Honestly I think I hate Nicki most.
• I agree with Peyton. No chick flicks.
• Yeah because Sheryl Crow is gonna go to a cafe after her concert for coffee and then sing for a fan in order to get said coffee.
• Bonus points for Sheryl Crow singing the song the title of the episode is named after.

Episode 1×17 Spirit in the Night

• Mouth dancing that routine is the best thing I’ve ever seen.
• Nice Tonya Harding reference. That I now understand thanks to I, Tonya.

Episode 1×18 To Wish Impossible Things

• Do high schools actually do things like a Boy Toy auction for charity? I think my high school would have had a conniption fit.
• Why is Lucas so apoplectic about Haley’s tattoo? He got a random tattoo I’m sure he doesn’t even know what it means with Brooke while drunk. And although it’s Nathan’s jersey number and they could easily break up and she could have a permanent reminder of him, he still has no room to judge.
• Why does Lucas always see the worst in other people? I get its different Peyton kissing Nathan than Haley kissing Lucas because they dated, but it was a kiss for charity. At least he didn’t say anything to Haley.
• What’s a teen show without a pregnancy scare?

Episode 1×19 How Can You be Sure?

• How can Dan sit there and tell Lucas that he asked Karen to get an abortion and that she should have listened to him? You don’t say that kind of thing to your kid’s face.
• Between Karen slapping Lucas and Chad’s awful fake crying I can’t take this scene seriously.
• Nathan is just so…ugh where can I find a Nathan?

Episode 1×20 What is and What Should Never Be

• Go home, Nicki. No one asked you to be here!! Honestly.
• “Who knew you two would switch places?” Peyton, I have brand sting ALL ALONG SINCE THE SHOW FIRST AIRED that Nathan is the better guy and Lucas is…not actually that great when it comes to how he treats women. I have never liked Lucas and all my friends told me he wasn’t that bad. I wonder if they watched this show now in their 20s what they would think of him.

Episode 1×21 The Leaving Song

• I really feel for Hale being insecure about not having sex with Nathan. Seeing the porn sites on Nathan’s laptop probably didn’t help her self esteem any.
• Wow Nicki really sucks. Also poor Peyton. And poor Jake. And poor Jenny as well. Something like that happening sounds like a nightmare.
• Brooke’s makeup during season one is really…early 2000s. Which was when it was made, but still. Her eyeshadow matches all of her outfits and it’s in a very loud obvious way. Maybe it’s just not my style of makeup but it keeps bothering me.
• Peyton talking to Haley and giving her advice with Nathan is one of the best things. I love when the female friendships on this show are rock solid.
• I’m so sad about Jake leaving. I wish he and Peyton had a real chance to be together. I know he shows back up again later but still. I loved Jake.
• Sure, Lucas. Go “start over”. Bye. Please don’t come back (though of course you will).

Episode 1×22 The Games That Play Us

• Dan’s so insecure that he had to threaten a high school girl. Lol what a sad human being.
• Nathan and Haley couldn’t have that conversation about Peyton inside her house where it’s no raining? Oh wait, of course not. Because when they make up it won’t be romantic without a make out in the rain.
• Dan wants to win a high school basketball game so badly that he wouldn’t mention to Lucas he may need X-rays?
• Still think it’s weird Keith and Deb slept together, but whatever
• You know, so many problems could have been solved if Dan had just died of that heart attack.
• I guess that must have been the shock of the season for someone who hadn’t seen the show before: Nathan and Haley getting married. I’m cool with it since I know where they’re headed but for everyone else it must have been like ‘what the fuck? They’re in high school and barely have been dating. Who let them get married?’

All in all, One Tree Hill is a standard teen drama that follows the standard formula we’ve all come to know and love. With sports mixed in. And main characters who have all of their last named that can double as a first name (Lucas/Nathan Scott, Brooke Davis, Peyton Sawyer, Haley James). It’s a solid good first season that delivers that hyped up drama and only gets better with each season.

Songs from the titles:

1. The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most by Dashboard Confessional
2. Are You True? by The New Amsterdams
3. Crash Into You by Dave Matthews Band
4. All That You Can’t Leave Behind by U2
5. Every Night is Another Story by Early November
6. Life in a Glass House by Radiohead
7. The Search For Something More by Antifreeze
8. With Arms Outstretched by Rilo Kiley
9. You Gotta Go There to Come Back by Stereophonics
10. The Living Years by Mike & the Mechanics
11. Crash Course in Polite Conversations by Gameface
12. Hanging by a Moment by Lifehouse
13. I Shall Believe by Sheryl Crow
14. Suddenly Everything Has Changed by The Flaming Lips
15. The First Cut is the Deepest by Sheryl Crow
16. Spirit in the Night by Bruce Springsteen
17. To Wish Impossible Things by The Cure
18. How Can You be Sure? by Radiohead
19. What Is and What Should Never Be by Led Zeppelin
20. The Leaving Song by AFI
21. The Games that Play Us by The Blackouts