Farewell One Tree Hill

It's the show I named the blog after so I had better offer comment on the series' final season, which I finished watching back in April.
One Tree Hill isn't a show that was given much air time here in Australia and I wound up watching it on the net over the final three seasons. If the many TV channels here can't find a spot for it I was always going to watch it however I could.
Now the show could have wrapped up happily after the sixth season when Lucas and Peyton, OTH's two central characters by this stage, drove off into the sunset.
But it pressed on and evolved and managed to remain fresh. Though it took a little while.
I was pleased when they finished up season 8 and announced it would return for a final season - not a lot of shows are given the chance to finish on their own terms.
We saw a few characters return during the course of season 9 - Chris Keller, who I always hated because he spoke in the third person far too much, Dan Scott had a much larger role, Deb also bobbed up and even Lucas made what I viewed as a wasted cameo for an episode.
The central plot of Nathan's kidnapping was far fetched but, then again, it is a soap and if I had a problem with that then why didn't I give up around the time of Peyton's crazy stalker who pretended to be her brother?
In a way I think the final time jump was unnecessary - I didn't need to know that Jamie would become a champion basketballer (he certainly grew a couple of feet as a teenager!) but going back to the start (with basketball the central focus) worked well all season so why not finish off the same way.
Music has always been central to the show and it was a nice touch that Gavin Degraw came back to sing I Don't Want To Be (the show's theme) in the final episode - repeating his appearance in the very first where he also performed the song.
Few shows can last nine seasons, especially the teen-type series. Look at similar shows - The OC (4 seasons), Dawson's Creek (6 seasons) - they haven't made it nearly as far and that is a credit to Mark Schwahn and how he has continually reinvented it. Sure, it did miss Lucas and Peyton in the last couple of seasons and I would have liked to have seen Rachel return one more time but I'm very glad I came across One Tree Hill.
It was time well spent.

Bring on August

Oh yeah! August 17 is the big day for season 7 on DVD.
It was an excellent season on the whole, a few teething problems but looking forward to the final season later this year.
And to think it's already the middle of June so this release is only two months away.

Eight and out

It's great news that One Tree Hill will get the chance to wrap up properly with a season eight.

Whether it is a 12/13 episode season or a full 22 doesn't really matter to me. I'd just like the show, which has been exceptional over the seven seasons so far, to end well and in a way that can be planned - not like the shooting of two season finals for this year just in case it was cancelled.

SPOILER ALERT

So the shooting scene at the end was one that I certainly didn't see coming. It was one of those special 'oh my God' moments.

But it's pretty easy to see that both Clay and Quinn will survive.

After what Haley has been through, the death of either character would just about destroy her so I think it's a safe bet.

Plus, Clay must have the opportunity to deal with his stalker who thinks she's his dead wife.

I'd like to see them get Lucas and Peyton back for an episode or two at the end, though their storyline was pretty well wrapped up in season six.

While I'm having a wish list, I'd like to see the return of the theme song for the final year.

Anyway, bring on season eight!

We Belong

Yesterday when I woke up I had this song in my head and it stuck with me most of the day. I'm not complaining, though.
A classic from the 80s, it's Pat Benatar's We Belong .
Always liked the song.
It popped up in a recent episode of One Tree Hill where the character Haley (Bethany Joy Galeotti) performs it as part of her concert, intertwined as the show does with other scenes. See that one here .
Funnily enough I didn't recognise it until it hit the chorus. She can sing and I thought it was a pretty good version.

Mid season thoughts

For a few episodes now I've been wondering whether One Tree Hill should continue.
The show is taking a midseason break for a month and I wonder what they have in store after producing the singularly most enjoyable episode of the season, titled Some Roads Lead Nowhere.
Season 7 is now 12 episodes old and at times I have thought they made a mistake moving on without Lucas and Peyton.
I gave it the benefit of the doubt early on and I have again reached the point of holding off judgement for a while longer.
This is largely due to the character of Clay (Robert Buckley, above left).
When they introduced him at the start of the season I thought there was more to him than met the eye and I was spot on, because he's easily the most interesting character (aside from the ever fun Jamie, but he's a seven year old). I've enjoyed his story lines, his personal struggle and his real-ness. That's one aspect of what's missing.
I mean, in Tree Hill is a multi-millionaire fashion designer (Brooke), an NBA star (Nathan), a pop star (Haley), assorted models, and a film producer (Julian). How big is this town?
As much as people love to hate him at times, the show is really missing Lucas. He's the one that holds it all together, he was the narrator, and the connection between most of the characters.
But as it looks like he's not coming back we have to move on.
My biggest disappointment of season 7 so far as been the absolute waste of the character Rachel. She's had basically one or two scenes of interaction with her old friends and the rest of the time she's been left to small bits of the Dan storyline.
I hope now that he has moved on she can return to Tree Hill and shake things up a bit. Otherwise I wonder what the point was in bringing her back.
Having not yet heard what lies ahead for the remainder of the season and the possibility of a season 8 I have this to say - if season 7 has to be the end then so be it, go out on a good note. I'd hate a truly enjoyable show to descend into something that I don't care about.

Season 7 premiere thoughts

After last season's departure of Lucas and Peyton, the show's two central characters, I wasn't sure what season 7 of One Tree Hill would look like.
However, having now watched the new season opening I'm giving the new look OTH a tentative thumbs up.
The opening few minutes was a masterstroke, and really got me into the feel of One Tree Hill. Yes, it has a feel. Hard to describe.
I loved Haley's song and it seemed to sum everything up well (as the music always does).
The show picks up 14 months after last season and Lucas and Peyton are long in the past (though they do get the odd mention here and there). Nathan is an NBA star and his agent Clay (newcomer Robert Buckley) is working on a new contract for him.
Jamie is turning 7 and his aunt Quinn (Haley's other, not so evil, sister) arrives having, as we find out, split with her husband. Brooke and Julian are having a frustrating long distance relationship and Millicent seems to be the new Brooke, taking over a lot of the running of COB.
The best addition to the cast has been Clay, his character interested me a lot. On the surface he is a confident, womanizing guy but underneath, well we're not really sure yet. What we do find out, at the end, is that he ``doesn't believe in love''.
And then there is Dan. He can't have turned over a new leaf, that's just not him. Stay tuned there.
So far so good as far as I'm concerned. Like season 5 I think this one may take a few episodes to adjust, though I do hope the rumoured return of Lucas and Peyton (at least one off) happens.

On another, related, topic I watched the first episode of the new Melrose Place last week. In a word, meh.
Sure Sydney and Michael were in it, but like 90210 I really didn't care about the other characters. It just doesn't work.

One Tree Hill's finale that isn't

As a huge fan of One Tree Hill
(heck I named my blog after it) I have to say I very much wish the season 6 finale was the series finale.

It was easily the best episode of the season and brought the whole series together brilliantly. So why do we need a season 7?

We already know that Chad Michael Murray and Hilarie Burton aren't returning and, seriously, how can the show be called One Tree Hill without them, particularly Murray (far left).

His character Lucas is the centre of show, it's about him and from his point of view, largely.

One Tree Hill won't be the same, and as brilliant as creator Mark Schwahn is I can't imagine it being nearly as good, without him - even though Lucas can be a bit annoying at times.

So while my opinion means little in the scheme of things I'd be tempted to ignore what happens in season 7. Any continuation shouldn't be called One Tree Hill, they should spin it off into a new show. If there's any chance season 7 can be avoided it should be done. I don't want to see One Tree Hill jump the shark as many shows do.

I'm a huge fan of TV shows ending when they should and ending well. Friends is a brilliant case in point. You left the finale satisfied and not needing to know anything more (despite this the under rated spinoff Joey was actually quite good).

That's exactly how I felt at the end of One Tree Hill's season final.

I don't need to know any more about Lucas, Peyton, Brooke, Nathan, Haley, Jamie, Mouth, Chase, Mia, Deb, Dan and Karen.

I'd be more than happy to say farewell to the show now knowing where all the characters stand and knowing it was six seasons of high class drama, but with a heart and soul.

By the way, I think it is kinda fitting that this is my 700th post.

Keep Lucas or end One Tree now

As far as big risks go, dropping the lead character of a series is pretty huge. For One Tree Hill the likelihood that Chad Michael Murray (Lucas) is not going to be a part of season seven is not only a huge risk it is a stupid one.

The show's premise is about two half-brothers and from day one Lucas (pictured) has been the central character. I don't see the logic in ruining what has been an excellent series by extending the show's run without its lead and one of its other major leads in Hilarie Burton (Peyton).

Why? This is a really dumb move.

What any fan of a TV series wants is for their show to go out with dignity if it can't go out with a bang. They got it right with Friends, continuity through 10 seasons with cast and they came up with an ending that makes everyone happy.

One Tree Hill has had five central characters - Lucas, Nathan, Peyton, Brooke and Haley - since the start and the show can not lose any of them and hope to keep people interested. Imagine Friends if Ross and Rachel weren't in it. That's what we are talking about here.

I can't believe Mark Schwahn would even consider letting Lucas go.

In every snippet I've seen of him talking about the show on the DVDs it's obvious that he loves it, it's his baby so to speak, and I fail to see why he could consider this. If Chad wants to come back for season 7 then let him.

Otherwise, end the show at six seasons and let it be remembered as a great show that was smart, funny, dramatic and always interesting.

Notable mentions

Been a fairly busy week thus far so haven't had so many opportunities to post.
Here are a few highlights....
- My nephew started year two yesterday and he spent a bit of time telling me that last year he had five detentions.
- I heard that One Tree Hill is getting a seventh and final season.
- I've been getting right into The Big Bang Theory after some guys at work were raving about it. Very funny show.
- I'm off on my short trip away tomorrow, can't wait.

Touch Me I'm Going To Scream

The long awaited season 6 premiere of One Tree Hill, Touch Me I'm Going To Scream, wasn't as mind blowing as I was hoping but nonetheless a great start.
We pick up (spoiler alert) with Lucas daydreaming about the three women he could have proposed to at the end of last season. Then we find out he called Peyton.
A tad predictable and their storyline was way too mushy for my liking. Perhaps that means something is about to go wrong.
You've just got to love Brooke. Her battles with her mother (a brilliant Daphne Zuniga) are promising, I just hope they write the little girl out of Brooke and make her a tad tougher. Just my notes.
Elsewhere, Skills is still on with Nathan's mother and that's the comic relief. And it appears Nathan's comeback to basketball may be short lived.
Dan was hit by a car at the end of the last season and it turns out it was the evil nanny Carrie. I hope this one doesn't drag on too much, it's interesting because of their back story but I feel it is going to outstay its usefulness.
I'm being a tad critical here given the brilliance of season 5. This is a tough year for One Tree Hill because of the five year time gap between four and five not allowing as much reinvention.
I feel this should be the last season and I really want it to go out on a high because it really is in a class of its own.
A good start, but we all know what they are capable of. So lets see it.

Season 6 teaser

Just days away from the Season 6 premiere of One Tree Hill.
Since I was so rapt with the fifth season and the new direction the hopes are high that this season, likely the final season, will be a cracker.
I may be a fan (and a big fan) but some of the other shows of this genre out there should take a look at One Tree Hill and why it made it to six years when others (like The O.C., which was good) faded out sooner.

Season 5 artwork

The big day is August 26 for the release of season 5 of One Tree Hill on DVD. A few day's lag for me to get it ordered and delivered from the USA but it was worth it for the first four seasons.
Season 5 took a while to warm to, kind of like watching a new series all together.
The good thing about it was that although the series skipped ahead almost five years everything was plausible, except for Brooke being a fashion mogul until you found out how.
I was fortunate enough to get to write a short review of season 4 for the paper recently (I gave it four stars) and got to have a swipe and Channel Ten for ignoring such a great series.
I'm intrugued to find out what will happen in season 6 and whether it will be the final season. I've heard that consideration is being given to a new theme song but I think this is a really, really bad idea.
One Tree Hill's theme song is, and always will be, Gavin DeGraw's `I Don't Want To Be'. They didn't use it in season 5 except for the last episode and I'd rather them continue the black intertitle and no theme than try and change it.
Otherwise, bring on September 1.

Fears and a finale

What is fear holding you back from?
Facing your fears is not a theme foreign to me so it was easy to relate to the season final of One Tree Hill.
It's a simple concept yet it is one of the hardest things to do, if you don't turn and face the monster it will continue to be scary.
I've been thinking about this for a few days and, appropriately, when I sat down to watch the One Tree finale I was struck by the apparent coincidence.
Of course I think things happen for a reason, I don't place a lot of emphasis on random events as a sourse of meaning. So when I watched this it was like God telling me it's time to start dealing with what I fear.
I'm not going to go into the details but it was put to me the other day that by turning and facing your fear you put it off guard. It ceases to hold as much power as it thinks and goes onto the back foot. The monster analogy - if you allow a monster to chase you it gains energy from you being scared (the creators of Monsters Inc were onto it) but if you stop and turn around and face it, the monster doesn't know what to do.
Am I digging too deep here? Again, I don't think it is a simple exercise to just all of a sudden get over what scares you. For some it may be.
I'd encourage you to consider what scares you and take steps to get on top of it.
Back to One Tree, and after the shock of Lucas telling Peyton that he hates her (an oh my God! moment from the previous episode) we find that he's gone on a bender and ends up with a mohawk. It's quickly removed by Haley.
Nathan faces his fear that he isn't good enough to overcome his injuries and play basketball, Jamie faces a fear of the swimming pool after almost drowning mid-season, Peyton throws water balloons as therapy, Brooke faces her fear of giving up Angie......
Dan vows to be a better person by not killing off a sick priest so he can be first in line for heart transplant (a nurse even hands him a pillow in one scene) then gets hit by a car, just as his beeper rings to alert him to the avilability of a heart. Then the finale, Brooke, Peyton and Lindsey all answer their phone....Lucas calls someone and says `I've got two tickets to Vegas, you want to get married tonight?' to one of them. Now the wait until September 1 begins.
Oh, I also thought it was great the episode opened with Jamie and Gavin DeGraw singing the theme song, which hasn't been utilised all season as they ditched the opening titles.

100 episodes and so many questions

There's so much to process after the 1o0th episode of One Tree Hill. Spoilers ahead.
Lucas (pictured) is all set to marry Lindsey, his mother and sister have returned along with Andy, Karen's flame of season 2, for the big day.
The evil nanny Carrie is also back. Dan is planning a `family reunion', Peyton wants to stop the wedding and it seems everyone else wants her to as well.
It took Haley about five seconds to work out Lucas' new book was all about Peyton, just like the first one, but somehow Lindsey can't see that - right up until Lucas says I Do when she finally realises the comet in the book is a reference to Peyton's car (nice throwback to the first episode by the way) and his longing for her.
There's a great imaginary scene where Peyton stops the wedding, but then a voiceover steps in and says `that's what I should have done, instead I said nothing'.
More pressing than Lindsey running out on the wedding is the fact that Carrie has kidnapped Jamie and wants to keep him as her son. Until Dan comes to the rescue. Is he the bad guy of the series or has be turned over a new leaf? I think not. But he does save the day.
Funniest scene goes to Brooke and Peyton where Brooke says, while hugging Peyton, `I want to have a baby' and Peyton responds with a worried looks: `with me!'. Hilarious, but Brooke quickly sets the record straight.
So much information, an outstanding episode, but a month's wait at least before the final six episodes of season 5.

Sixth year in Tree Hill

Whether or not the US writers strike had anything to do with it, it's great news that One Tree Hill has been confirmed for next season, its sixth year.
In season five, of which I have watched six episodes, they took the risk of skipping over the traditional college years and into new ground and picked up four years after the end of season 4.

So far it has worked and is just as addictive as ever.

Now if only Channel 10 would wake up to themselves and realise what a cracking show it is. But it is probably too late for OTH now, they only got half way through season 2 before dumping it after not giving it a chance.

Incidentally, when I was returning Disturbia to the video store OTH was playing and I asked the guy behind the counter as to why, and he said because it's the best show and he watches it whenever he is working there!

Three years earlier

It's kind of fitting that the One Tree Hill episode I watched tonight, I Forgot to Remember to Forget, was essentially a flashback episode to events that happend three years earlier. (About a year after the end of season 4).
It's appropriate because I've been thinking alot about the last three years and the journey I have been on. I almost feel like I've been living in my own nightmare for three years and I just woke up. While bordering on over-dramatic, that's not far from the truth. There have been great moments but some of it seems like a bad dream, and I just couldn't get out of it.
Since the events of the past week I have begun to feel differently. I do at times have one eye over my shoulder but that's better than two.
I still have a way to go.
Anyway, season 5 of OTH has been going along great. It seems Lucas (he's the guy in the picture, the central character) isn't over his high school love but is in some decent denial about it. I was watching the special feaures on season 4's box set and there was a quote from one of the producers that stood out: ``we're never going to be a big show, but we'll be someone's favourite show''. Very true. This is a series that has heart, soul and a sense of humour.
I can't wait to watch the next one.....

Season 5

After a slowish start, season 5 of One Tree is startingto get pretty good. It's a brave move sending them past the college days but it looks like it is going to work.
Even better, season 5 has been confirmed as having 18 episodes. That's down from the original 22 but with the writers' strike knocking out a lot of time just over three quarters of a season isn't bad.
I'm only four episodes into season 5 but it's in that groove where I just want more.

I am Lucas!

Which One Tree Hill Character Are You?

Created by BuddyTV

Celebrating watching the end of One Tree Hill season 4 last night was great and it was an awesome ending. So I took the quiz, as you do, and I am Lucas which is a good result.

Forgiveness (The Runaway Found)

It's all about forgiveness.
Something we all can take heed of, that people are worthy of being forgiven because it is not up to us to condemn. That is for God to decide.
Yep I got that from The Runaway Found, episode 18 of One Tree Hill S4 (Thanks for pic), ain't it amazing what you can be reminded of out of a little television show.
I am guilty of letting hurts or anger get in the way of clearing the air when in dispute with someone, when a simple apology or discussion would solve the issue. Doesn't it suck how stubborn we (especially guys) are.
So while viewing this pivotal episode where Peyton offers forgiveness to the man who stalked and tried to harm her (as pictured) the message of letting go of anger or whatever you are holding onto and offering forgiveness is vital as it is the first step towards healing.
We are all human. We all make mistakes. We all let pride get in the way. We are all weak.
What makes us strong is knowing that there is forgiveness out there if you want to accept it.
Only three episodes of S4 to go until I get stuck into the new ones, set four years later.
Can't wait.

Pictures of You

A thought provoking episode of One Tree viewed last night (picture is of Brooke (Sophia Bush) and the interesting new character Chase (Stephen Colletti)focusing on how you see yourself and how others see you.
Characters were paid off with a list of activities for their assignment before they take their `picture of you':
1. Share something personal with your partner.
2. Lighten up. Do an impression of a celebrity or a famous character.
3. Admit something that worries you, or something you are afraid of.
4. What do you want to be in ten years?
5. Tell your partner something secret.

So I thought I'd try that here.
1. I have a lot of trouble believing in myself, in my ability to achieve things.
2. I do a good Bill Lawry, a good Chandler Bing, bit hard to do that one in this space.
3. I worry/am afraid that there is nothing I can do to prevent a relapse and focus far too much on it. My mum says I've always been inclined to worry too much.
4. I'd love to think in 10 years I am married and have a child. You never know.
5. The thought of going to church at the moment is unpleasant.

Hmmm. Anyway One Tree is trucking along nicely, can't wait to get to the end of season 4 to get stuck into the next one. That's if the other guys don't hold things up too long!